Podcasts about old king

Okay, pay attention, this is gonna be different! We're looking at the rest of 2025, deciding what we think the most well received games of the year are going to be - but then we're going to be bidding on them, auction style. Whoever's slate ends up performing best in their categories at the end of the year gets all the glory ... and if you vote on who you think is going to win, you could get $50! Before we're going, going, gone, we talk about Nyakuza, Hooky, and Altay: Dawn of Civilization. 03:26 - Nyakuza 10:26 - Hooky 16:15 - Altay: Dawn of Civilization  27:16 - Anticipation Auction 2025 32:52 - Arydia: The Paths We Dare Tread 38:12 - Puerto Rico 1897: Special Edition 41:10 - Molly House 45:03 - Nemesis: Retaliation  47:09 - Finspan 49:59 - Luthier 51:24 - The Elder Scrolls: Betrayal of the Second Era 55:23 - Transgalactica 59:18 - The Witcher: Path Of Destiny 1:01:56 - The Old King's Crown 1:04:07 - Star Trek: Captain's Chair 1:06:32 - Dune: Imperium – Bloodlines 1:08:38 - Zenith 1:10:26 - Galactic Cruise 1:12:10 - Speakeasy Get added to the BGB community map at: https://boardgamebarrage.com/map Send us topic ideas at: https://boardgamebarrage.com/topics Check out our wiki at: https://boardgamebarrage.com/wiki Join the discussion at: https://boardgamebarrage.com/discord Join our Facebook group at: https://boardgamebarrage.com/facebook Get a Board Game Barrage T-shirt at: https://boardgamebarrage.com/store

January 13, 2025 - Missy Batman of the Heart of Illinois Community Foundation joined Byers & Co on the Century Tour on location at the Old King's Orchard Community Center. Listen to the podcast now!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

January 13, 2025 - Missy Batman of the Heart of Illinois Community Foundation and OKO board president Chris Ellis joined Byers & Co on the Century Tour on location at the Old King's Orchard Community Center. Listen to the podcast now!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

January 13, 2025 - Mayor Julie Moore Wolfe and OKO board president Chris Ellis joined Byers & Co on the Century Tour on location at the Old King's Orchard Community Center. Listen to the podcast now!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

January 13, 2025 - Missy Batman of the Heart of Illinois Community Foundation, OKO board president Chris Ellis, and OKO executive director Devon Joyner joined Byers & Co on the Century Tour on location at the Old King's Orchard Community Center. Listen to the podcast now!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

January 13, 2025 - OKO's Chris Ellis, Devon Joyner and William Smith joined Byers & Co on the Century Tour on location at the Old King's Orchard Community Center. Listen to the podcast now!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

January 13, 2025 - Dr. Juanita Morris joined Byers & Co on the Century Tour on location at the Old King's Orchard Community Center. Listen to the podcast now!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Novelist Maxim Loskutoff joins co-host V.V. Ganeshananthan and guest co-host Matt Gallagher to talk about his new novel, Old King, which is about Unabomber Ted Kaczynski, who moved to Montana to withdraw from society. Loskutoff, who grew up in Missoula, Montana, discusses the mythology that draws men like Kaczynski—who sought to be in nature, and to avoid technology and other people—to his home state; the gap between the imaginary American West and its reality; and how these connect to American settler colonialism. He also explains how he positioned the Kaczynski of his novel not as a hero or even an antihero, but as a symbol of this dark and unhealed facet of American society. Loskutoff reads from Old King. To hear the full episode, subscribe through iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher, Spotify, or your favorite podcast app (include the forward slashes when searching). You can also listen by streaming from the player below. Check out video versions of our interviews on the Fiction/Non/Fiction Instagram account, the Fiction/Non/Fiction YouTube Channel, and our show website: https://www.fnfpodcast.net/ This episode of the podcast was produced by Anne Kniggendorf. Maxim Loskutoff Old King Ruthie Fear Come West and See Opinion | The Unabomber and the Poisoned Dream of the American West - The New York Times Others William Kittredge Richard Hugo  Lewis and Clark  Billy the Kid  Jack Kerouac  “The Story of Jack and Neal: the friendship that made On the Road—and the Beat Generation—possible” by James Parker, The Atlantic, March 11, 2022 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The king of Judah is seven years old....and we've got say, this seven year old does a great job!  Our story comes from 2 Kings 12. 

The Beyond Solitaire podcast is back for Season 8! This week, Pablo Clark talks about art, allegory, the importance of giving games the time they need to grow, and Eerie Idol's first game, The Old King's Crown. https://www.theoldkingscrown.com/Hydrologic Cycle Prelaunch Page: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/cmu/hydrologic-cycleBeyond Solitaire is proudly sponsored by Central Michigan University's Center for Learning Through Games and Simulations, where learning can be both playful and compelling. Check them out here: https://www.cmich.edu/colleges/class/Centers/CLGS/Pages/default.aspxCheck out CMU's game offerings here: https://cmichpress.com/shop/Sign up for an online game design class here: https://www.cmich.edu/academics/colleges/liberal-arts-social-sciences/centers-institutes/center-for-learning-through-games-and-simulations/certificate-in-applied-game-designAll episodes of my podcast are available here: https://beyondsolitaire.buzzsprout.com/Enjoy my work? Consider supporting me on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/beyondsolitaire or getting me a "coffee" on Ko-fi! https://ko-fi.com/beyondsolitaireContact Me: Email: beyondsolitaire at gmail.comTwitter: @beyondsolitaireInstagram: @beyondsolitaireFacebook: www.facebook.com/beyondsolitaireWebsite: www.beyondsolitaire.net

Links to everything: linktr.ee/tabletopsessions Instagram (@tabletopsessions): www.instagram.com/tabletopsessions/ YouTube: www.youtube.com/@TabletopSessions BGG Guild: boardgamegeek.com/guild/3357 Links to games discsused: The Old King's Crown: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/357873/old-kings-crown Sherlock Holmes Consulting Detective: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/204305/sherlock-holmes-consulting-detective-jack-ripper-w Scout: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/291453/scout Dominant Species: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/62219/dominant-species Dominant Species Marine: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/262941/dominant-species-marine 1880 China: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/69601/1880-china

Episode Breakdown: GW11 Data Dump

Warning: This podcast contains strong language and adult content Jon is back! And he's played Twilight Imperium. After exploring and conquering the galaxy, we revisit Old King's Crown and look back at what other games from the last two UK Games Expos still tickle our fancy. Andy rounds up the episode by talking about his current D&D campaign Dungeons & Dragons: Curse of Strahd, just in time for Hallowe'en. Games Mentioned 00:04:45 Twilight Imperium: Fourth Edition 00:29:50 The Old King's Crown 00:46:56 Tiwanaku, Beast, Stomp the Plank, Waggle Dance 01:00:32 Dungeons & Dragons: Curse of Strahd   This episode is available on iTunes or your favourite podcast player via our feed http://polyhedroncollider.libsyn.com/rss Intro and Outro Music: "Ouroboros" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Jon's News Ferret: "NewsSting" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ Don't forget to visit www.polyhedroncollider.com and YouTube for more great reviews and interviews, or connect with us on Facebook and Twitter and check us out of twitch.tv/polyhedroncollider qfgi9tua

Warning: This podcast contains strong language and adult content Kicking off with a, quite frankly, disturbing converstation about Sid's trousers, we then explore upcoming kickstarter Old King's Crown, while Andy examines the new Stonemaier hotness Expeditions. We then look at Parks, Block and Key, and Solani before talking about getting into miniature games with Star Wars Armada and exploring our shelf of shame. Games Mentioned 00:00:00 Sid's Hairy Trousers 00:04:43 Old King's Crown 00:14:48 Expeditions 00:21:01 Parks 00:25:42 Block and Key 00:33:49 Solani 00:42:11 Getting into miniatures games: Star Wars Armada 00:52:02 Exploring our shelf of shame: Merchants and Marauders, Machina Arcana, and Beneath Nexus.   This episode is available on iTunes or your favourite podcast player via our feed http://polyhedroncollider.libsyn.com/rss Intro and Outro Music: "Ouroboros" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Jon's News Ferret: "NewsSting" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ Don't forget to visit www.polyhedroncollider.com and YouTube for more great reviews and interviews, or connect with us on Facebook and Twitter and check us out of twitch.tv/polyhedroncollider qfgi9tua

Bobby Green murked Grant Dawson last weekend. We discuss the card, and look ahead to another fight night between Sodiq Yuff and Edson Barbosa! Be sure to subscribe, and check us out on Youtube!

The old King David speaks to his young son as begins his reign! Grab your bible and lets study together!

World Number 1 Carlos Alcaraz new King of Wimbledon after defeating Novak Djokovic.  Public hearings into Defence and Veteran Suicide begin in Adelaide today.  Extreme heat sweeps the globe with millions under warnings across the U-S and Italy.  NSW based foodie Brent Draper wins Masterchef while fans say goodbye to Jock Zonfrillo from their screens. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

World Number 1 Carlos Alcaraz new King of Wimbledon after defeating Novak Djokovic.  Public hearings into Defence and Veteran Suicide begin in Adelaide today.  Extreme heat sweeps the globe with millions under warnings across the U-S and Italy.  NSW based foodie Brent Draper wins Masterchef while fans say goodbye to Jock Zonfrillo from their screens. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

World Number 1 Carlos Alcaraz new King of Wimbledon after defeating Novak Djokovic.  Public hearings into Defence and Veteran Suicide begin in Adelaide today.  Extreme heat sweeps the globe with millions under warnings across the U-S and Italy.  NSW based foodie Brent Draper wins Masterchef while fans say goodbye to Jock Zonfrillo from their screens. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Colabora Con Biblioteca Del Metal: En Twitter - https://twitter.com/Anarkometal72 Y Donanos Unas Propinas En BAT. Para Seguir Con El Proyecto De la Biblioteca Mas Grande Del Metal. Muchisimas Gracias. La Tienda De Biblioteca Del Metal: Encontraras, Ropa, Accesorios,Decoracion, Ect... Todo Relacionado Al Podcats Biblioteca Del Metal Y Al Mundo Del Heavy Metal. Descubrela!!!!!! Ideal Para Llevarte O Regalar Productos Del Podcats De Ivoox. (Por Tiempo Limitado) https://teespring.com/es/stores/biblioteca-del-metal-1 Vhäldemar es un grupo de heavy/power metal fundado en Baracaldo (Vizcaya), a finales de los años 90. Se formó cuando el guitarrista, Pedro J. Monge, decidió crear una banda junto con Carlos Escudero (vocal y, en aquel entonces, también guitarra rítmica). Poco después, se uniría el bajista, Óscar Cuadrado y, tras componer unos temas, se dieron cuenta de que podían tener éxito y reclutaron al batería Eduardo Martínez, que venía de la banda Anarko. En abril de 2002, después de firmar con Arise Records, editan el primer álbum: Fight to the End. Tras este álbum, son elegidos por la revista brasileña "Rock Brigade", la mejor banda revelación. Hicieron una serie de conciertos y participaciones en festivales tales como Piorno Rock o Bike Rock Festival. Un año después, grabarían el siguiente álbum: I Made my Own Hell. La portada del disco, fue hecha por J.P. Fournier, que había trabajado también con Edguy y Avantasia. En el 2007, actuaron en el Bilbao BBK Live Festival, siendo los que abrían el festival. El batería, Eduardo Martínez, es sustituido por Álex de Benito, componente, a su vez, de Steel Puppets. Durante el 2010, se incorpora al grupo Aitor López, miembro también de Under Silence, que pasa a ser el segundo guitarra, permitiendo que Carlos Escudero se dedicase de lleno a cantar. El mismo año, sale su tercer álbum de estudio, Metal of the World, el cual se pudo descargar durante un tiempo en el propio myspace de la banda, y que fue presentado en directo el 12 de marzo en el Kafe Antzokia de Bilbao, dando inicio a la gira nacional. 2012 fue un año clave para el grupo, no solo quedó, nuevamente, reducido a cuarteto, sino que tienen el honor de sumarse al festival "Leyendas del Rock" en Murcia, junto a bandas de la talla de Angelus Apatrida, WarCry, Stratovarius, Dünedain, Eluveitie, Avalanch, Vita Imana, Noctem, Medina Azahara o Saratoga, y comienzan la grabación de su cuarto álbum, que vio la luz en 2013 y se llama Shadows of Combat. En 2016, se incorpora el teclado a la banda, de la mano de Jon Koldo Tera "Jonkol", miembro de otras agrupaciones, como Incursed u Orion Child. Esto marcaría un cambio en el sonido de la banda, tanto en directo, como en sus siguientes lanzamientos discográficos: un EP, titulado Old King's Visions, y el quinto álbum de la banda, Against All Kings, que les llevaría a su gira más extensa hasta el momento, tocando prácticamente cada punto de la península así como saliendo por primera vez al extranjero, con actuaciones en Japón y Países Bajos. En 2020 sale Straight to Hell, el último trabajo de estudio de la banda hasta el momento. Pagina Oficial: https://www.vhaldemar.net/

In this episode, Shawn discusses Gorm "The Old", who is considered the first historically recognized King of Denmark. A kingdom which still exists today with Queen Margrethe II as its Head of State. Though the main points of his life are still fuzzy at best, Gorm does appear in later writings; however, we are confident of his historical existence in part to the 2 Jelling Runestone's, one of which was commissioned by Gorm himself for his wife, Thyra, and the other commissioned by Gorm's son Harald "Bluetooth" who built one in honor of both his mother and father. Of course, Shawn also discusses his "family ancestry" all the way to Odin along with some of his descendants who would conquer England for a time and form what is now considered the "North Sea Empire" (England, Norway, and Denmark). Ways to support us: If you have been enjoying our show, please write a 5 star review on itunes to help spread our podcast to a wider audience: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/between-two-ravens-a-norse-mythology-podcast/id1604263830 Follow us or leave a message on Twitter or Instagram: Twitter: (@TwoRavenPodcast): https://twitter.com/TwoRavenPodcast Instagram: (@BetweenTwoRavens): https://www.instagram.com/betweentworavens/ Check out David's writing:  Prosoche Project (www.prosocheproject.com).  Walled Garden (https://thewalledgarden.com/davidalexander) Our podcast is part of The Walled Garden Podcast Network. The Walled Garden is committed to the pursuit of Truth, Wisdom, Virtue, and the Divine, wherever it might be found.  Visit thewalledgarden.com to learn more about weekly meet-ups and the other Walled Garden contributors. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Visit our website for schedules and to join the mailing list www.stpaulhouston.org Subscribe to us on YouTube youtube.com/stpaulhouston​ Like us on Facebook facebook.com/saintpaulhouston​ Follow us on SoundCloud soundcloud.com/stpaulhouston​

The UK Games Expo 2023 is only a few days away and we are very excited! So listen along as we discuss the board games, tabletop miniatures games, RPGs, publishers and events that have got us giddy with anticipation. For more details go to https://www.ukgamesexpo.co.uk/ We will be hosting The Polyhedron Collider Podcast - LIVE! in the NEC Piazza 4 (The Dice Room) on Saturday at 10am.  https://www.ukgamesexpo.co.uk/events/1238-the-polyhedron-collider-podcast-live/ Games Mentioned 00:01:38 Polyhedron Collider live podcast 00:06:22 Beast 00:11:17 Warhammer 40,000 10th edition and Star Wars: Shatterpoint 00:19:42 Tiwanaku 00:27:52 Honey Badger Games Tea Party - Luxury Tea To Match Your Character Class  00:31:24 Coriolis: Wake of the Icons and Achtung! Cthulhu 2d20 00:36:46 Sinister Fish Games: Moon and Wizards & Co. 00:40:32 Apex Legends: The Board Game  00:46:26 Coraquest: Keep on Questing 00:48:50 Old King's Crown and Europa Universalis: The Price of Power 00:51:28 Oros 00:54:43 Terminus 00:56:00 Distilled 00:58:09 Alley Cat Games: Phantom Ink 00:59:27 Board & Dice: Books of Time and Barcelona 01:03:52 Hachette: Tribes of the Wind This episode is available on iTunes or your favourite podcast player via our feed http://polyhedroncollider.libsyn.com/rss Intro and Outro Music: "Ouroboros" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Jon's News Ferret: "NewsSting" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ Don't forget to visit www.polyhedroncollider.com and YouTube for more great reviews and interviews, or connect with us on Facebook and Twitter and check us out of twitch.tv/polyhedroncollider qfgi9tua

Not Your Mother's Goose wraps up with a mammoth finale, featuring everything from The Price Is Right to Three Blind Mice, and our most ambitious Rapunzel's Jukebox song ever, American Pie. Don't miss your last chance to:* Come on down with Bob Barker, as we take a snow day from school and watch The Price Is Right* Clean up the leftover nursery rhymes, like Three Blind Mice and Old King Cole* Head to the before-and-after movies to watch The Gingerbread Man-in-Black* Check out the news, where Oscar the Grouch goes green and moves into a recycling bin* Schedule a consult with Dr. Rick from Progressive, here to help fairy tale characters who are becoming their parents.Plus, Andrew Mitchell has officially outdone himself on Rapunzel's Jukebox, back with full fairy tale version of American Pie that you can't miss.

Welcome to the latest episode of Cult of the Old!   Each episode your hosts Iain McAllister, Matt Thrower, and Nate Owens are going to turn back the clock to look at games that are at least 10 years old. They'll give their own critical impressions, tell you about the history of the game and its impact, and what relevance these games still have in the modern hobby landscape.    In this episode of Cult of the Old the team turn their attention to that most monstrous of dice games, King of Tokyo. Designed by Richard Garfield with art by Gabriel Butik, Romain Gaschet, Paul Mafayon, Igor Polouchine, Benjamin Raynal, Jean-Baptiste Reynaud, Jonathan Silvestre, Régis Torres, and Anthony Wolff. Originally published by Iello.   Show Links   Below are links to the games and anything else that the team mentions during the course of the cast.  We will be linking to BGG for games, designers, artists, and publishers as that is a good place to start for raw information about the game in question.   Games Mentioned   Magic: The Gathering Netrunner Robo Rally Android: Netrunner Yahtzee Poker Dice Roll through the Ages Dice Town King of Monster Island Wallenstein Carcassonne Big Box Kingsburg Alien Frontiers Smash Up Ganz Schon Clever   Team Links   Websites you can find the cast on There Will Be Games The Cult of the Old   Iain The Giant Brain Twitter   Matt Twitter   Nate Twitter   Support us on Ko-Fi https://ko-fi.com/cultoftheold   Join us on our Discord https://discord.gg/Ye6Bem5Q6x   Email us at cultoftheolduk@gmail.com

Natalie and David eat salmon with Rachel in "The One with Rachel's New Dress" and name salmon with Marshall in "Old King Clancy."See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

View our full collection of podcasts at our website: https://www.solgoodmedia.com or YouTube channel: https://www.solgood.org/subscribeThis show is part of the Spreaker Prime Network, if you are interested in advertising on this podcast, contact us at https://www.spreaker.com/show/5401154/advertisement

Cáel deals with wounds, lies and the clash of cultures.By FinalStand. Listen and subscribe to the podcast at Steamy Stories.The words ‘I love you’ inspires joy, relief and terror.I missed my entry to the infirmary. I was returned to clarity by the two female attendants. The younger went straight to cutting my left pants leg off while the oldest Amazon I’d seen to date began an excellent rendition of 'beef’ inspector while pretending to be a physician. It was almost hilarious when she looked to Sydney, addressing her in Old Kingdom Hittite.“Was he being disciplined, or did he do something stupid?”“I did something stupid,” I griped. “I showed up to work today.” Since it was their native tongue, both of the medical attendants’ eyes bugged out.“He volunteered to help Aya of Epona with her archery lessons by letting her shoot at a fruit out of his hand,” Sydney related.“This…this isn’t a wound caused by a practice arrow,” the physician observed.“No, that was from Leona of Marda. She attempted to kill him. When Leona threatened his controller, he presented himself for slaughter,” Sydney clarified. “Hayden stopped Leona, Leona disobeyed and we need to plan Leona’s funerary arrangements now.”“How did you come to speak our language?” the junior attendant asked. The tone of her voice and the look in her eyes was chilling and sensual at the same time. It was chilling because of the transformation she went through as I went from a piece of equipment to a close approximation of a human being in her eyes. I was getting tired.“Erotic poetry,” I humored her. “I had a lover some time ago - a scholar - who wanted to share Old King…Amazon love poetry and songs in the voices of their creators. I know multiple languages no longer spoken.”#Your eyes are stolen from the waterfalls descending from the highest mountains##Your hair robbed from the threads of the night sky##Your body is shaped by the Mother Rivers##Your beauty is the gift of the Goddess who knows both tears and love#I recited it in the original Chaldean Babylonian. They were all staring at me, so I translated it into Hittite. It didn’t flow as smoothly.“What language was that in?” the security guard inquired.“Chaldean Babylonian. It is a love poem from a prince to his dead wife,” I answered.“It was nice, even eloquent,” Sydney remarked.“Wow,” I sighed. “It is tragic to think not a single woman in this room has ever been romanced.”“I am pretty sure every woman in this room has been with a man before,” the security guard countered.“After sex, what did the two of you talk about?” I regarded her.“That’s not what we use men for,” the doctor spoke up while she began examining my wound. Pain. “We use artificial insemination and surrogates for procreation. Beyond directing them in our physical stimulation, there is no need to talk to men.”“Oh,” I mused sadly. “That makes sense and is richly rewarding to know. If I was more like the rest of you, I’d be laughing. Unfortunately, I have a heart and compassion, so I’ll pity you all instead.” The doctor didn’t take my honestly well. “Ow! Good bedside - Ow! - manner there, Doc.”“We don’t need your pity,” the security guard threatened.“Sure, but then I’ve not bred myself into extinction out of fear of cuddling either,” I grinned. “Treating men like livestock makes sense - if you are evil. You refused to allow yourselves to get attached to any male so it would be easier to kill us when our time came.”“Tread carefully,” Sydney cautioned me.“Okay Sydney. Since you are the only female present capable of having offspring, I’ll be good,” I got in my parting shot. By the silence in the room, I had hit the nail on the head. “I apologize for disturbing you ladies. I’ll be a good male and keep my mouth shut.”That declaration didn’t last long. Apparently pain-killers were not part of their medical credo. When I asked, the doctor implied I wasn’t hurt nearly enough - in other words, not being amputated or decapitated. I asked if being castrated would earn me a hammer to the head. They smiled. They thought I was a funny guy once more. It was the whole 'laugh at death’ mystique again.This tender, motherly moment was punctuated by the doctor’s application of the staple gun (instead of stitches) to both entry and exit wounds. Sydney offered to give me something to bite down on. I insisted on sharing my pain as I screamed my lungs out during the torturous procedure.“I thought you were a tough guy,” the security guard sneered.“And not screaming would have made me tough? Bitch, those are some fucked-up priorities. Screaming meant I didn’t jolt when she was stapling my wounds shut. I’ve been stabbed and stitched enough to know that much,” I glared.The assistant had been walking her hands over my body during the process.“You have been stabbed fourteen times,” she muttered.“You missed the one on the right foot,” I corrected.“You’ve been stabbed fifteen times? What do you do?” Sydney wondered.“I date women. You are a surprisingly dangerous breed, even without the extreme training you ladies possess,” I confessed. “To be concise, I have the bad habit of dating women and their friends, acquaintances, and even family members - usually without their knowledge. It always ends badly - thus the wounds.”“You betray the women you sleep with?” the doctor stared.“We could banter terms and expectations about, but essentially 'yes’, I do,” I sighed.“You seemed like such a well-behaved male,” the security guard looked confused.“Huh? What does my love of sex have to do with my demeanor?” I mused.“I’ve never beat a lover, or forced myself on a woman. If you want to hold my lack of forthrightness against me, please remember you are part of a secret society that embraces kidnapping, rape and slaughter as daily practices,” I smiled. “Comparatively, me not telling one woman that I’m dating her neighbor is small potatoes.”“We do what we do out of necessity,” the doctor insisted.“That flimsy excuse is about as useful as 'you wouldn’t understand; you aren’t a woman/amazon/nutty-nut bar,” I shook my head. “I give up. Your society has equaled, if not exceeded, every inhuman deed men have ever committed.”“Congratulations; you have become crueler and more depraved than your enemies,” I lauded them.“Because of your ignorance, I will let that outburst go unpunished,” Sydney stated. I wised up and shut up.My shirt was returned and they had to synch a large towel around my waist because my jeans were ruined and they didn’t have scrubs in my size. They gave me my bloody dockers too. Sydney walked me to the front entrance. By the looks of the women we passed they knew something had happened, if not the precise nature.Security’s opportunity to 'get me’ on the way out was stymied by Caitlyn & family, Desiree, Tigger, and Buffy hanging around. The moment Aya saw me, she called out my name and came running. The only thing worse than the pain of her impacting me would have been the look on her face if I warded her off. I caught her in my arms and lifted her up.“Cáel,” she exclaimed. “Does it hurt?” I kept lifting her until I blew loudly on her belly.“Does that hurt?” I teased her.“No,” she giggled.“Then I’m fine. Really now, I’ve been hurt worse by a splinter from a toothpick,” I exaggerated for her.“You are lying to me,” Aya shook her finger in my face.“The lesson being 'don’t lie to winners’,” I sighed.“Yep,” Aya mimicked me. “Is our date for tonight still going to happen?”“Oh…Aya, I can’t,” I groaned. “I’ve got three smoking hot babes coming over tonight.”“Don’t make me punch you,” Europa play-threatened. She and Loraine had sneaked up on me while I was entertaining Aya.“I don’t know,” Loraine gave a cautious laugh. “I like being called a smoking hot babe.”“Aya, I really like you, but do you always have to drag those two around with you?” I wiggled Aya up in the air. “It’s kind of creepy.” She giggled.“Those are my sisters, Silly,” she snickered. “They will be your daughters one day too.”“Time for us to go,” Caitlyn intervened. As she ushered her children away, she shot me a look over my shoulder that strongly suggested she wanted to play house. Desiree moved to within a meter of me and looked me up and down.“You are an idiot,” she remarked, turned and left. I looked to Buffy.“I’m your ride,” Buffy snorted. I hobbled to her.“I’m glad you are okay,” Tigger waved then followed Desiree out.“Thanks for a great time,” I looked over my shoulder at the Amazons. “As soon as my blood supply has replenished, I’ll be sure to come back and play some more.”We were in the car, exiting Doebridge when Buffy finally spoke.“Why do you keep thinking you can keep getting away with talking like…” she was glaring at me. “Oh Goddess…you really are laughing at death. You really believe you are going to die, don’t you?”“Absolutely. The moment they started chanting I realized it was unlikely I’d get out of this experience alive,” I admitted.“Why are you holding us to the 78 day rule?” she asked.“Recall what I said about backbone, Buffy?” I reminded her.“I am attached to the lifestyle I’ve created and I’m not going to change it to scrape out a few more days of existence,” I grinned. “I hold Havenstone to that countdown because I would do it if I thought I was going to be okay.” A few more minutes passed. I tried to cut the radio on. Buffy kept cutting it off. I was getting sick of it and my annoyance was showing.“Did you really tell the whole dome that you would sleep with me first?” she whispered.“Of course,” I replied. “I said that was my intention at work and I mean to keep to it.”“What about Hayden?” she asked.“Well, unless you agree to a three-way, I think this is going to be an issue we’ll have to work around,” I shrugged.“I’m not even sure I like you,” Buffy mumbled. “I want you. I am not sure I like you, though.”“Buffy, that’s fine,” I murmured. I unbuckled my seatbelt and began twisting around in my seat. My thigh was killing me, but I was a man on a mission. I put my head in Buffy’s lap, gazing up at her.“What are you doing?” she grinned.“Annoying you - taking advantage of you - take your pick,” I smiled. We drove for a while.“What are you thinking about?” Buffy gazed upon me warmly.“Picturing you in different colors and cuts of panties,” I told her. Buffy frowned then returned her focus to the road.“What is your favorite?” she inquired a few seconds later.“I’m torn,” I confessed. “I never seen you semi-nude so I have to do some imagining. How do black hipster lace panties sound?”“Not a thong?” I had her attention again.“Nah. You are like a chocolate covered cherry, Buffy,” I explained. “Those panties would be like the sweet sugar before you bite into the cherry. It tantalizes with the promise of something even better.” Silence for over ten minutes.“I hate you,” she gulped. She expressed that by tenderly stroking my face and hair.I drifted off to sleep shortly afterwards. It was the combination of lack of movement and the city’s static that brought me back. We were parked somewhere, Buffy gazing down at me with something that might have been confused with affection.“We are home,” she whispered. “Your home. I need to take you to your apartment.”On the third landing we took a breather. Being wrapped up by Buffy, I took a moment to whisper in her hear.#Your eyes are a molten river of gold, promising riches and a fiery death# I sang to her softly in Old Kingdom Hittite. It was original poetry.“What was that?” she smiled.“I’m not sure I can tell you,” I stifled a yawn. “This whole translation thing wasn’t explained to me. I can tell you it was a line of a love poem I created only for you.”“Oh…could you repeat it?” So I repeated it, quietly - this was still a secret language - on each landing until Buffy felt she got it right.Odette answered the door - oh joy. Buffy turned brittle angry while Odette drank in the whole scene.“Who is this?” Buffy snapped.“This is Odette. Odette, this if Buffy, one of my bosses.”“Buffy, Odette is the woman who brings solace to my nights, drives off the pains of the day and comforts me in the first lights of the morning with a smile and a word,” I said by way of introductions. I didn’t call her my girlfriend and still kept her happy.“Oh God, Cáel, what happened to you?” Odette worried.“An important life lesson,” I frowned. “Lawn darts and jello shots don’t mix.” I knew this to be true as I had something similar to this happen to a good friend. Since he was hit by a woman neither one of us 'was sleeping/had been sleeping’ with, we assumed she was intoxicated. We took him to the hospital then I fucked her in the parking lot.Later she, me and the victim had a three-way to ease her regrets. The next four three-ways were just because. Unfortunately, his girlfriend wasn’t as forgiving. Back in the hospital parking lot, once we knew he’d be okay, I fucked his girlfriend too. Yes, I am morally irreprehensible.“What really happened?” Odette fretted as she helped Buffy get me to the sofa.“He cheated on me so I marked him as my territory,” Buffy snarled.“But he’s your employee,” Odette gasped. “Isn’t that immoral?”“Immoral? Child, men exist solely to pleasure women and carry heavy things,” Buffy grumbled.“Carry heavy things…” Odette mused. “He’s carrying something heavy all the time,” she snickered.“I hate you,” Buffy snapped. I wasn’t sure who that was aimed at.“Why - wait, he’s not having sex with you, is he?” Odette sounded surprised. “Wow, you are really missing out.” Buffy gave off her nearly subsonic jaguar growl. “I haven’t had too much experience,” Odette blithely continued on, “but - Wow - I’m having orgasmic tremors up to eight hours after every nightlong sex session with Cáel. It’s wild.”Buffy grabbed my hair and twisted things until I was looking into her blazing hate/lust-filled eyes.“Monday morning - seven o'clock - you’re mine,” she growled. She turned to leave.“What? No good-bye hug?” I pleaded hopefully. I received a deep animalistic noise and a door slammed in our faces.“Odette, is there any way I could convince you for some 'intensive care’ sex?” I gave her puppy-dog eyes. Odette responded by helping me off the sofa and aiming us toward the bedroom. There was a loud pounding on the door.“Odette, stay here. She’s violently unstable,” I cautioned my buddy. I hobbled to the portal.“I want my hug,” Buffy glared as I opened the door.“Fine. Remember, this is purely platonic,” I kept it cool. “Now put your hands behind your back.”“What? No, I won’t,” she snarled.“Buffy, I’m sort of fragile right now and you are a big bully,” I cautioned her. Buffy’s whole body trembled. Had she spontaneously developed heat ray vision, my brain would have been incinerated on the spot. Buffy finally linked her hand behind her back. I gently pressed my body against hers, brushing her hair behind her shoulders then tilting her jaw up.“I don’t like making you unhappy, or disappointing you, Buffy,” I whispered. “I apologize.” I didn’t kiss her. That was technically against the rules. Slow, persistent puffs of breath played along her shoulder, neck ears, cheeks and forehead in lieu of my forbidden kiss. Buffy’s vexation at the lack of oral contact faded as the hot, moist sensations of my exhalations upon her flesh played out.She quickly caught on that she could tilt her neck around to offer up places she found especially enticing, eventually leading me to her cleavage.“Have a nice weekend,” I told her when I was done.“78 days…Cáel. 78 days,” Buffy’s eyes shone like solar flares of lust. She left.The door shut, I turned around and Odette gave me a horny, beseeching lament. She’d been masturbating while I had been not-kissing Buffy.“I need you,” she moaned. I limped her way.“I’m not sure…” I got out before she overwhelmed me.“I’ll help,” she squealed. She dragged me across the room before tossing me on my new bed. Hmmm…new sheets…and the room looked really clean…sex. Odette would hurt me, make amends then try even harder to make me happy. It wasn’t my best experience with sex, but far from my worst.For example: don’t let yourself get tied down when you suspect your bedmate is unhappy with you because she’s found out you’ve also been doing her friend. At least make sure her friend isn’t at home and in on the revenge too. Don’t apologize, beg for mercy, or say you love them. No, take your lumps like a man, admit you are lower than low, and that you deserve whatever they deem appropriate.A terrifying first night. The next two were among the best I ever had…until the next weekend.Odette helped me clean up and changed the sheets all by herself. She was a wonderful girl and I hoped she’d meet somebody who appreciated her and wasn’t like me. Odette informed me that Timothy and Nikita would be showing up around 4 pm.Timothy had also told her he and I had a double date tomorrow night so she promised to call me Monday to see how I was doing…and whatever. With a wink, Odette also passed along that Timothy claimed all the toys in my room were his, except for the bondage suspension gear - which was untried - hint, hint.Wait a second - wasn’t this the same girl who thought a lone dildo was pressing the sexual envelope on Thursday? I kissed Odette and sent her on her way. I noticed the Nerf gun. I contemplated hiding the damn annoyance then I realized he’d only shoot/throw something harder. I decided to wear my Havenstone t-shirt (one size too small) that came with my recruitment packet and some gym shorts because jeans and the wrapping on my thigh didn’t mesh.Nikita showed up first and a bit early. Maybe she was trying to catch me shooing another girl out the door. I didn’t ask.“Hey Nikita,” I greeted her with a kiss.“Hey Cáel - what happened!” she gasped, taking in my bandaging. I had thought about my response.“I was at an archery range this morning and was shot,” I related.“Did you report this?” she began her interrogation.“My insurance will cover this and 'no’, there is no police incident report,” I answered.“Why not?” she glared.“I work for the Amish Mafia, Nikita. If I talk to the cops, you are going to be looking for me under the next barn raising,” I joked. Nikita was not amused in the slightest.“We need to take care of this,” she demanded.“How about this - someone tried to murder me this morning. Not a single person I was with raised a finger to save me,” I exhaled.“I didn’t die for a few reasons. One is the three girls coming over here tonight. Another is that a few women find me charming enough to keep me around. Lastly, they know that I know I’m a corpse if I make a break for it,” I explained. “Now, I’d truly prefer you think I’m making this shit up to sound insane, or trying to impress you.”“You are not…insane, or making that shit up,” she muttered. “I still can’t date a criminal.”“Barring carrying an unauthorized firearm loaded with blanks, I’ve been good,” I grinned.“That’s a crime,” Nikita groaned then pressed into me. “Why do I put up with you?”“You are most likely the best woman I’ll ever meet?” I offered. She hugged me.“I’d say that you are only saying that to get into my pants except you’re desperately trying to not get into my pants,” she sighed. “How do I fix this?”“Fix? I’m not sure this can be fixed. If you want to help, remind me love is stronger than hate, no one is irredeemable, and people can change for the better,” I murmured.“I’ll try,” she gently and repeatedly kissed my shirt-covered chest. “I think you joke too much yet you’re terribly honest. When you said you had a 'plethora of bizarre knowledge, I laugh at danger and have an incessant desire to learn’ you weren’t kidding. I should have run out the door right then.”“I agree. I know you are normally smarter than this - staying with me,” I nodded.“You are not getting rid of me that easily,” Nikita went to her tippy-toes and kissed me on the lips. That’s right. I was not a stoner who liked to toke on the weekends. No, I was part of a massive criminal conspiracy that was involved in various malfeasances more often associated with The Hague than the FBI, or Interpol.Basically I was the opposite kind of man Nikita thought she wanted. I was verbally evasive, romantically unreliable, unethical and criminally involved. She wasn’t blind to my flaws, she was reevaluating her desires. Beyond the sex, which promised to be epic, she felt I was brave and compassionate, honest and caring; a lover who laughed at death.In her distant future, sitting on the sofa, watching TV, while her socially acceptable, ethical and reliable husband was on the computer and her children were asleep in bed, I was the type of man she would recall with a sensual curve to her lips and the fondest of erotic memories. She might even wonder if they’d ever find all my body parts, or the person, or persons, who finally did me in.In the short term that meant more sex for me. I knew I was trying to not have sex spoil my relations with Nikita. I was going to move mountains to keep this love affair on track. If I wasn’t nailing her by next Saturday, a good bet would be that the world had ended. This lack of sex was killing me. With my stress level skyrocketing, my libido was threatening to slip its leash.I’d already scoped out three dozen spots at Havenstone for some quick nookie. It wasn’t intentional. My perception automatically cataloged every place I went to on how safely, quietly, and comfortable having sex there would be. I don’t think most people appreciate how much restraint I showed by not screwing Katrina in her bathroom, Buffy on that bed, and Buffy and Helena in any number of places.The elevators…oh God, the elevators. I’d had sex with a total stranger riding an elevator in the Sears Tower. Every few seconds, we kept punching buttons for higher floors. Watching her greet her husband and two young daughters getting out of the lift was enchanting. I never considered the wife to be cheating though.She wasn’t leaving her family; she was indulging in a fantasy. That helped me through lunch. After all, I was there to catch up with a high school buddy and his sister…and her husband…and two daughters - whoops. In retrospect, I was probably drawn to her because she looked like her/his mother. Mom was kind of hot and freaky too.The lesson there was never go upstairs to take a shower and change, leaving me alone with your mother unless you want her to have a secret smile when you return. She was divorced so there was no moral quandary. Further rumination was forestalled by Timothy’s keys jingling in the door and coming in.“Brother, she’s still got her clothes on,” Timothy mocked me. “You are losing your touch.”“We are not having sex,” I protested.“We are not…this weekend,” Nikita blushed slightly. “Next week though…”“I’m holding out for next Saturday,” I informed them. Nikita hip-nudged me and I winced.“Oh, I’m sorry, Cáel,” Nikita steadied me.“Cáel, what the hell happened to you?” Timothy tilted over to see past Nikita and look over my bandaged thigh, which was now bleeding. Oh, come on. Don’t tell me 'girl on top’ sex voids the 'don’t engage in any strenuous activity for 48 hours’ warning?“Someone tried to murder him,” Nikita spoke for me.“Any lady I’ve met, a jealous lover, or some totally unrelated woman I haven’t encountered yet?” Timothy was less than sympathetic.“Why do you assume I was shot by a woman, or that it was even my fault?” I groaned.“In Atlantic City, the odds of you being mauled by a woman you’ve pissed off is considered a sure thing,” Timothy chuckled.“Crazy woman, you’ve never met her and I seriously doubt you ever will,” I told him. “She’d have shot my nuts off but she had these ridiculously large double-D breasts that got in…Ow!” I yelped as Nikita finger-stabbed one of my nerve clusters.“Come on, Nikita,” Timothy teased. “If Cáel doesn’t notice a woman’s breast size, check him for a pulse, or a concussion.”“Eyes front, Mister,” Nikita demanded. “If you’re looking anywhere it had better be at me.”“Wait a second,” I protested. “You are supposed to be my love slave.” Nikita smirked.“Who is the boss?” she patted my swelling cock through my shorts and talked to it. “Who’s the boss?” pat, pat, “That’s good boy,” she cooed. “He knows who the boss is,” Nikita smiled at me. What could I say? My cock was the Lying Son of a Bitch of all Lying Sons of Bitches. It lied to everybody, me included.The only thing it didn’t lie about was being horny, which was more like a continuous state of being for the damned thing anyway. I could have grappled her breasts, petted her kitty, and/or groaped her ass. It pays to know your date/target/victim (depending on how polite you want to be).My hands cupped her jaw with my fingers tickling her ears.“Are these lips mine?” I whispered before kissing her with only a tantalizing tip of the tongue. “Are these my lips,” I continued on and on.“Yes,” Nikita sighed happily, finally submitting.“Nikita, I’m about to shoot our boy,” Timothy muttered. “Let’s avoid a friendly fire episode.” Timothy went for his Nerf gun, I went for the kitchenette, or would have if Nikita hadn’t stopped me.“Oh, come on,” I pleaded.“No,” Nikita smiled, “I don’t know what you did, but I’m sure you deserve it.” Wack - Nerf hit.“Fine,” I muttered. “Since I’m clearly not getting any sympathy, why don’t we go get the car now?”“I’ll go get the girls, Cáel,” Nikita suggested. “You should stay off your feet.”“Trust me, that will not work,” I said. Thankfully, no one contested me on that. They took one look at the blood soaking through my bandages and cut me some slack.Getting the rental car was interesting. I had to convince Nikita her personal vehicle wouldn’t cut it in our destination neighborhood. Halfway to the pick-up, something dangerous occurred to me.“Desiree, I need to warn Caitlyn I’m bringing over a lady with a gun,” I made a panicky call to the boss most likely know Caitlyn’s number.“Who?” she snapped.“NYPD Patrolwoman Nikita Kutuzov,” I supplied the name.“You are an idiot,” Desiree stated then hung up.“What was that all about?” Nikita stared suspiciously…again.“The family we are going to is security conscious to the level they will want to verify you are who you say you are,” I explained. They weren’t likely to kill her, or us. Caitlyn simply wouldn’t let me in, or let the girls out, which would be a sucky thing to explain if the opportunity to even see the girls ever arose again.“Do I need to inform my precinct that I’m stopping by this house?” Nikita questioned me.“I wouldn’t think so,” I said. “I also wouldn’t have thought I’d be shot with an arrow this morning either. Do what you think is best.” Nikita called in her itinerary. Once we made it to the children’s place, she insisted helping me to the door. Caitlyn answered with the kids closely behind her, luggage in hand.“Ladies, this is Officer Nikita Kutuzov of the NYPD. She will be our chaperone for the night,” I introduced my companion.“Cáel,” Caitlyn asked after she pulled me into a side room, “who is this woman?”“She is the daughter of the desk sergeant I met at the police station last Monday night/early Tuesday morning when Desiree and I showed up to get Marilyn,” I informed her.“I’ve dated her two times - no sex - and we are getting along okay,” I added.“No sex?” Caitlyn purred. “Saving yourself up for something?” I looked over my shoulder and saw three faces peaking in.“Please stop taunting me, Caitlyn,” I murmured. “The children are watching and I have to get going.” She pressed up against me, gave me a wink then returned me to the hallway.“Children, behave and I’ll see you tomorrow afternoon,” Caitlyn smiled. “Cáel - Daddy, have a good time.” Aya was as happy as a clam, Europa was amused, Loraine was a bit sullen and Nikita was stiff as a board. The presence of Nikita, the outsider, kept conversation to a minimum on the ride over. Europa broke the silence as we entered my building.“Gosh Cáel, you are poor,” she noted.“That’s rude,” was Nikita’s rebuttal.“What do you know about Cáel,” Loraine boiled over with anger. Nikita turned on her.“I know you are the reason I’m here, Loraine,” Nikita locked eyes with her. “You are pretty so I’m here to make sure he behaves.”“She doesn’t want him to behave,” Europa teased. Loraine shot Europa an evil look.“I want Cáel to be our Daddy,” Aya piped up. “So does Mommy.”“I had that impression too,” Nikita’s smile to me was frosty.“Well, I plan to be single for at least three more years,” I declared.“Great!” Loraine exulted.“Good luck with that,” Europa mocked me.“I can wait that long,” Aya added.“It will be a miracle if you live that long,” muttered Nikita.“Cáel was shot saving my life today - me and my family,” Aya got out.“Aya - no!” snapped Loraine. “We are not to talk about it.”“I’m a police officer, you can tell me,” Nikita tried to corner Aya.“She is a, (then she used a dead word,” Loraine stated.It was Old Kingdom Hittite for 'masked ghost’. 'Ghost’ could also mean 'evil spirit’. I postulated that was the Amazon term for non-Amazonian women.“What does that mean?” Nikita scanned the group.“It means we are not going to talk about it, concentrating on having a good night instead. Okay?” I stressed.Nikita backed off, we made it to my place and made the introductions with Timothy. Once they got past the fact that he was gay - their problem was not with homosexuality; it was with males wasting their sexual potential not making babies - they thought he was wonderful. My roommate caught me flat-footed when he reminded the girls that they should wear their pj’s on a sleep over.Off they raced into the bedroom, dragging a reluctant Nikita along, to get changed.“Dude,” I said in a hushed voice. “What have I ever done to you?”“Nothing,” he snickered, “I’m being petty.” He went off to change as well. I was already in a t-shirt and shorts. I really didn’t need to change.Nikita’s countenance was one of fury etched in stone. It appeared that Amazonian sleepwear consisted of a beige half-vest, panties and a short, short skirt. It was somewhat endearing on Aya. I wasn’t going to go there with Europa. My brain was having none of that avoidance with Loraine though. God, she was scrumptious…and so very out of bounds.Nikita was in a plaid sleeping shirt than came down to her knees. I was trying to keep it together when Timothy came out in black boy-shorts.“Wow, Nikita. I had a shirt like that…when I was ten. You make it look…” he ended up laughing. The look Nikita gave Timothy was blistering.Aya came up to one side, knelt on the sofa where I was sitting, and hugged my head to her bosom. Europa plopped down on the other side. Loraine hopped into my lap.“Oh…is that your…?” Loraine gasped.“That’s his nothing!” Nikita yanked Loraine off my lap, “that you need to know about at your tender age.”“What is wrong with you people?” Nikita complained.“Don’t look at me. I’ve been sitting on the sofa the entire time,” I waved off responsibility.“We are not ashamed of our bodies,” Loraine shot back. “Don’t take out the fact that you aren’t pretty as me, my sisters, or our Cáel.”“Cáel, don’t tell me you find this manner of dress acceptable?” Nikita glared.“If they are comfortable with it, who am I to complain?” I shrugged.“She’s nine!” Nikita pointed at Aya who smiled back.“Damn Nikita, trust me a bit, why don’t ya? I am well aware of women’s ages,” I sighed.“Do you want me to dress like they do?” she stared accusingly.“That would be pretty nice,” I smiled letting my lust sneak through.“Hold on,” Timothy grinned. I was in trouble. “When I helped Cáel move in I saw he had a huge box full of women’s clothes - not in his size. He’s not a cross dresser.”Gee - thanks Timothy, you right bastard.“What is a cross dresser?” Aya piped up. I groaned.“A cross dresser is a man who dresses up like a woman,” Nikita provided. “A Drag Queen is a man who dresses up like a famous woman/actress/singer. A transvestite is a man who dresses like a woman because they want to be a woman.”“Have you ever dressed like a woman, Cáel?” Europe inquired.“Yeah,” I grinned. “I did a burlesque review one year and dressed up like a pole dancer at a friend’s bachelorette party.”“Really?” Loraine and Nikita both perked up.“What’s are pole dancers and what’s burlesque?” Aya mused.“Hmmm…I was in a burlesque troupe for a South Sudan relief charity event,” I recited. “Burlesque dancers were really racy clothing - kind of like what you have on right now, Aya. I was a pole dancer at my friend’s bachelorette party because I owed her for some past mistakes.”“Aya, pole dancers where bikini style clothing and do erotic acrobatics with a ceiling to floor pole, thus pole dancing,” I explained.“Can we see you do that?” Loraine and Europa closed in. “Sometime soon?”“Past mistakes?” Nikita glared.“Yes, past mistakes,” I sighed. “I slept with her, her best friend, her mother and her younger sister. She stabbed me here,” I pointed to a faded scar on my left triceps. “We hooked up again later, but things didn’t work out that time either,” I pointed to the scar on my foot.“You didn’t have her arrested? Worse, you took her back so she could stab you again?” Nikita shook her head negatively.“I was the one who made her angry,” I shrugged, “plus the sex was passionate.”“Those are scars of sexual animus,” Loraine purred. “You must be tremendously delectable to incite such a reaction.” She gave off her own predatory rumblings.“Loraine, the man cheated on these women. This is not what you look for in a sex partner,” Nikita lectured.“What do you mean?” Europa looked Nikita’s way. “I want a man that other women desire. It makes the conflict and resulting conquest all the more praiseworthy.”“You are thirteen,” the policewoman reminded Europa. “You don’t need to be thinking about men, especially treating men like conquests.”Timothy came out of my room with a large cardboard packing box - full of clothes - women’s clothes.“What the?” Nikita blanched. Europa and Loraine swarmed the goodies while Aya snuggled in tighter to my side.“I’ve never heard my Mother, or Aunts, talk about a male the way they talk about you,” Aya whispered into my ear in Old Kingdom Hittite. “They really like you - as a person.”“You referred to Desiree as your Aunt today,” I quietly spoke. “Is that the first time you’ve acknowledged her as family."No; I did it once before when I was six and Momma was very angry. Grandmother Sylvia was the Heir to House Epona when she ran away,” Aya informed me. “All of this happened before I was born. Great-grandmother was very angry with her sisters and Momma. When they brought Aunt Desiree back, they were all wanted to kill Desiree except Aunt Katrina.”“Katrina fought and killed Great-grandmother so Desiree was allowed to live. The other women still won’t call Desiree 'aunt’ or 'sister’ though,” Aya finished.“You did,” I reminded Aya.“I’m not going to make it, am I Cáel?” Aya suddenly looked so small and vulnerable. “I know you will honest with me.”I wasn’t sure where the honest part came from.“Why do you think you won’t make your trial in three years?” I inquired. I wanted to know where she stood mentally.“I’m small and weak. My mind gets excited and confused too easily. It took a man risking his life for me to make me concentrate hard enough to hit the target this morning. I’m not going to make it,” she moaped.“You do realize you are asking for sympathy from the only male inside Havenstone who speaks your lingo and everyone will know by Monday,” I tweaked her nose. “I’ve been beaten up, shot with an arrow, faced numerous death threats as well as enslavement plus being stun-gunned half to death and given a truth serum that set my body on fire - figuratively speaking - all in my first week.”“Your life expectancy is under three years, Aya, but mine is at 77 days and counting down,” I gave her a weak grin. “I’m not going to feel sorry for you. Aya has a dozen people who love and support her - me included. She’s a winner. Me? All I’ve got is a whiny munchkin with delusions of self-pity. That would be you, in case you missed it.” Aya hugged me.“That’s why I love you,” she whispered into my ear. “You are really my friend. You turn my mistakes into victories, Cáel. You treat me like you would any other nine-year old girl.”“Cáel Nyilas, what is all this?” Nikita glared at me. She was holding up a bundle of women’s undergarments.“Clean underwear of the female variety,” I grinned broadly.“Wow,” Loraine exclaimed. “There is not much to this one at all,” she held up a lacy white thong. “Do you want to see me wearing this…and a smile?” she invited me with her eyes.“Actually Loraine, those are Timothy’s,” I lied. She looked poleaxed.“Bro, those wouldn’t hide my balls, much less my dick,” Timothy laughed.“Guys!” snapped Nikita. “Try to remember this is a teenage girl sleep-over, not a frat party.”“Nikita, calm down,” Europa tapped the cop’s shoulder. “I think we’ve all seen a naked man before, unless you haven’t. Why don’t you try some of these on? Some are in your size.”“Women don’t put on other women’s underwear,” Nikita stated. “It is unsanitary.”“But he washed them,” Europa countered.“That’s not the point,” Nikita groaned.“Well, I’m going to try some on and see how Cael likes them,” Loraine proclaimed.“Me too!” Europa stood up.“Me three!” Aya tried to jump up but I held her at my side.“No you don’t,” I tickled her. “You need to stay here with me on the sofa to make sure I behave and Officer Nikita doesn’t have to shoot me.”Aya stayed with me; Loraine and Europa grabbed up some of the clothes and fled to my bedroom, pursued hotly by Nikita. Timothy settled in on the other side of Aya.“Hey there,” he rumbled. “You are as cute as Cáel said you were.”“Thank you,” Aya gave her warmest smile to him. “You have really big muscles.”“I work out a lot and eat children for breakfast to stay in shape,” he teased.“Bad children taste better with ketchup,” Aya chirped without missing a beat.“Do you have any eighteen year old, or older, brothers as cute as you?” Timothy rustled Aya’s hair.“We don’t have brothers,” Aya informed him. Timothy shot me an inquisitive look. My visual response indicated he should wait for an explanation later. We opted to tickle Aya instead then Timothy followed that with airplane spins and we ended up doing Aya-tosses. Yes, we tossed the future of House Epona, squealing, across the length of our living room, caught her then threw her back.The ladies came out of my room. Loraine was flabbergasted, Europa was jealous and Nikita was livid. They were also all wearing various pieces of flimsy female attire. You see, when a woman dumps you in a screaming fit, they take their coats, pants and shoes - it gets cold in New Hampshire.The often forget shorts, pajamas, panties, bras and light shirts. This resulted in my 'collection’ of women’s things to be biased toward bedroom/house casual attire.“Me next!” Europa begged.“Put her down right now!” Nikita demanded.“Cáel, I’m scared,” Loraine faux-sniffled. “Hold me.” That would have been bad in all kinds of ways. Loraine had picked up a cotton candy colored bra and panty set - from a nice girl - liked to walk around my room in just that and the matching pair of 6 inch heels…which were also in the box.“No!” Nikita grabbed Loraine’s bra strap to impede her progress. Europa slipped past Nikita right as Timothy was putting the exhilarated Aya down. For a child handled like glass most of her life, I could tell the thrill of our roughhousing was reaching deep into Aya’s heart. She didn’t know that she was still being treated differently than other nine year-olds because being something new was good enough.From my point of view, I was a good boy. I stopped and gawked at Nikita. Sure, she was wearing forest green boy shorts and matching sports bra, but this was as naked as I’d ever seen her. Her body was pale white unlike Loraine’s, which had a faint tan. This did two thing; disappointed Loraine and caused Nikita a terrible conflict of emotions.Oh, I was still a pig who mostly thought of women as sex objects - but she was the current subject of my porcine desires so I was suddenly more acceptable, or at least, forgivable. My reaction had an unexpected benefit. Nikita remembered that she was here to be a chaperone, not a den mother.“Loraine, if he drooled at you like that, he knows I would shoot him,” she tapped the younger woman.“But I’m wearing less,” Loraine turned around to face Nikita. Now Nikita was the 'worldly’ woman lecturing the one blossoming into womanhood - Thank God!Women ganging up on you isn’t always a bad thing and them fighting over you isn’t always a good thing. If they fight over you, the winner may still hold you responsible for what happened = no sex. When they settle those issues internally, they are more likely to ignore your flaws to get what they want, namely your attention and body.Anybody who thinks girls don’t want sex as much as a guy has never been shoved into a dark closet with a female total stranger. If you aren’t quick, she’ll have your cock in her mouth before you can get under her bra - just saying.“Sometimes you get more out of teasing a man than showing him too much,” Nikita taught Loraine.“What do you think?” Loraine turned back to me.“What? Huh? I think you two are two too many,” I gulped. “I’m going to stand in front of the freezer for a bit.” Loraine grinned then turned and shared a special look with Nikita - metamorphosis complete. They were now women, neither Amazon nor outsider.“No you don’t,” Europa insisted. “I want to take an 'Aya’ flight,” she referred to Timothy and me tossing Aya across the admittedly small living room. Timothy easily hefted a giggling Europa up in an arm curl.“We can do this,” Timothy grinned at me. “She’s light enough.”Timothy knew how much weight he regularly lifted and how that rated against my slightly lesser bench press. I took his word for it that I could catch a thrown Europa with only one good leg. The doorbell rang and a stillness seized the room.“Timothy, take Europa to the kitchen,” I hissed. “Loraine, Aya - to the bedroom. Nikita - gun.” People scrambled. Once they were done, I began to stump to the door. The bell rang again because I was taking a while and the person at the door was impatient. I looked out the peephole and what I saw chilled me. Not opening the door wasn’t an option - double negative - ugh.“Hello Elsa,” I glared. She had two buddies, all from the Security Detail. “What can I do for you?”“This is a spot inspection on the Ruger girls,” she informed me.“I didn’t receive any notification of this,” I narrowed my gaze.“That’s why it’s called a spot inspection, you idiot,” Elsa sneered.“Well, that’s not going to happen,” I took a deep breath. “Anything else I can 'not’ do for you?”“Don’t you recall what I said when we met the first time at Katrina’s office?” Elsa smirked.“Since my death will be rapidly followed by yours, I’ll accept the trade,” I grinned.Elsa tried to look past me.“The woman has a gun?” Elsa wondered.“She’s a police officer with a submitted itinerary,” I smiled. “Is there anything else you need to know?”“I will see the girls,” Elsa insisted.“Elsa, here are your options. You can storm the room and you and your team will most likely die. You can leave. Or, you can strip down under my watchful eye. If I am satisfied you have no weapons, you, and you alone, can come in and see the girls. How’s that?”“You don’t dictate conditions to me,” Elsa hissed.“You do what you like. This door closes in ten seconds,” I shrugged.“Girls! Present yourself,” Elsa commanded in Old Kingdom Hittite.“No!” Aya shouted back a second later in the same tongue. “And leave my Daddy alone.”I heard a drawer open in the kitchen.“The knives are in the bloc on the counter,” I heard Timothy give Europa directions. It must have been her looking for a weapon.“Loraine,” Elsa snapped, “stop this madness.”“Elsa, Officer Nikita and me are arguing if I can use her back up-piece, or not,” Loraine responded. “Elsa, I have known and respected you all of my life. If you kill Officer Nikita, I will pick up her weapon and shoot you. Cáel is only doing what a Father would do for his offspring - defending us.”“How about this?” Europa, out of sight in the kitchenette, showed Timothy something.“Utility knife - good choice,” Timothy remarked.“What have you done to these girls?” Elsa seethed.“I…I can’t say anything that would make a damn bit of difference to you, Elsa. You are willfully blind and I’m too hurt and tired to give a damn anymore.”“3…2…1…” I counted down.“Fine, I’ll submit to a search,” Elsa grumbled. Oh, this was going to be fun. This wasn’t what I had purposed. It didn’t matter. She was here to see me, not the kids. I knew that look. I didn’t even ask to take off her clothes. I started, she looked absolutely outraged and she was also juicy enough to slake any man’s, or lesbian’s, thirst.The two other security types started out angry then slowly evolved into a guarded curiosity.“Is this really necessary?” Elsa groused as I took off her belt. I showed her the garrote I found in the folds of the leather accessory. She refused to be apologetic in the least. Beyond the obvious weapons, she had the garrote, 8 small knives and a back-up pistol holstered at the small of her back.Feeling inside Elsa’s bra earned me three dirty looks. I wasn’t actually looking for weapons. Her tits looked nice, so I copped a free feel. I’m a pig. Running my hands around inside her panties earned me a death warrant, no doubt. I kept Elsa’s arousal to myself. Sticking a finger inside her didn’t count as a violation of my 77 day deadline because…I’d make up something later.“Come on,” I beckoned Elsa to follow me. She reached down to pick up her clothes. “No you don’t,’ I insisted. "I can’t be sure I missed something sown into the fabric so you come as you are.” This wasn’t done out of concern for the girls’ safety. This was done because Elsa looked even hotter in her aqua French cut panties and matching sports bra. Oink.Only when I pushed the door open did Elsa and company realize I’d never closed the portal fully. Contrary to the evidence, I wasn’t suicidal. If something had gone bad in the hallway, I was planning to throw my body inside and pray for Nikita to provide me cover fire so I could crawl to the kitchenette.Once we were inside, I shut and deadbolt-locked the door. Nikita and Timothy peeked out first.“You go Bro,” Timothy chuckled. “She’s not here five minutes and you have her out of her clothes. My faith in you is renewed.” Nikita’s reaction was a bit different.“Did you search inside her bra and panties too?” was her icy insinuation of my pig-atude.“Yes he did,” Elsa snarled at Nikita. Oh, this would be a real bitch-fest. I was 'saved’ by the appearance of the three girls. Elsa’s gaze wandered from Loraine to Europa to me. “What is the meaning of this?” That had to be about the lingerie.“Yeah,” Nikita glared at me too. “That’s what I asked him.”“These are his trophies from some of his female conquests,” Lo

Cáel deals with wounds, lies and the clash of cultures.By FinalStand. Listen and subscribe to the podcast at Steamy Stories.The words ‘I love you’ inspires joy, relief and terror.I missed my entry to the infirmary. I was returned to clarity by the two female attendants. The younger went straight to cutting my left pants leg off while the oldest Amazon I’d seen to date began an excellent rendition of 'beef’ inspector while pretending to be a physician. It was almost hilarious when she looked to Sydney, addressing her in Old Kingdom Hittite.“Was he being disciplined, or did he do something stupid?”“I did something stupid,” I griped. “I showed up to work today.” Since it was their native tongue, both of the medical attendants’ eyes bugged out.“He volunteered to help Aya of Epona with her archery lessons by letting her shoot at a fruit out of his hand,” Sydney related.“This…this isn’t a wound caused by a practice arrow,” the physician observed.“No, that was from Leona of Marda. She attempted to kill him. When Leona threatened his controller, he presented himself for slaughter,” Sydney clarified. “Hayden stopped Leona, Leona disobeyed and we need to plan Leona’s funerary arrangements now.”“How did you come to speak our language?” the junior attendant asked. The tone of her voice and the look in her eyes was chilling and sensual at the same time. It was chilling because of the transformation she went through as I went from a piece of equipment to a close approximation of a human being in her eyes. I was getting tired.“Erotic poetry,” I humored her. “I had a lover some time ago - a scholar - who wanted to share Old King…Amazon love poetry and songs in the voices of their creators. I know multiple languages no longer spoken.”#Your eyes are stolen from the waterfalls descending from the highest mountains##Your hair robbed from the threads of the night sky##Your body is shaped by the Mother Rivers##Your beauty is the gift of the Goddess who knows both tears and love#I recited it in the original Chaldean Babylonian. They were all staring at me, so I translated it into Hittite. It didn’t flow as smoothly.“What language was that in?” the security guard inquired.“Chaldean Babylonian. It is a love poem from a prince to his dead wife,” I answered.“It was nice, even eloquent,” Sydney remarked.“Wow,” I sighed. “It is tragic to think not a single woman in this room has ever been romanced.”“I am pretty sure every woman in this room has been with a man before,” the security guard countered.“After sex, what did the two of you talk about?” I regarded her.“That’s not what we use men for,” the doctor spoke up while she began examining my wound. Pain. “We use artificial insemination and surrogates for procreation. Beyond directing them in our physical stimulation, there is no need to talk to men.”“Oh,” I mused sadly. “That makes sense and is richly rewarding to know. If I was more like the rest of you, I’d be laughing. Unfortunately, I have a heart and compassion, so I’ll pity you all instead.” The doctor didn’t take my honestly well. “Ow! Good bedside - Ow! - manner there, Doc.”“We don’t need your pity,” the security guard threatened.“Sure, but then I’ve not bred myself into extinction out of fear of cuddling either,” I grinned. “Treating men like livestock makes sense - if you are evil. You refused to allow yourselves to get attached to any male so it would be easier to kill us when our time came.”“Tread carefully,” Sydney cautioned me.“Okay Sydney. Since you are the only female present capable of having offspring, I’ll be good,” I got in my parting shot. By the silence in the room, I had hit the nail on the head. “I apologize for disturbing you ladies. I’ll be a good male and keep my mouth shut.”That declaration didn’t last long. Apparently pain-killers were not part of their medical credo. When I asked, the doctor implied I wasn’t hurt nearly enough - in other words, not being amputated or decapitated. I asked if being castrated would earn me a hammer to the head. They smiled. They thought I was a funny guy once more. It was the whole 'laugh at death’ mystique again.This tender, motherly moment was punctuated by the doctor’s application of the staple gun (instead of stitches) to both entry and exit wounds. Sydney offered to give me something to bite down on. I insisted on sharing my pain as I screamed my lungs out during the torturous procedure.“I thought you were a tough guy,” the security guard sneered.“And not screaming would have made me tough? Bitch, those are some fucked-up priorities. Screaming meant I didn’t jolt when she was stapling my wounds shut. I’ve been stabbed and stitched enough to know that much,” I glared.The assistant had been walking her hands over my body during the process.“You have been stabbed fourteen times,” she muttered.“You missed the one on the right foot,” I corrected.“You’ve been stabbed fifteen times? What do you do?” Sydney wondered.“I date women. You are a surprisingly dangerous breed, even without the extreme training you ladies possess,” I confessed. “To be concise, I have the bad habit of dating women and their friends, acquaintances, and even family members - usually without their knowledge. It always ends badly - thus the wounds.”“You betray the women you sleep with?” the doctor stared.“We could banter terms and expectations about, but essentially 'yes’, I do,” I sighed.“You seemed like such a well-behaved male,” the security guard looked confused.“Huh? What does my love of sex have to do with my demeanor?” I mused.“I’ve never beat a lover, or forced myself on a woman. If you want to hold my lack of forthrightness against me, please remember you are part of a secret society that embraces kidnapping, rape and slaughter as daily practices,” I smiled. “Comparatively, me not telling one woman that I’m dating her neighbor is small potatoes.”“We do what we do out of necessity,” the doctor insisted.“That flimsy excuse is about as useful as 'you wouldn’t understand; you aren’t a woman/amazon/nutty-nut bar,” I shook my head. “I give up. Your society has equaled, if not exceeded, every inhuman deed men have ever committed.”“Congratulations; you have become crueler and more depraved than your enemies,” I lauded them.“Because of your ignorance, I will let that outburst go unpunished,” Sydney stated. I wised up and shut up.My shirt was returned and they had to synch a large towel around my waist because my jeans were ruined and they didn’t have scrubs in my size. They gave me my bloody dockers too. Sydney walked me to the front entrance. By the looks of the women we passed they knew something had happened, if not the precise nature.Security’s opportunity to 'get me’ on the way out was stymied by Caitlyn & family, Desiree, Tigger, and Buffy hanging around. The moment Aya saw me, she called out my name and came running. The only thing worse than the pain of her impacting me would have been the look on her face if I warded her off. I caught her in my arms and lifted her up.“Cáel,” she exclaimed. “Does it hurt?” I kept lifting her until I blew loudly on her belly.“Does that hurt?” I teased her.“No,” she giggled.“Then I’m fine. Really now, I’ve been hurt worse by a splinter from a toothpick,” I exaggerated for her.“You are lying to me,” Aya shook her finger in my face.“The lesson being 'don’t lie to winners’,” I sighed.“Yep,” Aya mimicked me. “Is our date for tonight still going to happen?”“Oh…Aya, I can’t,” I groaned. “I’ve got three smoking hot babes coming over tonight.”“Don’t make me punch you,” Europa play-threatened. She and Loraine had sneaked up on me while I was entertaining Aya.“I don’t know,” Loraine gave a cautious laugh. “I like being called a smoking hot babe.”“Aya, I really like you, but do you always have to drag those two around with you?” I wiggled Aya up in the air. “It’s kind of creepy.” She giggled.“Those are my sisters, Silly,” she snickered. “They will be your daughters one day too.”“Time for us to go,” Caitlyn intervened. As she ushered her children away, she shot me a look over my shoulder that strongly suggested she wanted to play house. Desiree moved to within a meter of me and looked me up and down.“You are an idiot,” she remarked, turned and left. I looked to Buffy.“I’m your ride,” Buffy snorted. I hobbled to her.“I’m glad you are okay,” Tigger waved then followed Desiree out.“Thanks for a great time,” I looked over my shoulder at the Amazons. “As soon as my blood supply has replenished, I’ll be sure to come back and play some more.”We were in the car, exiting Doebridge when Buffy finally spoke.“Why do you keep thinking you can keep getting away with talking like…” she was glaring at me. “Oh Goddess…you really are laughing at death. You really believe you are going to die, don’t you?”“Absolutely. The moment they started chanting I realized it was unlikely I’d get out of this experience alive,” I admitted.“Why are you holding us to the 78 day rule?” she asked.“Recall what I said about backbone, Buffy?” I reminded her.“I am attached to the lifestyle I’ve created and I’m not going to change it to scrape out a few more days of existence,” I grinned. “I hold Havenstone to that countdown because I would do it if I thought I was going to be okay.” A few more minutes passed. I tried to cut the radio on. Buffy kept cutting it off. I was getting sick of it and my annoyance was showing.“Did you really tell the whole dome that you would sleep with me first?” she whispered.“Of course,” I replied. “I said that was my intention at work and I mean to keep to it.”“What about Hayden?” she asked.“Well, unless you agree to a three-way, I think this is going to be an issue we’ll have to work around,” I shrugged.“I’m not even sure I like you,” Buffy mumbled. “I want you. I am not sure I like you, though.”“Buffy, that’s fine,” I murmured. I unbuckled my seatbelt and began twisting around in my seat. My thigh was killing me, but I was a man on a mission. I put my head in Buffy’s lap, gazing up at her.“What are you doing?” she grinned.“Annoying you - taking advantage of you - take your pick,” I smiled. We drove for a while.“What are you thinking about?” Buffy gazed upon me warmly.“Picturing you in different colors and cuts of panties,” I told her. Buffy frowned then returned her focus to the road.“What is your favorite?” she inquired a few seconds later.“I’m torn,” I confessed. “I never seen you semi-nude so I have to do some imagining. How do black hipster lace panties sound?”“Not a thong?” I had her attention again.“Nah. You are like a chocolate covered cherry, Buffy,” I explained. “Those panties would be like the sweet sugar before you bite into the cherry. It tantalizes with the promise of something even better.” Silence for over ten minutes.“I hate you,” she gulped. She expressed that by tenderly stroking my face and hair.I drifted off to sleep shortly afterwards. It was the combination of lack of movement and the city’s static that brought me back. We were parked somewhere, Buffy gazing down at me with something that might have been confused with affection.“We are home,” she whispered. “Your home. I need to take you to your apartment.”On the third landing we took a breather. Being wrapped up by Buffy, I took a moment to whisper in her hear.#Your eyes are a molten river of gold, promising riches and a fiery death# I sang to her softly in Old Kingdom Hittite. It was original poetry.“What was that?” she smiled.“I’m not sure I can tell you,” I stifled a yawn. “This whole translation thing wasn’t explained to me. I can tell you it was a line of a love poem I created only for you.”“Oh…could you repeat it?” So I repeated it, quietly - this was still a secret language - on each landing until Buffy felt she got it right.Odette answered the door - oh joy. Buffy turned brittle angry while Odette drank in the whole scene.“Who is this?” Buffy snapped.“This is Odette. Odette, this if Buffy, one of my bosses.”“Buffy, Odette is the woman who brings solace to my nights, drives off the pains of the day and comforts me in the first lights of the morning with a smile and a word,” I said by way of introductions. I didn’t call her my girlfriend and still kept her happy.“Oh God, Cáel, what happened to you?” Odette worried.“An important life lesson,” I frowned. “Lawn darts and jello shots don’t mix.” I knew this to be true as I had something similar to this happen to a good friend. Since he was hit by a woman neither one of us 'was sleeping/had been sleeping’ with, we assumed she was intoxicated. We took him to the hospital then I fucked her in the parking lot.Later she, me and the victim had a three-way to ease her regrets. The next four three-ways were just because. Unfortunately, his girlfriend wasn’t as forgiving. Back in the hospital parking lot, once we knew he’d be okay, I fucked his girlfriend too. Yes, I am morally irreprehensible.“What really happened?” Odette fretted as she helped Buffy get me to the sofa.“He cheated on me so I marked him as my territory,” Buffy snarled.“But he’s your employee,” Odette gasped. “Isn’t that immoral?”“Immoral? Child, men exist solely to pleasure women and carry heavy things,” Buffy grumbled.“Carry heavy things…” Odette mused. “He’s carrying something heavy all the time,” she snickered.“I hate you,” Buffy snapped. I wasn’t sure who that was aimed at.“Why - wait, he’s not having sex with you, is he?” Odette sounded surprised. “Wow, you are really missing out.” Buffy gave off her nearly subsonic jaguar growl. “I haven’t had too much experience,” Odette blithely continued on, “but - Wow - I’m having orgasmic tremors up to eight hours after every nightlong sex session with Cáel. It’s wild.”Buffy grabbed my hair and twisted things until I was looking into her blazing hate/lust-filled eyes.“Monday morning - seven o'clock - you’re mine,” she growled. She turned to leave.“What? No good-bye hug?” I pleaded hopefully. I received a deep animalistic noise and a door slammed in our faces.“Odette, is there any way I could convince you for some 'intensive care’ sex?” I gave her puppy-dog eyes. Odette responded by helping me off the sofa and aiming us toward the bedroom. There was a loud pounding on the door.“Odette, stay here. She’s violently unstable,” I cautioned my buddy. I hobbled to the portal.“I want my hug,” Buffy glared as I opened the door.“Fine. Remember, this is purely platonic,” I kept it cool. “Now put your hands behind your back.”“What? No, I won’t,” she snarled.“Buffy, I’m sort of fragile right now and you are a big bully,” I cautioned her. Buffy’s whole body trembled. Had she spontaneously developed heat ray vision, my brain would have been incinerated on the spot. Buffy finally linked her hand behind her back. I gently pressed my body against hers, brushing her hair behind her shoulders then tilting her jaw up.“I don’t like making you unhappy, or disappointing you, Buffy,” I whispered. “I apologize.” I didn’t kiss her. That was technically against the rules. Slow, persistent puffs of breath played along her shoulder, neck ears, cheeks and forehead in lieu of my forbidden kiss. Buffy’s vexation at the lack of oral contact faded as the hot, moist sensations of my exhalations upon her flesh played out.She quickly caught on that she could tilt her neck around to offer up places she found especially enticing, eventually leading me to her cleavage.“Have a nice weekend,” I told her when I was done.“78 days…Cáel. 78 days,” Buffy’s eyes shone like solar flares of lust. She left.The door shut, I turned around and Odette gave me a horny, beseeching lament. She’d been masturbating while I had been not-kissing Buffy.“I need you,” she moaned. I limped her way.“I’m not sure…” I got out before she overwhelmed me.“I’ll help,” she squealed. She dragged me across the room before tossing me on my new bed. Hmmm…new sheets…and the room looked really clean…sex. Odette would hurt me, make amends then try even harder to make me happy. It wasn’t my best experience with sex, but far from my worst.For example: don’t let yourself get tied down when you suspect your bedmate is unhappy with you because she’s found out you’ve also been doing her friend. At least make sure her friend isn’t at home and in on the revenge too. Don’t apologize, beg for mercy, or say you love them. No, take your lumps like a man, admit you are lower than low, and that you deserve whatever they deem appropriate.A terrifying first night. The next two were among the best I ever had…until the next weekend.Odette helped me clean up and changed the sheets all by herself. She was a wonderful girl and I hoped she’d meet somebody who appreciated her and wasn’t like me. Odette informed me that Timothy and Nikita would be showing up around 4 pm.Timothy had also told her he and I had a double date tomorrow night so she promised to call me Monday to see how I was doing…and whatever. With a wink, Odette also passed along that Timothy claimed all the toys in my room were his, except for the bondage suspension gear - which was untried - hint, hint.Wait a second - wasn’t this the same girl who thought a lone dildo was pressing the sexual envelope on Thursday? I kissed Odette and sent her on her way. I noticed the Nerf gun. I contemplated hiding the damn annoyance then I realized he’d only shoot/throw something harder. I decided to wear my Havenstone t-shirt (one size too small) that came with my recruitment packet and some gym shorts because jeans and the wrapping on my thigh didn’t mesh.Nikita showed up first and a bit early. Maybe she was trying to catch me shooing another girl out the door. I didn’t ask.“Hey Nikita,” I greeted her with a kiss.“Hey Cáel - what happened!” she gasped, taking in my bandaging. I had thought about my response.“I was at an archery range this morning and was shot,” I related.“Did you report this?” she began her interrogation.“My insurance will cover this and 'no’, there is no police incident report,” I answered.“Why not?” she glared.“I work for the Amish Mafia, Nikita. If I talk to the cops, you are going to be looking for me under the next barn raising,” I joked. Nikita was not amused in the slightest.“We need to take care of this,” she demanded.“How about this - someone tried to murder me this morning. Not a single person I was with raised a finger to save me,” I exhaled.“I didn’t die for a few reasons. One is the three girls coming over here tonight. Another is that a few women find me charming enough to keep me around. Lastly, they know that I know I’m a corpse if I make a break for it,” I explained. “Now, I’d truly prefer you think I’m making this shit up to sound insane, or trying to impress you.”“You are not…insane, or making that shit up,” she muttered. “I still can’t date a criminal.”“Barring carrying an unauthorized firearm loaded with blanks, I’ve been good,” I grinned.“That’s a crime,” Nikita groaned then pressed into me. “Why do I put up with you?”“You are most likely the best woman I’ll ever meet?” I offered. She hugged me.“I’d say that you are only saying that to get into my pants except you’re desperately trying to not get into my pants,” she sighed. “How do I fix this?”“Fix? I’m not sure this can be fixed. If you want to help, remind me love is stronger than hate, no one is irredeemable, and people can change for the better,” I murmured.“I’ll try,” she gently and repeatedly kissed my shirt-covered chest. “I think you joke too much yet you’re terribly honest. When you said you had a 'plethora of bizarre knowledge, I laugh at danger and have an incessant desire to learn’ you weren’t kidding. I should have run out the door right then.”“I agree. I know you are normally smarter than this - staying with me,” I nodded.“You are not getting rid of me that easily,” Nikita went to her tippy-toes and kissed me on the lips. That’s right. I was not a stoner who liked to toke on the weekends. No, I was part of a massive criminal conspiracy that was involved in various malfeasances more often associated with The Hague than the FBI, or Interpol.Basically I was the opposite kind of man Nikita thought she wanted. I was verbally evasive, romantically unreliable, unethical and criminally involved. She wasn’t blind to my flaws, she was reevaluating her desires. Beyond the sex, which promised to be epic, she felt I was brave and compassionate, honest and caring; a lover who laughed at death.In her distant future, sitting on the sofa, watching TV, while her socially acceptable, ethical and reliable husband was on the computer and her children were asleep in bed, I was the type of man she would recall with a sensual curve to her lips and the fondest of erotic memories. She might even wonder if they’d ever find all my body parts, or the person, or persons, who finally did me in.In the short term that meant more sex for me. I knew I was trying to not have sex spoil my relations with Nikita. I was going to move mountains to keep this love affair on track. If I wasn’t nailing her by next Saturday, a good bet would be that the world had ended. This lack of sex was killing me. With my stress level skyrocketing, my libido was threatening to slip its leash.I’d already scoped out three dozen spots at Havenstone for some quick nookie. It wasn’t intentional. My perception automatically cataloged every place I went to on how safely, quietly, and comfortable having sex there would be. I don’t think most people appreciate how much restraint I showed by not screwing Katrina in her bathroom, Buffy on that bed, and Buffy and Helena in any number of places.The elevators…oh God, the elevators. I’d had sex with a total stranger riding an elevator in the Sears Tower. Every few seconds, we kept punching buttons for higher floors. Watching her greet her husband and two young daughters getting out of the lift was enchanting. I never considered the wife to be cheating though.She wasn’t leaving her family; she was indulging in a fantasy. That helped me through lunch. After all, I was there to catch up with a high school buddy and his sister…and her husband…and two daughters - whoops. In retrospect, I was probably drawn to her because she looked like her/his mother. Mom was kind of hot and freaky too.The lesson there was never go upstairs to take a shower and change, leaving me alone with your mother unless you want her to have a secret smile when you return. She was divorced so there was no moral quandary. Further rumination was forestalled by Timothy’s keys jingling in the door and coming in.“Brother, she’s still got her clothes on,” Timothy mocked me. “You are losing your touch.”“We are not having sex,” I protested.“We are not…this weekend,” Nikita blushed slightly. “Next week though…”“I’m holding out for next Saturday,” I informed them. Nikita hip-nudged me and I winced.“Oh, I’m sorry, Cáel,” Nikita steadied me.“Cáel, what the hell happened to you?” Timothy tilted over to see past Nikita and look over my bandaged thigh, which was now bleeding. Oh, come on. Don’t tell me 'girl on top’ sex voids the 'don’t engage in any strenuous activity for 48 hours’ warning?“Someone tried to murder him,” Nikita spoke for me.“Any lady I’ve met, a jealous lover, or some totally unrelated woman I haven’t encountered yet?” Timothy was less than sympathetic.“Why do you assume I was shot by a woman, or that it was even my fault?” I groaned.“In Atlantic City, the odds of you being mauled by a woman you’ve pissed off is considered a sure thing,” Timothy chuckled.“Crazy woman, you’ve never met her and I seriously doubt you ever will,” I told him. “She’d have shot my nuts off but she had these ridiculously large double-D breasts that got in…Ow!” I yelped as Nikita finger-stabbed one of my nerve clusters.“Come on, Nikita,” Timothy teased. “If Cáel doesn’t notice a woman’s breast size, check him for a pulse, or a concussion.”“Eyes front, Mister,” Nikita demanded. “If you’re looking anywhere it had better be at me.”“Wait a second,” I protested. “You are supposed to be my love slave.” Nikita smirked.“Who is the boss?” she patted my swelling cock through my shorts and talked to it. “Who’s the boss?” pat, pat, “That’s good boy,” she cooed. “He knows who the boss is,” Nikita smiled at me. What could I say? My cock was the Lying Son of a Bitch of all Lying Sons of Bitches. It lied to everybody, me included.The only thing it didn’t lie about was being horny, which was more like a continuous state of being for the damned thing anyway. I could have grappled her breasts, petted her kitty, and/or groaped her ass. It pays to know your date/target/victim (depending on how polite you want to be).My hands cupped her jaw with my fingers tickling her ears.“Are these lips mine?” I whispered before kissing her with only a tantalizing tip of the tongue. “Are these my lips,” I continued on and on.“Yes,” Nikita sighed happily, finally submitting.“Nikita, I’m about to shoot our boy,” Timothy muttered. “Let’s avoid a friendly fire episode.” Timothy went for his Nerf gun, I went for the kitchenette, or would have if Nikita hadn’t stopped me.“Oh, come on,” I pleaded.“No,” Nikita smiled, “I don’t know what you did, but I’m sure you deserve it.” Wack - Nerf hit.“Fine,” I muttered. “Since I’m clearly not getting any sympathy, why don’t we go get the car now?”“I’ll go get the girls, Cáel,” Nikita suggested. “You should stay off your feet.”“Trust me, that will not work,” I said. Thankfully, no one contested me on that. They took one look at the blood soaking through my bandages and cut me some slack.Getting the rental car was interesting. I had to convince Nikita her personal vehicle wouldn’t cut it in our destination neighborhood. Halfway to the pick-up, something dangerous occurred to me.“Desiree, I need to warn Caitlyn I’m bringing over a lady with a gun,” I made a panicky call to the boss most likely know Caitlyn’s number.“Who?” she snapped.“NYPD Patrolwoman Nikita Kutuzov,” I supplied the name.“You are an idiot,” Desiree stated then hung up.“What was that all about?” Nikita stared suspiciously…again.“The family we are going to is security conscious to the level they will want to verify you are who you say you are,” I explained. They weren’t likely to kill her, or us. Caitlyn simply wouldn’t let me in, or let the girls out, which would be a sucky thing to explain if the opportunity to even see the girls ever arose again.“Do I need to inform my precinct that I’m stopping by this house?” Nikita questioned me.“I wouldn’t think so,” I said. “I also wouldn’t have thought I’d be shot with an arrow this morning either. Do what you think is best.” Nikita called in her itinerary. Once we made it to the children’s place, she insisted helping me to the door. Caitlyn answered with the kids closely behind her, luggage in hand.“Ladies, this is Officer Nikita Kutuzov of the NYPD. She will be our chaperone for the night,” I introduced my companion.“Cáel,” Caitlyn asked after she pulled me into a side room, “who is this woman?”“She is the daughter of the desk sergeant I met at the police station last Monday night/early Tuesday morning when Desiree and I showed up to get Marilyn,” I informed her.“I’ve dated her two times - no sex - and we are getting along okay,” I added.“No sex?” Caitlyn purred. “Saving yourself up for something?” I looked over my shoulder and saw three faces peaking in.“Please stop taunting me, Caitlyn,” I murmured. “The children are watching and I have to get going.” She pressed up against me, gave me a wink then returned me to the hallway.“Children, behave and I’ll see you tomorrow afternoon,” Caitlyn smiled. “Cáel - Daddy, have a good time.” Aya was as happy as a clam, Europa was amused, Loraine was a bit sullen and Nikita was stiff as a board. The presence of Nikita, the outsider, kept conversation to a minimum on the ride over. Europa broke the silence as we entered my building.“Gosh Cáel, you are poor,” she noted.“That’s rude,” was Nikita’s rebuttal.“What do you know about Cáel,” Loraine boiled over with anger. Nikita turned on her.“I know you are the reason I’m here, Loraine,” Nikita locked eyes with her. “You are pretty so I’m here to make sure he behaves.”“She doesn’t want him to behave,” Europa teased. Loraine shot Europa an evil look.“I want Cáel to be our Daddy,” Aya piped up. “So does Mommy.”“I had that impression too,” Nikita’s smile to me was frosty.“Well, I plan to be single for at least three more years,” I declared.“Great!” Loraine exulted.“Good luck with that,” Europa mocked me.“I can wait that long,” Aya added.“It will be a miracle if you live that long,” muttered Nikita.“Cáel was shot saving my life today - me and my family,” Aya got out.“Aya - no!” snapped Loraine. “We are not to talk about it.”“I’m a police officer, you can tell me,” Nikita tried to corner Aya.“She is a, (then she used a dead word,” Loraine stated.It was Old Kingdom Hittite for 'masked ghost’. 'Ghost’ could also mean 'evil spirit’. I postulated that was the Amazon term for non-Amazonian women.“What does that mean?” Nikita scanned the group.“It means we are not going to talk about it, concentrating on having a good night instead. Okay?” I stressed.Nikita backed off, we made it to my place and made the introductions with Timothy. Once they got past the fact that he was gay - their problem was not with homosexuality; it was with males wasting their sexual potential not making babies - they thought he was wonderful. My roommate caught me flat-footed when he reminded the girls that they should wear their pj’s on a sleep over.Off they raced into the bedroom, dragging a reluctant Nikita along, to get changed.“Dude,” I said in a hushed voice. “What have I ever done to you?”“Nothing,” he snickered, “I’m being petty.” He went off to change as well. I was already in a t-shirt and shorts. I really didn’t need to change.Nikita’s countenance was one of fury etched in stone. It appeared that Amazonian sleepwear consisted of a beige half-vest, panties and a short, short skirt. It was somewhat endearing on Aya. I wasn’t going to go there with Europa. My brain was having none of that avoidance with Loraine though. God, she was scrumptious…and so very out of bounds.Nikita was in a plaid sleeping shirt than came down to her knees. I was trying to keep it together when Timothy came out in black boy-shorts.“Wow, Nikita. I had a shirt like that…when I was ten. You make it look…” he ended up laughing. The look Nikita gave Timothy was blistering.Aya came up to one side, knelt on the sofa where I was sitting, and hugged my head to her bosom. Europa plopped down on the other side. Loraine hopped into my lap.“Oh…is that your…?” Loraine gasped.“That’s his nothing!” Nikita yanked Loraine off my lap, “that you need to know about at your tender age.”“What is wrong with you people?” Nikita complained.“Don’t look at me. I’ve been sitting on the sofa the entire time,” I waved off responsibility.“We are not ashamed of our bodies,” Loraine shot back. “Don’t take out the fact that you aren’t pretty as me, my sisters, or our Cáel.”“Cáel, don’t tell me you find this manner of dress acceptable?” Nikita glared.“If they are comfortable with it, who am I to complain?” I shrugged.“She’s nine!” Nikita pointed at Aya who smiled back.“Damn Nikita, trust me a bit, why don’t ya? I am well aware of women’s ages,” I sighed.“Do you want me to dress like they do?” she stared accusingly.“That would be pretty nice,” I smiled letting my lust sneak through.“Hold on,” Timothy grinned. I was in trouble. “When I helped Cáel move in I saw he had a huge box full of women’s clothes - not in his size. He’s not a cross dresser.”Gee - thanks Timothy, you right bastard.“What is a cross dresser?” Aya piped up. I groaned.“A cross dresser is a man who dresses up like a woman,” Nikita provided. “A Drag Queen is a man who dresses up like a famous woman/actress/singer. A transvestite is a man who dresses like a woman because they want to be a woman.”“Have you ever dressed like a woman, Cáel?” Europe inquired.“Yeah,” I grinned. “I did a burlesque review one year and dressed up like a pole dancer at a friend’s bachelorette party.”“Really?” Loraine and Nikita both perked up.“What’s are pole dancers and what’s burlesque?” Aya mused.“Hmmm…I was in a burlesque troupe for a South Sudan relief charity event,” I recited. “Burlesque dancers were really racy clothing - kind of like what you have on right now, Aya. I was a pole dancer at my friend’s bachelorette party because I owed her for some past mistakes.”“Aya, pole dancers where bikini style clothing and do erotic acrobatics with a ceiling to floor pole, thus pole dancing,” I explained.“Can we see you do that?” Loraine and Europa closed in. “Sometime soon?”“Past mistakes?” Nikita glared.“Yes, past mistakes,” I sighed. “I slept with her, her best friend, her mother and her younger sister. She stabbed me here,” I pointed to a faded scar on my left triceps. “We hooked up again later, but things didn’t work out that time either,” I pointed to the scar on my foot.“You didn’t have her arrested? Worse, you took her back so she could stab you again?” Nikita shook her head negatively.“I was the one who made her angry,” I shrugged, “plus the sex was passionate.”“Those are scars of sexual animus,” Loraine purred. “You must be tremendously delectable to incite such a reaction.” She gave off her own predatory rumblings.“Loraine, the man cheated on these women. This is not what you look for in a sex partner,” Nikita lectured.“What do you mean?” Europa looked Nikita’s way. “I want a man that other women desire. It makes the conflict and resulting conquest all the more praiseworthy.”“You are thirteen,” the policewoman reminded Europa. “You don’t need to be thinking about men, especially treating men like conquests.”Timothy came out of my room with a large cardboard packing box - full of clothes - women’s clothes.“What the?” Nikita blanched. Europa and Loraine swarmed the goodies while Aya snuggled in tighter to my side.“I’ve never heard my Mother, or Aunts, talk about a male the way they talk about you,” Aya whispered into my ear in Old Kingdom Hittite. “They really like you - as a person.”“You referred to Desiree as your Aunt today,” I quietly spoke. “Is that the first time you’ve acknowledged her as family."No; I did it once before when I was six and Momma was very angry. Grandmother Sylvia was the Heir to House Epona when she ran away,” Aya informed me. “All of this happened before I was born. Great-grandmother was very angry with her sisters and Momma. When they brought Aunt Desiree back, they were all wanted to kill Desiree except Aunt Katrina.”“Katrina fought and killed Great-grandmother so Desiree was allowed to live. The other women still won’t call Desiree 'aunt’ or 'sister’ though,” Aya finished.“You did,” I reminded Aya.“I’m not going to make it, am I Cáel?” Aya suddenly looked so small and vulnerable. “I know you will honest with me.”I wasn’t sure where the honest part came from.“Why do you think you won’t make your trial in three years?” I inquired. I wanted to know where she stood mentally.“I’m small and weak. My mind gets excited and confused too easily. It took a man risking his life for me to make me concentrate hard enough to hit the target this morning. I’m not going to make it,” she moaped.“You do realize you are asking for sympathy from the only male inside Havenstone who speaks your lingo and everyone will know by Monday,” I tweaked her nose. “I’ve been beaten up, shot with an arrow, faced numerous death threats as well as enslavement plus being stun-gunned half to death and given a truth serum that set my body on fire - figuratively speaking - all in my first week.”“Your life expectancy is under three years, Aya, but mine is at 77 days and counting down,” I gave her a weak grin. “I’m not going to feel sorry for you. Aya has a dozen people who love and support her - me included. She’s a winner. Me? All I’ve got is a whiny munchkin with delusions of self-pity. That would be you, in case you missed it.” Aya hugged me.“That’s why I love you,” she whispered into my ear. “You are really my friend. You turn my mistakes into victories, Cáel. You treat me like you would any other nine-year old girl.”“Cáel Nyilas, what is all this?” Nikita glared at me. She was holding up a bundle of women’s undergarments.“Clean underwear of the female variety,” I grinned broadly.“Wow,” Loraine exclaimed. “There is not much to this one at all,” she held up a lacy white thong. “Do you want to see me wearing this…and a smile?” she invited me with her eyes.“Actually Loraine, those are Timothy’s,” I lied. She looked poleaxed.“Bro, those wouldn’t hide my balls, much less my dick,” Timothy laughed.“Guys!” snapped Nikita. “Try to remember this is a teenage girl sleep-over, not a frat party.”“Nikita, calm down,” Europa tapped the cop’s shoulder. “I think we’ve all seen a naked man before, unless you haven’t. Why don’t you try some of these on? Some are in your size.”“Women don’t put on other women’s underwear,” Nikita stated. “It is unsanitary.”“But he washed them,” Europa countered.“That’s not the point,” Nikita groaned.“Well, I’m going to try some on and see how Cael likes them,” Loraine proclaimed.“Me too!” Europa stood up.“Me three!” Aya tried to jump up but I held her at my side.“No you don’t,” I tickled her. “You need to stay here with me on the sofa to make sure I behave and Officer Nikita doesn’t have to shoot me.”Aya stayed with me; Loraine and Europa grabbed up some of the clothes and fled to my bedroom, pursued hotly by Nikita. Timothy settled in on the other side of Aya.“Hey there,” he rumbled. “You are as cute as Cáel said you were.”“Thank you,” Aya gave her warmest smile to him. “You have really big muscles.”“I work out a lot and eat children for breakfast to stay in shape,” he teased.“Bad children taste better with ketchup,” Aya chirped without missing a beat.“Do you have any eighteen year old, or older, brothers as cute as you?” Timothy rustled Aya’s hair.“We don’t have brothers,” Aya informed him. Timothy shot me an inquisitive look. My visual response indicated he should wait for an explanation later. We opted to tickle Aya instead then Timothy followed that with airplane spins and we ended up doing Aya-tosses. Yes, we tossed the future of House Epona, squealing, across the length of our living room, caught her then threw her back.The ladies came out of my room. Loraine was flabbergasted, Europa was jealous and Nikita was livid. They were also all wearing various pieces of flimsy female attire. You see, when a woman dumps you in a screaming fit, they take their coats, pants and shoes - it gets cold in New Hampshire.The often forget shorts, pajamas, panties, bras and light shirts. This resulted in my 'collection’ of women’s things to be biased toward bedroom/house casual attire.“Me next!” Europa begged.“Put her down right now!” Nikita demanded.“Cáel, I’m scared,” Loraine faux-sniffled. “Hold me.” That would have been bad in all kinds of ways. Loraine had picked up a cotton candy colored bra and panty set - from a nice girl - liked to walk around my room in just that and the matching pair of 6 inch heels…which were also in the box.“No!” Nikita grabbed Loraine’s bra strap to impede her progress. Europa slipped past Nikita right as Timothy was putting the exhilarated Aya down. For a child handled like glass most of her life, I could tell the thrill of our roughhousing was reaching deep into Aya’s heart. She didn’t know that she was still being treated differently than other nine year-olds because being something new was good enough.From my point of view, I was a good boy. I stopped and gawked at Nikita. Sure, she was wearing forest green boy shorts and matching sports bra, but this was as naked as I’d ever seen her. Her body was pale white unlike Loraine’s, which had a faint tan. This did two thing; disappointed Loraine and caused Nikita a terrible conflict of emotions.Oh, I was still a pig who mostly thought of women as sex objects - but she was the current subject of my porcine desires so I was suddenly more acceptable, or at least, forgivable. My reaction had an unexpected benefit. Nikita remembered that she was here to be a chaperone, not a den mother.“Loraine, if he drooled at you like that, he knows I would shoot him,” she tapped the younger woman.“But I’m wearing less,” Loraine turned around to face Nikita. Now Nikita was the 'worldly’ woman lecturing the one blossoming into womanhood - Thank God!Women ganging up on you isn’t always a bad thing and them fighting over you isn’t always a good thing. If they fight over you, the winner may still hold you responsible for what happened = no sex. When they settle those issues internally, they are more likely to ignore your flaws to get what they want, namely your attention and body.Anybody who thinks girls don’t want sex as much as a guy has never been shoved into a dark closet with a female total stranger. If you aren’t quick, she’ll have your cock in her mouth before you can get under her bra - just saying.“Sometimes you get more out of teasing a man than showing him too much,” Nikita taught Loraine.“What do you think?” Loraine turned back to me.“What? Huh? I think you two are two too many,” I gulped. “I’m going to stand in front of the freezer for a bit.” Loraine grinned then turned and shared a special look with Nikita - metamorphosis complete. They were now women, neither Amazon nor outsider.“No you don’t,” Europa insisted. “I want to take an 'Aya’ flight,” she referred to Timothy and me tossing Aya across the admittedly small living room. Timothy easily hefted a giggling Europa up in an arm curl.“We can do this,” Timothy grinned at me. “She’s light enough.”Timothy knew how much weight he regularly lifted and how that rated against my slightly lesser bench press. I took his word for it that I could catch a thrown Europa with only one good leg. The doorbell rang and a stillness seized the room.“Timothy, take Europa to the kitchen,” I hissed. “Loraine, Aya - to the bedroom. Nikita - gun.” People scrambled. Once they were done, I began to stump to the door. The bell rang again because I was taking a while and the person at the door was impatient. I looked out the peephole and what I saw chilled me. Not opening the door wasn’t an option - double negative - ugh.“Hello Elsa,” I glared. She had two buddies, all from the Security Detail. “What can I do for you?”“This is a spot inspection on the Ruger girls,” she informed me.“I didn’t receive any notification of this,” I narrowed my gaze.“That’s why it’s called a spot inspection, you idiot,” Elsa sneered.“Well, that’s not going to happen,” I took a deep breath. “Anything else I can 'not’ do for you?”“Don’t you recall what I said when we met the first time at Katrina’s office?” Elsa smirked.“Since my death will be rapidly followed by yours, I’ll accept the trade,” I grinned.Elsa tried to look past me.“The woman has a gun?” Elsa wondered.“She’s a police officer with a submitted itinerary,” I smiled. “Is there anything else you need to know?”“I will see the girls,” Elsa insisted.“Elsa, here are your options. You can storm the room and you and your team will most likely die. You can leave. Or, you can strip down under my watchful eye. If I am satisfied you have no weapons, you, and you alone, can come in and see the girls. How’s that?”“You don’t dictate conditions to me,” Elsa hissed.“You do what you like. This door closes in ten seconds,” I shrugged.“Girls! Present yourself,” Elsa commanded in Old Kingdom Hittite.“No!” Aya shouted back a second later in the same tongue. “And leave my Daddy alone.”I heard a drawer open in the kitchen.“The knives are in the bloc on the counter,” I heard Timothy give Europa directions. It must have been her looking for a weapon.“Loraine,” Elsa snapped, “stop this madness.”“Elsa, Officer Nikita and me are arguing if I can use her back up-piece, or not,” Loraine responded. “Elsa, I have known and respected you all of my life. If you kill Officer Nikita, I will pick up her weapon and shoot you. Cáel is only doing what a Father would do for his offspring - defending us.”“How about this?” Europa, out of sight in the kitchenette, showed Timothy something.“Utility knife - good choice,” Timothy remarked.“What have you done to these girls?” Elsa seethed.“I…I can’t say anything that would make a damn bit of difference to you, Elsa. You are willfully blind and I’m too hurt and tired to give a damn anymore.”“3…2…1…” I counted down.“Fine, I’ll submit to a search,” Elsa grumbled. Oh, this was going to be fun. This wasn’t what I had purposed. It didn’t matter. She was here to see me, not the kids. I knew that look. I didn’t even ask to take off her clothes. I started, she looked absolutely outraged and she was also juicy enough to slake any man’s, or lesbian’s, thirst.The two other security types started out angry then slowly evolved into a guarded curiosity.“Is this really necessary?” Elsa groused as I took off her belt. I showed her the garrote I found in the folds of the leather accessory. She refused to be apologetic in the least. Beyond the obvious weapons, she had the garrote, 8 small knives and a back-up pistol holstered at the small of her back.Feeling inside Elsa’s bra earned me three dirty looks. I wasn’t actually looking for weapons. Her tits looked nice, so I copped a free feel. I’m a pig. Running my hands around inside her panties earned me a death warrant, no doubt. I kept Elsa’s arousal to myself. Sticking a finger inside her didn’t count as a violation of my 77 day deadline because…I’d make up something later.“Come on,” I beckoned Elsa to follow me. She reached down to pick up her clothes. “No you don’t,’ I insisted. "I can’t be sure I missed something sown into the fabric so you come as you are.” This wasn’t done out of concern for the girls’ safety. This was done because Elsa looked even hotter in her aqua French cut panties and matching sports bra. Oink.Only when I pushed the door open did Elsa and company realize I’d never closed the portal fully. Contrary to the evidence, I wasn’t suicidal. If something had gone bad in the hallway, I was planning to throw my body inside and pray for Nikita to provide me cover fire so I could crawl to the kitchenette.Once we were inside, I shut and deadbolt-locked the door. Nikita and Timothy peeked out first.“You go Bro,” Timothy chuckled. “She’s not here five minutes and you have her out of her clothes. My faith in you is renewed.” Nikita’s reaction was a bit different.“Did you search inside her bra and panties too?” was her icy insinuation of my pig-atude.“Yes he did,” Elsa snarled at Nikita. Oh, this would be a real bitch-fest. I was 'saved’ by the appearance of the three girls. Elsa’s gaze wandered from Loraine to Europa to me. “What is the meaning of this?” That had to be about the lingerie.“Yeah,” Nikita glared at me too. “That’s what I asked him.”“These are his trophies from some of his female conquests,” Lo

SDP NFL reviews a season changing week 7 and evaluate a returning wave of offense. https://linktr.ee/SportsDynasty #nfl #nflweek7 #tombrady #aaronrodgers #kansascity #jimmygaroppolo

 Are your retirement funds really YOUR money? The guys talk big-box 401k partnerships and walking the fear-of-missing-out/fear-of-going-lower tightrope before digging into last week's missed sector – coal – and the stocks you'll want to keep an eye on to take advantage in 2024. In this video for educational purposes only, Danny Stewart, Don Vandenbord, […] The post Old King Coal | Your Money Podcast – Episode 422 appeared first on Revere Asset Management.

On Crime time we look at the collapse of Eskom. Amabhungane journalist Susan Comrie chats to Thabo about the years of systemic corruption and political interference that has led to the power cuts we're experiencing today.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Original Air Date: September 01, 1944Host: Andrew RhynesShow: The Lone RangerPhone: (707) 98 OTRDW (6-8739) Stars:• Brace Beemer (Lone Ranger)• John Todd (Tonto) Writer:• Fran Striker Producer:• George W. Trendle Music:• Ben Bonnell Exit music from: Roundup on the Prairie by Aaron Kenny https://bit.ly/3kTj0kK

Original Air Date: September 01, 1944Host: Andrew RhynesShow: The Lone RangerPhone: (707) 98 OTRDW (6-8739) Stars:• Brace Beemer (Lone Ranger)• John Todd (Tonto) Writer:• Fran Striker Producer:• George W. Trendle Music:• Ben Bonnell Exit music from: Roundup on the Prairie by Aaron Kenny https://bit.ly/3kTj0kK

4 year old King Gaylor joins the show along with his parents Nasharis and Tim, and younger brother Kyro. King was diagnosed with ALL in January 2021. He had been sick in December, and was prescribed antibiotics. His mother insisted they weren't working and the doctor ordered a blood test. King was admitted to the hospital where he remained for 48 day, beginning his treatment journey.  King had to overcome challenges, including needing physical therapy to strengthen his legs after a medication made it difficult for him to walk, sometimes slip a bit and giving him high anxiety, but he came out of the experience stronger.  He currently goes to the Jimmy Fund Clinic once a week and will continue treatment through February 2023.  King loves to play instruments, sing, and dance. He likes soccer, but says baseball is the best sport. He also loves Sonic the Hedgehog.  Dana-Farber is special to King and his family because every staff member, nurse, and doctor has always made sure to take the best care of King. 

Fire Will Reign Emotional Fantasy Music - Ice & Fire by Solas. House of the Dragon is an American fantasy drama television series that is a prequel to the television series Game of Thrones (2011–2019), both based on the A Song of Ice and Fire novels by George R. R. Martin. The prequel series was created by Martin and Ryan Condal for HBO and is based on portions of Fire & Blood. Condal and Miguel Sapochnik are showrunners for House of the Dragon. Set about 200 years before the events of Game of Thrones, the series chronicles the beginning of the end of House Targaryen, the events leading up to and covering the Targaryen war of succession, known as the "Dance of the Dragons". Season One, Episode One: The Heirs of the Dragon: In the last years of the reign of Jaehaerys Targaryen, the Old King, tragedies took the lives of his two eldest sons, Princes Aemon and Baelon, leaving the question of succession open. Faced with this situation, the king convened a Great Council where all the lords of Westeros would choose their future ruler. Two of Jaehaerys' grandchildren were candidates for succession, Princess Rhaenys Targaryen, wife of Lord Corlys Velaryon, the richest man at the time, and Prince Viserys Targaryen, Rhaenys' younger cousin and husband of Lady Aemma Arryn. By Westerosi law, a male descendant always comes ahead of a female descendant, causing Rhaenys to lose even though she was the oldest descendant of the king. Nine years later, King Viserys I reigns under the threat of the Triarchy, an alliance made by the free cities of Essos to obtain the region of Stepstones. In addition, Viserys has to deal with his brother Daemon Targaryen's misbehavior for practicing brutality against criminals in King's Landing in command of the City Watch. Queen Aemma dies during childbirth along with her newborn son, who would be Viserys' heir. The Queen's death occurred during the tournament held for the Prince's birth, where Ser Criston Cole defeated Daemon. The Hand of the King, Ser Otto Hightower, suggests that Viserys name his only living child, the young princess Rhaenyra, as heir to the Iron Throne instead of Daemon. After a falling out with Daemon, Viserys officially names his daughter Rhaenyra the Princess of Dragonstone and has several lords swear allegiance to her. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

King David was ready to retire, but before he did, there were a couple of more things to accomplish. David had lived to be an aged monarch. He was a king who was greatly revered by his people. He is beloved for his music and poetry. He is respected for his remarkable wealth and power. […]

Everyone regroups after dashing to the next safe zone, where they meet some old friends. Caleb strategizes. Freya channels her inner Kevin McCallister. Leo ducks behind cover. Skyler doesn't want to go back to gym class. Allison makes a shocking choice.✨You can find all our stuff at https://linktr.ee/wcwbw! Use that link to share the show!Join us on Discord! https://discord.gg/Z5bBjYHURcChat with us about the show, share Hogwarts memes and pet photos, earn points for your house and more!Episode transcripts and more are available on our website:https://whycantwebewizards.com/Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/WhyNotWizardsIf you like our show, please consider rating and reviewing us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you download podcasts.Special thanks to Tablestory, the creators of our game system:https://www.tablestory.tv/waw/https://twitter.com/ATablestory

Watch My Haunted Hotel Episode 12 here:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lSEqkk82egoBook into My Haunted Hotel Here: https://www.myhauntedhotel.comFilm Review: Tucker and Dale Vs Evil (2010)Visit our WEBSITE Subscribe to our PATREON Subscribe to our YOUTUBE CHANNELVisit our MERCH STORE See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Its the much anticipated part 2 of our UK Games Expo 2022 debrief.  We visit the moon in First Rat and Moon, vie for control in Old King's Crown, print up some books in Gutenberg, and fight over our Dinner in Paris. Games Mentioned 00:04:18 First Rat 00:15:02 Shadows of the Sun 00:18:56 Old King's Crown 00:26:15 Gutenberg 00:33:00 Dinner in Paris 00:43:21 Atiwa 00:48:44 Moon 00:55:44 Cerberus Miniatures 01:00:26 Questions from the mailbag This episode is available on iTunes or your favourite podcast player via our feed http://polyhedroncollider.libsyn.com/rss Intro and Outro Music: "Ouroboros" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Jon's News Ferret: "NewsSting" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ Don't forget to visit www.polyhedroncollider.com and YouTube for more great reviews and interviews, or connect with us on Facebook and Twitter and check us out of twitch.tv/polyhedroncollider qfgi9tua

'Stop, stop! Don't kill him you fool, that's the Moorish King!'Boabdil's path to the throne had not been easy. He had been pressured into overthrowing his father by his mother and was captured during his first battle.After being forced to swear an oath of loyalty to The Christian King Ferdinand, many of his countrymen called him a traitor to Islam.With an army of Christian muscle backing him, the 22 year old King marched back to reclaim his homeland.The war-weary citizens of Granada had to pick a side. Should they support the Old King who defended Islam but bought destruction to their lands?Or his son, who bought peace but at the price of their dignity?Part 2 of 3.Help support the show on Patreon!Sources and Attributions on our website. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Our intrepid adventurers make their way to the stronghold, but are stopped by two enemies that are far more familiar than they could have ever known...

It's #WeddingWeek which mean the squad is buzzing. Elon finally got Twitter, Dillon's body composition ahead of the big day, IPAs getting slandered on the TL, Snickers's vein problem, our Old King of the Week, and more. Support us on Patreon and receive weekly episodes for as low $5 per month: www.patreon.com/circlingbackpodcast Purchase a Circling Back Candle: www.vellabox.com/circling-back Watch all of our full episodes on YouTube: www.youtube.com/washedmedia Shop Washed Merch: www.washedmedia.shop (0:00) Fun & Easy Banter (13:00) What's this girl's problem? (18:09) Recapping This Weekend (36:43) Elon Copped A Twitter (43:35) Gym Talk & Dillon's Body Composition (55:25) IPA Slander on the TL (1:06:44) This Week in Veiny Food (1:12:00) Old King of the Week Support This Episode's Sponsors Sunday: www.getsunday.com/steam20 (20% off) Mugsy: www.mugsy.com (STEAM for 10% off) Rothys: www.rothys.com/steam NordVPN: SEE BELOW Grab your EXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal by going to https://nordvpn.com/circling to get up a Huge Discount off your NordVPN Plan + Free Threat Protection + 1 additional month for free! It's completely risk free with Nord's 30 day money-back guarantee!

2 Kings 12Joash Repairs the Temple (v 1-21)**********Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version ®, NIV ® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used with permission. All rights reserved worldwide.The “NIV”, “New International Version”, “Biblica”, “International Bible Society” and the Biblica Logo are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.  Used with permission.BIBLICA, THE INTERNATIONAL BIBLE SOCIETY, provides God's Word to people through Bible translation & Bible publishing, and Bible engagement in Africa, Asia Pacific, Europe, Latin America, the Middle East, and North America. Through its worldwide reach, Biblica engages people with God's Word so that their lives are transformed through a relationship with Jesus Christ.Support the show (https://www.eservicepayments.com/cgi-bin/Vanco_ver3.vps?appver3=Fi1giPL8kwX_Oe1AO50jRiyQtOyGk4k_EcVQYcCBuEehjXsUKRLlmI4vCU4-rZZZ2EvVVAEjqawDomKT1pbouVpn5a3cpHzCC-lHLmLDXQg=&ver=3)

April 17, 2022 Lev. 13:24-59; Ps. 40:1-3; Prov. 13:9-10; Mk. 6:16-29

Welcome to Campfire Tales! Every two weeks you can enjoy a short story read by one of our contributors. This week we have Wee Jack and the Old King, written and read by David White. Thank you to Linley for providing the fabulous artwork for this series! www.linleybarba.com/ Check out our socials to keep in the loop!
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instagram.com/folklorescotland/ Folklore Scotland is a Scottish registered charity whose aim is to connect the tales of the past with the technology of today. You can visit our website and explore your local folklore at www.folklorescotland.com. If you would like to become one of our voluntary contributors or would like to get in touch, email us at info@folklorescotland.com

When you give a rider like Mark Cavendish confidence he will go from strength to strength. Can he beat the record? 14 day challenge www.roadmancycling.com/14day Support this podcast: www.patreon.com/anthony_walsh All the bits & bobs I recommend are here www.roadmanresources.com --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/roadman-cycling-podcast/message

  For listeners of a certain age, a song about King Tutankhamen immediately brings Steve Martin to the mind's theater. His “King Tut” mock-reprimanded the commercialization of the Treasures of Tutankhamen exhibit that toured from 1976 to '79.  But this one, “Old King Tut”, was recorded in 1923, the year AFTER the ancient Pharaoh's tomb was found. Howard Carter and company made the discovery at a time when many had abandoned the famous Valley of the Kings. Shortly after confirming the validity of their find, Carter sent a telegraph to the dig's sponsor, Lord Carnarvon: "At last have made wonderful discovery in Valley; a magnificent tomb with seals intact; re-covered same for your arrival; congratulations." But When Carnarvon arrived three weeks later, the team found that they'd not been the first visitors to the tomb: "At first, their enthusiasm was somewhat dampened, for at the top left-hand corner of the blocking were signs of re-closure, suggesting that the tomb had been entered during antiquity. They began by clearing the descending corridor, which also showed signs of a robber's efforts. By 4:00 pm on the afternoon of November 26th, the corridor was cleared and the team found a second door, again faced with plaster, stamped over with oval seals, and re-closed at the top left-hand corner. Not knowing what lay behind this doorway, Carter made a small hole in it and inserted a candle to test for foul gases. He then peered into the void beyond, reporting: "At first I could see nothing, the hot air escaping from the chamber causing the candle flame to flicker, but presently, as my eyes grew accustomed to the light, details of the room within emerged slowly from the mist, strange animals, statues, and gold - everywhere the glint of gold"." Read more: http://www.touregypt.net/featurestories/carnarvon.htm#ixzz47stLcRLW Image: Howard Carter  in Tutankhamen's tomb, photographed by Harry Burton, created in 1922. The image is in the public domain.

Remember when Joker came out and every shitty hack kept saying it was just a ripoff of two Scorsese movies? We've both seen Taxi Driver(1976) and didn't see much resemblance. So that left only one other movie in the pair to watch and review. King Of Comedy(1982). De Niro plays Pupkin who is an aspiring stand up comedian who watches late night TV. On the surface you could be excused by thinking the two are the same. Pupkin is both obsessed with the late night host and dreams of nothing other than doing the show himself. Going so far as to kidnap Jerry Lewis to upstage him with the help of another … Continue reading "Popcorn Pulse 133: Old King Pop"

Today's episode is a conversation wtih Aaron Wemple, founder of Clean Law a new way to navigate family courts.You can purchase Aaron's book on Amazon - HERE. or directly from the CleanLaw.Today website. About today's guest Aaron WempleAaron W. Wemple is an author, social entrepreneur at Clean Law, and co-founder of CLU family trial research and support group.           As an entrepreneur, Aaron's venture Clean Law started off with the dream of every child having a family. So, his team went to work developing a safer private network (SPN), which includes a child safety file system, or what's called Family Law 2.0. And to accomplish the goal of every child having a family, the company donates all proceeds from product licensing Family Law 2.0 to CLU parents who are in desperate need of a right to be represented in classical family law courts when they are indigent, a right to bail policy when accusations are made, and encouragement to bear their own family sustainability crosses. Especially when they're unwillingly involved in decades of divorce protocols. Clean Law provides a safer experience for families through military deployments, quarantines, divorce, and other life-altering trials.           Clean Law is grateful for many achievements, including: Provided free community resourcesRewarding family connection-keeping milestones“My Lead Style” smartphone appSeven books on AmazonNumerous TV interviews, speaking engagements, and articles           published in other professional publications.            Before devoting his life to Christ and their vision of Clean Law, Aaron served as the facility administrator of the Old King's Orchard Community Center in Decatur, IL, a co-founder of Clean Law Union (CLU) family trial group, and a member of Sheet Metal Workers Union. He teaches the Bible at Water Street Mission homeless shelter and writes grants for Decatur Cares Rescue Missions.           Aaron has an education in electrical engineering and psychology, which turned out to be a perfect blend for his product. Now their peer-to-peer team makes clean law & clarity for improved peace of mind and next-generation safety.