Podcasts about Romance

How's the romance in your marriage? How does it compare to when you were dating? (… and does that matter?) Romance can fall by the wayside in marriage because it seems like an "extra" that you'll get around to when you have extra time or money, or if you feel inspired to make a grand gesture.  But today Dr. Kim shares several reasons NOT to let that be the case in your marriage. Listen to learn why you need to bring the romance back and HOW to realistically make that happen.  We pray this episode is helpful for you and your marriage.    Episode highlights include:   Dr. Kim shares several specific ways romance benefits a marriage  What does romance look like for men vs. for women?  What to do if you're just not feeling it  Whose job is it to make sure the romance is good?    Quotes from This Episode: "Most people would say at some point it was there. So how do you get it back?" - Dr. Kim Kimberling "We kind of quit doing romantic things because we're not feeling it. Sometimes we have to go ahead and do them, so that we feel it again."  - Dr. Kim Kimberling "Marriage is a lot better when you've got romance in it." - Dr. Kim Kimberling "I think we'd like it to come naturally, like it does in the movies." - Dr. Kim Kimberling "It's ok to have the conversation. We have to get past the mindset of, 'If you really loved me, you'd know.'" - Dr. Kim Kimberling "Romance is a great way to show your spouse, I see you, I appreciate you, and I care about what you care about." - Lindsay Few  Questions for You:  Have you talked about romance with your spouse? If not … Ask them: What is sexy to you? What is romantic to you?  Don't judge their answers!  Answers may change over time, so check in every now and then. 

In this episode, we tackle Heir of Fire Chapters 50–56, the emotional and narrative crucible of the novel. Where power is consumed, identity is stripped bare, and Aelin Galathynius finally rises from the ashes of who she was forced to become. Mistward stands alone when Wendlyn is unable to send reinforcements, leaving Celaena and Rowan scrambling to fortify the fortress. But their plans crumble when traitors open the way for Norrak's army. Under the cover of darkness, the Valg princes strike from the front while mortal soldiers access the tunnel beneath the walls, plunging Mistward into chaos. Celaena faces the Valg princes alone as Rowan and the Cadre battle inside the fortress. Overpowered and dragged into her own memories, Celaena is forced to relive the two horrific days she's buried for years. But by finally confronting her past, she unleashes the full fire of her heritage, claiming her name, Aelin Galathynius, and obliterating the Valg in a blaze that changes the war forever. At the heart of the episode is the book's most powerful revelation: Aelin does not need to be saved. By confronting her past self — the unscarred girl she left behind — she claims her name, her power, and her worth. What rises from the fire is not Celaena Sardothien atoning through destruction, but Aelin Galathynius wielding light instead of self-loathing. We also break down Rowan and Aelin's carranam bond, the symbolism of blood shared over old wounds, and why this claiming is about friendship, not romance — a turning point that reframes strength as something shared, not endured alone. Finally, we close in Rifthold, where Dorian's growing magic and quiet resolve force Chaol (and the reader) to reconsider what a king truly looks like. Central Question: What changes when a character stops believing they deserve punishment and chooses instead to live? How to participate: Send your theories and spicy takes for Thursday's Breadcrumbs & Broomsticks—spoilers welcome there. Use our site form or DM us on Instagram. The Subtext Society Journal: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://thesubtextsocietyjournal.substack.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  We're thrilled to announce our newest venture: The Subtext Society Journal—the first of its kind, dedicated to Romance, Romantasy, and fandom with an academic yet accessible voice. We're publishing original essays and thought pieces, and we encourage listeners to submit their own articles for a chance to be featured. Sponsor: Storyworth Give your loved ones a unique keepsake you'll all cherish for years with Storyworth. Right now, save $10 or more during their Holiday sale when you go to STORYWORTH.com/BOOKTALK! Share your thoughts for a chance to be featured! Submit them at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠booktalkforbooktok.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for a future mini-episode or exclusive Patreon discussion. Support the Show:  Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/booktalkforbooktok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  Merch: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Etsy Store⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Us on Social: Instagram: @BookTalkForBookTok TikTok: @BookTalkForBookTok YouTube: @BookTalkForBookTok Heir of Fire analysis, Heir of Fire Ch. 8–13, Sarah J. Maas podcast, Throne of Glass podcast, Aelin Galathynius analysis, Rowan Whitethorn training, Queen Maeve analysis, Manon Blackbeak wyvern, Aedion Ashryver, Dorian and Sorscha, Feminist literary analysis, Marxist literary analysis, romantasy podcast, imagery and symbolism, Mistward, Doranelle, wyverns. Aelin/Celaena • Rowan Whitethorn • Queen Maeve • Chaol Westfall • Dorian Havilliard • Sorscha • Aedion Ashryver • Manon Blackbeak • The Thirteen • Wyverns • Mistward • Doranelle Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When do you know that you're meant to marry someone? How much do you ever really know?? Mike & Alicia Hernon of the Messy Family Project share the story of their friendship, dating, and discernment with loads of wisdom for anyone at any stage of their vocation journey.Send us a text. We can't respond directly, but we're excited to hear what's on your mind!Click here to register for the DBT group from Jan. 20 - March 24, 2026 (MN & WI residents only)Support the showThank you for listening, and a very special thank you to our community of supporters! Visit us online at thiswholelifepodcast.com, and send us an email with your thoughts, questions, or ideas.Follow us on Instagram & FacebookInterested in more faith-filled mental health resources? Check out the Martin Center for IntegrationMusic: "You're Not Alone" by Marie Miller. Used with permission.

A dedicated teen violinist and poet performs Amy Beach's passionate Romance. A clarinetist describes a moment discovering complete silence out in nature and how he draws on that feeling in his performance of Debussy.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

In this episode of the Crazy Wisdom Podcast, host Stewart Alsop sits down with Mike Bakon to explore the fascinating intersection of hardware hacking, blockchain technology, and decentralized systems. Their conversation spans from Mike's childhood fascination with taking apart electronics in 1980s Poland to his current work with ESP32 microcontrollers, LoRa mesh networks, and Cardano blockchain development. They discuss the technical differences between UTXO and account-based blockchains, the challenges of true decentralization versus hybrid systems, and how AI tools are changing the development landscape. Mike shares his vision for incentivizing mesh networks through blockchain technology and explains why he believes mass adoption of decentralized systems will come through abstraction rather than technical education. The discussion also touches on the potential for creating new internet infrastructure using ad hoc mesh networks and the importance of maintaining truly decentralized, permissionless systems in an increasingly surveilled world. You can find Mike in Twitter as @anothervariable.Check out this GPT we trained on the conversationTimestamps00:00 Introduction to Hardware and Early Experiences02:59 The Evolution of AI in Hardware Development05:56 Decentralization and Blockchain Technology09:02 Understanding UTXO vs Account-Based Blockchains11:59 Smart Contracts and Their Functionality14:58 The Importance of Decentralization in Blockchain17:59 The Process of Data Verification in Blockchain20:48 The Future of Blockchain and Its Applications34:38 Decentralization and Trustless Systems37:42 Mainstream Adoption of Blockchain39:58 The Role of Currency in Blockchain43:27 Interoperability vs Bridging in Blockchain47:27 Exploring Mesh Networks and LoRa Technology01:00:25 The Future of AI and DecentralizationKey Insights1. Hardware curiosity drives innovation from childhood - Mike's journey into hardware began as a child in 1980s Poland, where he would disassemble toys like battery-powered cars to understand how they worked. This natural curiosity about taking things apart and understanding their inner workings laid the foundation for his later expertise in microcontrollers like the ESP32 and his deep understanding of both hardware and software integration.2. AI as a research companion, not a replacement for coding - Mike uses AI and LLMs primarily as research tools and coding companions rather than letting them write entire applications. He finds them invaluable for getting quick answers to coding problems, analyzing Git repositories, and avoiding the need to search through Stack Overflow, but maintains anxiety when AI writes whole functions, preferring to understand and write his own code.3. Blockchain decentralization requires trustless consensus verification - The fundamental difference between blockchain databases and traditional databases lies in the consensus process that data must go through before being recorded. Unlike centralized systems where one entity controls data validation, blockchains require hundreds of nodes to verify each block through trustless consensus mechanisms, ensuring data integrity without relying on any single authority.4. UTXO vs account-based blockchains have fundamentally different architectures - Cardano uses an extended UTXO model (like Bitcoin but with smart contracts) where transactions consume existing UTXOs and create new ones, keeping the ledger lean. Ethereum uses account-based ledgers that store persistent state, leading to much larger data requirements over time and making it increasingly difficult for individuals to sync and maintain full nodes independently.5. True interoperability differs fundamentally from bridging - Real blockchain interoperability means being able to send assets directly between different blockchains (like sending ADA to a Bitcoin wallet) without intermediaries. This is possible between UTXO-based chains like Cardano and Bitcoin. Bridges, in contrast, require centralized entities to listen for transactions on one chain and trigger corresponding actions on another, introducing centralization risks.6. Mesh networks need economic incentives for sustainable infrastructure - While technologies like LoRa and Meshtastic enable impressive decentralized communication networks, the challenge lies in incentivizing people to maintain the hardware infrastructure. Mike sees potential in combining blockchain-based rewards (like earning ADA for running mesh network nodes) with existing decentralized communication protocols to create self-sustaining networks.7. Mass adoption comes through abstraction, not education - Rather than trying to educate everyone about blockchain technology, mass adoption will happen when developers can build applications on decentralized infrastructure that users interact with seamlessly, without needing to understand the underlying blockchain mechanics. Users should be able to benefit from decentralization through well-designed interfaces that abstract away the complexity of wallets, addresses, and consensus mechanisms.

Have you ever felt like waiting is taking too long—or that dating should be easier by now? Have you caught yourself comparing your love story to others and feeling disappointed?In this episode, Rachel Awtry shares powerful insights from her new book on why we can—and should—be cultivators of joy in every season of life. We talk about how choosing joy, even in the waiting, can transform not only our outlook but our outcomes.Whether you're single, dating, or simply wrestling with unmet expectations, this conversation offers encouragement, perspective, and hope for wherever you are right now.Get Rachel's book, "Love Your Life (Even When You Don't Like It All the Time)" here: https://www.amazon.com/Love-Your-Life-Even-When/dp/B0DJY765XFPray while you wait with Future Husband, Present Prayers and trust God with your love story with the Dear Future Husband Prayer Journal. Pre-order both at www.christianbevere.com

In this episode of the Doctor Wendy Walsh Show, host Doctor Wendy Walsh explores the state of relationships in 2025. She discusses the mating crisis in America, where a surplus of men and a decline in population are causing concern. Doctor Walsh talks about the rise of AI companions and the potential consequences of relying on technology for intimacy. She also delves into the trend of lavender marriages, where young people are choosing non-romantic partnerships for financial and emotional support. The episode covers the complexities of modern relationships and the need for real-world alternatives to technology.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dating ~ I'm dating an older woman and there is a lot of friction. Listen to caller's personal dramas four times each week as Dr. Kenner takes your calls and questions on parenting, romance, love, family, marriage, divorce, hobbies, career, mental health - any personal issue! Call anytime, toll free 877-Dr-Kenner. Visit www.drkenner.com for more information about the show (where you can also download free chapter one of her serious relationships guidebook).

Lost At Christmas: Part 2 A vulnerable confrontation with an old crush. Based on a post by Tx Tall Tales, in 2 parts. Listen to the Podcast at My First time. Christmas What had started out with the potential for so much disappointment, my first Christmas away from home, was actually quite wonderful. The family embraced me and treated me as one of their own. Dinner was scrumptious, a Christmas ham, with the full complement of side dishes. After dinner we chatted, drank a little too much spiked eggnog, and told stories of the last few years. I sat close to Sheri when I could, beside her at the dinner table, and next to her on the couch while we had our eggnog. I tried to engage her in some quiet conversation of our own, but the setting was all wrong for that, and I eventually abandoned those attempts. It was nice enough just to be near her. Tommy's step-father Dave, insisted I call Santiago, even though I knew the price would be outrageous, and I did. I gave my family my Christmas wishes, and told them how much I missed them and was looking forward to seeing them in a couple of days. Everyone in the room took a minute to say hello and share season's greetings. I had to spend a few minutes trying to get my Mom to stop crying at the far end, before we finally were able to hang-up. The small ones had to go to bed relatively early, and so we all got to open one gift the night before, as was their tradition. I gave Tommy his gift, and his mother opened the family gift and everyone acted pleased. In turn, they had bought me a present which I opened. It was two books for the trip, and they had a card for me. Inside was $50. I was completely in shock. "Dear Steve, Your short visit was a wonderful Christmas gift to us all. Thanks so much for choosing to spend this Christmas with us. Here's some mad money for the trip home. We all love you. Dave, June, Robert, Sheri, John and Jean" I was deeply touched by the gesture. I went over and gave Tommy's Mom a big hug, thanking her for the card and books. The kids jumped up with presents of their own, and I got two new drawings for my dorm room, as well as some mystery invention from John, which was supposed to be a spy tool to stop people from breaking into my room. I thanked them profusely, and they were put to bed shortly after. Dave, Tommy and I discussed the logistics of my morning bus ride back to Charleston. It left at 7:30 am, but was only about 15 minutes away, so we figured on getting a 7:00am start. We relaxed around the fire, ruminating on the poor souls who had the job of driving that bus all day Christmas day. There was a guitar in the corner, Greg's. I was surprised he hadn't taken it with him. I went over and grabbed it, and finding it miserably out of tune, I tuned it up. "Play something Christmassy", Tommy's Mom asked, and so I played a couple of tunes. I'm a fair guitarist; I was studying guitar at the Eastman School of Music since it was convenient, and ROTC was picking up the tab, and had improved quite a bit from the days of our first band. I got rave reviews from my small audience, and took requests for a while, before we broke it up. The parents still had some work to do for the kids, and Tommy and I wanted to hit the hay early, in order to catch that 7:30 bus. More hugs and kisses all around, with a firm handshake for Dave, and I retired to my room to finish my packing. I got ready for bed, dressed in boxers and a t-shirt, laid out my clothes for the morning, and completed my packing. I had one last thing I wanted to do before hitting the sack, so I went back into the bathroom, and knocked on the opposite door into Sheri's room. I heard a muffled "Come in" or something to that effect, and opened the door to find Sheri sitting up in bed, brushing her long blonde hair. She was dressed in a nearly see-through pale green nightie that took my breath away. "Hi." I felt incredibly awkward, like I was 16 all over again. She looked up at me, giving me a quizzically upraised eyebrow. "I had a gift for you, but I felt kind of silly giving it to you out there. I hope you don't mind that I waited until now." I handed her a small leather pouch. She took it, laying her brush to the side, and opened it, pulling out a small cross. She stretched out the cord, and looked at me in surprise. "But this is your mountain cross! You always wear this!" She said, looking at me with a strange look I couldn't quite fathom. The cross was one I had found mountain climbing several years earlier. I had been in a small accident. I'd fallen into a glacier fed stream on a mountain trip, while collecting firewood in a storm. I'd almost frozen before I'd made it back to the cabin. Literally. I thought I was going to die. I was staggering the last 20 feet to the building, in a daze, when a friend returning from the outhouse ran into me, and dragged me inside to warm up. The next morning I found a small ivory cross on a rotted leather lanyard at almost the very place I had climbed out of the stream, and I had worn it for years since then. Sheri knew the story. I had told her the whole thing one evening when I had been giving her driving lessons. I don't know what had motivated me to give it to her, but I had had this urge, and I've always been a pretty impetuous person. "I just want you to have it." I explained. She patted the bed beside her for me to sit down then she handed me the cross to put around her neck and turned her back to me. I passed my hands over the head, letting the cross dangle in the valley between her breasts, and she reached back and pulled her hair up and out of the way, so I could latch the necklace on her. When I was done she turned to me, and fingering the cross she thanked me. "I got the strangest call today." She told me. "Strange how?" I asked. "Kathryn called me. We haven't talked probably in over a year, but she called me out of the blue, and we talked about nothing but you for over an hour." She said with a teasing smile. I could feel my face burning from the blush. We were real quiet for a bit. Then she spoke up softly, not looking at me at all, just looking down at her hands. "Do you remember the skating party where you asked me to skate, like 5 times?" "Do I ever! My hand was so sweaty I was embarrassed to hold yours, but didn't know how to dry it off, and I wasn't good enough a skater to make a real dance out of it." I laughed. "I thought you liked me, and were going to ask me out, but you never did. Why not?" She asked. The memory was embarrassing, and I thought about it a bit before confessing. "I had skated with Kathryn earlier in the evening, and she asked me who I liked. I told her I would answer by the end of the evening. Later, just when I was trying to get the nerve up to skate with you again, and ask you to sit by me on the Pensacola bus trip, Jack found me and told me that I had better ask Kathryn to skate. She was waiting for me to tell her something. Well, I did ask her to skate, and she reminded me of our previous conversation. I admitted that I really liked two people, you and her. Then she asked me if I minded if she 'monopolized' me for a while. I went along. You know the rest. One out-of-town bus trip; one back-row of the movie; and me completely screwing everything up." She listened without showing too much surprise. "But how come you never tried anything after that?" "God! How could I? You knew everything that had happened. Don't you remember the time I stopped by when Net was over here spending the night. Every time I passed you guys, you seemed to be laughing at me. And then when you passed me in the hall and whispered, "Oooh, I Love You," teasing me with what I'd said to Kathryn before completely blowing her off, I was just devastated. I hadn't screwed up just the one chance, but you as well." Sheri had the grace to blush from embarrassment at that. "I really didn't know much of what was going on. Kathryn just told me to go up to you and say that. I'm sorry." "Not half as sorry as I was." I told her. "You had to know how much I liked you. I was always trying to be around you and do things with you." "I didn't know how much of that was just being Tommy's sister, or what. I kept waiting for you to try something, anything, but you never did." She looked at me intensely almost with anguish. I was 16 all over again. I was still embarrassed over my ineptness around women. I had screwed things up with Kathryn. I had screwed up with Teri. And I had screwed up with Sheri. Since then I'd had more than my share of success with the young women I'd known, but all of a sudden, it was like I was a clumsy, scared virgin all over again. Sheri looked at me for a long while, then finally sighed and looked away, picking up her brush and going back to brushing her hair. "Some things will never change, I guess," she muttered, ignoring me. I started to get up, to go to my room, knowing this was neither the time, nor the place to try to start something with Sheri, but I just couldn't leave things as they were. I reached out and took the brush from her, which she relinquished slowly. I then took her by the shoulders and turned her away from me, so I could brush her hair. I brushed her hair in silence for a bit, before speaking. "For at least a year after leaving here, I would dream about you all the time. You were the girl of my fantasies. We wrote so well for a while, and I kept all your letters, reading them over and over again, looking for hidden meaning in the words, wondering if I'd ever get a chance to be with you. I still have those letters." I confessed. Several long seconds later Sheri reached down to the bottom drawer of her chest, next to the bed and opened it. She reached under her sweaters, and pulled out a pile of letters held together with a rubber-band. I recognized my writing. She turned to look at me, and her eyes glistened. I dropped the brush, leaned over and nervously kissed her, hoping beyond hope she wouldn't throw me out of her room with a ruckus. Instead she turned, and returned my kiss with a depth and passion I could only have prayed for. When we broke apart, we just looked at each other. Suddenly I couldn't help but giggle. "What?" She asked, almost crossly. "Do you remember how you thought you'd get pregnant from French kissing?" I recalled. She blushed again. "I can't believe you still remember that, you beast. How did you find that out anyway?" "Kathryn told me on the bus trip. I think she was trying to make you seem naive to me, sort of solidify her hold on me." I told her. "That Bitch! She always denied it, but I couldn't think of anyone else who knew." We laughed a bit, and gradually fell back into kissing each other. At the next break in our kissing, Sheri nailed me again. "Tommy said you did it with Angela. Was she your first?" "No. I never did do it with her. And Colleen was my first." I admitted. "Colleen? From yearbook?" "Yeah. But not until a year later. She went to Mosley with me, and we hooked up at a party. It was weird and nothing much happened of it. Three weeks later I was headed to Chile." I told her. She just shook her head at me. "Since it's time for true confessions, who was your first?" I asked teasing. "Rich? Mike?" "Oh God, no!" she laughed. "Then who?" She never answered, just turned a bright red. "Come on, fair's fair. I told you." I urged her relentlessly. She mumbled something I couldn't make out. "I can't hear you, who was it?" I teased again. She looked up, almost fiercely. "Nobody, all right?" I was stunned, and the ensuing silence seemed endless. "You're kidding me." I finally said, hardly believing. Her answer was so soft I almost missed it. "At one time I thought you'd be my first." This time when we kissed, I allowed my hands to wander, throwing caution to the wind. I cupped her perfect young breast in my hand, letting my thumb brush across her nipple, getting it hard. We were both gasping when we broke apart. "Steve?" "Yes?" "Go close your door, and turn off your light, then turn off the light in the bathroom," she said softly. I did, and she had turned down the light in her room. She was lying in the bed, the covers folded down neatly, waiting for me. She was still in her nightie. I stood beside the bed and made my commitment. I removed my shirt, and then my shorts, sporting a huge hard-on, which she stared at in wonder. I climbed into her bed completely naked. She had been laying sideways, leaning on her elbow, but as I entered the bed, she rolled onto her back, lying down, waiting for me. She was achingly beautiful in the dim light, and I was afraid I was going to come on the spot if she even touched me. I leaned over her and kissed her, but this time the kiss never stopped. I lost my soul in that kiss. I lost all track of time and presence. Our mouths stayed connected as we explored and played with our tongues, and my hands embarked on their exploration of the wonders of her body. My hands touched her all over, before finally settling in the warm crease between her legs. She had panties on, and as my fingers rubbed up and down her hidden folds, I found a small wet spot, maybe the size of a dime slowly spreading. Once I was aggressively rubbing her, sliding the material up and down, half-an inch into her by this time, the wetness enveloped the entire area. I slid my hand less than a foot up her body, and let my finger tips creep under the band of her panties. My hand slid down, the soft down of her hair like a magical lure, the gentle pressure of her panties against the back of my hand trapping me. Our kiss finally broke, and from an inch away we looked into each other's eyes as I slowly slid my middle finger between those forbidden lips, and into her. The aroma of her need assaulted me, and the quiet squish of her wetness against my finger was the ultimate aphrodisiac. I was engulfed with desire. I started to crawl over her, placing my knee between hers when she stopped me. "Wait." Then she raised her hips, and scrunched down, raised her knees, moments later passing me a small, but incredibly erotic piece of plain, white material. I was beyond reason, and I climbed between her legs. She spread them for me, seeming as eager as I. I grabbed my throbbing rod in hand, and by feel, rubbed the head up and down her moistness, adding pressure bit by bit, until I felt it settle in at the mouth of her pussy. She gave a small gasp, as the head slid in just a bit, not quite in her yet, but knowing that I was one small push from being inside. "Be gentle," she said, and I could see a hint of nervousness and fear in her eyes. I leaned over and kissed her softly, and while our lips touched, I pushed, sinking into her. At least for a bit. About halfway in I hit a barrier. I was confused at first. I pulled back and pushed again, a little harder, thinking I was sticking, and she grunted a little as if in pain. It finally sunk in. I had been with plenty of women, and several who had claimed to be virgins, but none with their cherry intact. I wasn't sure what to do. I probed again, and this time elicited a small 'ow'. What was I to do? I lay on top of her, my cock buried four inches deep in the girls of my dreams, and I was at a complete loss. Sheri shifted a bit under me, wrapped her legs around mine, and pulled me close. She whispered into my ear. "Take me." It was the sexiest thing I'd ever heard. Nervously I pulled back until I was just at the opening and I drove down hard, feeling just a pinch before my pelvis was grinding into hers. I was completely inside her. I got up on my elbows and looked down at her. I could see a single wet trail that glistened from the side of her eye to her ear. "Are you ok?" I asked her, holding myself still, deep inside of her. "Wonderful," she said softly, tilting her chin up slightly for a kiss. I accepted the offer, and kissed her gently, while I experimented with moving my cock within her incredibly tight sheath. I felt I was only moments from coming, but I couldn't resist moving my hips just a bit, exploring the feeling of being inside her. I leaned down and whispered in her ear. "I always wanted you. You knew it. I knew it. But I was afraid. I was afraid of the ribbing from your brother. Afraid of being exposed for knowing nothing about what to do with a girl. Afraid of ruining our friendship. Afraid of striking out, and you telling all the other girls, and my being the laughingstock. Afraid of so many stupid things. I was an idiot." "You weren't afraid of Kathryn," she answered softly. "She initiated it all. She pushed forward, asking to monopolize me, holding my hand. I probably never would have made the move. If I could change one thing, it would be that skating party. I should have saved that last moonlight skate for you, and asked you out. I should have told Kathryn that you were the one girl I was interested in. Who knows how things might have worked out? Plus, it wasn't as big a deal. If things didn't work out, oh well. But if I ruined things with you, it would have killed all my dreams." She was hot beneath me, her skin almost burning to my touch, I was finally moving inside of her, but I quickly had to stop, again on the verge of coming, and embarrassed at my short trigger. "Make love to me Steve," she said breathlessly. I gave a few more strokes and had to stop again. "Don't stop," she pleaded. "I'm sorry, I'm so excited I'm on the verge of coming now. If I move I won't be able to stop," I finally confessed. "Do it. Pump me, take me, come deep inside me," she answered. Those words were too much, and with a gasp I drove my cock in hard, and exploded inside her. I pulled back and slammed into her a dozen times or so, making the bed creak alarmingly as I emptied myself inside her virgin moistness. As my heart hammer away in my chest, and my breathing gasped, she gave me a small joyous laugh. "Wow, I guess you were close!" Then she gave a big hug before she pushed me off of her. She climbed over me, her hand pressed between her legs and scrambled into the bathroom, waddling inelegantly but still incredibly arousing to me. I heard her tinkle, and then return to the bed with a facecloth with which she wiped my semi-hard cock clean. Then she climbed into bed, her head on my shoulder and talked. She recounted almost ever time that we'd been together alone, all the adventures we'd had, the summer we'd learned to play tennis together, and what she'd thought might happen. We laughed a little at my ineptness and her caution as well. Then I felt her hand creep down between my legs. "Do you think we could try that again?" she asked me hesitantly. "I'm dying to, but I was afraid I might have hurt you." I laughed my foolish insecure laugh. "So hurt me," she teased, giving a tug on my cock. This time I held out a little better. I climbed between her legs again, and made love to her, still gently, still nervous. But before long I was feeling that familiar rhythm of need, and my strokes became longer and more insistent. I had to have her. I had to take her. I had to fill her deeply, completely. I sat up in the bed, discarding the covers, and raised her legs, pushing them back, and screwing her powerfully, shaking her body, crashing into her with a burning need. She was still wearing her nightie, but it had ridden up above her belly button, just a couple of inches below her breasts. I stopped my motion and whispered to her, "Rise up on your elbows." She looked at me oddly but did, raising her head a few inches off the pillow. I leaned over and lifted her nightie up above her breast, allowing me to see the objects of my desire and fantasies. "God, I've pictured those in my mind for four years, and yet never came close to imagining how perfect and beautiful they are." I said, more to myself than to her. I resumed my fucking, for that was what I was doing now, fucking her. Fucking her hard. She had her bottom lip captured between her teeth, and now she was holding her nightie in her hands, almost to her chin, allowing me an uninterrupted view of her oh-so-perfect tits. The visuals were all too much and pushed me over the edge once again. The beautiful face, the long hair arrayed across the pillow, the full breasts, bouncing a counter-beat to my pounding, her flat stomach, hollowed, and the light fur of her hair parted to allow my pole to penetrate her again and again. With a moan I came for her again, collapsing beside her, sated, and in complete serenity and joy. "I guess you really do like me," she laughed, cuddling up to my side. Then she was asking me about my afternoon meeting with Kathryn. "What did she tell you?" I asked, a little nervous. "No, you tell me what happened. I don't trust her," she insisted. I told her the whole story, including the ending. In full short-but-sweet detail. "I knew it!" She laughed. "She said you tried to come on to her, and made her grab you there, but she turned you down." "If that's how she wants to tell it that's fine by me. I owe her one; let her have it however she wants." I said "When you went to the movies, what really happened there?" she asked, with her one-track mind. I wasn't sure what her preoccupation was but I finally told her the whole scene, everything I'd done, every liberty I'd taken. At the end I waited in judgment. "She's such a liar. She said you tried to reach inside her pants but she stopped you." "Hardly, I could smell her on my fingers for day afterwards." I laughed. Sheri was lost in thought pressed up against me. My hands were idling rubbing her back, the material of her nightie soft and silky against my fingertips. "I guess there's only one thing she's done with you that we haven't done," Sheri started, and then she slid under the covers and a moment later I felt the warm wetness of her mouth enveloping me. I could see the covers moving as she used her mouth to pleasure me, taking only a few moments to make me hard, and then sucking me like there was no tomorrow. Which, in a way I guess there wasn't. I wanted to see her, so I pulled the covers back and looked down at her. She continued a few more strokes, then shifted and faced me a little more, finally lifting her eyes to watch me, watching her, suck my cock. A few more deep strokes and she pulled off with a smile. "I can see that's one thing you like," she said with a grin. "Like is an understatement." I laughed. She gave me a couple more sucks, and then she straddled me, and rose up to take me inside of her again. I wanted her so bad I could almost scream. She got me positioned right, and then slowly lowered herself the full length of my staff with one long, smooth stroke. Then, settled on my hips, my turgid meat buried in her achingly tight recess, she lifted the bottom of her nightie and pulled it up and over her head. I'd been to several strip shows before that, but never in my life had I seen anything so beautiful or so erotic. I could feel my pulse in my cock, throbbing inside her. She opened her eyes wide, and looked down between her legs. "Wow, I could feel that. At least one part of you really likes to see the girls," she laughed, holding her breasts cupped in her hands, and jiggling them for me. "You are the most beautiful thing I've ever seen." I told her. "Right, and now I guess you're going to tell me you love me, just like Kathryn." She said it with a hint of bitterness I didn't understand. "The difference is back then it was the hormones of a 16 year old talking. You on the other hand, I've loved for three years. And you know it." I said, and only as I spoke the words did I realize to my very soul, just how true it was. Sheri didn't answer. She leaned forward and rocked back and forth on my hard cock, enjoying the feeling of controlling the penetration, the pace, the timing. She paced herself to my breathing and excitement. When I started to get really excited she'd slow down and hold me, letting me ease back from the edge. When I was strong and ready, she'd ride me hard. She let my hands explore her as she did the work, and I touched her everywhere I could reach, just wallowing in the sensations. I pulled her down within reach, and tasted her nipples, playing with those perfect globes. The feel of her breasts, that impossible soft pale skin under my lips, making way to the crinkled, tougher skin, peaking to a little nub seemingly designed for me to tease and taste. Finally, after what seemed an eternity of sensual, erotic play, she laid down on me, her breasts pressed against my chest, her mouth on my neck, while she slowly rocked her hips, fucking herself gently on my rod. "Come for me Steve," she said, almost as a command. I reached down and took her full, soft ass cheeks in my hands, grasping them tight, and I held her up a bit off of me, so I could us my hips to drive in and out of her channel more completely. I was able to get a good long stroke established, and I could feel the cool air brushing against my wet shaft each time I pulled outward. We had made love for what seemed ages before she issued that first command for me to come. Now she issued another one. "Tell me again." I couldn't hold back any longer, and didn't want to. I was fucking the prettiest girl I'd ever known; The first girl that I had really badly wanted; The sweet little virgin that I had fantasized about for so long; Whose pretty face had been the image I'd been picturing as I filled enough old gym socks with cum to fill a stadium. "I love you, Sheri. I've loved you as long as I've known you." And with that I pulled her down hard on my cock, coming inside my dream girl again, and absorbing the feeling, knowing I was leaving within hours, not knowing when I'd see her again. "I love you, Steve," she said, I could feel her tears rolling down the side of my face. I looked up to see the sky lightening with the coming dawn, and thought to myself, "That's another one you've got up on Kathryn." I disentangled myself from her limbs and kissed her. "I have to go. Tommy's going to be looking for me any minute." Somehow we had spent the entire night reminiscing, sharing and making love. It was so difficult, but I tore myself from her arms, tucked her in bed, and kissed her goodnight. "Get a couple of hours of sleep; I'll be able to sleep on the bus." I told her. She was still wearing the cross I'd given her. She held it now. "Thanks for the Christmas present." She said with a small sad smile. I kissed her again, and retreated to the bathroom for a quick shower and shave. Back in my room, I dressed, and found a present waiting for me on my suitcase. A 8 by 10 picture of Sheri, as beautiful as I'd ever seen her, with a small inscription on the back. "Merry Christmas. Don't forget about me. Love, Sheri" I had just finished putting it away when Tommy knocked on my door, dragging me out to breakfast, and then off to the bus. The rest of that trip was uneventful; I made it home OK, picked up some presents in Panama, saw some old friends, and made it back to college in one piece. But I'll always recall that first Christmas away from home, and the greatest Christmas present I ever received. Not my first erector set, or the 114 piece Lincoln Log tube. Not my first really Cool bicycle, a purple spider bike with banana seat, big handle bars and a three speed shifter on the bar. Not my first electric guitar, a Fender, and amp, which I think my parents had some second thoughts about. No, Sheri's was the nicest gift I ever received, and probably ever will receive, for Christmas. "Thanks" just doesn't seem to say enough. Based on a post by Tx Tall Tales, in 2 parts, for Literotica

Don't have time for terrible

Lost At Christmas: Part 2 A vulnerable confrontation with an old crush. Based on a post by Tx Tall Tales, in 2 parts. Listen to the Podcast at My First time. Christmas What had started out with the potential for so much disappointment, my first Christmas away from home, was actually quite wonderful. The family embraced me and treated me as one of their own. Dinner was scrumptious, a Christmas ham, with the full complement of side dishes. After dinner we chatted, drank a little too much spiked eggnog, and told stories of the last few years. I sat close to Sheri when I could, beside her at the dinner table, and next to her on the couch while we had our eggnog. I tried to engage her in some quiet conversation of our own, but the setting was all wrong for that, and I eventually abandoned those attempts. It was nice enough just to be near her. Tommy's step-father Dave, insisted I call Santiago, even though I knew the price would be outrageous, and I did. I gave my family my Christmas wishes, and told them how much I missed them and was looking forward to seeing them in a couple of days. Everyone in the room took a minute to say hello and share season's greetings. I had to spend a few minutes trying to get my Mom to stop crying at the far end, before we finally were able to hang-up. The small ones had to go to bed relatively early, and so we all got to open one gift the night before, as was their tradition. I gave Tommy his gift, and his mother opened the family gift and everyone acted pleased. In turn, they had bought me a present which I opened. It was two books for the trip, and they had a card for me. Inside was $50. I was completely in shock. "Dear Steve, Your short visit was a wonderful Christmas gift to us all. Thanks so much for choosing to spend this Christmas with us. Here's some mad money for the trip home. We all love you. Dave, June, Robert, Sheri, John and Jean" I was deeply touched by the gesture. I went over and gave Tommy's Mom a big hug, thanking her for the card and books. The kids jumped up with presents of their own, and I got two new drawings for my dorm room, as well as some mystery invention from John, which was supposed to be a spy tool to stop people from breaking into my room. I thanked them profusely, and they were put to bed shortly after. Dave, Tommy and I discussed the logistics of my morning bus ride back to Charleston. It left at 7:30 am, but was only about 15 minutes away, so we figured on getting a 7:00am start. We relaxed around the fire, ruminating on the poor souls who had the job of driving that bus all day Christmas day. There was a guitar in the corner, Greg's. I was surprised he hadn't taken it with him. I went over and grabbed it, and finding it miserably out of tune, I tuned it up. "Play something Christmassy", Tommy's Mom asked, and so I played a couple of tunes. I'm a fair guitarist; I was studying guitar at the Eastman School of Music since it was convenient, and ROTC was picking up the tab, and had improved quite a bit from the days of our first band. I got rave reviews from my small audience, and took requests for a while, before we broke it up. The parents still had some work to do for the kids, and Tommy and I wanted to hit the hay early, in order to catch that 7:30 bus. More hugs and kisses all around, with a firm handshake for Dave, and I retired to my room to finish my packing. I got ready for bed, dressed in boxers and a t-shirt, laid out my clothes for the morning, and completed my packing. I had one last thing I wanted to do before hitting the sack, so I went back into the bathroom, and knocked on the opposite door into Sheri's room. I heard a muffled "Come in" or something to that effect, and opened the door to find Sheri sitting up in bed, brushing her long blonde hair. She was dressed in a nearly see-through pale green nightie that took my breath away. "Hi." I felt incredibly awkward, like I was 16 all over again. She looked up at me, giving me a quizzically upraised eyebrow. "I had a gift for you, but I felt kind of silly giving it to you out there. I hope you don't mind that I waited until now." I handed her a small leather pouch. She took it, laying her brush to the side, and opened it, pulling out a small cross. She stretched out the cord, and looked at me in surprise. "But this is your mountain cross! You always wear this!" She said, looking at me with a strange look I couldn't quite fathom. The cross was one I had found mountain climbing several years earlier. I had been in a small accident. I'd fallen into a glacier fed stream on a mountain trip, while collecting firewood in a storm. I'd almost frozen before I'd made it back to the cabin. Literally. I thought I was going to die. I was staggering the last 20 feet to the building, in a daze, when a friend returning from the outhouse ran into me, and dragged me inside to warm up. The next morning I found a small ivory cross on a rotted leather lanyard at almost the very place I had climbed out of the stream, and I had worn it for years since then. Sheri knew the story. I had told her the whole thing one evening when I had been giving her driving lessons. I don't know what had motivated me to give it to her, but I had had this urge, and I've always been a pretty impetuous person. "I just want you to have it." I explained. She patted the bed beside her for me to sit down then she handed me the cross to put around her neck and turned her back to me. I passed my hands over the head, letting the cross dangle in the valley between her breasts, and she reached back and pulled her hair up and out of the way, so I could latch the necklace on her. When I was done she turned to me, and fingering the cross she thanked me. "I got the strangest call today." She told me. "Strange how?" I asked. "Kathryn called me. We haven't talked probably in over a year, but she called me out of the blue, and we talked about nothing but you for over an hour." She said with a teasing smile. I could feel my face burning from the blush. We were real quiet for a bit. Then she spoke up softly, not looking at me at all, just looking down at her hands. "Do you remember the skating party where you asked me to skate, like 5 times?" "Do I ever! My hand was so sweaty I was embarrassed to hold yours, but didn't know how to dry it off, and I wasn't good enough a skater to make a real dance out of it." I laughed. "I thought you liked me, and were going to ask me out, but you never did. Why not?" She asked. The memory was embarrassing, and I thought about it a bit before confessing. "I had skated with Kathryn earlier in the evening, and she asked me who I liked. I told her I would answer by the end of the evening. Later, just when I was trying to get the nerve up to skate with you again, and ask you to sit by me on the Pensacola bus trip, Jack found me and told me that I had better ask Kathryn to skate. She was waiting for me to tell her something. Well, I did ask her to skate, and she reminded me of our previous conversation. I admitted that I really liked two people, you and her. Then she asked me if I minded if she 'monopolized' me for a while. I went along. You know the rest. One out-of-town bus trip; one back-row of the movie; and me completely screwing everything up." She listened without showing too much surprise. "But how come you never tried anything after that?" "God! How could I? You knew everything that had happened. Don't you remember the time I stopped by when Net was over here spending the night. Every time I passed you guys, you seemed to be laughing at me. And then when you passed me in the hall and whispered, "Oooh, I Love You," teasing me with what I'd said to Kathryn before completely blowing her off, I was just devastated. I hadn't screwed up just the one chance, but you as well." Sheri had the grace to blush from embarrassment at that. "I really didn't know much of what was going on. Kathryn just told me to go up to you and say that. I'm sorry." "Not half as sorry as I was." I told her. "You had to know how much I liked you. I was always trying to be around you and do things with you." "I didn't know how much of that was just being Tommy's sister, or what. I kept waiting for you to try something, anything, but you never did." She looked at me intensely almost with anguish. I was 16 all over again. I was still embarrassed over my ineptness around women. I had screwed things up with Kathryn. I had screwed up with Teri. And I had screwed up with Sheri. Since then I'd had more than my share of success with the young women I'd known, but all of a sudden, it was like I was a clumsy, scared virgin all over again. Sheri looked at me for a long while, then finally sighed and looked away, picking up her brush and going back to brushing her hair. "Some things will never change, I guess," she muttered, ignoring me. I started to get up, to go to my room, knowing this was neither the time, nor the place to try to start something with Sheri, but I just couldn't leave things as they were. I reached out and took the brush from her, which she relinquished slowly. I then took her by the shoulders and turned her away from me, so I could brush her hair. I brushed her hair in silence for a bit, before speaking. "For at least a year after leaving here, I would dream about you all the time. You were the girl of my fantasies. We wrote so well for a while, and I kept all your letters, reading them over and over again, looking for hidden meaning in the words, wondering if I'd ever get a chance to be with you. I still have those letters." I confessed. Several long seconds later Sheri reached down to the bottom drawer of her chest, next to the bed and opened it. She reached under her sweaters, and pulled out a pile of letters held together with a rubber-band. I recognized my writing. She turned to look at me, and her eyes glistened. I dropped the brush, leaned over and nervously kissed her, hoping beyond hope she wouldn't throw me out of her room with a ruckus. Instead she turned, and returned my kiss with a depth and passion I could only have prayed for. When we broke apart, we just looked at each other. Suddenly I couldn't help but giggle. "What?" She asked, almost crossly. "Do you remember how you thought you'd get pregnant from French kissing?" I recalled. She blushed again. "I can't believe you still remember that, you beast. How did you find that out anyway?" "Kathryn told me on the bus trip. I think she was trying to make you seem naive to me, sort of solidify her hold on me." I told her. "That Bitch! She always denied it, but I couldn't think of anyone else who knew." We laughed a bit, and gradually fell back into kissing each other. At the next break in our kissing, Sheri nailed me again. "Tommy said you did it with Angela. Was she your first?" "No. I never did do it with her. And Colleen was my first." I admitted. "Colleen? From yearbook?" "Yeah. But not until a year later. She went to Mosley with me, and we hooked up at a party. It was weird and nothing much happened of it. Three weeks later I was headed to Chile." I told her. She just shook her head at me. "Since it's time for true confessions, who was your first?" I asked teasing. "Rich? Mike?" "Oh God, no!" she laughed. "Then who?" She never answered, just turned a bright red. "Come on, fair's fair. I told you." I urged her relentlessly. She mumbled something I couldn't make out. "I can't hear you, who was it?" I teased again. She looked up, almost fiercely. "Nobody, all right?" I was stunned, and the ensuing silence seemed endless. "You're kidding me." I finally said, hardly believing. Her answer was so soft I almost missed it. "At one time I thought you'd be my first." This time when we kissed, I allowed my hands to wander, throwing caution to the wind. I cupped her perfect young breast in my hand, letting my thumb brush across her nipple, getting it hard. We were both gasping when we broke apart. "Steve?" "Yes?" "Go close your door, and turn off your light, then turn off the light in the bathroom," she said softly. I did, and she had turned down the light in her room. She was lying in the bed, the covers folded down neatly, waiting for me. She was still in her nightie. I stood beside the bed and made my commitment. I removed my shirt, and then my shorts, sporting a huge hard-on, which she stared at in wonder. I climbed into her bed completely naked. She had been laying sideways, leaning on her elbow, but as I entered the bed, she rolled onto her back, lying down, waiting for me. She was achingly beautiful in the dim light, and I was afraid I was going to come on the spot if she even touched me. I leaned over her and kissed her, but this time the kiss never stopped. I lost my soul in that kiss. I lost all track of time and presence. Our mouths stayed connected as we explored and played with our tongues, and my hands embarked on their exploration of the wonders of her body. My hands touched her all over, before finally settling in the warm crease between her legs. She had panties on, and as my fingers rubbed up and down her hidden folds, I found a small wet spot, maybe the size of a dime slowly spreading. Once I was aggressively rubbing her, sliding the material up and down, half-an inch into her by this time, the wetness enveloped the entire area. I slid my hand less than a foot up her body, and let my finger tips creep under the band of her panties. My hand slid down, the soft down of her hair like a magical lure, the gentle pressure of her panties against the back of my hand trapping me. Our kiss finally broke, and from an inch away we looked into each other's eyes as I slowly slid my middle finger between those forbidden lips, and into her. The aroma of her need assaulted me, and the quiet squish of her wetness against my finger was the ultimate aphrodisiac. I was engulfed with desire. I started to crawl over her, placing my knee between hers when she stopped me. "Wait." Then she raised her hips, and scrunched down, raised her knees, moments later passing me a small, but incredibly erotic piece of plain, white material. I was beyond reason, and I climbed between her legs. She spread them for me, seeming as eager as I. I grabbed my throbbing rod in hand, and by feel, rubbed the head up and down her moistness, adding pressure bit by bit, until I felt it settle in at the mouth of her pussy. She gave a small gasp, as the head slid in just a bit, not quite in her yet, but knowing that I was one small push from being inside. "Be gentle," she said, and I could see a hint of nervousness and fear in her eyes. I leaned over and kissed her softly, and while our lips touched, I pushed, sinking into her. At least for a bit. About halfway in I hit a barrier. I was confused at first. I pulled back and pushed again, a little harder, thinking I was sticking, and she grunted a little as if in pain. It finally sunk in. I had been with plenty of women, and several who had claimed to be virgins, but none with their cherry intact. I wasn't sure what to do. I probed again, and this time elicited a small 'ow'. What was I to do? I lay on top of her, my cock buried four inches deep in the girls of my dreams, and I was at a complete loss. Sheri shifted a bit under me, wrapped her legs around mine, and pulled me close. She whispered into my ear. "Take me." It was the sexiest thing I'd ever heard. Nervously I pulled back until I was just at the opening and I drove down hard, feeling just a pinch before my pelvis was grinding into hers. I was completely inside her. I got up on my elbows and looked down at her. I could see a single wet trail that glistened from the side of her eye to her ear. "Are you ok?" I asked her, holding myself still, deep inside of her. "Wonderful," she said softly, tilting her chin up slightly for a kiss. I accepted the offer, and kissed her gently, while I experimented with moving my cock within her incredibly tight sheath. I felt I was only moments from coming, but I couldn't resist moving my hips just a bit, exploring the feeling of being inside her. I leaned down and whispered in her ear. "I always wanted you. You knew it. I knew it. But I was afraid. I was afraid of the ribbing from your brother. Afraid of being exposed for knowing nothing about what to do with a girl. Afraid of ruining our friendship. Afraid of striking out, and you telling all the other girls, and my being the laughingstock. Afraid of so many stupid things. I was an idiot." "You weren't afraid of Kathryn," she answered softly. "She initiated it all. She pushed forward, asking to monopolize me, holding my hand. I probably never would have made the move. If I could change one thing, it would be that skating party. I should have saved that last moonlight skate for you, and asked you out. I should have told Kathryn that you were the one girl I was interested in. Who knows how things might have worked out? Plus, it wasn't as big a deal. If things didn't work out, oh well. But if I ruined things with you, it would have killed all my dreams." She was hot beneath me, her skin almost burning to my touch, I was finally moving inside of her, but I quickly had to stop, again on the verge of coming, and embarrassed at my short trigger. "Make love to me Steve," she said breathlessly. I gave a few more strokes and had to stop again. "Don't stop," she pleaded. "I'm sorry, I'm so excited I'm on the verge of coming now. If I move I won't be able to stop," I finally confessed. "Do it. Pump me, take me, come deep inside me," she answered. Those words were too much, and with a gasp I drove my cock in hard, and exploded inside her. I pulled back and slammed into her a dozen times or so, making the bed creak alarmingly as I emptied myself inside her virgin moistness. As my heart hammer away in my chest, and my breathing gasped, she gave me a small joyous laugh. "Wow, I guess you were close!" Then she gave a big hug before she pushed me off of her. She climbed over me, her hand pressed between her legs and scrambled into the bathroom, waddling inelegantly but still incredibly arousing to me. I heard her tinkle, and then return to the bed with a facecloth with which she wiped my semi-hard cock clean. Then she climbed into bed, her head on my shoulder and talked. She recounted almost ever time that we'd been together alone, all the adventures we'd had, the summer we'd learned to play tennis together, and what she'd thought might happen. We laughed a little at my ineptness and her caution as well. Then I felt her hand creep down between my legs. "Do you think we could try that again?" she asked me hesitantly. "I'm dying to, but I was afraid I might have hurt you." I laughed my foolish insecure laugh. "So hurt me," she teased, giving a tug on my cock. This time I held out a little better. I climbed between her legs again, and made love to her, still gently, still nervous. But before long I was feeling that familiar rhythm of need, and my strokes became longer and more insistent. I had to have her. I had to take her. I had to fill her deeply, completely. I sat up in the bed, discarding the covers, and raised her legs, pushing them back, and screwing her powerfully, shaking her body, crashing into her with a burning need. She was still wearing her nightie, but it had ridden up above her belly button, just a couple of inches below her breasts. I stopped my motion and whispered to her, "Rise up on your elbows." She looked at me oddly but did, raising her head a few inches off the pillow. I leaned over and lifted her nightie up above her breast, allowing me to see the objects of my desire and fantasies. "God, I've pictured those in my mind for four years, and yet never came close to imagining how perfect and beautiful they are." I said, more to myself than to her. I resumed my fucking, for that was what I was doing now, fucking her. Fucking her hard. She had her bottom lip captured between her teeth, and now she was holding her nightie in her hands, almost to her chin, allowing me an uninterrupted view of her oh-so-perfect tits. The visuals were all too much and pushed me over the edge once again. The beautiful face, the long hair arrayed across the pillow, the full breasts, bouncing a counter-beat to my pounding, her flat stomach, hollowed, and the light fur of her hair parted to allow my pole to penetrate her again and again. With a moan I came for her again, collapsing beside her, sated, and in complete serenity and joy. "I guess you really do like me," she laughed, cuddling up to my side. Then she was asking me about my afternoon meeting with Kathryn. "What did she tell you?" I asked, a little nervous. "No, you tell me what happened. I don't trust her," she insisted. I told her the whole story, including the ending. In full short-but-sweet detail. "I knew it!" She laughed. "She said you tried to come on to her, and made her grab you there, but she turned you down." "If that's how she wants to tell it that's fine by me. I owe her one; let her have it however she wants." I said "When you went to the movies, what really happened there?" she asked, with her one-track mind. I wasn't sure what her preoccupation was but I finally told her the whole scene, everything I'd done, every liberty I'd taken. At the end I waited in judgment. "She's such a liar. She said you tried to reach inside her pants but she stopped you." "Hardly, I could smell her on my fingers for day afterwards." I laughed. Sheri was lost in thought pressed up against me. My hands were idling rubbing her back, the material of her nightie soft and silky against my fingertips. "I guess there's only one thing she's done with you that we haven't done," Sheri started, and then she slid under the covers and a moment later I felt the warm wetness of her mouth enveloping me. I could see the covers moving as she used her mouth to pleasure me, taking only a few moments to make me hard, and then sucking me like there was no tomorrow. Which, in a way I guess there wasn't. I wanted to see her, so I pulled the covers back and looked down at her. She continued a few more strokes, then shifted and faced me a little more, finally lifting her eyes to watch me, watching her, suck my cock. A few more deep strokes and she pulled off with a smile. "I can see that's one thing you like," she said with a grin. "Like is an understatement." I laughed. She gave me a couple more sucks, and then she straddled me, and rose up to take me inside of her again. I wanted her so bad I could almost scream. She got me positioned right, and then slowly lowered herself the full length of my staff with one long, smooth stroke. Then, settled on my hips, my turgid meat buried in her achingly tight recess, she lifted the bottom of her nightie and pulled it up and over her head. I'd been to several strip shows before that, but never in my life had I seen anything so beautiful or so erotic. I could feel my pulse in my cock, throbbing inside her. She opened her eyes wide, and looked down between her legs. "Wow, I could feel that. At least one part of you really likes to see the girls," she laughed, holding her breasts cupped in her hands, and jiggling them for me. "You are the most beautiful thing I've ever seen." I told her. "Right, and now I guess you're going to tell me you love me, just like Kathryn." She said it with a hint of bitterness I didn't understand. "The difference is back then it was the hormones of a 16 year old talking. You on the other hand, I've loved for three years. And you know it." I said, and only as I spoke the words did I realize to my very soul, just how true it was. Sheri didn't answer. She leaned forward and rocked back and forth on my hard cock, enjoying the feeling of controlling the penetration, the pace, the timing. She paced herself to my breathing and excitement. When I started to get really excited she'd slow down and hold me, letting me ease back from the edge. When I was strong and ready, she'd ride me hard. She let my hands explore her as she did the work, and I touched her everywhere I could reach, just wallowing in the sensations. I pulled her down within reach, and tasted her nipples, playing with those perfect globes. The feel of her breasts, that impossible soft pale skin under my lips, making way to the crinkled, tougher skin, peaking to a little nub seemingly designed for me to tease and taste. Finally, after what seemed an eternity of sensual, erotic play, she laid down on me, her breasts pressed against my chest, her mouth on my neck, while she slowly rocked her hips, fucking herself gently on my rod. "Come for me Steve," she said, almost as a command. I reached down and took her full, soft ass cheeks in my hands, grasping them tight, and I held her up a bit off of me, so I could us my hips to drive in and out of her channel more completely. I was able to get a good long stroke established, and I could feel the cool air brushing against my wet shaft each time I pulled outward. We had made love for what seemed ages before she issued that first command for me to come. Now she issued another one. "Tell me again." I couldn't hold back any longer, and didn't want to. I was fucking the prettiest girl I'd ever known; The first girl that I had really badly wanted; The sweet little virgin that I had fantasized about for so long; Whose pretty face had been the image I'd been picturing as I filled enough old gym socks with cum to fill a stadium. "I love you, Sheri. I've loved you as long as I've known you." And with that I pulled her down hard on my cock, coming inside my dream girl again, and absorbing the feeling, knowing I was leaving within hours, not knowing when I'd see her again. "I love you, Steve," she said, I could feel her tears rolling down the side of my face. I looked up to see the sky lightening with the coming dawn, and thought to myself, "That's another one you've got up on Kathryn." I disentangled myself from her limbs and kissed her. "I have to go. Tommy's going to be looking for me any minute." Somehow we had spent the entire night reminiscing, sharing and making love. It was so difficult, but I tore myself from her arms, tucked her in bed, and kissed her goodnight. "Get a couple of hours of sleep; I'll be able to sleep on the bus." I told her. She was still wearing the cross I'd given her. She held it now. "Thanks for the Christmas present." She said with a small sad smile. I kissed her again, and retreated to the bathroom for a quick shower and shave. Back in my room, I dressed, and found a present waiting for me on my suitcase. A 8 by 10 picture of Sheri, as beautiful as I'd ever seen her, with a small inscription on the back. "Merry Christmas. Don't forget about me. Love, Sheri" I had just finished putting it away when Tommy knocked on my door, dragging me out to breakfast, and then off to the bus. The rest of that trip was uneventful; I made it home OK, picked up some presents in Panama, saw some old friends, and made it back to college in one piece. But I'll always recall that first Christmas away from home, and the greatest Christmas present I ever received. Not my first erector set, or the 114 piece Lincoln Log tube. Not my first really Cool bicycle, a purple spider bike with banana seat, big handle bars and a three speed shifter on the bar. Not my first electric guitar, a Fender, and amp, which I think my parents had some second thoughts about. No, Sheri's was the nicest gift I ever received, and probably ever will receive, for Christmas. "Thanks" just doesn't seem to say enough. Based on a post by Tx Tall Tales, in 2 parts, for Literotica

This is a fan fav episode. What up homies! Lisa Bilyeu here. If you've ever wondered if his romantic gestures were just a ploy to trap you, this conversation with Terri Cole is just what you need. In today's powerful two-part episode of Women of Impact with the insightful Terri Cole, we expose the love bombers and boundary manipulators for what they are. Their tactics of 'unearned intimacy' have not earned your time, your attention or love. As we dive into how they manipulate emotions, paint B.S. visions of a future together you really want to hear just to gain control, I hope you're taking notes. It's time to have your own back and demand truth in action. Remember, manipulation isn't about love, it's about power. Let's arm ourselves with knowledge and kick these red flags to the curb.  “Our job is to have our own back. Our job is to go, ‘I can count on me to not people-please myself out of my own integrity.'” -Terri Cole If you're dealing with any kind of abuse and feel unsafe in your relationship, please check out Terri's podcast episode, How to Safely Leave An Abusive Relationship: ⁠https://www.terricole.com/safely-leave-abusive-relationship/⁠  And… Don't forget to check out Terri's latest Boundary Boss Workbook: ⁠https://www.amazon.com/Boundary-Boss-Workbook-Strategies-Over-Giving/dp/1649631421⁠  Original air date: 11-16-2023 Follow Terri Cole: Website: ⁠https://www.terricole.com/⁠  Podcast: ⁠https://www.terricole.com/podcast/⁠  Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/terricole/⁠  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It’s the second episode of our Summer Book Club and this time, we’re diving headfirst into Great Big Beautiful Life by Emily Henry. So then, it was the book that promised joy, mess, meaning and maybe a mild existential spiral — did it deliver?

1-Communication 2-Bad Child? ~ 1-Was I right to slap my boyfriend? 2-Sometimes a child's bad behavior is a cry for help. Listen to caller's personal dramas four times each week as Dr. Kenner takes your calls and questions on parenting, romance, love, family, marriage, divorce, hobbies, career, mental health - any personal issue! Call anytime, toll free 877-Dr-Kenner. Visit www.drkenner.com for more information about the show (where you can also download free chapter one of her serious relationships guidebook).

Lost At Christmas: Part 1 His First Christmas away from home, & His best gift ever. Based on a post by Tx Tall Tales, in 2 parts. Listen to the Podcast at My First time. After my first semester in College, I was eager to go home for the holidays. I was going to school in Rochester, New York, and anybody who'd experienced the lake-effect winters on the Great Lakes would understand my desire to get to somewhere warmer. For me, that somewhere warmer was a long ways away. As a military brat, home was often a moving target, and that winter it was Santiago, Chile, where my father was stationed and where I'd graduated high-school. It was summer in Santiago, and I was looking forward to a pool-party with my old school mates for the Holidays. We didn't have a lot of money, but I was allowed to travel space available on a military flight as a Navy ROTC student. I had to get down to Charleston, South Carolina, and catch an international C1 41 flight that made a loop through Latin America. After finagling a ride to Virginia followed by a very long bus trip down the coast, I finally made it to Charleston AFB. ROTC travel orders in hand, I checked in at the desk, and verified I was on the standby list for the flight leaving on the 23rd. I wouldn't get home until Christmas Day, but better late than never. With pockets nearly empty, a hotel room was out of the question so I slept in the terminal and snacked on the cheapest eats I could get away with. There was a festive mood in the terminal, so many people rushing to get home for the holidays, and I was getting caught up in the feeling, eagerly looking forward to that very long plane ride, first to Panama, then Lima, and finally Santiago. After what seemed an interminable wait, we were an hour away from boarding when I got bumped off the flight by a group of Marines headed to Panama on Active Duty travel orders. I was devastated. The next flight left early the morning of the 26th. At least that one was a huge plane, and nearly empty so I was virtually guaranteed to get aboard, but what was I going to do for Christmas? Looking up at the outgoing flight schedules, I saw a flight listed for Tyndall AFB, Panama City, Florida. "When is the flight to Tyndall headed out?" I asked the airman behind the desk. "In an hour-and-a-half, and it's all but empty. You want on?" He asked, offering some recompense for my last minute bump. I'd lived in Panama City during 9th and 10th grade, and still had some close friends there, many I still kept in touch with. Maybe I could find someone to spend Christmas with there. It had to be better than sleeping in the terminal for 2 more days. "Please," I told him, "but hold my space for Santiago. I'll be back for that flight." I recalled there being a pretty big Greyhound station in Panama City, so I called Greyhound and checked on a bus being able to get me back in time for the flight. They had one, a 7:30 am bus on Christmas morning would get me back before midnight on Christmas. I could easily make the flight the next morning, even if it were delay a few hours. I bought a ticket, using the emergency Am Ex card my parents had given me when I headed off to college. I'd explain the $67.00 to my parents. I called my family in Santiago with the news. It had to be short call because of the expense, so I let them know I had been bumped but would be there on the 28th. I told them I was headed to Panama City, and would be taking a bus back in plenty of time for my flight. My mother cried, and my father told me to go ahead and use the credit card, but to try to keep the expenses reasonable. By the time I hung up I was pretty depressed, but at least I had a plan. Before I could try to contact anyone in Panama City, an announcement was made and suddenly I was on my way to Florida for Christmas, with no place lined up to stay, and practically broke. I was feeling a bit melancholy, but was determined to make the best of it. So there I was, at Tyndall Air Force Base, at 11:20 pm on December 23rd. I was debating who to try first. I had several close friends nearby and I expected they'd all be home for Christmas. After a short internal debate, I had narrowed it down to two. I had always gotten along well with their entire families, and I was still in pretty regular contact with both of them. Mike lived the nearest to me in the old days. He came from a big family, with 6 siblings, including Peggy, who'd been one of my first real deep infatuations. When I had been in 9th grade she'd been a senior, and was pretty and sophisticated. My yearning for her was unrequited, but I relished the idea of seeing her again after four years. She was a college senior, and would probably be home. I knew they'd welcome me, but I was concerned it would be an inconvenience. They did not have a large house, and it was bound to be crowded, particularly with three college kids home for the holiday. On top of that who knew if they had anyone else in tow? Tommy on the other hand came from a relatively well-off family who always lived well within their means. He had an older brother, who was working in Japan and unlikely to be home, a sister, Sheri, just a year behind us in school, and two much younger siblings, who I guessed would be around 9 and 10 by now. They had a spacious house, each kid had their own room, and I wouldn't be putting anybody out if I stayed there. I'd always had a crush on Sheri, but although I'd dated her best friend, I'd never gone out with her. Getting a chance to see her again would be an extra bonus. Feeling nervous and awkward, I dialed Tommy's number from memory, and luckily got him on the first call. If I'd gotten somebody else, I would have really felt uncomfortable. Tommy's answer was unmistakable. He had a funny way of saying hello when he answered the phone, and the sound of his voice took me straight back down memory lane. "Hee-ello," he answered. "Tommy! Guess who?" I asked. I guess my voice must have been similarly recognizable, since he didn't hesitate a second. "Steve-o! What are you up to? Where're you at?" He answered eagerly. It put a smile on my face. Nice to hear a happy, upbeat voice that seemed genuinely pleased to hear from me. "Funny you should ask. It's a long story, but I'm in a bit of a bind. I'm at Tyndall, and stuck here until Christmas Day." I told him. "What happened to Chile, and Rochester?" He asked. "I was on my way home to Chile, when I lost my seat on the plane in Charleston. I couldn't get out again until the 26th, so when I saw an empty plane headed this way, I just hopped on and hoped for the best." I explained. "That's Great!" He almost shouted. "Not great that you couldn't get home, but great that you're here. You want to stay with us? You can have Greg's room, he won't be here, and I'm sure Sheri and Mom would love to see you. The place is kind of 'down' with Greg canceling his trip home at the last minute. Having you here should cheer things up a bit." He did sound enthused, and I couldn't help grinning in reply. "Don't you think you should check?" I laughed. A scream in my ear was the answer, as I heard half of a shouted conversation. "Mom! Guess Who's In Town." "No, Not Greg." "No, Go Ahead Guess." "Guess Again." "Ok, Ok - Steve." "Yeah, Steve Pelland. He's Stuck Here In Town 'Til Christmas Day." "Of Course I Told Him He Should Come Here, I'll Go Get Him." "I Will." "Yes Mom; Yes; I Won't; I Will." I was holding the phone a little away from my head, and almost missed it when he came back on. "Where should I pick you up?" He asked. "The Main Terminal, you know where that is right?" I answered. "Sure - be there in about 30 minutes. Man, this is Great!" I hung up with a big smile on my face, feeling 100% better than I had just 10 minutes earlier. I stood outside waiting for him, and about 20 minutes later the strings of Christmas lights shut off one at a time, as the place closed up for the night. It was dark and quiet, and I started to get nervous again, wondering if this had been such a good idea. I was 500 miles from my flight home and completely at the mercy of old friends. But as far as friends go, I couldn't do much better than mine, and figured at the least I wouldn't be sleeping in a lonely terminal in Charleston for two days, slowly eating my way through my meager funds. When Bob pulled up around midnight, I could see he'd gotten rid of the VW Bug he'd inherited from his mother upon turning 16, and was now driving his brother's old Two-tone Cougar. We spent a minute saying hi, and loading my gear into the trunk, and then we headed back into town, catching each other up on history. When I had first moved to Santiago, I used to write about once every couple of months, as well as call a couple of times a year. In the beginning I'd written Sheri a lot as well. She was one of the most prolific writers among my old friends, and would typically write twice to me for every one I wrote to her. Over the years, that had degenerated into holiday cards and a surprise call maybe once a year. I knew he was attending Florida State, and that Greg had graduated from Georgetown, and had moved to Japan on business. That was about it. Tommy told me all about the old gang, who was in town, who was going to what schools, what people had been up to. I told him a lot more detail about what I'd been up to. "So," he asked, "Got a girl?" "Not now. Thought I had one after the ROTC Christmas ball, but that seems to have been my mistake." I admitted. "Hard to believe. You always had someone. Every letter, every phone-call, just seems like they didn't stay the same all that long." He teased. "I don't know. I had several relationships last pretty long. Two were more than 6 months long." I argued. "Oh! Six Months!" He laughed. "How about you then," I asked in defense. "Still Erin. Almost two years now." He asked. "Shit. What does she see in you? She could do so much better." I teased. "Oh really? Like how?" "Like me!" I laughed. "Right, like that would ever happen! Don't even think about it, or you'll be sleeping in the street." He was laughing as well. "Not if I called Erin I wouldn't," I shot back. I thought it was a great comeback, but it earned me a sock in the arm. We pulled up to his house, which still looked exactly the same, and things were pretty quiet. They used the same window lights, same roof lights, same bush trimmings year after year. It was just as I remembered. Who says you can't go back? "Mom's got to work tomorrow, so I'm sure she's in bed, and you know Dave crashes early, so we better keep it down. We've got lots to do tomorrow anyway." We entered quietly and put my bag in Greg's old room. Tommy stayed and chatted for a few minutes then bid me good night, telling me to sleep in as long as I wanted, as long as it wasn't past 9:00 am, and left me to get settled. Past 9:00? Now I remembered, they'd always been an early-bird household. For me 9:00 am Was the crack of dawn. Tommy and I had breakfast at about 9:30. He was already chiding me for sleeping in and missing the whole family. We had the house to ourselves. He'd been on the phone arranging our day, and once we'd finished the pancakes, we were off to see Mike and his family. Entering Mike's house was the same as it had ever been, but more-so. People everywhere, noise, laughter, roughhousing, it was all taken in stride by Mrs. Frey. We spent a few hours visiting, and getting fed again before we could leave. Mike's older sister Peggy still looked cute to me, but not the amazing creature my memory had somehow stored away. I had to tease her about the Christmas gift she'd given me three years earlier. She'd bought me a Richard Pryor tape, thinking it was Bill Cosby. When I played it for her in my car, she exploded, calling me names and accusing me of vile intent. At the time I had felt bad, confused, angry and a host of other feelings, now thankfully we could laugh at it. When I'd been 16 I'd been somewhat in awe of her, now things were comfortable. Mike's older brother was home as well, with his live-in girlfriend who seemed awfully ill-at-ease, and must have been at least 5 years older than Dan, maybe more. That was a story I'd have to hear more about. The biggest surprise was Alice. She'd been a few years younger than us. I wasn't sure if she was 16 or 17 now, but she was a bombshell. And she was coming on to me like gangbusters. I was really nervous, with her acting all touchy-feely with her mother and Peggy there. I was suddenly glad I had chosen to stay over with Tommy. With a pretty, stacked girl that seemed so infatuated with me around, I'm afraid I might have gotten into a whole lot more trouble than I needed. When we left there Mike joined us, and it was off to see Jack and Russ. They were a year apart in age. Russ had been in our class, and we'd been friendly with him, but Jack, although a year younger was our buddy. We played on the basketball team together, and when Tommy and I formed our first band, Jack was our bassist. At the Chambers house, we once again reminisced, and had to relive our first 'gig'. We had decided to play in the school talent show. With Tommy on piano and Jack on bass, I played guitar. We had a fourth guy on drums we'd all lost contact with. We had played Elton John, Deep Purple, The Eagles, and The Beatles. We had opened with the opening riff of "Smoke on the Water", and had been a hit. We were pretty lousy, but the audience was our friends, our parents and the parents of our friends, and at the end the parents even took up a collection for us. Pretty heady stuff. We'd called ourselves Bronze Myth, and had already designed our first three album covers before we had our first birthday party gig. Jack had been tall then, and had not stopped growing; he was now 6'7" and was attending University of Florida, playing basketball. He reminded me of the time when we went on our first dates together. I had gone with Kathryn Best, easily the most lusted after girl in the whole school, who was in Jack's class a year behind me. Jack, on the other hand, had gone out with our "Valentine's Day Queen", Anne, who was in my class and almost two full years older than Jack. He was always precocious. There had been a third couple with us, Dennis and Suzanne, and Jack broke the news that Suzanne had gotten knocked up, just before I left to go overseas, and she and Dennis had gotten married. There was a huge scandal, but they stuck together, and had the baby. They lived with Suzanne's parents. Dennis was doing alright, working for Suzanne's father. While we were visiting, several friends dropped in, including the aforementioned Kathryn who lived one street over. Kathryn, the stunning brunette who had the body of a 20 year old when she was 15, and had a beautiful face with features that just slayed me. Kathryn, the very first girl I had gotten to Third Base with. She was as pretty as I remembered, and I found out she was going to be attending Mt. Holyoke the following year, which was an odd coincidence since my girlfriend from High School was a sophomore there. Going out with Kathryn, a year younger than me had been a total fiasco. We'd sat together on an out-of-town bus trip and ranked high enough in the pecking order that we got the right hand seat second from the back. These trips were our biggest dates back then. Ours was a small parochial school, and on the bus trips, the athletes, cheerleaders and student fans all rode the same bug. The 30-90 minute trips were like pep rallies on the way out, and like the back of movie theatres on the way back. There were frequent "hand-checks" and the lights would come one as our coaches would walk the aisle, but it seemed like after our wins, the checks would be a little less frequent. Our win at Pensacola was my first real 'make-out' session, as we cuddled and kissed the whole trip home. I even got a chance to play with her breast through her sweater. Less than a week later I asked her to the movies, and we sat in the back with the two other couples, probably both scared spitless and nervous as goldfish in a blender. We'd started necking, which got more and more intense, and my hands boldly went where no hands had gone before. An hour into the movie I was almost out of control, and feverish with desire, and it seemed she was willing to let me do whatever I wanted. If I'd had a little more confidence, or a little more knowledge, who knows what might have happened? As it is, I went pretty far, probably too far, and I was scared to death afterwards. She was the first girl whose flesh I'd touched underneath her clothing. I didn't call her for several days, and even avoided her at school, not knowing what to say. In short I was a total jerk. Everyone thought we should be together, she was the pretty captain of the cheerleaders, with the big boobs, and I was the Big Jock, playing all the sports, while at the same time excelling in school. She was voted "Most Popular." I was "Most Likely to Succeed." However, in this case it turned out she was "Most Slighted", and I was definitely "Most Inept." After waiting several days, amazingly patient in retrospect, she had tasked her best friend Sheri, Tommy's sister, with letting me know that she thought we shouldn't go out. Next thing you know, she was going out with some geeky looking kid, and she dated him for the rest of the school year. I'd changed schools at the end of that year, and had seen her only infrequently the following year, before moving to Santiago. Outside in the backyard, Kathryn and I walked off together and finally had a few minutes alone. "You know Kat, I don't think I ever apologized for being such an idiot, after our first date. I really am sorry." She was quiet for a while. She had a sad little look. "You know, I waited by that phone night after night, crying myself to sleep. I saw you dodging me at school and it broke my heart." "I was young and stupid. I'd never done Anything with a girl before, and could hardly even believe I was with the hottest girl in school. After all the stuff I did, God, I was so embarrassed that I'd overstepped the boundaries, and I had no idea what to say." She sat down underneath the big tree in the backyard and I sat beside her on the circular bench around it. "You could have said something to Jack maybe, or Tommy, and let them tell me. At least let me know that you liked me, or had fun. Something." She looked on the verge of tears, even 3 years later, and I felt even worse. "I know. I kept kicking myself over it. I was so angry with myself and jealous when you went out with Ricky." I admitted. "He was nice to me when I needed it." "But it seemed such an odd fit. He was a nobody; the only thing he ever did noteworthy was date you." I told her. "He lived two houses down. We'd grown up together, and when my heart was broken he picked up the pieces. He could tell something was wrong, and really made me feel a lot better." She confessed. That brought on a short period of silence. It did let me think better of Ricky, who wasn't just lucky or an opportunist. "You know, that was one of the most memorable moments in my life. Touching a girl like that for the first time. I had no idea what I should do, or what I could do, but I kept looking down the row at Dennis and Suzanne, and figured I should be able to do that too. I was in heaven; you were so amazing to be with." I told her, reaching out and taking her hand in mine. Her palm was moist. "You're telling me? You were the big 9th grader with the learner's permit and motorcycle. Big Man on Campus. The guy every girl wanted. And you wanted me. I had no idea what we should or shouldn't do on a date. I was hoping you knew." We laughed at that, remembering the intensity of those feelings. "Given a chance to do it over, I'd have camped out on your doorstep and professed my undying, eternal love the moment you walked out the door." I told her, half serious. "As I recall, you professed your love for me that evening, just before opening the top of my pants." She said with a wicked grin. I'm sure I blushed mightily. "I can't really ask forgiveness, but I really am sorry. Sorry now and sorry then. I fantasized about you for years afterwards, thinking of what could have happened if I hadn't been such a jerk. You have no idea how many of my fantasies you starred in back then." "If only you'd have let me know. Ricky was my first. It could have been you. Given half a chance, it would have been you." She had moved close and was speaking softly. "And this is my punishment. Knowing how bad I fucked up. Seeing you here, as beautiful as in my dreams, and knowing I've screwed up any chance of being with you." I placed my hand behind her head, stroking her hair. "I wouldn't say you'd screwed up Any chance, but you certainly blew that one." We were looking deeply in each other's eyes, recalling strong, painful feelings. I wanted her now, as I'd wanted her then, with a deep burning need, and I leaned forward those last two inches, and captured her lips with mine. She slid forward and melted against me, kissing me with every emotion boiling to the surface. She took my hand and placed it on her incredible chest, and I squeezed her breast, my thumb reliving that first caress of her nipple from so many years earlier. We stayed like that for a couple of minutes, and then broke apart. Her eyes glistened. "I've got a boyfriend." She confessed. I nodded understanding. "If I didn't?" I reached forward pressing my index finger to her lips. "I know. I missed my chance. It's my loss." We just sat side by side a minute, in silence. "You know," she said softly, "what you did to me that night, that was part of the problem." "I know. I'm sorry if I stepped over the line." I said, even now embarrassed at the liberties I'd taken. "No, not anything wrong. What you did to me, how you made me feel. You made me cream my jeans more than once that night. It was the first time I'd ever come. I'd heard about it, but it was almost unreal. Your fingers just drove me wild. It was over a year before another guy was able to do the same." She put her hand between her legs, seemingly remembering that first night. "That makes two of us. I don't know if you knew, but I came in my pants too, and you never even touched me there. By the time I got home I was a terrible sticky mess. I snuck out and threw that underwear away before my mother could find them and ask uncomfortable questions." I told her, laughing. She gave me an odd little look, and then slid around the tree, placing its 3 foot wide trunk between us and the house. She reached out for me, and of course I followed. "Could I, I mean would you mind?" She seemed lost for words. "What? Just ask. I certainly owe you one." I told her. She didn't ask, she just started unbuckling my belt. "I always wondered, and never really had a chance to find out." With the belt open she unbuttoned and unzipped my pants. "I mean, that night, you got to find out pretty much ALL about me, but I didn't; " I lifted my hips and let her pull my pants down a short ways, and then she reached up and pulled my underwear down exposing my fully erect monument to her sexiness. "I knew it, you bastard. Look at that." I didn't have to look. I knew it pretty well. And it was certainly standing tall and making me proud. She took me in hand and stroked me up and down, which after all the discussion and reminiscing was almost enough to get me off. "I just knew it. This should have been my first." She slowly stroked me up and down, and then she leaned over and took me in her mouth for just a second, sucking me deep and then releasing me. That was it. It was too much for me, and I stood up and shot my wad a good two feet out from where we were sitting. She giggled, as she helped me through my release, then pulled my underwear up back over my still dripping cock, and wiped her hand on the front of my briefs, before helping me pull my jeans back up. "If I wasn't tied up, I'd have you paying reparations," she told me as we both stood, and she slapped my hands away from my belt and finished straightening me out herself. "Let's consider it a delayed payoff. If things don't work out for you, maybe we can try it again. Rochester isn't That far from Amherst." Little did I know what the future held in store for us, but that's a different story. We walked back to the house hand-in-hand, laughing at the folly of youth, from the wizened experience of our 18 and 19 years. She had to leave shortly after, as did we, and I kissed her goodbye at the door. Once the door was closed I heard an exclamation from behind me. I turned to Tommy who said, "Now I've seen everything." "Amen," said Jack. "What?" I asked. "After how you treated her after our first date, I was certain you were on her shit-list for life." Jack explained. "Absolutely." Tommy chimed in. "Sheri said that Kathryn fantasized about doing mean and nasty things to you for years. I mean, hell, you did use her pretty bad." "I was a dope. I did some things I'd never done before, and was so embarrassed I didn't know how to even face her. So I screwed up and avoided her. I just made my apologies and we worked things out. I think she understands that I didn't try to be mean; I was just young and stupid. I didn't know what I was doing, and regretted it for years." I told them. "Geez. I always wondered how you could pass on that, when she was so available to you. You really did fuck up, didn't you?" Tommy pointed out. "Yep, not the first time, and I'm certain not the last. But we've buried the hatchet it seems." I answered "I'm just astounded that hatchet isn't in your back." Jack added. We left just a short while after that. We had one last visit to make. Teri Branson was passing through town, and wanted to see us if she could. She was just there for the day, and none of us wanted to miss out on that chance. The summer before 10th grade, I'd practically lived at Teri's. It was football time, and we were doing twice-a-days. We'd have morning practice, then a break so we wouldn't be out all day in the noon-time Florida summer sun. After the break it was afternoon practice. Teri was at our school and I never really knew her until that summer. She lived only a block from Mike, and we had run into her one day out washing the family car. We struck up a conversation, and the rest was history. I spent every football break at her house that summer. Mike didn't play football, but I'd pick him up on the way over there, and we'd hang out. She had a pool table, and a private rec-room with a stand-up arcade game. Her mother would always bring us snacks and drinks. Teri had not been popular, and was new to the school as well. But in a period of just a few months she went from a boyish figured tom-boy, to a devastatingly beautiful teen. Her breasts seemed to almost explode outwards, and once we'd met her mom, we knew where she got it from. She lost some weight, traded glasses for contacts, grew tits, lost the braces, and suddenly this beauty was in our midst, and nobody even knew about her but us. She was our secret. Tommy was going to a different high-school from me and Mike, but we still hung together most of the summer, and we had to let him in on our secret. The closest we'd come to having anything happen was a bizarre game of spin-the-bottle underneath the pool table. Mike, Tommy, me and Teri. Just an excuse for us to take turns kissing her. Her father was being transferred again at the end of the summer. I told her I was going to have a birthday party, and that we were going to play spin-the-bottle, I had hoped she'd be there, but now she was leaving. We were all upset. Tommy suggested we play now, since she couldn't make it then, and we did. It was strange but wonderful. Two weeks later she was gone. We met Teri at the mall, our planned rendezvous. We couldn't miss her; she was the center of a lot of attention. And still gorgeous. We ran up to her and had hugs all around. "I can only stay about 20 minutes," she told us with a pout. "Damn," was all I could say. So the three of us toured the mall, observing all the changes. It had been brand new the year we had been together. We grabbed some drinks, and wandered back outside, our time almost up, and barely even caught up. "Teri, I have a confession." I told her. "I know we acted pretty much like friends, but I was crazy about you. That summer I went home every evening and dreamed of you." "Hell, we all did." Tommy admitted. "We were such idiots," she said. She reached up to my collar and pulled me down for a kiss. Teri stood maybe 5 foot 1, so I had at least a foot on her in height. Bent over I let her kiss me, and I returned it eagerly. Finally she released me. "I was so confused. One day I'd like you, and then the next day you," she said nodding around the group, "and then you. I kept wondering who was going to be my first real boyfriend. I just knew it was going to be one of you. And then it was all over." She looked up at me. "I Still dream about you sometimes." All we could do was laugh it off, and say we'd get together sometime. She was living in Phoenix now, finishing high school, and it looked like she'd be going to Stanford. It was going to be hard to ever make that commute work out, not that she didn't seem like it would be worth the effort. Then her parents drove up. We said hi to her mom (who had been a secret fantasy of mine back then) and then with a last set of hugs it was goodbye to Teri. It was getting late so we dropped Mike back off at his house, driving mostly in quiet. I imagine we were all lost in thought over the quirks of fate and what might have been. For me, it was thoughts of Kathryn and Teri, two incredible opportunities that any teen would kill for, and I'd let them slip through my fingers. We dropped Mike off, but didn't go inside. As it was we were running late, and knew that if we went in, it would be a while before we got out of there. From Mike's it was a 5 minute drive back to Tommy's, but we drove past Teri's old house, just for nostalgia's sake. At Tommy's we were running late. Dinner was going to be at 6:00 pm, and somehow we'd burned the whole day. It was 5:45 before we even walked in the door, and we both wanted to clean up before dinner. The kid's rooms were served by two separate bathrooms, one at the end of the hall, and one off of Greg's room. So I stripped down to my shorts, and went to take my shower. I hadn't expected the bathroom to be full. Sheri was in their, applying the last of her makeup. Fortunately (or unfortunately) she was dressed. When I walked in, she gave a squeal, and came over and gave me a big hug. "I can't believe you're here! You're looking good." She said, stepping back and giving me the once over. "Wow, Sheri, you look great!" was all I could say. She had always been pretty. But the difference between a 15 year old Sheri and this one was night and day. The more mature Sheri was a beautiful young woman. "Thanks," she said, "I'll be out of here in a second, and you can have the place to yourself. I'm dying to talk to you." "I'll be here all night." I joked, stepping back into the room I was using, before my underwear had to undergo any more strain. I sat on the bed waiting, and after just a minute or so she poked her head in and said "It's all yours." She left the door open and walked out the other side of the bathroom. So that was one change at least that I hadn't noticed. Back in the day, this was Greg's bathroom. But since then someone had taken out the linen closet, and the old closet door now opened into Sheri's room. In retrospect it should have been obvious. With Greg away, the bathroom had a lot of stuff in it, although very neat. If I'd opened a cabinet or drawer, I would have seen all the makeup and girl's things. I was using Sheri's bathroom. I rapidly cleaned up and dressed. I was in a bit of a hurry, wanting to still wrap a couple of small presents for my hosts. I had bought several music tapes for my sister as a Christmas present, and decided to gift Tommy with one of them. I also had a photo in a frame for my mom, and decided to make the frame a family gift. It was simple, hand-made by yours truly from apple-wood. After borrowing some paper, tape, and scissors, I was ready to join everyone else just a few minutes later. To be continued in part 2. Based on a post by Tx Tall Tales, in 2 parts, for Literotica

Fluent Fiction - Serbian: Fireworks, Friendship, and the Courage to Connect Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/sr/episode/2025-12-27-08-38-20-sr Story Transcript:Sr: Док је зима облагала камене улице Сплита, празнични дух разливао се дуж обале Јадранског мора.En: As winter covered the stone streets of Split, the holiday spirit spread along the coast of the Adriatic Sea.Sr: Свака светлост на променадама блистала је као звезда која је украшавала небо.En: Every light on the promenades shone like a star decorating the sky.Sr: Иза очаравајућих светала, мирис куваног вина и смех туриста стварао је топлину у хладној ноћи.En: Behind the enchanting lights, the scent of mulled wine and the laughter of tourists created warmth in the cold night.Sr: Током ових свечарних тренутака, младић Вук ходао је сам, полако се крећући кроз шеталиште.En: During these festive moments, a young man named Vuk walked alone, slowly moving through the promenade.Sr: Био је из Београда, волио је да истражује нове крајеве, али усамљеност га је често пратила.En: He was from Belgrade, loved exploring new places, but loneliness often followed him.Sr: Његова резерва спречавала га је да се отвара људима.En: His reserve prevented him from opening up to people.Sr: Али у тој гомили, нешто је требало да се промени.En: But in that crowd, something was about to change.Sr: Насупрот њему, Јелена из Новог Сада весело је кренула дуж обале.En: Opposite him, Jelena from Novi Sad cheerfully strolled along the coast.Sr: Била је ведра и авантуристичког духа, путовала је да побегне од свакодневне рутине.En: She was cheerful and adventurous, traveling to escape the daily routine.Sr: Њена радост била је заразна, и у тренутку када су се њихови погледи срели, судбина је умешала прсте.En: Her joy was infectious, and the moment their eyes met, fate intervened.Sr: „Здраво“, осмехнула му се, протежући руку.En: "Hello," she smiled, reaching out her hand.Sr: „Јеси ли и ти сам овде?En: "Are you also here alone?"Sr: “„Да,“ одговори Вук, осећајући како му срце убрзава.En: "Yes," Vuk replied, feeling his heart race.Sr: „Сам, али не и изгубљен.En: "Alone, but not lost."Sr: “Разговарали су, свеопшти жамор људи био им је савезник, водећи их ближе једно другоме.En: They talked, the general murmur of people being their ally, drawing them closer to each other.Sr: Јелена је причала о својим путовањима, о местима која је видела и људима које је срела.En: Jelena spoke of her travels, the places she had seen, and the people she had met.Sr: Вук је био фасциниран њеном храброшћу и животном радошћу.En: Vuk was fascinated by her courage and zest for life.Sr: Међутим, упркос срчаној везаности, Вук је осећао како га преплављује стара стидљивост.En: However, despite the heartfelt connection, Vuk felt his old shyness overcome him.Sr: Иза гласова, подсећао се на оно што заиста жели: не само присуство, већ истинску везу.En: Behind the voices, he reminded himself of what he truly wanted: not just presence, but a genuine connection.Sr: Време је брзо прошло, а крај године се ближио.En: Time flew by, and the year's end was approaching.Sr: Пре него што су сви околни звуци истопили ту вече, Вук је, осетивши тренутак, одлучио да ризикује.En: Before all the surrounding sounds melted that evening, Vuk, sensing the moment, decided to take a risk.Sr: „Да ли би хтела да гледамо ватромет заједно?En: "Would you like to watch the fireworks together?"Sr: “Јелена се осврнула према мору, па према Вуку и насмешила се.En: Jelena looked toward the sea, then at Vuk, and smiled.Sr: „Била би ми част.En: "It would be my pleasure."Sr: “Док је поноћна муњевита светлост бојила небо, њих двоје стајали су раме уз раме.En: As the midnight flashes of light painted the sky, the two of them stood shoulder to shoulder.Sr: Свако пуцање ватромета било је као нови нотни запис њиховог пријатељства.En: Each burst of fireworks was like a new musical note of their friendship.Sr: Часови су пролазили, разговори су текли, и одједном се чинило да нису више сами.En: Hours passed, conversations flowed, and suddenly it seemed they were no longer alone.Sr: Када је све било готово, осећали су се потпуно повезаним.En: When it was all over, they felt completely connected.Sr: Разменили су контакте, обећавши да ће остати у контакту, и тако, свако од њих оставио је Сплит с првим наговештајем нове пријатељске везе у свом срцу.En: They exchanged contacts, promising to stay in touch, and so, each of them left Split with the first hint of a new friendship in their hearts.Sr: Вук је те вечери научио нешто важно – да смелост може донети драгоцене односе, и да светлост ватромета није једина светлост која обасјава пут.En: That evening, Vuk learned something important—courage can bring about precious relationships, and the light of fireworks is not the only light that illuminates the way.Sr: Година, која је тек почела, обећавала је нове прилике за пријатељство и осмехе.En: The year, just beginning, promised new opportunities for friendship and smiles. Vocabulary Words:promenades: променадеenchanting: очаравајућихmulled wine: куваног винаreserve: резерваadventurous: авантуристичкогinfectious: заразнаfascinated: фасциниранzest: радостheartfelt: срчаноgenuine: истинскуshyness: стидљивостintervened: умешалаconversations: разговориfireworks: ватрометflashes: муњевита светлостshoulder: рамеconnected: повезанимilluminates: обасјаваopportunities: приликеcheerfully: веселоstrolled: кренулаroutine: рутинаcourage: храбростmurmur: жаморfate: судбинаmelted: истопилиprecious: драгоценеhint: наговештајемrelationship: односеlaughter: смех

Emmy Award-winning interior designer Bobby Berk (Queer Eye, Junk or Jackpot?) joins Nicole to share the secrets of success behind his 22-year relationship. He discusses meeting his husband on Gay.com, his trick to manipulate a partner into having better taste, and the wild reason why everyone was throwing up during his marriage proposal. Plus, he explains why he refuses to give gifts or celebrate Valentine's Day, and why giving in to those societal pressures is actually the quickest way to ruin a relationship.Watch Junk or Jackpot? Premiering today on HGTV, streaming on HBO Max.Watch this episode on our YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/@WhyWontYouDateMePodcastSupport this podcast and get discounts by checking out our sponsors:Squarespace: Head to squarespace.com/DATEME to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain using code DATEME.NOCD: If you're struggling with OCD or unrelenting intrusive thoughts, NOCD can help. Book a free 15 minute call to get started: https://learn.nocd.com/DATEME.Wayfair: Every Style, Every Home.Follow:All Links: linktr.ee/whywontyoudatemeTour Dates: linktr.ee/nicolebyerwastakenYouTube: @WhyWontYouDateMePodcastTikTok: @whywontyoudatemepod Instagram: @nicolebyerX: @nicolebyerNicole's book, #VERYFAT #VERYBRAVE: indiebound.org/book/9781524850746This is a Headgum podcast. Follow Headgum on Twitter, Instagram, and Tiktok. Advertise on Why Won't You Date Me? via Gumball.fm.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

FROM IOWA RADIO TO WARNER BROTHERS STARDOM Colleague Max Boot. Boot details Reagan's college romance with Margaret Cleaver and his early career shift from sportscasting in Iowa to acting in Hollywood. He explains Reagan's initial success in B-movies at Warner Brothers and his courtship of actress Jane Wyman, leading to their marriage and his ascent in the film industry. NUMBER 2 1940 SANTE FE TRAIL

This is a fan fav episode. What up homies! Lisa Bilyeu here. If you've ever wondered if his romantic gestures were just a ploy to trap you, this conversation with Terri Cole is just what you need. In today's powerful two-part episode of Women of Impact with the insightful Terri Cole, we expose the love bombers and boundary manipulators for what they are. Their tactics of 'unearned intimacy' have not earned your time, your attention or love. As we dive into how they manipulate emotions, paint B.S. visions of a future together you really want to hear just to gain control, I hope you're taking notes. It's time to have your own back and demand truth in action. Remember, manipulation isn't about love, it's about power. Let's arm ourselves with knowledge and kick these red flags to the curb.  “Our job is to have our own back. Our job is to go, ‘I can count on me to not people-please myself out of my own integrity.'” -Terri Cole If you're dealing with any kind of abuse and feel unsafe in your relationship, please check out Terri's podcast episode, How to Safely Leave An Abusive Relationship: ⁠https://www.terricole.com/safely-leave-abusive-relationship/⁠  And… Don't forget to check out Terri's latest Boundary Boss Workbook: ⁠https://www.amazon.com/Boundary-Boss-Workbook-Strategies-Over-Giving/dp/1649631421⁠  Original air date: 11-15-2023 Follow Terri Cole: Website: ⁠https://www.terricole.com/⁠  Podcast: ⁠https://www.terricole.com/podcast/⁠  Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/terricole/⁠  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

You can enjoy exclusive and intense erotic audio by grabbing your copy of the Sensual Awakenings App on the Apple Store, or downloading the very unofficial and unapproved Android version from WyldeInBed.com In the quiet town where the sea kisses the shore, Tess finds herself haunted by the last words she exchanged with Finn before he vanished beneath the waves. Regret clings to her like sea salt, and as she stands on the beach, her heart breaks for the love she lost. Yet, as the tide ebbs and flows, so does her longing—transforming into tantalizing erotic fantasies that dance like shadows on the sand.But the ocean holds secrets deeper than Tess ever imagined. As she plunges into the supernatural depths of her desires, she uncovers a world where passion knows no bounds and the boundaries between life and death blur. Finn's spirit calls to her, weaving a tale of love intertwined with BDSM and longing that transcends the physical realm.In a journey filled with tearjerking revelations and tantalizing encounters, Tess must confront the truth of Finn's demise and the powerful connection that binds them—one that could either set her free or drown her in desire forever. Join Tess as she navigates the stormy waters of love, loss, and the supernatural, discovering that some ties can never be severed, and the heart's deepest yearnings can lead to the most unexpected places. Will she find closure, or will she drown in the depths of her desire?

The Book of Matthew, Chapter 1:1 through Chapter 2:23, KJV Translation---Music: Orchestra Gli Armonici, 100908 Concerto della Madonna dei fiori, 18 G.F.Haendel, The Messiah, Hallelujah & Carol of the Bells ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

We're back with Alexandre Dumas' incredible immortal heroic tale "The Three Musketeers" with Chapter 21- "The Countess de Winter"! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Fluent Fiction - Danish: Winter Magic: Romance Blossoms Amid Tivoli's Snowy Glow Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/da/episode/2025-12-26-23-34-02-da Story Transcript:Da: Jens gik gennem indgangen til Tivoli.En: Jens walked through the entrance to Tivoli.Da: Det var vinter, og julelysene blinkede i sneen, der var faldet tidligere om dagen.En: It was winter, and the Christmas lights were twinkling in the snow that had fallen earlier that day.Da: Han trak hans halstørklæde tættere omkring sig og lod blikket vandre.En: He pulled his scarf tighter around him and let his gaze wander.Da: Sneen dalede ned i store, stille fnug og lagde sig som et hvidt tæppe over alting.En: The snow was falling in large, quiet flakes and lay like a white blanket over everything.Da: Hans klasse var på udflugt til Tivoli.En: His class was on a field trip to Tivoli.Da: Det var en tradition, de gjorde hvert år i december.En: It was a tradition they did every year in December.Da: Han havde glædet sig, men også været nervøs.En: He had been looking forward to it but was also nervous.Da: Især fordi Sofie også var med.En: Especially because Sofie was there too.Da: Jens beundrede Sofie, hendes smil, hendes energi.En: Jens admired Sofie, her smile, her energy.Da: Alligevel havde han sjældent vovet at tale med hende, mere end nødvendigt.En: Yet he had rarely dared to speak to her more than necessary.Da: Men denne gang havde han besluttet sig for, at det skulle være anderledes.En: But this time, he had decided it would be different.Da: Snevejret blev pludselig til en storm.En: The snowfall suddenly turned into a storm.Da: Alle de andre begyndte at løbe mod udgangen for at finde ly, men Jens og Sofie blev tilbage.En: Everyone else began running toward the exit to find shelter, but Jens and Sofie stayed behind.Da: De havde stået og set på den oplyste rutsjebane, da snestormen ramte.En: They had been watching the illuminated roller coaster when the snowstorm hit.Da: "Kom, Jens!"En: "Come on, Jens!"Da: råbte Sofie med et grin, og de tog hinandens hænder for ikke at miste hinanden af syne i snekaoset.En: shouted Sofie with a laugh, and they took each other's hands so as not to lose sight of each other in the snow chaos.Da: De fandt endelig ly i en lille, hyggelig café inde i Tivoli.En: They finally found shelter in a small, cozy café inside Tivoli.Da: Det duftede af varm kakao og brunkager.En: It smelled of hot cocoa and ginger cookies.Da: De satte sig ved et bord ved vinduet og bestilte noget at drikke.En: They sat at a table by the window and ordered something to drink.Da: Jens var nervøs.En: Jens was nervous.Da: Hans hjerte bankede hurtigt.En: His heart was beating fast.Da: Men Sofie smilede bare til ham og sagde, "Det er smukt, ikke?En: But Sofie just smiled at him and said, "It's beautiful, isn't it?Da: Alt den sne.En: All that snow.Da: Jeg elsker det."En: I love it."Da: Jens nikkede og tog en dyb indånding.En: Jens nodded and took a deep breath.Da: "Ja," sagde han lavmælt, "også jeg.En: "Yes," he said softly, "me too.Da: Og jeg elsker også julen."En: And I also love Christmas."Da: De talte længe, mens snefnuggene dalede udenfor.En: They talked for a long time while the snowflakes fell outside.Da: Jens åbnede op og fortalte historier fra barndommen, om hans familiejuletraditioner, hans passion for fotografering.En: Jens opened up and shared stories from his childhood, about his family Christmas traditions, his passion for photography.Da: Sofie lyttede og delte sine egne juleeventyr.En: Sofie listened and shared her own Christmas adventures.Da: Hun fortalte om dengang, hun lavede sneengle med sin lillebror og grinede.En: She told about the time she made snow angels with her little brother and laughed.Da: I takt med at sneen stilnede af, følte Jens sig langsomt mere rolig.En: As the snow calmed down, Jens slowly felt more at ease.Da: Han smilede til Sofie, og hun greb hans hånd, da de gik tilbage mod julestemningen udenfor.En: He smiled at Sofie, and she took his hand as they went back out to the Christmas atmosphere outside.Da: Snart fandt de deres klassekammerater, som havde ventet bekymret på dem.En: Soon they found their classmates, who had been waiting worriedly for them.Da: Da de gik hjemad den aften, vidste Jens, at noget i ham havde ændret sig.En: As they walked home that evening, Jens knew something within him had changed.Da: Han følte sig lettere, gladere.En: He felt lighter, happier.Da: Han havde turde tage chancen, og Sofie var der stadig, ved hans side.En: He had dared to take the chance, and Sofie was still there by his side.Da: Det havde været en magisk dag i Tivoli.En: It had been a magical day in Tivoli.Da: Og Jens ville altid huske, hvordan snevejret havde givet ham modet til at tale med Sofie, og hvordan det bragte dem tættere sammen.En: And Jens would always remember how the snowstorm had given him the courage to talk to Sofie, and how it brought them closer together. Vocabulary Words:entrance: indgangtwinkling: blinkedegaze: blikketflake: fnugblanket: tæppefield trip: udflugtnervous: nervøsadmire: beundrerarely: sjældentnecessary: nødvendigtilluminated: oplysteshelter: lychaos: kaoscozy: hyggeligginger cookies: brunkagernervous: nervøsbreathe: indåndingshare: deleease: roligatmosphere: stemningworryingly: bekymretmagical: magiskcourage: modetopportunity: chancenremember: huskechange: ændretlighter: letterepassion: passiontradition: traditionadventure: eventyr

Fluent Fiction - Spanish: How A Chance Encounter on the Slopes Brought Christmas Cheer Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/es/episode/2025-12-26-08-38-20-es Story Transcript:Es: Era la víspera de Navidad y el resort de esquí, ubicado en medio de montañas nevadas, brillaba con luces festivas.En: It was Christmas Eve and the ski resort, nestled among snowy mountains, sparkled with festive lights.Es: Todo el lugar estaba lleno de alegría.En: The whole place was filled with joy.Es: La gente reía y disfrutaba del ambiente.En: People laughed and enjoyed the atmosphere.Es: Pero para Mateo, todo eso parecía distante.En: But for Mateo, all of that seemed distant.Es: Mateo llegó al resort con el corazón pesado.En: Mateo arrived at the resort with a heavy heart.Es: Estaba decidido a pasar las vacaciones solo.En: He was determined to spend the holidays alone.Es: Quería olvidar a su expareja y encontrar algo de paz.En: He wanted to forget his ex-partner and find some peace.Es: Su amigo Carlos trataba de animarlo.En: His friend Carlos tried to cheer him up.Es: "Anímate, Mateo.En: "Cheer up, Mateo.Es: La vida sigue.En: Life goes on.Es: ¡Apúntate a una clase de esquí para principiantes!En: Sign up for a beginners' ski class!"Es: ", le sugirió Carlos mientras bajaban del autobús.En: suggested Carlos as they got off the bus.Es: Mateo, aunque renuente, aceptó la idea.En: Mateo, although reluctant, accepted the idea.Es: "Quizás sea bueno cambiar un poco", pensó.En: "Maybe it will be good to change things up a bit," he thought.Es: Se inscribió en la clase a última hora.En: He signed up for the class at the last minute.Es: Al día siguiente, en la fila para el telesilla, Mateo se encontró al lado de una chica con una sonrisa nerviosa y un gorro rojo con un pom-pom blanco.En: The next day, in line for the ski lift, Mateo found himself next to a girl with a nervous smile and a red hat with a white pom-pom.Es: Lucía, una principiante un poco asustada pero emocionada, estaba ahí con su familia.En: Lucía, a beginner a little scared but excited, was there with her family.Es: Como Mateo, buscaba algo nuevo: aprender a esquiar.En: Like Mateo, she was looking for something new: learning to ski.Es: Estaban juntos en la fila, donde un viento frío pintaba sus mejillas de rojo.En: They stood together in the line, where a cold wind painted their cheeks red.Es: "Hola, soy Mateo", dijo finalmente, rompiendo el silencio.En: "Hello, I'm Mateo," he said finally, breaking the silence.Es: Lucía sonrió y respondió: "Yo soy Lucía.En: Lucía smiled and replied, "I'm Lucía.Es: Estoy empezando a esquiar.En: I'm just starting to learn to ski.Es: ¿Tú llevas tiempo en esto?"En: Have you been doing this for a while?"Es: Mateo sonrió por primera vez en días.En: Mateo smiled for the first time in days.Es: "Sí, desde hace años.En: "Yes, for many years.Es: Pero, esta vez, estoy aquí para descansar más que otra cosa."En: But this time, I'm here more to relax than anything else."Es: Mientras subían juntos en el telesilla, Lucía habló de su familia, de lo emocionados que estaban por pasar la Navidad en la nieve.En: As they ascended together on the ski lift, Lucía talked about her family, about how excited they were to spend Christmas in the snow.Es: Mateo escuchó, notando cómo cada palabra cálida de Lucía derretía un poco el hielo en su corazón.En: Mateo listened, noticing how each warm word from Lucía melted some of the ice around his heart.Es: En la cima, los dos compartieron un instante mágico.En: At the top, the two shared a magical moment.Es: El mundo se extendía blanco y brillante bajo ellos.En: The world stretched out white and bright beneath them.Es: Mateo le dijo: "Nunca había visto la montaña así.En: Mateo said to her, "I've never seen the mountain like this.Es: Gracias por compartir esto."En: Thank you for sharing this."Es: Pasaron el día esquiando y riendo, Mateo enseñándole a Lucía, disfrutando del momento presente.En: They spent the day skiing and laughing, Mateo teaching Lucía, enjoying the present moment.Es: Carlos, al ver a su amigo, le sonrió desde lejos, sabiendo que algo bueno había comenzado.En: Carlos, seeing his friend, smiled from afar, knowing that something good had begun.Es: Al caer la noche, Mateo decidió cambiar de planes.En: As night fell, Mateo decided to change his plans.Es: En lugar de cenar solo, aceptó la invitación de Lucía para unirse a su familia.En: Instead of dining alone, he accepted Lucía's invitation to join her family.Es: Esa noche, entre risas y villancicos, Mateo encontró lo que no sabía que buscaba: una nueva conexión, una nueva esperanza.En: That night, amidst laughter and Christmas carols, Mateo found what he didn't know he was looking for: a new connection, a new hope.Es: Así, Mateo descubrió que abrir el corazón a nuevas experiencias podía traer inesperados regalos.En: Thus, Mateo discovered that opening his heart to new experiences could bring unexpected gifts.Es: En esas montañas nevadas, rodeado de luz y compañía, entendió que el presente tenía mucho que ofrecer.En: In those snowy mountains, surrounded by light and company, he understood that the present had much to offer.Es: La soledad que había abrazado se desvaneció, dejándole espacio para un nuevo comienzo con Lucía y su familia en esta Navidad mágica.En: The solitude he had embraced faded away, leaving room for a new beginning with Lucía and her family in this magical Christmas. Vocabulary Words:eve: la vísperaski resort: el resort de esquísnowy: nevado/afestive lights: las luces festivasto sparkle: brillarheart: el corazónto cheer up: animarreluctant: renuentebeginner: el/la principianteski lift: el telesillanervous smile: la sonrisa nerviosapom-pom: el pom-pomwind: el vientocheek: la mejillato melt: derretirice: el hielopresent moment: el momento presentedistant: distanteto enroll: apuntarse / inscribirseto descend: bajarto ascend: subirtop: la cimamagical: mágico/ato stretch out: extendersebeneath: bajowhite: blanco/abright: brillanteto fade: desvanecersecompany: la compañíaloneliness: la soledad

We're back with Alexandre Dumas' incredible immortal heroic tale "The Three Musketeers" with Chapter 21- "The Countess de Winter"! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Actress Toni Collette (Wayward, Goodbye June) joins Chelsea to talk about why Rome is her happy place, what it feels like to get your character wrong, and finding her inner creep for her role as a cult leader. Then: A baby actor struggles to leave his family to pursue his career. A stepmom struggles to connect with her stepdaughter after a sibling is born. And a sister’s tactless behavior results in an awkward confrontation. * Need some advice from Chelsea? Email us at DearChelseaPodcast@gmail.com * Executive Producer Catherine Law Edited & Engineered by Brad Dickert * * * The views and opinions expressed are solely those of the Podcast author, or individuals participating in the Podcast, and do not represent the opinions of iHeartMedia or its employees. This Podcast should not be used as medical advice, mental health advice, mental health counseling or therapy, or as imparting any health care recommendations at all. Individuals are advised to seek independent medical, counseling advice and/or therapy from a competent health care professional with respect to any medical condition, mental health issues, health inquiry or matter, including matters discussed on this Podcast. Guests and listeners should not rely on matters discussed in the Podcast and shall not act or shall refrain from acting based on information contained in the Podcast without first seeking independent medical advice. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Actress Toni Collette (Wayward, Goodbye June) joins Chelsea to talk about why Rome is her happy place, what it feels like to get your character wrong, and finding her inner creep for her role as a cult leader. Then: A baby actor struggles to leave his family to pursue his career. A stepmom struggles to connect with her stepdaughter after a sibling is born. And a sister’s tactless behavior results in an awkward confrontation. * Need some advice from Chelsea? Email us at DearChelseaPodcast@gmail.com * Executive Producer Catherine Law Edited & Engineered by Brad Dickert * * * The views and opinions expressed are solely those of the Podcast author, or individuals participating in the Podcast, and do not represent the opinions of iHeartMedia or its employees. This Podcast should not be used as medical advice, mental health advice, mental health counseling or therapy, or as imparting any health care recommendations at all. Individuals are advised to seek independent medical, counseling advice and/or therapy from a competent health care professional with respect to any medical condition, mental health issues, health inquiry or matter, including matters discussed on this Podcast. Guests and listeners should not rely on matters discussed in the Podcast and shall not act or shall refrain from acting based on information contained in the Podcast without first seeking independent medical advice. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Though Jane Austen went largely unrecognized in her own lifetime—four of her six novels were published anonymously, and the other two only after her death—her name is now synonymous with the period romance. On this episode of Critics at Large, Vinson Cunningham, Naomi Fry, and Alexandra Schwartz choose their personal favorites from her œuvre—“Emma,” “Persuasion,” and “Mansfield Park”—and attempt to get to the heart of her appeal. Then they look at how Austen herself has been characterized by readers and critics. We know relatively little about Austen as a person, but that hasn't stopped us from trying to understand her psyche. It's a difficult task in part because of the double-edged quality to her writing: Austen, although renowned for her love stories, is also a keen satirist of the Regency society in which these relationships play out. “I think irony is so key, but also sincerity,” Schwartz says. “These books are about total realism and total fantasy meeting in a way that is endlessly alluring.”This episode originally aired on June 12, 2025. Read, watch, and listen with the critics:“Pride and Prejudice,” by Jane Austen“Persuasion,” by Jane Austen“Emma,” by Jane Austen“Mansfield Park,” by Jane Austen“Sense and Sensibility,” by Jane Austen“Northanger Abbey,” by Jane Austen“Virginia Woolf on Jane Austen” (The New Republic)Emily Nussbaum on “Breaking Bad” and the “Bad Fan” (The New Yorker)“How to Misread Jane Austen,” by Louis Menand (The New Yorker)“Miss Austen” (2025—)“Pride and Prejudice” (2005)Scenes Through Time's “Mr. Darcy Yearning for 10 Minutes” SupercutNew episodes drop every Thursday. Follow Critics at Large wherever you get your podcasts.Critics at Large is a weekly discussion from The New Yorker which explores the latest trends in books, television, film, and more. Join us every Thursday as we make unexpected connections between classic texts and pop culture. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

Molly, Zoe and Iris get together to talk about one of the bands of all time: My Chemical Romance. Get ready for shocking betrayals, an unlikely alliance, Zoe's special knife, and brief digression where Iris' friends explain Fall Out Boy to her.Edited by Iris

Puntata speciale del Cacciatore di libri dedicata ai romanzi di maggior successo dell'anno che si sta per chiudere. Parliamo solo di romanzi, come si fa sempre questo programma, e non prendiamo in considerazione saggi o altre pubblicazioni.Il 2025 è stato l'anno del ritorno in libreria (e del grande successo) di scrittori stranieri come Dan Brown, Joel Dicker e Ken Follet. C'è poi il vincitore del premio Strega Andrea Bajani. Sempre molto gettonati gli autori e le autrici di gialli, thriller e noir da Antonio Manzini a Donato Carrisi, da Cristina Cassar Scalia a Maurizio de Giovanni. La leggerezza e i toni ironici di Alessia Gazzola con la serie Miss Bee e di Felicia Kingsley. Il 2025 ha visto anche la conclusione della serie "M" di Antonio Scurati e un nuovo romanzo che trae spunto da fatti reali di Viola Ardone. Le storie d'amore dell'inossidabile Sveva Casati Modignani, ma anche il Romance della giovane Rokia. E ancora gli esordi di successo come quello di Bibbiana Cau. In questo puntata speciale diamo uno sguardo ad alcuni dei romanzi che hanno avuto maggior successo di pubblico, quelli insomma che hanno animato le classifiche dell'anno.

Fluent Fiction - Catalan: Frozen Romance: Love Blooms Amid Snowy Costa Brava Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/ca/episode/2025-12-25-23-34-02-ca Story Transcript:Ca: A Costa Brava, durant les festes de Nadal, el poble estava gairebé desert, amb les seves platges tranquil·les sota un cel gris.En: At Costa Brava, during the Christmas holidays, the village was almost deserted, with its quiet beaches under a gray sky.Ca: Els carrers estaven decorats amb llums brillants i garlandes de colors.En: The streets were decorated with bright lights and colorful garlands.Ca: Els pocs habitants del poble es congregaven a l'únic hostal obert, on el foc de la llar escalfava tot l'ambient.En: The few inhabitants of the village gathered at the only open inn, where the fireplace warmed the whole atmosphere.Ca: En Jordi i la Marta havien planejat passar uns dies romàntics allà.En: En Jordi and la Marta had planned to spend a few romantic days there.Ca: Jordi tenia diferents activitats preparades, totes perfectament organitzades.En: Jordi had different activities prepared, all perfectly organized.Ca: Estava nerviós.En: He was nervous.Ca: Volia proposar-li matrimoni a la Marta en aquell precís viatge.En: He wanted to propose to Marta on that very trip.Ca: Tot havia de ser perfecte.En: Everything had to be perfect.Ca: Però, aquella matinada, tot va canviar.En: But, that early morning, everything changed.Ca: Un mantell de neu va cobrir el poble.En: A blanket of snow covered the village.Ca: Era poc habitual veure nevar tan a prop del mar.En: It was unusual to see snow so close to the sea.Ca: Jordi observava les volves des de la finestra amb inquietud.En: Jordi watched the snowflakes from the window with unease.Ca: Els seus plans havien desaparegut amb la tempesta.En: His plans had vanished with the storm.Ca: Els carrers estaven tallats, les excursions cancel·lades, i el petit poble semblava encara més petit, tancat pel fred.En: The streets were blocked, the excursions canceled, and the small village seemed even smaller, shut in by the cold.Ca: Marta, en canvi, estava il·lusionada.En: Marta, on the other hand, was excited.Ca: La neu, inesperada i màgica, li va treure un somriure.En: The snow, unexpected and magical, brought a smile to her face.Ca: Va agafar la mà d'en Jordi i van sortir a passejar per la platja coberta de neu.En: She took Jordi's hand and they went for a walk on the snow-covered beach.Ca: No hi havia soroll, només el so de les seves passes al trepitjar la neu.En: There was no noise, only the sound of their footsteps in the snow.Ca: Era com si el món s'hagués aturat només per a ells.En: It was as if the world had stopped just for them.Ca: Jordi estava preocupat, volia que tot fos tal com havia planejat.En: Jordi was worried, he wanted everything to be just as he had planned.Ca: "Com pot ser perfecte aquí?En: "How can it be perfect here?"Ca: ", es preguntava.En: he wondered.Ca: Però, la Marta el mirava amb aquells ulls de felicitat.En: But, Marta was looking at him with those happy eyes.Ca: Van acabar al petit hostal del poble al final del dia.En: They ended up at the small inn in the village at the end of the day.Ca: Allí, al costat del foc, els veïns del poble s'havien reunit.En: There, by the fire, the villagers had gathered.Ca: Hi havia música, riures i olors de menjar casolà.En: There was music, laughter, and smells of homemade food.Ca: Aquest ambient càlid va penetrar dins de Jordi, omplint-lo d'una sensació desconeguda.En: This warm atmosphere filled Jordi with an unfamiliar sensation.Ca: Començà a entendre que el moment perfecte no era a la platja al capvespre, ni enmig d'un sender muntanyenc.En: He began to understand that the perfect moment wasn't on the beach at sunset, nor in the middle of a mountain trail.Ca: Eren aquells instants, aquells petits moments compartits amb Marta, plens de rialles i sensacions noves.En: It was those moments, those small shared moments with Marta, full of laughter and new sensations.Ca: Sota la llum tènue de l'hostal, mentre la neu continuava caient fora, Jordi va treure l'anell del seu abric i li va demanar a Marta que fos la seva companya de vida.En: Under the dim light of the inn, while the snow continued to fall outside, Jordi took the ring from his coat and asked Marta to be his life partner.Ca: Els ulls de Marta es van omplir de llàgrimes i va dir que sí, amb un somriure llarg i sincer.En: Marta's eyes filled with tears and she said yes, with a long and sincere smile.Ca: Aquella nit, el poble de Costa Brava es va convertir en el seu petit hivernacle d'amor, i Jordi va aprendre que la perfecció es troba en l'imperfecte i que la companyia de Marta ho era tot.En: That night, the village of Costa Brava became their little greenhouse of love, and Jordi learned that perfection lies in the imperfect and that the company of Marta was everything. Vocabulary Words:village: el pobledeserted: desertfireplace: el foc de la llarinn: l'hostalblanket of snow: mantell de neusnowflakes: les volvesinhabitants: els habitantsexcursions: les excursionsheat: caloratmosphere: l'ambientplans: els plansunease: inquietudstorm: la tempestasound: el sofootsteps: les passesbeach: la platjafire: el fochomemade food: menjar casolàunknown sensation: sensació desconegudatrail: el sender muntanyencdim light: la llum tènuering: l'anelltears: les llàgrimessmile: el somriuregreenhouse of love: hivernacle d'amorimperfect: l'imperfectecompany: la companyiagarlands: les garlandesinhabitants: els habitantsquiet beaches: les platges tranquil·les

Sign up HERE to get on the waitlist for Coaching Club and the Smut Club Book Club. This week on Smut Club Chelsea and Hannah are reviewing Baby Cakes: The Complete Bites Series by S.J. Tilly.You can find every episode of Smut Club at www.smutclubpodcast.com

Send us a textHello everyone, we're back, after a long haitus.  We are very sorry about our absence, but life threw some curveballs at us that we had to tackle.  We're going to do our best to get the podcast back up and running, so thank you all so much for your patience and understanding.  You're all great.Here we have a treat for you, as we get back into the swing of things.  We each came up with a list of our top 5 dragon books/media (Rei focused on books, bantam branched out) as well as our bottom 3, meant to be a sort of holiday shopping guide.  Which books do we think you should spend your Amazon/Barne's and Noble gift cards at?So come join us while we gush about and rant over some of our most memorable reads, some of which have not been covered on the podcast yet!  And we wish you all a happy holiday season; Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year to you all. Twitter: @OfficialWODPODEmail: wodpodcastmail@gmail.comPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/worldofdragonspodcast Discord - https://discord.gg/Kfjh74aqn2

Narrator: Elizabeth Grace

The Hallmark Channel became famous for producing low-budget, formulaic Christmas films, and this has spread to other outlets, sometimes with higher budgets and ambitions. Mark, Lawrence, Sarahlyn, and Al each watched a smattering of these and share their reflections on the genre and their specific experiences. Get an ad-free experience, plus bonus talking for nearly every episode at patreon.com/prettymuchpop for only the tiniest per-month financial pledge, or you can sign up directly with Apple Podcasts for a subscription for ad-free and bonus material for three of Mark's podcasts together on the Mark Lintertainment Podcasts Channel. Sponsors: Get up to 50% an annual membership at MasterClass.com/PRETTY. Rula patients typically pay $15 per session when using insurance. Connect with quality therapists and mental health experts who specialize in you at rula.com/pmp.

What makes us fall in love with a character in the first five minutes? Amy, Megan, and Lia explain "Save the Cat" moments—the scenes that instantly make us root for someone before we even know their story. From unexpected acts of kindness to revealing vulnerabilities, they dissect how the best dramas hook us emotionally and why some characters stay with us. Whether you're a casual viewer or a storytelling obsessive, this conversation will change how you watch your favorite shows.K-Pop Rec of the Week: Not Cute Any More by IllitSave the Cat: The Language of StorytellingReady to download your first audiobook? Don't forget to click HERE for your free Audible trial.*Audible is a sponsor of Afternoona Delight Podcast*Are your family and friends sick of you talking about K-drama? We get it...and have an answer. Join our AfterNoona Delight Patreon and find community among folks who get your obsession. And check out www.afternoonadelight.com for more episodes, book recs and social media goodness. And don't forget about the newest member of our network: Afternoona Asks where diaspora Asians living in the West find ways to reconnect to Asian culture via Asian/KDramas.Last but CERTAINLY not least....love BTS? Or curious what all the fuss is about? Check out our sister pod Afternoona Army for "thinky, thirsty" takes on Bangtan life. ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens w/Tom Libby---00:00 Welcome and Introduction - A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens.01:00 Charles's Struggles in Childhood.05:39 Charles Dickens: School to Journalism.11:44 Christmas' Modern Origins and Dickens' Influence.20:10 "Marley's Ghost Visits Scrooge."23:25 "Scrooge's Haunting Confrontation."30:18 Never Too Late for Leadership.38:29 Willingness to Change Matters.44:08 "Cratchit Family's Festive Spirit."47:39 Perception of Poverty Then & Now.51:09 Shifting Narratives and Religious Fundamentals in the Industrial Revolution.01:00:03 AI, History, and Uncertainty.01:01:29 Technology's Future: Uncertain Impact.01:10:12 "Appraising the Pilfered Goods."01:14:46 Life, Legacy, and the Internet.01:19:20 Humanity Matters in Leadership.01:24:32 Stay Present and Connected.01:29:09 Leadership, Clarity, and Moving Forward into the New Year.01:34:51 Staying on the Leadership Path with A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens.--- ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★ Pick up your copy of 12 Rules for Leaders: The Foundation of Intentional Leadership NOW on AMAZON!Check out the Leadership Lessons From the Great Books podcast reading list!---Check out HSCT Publishing at: https://www.hsctpublishing.com/.Check out LeadingKeys at: https://www.leadingkeys.com/Check out Leadership ToolBox at: https://leadershiptoolbox.us/Contact HSCT for more information at 1-833-216-8296 to schedule a full DEMO of LeadingKeys with one of our team members.---Leadership ToolBox website: https://leadershiptoolbox.us/.Leadership ToolBox LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ldrshptlbx/.Leadership ToolBox YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJvVbIU_bSEflwYpd9lWXuA/.Leadership ToolBox Twitter: https://twitter.com/ldrshptlbx.Leadership ToolBox IG: https://www.instagram.com/leadershiptoolboxus/.Leadership ToolBox FB: https://www.facebook.com/LdrshpTlbx.

Kerrie & Stephanie review the latest Lifetime holiday movies!Let us know what you thought by following us on Instagram: @loveandnonsensepodcastFollow Stephanie's author life:Website: www.thearrowedheart.comOnline Store: www.steamyromancereads.com Instagram/Facebook: @authorhalliebennett & @authorjemmafrostFollow Kerrie's photographer life:Website: www.kerriedawnphoto.comInstagram: @kerrie.dawn.photo

Fluent Fiction - Danish: A Perfectly Imperfect Winter Romance in København Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/da/episode/2025-12-24-23-34-02-da Story Transcript:Da: Det var en smuk vinteraften i København.En: It was a beautiful winter evening in København.Da: Juletorvet summede af liv, og de små boder var dekoreret med blinkende lys.En: The Christmas market buzzed with life, and the small stalls were decorated with twinkling lights.Da: Duften af ristede mandler og varm gløgg fyldte luften.En: The scent of roasted almonds and warm gløgg filled the air.Da: Sne dalede blidt ned og skabte et idyllisk snedække over gaderne.En: Snow gently fell, creating an idyllic snow cover over the streets.Da: Søren gik nervøst igennem torvet.En: Søren walked nervously through the market.Da: Han havde én mission: at imponere Astrid.En: He had one mission: to impress Astrid.Da: Han var charmerende, men berømt blandt sine venner for at være lidt klodset.En: He was charming but famously clumsy among his friends.Da: I dag skulle det ændre sig.En: Today, that would change.Da: Søren havde planlagt at invitere Astrid på et glas gløgg; måske ville det være begyndelsen på noget specielt.En: Søren had planned to invite Astrid for a glass of gløgg; perhaps it would be the beginning of something special.Da: Han spottede Astrid ved en bod, hvor hun kiggede på håndlavede juledekorationer.En: He spotted Astrid at a stall where she was looking at handmade Christmas decorations.Da: Hun smilte til ham, da han nærmede sig.En: She smiled at him as he approached.Da: "Hej, Søren!"En: "Hi, Søren!"Da: sagde hun med sin velkendte muntre stemme.En: she said in her familiar cheerful voice.Da: Søren mærkede, hvordan hans håndflader blev fugtige af nervøsitet.En: Søren felt his palms grow sweaty with nervousness.Da: "Vil du have et glas gløgg?"En: "Would you like a glass of gløgg?"Da: spurgte Søren og pegede på den nærliggende bod.En: Søren asked, pointing to the nearby stall.Da: Astrid nikkede og gik med ham.En: Astrid nodded and went with him.Da: Søren købte to glas og følte sig som en ridder på vej for at imponere sin prinsesse.En: Søren bought two glasses and felt like a knight on a quest to impress his princess.Da: Mens de gik sammen igennem mængden, kom det uundgåelige øjeblik.En: As they walked together through the crowd, the inevitable moment came.Da: Søren ville vise en smart lille manøvre og drejede hurtigt med gløggen i hånden.En: Søren wanted to show a clever little maneuver and quickly turned with the gløgg in hand.Da: Men hans klodsethed sejrede, og han spildte hele glasset ud over sig selv.En: But his clumsiness prevailed, and he spilled the entire glass over himself.Da: Gløggen flød ned ad hans jakke, og han blev rød i ansigtet.En: The gløgg ran down his jacket, and he turned red in the face.Da: Astrid udbrød et lille grin, men hendes øjne viste kun varme.En: Astrid let out a small laugh, but her eyes only showed warmth.Da: Søren kiggede fra sin ødelagte jakke til Astrids smilende ansigt.En: Søren looked from his ruined jacket to Astrid's smiling face.Da: "Velkommen til dagens helt store show," sagde han og slog ud med armene, "jeg er netop blevet kronet til Kongen af Gløggspild!"En: "Welcome to today's main event," he said, spreading his arms wide, "I have just been crowned the King of Gløgg Spills!"Da: En lille gruppe omkring dem begyndte også at grine, og Søren bukkede dybt.En: A small group around them also started to laugh, and Søren bowed deeply.Da: Astrid holdt sig på maven af grin.En: Astrid held her stomach from laughing.Da: Søren duppede sig selv med et lommetørklæde, men det gjorde kun situationen endnu sjovere.En: Søren dabbed himself with a handkerchief, but it only made the situation even funnier.Da: "Du er jo skøn!"En: "You are wonderful!"Da: sagde Astrid og tørrede tårer af latter fra sine øjne.En: said Astrid, wiping tears of laughter from her eyes.Da: "Lad os gå en tur og se, hvad vi ellers kan finde på."En: "Let's take a walk and see what else we can get up to."Da: Søren smilede, lettet over at Astrid tog det hele med godt humør.En: Søren smiled, relieved that Astrid took it all in good humor.Da: De gik videre sammen gennem de snedækkede gader, og Søren indså, at det måske ikke handlede om at være perfekt.En: They continued walking through the snow-covered streets, and Søren realized that it might not be about being perfect.Da: Ofte var det bedre at være sig selv og have en god sans for humor.En: Often it was better to be yourself and have a good sense of humor.Da: Da de gik rundt blandt lysene og duftene, følte Søren sig lykkelig.En: As they wandered among the lights and scents, Søren felt happy.Da: Astrids smil varmerede ham mere end noget glas gløgg kunne.En: Astrid's smile warmed him more than any glass of gløgg could.Da: Det var en jul, han aldrig ville glemme.En: It was a Christmas he would never forget. Vocabulary Words:idyllic: idyllisknervously: nervøstimpress: imponereclumsy: klodsetinvite: inviterehandmade: håndlavedecheerful: muntresweaty: fugtigeknight: riddermaneuver: manøvrespilled: spildtebowed: bukkededabbed: duppedehandkerchief: lommetørklædesense of humor: sans for humorstalls: bodertwinkling: blinkenderoasted: ristedemission: missionquest: vejinevitable: uundgåeligewarmth: varmecrowned: kronetrelieved: lettetwandered: gik rundtscent: duftensnow cover: snedækkedecorated: dekoreretcharming: charmerendecrowd: mængden

Narrator and actor Christine Lakin joins AudioFile's Michele Cobb to discuss one of this year's Best Romance Audiobooks, SAY YOU'LL REMEMBER ME by Abby Jimenez, read by Christine Lakin and Matt Lanter. Christine goes behind the scenes with Michele to reveal how she established the tone of certain characters and the unique challenges of being a romance narrator when they're often recording alone in a booth. Together they dive into new trends in current romance audiobooks and discuss how natural it felt for Christine to perform Abby Jimenez's words. Read AudioFile's review of the audiobook Published by Hachette Audio. AudioFile's 2025 Best Romance Audiobooks are: GREAT BIG BEAUTIFUL LIFE by Emily Henry, read by Julia Whelan MISDIRECTED by Lucy Parker, read by Nicola Coughlan, Gwilym Lee PIONEER SUMMER by  Elena Malisova and Kateryna Sylvanova, [Translated from Russian by Anne O. Fisher] Read by Edoardo Ballerini  PRIDE AND PREJUDICE by Jane Austen, [Adapt.] Lulu Raczka, read by Marisa Abela, Harris Dickinson, Glenn Close, Marianne Jean-Baptiste, Bill Nighy, Sophie Wilde, Will Poulter, Jessie Buckley, Toheeb Jimoh, Patricia Allison, Bertie Carvel, Leah Harvey, David Gyasi, Rosalind Eleazar SAY YOU'LL REMEMBER ME by Abby Jimenez, read by Christine Lakin, Matt Lanter THE WOLF KING by Lauren Palphreyman, read by Zara Hampton-Brown and Shane East Explore the full list of 2025 Best Audiobooks on our website Support for our podcast comes from Dreamscape, an award-winning audiobook publisher with a catalog that includes authors L.J. Shen, Freida McFadden, and Katee Robert. Discover your next great listen at dreamscapepublishing.com.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of the Fresh Fiction Podcast, bestselling author Julia London joins us to talk about WHILE IT WAS SNOWING, a holiday romance featuring characters in their fifties navigating love, family, and second chances during a North Texas snowstorm. Julia shares behind-the-scenes insights on writing older protagonists, the realities of publishing during the pandemic, and why Christmas trees belong in every holiday novel.

Time for the holiday message! Rounding off the year with a brief and casual reflection on some issue that doesn't quite rise to the level of a full solo podcast. And hopefully something uplifting.This year, I offer a short apologia for higher education in the liberal arts and sciences, focusing not on the down-to-earth economic/occupational benefits of a college degree, but on the very real ways in which such an education opens up possibilities for personal growth. I think all of us in academia should be loud and unapologetic about the more romantic, idealistic values of the modern university.Happy holidays all!Blog post with transcript: https://www.preposterousuniverse.com/podcast/2025/12/22/holiday-message-2025-the-romance-of-the-university/Support Mindscape on Patreon.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

When in Romance is taking a short holiday break, so we thought we'd share an episode from our newest Book Riot Podcast, Zero to Well-Read, in which Jeff and Rebecca revisit Charles Dickens's A Christmas Carol, a story so familiar it's often mistaken for simple. They consider its moral stakes, its enduring influence on readers and society, and why Scrooge's redemption still resonates. Subscribe to our free newsletter, and become a member for access to early, ad-free listening and bonus content. Follow Zero to Well-Read on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube. Email us: zerotowellread@bookriot.com This content contains affiliate links. When you buy through these links, we may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this Episode of Buzzing about Romance, Leah, Heather, Amanda, and Becky come together to talk about what they loved, the highs of their 2025 reading year.

Happy holidays! You're getting an xxxtra special xxxtra long holiday episode with Santa Claus himself (Mike Mitchell - Doughboys podcast, Twisted Metal). He joins Elf Nicole to complain about why Santas are getting too hot and buff, and Nicole reveals the time she was fired for being too jolly.They talk about Mitch's journey with long COVID, the struggle of losing libido from medications, and their shared experiences losing weight. Has it helped their sexual health? Plus, Mitch shares a truly wild dating story where his date asked someone else to hook up with her. They discuss why the holidays are secretly a very horny time, debate what to do if your partner cooks a terrible festive meal, and take a moment to vent about the current state of streamers and Hollywood.Watch this episode on our YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/@WhyWontYouDateMePodcastCheck out Nicole's review of Sizzler on the Doughboys podcast: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tvg7enGnuOU&list=PL6J5Hwj-9uXlVJHKkALbQNpdEZL3kAAbqSupport this podcast and get discounts by checking out our sponsors:Aura Frame: Exclusive $35 off Carver Mat at https://on.auraframes.com/DATEME. Promo Code DATEMENOCD: If you're struggling with OCD or unrelenting intrusive thoughts, NOCD can help. Book a free 15 minute call to get started: https://learn.nocd.com/DATEME.Cash App: Download Cash App Today: https://capl.onelink.me/vFut/3v6r90n6 #CashAppPod Cash App is a financial services platform, not a bank. Banking services provided by Cash App's bank partner(s). Prepaid debit cards issued by Sutton Bank, Member FDIC. See terms and conditions at cash.app/legal/us/en-us/card-agreement. Promotions provided by Cash App, a Block, Inc. brand. Visit cash.app/legal/podcast for full disclosures.Follow:All Links: linktr.ee/whywontyoudatemeTour Dates: linktr.ee/nicolebyerwastakenYouTube: @WhyWontYouDateMePodcastTikTok: @whywontyoudatemepod Instagram: @nicolebyerX: @nicolebyerNicole's book, #VERYFAT #VERYBRAVE: indiebound.org/book/9781524850746This is a Headgum podcast. Follow Headgum on Twitter, Instagram, and Tiktok. Advertise on Why Won't You Date Me? via Gumball.fm.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.