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Join us on #texasvaluesreport with Special Guest Claire Frugia, Legislative Director for Representative Andy Hopper, Startled by Man Entering Women's Restroom in Texas Capitol, and host Jonathan Saenz, President & Attorney for Texas Values as she shares the impact her story had on the new bathroom policy at the Texas Capitol and the importance of the Texas Women's Privacy Act. New bathroom policy based on sex at the Texas Capitol, credited in part to Claire's experience encountering a man in the women's restroom! https://txvalues.org/state-preservation-board-responds-new-policy-based-on-sex/ 76 Texas House Members, Including Democrats, Sign On In Support Of Texas Woman's Privacy Act https://txvalues.org/breaking-76-texas-house-members-including-democrats-sign-on-in-support-of-texas-womans-privacy-act/ Watch the video of Claire's experience encountering a man in the women's restroom at the Texas Capitol https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1AVCwkESNx/ Sign the petition to protect girls' and women's privacy across the state of Texas with the Texas Women's Privacy Act https://txvalues.org/texas-womens-privacy-act/ Save the date for our event in Ft. Worth on May 10th. Details coming soon! https://txvalues.org/events Help us build our channel so we can maintain a culture of Faith, Family, & Freedom in Texas by interacting with us; like, comment, share, subscribe! For more about Texas Values see: Txvalues.org To support our work, go to donate.txvalues.org/GivetoTexasValues

What if the way you pay attention is shaping who you're becoming? What if your deepest fears of being abandoned—whether real or anticipated—are keeping you locked in patterns of anxiety, shame, and self-protection? Today, Dr. Curt Thompson joins us to unpack the profound ways our minds and relationships shape our formation. We're talking about anticipated abandonment, the neuroscience of attachment, and how to cultivate rugged flexibility in the face of life's uncertainties. Dr. Thompson, a psychiatrist and expert in interpersonal neurobiology, reveals how the way we focus our attention—consciously or not—rewires our brains and forms our identity. If you've ever felt stuck in relational wounds or struggled to trust God and others, this conversation is for you. In this episode, we discuss: Why anticipated abandonment keeps us stuck in fear and self-protection The neuroscience behind shame and relational wounds How rugged flexibility helps us navigate pain without losing hope Why we become what we pay attention to—and how to shift our focus for transformation This is a deep, thought-provoking conversation that will challenge how you see yourself, your relationships, and your faith. Episode Links Show Notes Buy my NEW BOOK "Healing What You Can't Erase" here! Invite me to speak at your church or event. • • Connect with me @WINTODAYChris on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.

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The Gemara in Sanhedrin tells us that David HaMelech asked Hashem why, in the Amidah , we say אלוקי אברהם, אלוקי יצחק, ואלוקי יעקב . Hashem responded that it is because the Avot were tested and passed their tests. We see from here that tests make a person great in this world. The Midrash in Tehillim says that Hashem does not elevate a person to a high position until He first tests him. The pasuk states that Hashem tested the Jewish people in the desert " להטיבך באחריתך " The Sforno explains that Hashem wanted to elevate Bnei Yisrael to become even greater than the angels who serve Him, and that is why He tested them. Many times, Hashem has gifts waiting for a person, and by passing a test, they become worthy of receiving them. A well-known story illustrates this concept: Rashi's father, Rabbi Yitzchak, once found a rare diamond and went to sell it to a local jeweler. The jeweler didn't have enough money to purchase such a valuable stone and suggested that the bishop buy it instead. The bishop had been searching for such a diamond to place on his cross. He offered an enormous sum of money for it. When Rabbi Yitzchak heard the purpose of the purchase, he refused to sell the diamond. However, he realized that if he didn't sell it, it would likely be taken from him by force. So, instead, he threw it into the ocean. That night, he was told in a dream that because of this great sacrifice, he would be blessed with a son whose light would outshine all the precious stones in the world, and whose Torah would illuminate generations to come. The following year, he had a son, whom he named Shlomo. He grew to become the towering sage known as Rashi. A man told me a personal story that took place more than 30 years ago: After high school, he traveled to Israel, where he became religious. He returned for a second year and planned to go back for a third. That summer, he was in his hometown making the final arrangements for his return. On the last day before his flight, on the way to the airport, he stopped at a convenience store to buy a drink and some snacks. While in the store, he remembered that he had purchased a lottery ticket and decided to check the numbers on the store's machine. As soon as he inserted the ticket, red sirens went off across the store. Startled, he asked what was happening. The store manager told him, "That means you won. You matched at least five numbers—possibly six." Shocked, he asked how much he had won. The manager replied, "It could be anywhere from $500,000 to several million dollars." He was stunned. For a moment, he paused to take it all in. But then, fear set in. If he had won millions, would he still go back to yeshiva ? Would this change his life in ways he didn't want? He made a firm decision: instead of checking the numbers immediately, he would first board his flight to Israel. Once he was settled back in yeshiva , he would check the ticket and see how much he had won. Early the next morning, he arrived in Israel and went straight to the yeshiva building. He placed his jacket in the same spot where he had always hung it for the past two years and then went to the Kotel to pray Shacharit . When he returned, his jacket was gone. His lottery ticket was in the zipper pocket. He had not told anyone about the ticket. He searched the entire yeshiva , but the jacket was never found. To this day, he has no idea how much he would have won. Instead of millions of dollars, Hashem gave him something far greater—he remained in yeshiva for several more years, married a bat talmid chacham , and raised a family of outstanding talmidei chachamim with sterling Midot. It is clear that the money was not meant for him, but the test most certainly was. Hashem had given him an extraordinary nisayon . And heroically, he chose to return to Israel, fearing that the money would steer him away from the path he had chosen. Hashem blessed him in ways far beyond anything money could buy. Life's tests can be challenging, but they are designed to lift us up and make us great.

Welcome to our "Divine Portrait" sermon series, where we journey through the scriptures to understand God's character as revealed through the cross of Jesus Christ. In this sermon "Startled by the Servant," we dive into the profound insights found in Isaiah 52 and 53, exploring the surprising portrayal of God as the humble servant.Join us as we unpack the powerful prophecy of Isaiah, written 700 years before the life of Jesus, and discover how His suffering and exaltation offer us a revolutionary understanding of God's wisdom, mercy, and justice. Learn how the cross exemplifies true servanthood and how this revelation changes everything about our faith and relationship with God.Whether you're a long-time follower of Christ or just beginning your spiritual journey, this message challenges us to embrace the lifestyle of the cross in all areas of our lives. Be inspired to take up your cross, live wisely, and flourish under God's loving guidance.

Two married women argued about which of their husbands was the bigger fool. Finally, they decided to test their husbands to see if they were as foolish as they seemed. Want more Icelandic Folklore Stories? This episode is part of my Folklore Friday series where I am sharing an Icelandic folklore story every Friday in 2024. Click Here for More Icelandic Folklore The First Wife sets up the Trick for her Husband One woman played a trick on her husband. When he came home from work, she took a spinning wheel and carders, sat down, and started to card and spin, even though there was no wool in her hands. Her husband noticed this and asked if she was crazy to scrape the teasels together and spin the wheel without any wool. He asked her to explain what she was doing. She said that it was no surprise that he couldn't see what she was doing because she was making a very fine linen that was too thin to be seen with the eye. She told him she was going to make him clothes from this invisible linen.Her husband thought this was a brilliant explanation. He was amazed by his wife's cleverness and looked forward to the joy and pride he would feel when he wore these amazing clothes.When his wife had spun enough "wool" for the clothes, she set up the loom and wove the invisible fabric.Her husband visited her from time to time, marveling at her skill. She was amused and quickly finished the trick. She took the invisible cloth off the loom, washed and dried it, and then sat down to cut and sew the clothes. The Most Invisible Clothes in the World When she finished, she told her husband to come and try on the clothes. However, she didn't let him put them on alone. She pretended to help him dress, but in reality, he was completely naked. He was so sure that his wife had made him these wonderful invisible clothes that he didn't realize he was actually naked. He was so happy with his "new clothes" that he couldn't stop jumping around with joy. The Other Wife's Trick: When her husband returned home from work, his wife asked him why he was walking around looking so upset. Startled, he asked her why she would even think that. She insisted he looked upset and told him he was very ill and should go to bed immediately. He believed her and went to bed.After a while, his wife told him she was going to perform the last rites for him. He begged her not to, but she insisted, saying, "Why are you acting like a fool? Don't you know you died this morning? I'm going to have them make your coffin right now." The poor man, believing this to be true, stayed in bed until the coffin was ready. A Fake Funeral Interrupted His wife hired six men to carry the coffin and invited the other couple to attend the funeral. She even had a window cut into the side of the coffin so her husband could watch what was happening.The friend and neighbor  of the supposedly deceased, who had on invisible clothes for the funeral, expected everyone to admire his "delicate clothes" (which were actually his naked body) as he arrived. Instead, the coffin-bearers, though sad, couldn't help but laugh at the sight of him completely naked. When he saw them laughing, he cried out, "I would be laughing too if I wasn't dead!"The funeral was canceled, and they took him out of the coffin. The consequences: It was eventually discovered that both wives had tricked their husbands. As punishment, they were publicly whipped in the parish court. Random Fact of the Episode I did a hilarious prank on TikTok a few years ago for April Fools Day that was harmless but worked pretty well. I said that the Icelandic government decided to make English an official language. Surprisingly, even some Icelanders thought it was true and were shocked to hear the news until they realized that I was joking. Icelandic Word of the Episode Hrekkur – prank Share this with a Friend Facebook

It is very late night, when these sort of things are typically bound to happen, such as JOHN OLIVER, a TV show host, appearing out of nowhere and into your kitchen, asking JOHN OLIVER is it too late for a glass of milk? Startled, and just having dressed from a long and hot shower, the occupant of the apartment is started. OH, my God—John Oliver! As it were. What are you doing here? Anticipating a glass of milk— A tad warm, preferably. Where are you supposed to be right now? Wherever I am, which is—erm… My kitchen. Very nice kitchen, I might add; About that milk. I'm vegan. Plant based will do. It's for baking. —very well. They said you'd be a tough nut to crack. Who is “they” Who they are. He plops down on the couch and puts his feet up on the coffee tables YO. I don't speak much Spanish. But you understood that! I said I didn't speak much, not that I was devoid entirely of comprehension. What the fuck! What the fuck, indeed. You're so British, I don't even have a reproach— Harry, Hermione, and Ron enter through a portal. I WAS GETTING READY FOR BED. That sounds lovely. —is it too late for a glass of milk? Ron! …Well, is it? What is it with you people and milk?! The other Ron, or actually rather, his real world counterpart RUPERT GRINT is already in the fridge. There's only coconut— And it's canned. JOHN OLIVER and RON WEASELY AUGH. Harry scrunches his nose and winces a bit, when his real world counterpart exits the washroom. DANIEL RADCLIFFE Don't make that face— it will get stuck like that. HARRY POTTER —it's just an expression. DANIEL RADCLIFFE No, it isn't; remember more of you is fictional than not! HARRY POTTER Says you! DANIEL RADCLIFFE Says just about anyone in this dimension, and the next, and the next over— which— Oh my God. DANIEL RADCLIFFE by the way, which dimension is this? My kitchen. {Enter The Multiverse} [The Festival Project.™] COPYRIGHT © THE FESTIVAL PROJECT 2024 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. ©

It is very late night, when these sort of things are typically bound to happen, such as JOHN OLIVER, a TV show host, appearing out of nowhere and into your kitchen, asking JOHN OLIVER is it too late for a glass of milk? Startled, and just having dressed from a long and hot shower, the occupant of the apartment is started. OH, my God—John Oliver! As it were. What are you doing here? Anticipating a glass of milk— A tad warm, preferably. Where are you supposed to be right now? Wherever I am, which is—erm… My kitchen. Very nice kitchen, I might add; About that milk. I'm vegan. Plant based will do. It's for baking. —very well. They said you'd be a tough nut to crack. Who is “they” Who they are. He plops down on the couch and puts his feet up on the coffee tables YO. I don't speak much Spanish. But you understood that! I said I didn't speak much, not that I was devoid entirely of comprehension. What the fuck! What the fuck, indeed. You're so British, I don't even have a reproach— Harry, Hermione, and Ron enter through a portal. I WAS GETTING READY FOR BED. That sounds lovely. —is it too late for a glass of milk? Ron! …Well, is it? What is it with you people and milk?! The other Ron, or actually rather, his real world counterpart RUPERT GRINT is already in the fridge. There's only coconut— And it's canned. JOHN OLIVER and RON WEASELY AUGH. Harry scrunches his nose and winces a bit, when his real world counterpart exits the washroom. DANIEL RADCLIFFE Don't make that face— it will get stuck like that. HARRY POTTER —it's just an expression. DANIEL RADCLIFFE No, it isn't; remember more of you is fictional than not! HARRY POTTER Says you! DANIEL RADCLIFFE Says just about anyone in this dimension, and the next, and the next over— which— Oh my God. DANIEL RADCLIFFE by the way, which dimension is this? My kitchen. KRISTEN SHAAL do it. Keep telling me things I don't want to hear. But do it—scandalously. KRISTEN WIIG (Bewildered, super mumbling) ..:bewildermentmn… KRISTEN SHAAL GO AHEAD! I'M WAITING I need the opposite of attention. Miraculous. Ah, fuck. I pissed off the avengers or whatever. This is the imminence and urgency of oppression digging in at us, Peering in from lenses And peer mentors, instant challenges And in gratification, proliferated profanities And neocorporste totalitarianism, Vegan or vegetarianism Hungarian isn't, Intimate leaning a lesson; Never open the door for a friend Or a possible stranger When internal at war with Yourself And external The silence in admittedly A years long race war From here to hell you can hear the impresonment Of shackled bonds and illegal existences, Still hasn't yet, The daily collapse of the actual Backend Haven't used that one in a while. I'm waiting at the edge installing a kit cat on Carson's red carpet Are you hollering at me, Or just another robot Destined for caucus? Wonder if water's already on another earth, Or haven't you thought about stopping Those in poverty from spawning more offspring Or perhaps letting them have Just the minimal at living, Giving them a chance At all? What? Back splash, I'm under. A rainstorm on the horizon And probably our clouds are proud to have snow in them— A pound or so. For sure. {Enter The Multiverse} Thump, thump, thump… We hear the sound of a loud and slow heartbeat. Almost too loud, and almost too slow. Bright sunbeams through the still closed eyes of a sleeping man, and though it already seems to blind him, he opens them slowly, squinting, In a half-ditch effort to cover his face from the sun, almost failing immediately, presumably from exhaust, the man places a hand over his chest as if to feel if his heart is even still there, let alone beating. Thump, thump, thump, thump— More red orange sunlight, and as he places the other hand again over his face to try to faze it, the shadow of something that appears creeping over him blocks the bright sun out of his eyes. SHADOW Do you know who you are? Even without looking, the man at the very least knows his own hands. He chooses to remain silent for the moment; but at least nods his head yes, looking up at the man, only still a shadow. SHADOW CONT'D Do you know when [you are]? Sitting up only slightly, the man peers around subtly scoping the area; he appears to be poolside, at some type of resort— the children playing give way to a much earlier time— about 100 years or so, give or take. …nineteen…twenty six? SHADOW That's right. And finally— Do you know where? Let's hope Los Angeles. SHADOW Where else are you going to find this type of weather? …a few places. SHADOW hoists the man up by his hand with a firm grip, propping him up on the loungers SHADOW Up you go. Ugh. Shadow tosses a thick rolled up newspaper into the man's torso. It appears he has been badly sunburned Oph—watch it! SHADOW Read up; you have work to do. In 1926? SHADOW Apparently. (Genuinely curious, confused) …What could that be? Figure it out. The Shadow walks away without having ever been revealed; his long trench coat and fedora leaving a hint of mystery as he crosses the pool. Where are you going?! SHADOW Continental Breakfast. {Enter The Multiverse} [The Festival Project.™] COPYRIGHT © THE FESTIVAL PROJECT 2024 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. ©

It is very late night, when these sort of things are typically bound to happen, such as JOHN OLIVER, a TV show host, appearing out of nowhere and into your kitchen, asking JOHN OLIVER is it too late for a glass of milk? Startled, and just having dressed from a long and hot shower, the occupant of the apartment is started. OH, my God—John Oliver! As it were. What are you doing here? Anticipating a glass of milk— A tad warm, preferably. Where are you supposed to be right now? Wherever I am, which is—erm… My kitchen. Very nice kitchen, I might add; About that milk. I'm vegan. Plant based will do. It's for baking. —very well. They said you'd be a tough nut to crack. Who is “they” Who they are. He plops down on the couch and puts his feet up on the coffee tables YO. I don't speak much Spanish. But you understood that! I said I didn't speak much, not that I was devoid entirely of comprehension. What the fuck! What the fuck, indeed. You're so British, I don't even have a reproach— Harry, Hermione, and Ron enter through a portal. I WAS GETTING READY FOR BED. That sounds lovely. —is it too late for a glass of milk? Ron! …Well, is it? What is it with you people and milk?! The other Ron, or actually rather, his real world counterpart RUPERT GRINT is already in the fridge. There's only coconut— And it's canned. JOHN OLIVER and RON WEASELY AUGH. Harry scrunches his nose and winces a bit, when his real world counterpart exits the washroom. DANIEL RADCLIFFE Don't make that face— it will get stuck like that. HARRY POTTER —it's just an expression. DANIEL RADCLIFFE No, it isn't; remember more of you is fictional than not! HARRY POTTER Says you! DANIEL RADCLIFFE Says just about anyone in this dimension, and the next, and the next over— which— Oh my God. DANIEL RADCLIFFE by the way, which dimension is this? My kitchen. KRISTEN SHAAL do it. Keep telling me things I don't want to hear. But do it—scandalously. KRISTEN WIIG (Bewildered, super mumbling) ..:bewildermentmn… KRISTEN SHAAL GO AHEAD! I'M WAITING I need the opposite of attention. Miraculous. Ah, fuck. I pissed off the avengers or whatever. This is the imminence and urgency of oppression digging in at us, Peering in from lenses And peer mentors, instant challenges And in gratification, proliferated profanities And neocorporste totalitarianism, Vegan or vegetarianism Hungarian isn't, Intimate leaning a lesson; Never open the door for a friend Or a possible stranger When internal at war with Yourself And external The silence in admittedly A years long race war From here to hell you can hear the impresonment Of shackled bonds and illegal existences, Still hasn't yet, The daily collapse of the actual Backend Haven't used that one in a while. I'm waiting at the edge installing a kit cat on Carson's red carpet Are you hollering at me, Or just another robot Destined for caucus? Wonder if water's already on another earth, Or haven't you thought about stopping Those in poverty from spawning more offspring Or perhaps letting them have Just the minimal at living, Giving them a chance At all? What? Back splash, I'm under. A rainstorm on the horizon And probably our clouds are proud to have snow in them— A pound or so. For sure. {Enter The Multiverse} Thump, thump, thump… We hear the sound of a loud and slow heartbeat. Almost too loud, and almost too slow. Bright sunbeams through the still closed eyes of a sleeping man, and though it already seems to blind him, he opens them slowly, squinting, In a half-ditch effort to cover his face from the sun, almost failing immediately, presumably from exhaust, the man places a hand over his chest as if to feel if his heart is even still there, let alone beating. Thump, thump, thump, thump— More red orange sunlight, and as he places the other hand again over his face to try to faze it, the shadow of something that appears creeping over him blocks the bright sun out of his eyes. SHADOW Do you know who you are? Even without looking, the man at the very least knows his own hands. He chooses to remain silent for the moment; but at least nods his head yes, looking up at the man, only still a shadow. SHADOW CONT'D Do you know when [you are]? Sitting up only slightly, the man peers around subtly scoping the area; he appears to be poolside, at some type of resort— the children playing give way to a much earlier time— about 100 years or so, give or take. …nineteen…twenty six? SHADOW That's right. And finally— Do you know where? Let's hope Los Angeles. SHADOW Where else are you going to find this type of weather? …a few places. SHADOW hoists the man up by his hand with a firm grip, propping him up on the loungers SHADOW Up you go. Ugh. Shadow tosses a thick rolled up newspaper into the man's torso. It appears he has been badly sunburned Oph—watch it! SHADOW Read up; you have work to do. In 1926? SHADOW Apparently. (Genuinely curious, confused) …What could that be? Figure it out. The Shadow walks away without having ever been revealed; his long trench coat and fedora leaving a hint of mystery as he crosses the pool. Where are you going?! SHADOW Continental Breakfast. {Enter The Multiverse} [The Festival Project.™] COPYRIGHT © THE FESTIVAL PROJECT 2024 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. ©

It is very late night, when these sort of things are typically bound to happen, such as JOHN OLIVER, a TV show host, appearing out of nowhere and into your kitchen, asking JOHN OLIVER is it too late for a glass of milk? Startled, and just having dressed from a long and hot shower, the occupant of the apartment is started. OH, my God—John Oliver! As it were. What are you doing here? Anticipating a glass of milk— A tad warm, preferably. Where are you supposed to be right now? Wherever I am, which is—erm… My kitchen. Very nice kitchen, I might add; About that milk. I'm vegan. Plant based will do. It's for baking. —very well. They said you'd be a tough nut to crack. Who is “they” Who they are. He plops down on the couch and puts his feet up on the coffee tables YO. I don't speak much Spanish. But you understood that! I said I didn't speak much, not that I was devoid entirely of comprehension. What the fuck! What the fuck, indeed. You're so British, I don't even have a reproach— Harry, Hermione, and Ron enter through a portal. I WAS GETTING READY FOR BED. That sounds lovely. —is it too late for a glass of milk? Ron! …Well, is it? What is it with you people and milk?! The other Ron, or actually rather, his real world counterpart RUPERT GRINT is already in the fridge. There's only coconut— And it's canned. JOHN OLIVER and RON WEASELY AUGH. Harry scrunches his nose and winces a bit, when his real world counterpart exits the washroom. DANIEL RADCLIFFE Don't make that face— it will get stuck like that. HARRY POTTER —it's just an expression. DANIEL RADCLIFFE No, it isn't; remember more of you is fictional than not! HARRY POTTER Says you! DANIEL RADCLIFFE Says just about anyone in this dimension, and the next, and the next over— which— Oh my God. DANIEL RADCLIFFE by the way, which dimension is this? My kitchen. {Enter The Multiverse} [The Festival Project.™] COPYRIGHT © THE FESTIVAL PROJECT 2024 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. ©

It is very late night, when these sort of things are typically bound to happen, such as JOHN OLIVER, a TV show host, appearing out of nowhere and into your kitchen, asking JOHN OLIVER is it too late for a glass of milk? Startled, and just having dressed from a long and hot shower, the occupant of the apartment is started. OH, my God—John Oliver! As it were. What are you doing here? Anticipating a glass of milk— A tad warm, preferably. Where are you supposed to be right now? Wherever I am, which is—erm… My kitchen. Very nice kitchen, I might add; About that milk. I'm vegan. Plant based will do. It's for baking. —very well. They said you'd be a tough nut to crack. Who is “they” Who they are. He plops down on the couch and puts his feet up on the coffee tables YO. I don't speak much Spanish. But you understood that! I said I didn't speak much, not that I was devoid entirely of comprehension. What the fuck! What the fuck, indeed. You're so British, I don't even have a reproach— Harry, Hermione, and Ron enter through a portal. I WAS GETTING READY FOR BED. That sounds lovely. —is it too late for a glass of milk? Ron! …Well, is it? What is it with you people and milk?! The other Ron, or actually rather, his real world counterpart RUPERT GRINT is already in the fridge. There's only coconut— And it's canned. JOHN OLIVER and RON WEASELY AUGH. Harry scrunches his nose and winces a bit, when his real world counterpart exits the washroom. DANIEL RADCLIFFE Don't make that face— it will get stuck like that. HARRY POTTER —it's just an expression. DANIEL RADCLIFFE No, it isn't; remember more of you is fictional than not! HARRY POTTER Says you! DANIEL RADCLIFFE Says just about anyone in this dimension, and the next, and the next over— which— Oh my God. DANIEL RADCLIFFE by the way, which dimension is this? My kitchen. KRISTEN SHAAL do it. Keep telling me things I don't want to hear. But do it—scandalously. KRISTEN WIIG (Bewildered, super mumbling) ..:bewildermentmn… KRISTEN SHAAL GO AHEAD! I'M WAITING I need the opposite of attention. Miraculous. Ah, fuck. I pissed off the avengers or whatever. This is the imminence and urgency of oppression digging in at us, Peering in from lenses And peer mentors, instant challenges And in gratification, proliferated profanities And neocorporste totalitarianism, Vegan or vegetarianism Hungarian isn't, Intimate leaning a lesson; Never open the door for a friend Or a possible stranger When internal at war with Yourself And external The silence in admittedly A years long race war From here to hell you can hear the impresonment Of shackled bonds and illegal existences, Still hasn't yet, The daily collapse of the actual Backend Haven't used that one in a while. I'm waiting at the edge installing a kit cat on Carson's red carpet Are you hollering at me, Or just another robot Destined for caucus? Wonder if water's already on another earth, Or haven't you thought about stopping Those in poverty from spawning more offspring Or perhaps letting them have Just the minimal at living, Giving them a chance At all? What? Back splash, I'm under. A rainstorm on the horizon And probably our clouds are proud to have snow in them— A pound or so. For sure. {Enter The Multiverse} Thump, thump, thump… We hear the sound of a loud and slow heartbeat. Almost too loud, and almost too slow. Bright sunbeams through the still closed eyes of a sleeping man, and though it already seems to blind him, he opens them slowly, squinting, In a half-ditch effort to cover his face from the sun, almost failing immediately, presumably from exhaust, the man places a hand over his chest as if to feel if his heart is even still there, let alone beating. Thump, thump, thump, thump— More red orange sunlight, and as he places the other hand again over his face to try to faze it, the shadow of something that appears creeping over him blocks the bright sun out of his eyes. SHADOW Do you know who you are? Even without looking, the man at the very least knows his own hands. He chooses to remain silent for the moment; but at least nods his head yes, looking up at the man, only still a shadow. SHADOW CONT'D Do you know when [you are]? Sitting up only slightly, the man peers around subtly scoping the area; he appears to be poolside, at some type of resort— the children playing give way to a much earlier time— about 100 years or so, give or take. …nineteen…twenty six? SHADOW That's right. And finally— Do you know where? Let's hope Los Angeles. SHADOW Where else are you going to find this type of weather? …a few places. SHADOW hoists the man up by his hand with a firm grip, propping him up on the loungers SHADOW Up you go. Ugh. Shadow tosses a thick rolled up newspaper into the man's torso. It appears he has been badly sunburned Oph—watch it! SHADOW Read up; you have work to do. In 1926? SHADOW Apparently. (Genuinely curious, confused) …What could that be? Figure it out. The Shadow walks away without having ever been revealed; his long trench coat and fedora leaving a hint of mystery as he crosses the pool. Where are you going?! SHADOW Continental Breakfast. {Enter The Multiverse} [The Festival Project.™] COPYRIGHT © THE FESTIVAL PROJECT 2024 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. ©

It is very late night, when these sort of things are typically bound to happen, such as JOHN OLIVER, a TV show host, appearing out of nowhere and into your kitchen, asking JOHN OLIVER is it too late for a glass of milk? Startled, and just having dressed from a long and hot shower, the occupant of the apartment is started. OH, my God—John Oliver! As it were. What are you doing here? Anticipating a glass of milk— A tad warm, preferably. Where are you supposed to be right now? Wherever I am, which is—erm… My kitchen. Very nice kitchen, I might add; About that milk. I'm vegan. Plant based will do. It's for baking. —very well. They said you'd be a tough nut to crack. Who is “they” Who they are. He plops down on the couch and puts his feet up on the coffee tables YO. I don't speak much Spanish. But you understood that! I said I didn't speak much, not that I was devoid entirely of comprehension. What the fuck! What the fuck, indeed. You're so British, I don't even have a reproach— Harry, Hermione, and Ron enter through a portal. I WAS GETTING READY FOR BED. That sounds lovely. —is it too late for a glass of milk? Ron! …Well, is it? What is it with you people and milk?! The other Ron, or actually rather, his real world counterpart RUPERT GRINT is already in the fridge. There's only coconut— And it's canned. JOHN OLIVER and RON WEASELY AUGH. Harry scrunches his nose and winces a bit, when his real world counterpart exits the washroom. DANIEL RADCLIFFE Don't make that face— it will get stuck like that. HARRY POTTER —it's just an expression. DANIEL RADCLIFFE No, it isn't; remember more of you is fictional than not! HARRY POTTER Says you! DANIEL RADCLIFFE Says just about anyone in this dimension, and the next, and the next over— which— Oh my God. DANIEL RADCLIFFE by the way, which dimension is this? My kitchen. {Enter The Multiverse} [The Festival Project.™] COPYRIGHT © THE FESTIVAL PROJECT 2024 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. ©

The Judge was caught off guard in the Delphi trial - telling the defense she wasn't expecting them to have wrapped up their case yet.  Three Houston teens are dead after a gunfight at an apartment complex laundromat...Authorities are looking for 2 suspects.  The verdict is in in the so-called "Burn Pit" murder trial... Plus, a cafe boss in Kentucky offers an employee a raise & more, to kill a love rival.  Jennifer Gould reports. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is episode is part of my Folklore Friday series where I am sharing a Folklore story every Friday in 2024. To hear other stories, I have shared so far, check them out on my website All Things Iceland.  How an Icelandic Fisherman Caught a Merman Many years ago, there was a farmer living in Vogar, famous for being the best fisherman around. No one could match his skill, and his farm flourished because of it. One day, while he was out on the water, something strange happened. He cast his line into the sea like usual, but when he tried to reel it in, it felt impossibly heavy, as if he had snagged a massive catch.To his surprise, when he finally pulled it up, it wasn't just a fish—he'd caught a strange creature with the body of a man!Startled, the fisherman blurted out, “What in the world are you?”The creature responded calmly, “I am a merman from the deep sea.”Curious, the farmer asked, “What were you doing when my hook got you?”The merman replied, “I was adjusting the chimney cowl on my mother's house to make it face the wind. Now, let me go!”But the farmer wasn't ready to release him just yet. “Not so fast,” he said. “You'll have to serve me for a bit first.”Without further discussion, the fisherman dragged the merman into his boat and rowed back to shore. The Merman Notices Some Interesting Things About the Fisherman When they reached land, the fisherman's loyal dog ran up to greet him, barking happily and wagging its tail. But in a foul mood, the farmer struck the dog for being too excited. At this, the merman chuckled softly but didn't explain why.As the fisherman headed toward his house, pulling the merman behind him, he stumbled over a small hill. Annoyed, he cursed at it. The merman laughed again, louder this time.Finally, when they arrived at the house, the fisherman's wife rushed out to greet him, wrapping her arms around him affectionately. Pleased with her welcome, he smiled—only to hear the merman laugh a third time.The farmer, now curious, asked, “You've laughed three times. Why?”“I'll only tell you,” said the merman, “if you promise to take me back to the sea and let me go.”The fisherman agreed, eager to hear the reasons.The merman began, “I laughed the first time when you hit your dog, who was only showing you honest joy. The second time, I laughed because you cursed the hill—yet beneath it lies a fortune in gold. The third time, I laughed because your wife's embrace, though it pleased you, was hollow. She is unfaithful to you.”Shocked, the farmer said, “I'll believe you if I find gold in that hill. The rest, we'll see.” The Fisherman is Shocked at What He Found He immediately went to the hill and dug it up. Sure enough, he found a treasure of golden coins buried there, just as the merman had said.Keeping his word, the farmer took the merman back to the sea. Before diving back into the depths, the merman said, “You've kept your promise, so I will reward you. Soon, you will come across something valuable. Be ready to claim it.”Not long after, seven sea-grey cows appeared on the beach near the farmer's land. They were wild and untamable, but the farmer noticed something unusual—they each had a small bladder attached to their noses. Remembering the merman's words, the farmer chased after them, managing to burst the bladder on one of the cows. Immediately, the cow became calm, allowing the farmer to lead her home. The rest of the cows fled back into the sea.That one grey cow turned out to be an incredible gift, giving more milk than any other cow in the land. She became the ancestor of a prized breed of grey cows, famous throughout Iceland.The farmer grew rich and lived a prosperous life, but he never caught another merman. And as for his wife, well, nothing more was said about her after that, so we can only guess how that part of the story ended. Random Fact of the Episode Stories of Mermen often depict them as being very ugly with hands and feet.

John Maytham welcomes Dan Denis, a Psychology Lecturer at the University of York, to explore the relatively common but under-researched sleep disorder known as "Exploding Head Syndrome" (EHS). Denis discusses the potential causes and effects of this mysterious disorder and offers advice on how mindfulness can help improve sleep and enhance daily life.    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Geena received a notification from her camera that someone was in her driveway this morning at 5am!

Travis and Andy Kamenetzky this morning. Travis had to run some errands and says he saw some suspicious activities at his house. He tells us the story and why he was startled? Also, the NFL Season Opens tonight and we all get a chance to see something that no one has. Travis explains what that is? Plus, Travis has an irrational hate towards an NFL QB? Producer Jorge has his topics ready for HEY DID YOU SEE? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Listen to the All Ears English Podcast for four more episodes per week. Learn vocabulary, culture, conversation skills, and more. Hit follow so that you don't miss a single episode. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

When [Jesus] came back, he again found them sleeping. . . . They did not know what to say to him. — Mark 14:40 You have had a full meal, and it has been a long day. In fact, the past several days have been really challenging—emotionally and physically. You are worn out and tired. Even in the cool night air, you can barely stay awake. You know you need to pay attention because Jesus has asked you to keep watch, but your eyelids are getting heavier by the moment. Soon your head bobs, and you are fast asleep. You didn't plan it that way. Jesus nudges you awake and asks, “Couldn't you keep watch for one hour?” Startled, you hear him say, “Watch and pray. . . .” You nod in agreement, feeling horrible that you haven't managed to stay awake. He steps away, and the heaviness settles in again. Your eyelids close. Later he wakes you again, and you don't know what to say. Then a third time you are awakened—and now there is a crowd coming. Sleep vanishes. You look at the one who asked you to pray, and he is in the hands of his enemies! Though our lives today are much different from the disciples', the need for staying alert and praying is not. Our world is in need of our attention, and the Lord is calling us to stand watch. It is encouraging to know that Jesus is now seated at the right hand of the Father, praying for us (Romans 8:34), but today he still needs us to do the same for his world and for all God's children in it. Lord, help us to be alert, watching and praying for your sake. Guide us to live faithfully, that all your children may come to know you. Amen.

Don's bargain with a seductive vampire. By BradentonLarry - Listen to the Podcast at Steamy Stories. Lady Primrose The long, wood-paneled ballroom was largely what Don would have expected. There were a pair of tables near the entrance heavily laden with bowls and platters of fruit, as well as a fountain jetting clear, cold water surrounded by crystal glasses. There were doors at intervals down the length of the two side walls that seemed to open into the gardens, and illuminating the entire room were three very large candle chandeliers sparkling with golden light. In what seemed to be entirely appropriate décor, any would-be empty wall space of any considerable size was hung with high quality paintings. However, the paintings all had a decidedly erotic bent, as if someone had decided to redo the illustrations from the Kama Sutra in the style of the Dutch and English masters of the 18th and 19th centuries. There were some portraits too, but they were all showing much more skin than normal. The life-sized painting of a reclining pale young man with a rather generous erection was not exactly what one expected to see in a respectable Victorian mansion. Or, at least, not displayed prominently in the grand ballroom. The guests who had been admitted through the main doors, along with Don, gathered about the tables for some fruit and water, and then gradually began to disperse along the length of the ballroom, where they mingled with a number of people who seem to have been admitted to the room earlier, or who had come in through the garden. While Don, Jerome, Bian, Rodney, and Marilyn, seemed fairly representative of the former crowd of guests and of Erosians in general, the latter set seemed quite different. Each of these others moved with an unusually feline grace and unmistakable confidence. To paraphrase an astute (though fictional) observer of human nature, they walked as if the place belonged to them. They were all of them exceptionally good looking and possessed of an undeniable sex appeal, even for Eros. Don wasn't really surprised to note that these attendees were a bit paler than the other guests. Music began to play. It was unobtrusive instrumental music, ideal for slow dancing, but modern enough that no one felt compelled to waltz or anything like that. Don watched as the paler partiers moved among the others, smiling and batting their eyes, selecting, and engaging. Most led their chosen partners toward the open end of the ballroom where they danced together, but some slipped off through the open doors into the garden. Don felt a cool hand slip into his and turned to see the lovely Cessily next to him. She was now wearing a dark red evening gown with a plunging neckline that showed off most of her pale breasts to very nice advantage. Her blue eyes twinkled up at him and her lips, now crimson to match her gown, were smiling in a rather inviting way. “Good evening,” Cessily purred. “‘Don,' wasn't it?” “It was, and still is,” Don nodded, unable to resist smiling back at the charming woman. “Would you like to dance, Don?” she smiled. “Is dancing all you have in mind, my dear?” he managed. “Oh, well, there's always more than dancing on my mind,” she laughed. “In that at least we're kindred spirits,” admitted Don. “If you enjoy our dance, perhaps we could retire to someplace a bit more private…” “Something a bit more shadowy, say?” She smiled again, “If you like, though I don't mind an audience.” “Once more, we have that in common.” “I could tell I liked you right from the start, Don.” “You seem to have excellent taste, fair Cessily.” She leaned in closer, so Don could feel her lips very lightly brushing his neck, as she said, “I would love to see if your taste is so fine.” Don swallowed hard, and then managed to say, “I must say I find the thought very tempting, but…” She placed her hand on his chest and looked up into his eyes with another of her fetching smiles and said, “Would you like Lucien to join us?” Laughing a little, Don said, “No, that's quite alright. It's just that I'm afraid I really must save myself for Lady Primrose.” “Oh,” she actually pouted a bit. “However, if she has no use for me…” Cessily rolled her eyes a bit, “No, she'll just eat you up, the greedy bitch.” Don was a bit taken aback, and a bit put off by her phrasing, despite his pre-existing suspicions. “Oh, don't mind me, sweet thing,” Cessily laughed. “I just had my heart set on you for the night.” “That is very flattering! In other circumstances…” She leaned in and rose up on her toes a bit to kiss him on the cheek, then said, “If you get tired of waiting for her ladyship, don't hesitate to come find me.” Then, flashing him a bright smile and a quick wink, Cessily slipped off to find another quarry. “I've never seen anyone turn Cessily down before,” said a familiar voice from over Don's shoulder. Don turned to see Lucien regarding him with a slight, diffident smile. “It wasn't easy,” Don admitted, “but I think it's best if I wait until I get the chance to talk to Lady Primrose.” “Interesting,” shrugged Lucien. “She generally likes to make a late entrance. Normally I'd wish you luck resisting the charms of the other women, and men, here, but if you can say ‘no' to Cessily, I suspect you don't need any help in that regard.” Don laughed, “Again, it wasn't easy.” Lucien nodded and left Don to fend off the advances of several other extremely attractive women who seemed quite eager to slip off to a darkened corner with him. Two of them actually suggested they share him. “Do you mean, I can enjoy you both?” “Oh, yes, of course,” said the redhead, as her raven-haired companion licked her lips while admiring Don's neck. Don smiled and proffered his now customary response. The two women didn't seem to mind too much, and Don soon saw them dancing with a very cheerful Rodney, as nearby Marilyn seemed to swoon in the embrace of a tall, dark stranger. When the two women led Rodney off into the garden, Don thought he should follow. He doubted that anyone was in serious danger here, but he wanted to confirm his suspicions and perhaps see something erotic along the way. Before he could make it to the garden though, he found himself drawn up short as a gorgeous woman slipped up next to him and took his arm. “I understand you have been waiting for me, sir,” she said in a low, sensuous voice steeped in a cultured English accent. She was only a little shorter than Don, wearing a black dress that clung lovingly to her body, accentuating her curves and emphasizing her generous breasts with impressive décolletage. Her skin was fair in the way the aristocracy used to find a necessary part of beauty. She had thick chestnut hair pulled back and then falling over her bare shoulders, dark red lips smiling at Don, and emerald green eyes dancing with candlelight and echoing the little glints of her earrings. She was, to put it entirely too simply, staggeringly beautiful. “Lady Primrose, I presume?” “Indeed,” she nodded. “I'm very pleased to meet you,” Don took her hand and raised it briefly to his lips. He said, “My name is Don and I am at your service.” She smiled a bit coolly and said, “Well, we shall see about that, Don. Are you enjoying the party?” “I am,” Don nodded. “I've been enjoying the artwork, and the company is quite interesting, though now I see that it was all but a light appetizer.” She cocked her eyebrow at him and gave him half a smile, and then said, “I should 'make the rounds,' so to speak; would you be so kind as to accompany me?” Don bowed a bit, “Of course, milady.” Patting his hand with her cool fingers, she said, “You may call me Clarissa, Don.” Arm-in-arm they moved through the guests still in the ballroom. The guests who had come in with Don seemed largely entranced by their paler companions, but those last all smiled and greeted Lady Clarissa Primrose as she passed. As they started toward the gardens, she again addressed Don directly, saying, “You have questions.” “I usually do, yes,” Don smiled. “Curiosity is a nearly insatiable thirst, isn't it?” “Quite.” “Indulge yourself, Don; drink deep,” she smiled as she watched his face. “Lucien called Cessily his sister, but that isn't literally true, is it?” “Of all the questions you must have, that's the first?” she chuckled. Don shrugged, “It's the one I'm most likely to forget and regret not asking.” “There are several ways to be siblings,” she said. “They share the same mother, but not a womb. They share not genes but blood.” “And you are their mother, I take it?” “One of them, yes.” “So, 'Lady' is a bit of an understatement.” “What would you have me called?” “Queen seems more appropriate,” Don decided. “You flatter me, Don,” she laughed. “At least this is more interesting than the usual sort. One grows a bit tired of the usual compliments.” They had already passed a couple on a shadowy bench. The woman was straddling the man's lap and had her head buried in the crook of his neck. In another corner, a woman leaned back against a wall as a dark-haired man who might have been Lucien had his mouth fixed on her exposed breast. When they came to Rodney, who seemed to be getting a rather extreme hickey from the redhead and an enthusiastic blowjob from the darker woman, Don asked, “Are they in danger?” “Only if they want to be,” Clarissa smiled. “Does that happen often?” “More often than one might expect, but not what I would call 'often.'” “And how does one become … your child? That doesn't sound right,” Don frowned. “Perhaps it's best not to strain that metaphor,” she patted his hand again and turned him back to the house. “One has to drink in turn.” “Yes, of course,” Don nodded. “Is that why you wanted to see me, Don?” He smiled at her, “No, I'm here on other business.” “Interesting,” she mused as they came back into the ballroom. “You saved yourself for me, and I see that you understand what that would mean, at least normally, but you don't seem to have come for the usual reason at all, though I sense that you find the thought appealing. This would make sense if you were here to join my family.” She had led him through the ballroom and back to the entry hall, and they were now climbing the stairs. “Moreover, there's something different about you, Don.” She raised his wrist and inhaled deeply. “You have … layers – complexity.” She pressed her lips to his wrist and let her tongue play lightly over his flesh. He thought for a moment that he could feel her teeth against his skin. For a moment he thought she would bite him, and he wanted her to. “Uh, yes, there is a depth of flavor to you, Don. It's quite unusual.” She looked up at him without raising her mouth from his wrist. She smiled, “Will you give me a taste?” Don suddenly realized that they had climbed all the way to the top floor and had come into a large candle-lit bedroom with a large canopy bed in the center of it. It reminded him of the bedroom Toshia and he had found themselves in so long ago. It also struck him as a much darker, more sinister reflection of the Lady's bedroom in that distant Manor. With a tremendous effort of will, Don remembered that he had a mission to accomplish. “Perhaps,” he finally managed, as he moved his hand to cup Lady Clarissa Primrose's chin in his hand and draw her to him. He leaned in a bit, kissing her full lips lightly. Don just meant to put her off for a moment with that kiss, but she wasn't having any light kisses. She slipped her arms around him, one slipping up so that she could hold the back of his head, and kissed him passionately, hungrily. Her lips were cool, but her enthusiasm was heat enough. Her tongue slipped into his mouth insistently, as Don's hands moved up over her back until his fingers found the little zipper handle between her lower shoulder blades. When he'd opened the back of her gown, she stepped back a little and shimmied out of her black sheath. She gave Don a moment to admire her beautiful alabaster body, before she stepped to him again, raising her cool fingers to caress his face. “We could share the sweetest of ecstasies, Don,” she purred as her fingers dexterously unbuttoned his shirt in what seemed both slow motion and extremely quickly. She leaned in to kiss the side of his neck as his jacket and then his shirt fell to the floor. He felt the tip of her tongue brushing his skin. She pulled back and looked him in the eye with a confident smile on her dark lips, and said, “You have some power in this world, I can taste it on your flesh, but you've never known the power I can share with you, if you'll but give me a taste of yourself. You aren't afraid, I can tell. You want to give me what I want.” Letting his hands move over her body, caressing her curves, lingering over her perfect, full breasts, Don smiled and repeated, “Perhaps.” Somehow, she had undone his belt and opened his slacks. She was up against him again now with her hand in his pants, squeezing and pulling on his cock in a grip that was exquisitely tight, but still on the side of pain that counts as pleasure. Her nose was brushing against his, and he could feel her breath on his lips as she said, “You want to be inside me, Don. You can't deny it. You could have given yourself to Cessily or any of the others, but you saved yourself for me. Surrender yourself to me, Don.” Don forced himself to tear his hands away from touching her long enough to push his pants down, and then kicked his shoes and pants to the side. He licked his lips, swallowed, and said, again, “Perhaps.” Her eyes, so close to his now, narrowed and she growled a bit. Letting go of his sex, she placed her hand flat on his chest and shoved him backward, throwing him easily back on the silken coverings of the bed. Before Don could do more than land on his back splayed out helplessly, she was on top of him, crouched over him and looking down into his face. There was a fire in her eyes and for the first time, it was clear her canines were longer and sharper than normal. She smiled again, but now with a hint of malice, and said, “It's pointless to resist. You know you will give me what I desire.” Don couldn't resist touching her, and his hands moved up over her again, now reveling in the feeling of her tense muscles. He felt her hand between them, taking hold of his extremely hard prick and getting it into position. He felt his glans slipping into her smooth, moist sheath and was surprised at how intensely warm it was. He wanted to push up into her, but she resisted. She chuckled low in her throat. “Why fight it, Don? You know I can just take what I want.” Don smiled again, but this time broadly as if he were himself again, and said, “Perhaps.” Calling upon everything he had learned about Eros and using the strength he had found so helpful in his fight with the Sisterhood, Don abruptly pushed up and over, flipping Lady Primrose over onto her back underneath him. Startled, she snarled and snapped up at him with her deadly teeth, but Don's hand was on her lovely throat and he pushed her back into the bed. “Now, now,” he smiled. “We could fight, and maybe you'd take what you want by force, but where's the fun in that?” She managed a cold smile and said, “It sounds like it would be a great deal of fun, actually.” It was Don's turn to chuckle, and he again recalled that day with the Sisterhood, and haughty Daphne. He smiled and said, “Maybe we can try that next time. I was thinking this time we could come to a more mutually pleasurable solution.” To emphasize his point, he pushed himself deeper into her, quietly amazed at how wonderfully warm her pussy was. It felt like she was both opening to the pressure he was exerting and pulling him in. Her muscles squeezed and drew on him in a wonderfully unusual way, as if her pussy had preternatural abilities. He felt her hands squeezing his ass and pulling him in to her and her long legs wrapping around his. Don worked himself in and out of her a few times, eliciting a smile and a happy groan from her, and then said, “What I have in mind is a trade.” “Oh?” she was looking back up at him calmly, as if she were completely disinterested, though her body was flexing and grinding back against him rather enthusiastically. Don realized some of that enthusiasm was being exhibited by those exceptionally talented muscles of her vagina. Don was intent on fucking her now, but managed to remember his mission and said, “I will give you what you want, though not all of it, of course, but in exchange for something.” “Something more than what you're enjoying now?” she smiled. Don couldn't resist and lowered his face to hers to kiss her again. In the heat of passion, he didn't care that one of her fangs cut his lower lip, giving her the briefest taste of what she craved. When he pulled away again, he said, “If you can restrain yourself, I'm sure we can both enjoy this quite thoroughly.” She rocked her pelvis beneath him, smiled, and said, “You might be right about that.” Don paused a moment, both to enjoy the feeling of being inside this gorgeous, sexy creature, and to reconsider his plan, but then forged ahead with, “I'll let you drink, but I want something in exchange…” “Yes?” “Your earrings.” She laughed then, and said, “Is that all?” “Well, they do look expensive, and…” “Done!” she smiled. “Now shut up and fuck me, Don.” Don was all too happy to do so, bending his back and shoving up into her vigorously as her arms and legs wrapped around him, holding his body tight against her. He was fucking her hard and fast, using short, fast strokes when he felt her mouth on his neck. Her hand held the back of his head in place and then he felt her fangs sink into him. It hurt, but not as much as he had expected, and what followed was a strange kind of bliss. As she hungrily sucked on his blood, Don felt a deep connection with her that transcended the sexual union that was already so very intense. While she drank from him, their bodies became one organism, joined in one glorious pumping, flowing, orgasmic circuit. Then she was coming, her body suffused with his blood and squeezing and pulling at his sex, and Don gave her his cum as well, filling her with a gushing flood. As they ground together… Don shoving up into her, his arms pulling her down on his spasming cock, his legs shoving against the bed to push himself as deep as he could into her… Clarissa pulling him into herself, strong arms and legs wrapped around his muscular body, her pussy squeezing and sucking on his hard, thick sex… they rolled over together on the bed so that she was on top of him, shuddering and groaning with exquisite pleasure. Though to him it felt as if she had consumed a great deal of his blood, she held back so that he could give her more before the night was through. After their long, extremely intense orgasm finally faded away, Clarissa pushed back and up, straddling him and smiling down at him with her lips dark with his blood and thin dark red rivulets running down her chin and splattering a bit on the tops of her perfect breasts. Don smiled and hoped she would honor their agreement. If she didn't though, he couldn't help but think it was quite a way to go! Then she was moving on him, grinding herself against his body, riding his still very hard cock. Her hands moved up over her body to her full tits and squeezed them, smearing some of Don's blood over her fair skin. Don ran his own hands over her strong thighs up to her narrow waist. Then he was reaching up to help her squeeze those luscious breasts, getting some of that blood on his fingers. She bent down a bit and Don's hands reached her throat and then her face, and then she was licking and sucking the blood off his fingers. Without for a moment resisting the urge to move her pussy and clit against him, she leaned down to kiss him passionately. She hadn't put her fangs away – if she could even do that – so Don's tongue and lips felt those sharp teeth brushing against them in the heat of passion. There was also the taste of his own blood, which was somehow sweeter than the coppery taste he expected. Then she was climaxing again, moaning into Don's mouth as her body trembled and her pussy again milked at his cock in that weird and wonderful way. Later, after a long session of vigorous fucking, Don was sitting up on the bed and Clarissa was on his lap, his cock still inside her and her arms and legs wrapped around him. They had been moving against each other for some time since her last orgasm. She looked deeply into his eyes, and asked, “Why do you want my earrings?” Don told her, but as briefly as possible. “Ah,” she smiled. “I take it that means you would not like to join my little family.” He smiled and said, “I am very flattered, milady, but I must continue my quest.” She nodded, “Of course.” “That's not to say that I'm not very tempted, though,” Don added. “Would you mind if I came back to visit you, if I can?” She smiled and kissed him again. Don felt her pussy working its magic again, pulling him closer and closer to another orgasm. Clarissa rode up and down on him a bit more vigorously, and she said, “Please, feel free to visit any time. Now, give yourself to me one last time tonight.” As she drew him into ecstasy, she worked her body against him, bringing herself to her own shuddering climax. When Don's body responded in kind, pumping a fountain of hot cum up into her, she again dropped her mouth to his neck, and he felt the sharp pain of her fangs piercing his flesh. His hot blood filled her mouth as his seed filled her pussy and womb. Don felt as if she was swallowing him up whole as his life force flooded into her. She let him fall slowly back onto the bed, and he saw her over him, a disheveled and bloody creature of chaos and death, and thought it was one of the sexiest images he had ever seen. Then everything went black. When he woke, Don found himself in the bedroom where he and Gretchen had had so much fun the day before. He sat up and looked around a bit unsteadily, just as none other than Gretchen came into the room bearing a silver platter with a pitcher of water and some fruit. “Good afternoon, sir,” she smiled. She set the platter on a table by the bed and set about propping Don up with some pillows. “You should drink lots of water, and eat something, sir.” Then she disappeared into the bathroom to run a bath. When Don was reaching for his second apple, he noticed an envelope with his name on it. Inside were a pair of emerald earrings and a note that said, “Thank you for a wonderful evening. Please come again soon. – C.” Don was smiling as he finally got out of bed and made his way to the bathroom. He caught his reflection in a mirror on the way. He was a bloody mess, literally, but it looked like the wounds on his neck were already healing. After his bath, which was a bit restrained compared to their time together the day before, Don pushed a cheerfully cooperative Gretchen back on the bed so he could lick her to a few squealing and shaking orgasms. Then, back in his khaki's and polo with the envelope and earrings in his pocket, Don went downstairs, collected his staff and headed out for Shagbottom. “Damn, Don,” Toshia breathed. “That was crazy!” “Yeah,” he chuckled, “it really was intense.” “But she could have killed you.” He shrugged, “I mean, maybe, but everyone seemed so polite and well-mannered. Cessily and the others just took 'no' for an answer. I had the distinct impression Clarissa could be trusted to not get carried away.” Toshia shook her head disapprovingly. “Plus, like I said to Evelyn, I was getting the impression I wasn't really in any serious danger.” “Why is that, though?” “I'm getting to that,” he chuckled. “Fine, but how did you find your way back to the Hall of the Whatever King?” “Oh, that was the easy part,” Don laughed. “As soon as I left Heolfor House, I abruptly found myself in the courtyard with all the naughty statues. I just had to go in, strip down, shower, take the earrings and my staff, and ride the sofa back up again. I handed over the earrings and got my next mission. Easy peasy.” Dear readers, this chapter features quite a few references to people, events, and places in the Lost in Eros series. If you've read that,  perhaps you'll enjoy these callbacks. If you haven't, please consider this an invitation to read this story from the beginning. In any case, you'll enjoy this story either way. Chapter 8. The Tribal Queen, the New Sheriff, & Storytime “The next mission was a bit more straightforward, though there was a bit of a twist along the way,” Don smiled. “Oh?” Toshia prompted. “It turns out there's this whole area that's set aside for people who are into less civilized things.” “I can understand that,” she nodded. “Some of these are organized into rather male dominated tribes that engage in all kinds of war games and treat their women mostly as commodities. I get the impression the women must be into that whole thing. It had a rather cave-man sound to it when it was explained to me.” “Yeah, there are women who like that whole 'throw me over your shoulder and take me to your cave' idea,” Toshia said. “It's not my thing, obviously, but yeah.” “There are at least a couple of female-led tribes – kind of like Amazons.” Toshia added, “Or like the Sisters.” “Yeah, I guess so,” Don nodded. Task Three: “Anyway, my next mission was to win a tribal chieftain's queen. It wasn't the queen of the tribe, but the chieftain's queen. Apparently, she didn't have any tribal authority, but as queen she was the boss of the other women of the tribe, and she couldn't be traded away.” “Traded away?” “For, like, horses or other women,” shrugged Don. “I had to win the queen of the Grey Wolves. The watcher's council teleported me to the area, which they called 'the Wilds.' I found a village on the edge of the tribal area, got some more appropriate clothing – moccasins and a loin cloth…” “I'd like to see that,” Toshia grinned. “Maybe later,” Don laughed. “Over a couple of weeks, I was able to find out more about the tribal 'culture.' Apparently, there were just two ways I could 'win' a tribal queen: defeat the chieftain in one-on-one combat or sneak into the tribe's camp and spirit her away. I also found out that the chieftain of the Grey Wolves was a massive guy with a serious reputation as a badass warrior.” “So, stealth-time?” “Stealth-time,” Don nodded.Don Becomes the Sheriff of the Resort Center. By BradentonLarry - Listen to the Podcast at Steamy Stories. Don moved through the forest as quietly as he could. He was devoting all his attention to creeping stealthily toward the Grey Wolves' camp. For the hundredth time that night he wished he had Shelonda's skills in the woods. He was trying to bend Eros to his will, as he had done in the Manor and against the Sisters, but he was definitely out of his element here. All his time playing stealth characters in videogames hardly prepared him for actually moving quietly through a forest at night.He hoped that the Grey Wolves had grown complacent in their long period of being the strongest tribe in the Wilds. The villagers Don had befriended had assured him that no one would be crazy enough to try to sneak into the Grey Wolves' camp. Hearing that had actually cemented his plan to try the sneaky approach. Now, as he approached the camp, he could see the many tents and the darkly glowing pits where their fires had burned low. The chieftain, who he had been told was called Omar War Eagle, was supposed to have the biggest tent, and his queen would have the much smaller tent between his and the wooden lodge, next to which was the large tent shared by the other women of the chieftain. From the low rise outside the camp, Don thought he could make out the tent he wanted. His whole plan depended on War Eagle spending the night with one of his other women, and Don thought he could see a light glowing through the fabric of the queen's tent. Don crept slowly through the camp, suddenly grateful that there didn't seem to be any dogs in Eros. He stopped next to the backside of what he thought must be the right tent and listened. Somewhere in the camp there were at least three couples having sex, but most of the tribe seemed to have gone to sleep. Shifting his staff over to his left hand, Don drew the sharp knife he'd procured in the village and quickly cut a long slit in the tent. In another moment, he had slipped inside. Sure enough, there was only one person in this tent, and it was clearly a woman. Don could see a very feminine hip and the full swell of a beautiful bare breast in the reddish glow of the little fire that kept the tent warm. Don crept slowly toward the woman on her bed of furs, as he admired her sleeping form. He resisted the urge to run his hands over her legs while he decided how exactly he should manage the next part of this caper. He moved in closer to try to get a better look at the queen. Her long dark hair obscured her face, but he could tell she was beautiful. He thought the usual thing to do in a situation like this was to clamp his hand over her mouth when he woke her, to keep her from crying out, but Don wanted to make sure he did it swiftly and gently. Hurting this woman was completely out of the question, as far as Don was concerned. It was bad enough that he was about to frighten her. When his hand slipped over her mouth, though, her eyes opened and regarded him calmly. She made no effort to struggle or even start away. Don suddenly realized there was something very familiar about this woman. When Don raised a finger to his lips in what he hoped was a universal-enough sign to be quiet, she nodded as if she understood him, and Don drew his hand back. “Hello again,” she smiled. “It was Don, wasn't it?” Her accent and the way she pronounced his name, as ‘Dohn,' immediately refreshed his memory. “India?” he asked in utter surprise. “It is good to see you again, Don,” she smiled, “but what are you doing here? It is very dangerous for you here.” “I'm here to ‘win' you – to steal you away,” he explained. “Oh, that's sweet,” she smiled. “But wait, how did you know where to find me?” “I was sent by the watchers council, on a quest to earn one of those rings.” “One of these?” she laughed and held up her left hand, showing the black ring Don remembered. “Exactly,” he smiled. “I was looking for you after that one night in the Jungle Room, and here they've sent me to you.” “I am sure it was not an accident,” she smiled at him. She brushed her long black hair out of her eyes. Finding her lips irresistible, Don leaned in to give her a kiss, but she stopped him with her fingers on his mouth. “I am the queen, Don. You cannot just do what you want with me.” “Unless I steal you away, right,” Don nodded. “Yes. There are rules,” she smiled warmly. “Ah, very good,” Don rose a bit and offered her his hand. “We can slip out through the back of the tent.” “Oh, Don, that is not how we play this game,” she chuckled. Then she was yelling, “Help! Help! Someone has come into my tent! Help!” Toshia laughed a bit and then gaped at Don, before she said, “What the hell, Don?” “That was pretty much my reaction, too,” he chuckled. “You'd be amazed how quickly a bunch of naked guys woke up and swarmed to protect their chief's queen. They dragged me out and brought me right up to the chieftain himself, Omar War Eagle. He was huge, Toshia. Huge! He was at least a foot taller than me and built like, well, like Sven from the Maidenhead, but on steroids. He didn't look at all happy to be woken up or that I'd tried to make off with his most prized possession.” “How did you manage to get out of that?” Toshia asked. “Well, I did the only thing I could,” Don shrugged. “I challenged him to a fight for her.” “I have to admit, that's a bit anti-climactic,” Don said to himself. Omar War Eagle lay stretched out the ground in front of him, knocked out by a single strike from Don's staff. Rather than wait until morning, Omar had laughingly demanded the duel commence immediately. He apparently thought the skinny little intruder would be so little trouble that he could finish him off and get back to bed in short order. He called for a heavy cudgel to correspond, barely, to the twig he saw Don carrying. The rest of the tribe gathered around, and Don had a moment to notice that they bore very little resemblance to one another, as one might have expected from a more traditional tribe or clan. When Omar moved in, a bit recklessly, and swung that big cudgel in an admittedly brutally fast arc aimed at Don's head, it felt to Don as if the large man was almost moving in slow motion. It was hardly even an effort for him to duck under the swing, extend his leg out to the side as he crouched low, slipping to Omar's momentarily unexposed right side. Springing up on Omar's flank, Don leapt into the air and brought his staff down on the big man's shaved head with a loud crack. As Omar dropped the cudgel and fell to his knees, Don was glad to see that he hadn't caved in the man's skull. Before Omar had finished falling forward face down in the dirt, his tribe was gaping at Don and each other in shock and confusion. Then, Don caught India's eye and saw that she was shaking her head and trying to suppress a smile. He smiled at her, held out his hand, and said, “Milady…?” With her by his side, Don began to make his way through the crowd of Grey Wolves, when someone thought to ask, “Shouldn't one of us challenge him?” Don turned sharply in the direction of the questioner and said quite loudly, with an imperious gleam in his eyes, “Look, I don't want any trouble with the rest of you. I got what I came for. Maybe you all need to think about some changes around here, but do you really want to mess with me right now?” This seemed to be both confusing and threatening enough to distract the tribe from Don and India's exit. Now that he wasn't trying to be sneaky, Don could make better time, just keeping his eye on the ground to avoid tripping in the darkness. India now seemed fine with following along. Once they were well into the forest, she let herself laugh and say, “I think that was 'cheating,' Don.” He chuckled and said, “I don't see how. I'm pretty sure anybody can move that fast if they really want to, at least here in Eros.” “And your weapon?” “Well, that is special, but I don't think that was important this time.” “Don, wait,” she said, tugging on his arm. He drew up short and turned to her. She slipped into his arms and gave him a kiss, and then said, “You did your tarefa, your assignment; but before they take you away, let us have some time alone.” “Okay,” Don smiled and leaned down to kiss her again. Then he realized he was in a very different place. There was a jungle on his right, and a moonlit beach on his left. Behind India was a good-sized bungalow, and there was a campfire burning brightly on the beach. “Whoa!” Don breathed. “How did you do that?” “Is one of my special powers,” she winked at him. Then she was leading him out toward the water, saying over her brown shoulder, “This is my special place, my 'hideaway.' They won't bother us here.” “Is this something you can do with your ring?” “Yes,” she smiled, “and you will be able to build things like this too.” Then she dove into the water, leaving Don on the beach to kick off his moccasins and take off his loin cloth, before diving in after her. Like Toshia would later, Don had many questions, but for the time being he devoted himself to enjoying the playful, sensual company of this wonderful, enchanting woman. From the warm water and surf, to a big blanket by the fire, to a large, surprisingly cooperative hammock, they made love until they found themselves spent – drowsy in each other's arms as the sky began to lighten. “I looked for you at the Jungle Room,” Don said, his lips brushing the top of her head. “Jaden said you had been redecorating. Is that something you do with the ring too?” “Uh hum,” she murmured, “the Jungle is my place.” “How is all of this possible?” She chuckled a little, kissed his chest, and said, “I can't tell you, but you will see.” “I would like to see you again,” Don admitted. “You will be able to,” she said as she caressed his belly. “And you will be able to come back here, but you should always ask, first.” “Of course!” Don smiled. “How will I ask, though?” “Shhh, Don, let's sleep for a little while.” “You're into her too!” Toshia laughed. “How did I not notice that before?” “I'm sure I have no idea what you're talking about,” Don shook his head. “How many women are you in love with, Don?” “Jealous?” “Ha! No! I know you love me,” she grinned. “How does Sage…I mean, Evelyn, feel about this kind of thing, though?” “She seems to share your attitude, actually, though she is a bit more possessive. It's kind of a strange dynamic, actually. You could call my relationship with her my primary, if you want to use the polyamory lingo, I guess. Anyway, it's an exaggeration to say I'm in love with India. It's more like kind of passing infatuation. Other than being into sex, I don't even know if we have anything in common.” Toshia regarded him with a cocked eyebrow, then said, “Okay, if you say so. Now, if I ask you about those things you asked India, you're just going to say, 'I'm getting to that,' aren't you?” “Yeah, I'm afraid so,” Don nodded. “Sure enough, right after she took us back to the forest, I found myself teleported back to that crazy courtyard of the Crimson Mountain King. After the usual bathing ritual and taking the time to look around a bit for Evelyn, Nicole, and Stephanie, just in case, I was back in the office to get my next assignment.” “You're doing quite well so far, Don,” Pamela said from the other end of the table. “Three down and four to go.” “Thank you,” Don smiled. Knowing that he was almost halfway to being done definitely put him in a better mood about jumping through these hoops. Task Four: “What's next?” “Something different in a familiar setting, I think,” Pamela said with a smile. “We want you to take over the role of sheriff in the Resort.” “Okay, but what about the current sheriff?” “The position is currently vacant, I'm afraid.” “Okay, well, it seems like an easy enough job, I can take it on until someone else comes along.” “You misunderstand,” Pamela said with a smile of a different sort. “You're to take over the role of sheriff in the Resort for a year.” “A year?” Don gaped down the table at the council. “Moreover, you are not to have any sex for that year.” “Wait, what?” “Be the sheriff for one year without having sex,” Pamela repeated. “A year, fine, but… wait, what counts as sex?” “You're clearly familiar with the concept, Don.” “Yes, but what's the exact thing I'm supposed to be avoiding?” With the slightest expression of exasperation, Pamela looked to the witnesses to either side, but if they gave her any feedback Don couldn't see or hear it. Finally, she looked back at him and said, “No physical contact with another person for the purposes of sexual titillation or gratification either for yourself or the other person, or persons.” “So, masturbation…” “Yes, that's fine,” she cut him off a bit impatiently, “but you should be careful not to try to test the boundaries of our rules. We will not tell you if you have failed the task until the end of a year.” “So, I probably shouldn't try touching someone with a sex toy, I take it,” Don frowned. “Do I have to keep track of the time?” “No,” Pamela said. “Stay in the Resort, and we will let you know when your term of service is done.” “Okay,” Don shrugged. “Any other conditions to be met?” “No, that's it.” “Okay, I guess I'm ready, then.” Then, Don found himself standing in the sheriff's office in the Resort. He was wearing boots, jeans, a light white shirt and a denim vest with a star on it. His trusty staff was still in his hand. With a deep sigh of resignation, Don began his year as Sheriff. “A year?! That's crazy,” Toshia shook her head. “Plus, no sex, damn!” Don laughed, “Oh, I agree completely.” “What does the sheriff even do, really?” “Not an awful lot, it turns out,” Don smiled. “I mostly wandered around making sure people didn't 'disturb the peace'—you know, running around playing tag when people are trying to fuck, that kind of thing. Apparently, maturity and consideration aren't required for getting into Eros. Our crashing into the pool on our flying carpet definitely counted as disturbing the peace, by the way. Sometimes people get confused and lost, and it was nice to help them out. Of course, they often wanted to 'thank me' for my troubles, but I was a rock and politely declined.” “It must have been very hard,” Toshia winked and gave him a little nudge. Laughing, Don said, “Well, I've gone longer than that without sex out here, but the XYZ certainly made things … difficult.” “A year in the Resort… all that hot sex going on and you couldn't have any, damn!” “Well, I could, and did, masturbate – a lot – but it was supposed to be a challenge, so… I did amuse myself by wearing increasingly outlandish outfits from the Wardrobery, which was fun. And there were occasional breaks in the monotony. One of the things all of us agreed to before going for these rings was to check in with the sheriff any time we passed through the Resort. So, I was in a good spot for finding out how the others were doing. And, as it turned out, it was only about a week and a half into it when Evelyn turned up.” “Oh, that's good! How was she doing?” “She was doing well and had some stories to tell.” “Well, what do we have here?” said the familiar voice from the doorway. Don jolted upright in his chair behind the desk, where he had just been dozing a bit in preparation for his mid-afternoon nap. Then, when he saw the woman framed in the entrance to his jail, Don bolted to his feet, circled his desk quickly, and wrapped her in his arms. Then they were kissing passionately, in an embrace that lasted several minutes. Only when their lips finally parted did he say, “Sage… I mean, Evelyn! It's so good to see you!” “Right back at ya, stud!” she grinned. “Shouldn't you be in Gotham City?” Don stepped back to show off the Batman costume he had found in the Wardrobery, then tapped the sheriff's star on his chest, and said, “It seemed appropriate to the job.” “No mask, or … cowl, right?” “They had one but, it was seriously uncomfortable, and nobody was getting the joke anyway,” he shrugged. “Come on in and have a seat! Where have you been? How are things going?” She laughed, “That's what you want to do first?” “Ah, well, you see, 'want' isn't the right word here,” Don frowned as he sat on the edge of his desk. He quickly outlined the details of his current task. “Oh wow!” Evelyn said. “That really sucks. Which one of your seven is this, then?” “Four,” he said as he watched her move into the room. She was wearing a green tank top that fit her snuggly, a brown skirt, and a pair of hiking boots – in short, the same outfit she'd been wearing when they had gone together to the Crimson Mountain weeks ago. She propped her staff against the wall before she took her seat. Don was deeply distracted by her bare legs as she crossed them. “Ah, so we each have things to tell each other about,” she smiled. “You go first.” Don related his story about Shagbottom and Lady Primrose, which Evelyn pronounced, “Extremely hot!” While he was telling the story of his quest to 'win' India, Evelyn asked a number of questions about India, ultimately concluding, “She sounds like fun. I want to meet her!” “We can go look for her at the Jungle Room,” Don smiled, “but it's your turn.” “I don't know, lover,” she smirked. “Your stories have got me a bit hot and bothered…” “Well, I can't help you with that,” Don said wryly. “We could go find you someone to play with…” “What if I kill two birds with one stone?” she smiled as she uncrossed her legs and hiked her skirt up a bit. She ran her hands over her thighs, smiled over at the lust-filled expression on Don's face, and then began, “Well, my first assignment was right here in fact. I had to spend a week 'wearing the red' in the Temple of Venus and Aphrodite.” “Ah yes, we did that our first day here at the Resort, but just for one shift.” Don laughed a bit, “You definitely weren't the captain there; that must have been a challenge for you.” “I think that was the idea,” she chuckled. “Those 'watchers' do seem to know a lot about us, don't they?” “Yeah they do,” he nodded. “We had to do six hours. How long was your day?” “Ten hours, with three breaks in there, for refreshment and rest. That left me time each night to explore the Resort a bit before sleeping.” She was idly toying with her lips, pulling and stroking on them. Don forced himself to look up at Evelyn's eyes and asked, “Where did you sleep?” “Here and there,” she shrugged. “There's no shortage of beds and comfy loungers here, and nobody messes with you when you're asleep.” “They better not!” Don grinned. “The sheriff won't stand for that kind of nonsense.” “Good man,” she smiled. “Any particular things stand out from that week?” “Well, it took me a while to get used to just letting anyone who wanted to paw me and boss me around. By the way, women are just as bad as men about that. My butt seems to be some kind of grope magnet.” “It is particularly tempting, I must admit,” Don smiled. “'Sure you don't want to start your year over?” she winked. With a frown, Don shook his head and said, “It doesn't work like that. They'll just tell me at the end of a year if I pass or fail.” “Boo!” she said with an exaggerated pout. “Well, after I got used to the situation it got pretty easy to just go with the flow.” “Any favorite jobs?” “Well, one woman wanted a gangbang and they needed a fluffer.” “That's a bit surprising, to be honest, I mean here in Eros,” Don mused. “I thought so too, but there I was, giving head to like 30 guys.” “Damn! I'd like to have seen that!” Don adjusted the rising bulge in his Batman trunks. “It was hot,” she nodded as she slipped one of her fingers up between her lips. “On the other hand, having all those hard cocks to play with but no cum for me was a bit frustrating, and, after a while my jaw started to hurt.” Don frowned in sympathy. “Oh, one day they asked me if I could dance. 'Turns out there's a little club in there. “Yeah, the Temple's a bit more Vegas than Aphrodisia's.” “You're really such a nerd, aren't you?” She laughed. “Anyway, they wanted some novitiates to dance on tables and the bar. That was fun. At first it seemed like it was just going to be a chance to enjoy some music and dance, which was a nice break, but yeah, things got a bit… heated.” Evelyn had her own little stage about two meters across where she danced barefoot and naked to the very sexy pulsing music. For this assignment, she and the other dancers weren't wearing their usual red tunics, but had long red ribbons tied around their wrists, biceps and waists. The table on which she was dancing glowed white under her feet, and there were red and blue spotlights above focused on her. There were four of these tables, each with a dancer, two of them men and two women. At either end of the bar was another dancer, again one man and one woman. With the lighting as it was, it was a bit hard to see people who weren't dancing or over at the fairly well-lit bar. Evelyn could make out the people right at her feet, but the other 'patrons' of the club were just indistinct shapes in the shadows. At first, Evelyn was content to sway to the music, letting her body move along to the beat as if she were dancing just for herself. It had been a long time since she'd danced at all, and she'd forgotten how much she enjoyed it. Of course, the fact that she was naked in a spotlight, with XYZ coursing through her veins, made her very conscious that she was putting on a show, whether she was trying or not. Soon, her hands were moving over her body as she danced, gliding over her hips, cupping her breasts, caressing her neck and her face. Now and then her fingertips reached down to brush lightly over her lower lips, which were getting increasingly dewy. To be continued. By BradentonLarry for Literotica

Welcome to the Alfalfa Podcast

Have you ever found yourself unexpectedly sharing a moment with your higher up outside the office walls? It doesn't have to be super awkward, unless you've told a few white lies or if the space you're sharing is a strip club and your boss is a priest! Join the madness and tune into hear the strangest places to run into your boss at!

A young man meets his uncle's attractive and sexy maid. by Original_Aramis, listen to the podcast at Steamy Stories. It was very late in the afternoon when the taxi carrying Jeremy Fuller arrived at its destination. Jeremy looked out of the window as the taxi rolled up the drive and stopped in front of the house, a smile crossing his tired face. The house was pretty much as he remembered it; the grounds were neat and well-kept, the grass green and cut close, the house neat and tidy. Jeremy had been away at school in Europe for the past two years, and this was his first trip home. It was his uncle's idea that he attend school in Europe; he had done it when he was young and always said it was the best thing to ever happen to him next to getting custody of Jeremy.Jeremy's uncle had raised him since his parents were killed when he was six, and had done an excellent job of it. He had no brothers or sisters or any other living relatives and his uncle was a bachelor, so he was the sole object of his uncle's attention. He loved his uncle like a father, and had missed him while he was gone. He had been looking forward to the trip home for months; the only thing to throw a damper in the works was the last-minute letter he got from his uncle the day before he got on the plane to fly home. Seems that there was a problem with one of his holdings in South America, and he had to go take care of it. He'd only be gone for about a week, but he'd be leaving the day that Jeremy was getting on the plane to come home. That meant he'd have the house all to himself for the first four or five days that he was home; he guessed that would be OK, since he'd just relax by the pool, go downtown during the evening, and maybe even get lucky and score once or twice before his uncle got home. European women were nice, but he was looking forward to some good old American ass. Jeremy walked up and opened the door to the house as the taxi drove away, then walked inside and dropped his bags on the floor next to the door. The house was cool and quiet, and he saw an envelope with his name on it lying on the small table in the hallway. He picked it up, opened it, and took out the sheet of paper inside. It was a note from his uncle, telling him that he was sorry he couldn't be there for the first few days, but that he'd get home as soon as he could. He also said for Jeremy to enjoy himself and have fun, telling him where the keys to the car were. But it was the last paragraph that caught his eye. “And don't worry about keeping the place neat; I've hired a live-in maid since you left, and she does quite a good job of taking care of things. Her name is Claudia; I think you'll like her. Welcome home! Love, Uncle Andy.” Claudia; what an intriguing name, Jeremy thought. And just what did he mean by ‘I think you'll like her,' he thought to himself. Oh, well, he thought, he'd find out soon enough. He picked up his bags and headed upstairs to his old room. The room was exactly as he remembered it, and it seemed like no one had touched it since he left. Everything was in the same places as he last remembered seeing them, although there wasn't a speck of dust or dirt anywhere to be seen. He dropped his bags on the floor and then stood in the center of the room and looked around, feeling glad to be home. “Welcome home, Master Jeremy,” a feminine voice said from behind him. Startled, Jeremy turned around quickly. Standing behind him with her hands behind her back and wearing a traditional French maid's outfit was the woman who just had to be Claudia. His breath caught in his throat as he saw her for the first time. She was about 5 and a half feet tall, maybe 110 pounds soaking wet, with blond hair, blue eyes, and a very trim figure. She also had the nicest, roundest pair of tits he'd ever seen! They were absolutely stunning,  and the dress was cut low enough to show about a mile of cleavage. He could see the tops of her busty breasts rising and falling as she breathed. He could only imagine the industrial-strength bra she had to be wearing to hold those mammaries in. She laughed gaily and broke his trance. “I'm sorry, Master Jeremy, I didn't mean to startle you!” she said, smiling at him. “No, that's okay, really!” he said, flustered and embarrassed at having been caught staring at her huge tits. “I didn't mean to…well, it's just that I wasn't expecting…” he stammered, not knowing what to say. Claudia laughed again. “That's quite all right, Master Jeremy, I'm used to the reaction I get when men see me for the first time; actually, I take it as a compliment!” She took a step into the room and introduced herself. “I'm Claudia, as I'm sure you've figured out. I'm your uncle's housekeeper, and he's instructed me to take good care of you until he gets home,” she explained. She walked over and picked up his bags, showing more of her spectacular cleavage to him as she bent over. She carried the bags over to his bed and put them there, and for the first time he noticed that the short skirt of her outfit revealed a pair of very shapely legs which led up to a firm, rounded ass. He caught himself and brought his eyes up to hers before she turned around and caught him staring again. “Is there anything I can do for you, Master Jeremy?” she asked, smiling at him. Her choice of words did not go unnoticed by Jeremy. “No, thank you. And please, my name is Jeremy; you can stop with the ‘master' stuff, okay?” he said, smiling at her. She smiled back in response. “Okay, Jeremy,” she said, and then walked towards the door. “Your uncle left another note for you on your dresser, by the way. I have some things to attend to downstairs, so I'll leave you to get settled in.” She paused at the door and turned to face him again. “Are you sure there isn't anything I can do for you before I leave?” she asked again, still smiling at him. ‘Yeah, you can wrap those massive tits around my head and smother me with them!' he thought to himself. “No thank you, Claudia. I'm going to take a shower and relax a bit,” he replied, looking over and seeing the envelope on the dresser. “The long flight over kind of wore me out.” “Very good, Jeremy, I'll check with you in an hour or so!” she smiled at him and then left, closing the door behind her. He couldn't help but wonder if there was a pair of thong panties hiding beneath that short skirt of her. If she wore panties at all, that is. Jeremy walked over to the dresser, picked up the envelope, and read the short note inside. “Jeremy, So what do you think of Claudia? Quite spectacular, isn't she? Believe it or not, I hired her based on a telephone interview and didn't actually see her until she showed up her first day. Needless to say I was very glad I hired her! And the French maid outfit was her idea, by the way…she insisted on wearing it as her uniform, which is quite all right with me as I'm sure it is with you as well. She's a sweet girl who's very good at her job, although I have a feeling there's a wild side to her that I haven't seen. But I'll let you tell me all about that when I get home! Again, welcome home! Uncle Andy” Jeremy folded the note and put it back in the envelope. A wild side, huh? He thought to himself as he got undressed to get in the shower. He could certainly see where his uncle would get that idea from, especially if she used the same double-meaning phrases with him that she just used with Jeremy. And she had to know how incredibly low-cut her dress was and just how much cleavage she was showing, didn't she? After all, she chose it herself, not her uncle. Thong panties would tell the tale, he thought as he turned on the water in the shower; if she's wearing thong panties, then she's got a wild side for sure! If she wore panties at all, that is. Jeremy took a shower, washing the 19 hours of travel off of his body, and then lay down on his bed to take a nap. He was so tired he didn't bother to get dressed; he just lay down on his back and fell instantly asleep in the comfort of his own bed. He didn't wake up until much later, and when he did it was full dark outside. He glanced at the clock to see what time it was and was surprised to see that it was a little after nine PM. He turned on the light next to the bed, threw back the blanket covering him and swung his feet over the sit of the bed as he sat up; then it hit him. ‘I don't remember covering up with a blanket!' He thought. 'I don't remember a blanket even being laid out on the bed!' Could he have gotten up and retrieved the blanket, only to be so tired that he didn't remember it? He thought that may have been it; after all, he was more tired than he thought when he stepped out of the shower, falling asleep right away. In any event, he stood up and picked up one of his bags, then placed it on the bed. He opened it and pulled out a clean pair of jeans and a t-shirt; he quickly slipped these on (he never wore underwear) and then slipped his bare feet into his well-worn deck shoes. Then he went over to the dresser to run a comb through his hair before going downstairs to get something to eat from the kitchen. That's when he saw the note stuck in the frame of the mirror. “I fixed a plate for you and put it in the refrigerator. All you have to do is put it in the microwave for 4 minutes and that's it. Hope you had a nice nap! Claudia.” So she had been in his room! And she had obviously gotten a close look at him since she was invariably the one who had covered him with the blanket. Jeremy was so taken aback by the realization that she had been in there while he was sleeping naked on his bed that he didn't know whether to be upset or amused. After a very few moments he was neither; he found himself intrigued and slightly aroused. He wondered if she had stood over him, looking down at his naked form before she covered him, and wondered what she had thought. He also wondered how long she had been in there. He went downstairs and found the plate in the kitchen just like the note said, and then nuked it according to instructions. After he finished eating he put the plate in the sink and went back upstairs to unpack. He didn't see or hear Claudia for the rest of the night; he figured that she was probably either in her room or out on the town. In either case he didn't think he'd see her again that night, so after he finished unpacking he went back to bed. He got up the next morning bright and early, showered again, got dressed in the same jeans and t-shirt he'd briefly had on the night before, then went downstairs to get some breakfast and read the paper. It would be nice to read an American paper for a change. As soon as he walked into the hallway he smelled the sausage, bacon and eggs cooking. He smiled as he walked into the kitchen and saw Claudia in her French maid outfit standing over the stove, putting the finishing touches on his eggs. She noticed him in the doorway and smiled. “Good morning, Jeremy! How did you sleep?” she asked, turning the bacon. The tops of her huge breasts jiggled with her every move. “Like a rock,” he replied, walking over and sitting down at the table. He wasn't going to mention anything about her coming into his room unless she did. Set out on the table in front of him was a knife, fork, plate, a glass of orange juice and the morning paper. This girl thought of everything. “Good! I hope you don't mind my coming in and covering you up,” she said, brining the pan with his eggs over and scraping the scrambled eggs out onto his plate. She bent over beside him and gave him another long look at her spectacular cleavage. “When I came in to check on you after an hour and you didn't answer the knock on your door, I thought it would be wise to see if you were okay.” She straightened up and took the empty pan back to the stove, then returned with the bacon and sausage. He got another look at her twin peaks when she did this. “You didn't look cold; actually, you looked fine, but I thought it would be best to cover you up anyway,” she explained, taking the empty pan over to the stove. 'There's that double-meaning statement again!' Jeremy thought. “Thank you, I appreciate you looking out for me like that,” he said as he started to eat his breakfast. “It was my pleasure, really!” she said, smiling at him. 'I just bet it was!' He thought. “I've already eaten, and there are some things I have to take care of this morning, so I'll leave you to your eggs and paper,” she said, picking up the remnants of the bacon and sausage wrappings and walking over to the trash can. “If there's anything I can do for you, please don't hesitate to ask!” she said as she turned away from him and stepped on the pedal for the trash can in the corner. The lid popped up and she dropped the trash into it. Some of it missed the can and fell to the floor; she bent over from the waist without bending her knees to pick it up and put it in the trash can, then left the room without turning around to see the look on Jeremy's face. She was wearing a thong. Jeremy smiled, then went back to eating his breakfast. When Jeremy returned to his room after breakfast, the first thing he noticed was that Claudia had unpacked his luggage. The next thing he noticed was the neatly folded towel lying on the bed, next to his racing style swim trunks. Lying on top of the trunks was a short note which read, “Just in case you decide to go for a swim later on!” When he bought the trunks in Europe he wasn't particularly fond of them at first, but that was all he could find in that part of the world. The thought of walking around in a skin-tight Spandex bathing suit that showed every curve, bump and vein - especially when he had an erection, which was frequently on the nude beaches at first - made him uncomfortable. He eventually got used to them and now didn't think twice about wearing them. He even got used to the nude beaches, and the all-too-frequent erections slowed considerably. After six months of seeing European women walking around topless, it took a woman with a really spectacular body to get that kind of reaction out of him. A woman with a body like Claudia's. At first he didn't know what to think, and then he decided what the hell - after he got back from visiting some old friends in town, he just might go for that swim and see what happened. He had a feeling, and wanted to see if he was right. He went downstairs to get the car keys and tell Claudia he was leaving. He followed the sound of the vacuum cleaner and found her in his uncle's study, vacuuming the rug. He stood in the doorway for several moments, watching her move the vacuum cleaner around the room. When she turned in his direction he got another good view of her mammoth breasts which were bobbing like crazy as she worked the vacuum. After a long minute she finally looked up and noticed him, jumping a bit. They both smiled as she shut off the machine, and he spoke first. “Now it's my turn to startle you!” he said. “I'm sorry; I didn't mean to sneak up on you!” “I guess I had it coming,” she said, still smiling at him. “So now we're even! What can I do for you, Jeremy?” she asked. “I just wanted to let you know that I was going out for a while to see some old friends,” he said. “I should be back in a couple of hours.” “Would you like me to have lunch waiting for you when you get back?” she asked. “That would be great, yes,” he said, marveling at this girl's efficiency. “And after lunch, I think I'll go for that swim,” he said, leaving the open-ended statement hanging there. She smiled broadly, her eyes lighting up as she replied. “Wonderful! I'm sure you'll enjoy it!” she said, giving him an open-ended statement of her own to ponder as he walked away. He returned to the house around noon, and true to her word Claudia had lunch waiting for him. The sandwich and chips were the perfect lunch, and Jeremy told her so when she set the plate down in front of him, again showing him her mile-long cleavage. “Thank you, Jeremy, that's very sweet!” she said, smiling at him. She walked towards the door and then stopped, turning to ask, “Is there anything else I can do for you?” 'Okay, I'll play your game!' he thought. “No, this is just fine, Claudia…for now,” he replied, smiling a wry smile at her. She smiled very broadly at his response before replying. “You just call me if you want anything else from me!” she said, and then walked through the door. 'And so the game begins,' Jeremy thought as he ate his lunch. He had a pretty good idea where things were headed, and he really hoped he was right. If he didn't get to see those huge tits naked soon, he'd go absolutely crazy! After he finished eating he went upstairs, changed into his swim trunks, and headed down to the pool, the towel slung over his shoulder. The day was bright, clear, and hot, and the water felt good on his skin as he dove into the pool. He swam a few laps in the Olympic-size pool, then hoisted himself out of the cool water and headed for the chaise lounge, picking up his towel from where he dropped it on the way. He ran his hands over his head to squeegee the water out, then lay down on the big padded lounge chair, letting the sun warm his body and dry the water from his skin. He closed his eyes and relaxed, letting his mind wander and was not surprised to find it wandering over Claudia and those luscious tits. His thoughts combined with the warm sun on his crotch began to have the inevitable effect and he felt his cock swelling slightly, pressing against the snug material of his suit. 'I wonder what the rest of her looks like'? He thought to himself. As if on cue, from behind him came Claudia's voice. “Would you mind if I joined you, Jeremy?” He opened his eyes and turned his head to see her standing behind his chair, smiling down at him. He could have sworn she was staring at his crotch when he first turned his head, but he wasn't sure. She was wearing a short white terrycloth pool robe which stopped just below the cheeks of her ass, and was carrying a towel. “Please do!” he said, gesturing to the chaise lounge next to his. He made no move to cover his partial erection which was plainly visible through his tight suit. “Thank you!” she said. She walked over to the lounge and spread the towel out to lie on, giving Jeremy a good look at the underside of her ass as she did so. Not surprisingly, her bathing suit was a thong, too, he was glad to see. She turned at sat down on the lounge facing Jeremy, leaving her robe on. She smiled at him as she spoke. “How long were you in Europe, Jeremy?” she asked, genuinely interested. She leaned forward on her knees, and Jeremy saw more of her fantastic cleavage than ever. He couldn't wait to see the suit she had on under that robe! “Two years,” he said, “most of it in France going to school. I did a couple of internships in Belgium and Germany, but mostly it was France.” “Did you like France?” she asked. “Yes, I did,” he replied. “The people were very nice, and once you got used to the cultural differences, it was just great.” “Cultural differences?” “Yep; Europeans in general and the French in particular have a very different attitude,” he explained, “much more relaxed than ours. They don't let the trivial things upset them, and their attitude on nudity is just great.” “What attitude is that?” she asked, letting him steer the conversation. He had a feeling she knew she was being steered and didn't mind. “They don't mind it. You see topless ads on billboards and in papers all the time, plus full-frontal female nudity on TV is no big thing.” “They have topless beaches there, too, right?” she asked, doing some steering of her own. “Yes, they do; they have fully nude ones, too,” he replied. “Did you go to them?” she asked, smiling again. “The topless ones, yes, but not the fully nude ones,” he said. “Don't get me wrong, I love seeing the naked female form just as much as the next guy, but there's something about seeing guys walking around on the beach naked that just doesn't appeal to me.” “So you were okay with the topless beaches?” “Absolutely,” he said. Her smile broadened as she sat up. “Good! Then this won't bother you,” she said as she stood up and untied the belt holding the robe closed. She took the robe off and revealed her huge, round breasts to him; she was topless, and it took Jeremy a little by surprise but only because her tits were so much bigger than he thought they were. He thought that the mile-long cleavage she had been showing him was due to the bras she wore, but he now saw that her cleavage was natural. Her breasts were huge, round and full with just a little bit of sag from their great weight. Her nipples were small and perfect, surrounded by large pale areolas. Her mammoth mounds swayed on her chest with her movements as she folded the robe and placed it on the ground beneath the lounge. The thong bottoms that she wore were dark blue and were barely big enough to cover her pubic mound. He was sure from the small size of the thong bottoms that she trimmed her pubic bush; she had to, or else he would have seen otherwise. He swallowed hard as she spoke again, sitting down and then laying back on the lounge to face the sun. “I always sunbathe topless,” she said, closing her eyes and letting the sun hit her skin. Her breasts hardly flattened out at all when she lay back, and Jeremy could see her nipples beginning to crinkle from the heat of the sun. She turned her head to him and asked, “Are you sure you don't mind?” “Mind?” he said, trying hard not to stammer, “Why in the world would I mind?” He was trying hard to keep his concentration; it was a fight since most of the blood in his body was now rushing to his cock, which was rapidly growing to its full size. He felt it straining against the material of his suit, and he was sure that she saw it. Actually, he was hoping she had. “Good,” she said, turning her face back to the sun. “I hate tan lines on my breasts. And I'm glad to see you like them, Jeremy,” she said, smiling with her eyes closed. Caught off guard by her statement, Jeremy was quiet for a few moments. She turned to look at him and laughed when she saw the look on his face; her melons shook as she laughed. Then she sat up and propped herself up on one elbow as she spoke. Her tits lay against each other, the nipples hard and erect now. “Don't be embarrassed, Jeremy,” she said, “I have much the same attitude as the French do about nudity and the human body. It doesn't bother me at all to be topless or even naked in front of you, and I consider your getting an erection as a compliment. Besides, you should be very proud,” she continued, looking down at the clear outline of his fully erect shaft, her eyes traveling up and down the length as she spoke. “You have a beautiful cock.” “Thank you,” he replied, not sure of what else to say. “You're welcome,” she said, looking back up to his eyes, her voice slightly breathy and excited. “Now why don't you come over here and fuck me with it before we both go crazy?” “I thought you'd never ask!” Jeremy replied. He stood up and untied the drawstrings of his suit and then pulled it down his legs, setting his throbbing cock free. Claudia's eyes never left his cock as she lay back and untied the strings of her thong bottoms, pulling them off and tossing them to the side. She put her feet on the lounge and spread her thighs wide as Jeremy climbed on the lounge, positioning himself above her. He had just enough time to notice that her pubic hair was trimmed close and in a narrow strip, and that her outer lips were shaven smooth. She held her arms out to him, her huge breasts pressed together by her upper arms, and wrapped her legs around him as he slid his hard cock deep inside her already-wet pussy. She moaned as he drove deep, holding him tight with her legs as he began thrusting in long, deliberate strokes. “Oh my God, you feel so good!” she breathed as he moved on top of her. “So do you!” he said, feeling her clamp down on his cock with her inner muscles. “Make this one hard and fast, Jeremy,” she said, gasping for breath as he thrust hard and deep, “we can take our time later!” “You got it,” he said, and began thrusting in and out of Claudia's tight, wet pussy in hard, deep, and fast strokes. They moved together in perfect rhythm, thrusting against each other, Jeremy driving his shaft deeply into her pussy as Claudia lifted her hips up to meet his thrusts and allow him in deep. He could feel her huge breasts pressing against his chest as she held him close, her arms and legs wrapped tightly around him, as he drove his cock in and out of her in hard strokes. She kept her legs wrapped tightly around him as she pushed his hips forward with her heels, driving him in deeper and deeper as she pushed her hips up to meet his thrusts. He knew what was about to happen, and drove harder. “Oh my God, I'm gonna cum!” she cried, and she did. Her back arched as her orgasm exploded inside her, and she cried out as the waves crashed over her senses. Jeremy felt her pussy clamp down on his cock as she came hard. Then his own orgasm overtook him and he moaned loudly as his cock exploded inside Claudia's pussy, pumping and throbbing, shooting stream after stream of hot cum deep inside her. She cried out as she felt his cock throbbing and pumping inside her pussy, filling her with his cum, and she bit down on his shoulders to stifle her screams of ecstasy as she came again. She held him tightly as he came inside her, feeling his cock shooting again and again. She held on until both of their orgasms were spent and he collapsed on top of her. She let her legs drop to the sides of the chaise lounge, and they both lay there panting and gasping for breath. After a few minutes Jeremy lifted himself up and smiled down at her. “Wow!” he said, trying to catch his breath. “That was incredible!” “Just wait 'till I get you in my bedroom,” she said, smiling back up at him, breathless as well. “You ain't seen nothing yet!” “I'm sure I haven't!” he replied, holding himself up above her. “How about a quick swim to cool off before we go?” she asked. “Sounds good to me!” he said, getting up and feeling his now-soft cock slide out of her. She quickly got to her feet and ran to the pool, diving in. He followed her in and they splashed around in the pool for a short while; while there she wrapped her arms around his neck and they kissed for the first time. The kiss was warm, soft, and wet, and he could feel himself stirring as she kissed him, her tongue dancing with his. She felt it, too. “Already?” she asked, breaking off the kiss. “Wow, I'm impressed!” “Just wait 'till I get you in your bedroom,” he said, squeezing the rounded cheeks of her ass in his hands, “you ain't seen nothing yet!” They both laughed, and then got out of the pool. They quickly gathered up their things and ran to the house, Claudia leading him by the hand. Once in her room they dropped what they were carrying and embraced, kissing again, tongues dancing once more. She pressed her entire body against him, and he could feel the firm mounds of her huge breasts pressing firmly against his chest. They both felt his cock begin to rise. “First we shower,” she said, breaking off the kiss, “to get rid of the chlorine. I hate the taste of chlorine! Then, we go to bed,” she continued, “where I intend to totally have my way with you and fuck you silly!” They went into the attached bathroom and got in the shower, the water hot on their skin. They soaped each other up, washing the sweat and chlorine from each other's bodies. Jeremy ran his hands over, up, under, and around her massive breasts, lifting the soapy globes in each hand and marveling at their great size and weight. He ran his fingers over the nubs of her nipples, and she gasped at the sensation. She ran her hands down his stomach and grasped his cock with both hands, working the suds up and sliding her slippery hands up and down his quickly-hardening shaft. They kissed again as she gripped him hard, and he slid his hands around to grasp her firmly by the ass and pull her to him as they kissed. They rinsed the lather from their bodies and got out, quickly drying each other off with two thick, soft towels. When she got to his cock Claudia knelt down in front of him and slipped her soft, wet mouth over his cock, sucking it firmly into her mouth. He moaned as she ran her tongue around the head of his cock, sliding her mouth up and down his shaft as she kneaded and massaged his smooth-shaven balls. She did this for several long, pleasurable minutes before she released his cock from her lips and stood up, kissing him lightly. “I could make you cum like that, but I think I'll save that for later on,” she said, pumping his cock in her hand. “Right now, let's go into the bedroom!” They went into Claudia's bedroom and walked over to the bed where they embraced and kissed again. Jeremy's cock was rock-hard, and Claudia could feel the hardness of his shaft pressing against her abdomen. She reached down and grabbed his throbbing shaft with her hand, pumping it slowly and firmly as they kissed. She broke off the kiss and stepped back, then put her hands on Jeremy's chest and pushed him backwards onto the bed. She quickly climbed on top of him and spun around to face his feet, putting her knees on either side of his head. Jeremy had a clear view of her perfectly shaped, smooth shaven and clean pussy, but he only had the view for a moment before Claudia dropped her pussy down onto his mouth as she grabbed his cock with one hand, his balls with the other, and slipped her mouth down on his shaft. As she sucked the pre-cum from the head of his cock, Jeremy reached up and grabbed the firm, rounded globes of Claudia's ass and pulled her pussy down firmly onto his mouth, running his tongue up and down her wet slit and then probing inside her tunnel with it. They went at each other like this for a long time, Jeremy sucking and licking on her pussy and clit while Claudia worked over his shaft and balls. She sucked his smooth balls into her wet mouth one at a time, rolling them over her tongue before letting them go and clamping her mouth on his cock again. She jumped as he flicked the tip of his tongue over her clit and then sucked on it, making her thighs tighten around his head. He felt her pussy flood, and knew that she would cum soon. He thrust his tongue in and out of her pussy, then ran it up over her clit; he repeated the process several times, and it only took a few moments for her to cum all over his face and tongue. She cried out around the shaft of his cock in her mouth as she came, clamping her thighs on his head as he sucked on her clit. Her body shook with the intensity of the orgasm, and she sucked harder on his cock. Claudia came twice like this, then released his cock and lifted her throbbing pussy from his face. She got up and spun around, straddling his cock as she faced him. Without a word she grabbed his cock and pointed it up at her pussy, then sat down on it, impaling herself on his shaft. She took it all with one stroke and immediately began riding him, sliding up and down his long, hard shaft in deep strokes. Her mammoth breasts bobbed and swayed with her movements, and he reached up to take them in both hands. He squeezed them hard, pulling and pinching on the nipples as she rode him, taking his entire cock deep inside her pussy with each downward thrust of her hips. She came several times like this, each orgasm more intense than the last, her body shaking with the intensity. Still she rode him, sliding up and down on his cock relentlessly. Without warning he grabbed her by the shoulders and threw her off of him, his cock slipping out of her pussy as she fell. He got up and turned her over face-down on the bed, moving in behind her. She knew what he wanted and got up onto her knees, lifting her hips up and presenting her rounded ass to him while lying on her crossed forearms, her mammoth breasts pressed against the mattress. He immediately grabbed her by the hips and thrust his hard cock deep inside her pussy, deeper than he'd been before, and she cried out as she felt the head of his cock hit the end of her tunnel. He immediately began thrusting in and out of her pussy, his hips slapping against her ass, his balls hitting her clit with each thrust. She grabbed the sheets in her fists and hung on as he fucked her hard and fast; she started to cum then, crying out as he rocked her with his thrusts, making her cum again and again. She was his sex toy to do with as he pleased, and she was loving every second of it! Then he pulled out and flipped her over onto her back, grabbing her legs at the back of her knees and pulling them up as he pulled her towards him. She was panting for breath as he slipped his cock back inside her and leaned forward, lying down on top of her as he slipped his hands beneath her ass and gripped it hard. She pulled her knees up and apart to let him in as deeply as she could, and he began thrusting in and out of her tunnel in long, deep strokes. She wrapped her lithe legs tightly around him, squeezing his cock with her pussy as he slid in and out, trying her best to make him cum. Her best was good enough, because in a few short minutes he told her that he was going to cum. “Cum on my tits! Please, Jeremy, cum all over my big tits for me!” she pleaded in his ear. She felt Jeremy nod against her shoulder as he continued to fuck her hard and deep. His thrusts deepened and she felt his cock widen, indicating that he was getting ready to cum. She moaned and squeezed his cock hard with her pussy, thrusting her tongue in his ear to help set him off. It did. Just as he was starting to cum Jeremy sat up and pulled his cock out of Claudia's pussy, gripping it with his hand and pumping it as it began to shoot. Claudia grabbed her big tits and pushed them together just as the first long, thick stream of cum landed on them. Jeremy cried out as his cock pumped and throbbed, shooting stream after stream of hot cum onto Claudia's huge mounds. She laughed out loud as she saw his big cock spitting its white juice out, flying through the air and landing all over her tits and stomach. She had never seen a man cum so much, and she loved it! By the time Jeremy's cock finally stopped spitting cum, her tits were covered with long lines of white, sticky cum. Jeremy, his cock sated and spent, sat back on his heels, panting for breath. “Hmm, so much lovely cum!” Claudia said, reaching up and rubbing the cum into her tits. “I've never seen a man shoot so much cum before!” “Well, it's been a while,” Jeremy said, catching his breath. The sight of her rubbing his cum into her tits excited him, and he knew that it wouldn't be long before he was giving it to her again. “I was really busy the last two months I was in France and I didn't have much time to socialize,” he said. “Well, I guess I'll just have to help you make up for lost time!” she said, smiling and licking the cum from her fingers. “I've wanted to fuck you ever since I saw you lying naked on your bed, you know,” she said, a coy look on her face. “I was starting to think you weren't interested!” “Oh, I was interested, all right!” he said, lying next to her on the bed and propping himself up on one elbow. “I was interested from the moment I saw you in that French maid's outfit with your tits popping out of it!” He reached over and ran a finger over her nipple, making her gasp and the nipple crinkle up. “I thought you'd like my outfit,” she said. “Your uncle likes it, too. Besides,” she continued, “not every woman has breasts like mine, and I'm proud of them! I love to show them off!” “Just how big are you, anyway?” he asked. “I wear a size 34 triple D bra and measure 44 inches around the nipples with a tape measure,” she said proudly. “Furthermore, my waist is 22 inches and my hips are 34 inches!” “Gorgeous,” he said, impressed. “Absolutely gorgeous!” “Why, thank you, Master Jeremy!” she said playfully. “About my uncle…” he began, but she cut him off. “Not to worry, Jeremy, your uncle is a sweet, generous man, but there's nothing going on between us,” she explained, much to Jeremy's relief. “Aside from being way too old for me, he's my boss, and it's never ever a good idea to get involved with your boss. I know he likes looking at my tits and ass, and that's fine with me because I like showing them off, but that's as far as it goes.” “And you're not worried about getting involved with me?” he asked. “Not at all,” she replied, propping herself up on one elbow. “You're not the boss, and I hardly think you have any complaints about the quality of my service, now do you?” she asked playfully, smiling at him. “None at all,” he replied, smiling back. “Besides, I know your uncle is just dying to hear about my 'wild side!'” she said, totally surprising him. “How did you know about that?” Jeremy asked. “I saw the note before he sealed it up,” she explained. “He had a phone call, and I saw it when I walked past.” “I won't say a word to him if you don't want me to,” Jeremy swore. “Actually,” Claudia said, her hand wandering down to Jeremy's cock, “We have three more days before your uncle gets back. I was thinking that we should see just how much we can give you to talk about!” She grasped his cock and began tugging on it, smiling a wicked smile as she did so. His cock immediately began to grow in her grasp, and she pushed him over onto his back before leaning over and sucking his cock into her mouth. 'My uncle is never going to believe this!' Jeremy thought as he watched Claudia's head move slowly up and down, 'if I can survive the next three days to tell him, that is!' Finis. by Original_Aramis for Literotica

A young man meets his uncle's attractive and sexy maid. by Original_Aramis, listen to the podcast at Steamy Stories. It was very late in the afternoon when the taxi carrying Jeremy Fuller arrived at its destination. Jeremy looked out of the window as the taxi rolled up the drive and stopped in front of the house, a smile crossing his tired face. The house was pretty much as he remembered it; the grounds were neat and well-kept, the grass green and cut close, the house neat and tidy. Jeremy had been away at school in Europe for the past two years, and this was his first trip home. It was his uncle's idea that he attend school in Europe; he had done it when he was young and always said it was the best thing to ever happen to him next to getting custody of Jeremy.Jeremy's uncle had raised him since his parents were killed when he was six, and had done an excellent job of it. He had no brothers or sisters or any other living relatives and his uncle was a bachelor, so he was the sole object of his uncle's attention. He loved his uncle like a father, and had missed him while he was gone. He had been looking forward to the trip home for months; the only thing to throw a damper in the works was the last-minute letter he got from his uncle the day before he got on the plane to fly home. Seems that there was a problem with one of his holdings in South America, and he had to go take care of it. He'd only be gone for about a week, but he'd be leaving the day that Jeremy was getting on the plane to come home. That meant he'd have the house all to himself for the first four or five days that he was home; he guessed that would be OK, since he'd just relax by the pool, go downtown during the evening, and maybe even get lucky and score once or twice before his uncle got home. European women were nice, but he was looking forward to some good old American ass. Jeremy walked up and opened the door to the house as the taxi drove away, then walked inside and dropped his bags on the floor next to the door. The house was cool and quiet, and he saw an envelope with his name on it lying on the small table in the hallway. He picked it up, opened it, and took out the sheet of paper inside. It was a note from his uncle, telling him that he was sorry he couldn't be there for the first few days, but that he'd get home as soon as he could. He also said for Jeremy to enjoy himself and have fun, telling him where the keys to the car were. But it was the last paragraph that caught his eye. “And don't worry about keeping the place neat; I've hired a live-in maid since you left, and she does quite a good job of taking care of things. Her name is Claudia; I think you'll like her. Welcome home! Love, Uncle Andy.” Claudia; what an intriguing name, Jeremy thought. And just what did he mean by ‘I think you'll like her,' he thought to himself. Oh, well, he thought, he'd find out soon enough. He picked up his bags and headed upstairs to his old room. The room was exactly as he remembered it, and it seemed like no one had touched it since he left. Everything was in the same places as he last remembered seeing them, although there wasn't a speck of dust or dirt anywhere to be seen. He dropped his bags on the floor and then stood in the center of the room and looked around, feeling glad to be home. “Welcome home, Master Jeremy,” a feminine voice said from behind him. Startled, Jeremy turned around quickly. Standing behind him with her hands behind her back and wearing a traditional French maid's outfit was the woman who just had to be Claudia. His breath caught in his throat as he saw her for the first time. She was about 5 and a half feet tall, maybe 110 pounds soaking wet, with blond hair, blue eyes, and a very trim figure. She also had the nicest, roundest pair of tits he'd ever seen! They were absolutely stunning,  and the dress was cut low enough to show about a mile of cleavage. He could see the tops of her busty breasts rising and falling as she breathed. He could only imagine the industrial-strength bra she had to be wearing to hold those mammaries in. She laughed gaily and broke his trance. “I'm sorry, Master Jeremy, I didn't mean to startle you!” she said, smiling at him. “No, that's okay, really!” he said, flustered and embarrassed at having been caught staring at her huge tits. “I didn't mean to…well, it's just that I wasn't expecting…” he stammered, not knowing what to say. Claudia laughed again. “That's quite all right, Master Jeremy, I'm used to the reaction I get when men see me for the first time; actually, I take it as a compliment!” She took a step into the room and introduced herself. “I'm Claudia, as I'm sure you've figured out. I'm your uncle's housekeeper, and he's instructed me to take good care of you until he gets home,” she explained. She walked over and picked up his bags, showing more of her spectacular cleavage to him as she bent over. She carried the bags over to his bed and put them there, and for the first time he noticed that the short skirt of her outfit revealed a pair of very shapely legs which led up to a firm, rounded ass. He caught himself and brought his eyes up to hers before she turned around and caught him staring again. “Is there anything I can do for you, Master Jeremy?” she asked, smiling at him. Her choice of words did not go unnoticed by Jeremy. “No, thank you. And please, my name is Jeremy; you can stop with the ‘master' stuff, okay?” he said, smiling at her. She smiled back in response. “Okay, Jeremy,” she said, and then walked towards the door. “Your uncle left another note for you on your dresser, by the way. I have some things to attend to downstairs, so I'll leave you to get settled in.” She paused at the door and turned to face him again. “Are you sure there isn't anything I can do for you before I leave?” she asked again, still smiling at him. ‘Yeah, you can wrap those massive tits around my head and smother me with them!' he thought to himself. “No thank you, Claudia. I'm going to take a shower and relax a bit,” he replied, looking over and seeing the envelope on the dresser. “The long flight over kind of wore me out.” “Very good, Jeremy, I'll check with you in an hour or so!” she smiled at him and then left, closing the door behind her. He couldn't help but wonder if there was a pair of thong panties hiding beneath that short skirt of her. If she wore panties at all, that is. Jeremy walked over to the dresser, picked up the envelope, and read the short note inside. “Jeremy, So what do you think of Claudia? Quite spectacular, isn't she? Believe it or not, I hired her based on a telephone interview and didn't actually see her until she showed up her first day. Needless to say I was very glad I hired her! And the French maid outfit was her idea, by the way…she insisted on wearing it as her uniform, which is quite all right with me as I'm sure it is with you as well. She's a sweet girl who's very good at her job, although I have a feeling there's a wild side to her that I haven't seen. But I'll let you tell me all about that when I get home! Again, welcome home! Uncle Andy” Jeremy folded the note and put it back in the envelope. A wild side, huh? He thought to himself as he got undressed to get in the shower. He could certainly see where his uncle would get that idea from, especially if she used the same double-meaning phrases with him that she just used with Jeremy. And she had to know how incredibly low-cut her dress was and just how much cleavage she was showing, didn't she? After all, she chose it herself, not her uncle. Thong panties would tell the tale, he thought as he turned on the water in the shower; if she's wearing thong panties, then she's got a wild side for sure! If she wore panties at all, that is. Jeremy took a shower, washing the 19 hours of travel off of his body, and then lay down on his bed to take a nap. He was so tired he didn't bother to get dressed; he just lay down on his back and fell instantly asleep in the comfort of his own bed. He didn't wake up until much later, and when he did it was full dark outside. He glanced at the clock to see what time it was and was surprised to see that it was a little after nine PM. He turned on the light next to the bed, threw back the blanket covering him and swung his feet over the sit of the bed as he sat up; then it hit him. ‘I don't remember covering up with a blanket!' He thought. 'I don't remember a blanket even being laid out on the bed!' Could he have gotten up and retrieved the blanket, only to be so tired that he didn't remember it? He thought that may have been it; after all, he was more tired than he thought when he stepped out of the shower, falling asleep right away. In any event, he stood up and picked up one of his bags, then placed it on the bed. He opened it and pulled out a clean pair of jeans and a t-shirt; he quickly slipped these on (he never wore underwear) and then slipped his bare feet into his well-worn deck shoes. Then he went over to the dresser to run a comb through his hair before going downstairs to get something to eat from the kitchen. That's when he saw the note stuck in the frame of the mirror. “I fixed a plate for you and put it in the refrigerator. All you have to do is put it in the microwave for 4 minutes and that's it. Hope you had a nice nap! Claudia.” So she had been in his room! And she had obviously gotten a close look at him since she was invariably the one who had covered him with the blanket. Jeremy was so taken aback by the realization that she had been in there while he was sleeping naked on his bed that he didn't know whether to be upset or amused. After a very few moments he was neither; he found himself intrigued and slightly aroused. He wondered if she had stood over him, looking down at his naked form before she covered him, and wondered what she had thought. He also wondered how long she had been in there. He went downstairs and found the plate in the kitchen just like the note said, and then nuked it according to instructions. After he finished eating he put the plate in the sink and went back upstairs to unpack. He didn't see or hear Claudia for the rest of the night; he figured that she was probably either in her room or out on the town. In either case he didn't think he'd see her again that night, so after he finished unpacking he went back to bed. He got up the next morning bright and early, showered again, got dressed in the same jeans and t-shirt he'd briefly had on the night before, then went downstairs to get some breakfast and read the paper. It would be nice to read an American paper for a change. As soon as he walked into the hallway he smelled the sausage, bacon and eggs cooking. He smiled as he walked into the kitchen and saw Claudia in her French maid outfit standing over the stove, putting the finishing touches on his eggs. She noticed him in the doorway and smiled. “Good morning, Jeremy! How did you sleep?” she asked, turning the bacon. The tops of her huge breasts jiggled with her every move. “Like a rock,” he replied, walking over and sitting down at the table. He wasn't going to mention anything about her coming into his room unless she did. Set out on the table in front of him was a knife, fork, plate, a glass of orange juice and the morning paper. This girl thought of everything. “Good! I hope you don't mind my coming in and covering you up,” she said, brining the pan with his eggs over and scraping the scrambled eggs out onto his plate. She bent over beside him and gave him another long look at her spectacular cleavage. “When I came in to check on you after an hour and you didn't answer the knock on your door, I thought it would be wise to see if you were okay.” She straightened up and took the empty pan back to the stove, then returned with the bacon and sausage. He got another look at her twin peaks when she did this. “You didn't look cold; actually, you looked fine, but I thought it would be best to cover you up anyway,” she explained, taking the empty pan over to the stove. 'There's that double-meaning statement again!' Jeremy thought. “Thank you, I appreciate you looking out for me like that,” he said as he started to eat his breakfast. “It was my pleasure, really!” she said, smiling at him. 'I just bet it was!' He thought. “I've already eaten, and there are some things I have to take care of this morning, so I'll leave you to your eggs and paper,” she said, picking up the remnants of the bacon and sausage wrappings and walking over to the trash can. “If there's anything I can do for you, please don't hesitate to ask!” she said as she turned away from him and stepped on the pedal for the trash can in the corner. The lid popped up and she dropped the trash into it. Some of it missed the can and fell to the floor; she bent over from the waist without bending her knees to pick it up and put it in the trash can, then left the room without turning around to see the look on Jeremy's face. She was wearing a thong. Jeremy smiled, then went back to eating his breakfast. When Jeremy returned to his room after breakfast, the first thing he noticed was that Claudia had unpacked his luggage. The next thing he noticed was the neatly folded towel lying on the bed, next to his racing style swim trunks. Lying on top of the trunks was a short note which read, “Just in case you decide to go for a swim later on!” When he bought the trunks in Europe he wasn't particularly fond of them at first, but that was all he could find in that part of the world. The thought of walking around in a skin-tight Spandex bathing suit that showed every curve, bump and vein - especially when he had an erection, which was frequently on the nude beaches at first - made him uncomfortable. He eventually got used to them and now didn't think twice about wearing them. He even got used to the nude beaches, and the all-too-frequent erections slowed considerably. After six months of seeing European women walking around topless, it took a woman with a really spectacular body to get that kind of reaction out of him. A woman with a body like Claudia's. At first he didn't know what to think, and then he decided what the hell - after he got back from visiting some old friends in town, he just might go for that swim and see what happened. He had a feeling, and wanted to see if he was right. He went downstairs to get the car keys and tell Claudia he was leaving. He followed the sound of the vacuum cleaner and found her in his uncle's study, vacuuming the rug. He stood in the doorway for several moments, watching her move the vacuum cleaner around the room. When she turned in his direction he got another good view of her mammoth breasts which were bobbing like crazy as she worked the vacuum. After a long minute she finally looked up and noticed him, jumping a bit. They both smiled as she shut off the machine, and he spoke first. “Now it's my turn to startle you!” he said. “I'm sorry; I didn't mean to sneak up on you!” “I guess I had it coming,” she said, still smiling at him. “So now we're even! What can I do for you, Jeremy?” she asked. “I just wanted to let you know that I was going out for a while to see some old friends,” he said. “I should be back in a couple of hours.” “Would you like me to have lunch waiting for you when you get back?” she asked. “That would be great, yes,” he said, marveling at this girl's efficiency. “And after lunch, I think I'll go for that swim,” he said, leaving the open-ended statement hanging there. She smiled broadly, her eyes lighting up as she replied. “Wonderful! I'm sure you'll enjoy it!” she said, giving him an open-ended statement of her own to ponder as he walked away. He returned to the house around noon, and true to her word Claudia had lunch waiting for him. The sandwich and chips were the perfect lunch, and Jeremy told her so when she set the plate down in front of him, again showing him her mile-long cleavage. “Thank you, Jeremy, that's very sweet!” she said, smiling at him. She walked towards the door and then stopped, turning to ask, “Is there anything else I can do for you?” 'Okay, I'll play your game!' he thought. “No, this is just fine, Claudia…for now,” he replied, smiling a wry smile at her. She smiled very broadly at his response before replying. “You just call me if you want anything else from me!” she said, and then walked through the door. 'And so the game begins,' Jeremy thought as he ate his lunch. He had a pretty good idea where things were headed, and he really hoped he was right. If he didn't get to see those huge tits naked soon, he'd go absolutely crazy! After he finished eating he went upstairs, changed into his swim trunks, and headed down to the pool, the towel slung over his shoulder. The day was bright, clear, and hot, and the water felt good on his skin as he dove into the pool. He swam a few laps in the Olympic-size pool, then hoisted himself out of the cool water and headed for the chaise lounge, picking up his towel from where he dropped it on the way. He ran his hands over his head to squeegee the water out, then lay down on the big padded lounge chair, letting the sun warm his body and dry the water from his skin. He closed his eyes and relaxed, letting his mind wander and was not surprised to find it wandering over Claudia and those luscious tits. His thoughts combined with the warm sun on his crotch began to have the inevitable effect and he felt his cock swelling slightly, pressing against the snug material of his suit. 'I wonder what the rest of her looks like'? He thought to himself. As if on cue, from behind him came Claudia's voice. “Would you mind if I joined you, Jeremy?” He opened his eyes and turned his head to see her standing behind his chair, smiling down at him. He could have sworn she was staring at his crotch when he first turned his head, but he wasn't sure. She was wearing a short white terrycloth pool robe which stopped just below the cheeks of her ass, and was carrying a towel. “Please do!” he said, gesturing to the chaise lounge next to his. He made no move to cover his partial erection which was plainly visible through his tight suit. “Thank you!” she said. She walked over to the lounge and spread the towel out to lie on, giving Jeremy a good look at the underside of her ass as she did so. Not surprisingly, her bathing suit was a thong, too, he was glad to see. She turned at sat down on the lounge facing Jeremy, leaving her robe on. She smiled at him as she spoke. “How long were you in Europe, Jeremy?” she asked, genuinely interested. She leaned forward on her knees, and Jeremy saw more of her fantastic cleavage than ever. He couldn't wait to see the suit she had on under that robe! “Two years,” he said, “most of it in France going to school. I did a couple of internships in Belgium and Germany, but mostly it was France.” “Did you like France?” she asked. “Yes, I did,” he replied. “The people were very nice, and once you got used to the cultural differences, it was just great.” “Cultural differences?” “Yep; Europeans in general and the French in particular have a very different attitude,” he explained, “much more relaxed than ours. They don't let the trivial things upset them, and their attitude on nudity is just great.” “What attitude is that?” she asked, letting him steer the conversation. He had a feeling she knew she was being steered and didn't mind. “They don't mind it. You see topless ads on billboards and in papers all the time, plus full-frontal female nudity on TV is no big thing.” “They have topless beaches there, too, right?” she asked, doing some steering of her own. “Yes, they do; they have fully nude ones, too,” he replied. “Did you go to them?” she asked, smiling again. “The topless ones, yes, but not the fully nude ones,” he said. “Don't get me wrong, I love seeing the naked female form just as much as the next guy, but there's something about seeing guys walking around on the beach naked that just doesn't appeal to me.” “So you were okay with the topless beaches?” “Absolutely,” he said. Her smile broadened as she sat up. “Good! Then this won't bother you,” she said as she stood up and untied the belt holding the robe closed. She took the robe off and revealed her huge, round breasts to him; she was topless, and it took Jeremy a little by surprise but only because her tits were so much bigger than he thought they were. He thought that the mile-long cleavage she had been showing him was due to the bras she wore, but he now saw that her cleavage was natural. Her breasts were huge, round and full with just a little bit of sag from their great weight. Her nipples were small and perfect, surrounded by large pale areolas. Her mammoth mounds swayed on her chest with her movements as she folded the robe and placed it on the ground beneath the lounge. The thong bottoms that she wore were dark blue and were barely big enough to cover her pubic mound. He was sure from the small size of the thong bottoms that she trimmed her pubic bush; she had to, or else he would have seen otherwise. He swallowed hard as she spoke again, sitting down and then laying back on the lounge to face the sun. “I always sunbathe topless,” she said, closing her eyes and letting the sun hit her skin. Her breasts hardly flattened out at all when she lay back, and Jeremy could see her nipples beginning to crinkle from the heat of the sun. She turned her head to him and asked, “Are you sure you don't mind?” “Mind?” he said, trying hard not to stammer, “Why in the world would I mind?” He was trying hard to keep his concentration; it was a fight since most of the blood in his body was now rushing to his cock, which was rapidly growing to its full size. He felt it straining against the material of his suit, and he was sure that she saw it. Actually, he was hoping she had. “Good,” she said, turning her face back to the sun. “I hate tan lines on my breasts. And I'm glad to see you like them, Jeremy,” she said, smiling with her eyes closed. Caught off guard by her statement, Jeremy was quiet for a few moments. She turned to look at him and laughed when she saw the look on his face; her melons shook as she laughed. Then she sat up and propped herself up on one elbow as she spoke. Her tits lay against each other, the nipples hard and erect now. “Don't be embarrassed, Jeremy,” she said, “I have much the same attitude as the French do about nudity and the human body. It doesn't bother me at all to be topless or even naked in front of you, and I consider your getting an erection as a compliment. Besides, you should be very proud,” she continued, looking down at the clear outline of his fully erect shaft, her eyes traveling up and down the length as she spoke. “You have a beautiful cock.” “Thank you,” he replied, not sure of what else to say. “You're welcome,” she said, looking back up to his eyes, her voice slightly breathy and excited. “Now why don't you come over here and fuck me with it before we both go crazy?” “I thought you'd never ask!” Jeremy replied. He stood up and untied the drawstrings of his suit and then pulled it down his legs, setting his throbbing cock free. Claudia's eyes never left his cock as she lay back and untied the strings of her thong bottoms, pulling them off and tossing them to the side. She put her feet on the lounge and spread her thighs wide as Jeremy climbed on the lounge, positioning himself above her. He had just enough time to notice that her pubic hair was trimmed close and in a narrow strip, and that her outer lips were shaven smooth. She held her arms out to him, her huge breasts pressed together by her upper arms, and wrapped her legs around him as he slid his hard cock deep inside her already-wet pussy. She moaned as he drove deep, holding him tight with her legs as he began thrusting in long, deliberate strokes. “Oh my God, you feel so good!” she breathed as he moved on top of her. “So do you!” he said, feeling her clamp down on his cock with her inner muscles. “Make this one hard and fast, Jeremy,” she said, gasping for breath as he thrust hard and deep, “we can take our time later!” “You got it,” he said, and began thrusting in and out of Claudia's tight, wet pussy in hard, deep, and fast strokes. They moved together in perfect rhythm, thrusting against each other, Jeremy driving his shaft deeply into her pussy as Claudia lifted her hips up to meet his thrusts and allow him in deep. He could feel her huge breasts pressing against his chest as she held him close, her arms and legs wrapped tightly around him, as he drove his cock in and out of her in hard strokes. She kept her legs wrapped tightly around him as she pushed his hips forward with her heels, driving him in deeper and deeper as she pushed her hips up to meet his thrusts. He knew what was about to happen, and drove harder. “Oh my God, I'm gonna cum!” she cried, and she did. Her back arched as her orgasm exploded inside her, and she cried out as the waves crashed over her senses. Jeremy felt her pussy clamp down on his cock as she came hard. Then his own orgasm overtook him and he moaned loudly as his cock exploded inside Claudia's pussy, pumping and throbbing, shooting stream after stream of hot cum deep inside her. She cried out as she felt his cock throbbing and pumping inside her pussy, filling her with his cum, and she bit down on his shoulders to stifle her screams of ecstasy as she came again. She held him tightly as he came inside her, feeling his cock shooting again and again. She held on until both of their orgasms were spent and he collapsed on top of her. She let her legs drop to the sides of the chaise lounge, and they both lay there panting and gasping for breath. After a few minutes Jeremy lifted himself up and smiled down at her. “Wow!” he said, trying to catch his breath. “That was incredible!” “Just wait 'till I get you in my bedroom,” she said, smiling back up at him, breathless as well. “You ain't seen nothing yet!” “I'm sure I haven't!” he replied, holding himself up above her. “How about a quick swim to cool off before we go?” she asked. “Sounds good to me!” he said, getting up and feeling his now-soft cock slide out of her. She quickly got to her feet and ran to the pool, diving in. He followed her in and they splashed around in the pool for a short while; while there she wrapped her arms around his neck and they kissed for the first time. The kiss was warm, soft, and wet, and he could feel himself stirring as she kissed him, her tongue dancing with his. She felt it, too. “Already?” she asked, breaking off the kiss. “Wow, I'm impressed!” “Just wait 'till I get you in your bedroom,” he said, squeezing the rounded cheeks of her ass in his hands, “you ain't seen nothing yet!” They both laughed, and then got out of the pool. They quickly gathered up their things and ran to the house, Claudia leading him by the hand. Once in her room they dropped what they were carrying and embraced, kissing again, tongues dancing once more. She pressed her entire body against him, and he could feel the firm mounds of her huge breasts pressing firmly against his chest. They both felt his cock begin to rise. “First we shower,” she said, breaking off the kiss, “to get rid of the chlorine. I hate the taste of chlorine! Then, we go to bed,” she continued, “where I intend to totally have my way with you and fuck you silly!” They went into the attached bathroom and got in the shower, the water hot on their skin. They soaped each other up, washing the sweat and chlorine from each other's bodies. Jeremy ran his hands over, up, under, and around her massive breasts, lifting the soapy globes in each hand and marveling at their great size and weight. He ran his fingers over the nubs of her nipples, and she gasped at the sensation. She ran her hands down his stomach and grasped his cock with both hands, working the suds up and sliding her slippery hands up and down his quickly-hardening shaft. They kissed again as she gripped him hard, and he slid his hands around to grasp her firmly by the ass and pull her to him as they kissed. They rinsed the lather from their bodies and got out, quickly drying each other off with two thick, soft towels. When she got to his cock Claudia knelt down in front of him and slipped her soft, wet mouth over his cock, sucking it firmly into her mouth. He moaned as she ran her tongue around the head of his cock, sliding her mouth up and down his shaft as she kneaded and massaged his smooth-shaven balls. She did this for several long, pleasurable minutes before she released his cock from her lips and stood up, kissing him lightly. “I could make you cum like that, but I think I'll save that for later on,” she said, pumping his cock in her hand. “Right now, let's go into the bedroom!” They went into Claudia's bedroom and walked over to the bed where they embraced and kissed again. Jeremy's cock was rock-hard, and Claudia could feel the hardness of his shaft pressing against her abdomen. She reached down and grabbed his throbbing shaft with her hand, pumping it slowly and firmly as they kissed. She broke off the kiss and stepped back, then put her hands on Jeremy's chest and pushed him backwards onto the bed. She quickly climbed on top of him and spun around to face his feet, putting her knees on either side of his head. Jeremy had a clear view of her perfectly shaped, smooth shaven and clean pussy, but he only had the view for a moment before Claudia dropped her pussy down onto his mouth as she grabbed his cock with one hand, his balls with the other, and slipped her mouth down on his shaft. As she sucked the pre-cum from the head of his cock, Jeremy reached up and grabbed the firm, rounded globes of Claudia's ass and pulled her pussy down firmly onto his mouth, running his tongue up and down her wet slit and then probing inside her tunnel with it. They went at each other like this for a long time, Jeremy sucking and licking on her pussy and clit while Claudia worked over his shaft and balls. She sucked his smooth balls into her wet mouth one at a time, rolling them over her tongue before letting them go and clamping her mouth on his cock again. She jumped as he flicked the tip of his tongue over her clit and then sucked on it, making her thighs tighten around his head. He felt her pussy flood, and knew that she would cum soon. He thrust his tongue in and out of her pussy, then ran it up over her clit; he repeated the process several times, and it only took a few moments for her to cum all over his face and tongue. She cried out around the shaft of his cock in her mouth as she came, clamping her thighs on his head as he sucked on her clit. Her body shook with the intensity of the orgasm, and she sucked harder on his cock. Claudia came twice like this, then released his cock and lifted her throbbing pussy from his face. She got up and spun around, straddling his cock as she faced him. Without a word she grabbed his cock and pointed it up at her pussy, then sat down on it, impaling herself on his shaft. She took it all with one stroke and immediately began riding him, sliding up and down his long, hard shaft in deep strokes. Her mammoth breasts bobbed and swayed with her movements, and he reached up to take them in both hands. He squeezed them hard, pulling and pinching on the nipples as she rode him, taking his entire cock deep inside her pussy with each downward thrust of her hips. She came several times like this, each orgasm more intense than the last, her body shaking with the intensity. Still she rode him, sliding up and down on his cock relentlessly. Without warning he grabbed her by the shoulders and threw her off of him, his cock slipping out of her pussy as she fell. He got up and turned her over face-down on the bed, moving in behind her. She knew what he wanted and got up onto her knees, lifting her hips up and presenting her rounded ass to him while lying on her crossed forearms, her mammoth breasts pressed against the mattress. He immediately grabbed her by the hips and thrust his hard cock deep inside her pussy, deeper than he'd been before, and she cried out as she felt the head of his cock hit the end of her tunnel. He immediately began thrusting in and out of her pussy, his hips slapping against her ass, his balls hitting her clit with each thrust. She grabbed the sheets in her fists and hung on as he fucked her hard and fast; she started to cum then, crying out as he rocked her with his thrusts, making her cum again and again. She was his sex toy to do with as he pleased, and she was loving every second of it! Then he pulled out and flipped her over onto her back, grabbing her legs at the back of her knees and pulling them up as he pulled her towards him. She was panting for breath as he slipped his cock back inside her and leaned forward, lying down on top of her as he slipped his hands beneath her ass and gripped it hard. She pulled her knees up and apart to let him in as deeply as she could, and he began thrusting in and out of her tunnel in long, deep strokes. She wrapped her lithe legs tightly around him, squeezing his cock with her pussy as he slid in and out, trying her best to make him cum. Her best was good enough, because in a few short minutes he told her that he was going to cum. “Cum on my tits! Please, Jeremy, cum all over my big tits for me!” she pleaded in his ear. She felt Jeremy nod against her shoulder as he continued to fuck her hard and deep. His thrusts deepened and she felt his cock widen, indicating that he was getting ready to cum. She moaned and squeezed his cock hard with her pussy, thrusting her tongue in his ear to help set him off. It did. Just as he was starting to cum Jeremy sat up and pulled his cock out of Claudia's pussy, gripping it with his hand and pumping it as it began to shoot. Claudia grabbed her big tits and pushed them together just as the first long, thick stream of cum landed on them. Jeremy cried out as his cock pumped and throbbed, shooting stream after stream of hot cum onto Claudia's huge mounds. She laughed out loud as she saw his big cock spitting its white juice out, flying through the air and landing all over her tits and stomach. She had never seen a man cum so much, and she loved it! By the time Jeremy's cock finally stopped spitting cum, her tits were covered with long lines of white, sticky cum. Jeremy, his cock sated and spent, sat back on his heels, panting for breath. “Hmm, so much lovely cum!” Claudia said, reaching up and rubbing the cum into her tits. “I've never seen a man shoot so much cum before!” “Well, it's been a while,” Jeremy said, catching his breath. The sight of her rubbing his cum into her tits excited him, and he knew that it wouldn't be long before he was giving it to her again. “I was really busy the last two months I was in France and I didn't have much time to socialize,” he said. “Well, I guess I'll just have to help you make up for lost time!” she said, smiling and licking the cum from her fingers. “I've wanted to fuck you ever since I saw you lying naked on your bed, you know,” she said, a coy look on her face. “I was starting to think you weren't interested!” “Oh, I was interested, all right!” he said, lying next to her on the bed and propping himself up on one elbow. “I was interested from the moment I saw you in that French maid's outfit with your tits popping out of it!” He reached over and ran a finger over her nipple, making her gasp and the nipple crinkle up. “I thought you'd like my outfit,” she said. “Your uncle likes it, too. Besides,” she continued, “not every woman has breasts like mine, and I'm proud of them! I love to show them off!” “Just how big are you, anyway?” he asked. “I wear a size 34 triple D bra and measure 44 inches around the nipples with a tape measure,” she said proudly. “Furthermore, my waist is 22 inches and my hips are 34 inches!” “Gorgeous,” he said, impressed. “Absolutely gorgeous!” “Why, thank you, Master Jeremy!” she said playfully. “About my uncle…” he began, but she cut him off. “Not to worry, Jeremy, your uncle is a sweet, generous man, but there's nothing going on between us,” she explained, much to Jeremy's relief. “Aside from being way too old for me, he's my boss, and it's never ever a good idea to get involved with your boss. I know he likes looking at my tits and ass, and that's fine with me because I like showing them off, but that's as far as it goes.” “And you're not worried about getting involved with me?” he asked. “Not at all,” she replied, propping herself up on one elbow. “You're not the boss, and I hardly think you have any complaints about the quality of my service, now do you?” she asked playfully, smiling at him. “None at all,” he replied, smiling back. “Besides, I know your uncle is just dying to hear about my 'wild side!'” she said, totally surprising him. “How did you know about that?” Jeremy asked. “I saw the note before he sealed it up,” she explained. “He had a phone call, and I saw it when I walked past.” “I won't say a word to him if you don't want me to,” Jeremy swore. “Actually,” Claudia said, her hand wandering down to Jeremy's cock, “We have three more days before your uncle gets back. I was thinking that we should see just how much we can give you to talk about!” She grasped his cock and began tugging on it, smiling a wicked smile as she did so. His cock immediately began to grow in her grasp, and she pushed him over onto his back before leaning over and sucking his cock into her mouth. 'My uncle is never going to believe this!' Jeremy thought as he watched Claudia's head move slowly up and down, 'if I can survive the next three days to tell him, that is!' Finis. by Original_Aramis for Literotica

Message Rella B Here!Welcome to Reading with Rella B! This episode features a new series of the podcast "Bear King & Bobo Chico Stories: The Farther Adventures of Bear King and Bobo Chico" with Bob Hastings.Bear King and Bobo Chico got lost when their balloon floats away from Portland. Back in Portland's South Waterfront, Loar and Roen found Bear King's backpack and magic wand. Startled by Carl the Crow, Loar accidentally utters a magic phrase, transporting the boys into the balloon. Delighted but concerned, the group travels through a cloud, which triggers an electrical disturbance that sends them all to the fantastical world of Wonderland.If you like this story, you can listen to all the episodes on Spotify/Buzzsprout.Support the Show.***I have a new book that will be coming out! Check it out on BackerKit to get exclusive merch and a copy before it is released to market!*** We will begin getting our brains and bodies ready with some stretching and a riddle with Rella, then we will hear the story and shout out our Co-Creators!There are many participation opportunities for the little ones, so please go to RellaBBooks.com or your favorite social channel, if you would like to learn more about those! I send out FREE weekly activities to my newsletter subscribers and followers. Social HandlesFacebook: @RellaBBooksInstagram: @RellaBBooksTwitter: @RellaBBooksPinterest: @RellaBBooksYouTube: @RellaBBooksTikTok: @RellaBBooksWebsite: RellaBBooks.comThanks for listening, toodles!

German football phrases, Dunk's ketchup obsession, PSR shenanigans AGAIN and the flower of Scotland has wilted. Russ, Pete and Andy K marvel at it all as well as casting a further eye over inbound Albion head coach Fabulous Fabian Hürzeler. Stand or fall!   UTA!  Come on

A casual conversation during brunch caused my friend to reevaluate her attitude toward skiing. Get in touch: podcast@gretchenrubin.com Follow on social media: @GretchenRubin on YouTube @GretchenRubin on TikTok @GretchenRubin on Instagram @GretchenRubin on Threads Get the podcast show notes by email every week: happiercast.com/shownotes Get Gretchen Rubin's newest book Life in Five Senses to see how she discovered a surprising path to a life of more energy, creativity, luck, and love: by tuning in to the five senses. Now available - order here. Visit Gretchen's website to learn more about Gretchen's best-selling books, products from The Happiness Project Collection, and the Happier app.  To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We've all heard of angel numbers, right? 111 222 1234? But what about knocks? Raps on the door? I remember from my Ghost Adventure-obsessing days, the crew would often hear three knocks, declaring it a sure sign of dark energies, maybe a sign of a demon - a mocking of the trilogy that is the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. But recently I heard four knocks on my front door, then three hours later, four more knocks. Once the sun rose, I went on web search  to find out if there was some deep meaning behind the four knocks. And that rabbit hole? Well...On a night when the wind was gusting from 70-100 miles per hour, I managed to tuck inside a comforter and fall asleep. At 1am I startled awake to the sound of four distinct knocks. Bam! Bam! Bam! Bam! Like a fist on a wood door, I immediately thought it might be a family member that'd come over because their power was out. I got out of bed and my instinct told me not to open the front door. I did pull back the shade and look outside. No one was there. No car was in the driveway. Nothing. I returned to bed and then Bam! Bam! Bam! Bam! at 4am. Startled again, this time the cat followed me down the hallway. I checked the side window and no one was on the porch, no car in the driveway, then I remembered the side door, that no one really uses. It has a pane of glass, and, you guessed it, no one was on the other side. I had another whispering from my intuition, don't open the door. I worried again that it might be a family member coming over, and then as I tucked myself back under the covers, my intuition said, It wouldn't be them. It'd be something dark in disguise. Whoo. Creepy thought.What's all that have to do with Orion? Maybe by the episode close I'll have figured that out!Liked the episode? Listen to one of these NEXTThe Mastery & Magic of Crows with Special Guest, the Corvid CornerMount Shasta - Heaven or Hell?Remote Viewing and What Happened to Pru?Bonus Meditation: Strengthening the Vessel with Archangel AzraelShow Sources and MaterialsBest article!!! https://subconsciousvision.com/knocking-spiritual-meaning/https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fourknocks_Passage_Tom https://www.theholyscript.com/what-does-4-knocks-mean-in-the-biblehttps://www.spiritualposts.com/biblical-meaning-of-hearing-knocking/Four Knocks - an ancient site in Ir*********************************************************************Thank YOU for helping to make Curious Cat Podcast rise up through the rankings. If you have a story to share or would like to be a future guest, email the show at Curious_Cat_Podcast@iCloud.comCurious Cat is a proud member of the Ethereal Network. We endeavor to raise the vibration of the planet one positive post at a time!Curious Cat Crew on Socials:Curious Cat on Twitter (X)Curious Cat on InstagramCurious Cat on TikTokArt Director: NorasUnnamedPhotos (on Insta)

Paul tells us to not act like a frightened horse. We need to stand our ground against the invading enemy. Because, like Daniel, the persecution will come. And it will come in proportion to your virtue. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Paul tells us to not act like a frightened horse. We need to stand our ground against the invading enemy. Because, like Daniel, the persecution will come. And it will come in proportion to your virtue. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Fluent Fiction - Korean: Unveiling the Mysteries of Seoul's Talking Vending Machine Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.org/unveiling-the-mysteries-of-seouls-talking-vending-machine-2 Story Transcript:Ko: 특별한 날이었다. 서울의 카페골목에 위치한 한 조그만 카페 앞에서 철 덩어리를 서성거리는 지혜의 모습이 있었다. 코로 쓴 서울의 찬공기 속에서, 우연히 자신을 응시하는 존재를 발견하게 된 그녀였다.En: It was a special day. In a small café located in Seoul's café alley, there was the sight of Wisdom pacing in front of the café. In the chilly Seoul air, she happened to notice a presence staring back at her.Ko: 그녀가 고개를 숙여 응시하던 것은, 평범해 보이는 자판기였다. 빛을 반사하는 광택이 내는 강철 몸체, 기리개 포장한 커피와 스낵의 행렬. 자판기와 마주선 지혜, 그녀의 얼굴은 헷갈린 표정이며, 막연하게 고민하는 그녀의 모습이 작은 거울처럼 자판기에 비치었다.En: What she was staring at was an ordinary vending machine. The gleaming steel body reflecting light, rows of coffee and snacks neatly packed inside. Facing the vending machine, Wisdom's face showed a perplexed expression, her contemplative demeanor reflecting like a small mirror in the vending machine.Ko: "나 사람 아니야?" 자판기에서 어디선가 사람처럼 들린 목소리. 하지만 주변엔 아무도 없었다. 지혜는 뒤를 돌아보았지만, 그곳에는 불빛과 그림자가 장난치는 낡은 벽이 전부였다. 흠칫 놀란 지혜는 자신의 목소리를 빼앗긴 채, 잠시 멈춰 섰다.En: "Am I not a person?" A voice that sounded oddly human came from the vending machine. But there was no one around. Wisdom turned around, only to find an old wall playing with lights and shadows. Startled, Wisdom stood still for a moment, feeling her voice stolen away.Ko: 성가신 티를 내서 자판기에 변화 없이 거침없이 돈을 투입하는 승현이 그녀를 발견하면서, 이야기는 새로운 흐름을 탔다. "자판기가 장난치는 건가?" 승현의 드립에, 지혜는 서툴게 웃기만 했다.En: As Seunghyun, who casually inserted money into the vending machine without any change, noticed her, the story took a new turn. "Is the vending machine playing tricks?" Seunghyun joked, and Wisdom awkwardly laughed along.Ko: 그들은 그날 밤, 자판기와 흥미진진한 대화를 나누었다. 서로 놀라고 웃으며, 두려움과 호기심 사이를 거닐었다. 이제 그 자판기는 그저 단지 아이템이 아닌, 그들의 연대기에 이름이 새겨진 친구가 되었다.En: That night, they had an engaging conversation with the vending machine. Surprised and amused, they walked between fear and curiosity. Now the vending machine became not just an item but a friend engraved in their chronicle.Ko: 마침내, 이야기의 결론에 도달했다. 자판기가 우연히 인간처럼 보였던 것은 그저 지혜의 상상이었다. 그러나 그 상상은 그녀에게 새로운 친구와 추억을 선사하였다. 그대로 두사람은 마지막으로 유쾌하게 웃으며 자판기에게 손을 흔들고 별이 반짝이는 서울 밤을 등지고 떠났다.En: Finally, they reached the conclusion of the story. The vending machine appearing human-like was just Wisdom's imagination. Nevertheless, that imagination brought her new friends and memories. The two of them waved goodbye to the vending machine with cheerful laughter and left behind a Seoul night sparkling with stars.Ko: 그래서 사람들이 얘기한다. 이상하게도 그곳에 있는 자판기는 이상한 매력을 품고 있다고. 그리고 그 자판기 앞에서 헤매는 사람들은 다시 한 번 그 자신에 대해, 그리고 생활에 대해 생각하게 되는 마법의 자판기라고. 그렇게 둘의 모험은 서울 카페골목의 일화가 되었고 그 자판기는 인기 명소가 되었다. 자칫 단순하게 보였던 순간은 새롭고 놀라운 시작을 알리는 출발점이 되었다.En: So people say, strangely, that vending machine there holds a peculiar charm. And the people wandering in front of that vending machine become once again enchanted by themselves and their lives, as if it were a magical vending machine. Thus, their adventure became a tale of Seoul's café alley, and the vending machine became a popular spot. What seemed simple at first became a starting point, heralding a new and astonishing beginning. Vocabulary Words:special: 특별한café: 카페Seoul: 서울Wisdom: 지혜pacing: 서성거리는chilly: 찬presence: 존재gleaming: 빛을 반사하는reflecting: 비치는ordinary: 평범한vending machine: 자판기human: 사람voice: 목소리startled: 놀란old: 낡은playing: 장난치는inserted: 투입하는new: 새로운engaging: 흥미진진한conversation: 대화surprised: 놀라다amused: 웃다fear: 두려움curiosity: 호기심imagination: 상상cheerful: 유쾌한sparkling: 반짝이는charming: 매력적인enchantment: 마법adventure: 모험

Two strangers awake, naked & trapped in a strange room. By Djmac1031. Listen to the Podcast at Steamy Stories. I woke to a whiteness so blinding it took several moments before I could do anything but squint. My eyes eventually adjusted to the pain enough to open fully, but the brightness never dimmed. I found myself on my back, looking up at what should have been a ceiling, or the sky, or, well, something. Anything. Instead, all I could see was an unbroken field of white. [[MORE]] Was I awake? Maybe I was dead. I felt disembodied, and there were several failed attempts by my brain to send signals to my limbs before I could finally recognize the existence of them. "Okay," I thought, "so I'm not dead. I'm still in my body. And I don't think I'm dreaming. But that doesn't mean anything. You always think a dream is real until you wake up." I tried to sit up but couldn't. Pins and needles wracked my body as numbed nerve endings slowly came back to life, once again providing sensations. With an effort, I managed to move my head. The whiteness where the ceiling or sky should have been continued on forever. There were no curves, no edges, no corners that I could see. Not a single crack or flaw to provide any sense of depth or scale. It was unnerving. I felt nauseous, my head spinning out of control. Without warning, the blinding white went black as I slipped into unconsciousness. I had no idea how long I was out. When I regained consciousness, I felt more solid and whole in my body, no longer floating in nothingness. But when I opened my eyes, the endless white space remained. Feeling less lightheaded, I tried to sit up, in the process discovering I'd been laying on some kind of flat platform, similar to a bunk or shelf. It was the same white as the ceiling, but, as my eyes focused, I made out its edges. Cautiously, I lifted myself into a seated position, easing my legs over the edge of the platform, unsure there would be anything to rest my feet on until they made contact. The floor was as white as everything else. I couldn't see where it met a wall, or a wall made way to a ceiling. It was utterly disorienting, and I once more felt my head spin. My head between my knees, I took several deep breaths to keep from hyperventilating. When the spell had passed, I sat up and again tried to comprehend my surroundings. It was a physical space, that much I could decipher. I could feel the floor under my feet, and the platform I was sitting on. Putting out a tentative hand, I made contact with the wall my platform connected to. The seam where they met was the only thing that gave me any sense of solidity. My hand slowly traced the edges to where it ended in a rounded corner. Looking down, I saw my feet; felt the solid surface beneath them. But my brain still couldn't grasp that there was a floor, nor could I see where the floor ended and the wall behind me began. I tried to stand up and felt yet another wave of nausea. As solid as the floor felt, my mind still refused to acknowledge its existence. I sat back down on the only surface I trusted to exist, the platform. It was only then that I realized I was completely naked. "Where, the hell, am I?" My voice was a shaky rasp. That's when the screaming started. Startled, I instinctively covered my ears and closed my eyes. It took several moments to realize the screams were not my own. Opening my eyes, I was shocked to find a young woman lying supine directly across from me. She at first appeared to be floating on air until I made out the shape of the platform beneath her, exactly like the one I'd woken up on. Had she been there earlier? Had she just appeared? I had no answer. But she was there now, solid and whole, a physical thing my mind could focus on and help ground me to reality. She was as naked as I was. "Hey! Hey!" I tried to speak, to get her attention, to calm her cries despite my own sense of panic. Her shrieks suddenly ended. She, as I had done upon waking to this madness, had blacked out. The room was now deafening in its silence. I listened for a sound, any sound; a creak, a rustle, the hum of electricity, anything. Yet there was only the whisper of my breathing, and that of the young woman's. Focusing on her gave me a better grasp of the room. She appeared to be only several feet away. It would have been impossible to judge the scale of the all-white space without her as a focal point. I tried my feet again. Keeping one hand against the wall that supported my platform, I slowly started to traverse the space. There were no corners, only the gentle slope of the surface, guiding me in an eventual half circle, where I paused near the unconscious woman's side. She appeared to be in her late teens, perhaps early twenties. Her long hair fell in random strands around her expressionless face. It was only the gentle rise and fall of her chest that told me she was still alive, her breath slow but steady. I felt a twinge of embarrassment when I again noticed her nudity, instinctively averting my eyes. Not yet having the courage to move without a constant grip on the wall, I continued my journey, moving past her along the surface of the space, eventually coming back around towards the other side. I'd pause every few steps, feeling for a door, a seam, or anything that might hint at a way out. I found nothing. Arriving back at my original starting point, I collapsed on the platform, exhausted. I estimated what I now understood to be a circular, enclosed room at about ten, maybe fifteen feet in diameter. Not very big at all. Still, I felt like I'd just run a marathon. Now having some sense of scale, I found it easier to look more closely around the room. There were no lighting fixtures. Whatever was illuminating it appeared to be coming directly from the solid surfaces of the room itself. There were no power outlets, no switches, no air vents. Every surface I touched felt the same; solid, yet soft. Pushing against the wall, it gave slightly. I hit it, gently at first, then several more times with increasing effort. It withstood the pounding with no damage. In a sudden rage I punched the wall with all my strength. If it had been any other surface, I'd likely have broken my hand, but there was barely a sound, and I felt no pain. Testing the floor the same way, I stomped my feet with all my might. Both the energy and sound were absorbed by the strange surface. I sat back down, trying desperately to shake off the fear now gripping me. "Hello?" Her voice was timid, meek, barely above a whisper. The young woman was sitting up, her face a mask of confusion and horror. Her arms wrapped tightly across her chest, hugging herself, not, it appeared, from any sense of modesty, but from fright. She was looking directly at me. "Hello? Who, who are you? Where am I? What's going on?" Her voice trembled, the pitch rising higher with each question. Taking a deep breath, I steadied my own nerves before responding. "My name's Nick. I'm sorry, but I have no idea where we are or what's happening either." Her body trembled uncontrollably. "Did, did you bring me here? Why are you naked?" Looking down at herself, she finally realized her own nudity. With a wail, she curled up into the fetal position on the platform, futilely attempting to cover herself as she cried. I tried to reassure her. "Listen, I didn't bring you here. And I'm not going to hurt you. I'm just as confused and afraid as you are, okay? But I'm not going to hurt you, I promise. Just try to relax." She gave no indication she'd heard me, only lay there, holding herself, weeping uncontrollably. I had no idea what to do. Going over to try and comfort her would only make things worse, especially given my nakedness. She'd probably think I was attacking her. She was simply going to have to come to grips with this as I had. I lay back on my platform, eventually dozing off to the sound of her continued sobs. ----------------------------------------- When I woke, I found the young woman again sitting up, looking at me. She still looked frightened, but she made no move to cover her body, even as I sat up to face her. "Where, are we?" she asked. I shrugged. "I have no idea. This is the most impossible room I've ever seen. If you can even call it a room." "It, hurts my brain," she grimaced. "I can barely look at it. If you weren't here to focus on, I think I'd go mad trying to comprehend it." Silence hung heavy for several moments before she spoke again. "I'm Chloe." "Hello, Chloe, I'm Nick. I'd say it's nice to meet you, but,” I gestured at our surroundings. That brought a small smile to her face. "How did we get here?" "I have no idea. The last thing I remember is,” I paused, struggling to actually recall my last memory before waking up here. It came back to me slowly, in fragments. "I was, home. Cooking dinner. A steak, I think. I remember hearing a humming noise coming from my yard, and seeing a bright light through my kitchen window. I thought maybe a power line had gone down or something. I remember stepping out on my patio to investigate, and then, and then I woke up here." Chloe nodded slowly. "I was just getting home from shopping. I was struggling to open my front door with an arm full of groceries when I heard the noise. A loud humming. I remember seeing a light coming from behind me, which was strange because it was very sunny. I thought something odd may be happening to the neighbor's house across the street. I turned around to look, and, and then I woke up screaming." I've always been a rational, logical thinker. Our stories were both very similar, and I put my mind to work, trying to figure it out. "So neither of us recall being attacked or abducted. We were both alone, saw and heard the same thing. Where are you from?" "Sacramento, California. You?" "Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Opposite end of the country. It's not like we were close enough to be taken by the same person. This may seem odd to ask, but do you remember what day it was? The date and time?" Her face twisted in thought. "It was, Friday. September 10th. I don't remember the exact time, maybe 4pm, 4:15? Why?" My brain did some quick math. "That sounds about right. Same day for me, somewhere around 7pm. It's a three hour time zone difference." Her eyes went wide with comprehension. "We were taken at the same time." "Yeah, but that's impossible. Unless,” I stood, shouting upwards at the white nothingness. "Hello? Is there anybody out there? Can you hear me? Where are we? hello?" There was no echo, and silence filled the room as my voice trailed off. "We Are Here." The pure shock of the voice sent me reeling, my head hitting the platform as I collapsed in a heap to the floor. I felt no pain; both the platform and floor had cushioned my fall, and I sustained no injury at all. At least not to my body. My mind, however, was a different story. The voice seemed to come from everywhere, yet nowhere. My brain felt like it was swelling. Chloe was screaming again. A buzzing sound rang in my ears as a wave of warm energy enveloped my body. I immediately felt a sense of peaceful calm flow through me, erasing all fear and panic. Chloe's screams had ceased, and the room was again quiet except for the hum. My body started to move, lifting itself up off the floor, although not under my control. I felt like a puppet, someone pulling my strings. Suspended midair, my eyes opened to find Chloe, also floating, enveloped in a beam of soft blue light, projected from the ceiling or the floor, I could not tell. I was bathed in a similar luminescence. Energy surged through every cell of my body; calming, relaxing, peaceful, yet also giving me a sense of vigor I'd never known before. It felt like being reborn. I sensed my blood flowing through my body, could feel every molecule of oxygen pass through my lungs and into my bloodstream. It was intoxicating. Every nerve ending in my skin, from head to toe, tingled with a mix of sensations; the warmth of the sun, the coolness of a gentle breeze, and the comforting pleasure of a gentle caress all at once. Across from me, Chloe's eyes were closed, her face no longer terrified, but relaxed and peaceful in pure bliss. The Voice came again from nowhere and everywhere. "We are here. Do not fear. You will not be harmed. We will care for you. We are here." The Voice was softer this time. It wasn't exactly human, nor did it sound robotic or computerized. There was no gender to it, speaking in static tones that weren't quite emotionless. Whoever was behind The Voice must have been able to read my mind, because it answered my unspoken question. "We are from elsewhere. We are to observe. We are to help you. You are to help us." I managed to find my voice. "Why, us?" "You are compatible." "Compatible? What, what does that mean?" "You are compatible," The Voice repeated. Before I could question it further, the wave of light energy shifted from blue to red. The pleasure level in my body increased tenfold. It felt like multiple soft hands caressing my skin. I would have been shaking uncontrollably if my body could actually move. Waves of sexual stimulation built within me, beginning in my loins. My penis quickly swelled to full erection, twitching as it grew. Somehow it was my only body part free to move, expanding to a hardness I'd not known since my youth. Imagine receiving a blowjob, a handjob, and being deep inside the warmest, wettest, tightest vagina you've ever felt, all at once. Meanwhile, the rest of you is being massaged erotically by a dozen pairs of sensual hands. It still won't come close to the sensations I was experiencing. Chloe's light had also changed, and she appeared to be taken control of by the same pleasure waves. I could not help but now focus on her nudity. Her breasts heaved in time with her hitching breaths, her hips gyrating rhythmically. Her legs were parted enough to expose her vulva. It looked swollen and flushed under her patch of soft pubic hair, with a sheen of moisture glistening over her sex. Her low gasps grew to moans of lust, and her eyes now fixed on me intently. But not on my face. She was focused on my cock. And she was drooling. I sensed my orgasm building, slowly but steadily. My cock stopped twitching, going fully rigid as my climax hit, my semen shooting out in what felt like an endless stream of long, thick strands. It was the most intense orgasm I'd ever felt. Chloe's moans matched mine in intensity, enthralled in her own orgasm. The scent of her sex was strong in my nose, and I saw the trickle of moisture from her pussy become a stream, dripping small puddles on the floor. She squealed as another wave took her, then went silent, her head drooping towards her chest. I couldn't tell if she was still conscious or not. My own orgasmic waves now subsiding, my still erect penis forced the final drops from the tip to join the mess I'd already left beneath me. The lights went blue again. My breathing slowed, my body relaxed. Chloe and I were guided by invisible hands back to our platforms, laying us down gently. The lights blinked out, and the humming ceased. Again able to move, I turned my head to find Chloe lying on her platform, relaxed and peaceful. In that moment, I found her indescribably beautiful. I watched while her hand caressed her inner thigh, smearing the wetness that lingered there. Gathering some on her fingers, she brought them to her nose and inhaled, sighing contentedly. Chloe turned to face me and smiled. Her eyes closed as she drifted off to sleep. I smiled back at her sleeping form, then fell into slumber myself. ‐-------------------------------------------------- I woke, energized and alert, to find Chloe already up and about, exploring the walls in much the same way I had earlier. Noticing I was now awake, she smiled. "Good, morning? Evening? I have no idea what time it is," she laughed. "How are you feeling?" Sitting up, I detected none of my earlier nausea. "Fine. Great, in fact. I've never woken up feeling this refreshed or energized before." "I know, it's crazy, right? I should be terrified after, that, but all I feel is,” Chloe paused in her thoughts, then shrugged. "Great. I feel great." Chloe sat beside me on the platform. She seemed completely comfortable and uninhibited by our mutual nudity. Although I suppose after our experience under the lights, it would be ridiculous to feel embarrassed about it at this point. Still, as she sat beside me, our hips touching, I felt my pulse quicken, causing a stir down below that I struggled not to focus on, lest things get out of control. It took a moment to realize she was speaking. "So I'm assuming you heard the voice too, and felt, what we felt, right? It's not just a case of me dreaming, or going mad?" "No, you're not mad. That, or we both are. But yeah, that, happened." Looking at the floor, I saw that the mess of ejaculate I'd released was gone. How, I had no idea. But I could smell Chloe's scent still strong on her, the sticky remnants of her juices now drying on her thighs still visible. Noticing my gaze, Chloe blushed, but made no move to cover herself. "This is crazy. I should feel embarrassed, ashamed, humiliated. I should feel violated, raped. But I don't. All I know is that was the most incredible pleasure I've ever felt, and, I want, I want to feel that again." "Me, me too," I stammered. "Jesus, what did they do to us?" Chloe's hand found mine, and we sat in silent wonder. ----------------------------------------- Time was impossible to gage in the White Room, but we passed some by sharing each other's story. I learned Chloe was 21, a sophomore in college, and hoping to someday become a pediatrician because she loved children. She was single, sharing a rented house with her best friend Lily. She enjoyed yoga, cheesy romance novels, and preferred beer over wine. She learned I was 42, divorced and living alone. I told her about my career as a commercial voice actor; mostly radio commercials for various businesses in the Philadelphia market, but occasionally branching out with a few nationally run spots for big name clients. It didn't pay as much as people thought it did, but I lived comfortably enough, and it sometimes allowed me to travel around the country, although I'd never been to Sacramento. I made a promise to come visit if we ever got out of this. That led our conversation towards our predicament. "So, you think we will get out of here?" Chloe asked. "Well, sure," I said, "I mean, we have to believe that, right?" She nodded without conviction. "It's, it's gotta be aliens, right?" She looked almost embarrassed to say it. "I mean, what else could it be?" "Well, perhaps hypnosis, or mind altering drugs, or,” My voice trailed off, not really believing my words. ", but yeah, probably aliens. Or some interdimensional beings. Or one of us is dreaming. But none of this feels like a dream." "Plus, normally," I paused, shaking my head with a laugh. "No, never mind." "What? Come on, finish your thought," Chloe insisted. "Ok, but it's kinda embarrassing. Normally, when I have a, you know, a sex dream, I wake up before, before the good part," I finished sheepishly. Chloe burst into peals of laughter. "So that's how you know this is real?" Her laugh wasn't cruel or mocking, merely finding humor in the absurdity of our situation. I grinned at her and shrugged. "Sorry," she said, wiping a tear from her eye as she caught her breath, "I wasn't laughing at you, just," "It's okay, I get it. I'm happy you can laugh. Better to laugh than,” "Scream," she finished for me. We sat quietly for a while. When I instinctively put my arm around her, she didn't shrug it off. Instead, she rested her head on my shoulder. In a less bizarre situation I may have felt inclined to make a move, but I wasn't about to make a sexual advance on a young woman who had woken up to find herself nude and trapped in some mind bending alien cell with a strange, naked man twice her age. No matter how attractive she was, or how much she currently smelled like sex. "What do you think they meant by 'compatible?'" Chloe asked. "No idea," I replied. "Maybe something to do with D N A? Or they just wanted a male and female of our species? I don't know." "I suppose we could ask them, but I don't think they're here right now." "Me either. They feel, absent, somehow." Chloe sniffed curiously, then sighed. "God, I need a shower. I smell like,” Her voice trailed off, as if too embarrassed to finish. Dammit. She had to go and point it out. I'd always had a sensitive nose, and especially loved the scent of a woman's arousal. I'd convinced many a past lover to share their panties with me, and of course I truly enjoyed giving them oral, basking in their unique smells and tastes. I'd been trying not to focus on the exhilarating aroma currently wafting up from Chloe's thighs, but now it was all I could think about. Chloe sat up with a startled jerk. "I, I guess you smell it too," she said in a bemused tone. She was looking at my lap with a crooked grin. Because of course, I'd gotten an erection. I removed my arm from around her and tried to cover myself up, which only made things worse, as the simplest contact to my throbbing penis sent shockwaves of pleasure through it and my body, making me shudder. "Shit! Chloe, I'm sorry, I didn't mean for," Her soft voice stopped me. "It's okay, it's not your fault. Or mine. None of this is our fault. We didn't ask to be here." She gestured around the room. "This whole thing is crazy! I don't know what they did to us with those lights. But they changed something. I should be curled up on the floor, sucking my thumb and drooling. But it's like they altered my brain. All my fear, my confusion, my, inhibitions. Gone. And that's nothing compared to what they did to my body." Chloe took a long, deep breath, held it, then released. "I'm just as, aroused, as you are. Have been since that thing with the lights. Just been trying not to focus on it. But seeing your," her eyes glanced shyly at my cock, “seeing it like that, it's like somebody threw a switch or something." Her voice trembled, and I noticed her legs rocking, thighs gently squeezing and releasing unconsciously. Several awkward moments passed. I closed my eyes, trying to focus on anything else but my pulsing erection, when the fresh, musky scent of female arousal filled my nose so suddenly that I gasped with surprise and pleasure. Chloe let out a gasp to echo my own and, opening my eyes, I saw her, leaning back against the wall, legs fully parted, masturbating furiously. Her face flushed when she caught my stare. "I can't help it. I, I just need, release." Biting her lip, her eyes again went to my cock. "You, you can, too. If you want. I won't mind." I needed no further encouragement. The hand that had been making a vain attempt to cover my erection now gripped it firmly and began the familiar motions. I'd been masturbating since the day I'd found a Playboy magazine in my dad's nightstand, but this was like nothing I'd ever experienced before. Somehow, every nerve ending in my penis felt heightened tenfold. I could feel the blood pulsing inside the sponge-like flesh of it, stretching and expanding my erection beyond its limits. It couldn't possibly be growing in my hand, yet it certainly felt that way. My eyes found Chloe. Her left hand was caressing her breasts, alternating between them, twisting and pulling swollen nipples. Her right hand was furiously fingering her sex, creating wet squelching sounds as they slid in and out of her pretty pink hole. Her face glowed radiantly, full of lust, pleasure and pure joy. Her bright eyes wandered over my body, never straying their attention too far from my cock as I jerked at a strong, steady pace. Sensing my need, Chloe twisted her body, bracing her weight on one arm as she lifted her right leg up onto the platform. Her foot came to rest on my hip, giving me a much more personal view as her fingers continued their explorations of her intimate flesh. Chloe parted her delicate labia, exposing the slick opening to her vagina. Inserting two fingers, she closed them around her swollen clitoral hood, teasing her hole while stimulating her clit. Her pubic hair was wet and matted, large dollops of thick cream oozing from between her fingers, running down her ass crack. Her scent was overpowering. I turned myself towards her as well, our legs entwined, our genitals now mere inches apart as we pleasured ourselves. Chloe's moans ceased as her mouth formed a silent O. Every muscle in her body tensed, then released in spasms as her climax took her. She found her voice again, releasing squeals of pleasure, her hips rocking uncontrollably. I watched, fascinated, as her natural lubrication gushed in clear little streams to pool on the platform beneath her. Without thinking, I scooped up her ejaculate, bringing my fingers to my nose and lips. Her taste was sweet, and I savored it on my tongue. Gathering up more, I slathered her warm juices on my impossibly hard cock and began stroking again in earnest. Chloe continued to masturbate, grinning wickedly at me, now solely focused on her clit, rubbing it in circles at an ever increasing pace. Thick strands of her cum dripped from her like honey from a hive. "I've, never been, this wet," she gasped, "I'm, gonna cum again." Her teeth clenched and her face twisted, again racked in wave after wave of orgasmic pleasure. Her pussy gushed, the pool beneath her becoming a lake, and I immediately gathered up more to lubricate my own throbbing organ. I felt my orgasm approaching, but instead of speeding up, I slowed my pace to long, steady strokes, drawing out the pleasure, increasing the buildup, until my cock felt like it would explode and I could hold back no longer. I let out an animalistic growl as my first blast burst from me, splattering across Chloe's lower abdomen, coating the hand working her still needy cunt. Without missing a beat, Chloe rubbed my gooey spunk into her, mixing it with her own lubrication. My second blast added to it, as hot and strong as the first. Chloe gathered my continuing eruption into her hand, adding it to the growing mess between her legs. Her head rocked and her eyes rolled back as another orgasm took her. Our groans of passion rang in each other's ears and the smell of sweat and cum filled the air, making us drunk with lust. Finally, we collapsed into each other, exhausted and gasping for breath as our orgasms subsided. Chloe exhaled a warm breath on my neck, her soft breast pressed up against my arm. Her hand landed on my thigh; it was sticky with our mixed fluids. We sat in silence. There were no words to say. How does one even begin to talk about such an intense and erotic experience? Suddenly, a strange tingling sensation began. It felt random at first, until I realized it was coming from the parts of me still coated with cum. Chloe must have felt it too, because she sat up quickly, and her hands instinctively went to cover her sex. She let out a soft gasp, of surprise or pleasure I could not be sure. We both watched, awestruck, as the sticky mess that covered us slowly dissolved, transforming into little points of glowing gold light that drifted up towards the ceiling. (If there was, in fact, a ceiling. We'd never determined how high up the room went.) Gradually, they disappeared. "What, the, hell?" I whispered. Chloe remained silent, her eyes wide, mouth agape. I stood, looking upwards. "Hey!" I shouted towards the unknown. "Hey! You there? What was that? What are you doing to us? Answer me, damn it!" There was not even the echo of my own voice in reply. I sat back down, confused and frustrated. Chloe wrapped her arms around me and we lay together on the platform, our bodies still warm, flushed and sweaty from our exertions. It took only minutes for an exhausted sleep to fall over us. ---------------------------------------- I woke to find myself alone. I had a moment of panic until I saw Chloe, still sleeping peacefully, on her own platform. I sat up, feeling as fresh and energetic as before, but there was now another sensation: hunger. How long had we been here? When did I last eat? I couldn't recall. Chloe woke, and I could not help but admire her lithe, feminine form as she rose with a stretch. She looked slightly confused. "Did, did you move, or did I?" "Dunno," I shrugged. "Maybe they moved us while we slept." "We seem to sleep a lot since we've been here," she mused, "but the upside is I feel amazingly refreshed and energized afterwards. I also feel, starving." Her stomach grumbled as if to emphasize her point. "Yeah, me too," I chuckled. "Wonder what they got to eat around this joint? Think 'Uber Eats' delivers here?" Her grin at my joke became a frown when her stomach growled again. "Well I hope they remember us carbon based lifeforms need sustenance once in a while." As if on cue, the humming noise began, and we were once again enveloped in the pale blue lights. We were lifted to the air as the calming, peaceful sensations of the beams flowed through us. The color then changed to green, and I felt something new: a sense of being nourished, replenished. My hunger pangs immediately subsided. But it was more than just some strange, alien version of intravenous feeding. Because I was also tasting things. I could sense the flavors of various foods flooding my taste buds. Most I recognized, several I did not, but all of them were delicious. My body felt the way it would after a satisfying meal of several courses, but without the discomforts or sense of lethargy one often has after eating too much. With the slightest shift in the frequency of the hum came another new sensation; the feeling of hydration. I tasted the coolest, cleanest water I'd ever had flowing through my mouth and down my throat, the illusion so real I swallowed regularly, despite the fact there was no real liquid. Another frequency shift, another sensation. A tingling similar to the one I'd felt earlier started deep within my bowels, spreading slowly throughout my body. It was odd, but not unpleasant, almost like a burning sensation that didn't cause pain. As the tingling wave reached every part of me, tiny particles began emanating from my pores, transforming into the same glowing gold points of light we'd seen before, drifting slowly up and away, fading from view. I can't even begin to describe how alive I felt in that moment. Looking over, Chloe was enveloped in her own luminous gold cloud. Her body glowed like an angel. The lights changed from green to blue as the last of the golden lights flickered away. We were again guided back down on our platforms and released. I sat up immediately, as did Chloe. "Holy shit," she gasped. "That was amazing!" I stood and addressed the ceiling. "Hey! Whoever you are! Can we talk? What was that?" I didn't truly expect an answer. But I got one. "Nourishment. Purification." The Voice responded. "Purification?" I was beginning to grasp what happened, but wanted clarification. "Purification." The Voice repeated. "Impurities must be removed for optimal life form function. Optimal life form function must be reached in order to achieve objective." "Objective?" I asked, "What exactly is the objective here?" "Optimal compatibility." "I don't understand!" I yelled at our invisible captor. "Impurities must be removed for optimal life form function," The Voice repeated. "Removal of impurities will be completed in several stages to compensate for life form fragility. Once optimal life form function has been reached, optimal compatibility will be achievable." "What happens when optimal compatibility is achieved?" I asked, calmer this time. "Conjoining," answered The Voice. "What the hell does that mean?" I asked, although I had my suspicions. I received no answer. Chloe was crying. I moved to comfort her. "Hey, it's okay, don't be afraid, we'll be alright." She looked up at me, wiping away her tears. "No, you don't understand," she said, her voice still hitching with sobs, "I think, no, I know. They, they cured me." I was, of course, confused. Once she'd calmed herself, she explained. "I was diagnosed with Crohn's disease at age fifteen. The symptoms have varied in severity over the years, and I've actually been in remission for a while now. I haven't experienced any symptoms since I've been here, but somehow, during that, 'purification', I felt it. I can't explain how I know, but I know. They cured me. Just purged it from my body somehow. Oh my God," Her voice trailed off in wonder, her tears beginning anew. I simply sat there, stunned, and held her. Optimal Health While I waited for Chloe to deal with her emotions, my musings turned towards my own body, and how I was feeling since the "Nourishment and Purification" process. My initial thought had been that "purification" simply meant the removal of bodily wastes. It would explain why I'd felt no urges to relieve myself since I'd been here. But if Chloe's revelation was true, and I had no reason to doubt her, then it was much more than simply cleaning out our waste systems. Looking myself over, I discovered that several small moles I'd had on my chest and shoulders were gone. A scar I'd had on the back of my hand from a bike accident as a kid was no longer there. I looked at my hand in wonder, searching for any trace of it, but saw only smooth, fresh skin. My stomach looked flatter, like I'd lost a few pounds. Although that could be explained by the fact I'd not actually eaten any solid food for, well, however long we'd been there. I was in decent shape for 42, but had developed certain things all middle aged men experience as time and age slowly takes its toll. A bit of a paunch from unhealthy eating; aches and pains in various areas that one learns to simply live with. I felt none of those pains now. My legs, always so tight, now felt loose and flexible. My back had no stiffness; there was no crick in my neck. I wondered about my eyesight. I had been using reading glasses for the past several years, and now I was curious if I'd still need them. I couldn't be sure without something to focus on, like a book or computer screen, but I felt like I could see better in general. I felt less bloated than usual, like I'd been given an enema or something, my colon completely cleansed of any built up waste. Overall, I felt healthier than I had in at least a decade. Once Chloe had composed herself, we discussed the similar changes we both felt in our bodies. Being younger than I, Chloe was already in better shape generally, but her Crohns did leave her with general discomforts and pains she had just gotten used to dealing with over the years, things she said were now completely gone. "What else can you see or feel that's different?" I asked her. "Think about it. Do you have any scars or birthmarks missing? Something like that?" Chloe looked at her abdomen. "My appendectomy scar is gone. And I don't have any birthmarks or moles, except," she paused, blushing a little, "I have this, mole. On my ass. It's low down, I can only see it in a mirror. I've always felt a little self-conscious about it. I guess, I guess I have to know. Could you, take a look for me?" Without waiting for an answer, Chloe stood and turned, giving me a full view of her beautifully curved bottom. I couldn't help blushing myself as I leaned in to inspect it, searching for the mole in question. I saw nothing but her creamy, smooth skin, and said so. "Are you sure? It's kinda low and between, just on the underside of my left butt cheek." Chloe bent forward and reached around with her hand, spreading herself open. I still could see no mole, but I certainly could now see her plump vulva and delicate pink labia, along with her tight little anus, winking at me as she pulled her ass cheeks open wider. Once again my nose breathed in the special scent wafting from between her legs. It was all I could do to keep myself from leaning in closer to inhale her. Instead, I stammered, "Um, no, no mole. I guess it's gone." Chloe sat back down. "So strange," she mused, "I wonder why they're fixing us like this? And I wonder what they meant by," Her voice trailed off with a giggle. "Sorry. Guess I should have expected that with the view I just gave you." I didn't understand what she meant at first, until I noticed her looking at the erection I'd gotten without even realizing it. "Sorry, I really was trying to keep my inspection, professional," I apologized with an embarrassed grin. Chloe's smile was warm and kind. "I know. But you're a man, you can't help looking. And I'm okay with the idea of you being aroused by it. It's, flattering. With all we've been through so far, it's only natural that you'd want sex after having my bare ass in your face." "Look, Chloe, I'd never presume to," Chloe cut me off. "I know. You've been nothing but a gentleman since we woke up here. Even with the sexual stimulation from the lights, even when we masturbated together, you've never tried to touch me inappropriately, or force yourself on me. And I truly appreciate that. Because I know it can't be easy for you." "Actually, it's very easy for me," I stated firmly, "because I'd never touch a woman who didn't want to be touched. Period." Chloe nodded appreciatively. "Thank you." She gave me a shy, nervous, smile. "Being honest, I'm actually not that horny myself at the moment; still kind of reeling from the idea of having been miraculously healed. But I'd be more than happy to, well, give you a hand. If you want it." My eyes lit up. "I'd love that, but only if you're sure," I answered, desperately hoping that she was indeed sure. Chloe responded by taking my hard cock in her hand. It jumped at her touch. She began pleasuring me with long, slow, gentle strokes. My arm slipped naturally around her as she nuzzled into me, resting her head on my shoulder while she watched her ministrations. I could feel her warm left breast pressing against my chest. My hand hung dangerously close to her right breast, fingers just barely grazing the side. To be continued in part 2. By Djmac1031 for Literotica Source: ex-plicitly-novel

Fluent Fiction - Japanese: Tokyo Morning: The Unexpected Adventures Of Haruto Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.org/tokyo-morning-the-unexpected-adventures-of-haruto Story Transcript:Ja: ストーリーの世界が賑やかに目覚めつつある東京の朝。ハルトは朝の電車に乗り込み、社会人の一日が始まった。En: The story takes place in the bustling world of Tokyo's morning. Haruto boards the morning train, marking the beginning of a day as a working adult.Ja: ある日のこと、ハルトがいつものように電車に乗ると、いつもの席にいつもの友人のエミとユイが座り、日常的な挨拶を交わしていました。だが、その日の朝、長い週の疲れからか、ハルトの目はだんだんと重くなり、いつものように起きていられなくなりました。En: One day, as Haruto boards the train as usual, his friends Emi and Yui are sitting in their usual seats, exchanging casual greetings. However, on that particular morning, perhaps due to the exhaustion from a long week, Haruto's eyes began to grow heavy, and he found himself unable to stay awake as usual.Ja: 彼の心地よい居眠りは、終点・東京駅のアナウンスでぶつ切りにされました。はっと目を覚ました彼は、周りを見渡すと、エミとユイはもういませんでした。彼らは乗り過ごしたハルトを見捨て、降りて行ったのです。En: His pleasant dozing was abruptly interrupted by the announcement of Tokyo Station, the final stop. Startled awake, he looked around to find that Emi and Yui were no longer there. They had abandoned Haruto, who had overslept, and gotten off the train.Ja: 電車を降りて引き返すことはできませんでした。何とか出社までの時間をつぶすため、周囲で開いている店を探すハルト。居眠りで時間を失ったことへの失策と、エミとユイへの謝罪が頭を巡っていきます。En: Unable to get off the train and go back, Haruto searched for nearby shops to pass the time until his work hours. Regret for losing track of time due to his dozing off and apologies to Emi and Yui circulated in his mind.Ja: そして、東京駅には新しく開店したカフェを見つけ、そこで時間を潰すことにしました。カフェで朝の時間を楽しむうちに、自分が終点で目を覚ますことなどなかったかのように、ハルトは新たな日常を見つけることができました。むしろ、終点の駅での居眠りは彼に新たな一日を与えるきっかけとなったのです。En: Eventually, he came across a newly opened café at Tokyo Station and decided to spend his time there. As he enjoyed the morning in the café, Haruto was able to find a new routine as if waking up at the final stop had never happened. In fact, his dozing off at the last station became the catalyst for a new day ahead.Ja: この日以降、ハルトは電車で居眠りせず、エミとユイと共に終点まで行く日々を送っています。電車で起きていられるよう、十分な睡眠をとるようにしてから、仕事のパフォーマンスも向上しました。En: Since that day, Haruto avoided falling asleep on the train and instead started going to the final stop with Emi and Yui. By ensuring he got enough sleep to stay awake on the train, his work performance also improved.Ja: ハルトの話は、一見するとただのサラリーマンの早朝の話に過ぎません。でも、この簡単な物語は、失敗から学び、成長することの大切さを教えてくれます。それが東京の電車での居眠りから得る教訓、それがハルトの物語です。そして、それぞれの朝は、新たな物語の始まりを告げているのです。En: At first glance, Haruto's story may seem like just another tale of a salaryman's early morning. However, this simple story teaches us the importance of learning from failure and growing. That is the lesson from falling asleep on the train in Tokyo, that is Haruto's story. And each morning signals the beginning of a new story. Vocabulary Words:friends: 友人train: 電車morning: 朝working: 社会人adult: 大人exchanging: 交換casual: 日常的なgreetings: 挨拶exhaustion: 疲れheavy: 重いawake: 起きているannouncement: アナウンスfinal: 終点stop: 停止abandoned: 見捨てたoverslept: 寝坊getting off: 降りるsearched: 探すregret: 後悔losing track of time: 時間を追うのを失うdozing off: 居眠りapologies: 謝罪circulated: 巡ったeventually: 最終的にcame across: 出くわすnewly opened: 新しくオープンしたdecided: 決めたroutine: 日課catalyst: 触媒

Two strangers awake, naked & trapped in a strange room.By Djmac1031. Listen to the Podcast at Steamy Stories.I woke to a whiteness so blinding it took several moments before I could do anything but squint. My eyes eventually adjusted to the pain enough to open fully, but the brightness never dimmed.I found myself on my back, looking up at what should have been a ceiling, or the sky, or, well, something. Anything. Instead, all I could see was an unbroken field of white.Was I awake? Maybe I was dead. I felt disembodied, and there were several failed attempts by my brain to send signals to my limbs before I could finally recognize the existence of them.“Okay,” I thought, “so I’m not dead. I’m still in my body. And I don’t think I’m dreaming. But that doesn’t mean anything. You always think a dream is real until you wake up.”I tried to sit up but couldn’t. Pins and needles wracked my body as numbed nerve endings slowly came back to life, once again providing sensations.With an effort, I managed to move my head. The whiteness where the ceiling or sky should have been continued on forever. There were no curves, no edges, no corners that I could see. Not a single crack or flaw to provide any sense of depth or scale. It was unnerving. I felt nauseous, my head spinning out of control.Without warning, the blinding white went black as I slipped into unconsciousness.I had no idea how long I was out. When I regained consciousness, I felt more solid and whole in my body, no longer floating in nothingness. But when I opened my eyes, the endless white space remained.Feeling less lightheaded, I tried to sit up, in the process discovering I’d been laying on some kind of flat platform, similar to a bunk or shelf. It was the same white as the ceiling, but, as my eyes focused, I made out its edges.Cautiously, I lifted myself into a seated position, easing my legs over the edge of the platform, unsure there would be anything to rest my feet on until they made contact. The floor was as white as everything else. I couldn’t see where it met a wall, or a wall made way to a ceiling. It was utterly disorienting, and I once more felt my head spin.My head between my knees, I took several deep breaths to keep from hyperventilating. When the spell had passed, I sat up and again tried to comprehend my surroundings.It was a physical space, that much I could decipher. I could feel the floor under my feet, and the platform I was sitting on. Putting out a tentative hand, I made contact with the wall my platform connected to. The seam where they met was the only thing that gave me any sense of solidity. My hand slowly traced the edges to where it ended in a rounded corner.Looking down, I saw my feet; felt the solid surface beneath them. But my brain still couldn’t grasp that there was a floor, nor could I see where the floor ended and the wall behind me began.I tried to stand up and felt yet another wave of nausea. As solid as the floor felt, my mind still refused to acknowledge its existence. I sat back down on the only surface I trusted to exist, the platform.It was only then that I realized I was completely naked.“Where, the hell, am I?” My voice was a shaky rasp.That’s when the screaming started.Startled, I instinctively covered my ears and closed my eyes. It took several moments to realize the screams were not my own.Opening my eyes, I was shocked to find a young woman lying supine directly across from me. She at first appeared to be floating on air until I made out the shape of the platform beneath her, exactly like the one I’d woken up on.Had she been there earlier? Had she just appeared? I had no answer. But she was there now, solid and whole, a physical thing my mind could focus on and help ground me to reality.She was as naked as I was.“Hey! Hey!” I tried to speak, to get her attention, to calm her cries despite my own sense of panic.Her shrieks suddenly ended. She, as I had done upon waking to this madness, had blacked out.The room was now deafening in its silence. I listened for a sound, any sound; a creak, a rustle, the hum of electricity, anything. Yet there was only the whisper of my breathing, and that of the young woman’s.Focusing on her gave me a better grasp of the room. She appeared to be only several feet away. It would have been impossible to judge the scale of the all-white space without her as a focal point.I tried my feet again. Keeping one hand against the wall that supported my platform, I slowly started to traverse the space. There were no corners, only the gentle slope of the surface, guiding me in an eventual half circle, where I paused near the unconscious woman’s side.She appeared to be in her late teens, perhaps early twenties. Her long hair fell in random strands around her expressionless face. It was only the gentle rise and fall of her chest that told me she was still alive, her breath slow but steady. I felt a twinge of embarrassment when I again noticed her nudity, instinctively averting my eyes.Not yet having the courage to move without a constant grip on the wall, I continued my journey, moving past her along the surface of the space, eventually coming back around towards the other side. I'd pause every few steps, feeling for a door, a seam, or anything that might hint at a way out. I found nothing.Arriving back at my original starting point, I collapsed on the platform, exhausted. I estimated what I now understood to be a circular, enclosed room at about ten, maybe fifteen feet in diameter. Not very big at all. Still, I felt like I’d just run a marathon.Now having some sense of scale, I found it easier to look more closely around the room. There were no lighting fixtures. Whatever was illuminating it appeared to be coming directly from the solid surfaces of the room itself. There were no power outlets, no switches, no air vents.Every surface I touched felt the same; solid, yet soft. Pushing against the wall, it gave slightly. I hit it, gently at first, then several more times with increasing effort. It withstood the pounding with no damage. In a sudden rage I punched the wall with all my strength. If it had been any other surface, I’d likely have broken my hand, but there was barely a sound, and I felt no pain.Testing the floor the same way, I stomped my feet with all my might. Both the energy and sound were absorbed by the strange surface. I sat back down, trying desperately to shake off the fear now gripping me.“Hello?” Her voice was timid, meek, barely above a whisper.The young woman was sitting up, her face a mask of confusion and horror. Her arms wrapped tightly across her chest, hugging herself, not, it appeared, from any sense of modesty, but from fright.She was looking directly at me. “Hello? Who, who are you? Where am I? What’s going on?” Her voice trembled, the pitch rising higher with each question.Taking a deep breath, I steadied my own nerves before responding. “My name’s Nick. I’m sorry, but I have no idea where we are or what’s happening either.”Her body trembled uncontrollably. “Did, did you bring me here? Why are you naked?” Looking down at herself, she finally realized her own nudity. With a wail, she curled up into the fetal position on the platform, futilely attempting to cover herself as she cried.I tried to reassure her. “Listen, I didn’t bring you here. And I’m not going to hurt you. I’m just as confused and afraid as you are, okay? But I’m not going to hurt you, I promise. Just try to relax.”She gave no indication she’d heard me, only lay there, holding herself, weeping uncontrollably.I had no idea what to do. Going over to try and comfort her would only make things worse, especially given my nakedness. She’d probably think I was attacking her. She was simply going to have to come to grips with this as I had.I lay back on my platform, eventually dozing off to the sound of her continued sobs.—————————————–When I woke, I found the young woman again sitting up, looking at me.She still looked frightened, but she made no move to cover her body, even as I sat up to face her.“Where, are we?” she asked.I shrugged. “I have no idea. This is the most impossible room I’ve ever seen. If you can even call it a room.”“It, hurts my brain,” she grimaced. “I can barely look at it. If you weren’t here to focus on, I think I’d go mad trying to comprehend it.”Silence hung heavy for several moments before she spoke again. “I’m Chloe.”“Hello, Chloe, I’m Nick. I’d say it’s nice to meet you, but,” I gestured at our surroundings.That brought a small smile to her face. "How did we get here?”“I have no idea. The last thing I remember is,” I paused, struggling to actually recall my last memory before waking up here.It came back to me slowly, in fragments. "I was, home. Cooking dinner. A steak, I think. I remember hearing a humming noise coming from my yard, and seeing a bright light through my kitchen window. I thought maybe a power line had gone down or something. I remember stepping out on my patio to investigate, and then, and then I woke up here.”Chloe nodded slowly. “I was just getting home from shopping. I was struggling to open my front door with an arm full of groceries when I heard the noise. A loud humming. I remember seeing a light coming from behind me, which was strange because it was very sunny. I thought something odd may be happening to the neighbor’s house across the street. I turned around to look, and, and then I woke up screaming.”I’ve always been a rational, logical thinker. Our stories were both very similar, and I put my mind to work, trying to figure it out. “So neither of us recall being attacked or abducted. We were both alone, saw and heard the same thing. Where are you from?”“Sacramento, California. You?”“Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Opposite end of the country. It’s not like we were close enough to be taken by the same person. This may seem odd to ask, but do you remember what day it was? The date and time?”Her face twisted in thought. “It was, Friday. September 10th. I don’t remember the exact time, maybe 4pm, 4:15? Why?”My brain did some quick math. “That sounds about right. Same day for me, somewhere around 7pm. It’s a three hour time zone difference.”Her eyes went wide with comprehension. “We were taken at the same time.”“Yeah, but that’s impossible. Unless,”I stood, shouting upwards at the white nothingness. "Hello? Is there anybody out there? Can you hear me? Where are we? hello?” There was no echo, and silence filled the room as my voice trailed off.“We Are Here.”The pure shock of the voice sent me reeling, my head hitting the platform as I collapsed in a heap to the floor. I felt no pain; both the platform and floor had cushioned my fall, and I sustained no injury at all.At least not to my body. My mind, however, was a different story. The voice seemed to come from everywhere, yet nowhere. My brain felt like it was swelling.Chloe was screaming again.A buzzing sound rang in my ears as a wave of warm energy enveloped my body. I immediately felt a sense of peaceful calm flow through me, erasing all fear and panic. Chloe’s screams had ceased, and the room was again quiet except for the hum.My body started to move, lifting itself up off the floor, although not under my control. I felt like a puppet, someone pulling my strings.Suspended midair, my eyes opened to find Chloe, also floating, enveloped in a beam of soft blue light, projected from the ceiling or the floor, I could not tell. I was bathed in a similar luminescence.Energy surged through every cell of my body; calming, relaxing, peaceful, yet also giving me a sense of vigor I’d never known before. It felt like being reborn. I sensed my blood flowing through my body, could feel every molecule of oxygen pass through my lungs and into my bloodstream. It was intoxicating.Every nerve ending in my skin, from head to toe, tingled with a mix of sensations; the warmth of the sun, the coolness of a gentle breeze, and the comforting pleasure of a gentle caress all at once.Across from me, Chloe’s eyes were closed, her face no longer terrified, but relaxed and peaceful in pure bliss.The Voice came again from nowhere and everywhere. “We are here. Do not fear. You will not be harmed. We will care for you. We are here.”The Voice was softer this time. It wasn’t exactly human, nor did it sound robotic or computerized. There was no gender to it, speaking in static tones that weren’t quite emotionless.Whoever was behind The Voice must have been able to read my mind, because it answered my unspoken question.“We are from elsewhere. We are to observe. We are to help you. You are to help us.”I managed to find my voice. "Why, us?“"You are compatible.”“Compatible? What, what does that mean?”“You are compatible,” The Voice repeated.Before I could question it further, the wave of light energy shifted from blue to red. The pleasure level in my body increased tenfold. It felt like multiple soft hands caressing my skin. I would have been shaking uncontrollably if my body could actually move.Waves of sexual stimulation built within me, beginning in my loins. My penis quickly swelled to full erection, twitching as it grew. Somehow it was my only body part free to move, expanding to a hardness I’d not known since my youth.Imagine receiving a blowjob, a handjob, and being deep inside the warmest, wettest, tightest vagina you’ve ever felt, all at once. Meanwhile, the rest of you is being massaged erotically by a dozen pairs of sensual hands. It still won’t come close to the sensations I was experiencing.Chloe’s light had also changed, and she appeared to be taken control of by the same pleasure waves.I could not help but now focus on her nudity. Her breasts heaved in time with her hitching breaths, her hips gyrating rhythmically.Her legs were parted enough to expose her vulva. It looked swollen and flushed under her patch of soft pubic hair, with a sheen of moisture glistening over her sex.Her low gasps grew to moans of lust, and her eyes now fixed on me intently. But not on my face. She was focused on my cock. And she was drooling.I sensed my orgasm building, slowly but steadily. My cock stopped twitching, going fully rigid as my climax hit, my semen shooting out in what felt like an endless stream of long, thick strands. It was the most intense orgasm I’d ever felt.Chloe’s moans matched mine in intensity, enthralled in her own orgasm. The scent of her sex was strong in my nose, and I saw the trickle of moisture from her pussy become a stream, dripping small puddles on the floor. She squealed as another wave took her, then went silent, her head drooping towards her chest. I couldn’t tell if she was still conscious or not.My own orgasmic waves now subsiding, my still erect penis forced the final drops from the tip to join the mess I’d already left beneath me.The lights went blue again. My breathing slowed, my body relaxed. Chloe and I were guided by invisible hands back to our platforms, laying us down gently. The lights blinked out, and the humming ceased.Again able to move, I turned my head to find Chloe lying on her platform, relaxed and peaceful. In that moment, I found her indescribably beautiful.I watched while her hand caressed her inner thigh, smearing the wetness that lingered there. Gathering some on her fingers, she brought them to her nose and inhaled, sighing contentedly.Chloe turned to face me and smiled. Her eyes closed as she drifted off to sleep.I smiled back at her sleeping form, then fell into slumber myself.‐————————————————–I woke, energized and alert, to find Chloe already up and about, exploring the walls in much the same way I had earlier.Noticing I was now awake, she smiled. “Good, morning? Evening? I have no idea what time it is,” she laughed. “How are you feeling?”Sitting up, I detected none of my earlier nausea. "Fine. Great, in fact. I’ve never woken up feeling this refreshed or energized before.“"I know, it’s crazy, right? I should be terrified after, that, but all I feel is,” Chloe paused in her thoughts, then shrugged. "Great. I feel great.”Chloe sat beside me on the platform. She seemed completely comfortable and uninhibited by our mutual nudity. Although I suppose after our experience under the lights, it would be ridiculous to feel embarrassed about it at this point.Still, as she sat beside me, our hips touching, I felt my pulse quicken, causing a stir down below that I struggled not to focus on, lest things get out of control.It took a moment to realize she was speaking. “So I’m assuming you heard the voice too, and felt, what we felt, right? It’s not just a case of me dreaming, or going mad?”“No, you’re not mad. That, or we both are. But yeah, that, happened.” Looking at the floor, I saw that the mess of ejaculate I’d released was gone. How, I had no idea. But I could smell Chloe’s scent still strong on her, the sticky remnants of her juices now drying on her thighs still visible.Noticing my gaze, Chloe blushed, but made no move to cover herself. “This is crazy. I should feel embarrassed, ashamed, humiliated. I should feel violated, raped. But I don’t. All I know is that was the most incredible pleasure I’ve ever felt, and,I want, I want to feel that again.”“Me, me too,” I stammered. “Jesus, what did they do to us?”Chloe’s hand found mine, and we sat in silent wonder.—————————————–Time was impossible to gage in the White Room, but we passed some by sharing each other’s story.I learned Chloe was 21, a sophomore in college, and hoping to someday become a pediatrician because she loved children. She was single, sharing a rented house with her best friend Lily. She enjoyed yoga, cheesy romance novels, and preferred beer over wine.She learned I was 42, divorced and living alone. I told her about my career as a commercial voice actor; mostly radio commercials for various businesses in the Philadelphia market, but occasionally branching out with a few nationally run spots for big name clients. It didn’t pay as much as people thought it did, but I lived comfortably enough, and it sometimes allowed me to travel around the country, although I’d never been to Sacramento. I made a promise to come visit if we ever got out of this.That led our conversation towards our predicament. “So, you think we will get out of here?” Chloe asked.“Well, sure,” I said, “I mean, we have to believe that, right?” She nodded without conviction.“It’s, it’s gotta be aliens, right?” She looked almost embarrassed to say it. “I mean, what else could it be?”“Well, perhaps hypnosis, or mind altering drugs, or,” My voice trailed off, not really believing my words. ”, but yeah, probably aliens. Or some interdimensional beings. Or one of us is dreaming. But none of this feels like a dream.“"Plus, normally,” I paused, shaking my head with a laugh. “No, never mind.”“What? Come on, finish your thought,” Chloe insisted.“Ok, but it’s kinda embarrassing. Normally, when I have a, you know, a sex dream, I wake up before, before the good part,” I finished sheepishly.Chloe burst into peals of laughter. “So that’s how you know this is real?” Her laugh wasn’t cruel or mocking, merely finding humor in the absurdity of our situation. I grinned at her and shrugged.“Sorry,” she said, wiping a tear from her eye as she caught her breath, “I wasn’t laughing at you, just,”“It’s okay, I get it. I’m happy you can laugh. Better to laugh than,”"Scream,” she finished for me.We sat quietly for a while. When I instinctively put my arm around her, she didn’t shrug it off. Instead, she rested her head on my shoulder. In a less bizarre situation I may have felt inclined to make a move, but I wasn’t about to make a sexual advance on a young woman who had woken up to find herself nude and trapped in some mind bending alien cell with a strange, naked man twice her age. No matter how attractive she was, or how much she currently smelled like sex.“What do you think they meant by ‘compatible?’” Chloe asked.“No idea,” I replied. "Maybe something to do with D N A? Or they just wanted a male and female of our species? I don’t know.“"I suppose we could ask them, but I don’t think they’re here right now.”“Me either. They feel, absent, somehow.”Chloe sniffed curiously, then sighed. “God, I need a shower. I smell like,” Her voice trailed off, as if too embarrassed to finish.Dammit. She had to go and point it out. I’d always had a sensitive nose, and especially loved the scent of a woman’s arousal. I’d convinced many a past lover to share their panties with me, and of course I truly enjoyed giving them oral, basking in their unique smells and tastes.I’d been trying not to focus on the exhilarating aroma currently wafting up from Chloe’s thighs, but now it was all I could think about.Chloe sat up with a startled jerk. "I, I guess you smell it too,” she said in a bemused tone.She was looking at my lap with a crooked grin. Because of course, I’d gotten an erection.I removed my arm from around her and tried to cover myself up, which only made things worse, as the simplest contact to my throbbing penis sent shockwaves of pleasure through it and my body, making me shudder.“Shit! Chloe, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean for,”Her soft voice stopped me. “It's okay, it’s not your fault. Or mine. None of this is our fault. We didn’t ask to be here.”She gestured around the room. “This whole thing is crazy! I don’t know what they did to us with those lights. But they changed something. I should be curled up on the floor, sucking my thumb and drooling. But it’s like they altered my brain. All my fear, my confusion, my, inhibitions. Gone. And that’s nothing compared to what they did to my body.”Chloe took a long, deep breath, held it, then released. “I’m just as, aroused, as you are. Have been since that thing with the lights. Just been trying not to focus on it. But seeing your,” her eyes glanced shyly at my cock, “seeing it like that, it’s like somebody threw a switch or something.“ Her voice trembled, and I noticed her legs rocking, thighs gently squeezing and releasing unconsciously.Several awkward moments passed. I closed my eyes, trying to focus on anything else but my pulsing erection, when the fresh, musky scent of female arousal filled my nose so suddenly that I gasped with surprise and pleasure.Chloe let out a gasp to echo my own and, opening my eyes, I saw her, leaning back against the wall, legs fully parted, masturbating furiously.Her face flushed when she caught my stare. "I can’t help it. I, I just need, release." Biting her lip, her eyes again went to my cock. "You, you can, too. If you want. I won’t mind.”I needed no further encouragement. The hand that had been making a vain attempt to cover my erection now gripped it firmly and began the familiar motions.I’d been masturbating since the day I’d found a Playboy magazine in my dad’s nightstand, but this was like nothing I’d ever experienced before. Somehow, every nerve ending in my penis felt heightened tenfold. I could feel the blood pulsing inside the sponge-like flesh of it, stretching and expanding my erection beyond its limits. It couldn’t possibly be growing in my hand, yet it certainly felt that way.My eyes found Chloe. Her left hand was caressing her breasts, alternating between them, twisting and pulling swollen nipples. Her right hand was furiously fingering her sex, creating wet squelching sounds as they slid in and out of her pretty pink hole.Her face glowed radiantly, full of lust, pleasure and pure joy. Her bright eyes wandered over my body, never straying their attention too far from my cock as I jerked at a strong, steady pace.Sensing my need, Chloe twisted her body, bracing her weight on one arm as she lifted her right leg up onto the platform. Her foot came to rest on my hip, giving me a much more personal view as her fingers continued their explorations of her intimate flesh.Chloe parted her delicate labia, exposing the slick opening to her vagina. Inserting two fingers, she closed them around her swollen clitoral hood, teasing her hole while stimulating her clit. Her pubic hair was wet and matted, large dollops of thick cream oozing from between her fingers, running down her ass crack. Her scent was overpowering.I turned myself towards her as well, our legs entwined, our genitals now mere inches apart as we pleasured ourselves.Chloe’s moans ceased as her mouth formed a silent O. Every muscle in her body tensed, then released in spasms as her climax took her. She found her voice again, releasing squeals of pleasure, her hips rocking uncontrollably. I watched, fascinated, as her natural lubrication gushed in clear little streams to pool on the platform beneath her.Without thinking, I scooped up her ejaculate, bringing my fingers to my nose and lips. Her taste was sweet, and I savored it on my tongue. Gathering up more, I slathered her warm juices on my impossibly hard cock and began stroking again in earnest.Chloe continued to masturbate, grinning wickedly at me, now solely focused on her clit, rubbing it in circles at an ever increasing pace. Thick strands of her cum dripped from her like honey from a hive.“I’ve, never been, this wet,” she gasped, “I’m, gonna cum again.”Her teeth clenched and her face twisted, again racked in wave after wave of orgasmic pleasure. Her pussy gushed, the pool beneath her becoming a lake, and I immediately gathered up more to lubricate my own throbbing organ.I felt my orgasm approaching, but instead of speeding up, I slowed my pace to long, steady strokes, drawing out the pleasure, increasing the buildup, until my cock felt like it would explode and I could hold back no longer.I let out an animalistic growl as my first blast burst from me, splattering across Chloe’s lower abdomen, coating the hand working her still needy cunt. Without missing a beat, Chloe rubbed my gooey spunk into her, mixing it with her own lubrication.My second blast added to it, as hot and strong as the first. Chloe gathered my continuing eruption into her hand, adding it to the growing mess between her legs. Her head rocked and her eyes rolled back as another orgasm took her. Our groans of passion rang in each other’s ears and the smell of sweat and cum filled the air, making us drunk with lust.Finally, we collapsed into each other, exhausted and gasping for breath as our orgasms subsided.Chloe exhaled a warm breath on my neck, her soft breast pressed up against my arm. Her hand landed on my thigh; it was sticky with our mixed fluids.We sat in silence. There were no words to say. How does one even begin to talk about such an intense and erotic experience?Suddenly, a strange tingling sensation began. It felt random at first, until I realized it was coming from the parts of me still coated with cum.Chloe must have felt it too, because she sat up quickly, and her hands instinctively went to cover her sex. She let out a soft gasp, of surprise or pleasure I could not be sure.We both watched, awestruck, as the sticky mess that covered us slowly dissolved, transforming into little points of glowing gold light that drifted up towards the ceiling. (If there was, in fact, a ceiling. We’d never determined how high up the room went.)Gradually, they disappeared.“What, the, hell?" I whispered. Chloe remained silent, her eyes wide, mouth agape.I stood, looking upwards. "Hey!” I shouted towards the unknown. “Hey! You there? What was that? What are you doing to us? Answer me, damn it!”There was not even the echo of my own voice in reply.I sat back down, confused and frustrated. Chloe wrapped her arms around me and we lay together on the platform, our bodies still warm, flushed and sweaty from our exertions. It took only minutes for an exhausted sleep to fall over us.—————————————-I woke to find myself alone. I had a moment of panic until I saw Chloe, still sleeping peacefully, on her own platform.I sat up, feeling as fresh and energetic as before, but there was now another sensation: hunger. How long had we been here? When did I last eat? I couldn’t recall.Chloe woke, and I could not help but admire her lithe, feminine form as she rose with a stretch. She looked slightly confused. “Did, did you move, or did I?”“Dunno,” I shrugged. “Maybe they moved us while we slept.”“We seem to sleep a lot since we’ve been here,” she mused, “but the upside is I feel amazingly refreshed and energized afterwards. I also feel, starving.” Her stomach grumbled as if to emphasize her point.“Yeah, me too,” I chuckled. “Wonder what they got to eat around this joint? Think 'Uber Eats’ delivers here?”Her grin at my joke became a frown when her stomach growled again. “Well I hope they remember us carbon based lifeforms need sustenance once in a while.”As if on cue, the humming noise began, and we were once again enveloped in the pale blue lights. We were lifted to the air as the calming, peaceful sensations of the beams flowed through us.The color then changed to green, and I felt something new: a sense of being nourished, replenished. My hunger pangs immediately subsided.But it was more than just some strange, alien version of intravenous feeding. Because I was also tasting things. I could sense the flavors of various foods flooding my taste buds. Most I recognized, several I did not, but all of them were delicious. My body felt the way it would after a satisfying meal of several courses, but without the discomforts or sense of lethargy one often has after eating too much.With the slightest shift in the frequency of the hum came another new sensation; the feeling of hydration. I tasted the coolest, cleanest water I’d ever had flowing through my mouth and down my throat, the illusion so real I swallowed regularly, despite the fact there was no real liquid.Another frequency shift, another sensation. A tingling similar to the one I’d felt earlier started deep within my bowels, spreading slowly throughout my body. It was odd, but not unpleasant, almost like a burning sensation that didn’t cause pain.As the tingling wave reached every part of me, tiny particles began emanating from my pores, transforming into the same glowing gold points of light we’d seen before, drifting slowly up and away, fading from view.I can’t even begin to describe how alive I felt in that moment.Looking over, Chloe was enveloped in her own luminous gold cloud. Her body glowed like an angel.The lights changed from green to blue as the last of the golden lights flickered away. We were again guided back down on our platforms and released.I sat up immediately, as did Chloe. “Holy shit,” she gasped. “That was amazing!”I stood and addressed the ceiling. “Hey! Whoever you are! Can we talk? What was that?”I didn’t truly expect an answer. But I got one. “Nourishment. Purification.” The Voice responded.“Purification?" I was beginning to grasp what happened, but wanted clarification."Purification.” The Voice repeated. “Impurities must be removed for optimal life form function. Optimal life form function must be reached in order to achieve objective.”“Objective?" I asked, "What exactly is the objective here?”“Optimal compatibility.”“I don't understand!” I yelled at our invisible captor.“Impurities must be removed for optimal life form function,” The Voice repeated. “Removal of impurities will be completed in several stages to compensate for life form fragility. Once optimal life form function has been reached, optimal compatibility will be achievable.”“What happens when optimal compatibility is achieved?” I asked, calmer this time.“Conjoining,” answered The Voice.“What the hell does that mean?” I asked, although I had my suspicions.I received no answer.Chloe was crying. I moved to comfort her. “Hey, it's okay, don’t be afraid, we’ll be alright.”She looked up at me, wiping away her tears. “No, you don’t understand,” she said, her voice still hitching with sobs, “I think, no, I know. They, they cured me.”I was, of course, confused. Once she’d calmed herself, she explained. “I was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease at age fifteen. The symptoms have varied in severity over the years, and I’ve actually been in remission for a while now. I haven’t experienced any symptoms since I’ve been here, but somehow, during that, 'purification’, I felt it. I can’t explain how I know, but I know. They cured me. Just purged it from my body somehow. Oh my God,” Her voice trailed off in wonder, her tears beginning anew.I simply sat there, stunned, and held her.Optimal HealthWhile I waited for Chloe to deal with her emotions, my musings turned towards my own body, and how I was feeling since the “Nourishment and Purification” process.My initial thought had been that “purification” simply meant the removal of bodily wastes. It would explain why I’d felt no urges to relieve myself since I’d been here.But if Chloe’s revelation was true, and I had no reason to doubt her, then it was much more than simply cleaning out our waste systems.Looking myself over, I discovered that several small moles I’d had on my chest and shoulders were gone. A scar I’d had on the back of my hand from a bike accident as a kid was no longer there. I looked at my hand in wonder, searching for any trace of it, but saw only smooth, fresh skin.My stomach looked flatter, like I’d lost a few pounds. Although that could be explained by the fact I’d not actually eaten any solid food for, well, however long we’d been there.I was in decent shape for 42, but had developed certain things all middle aged men experience as time and age slowly takes its toll. A bit of a paunch from unhealthy eating; aches and pains in various areas that one learns to simply live with.I felt none of those pains now. My legs, always so tight, now felt loose and flexible. My back had no stiffness; there was no crick in my neck.I wondered about my eyesight. I had been using reading glasses for the past several years, and now I was curious if I’d still need them. I couldn’t be sure without something to focus on, like a book or computer screen, but I felt like I could see better in general.I felt less bloated than usual, like I’d been given an enema or something, my colon completely cleansed of any built up waste.Overall, I felt healthier than I had in at least a decade.Once Chloe had composed herself, we discussed the similar changes we both felt in our bodies. Being younger than I, Chloe was already in better shape generally, but her Crohns did leave her with general discomforts and pains she had just gotten used to dealing with over the years, things she said were now completely gone.“What else can you see or feel that’s different?” I asked her. “Think about it. Do you have any scars or birthmarks missing? Something like that?”Chloe looked at her abdomen. “My appendectomy scar is gone. And I don’t have any birthmarks or moles, except,” she paused, blushing a little, “I have this, mole. On my ass. It’s low down, I can only see it in a mirror. I’ve always felt a little self-conscious about it. I guess, I guess I have to know. Could you, take a look for me?”Without waiting for an answer, Chloe stood and turned, giving me a full view of her beautifully curved bottom.I couldn’t help blushing myself as I leaned in to inspect it, searching for the mole in question. I saw nothing but her creamy, smooth skin, and said so.“Are you sure? It’s kinda low and between, just on the underside of my left butt cheek.” Chloe bent forward and reached around with her hand, spreading herself open.I still could see no mole, but I certainly could now see her plump vulva and delicate pink labia, along with her tight little anus, winking at me as she pulled her ass cheeks open wider. Once again my nose breathed in the special scent wafting from between her legs. It was all I could do to keep myself from leaning in closer to inhale her.Instead, I stammered, “Um, no, no mole. I guess it’s gone.”Chloe sat back down. “So strange,” she mused, “I wonder why they’re fixing us like this? And I wonder what they meant by,” Her voice trailed off with a giggle. “Sorry. Guess I should have expected that with the view I just gave you.”I didn’t understand what she meant at first, until I noticed her looking at the erection I’d gotten without even realizing it.“Sorry, I really was trying to keep my inspection, professional,” I apologized with an embarrassed grin.Chloe’s smile was warm and kind. “I know. But you’re a man, you can’t help looking. And I’m okay with the idea of you being aroused by it. It’s, flattering. With all we’ve been through so far, it’s only natural that you’d want sex after having my bare ass in your face.”“Look, Chloe, I’d never presume to,”Chloe cut me off. “I know. You’ve been nothing but a gentleman since we woke up here. Even with the sexual stimulation from the lights, even when we masturbated together, you’ve never tried to touch me inappropriately, or force yourself on me. And I truly appreciate that. Because I know it can’t be easy for you.”“Actually, it’s very easy for me,” I stated firmly, “because I’d never touch a woman who didn’t want to be touched. Period.”Chloe nodded appreciatively. “Thank you.”She gave me a shy, nervous, smile. “Being honest, I’m actually not that horny myself at the moment; still kind of reeling from the idea of having been miraculously healed. But I’d be more than happy to, well, give you a hand. If you want it.”My eyes lit up. “I’d love that, but only if you’re sure,” I answered, desperately hoping that she was indeed sure.Chloe responded by taking my hard cock in her hand. It jumped at her touch. She began pleasuring me with long, slow, gentle strokes.My arm slipped naturally around her as she nuzzled into me, resting her head on my shoulder while she watched her ministrations. I could feel her warm left breast pressing against my chest. My hand hung dangerously close to her right breast, fingers just barely grazing the side.To be continued in part 2.By Djmac1031 for Literotica

We ask some hard hitting questions on T&C today! If something or someone scares you, what do you do? What is the one thing your kids play with that is something you also loved as a kid? And what food is an unpopular opinion for many but is one you love? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, we observe action-packed moments, as depicted in Sangam Literary work, Puranaanooru 322, penned by the poet Avoor Kizhaar. The verse is situated in the category of 'Vaagai Thinai' or 'Victory' and etches the terror evoked by the leader of a town.

Fluent Fiction - Mandarin Chinese: The Comedy of Hot Tea: A Heartwarming Tale from Beijing Garden Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.org/the-comedy-of-hot-tea-a-heartwarming-tale-from-beijing-garden Story Transcript:Zh: 世界上最壮观的事物不过是陈北京园中闹剧，但，生活中的闹剧就如热茶洒在雕像上，愈是无法预料，愈是令人捧腹。En: The most spectacular thing in the world is nothing more than a comedy in the Beijing Garden. However, in life, comedies are like hot tea spilled on statues. The more unpredictable they are, the more hilarious they become.Zh: 这个点滴的故事就发生在北京的一座繁华公园，其中主人公是陈伟，一个潇洒而心地善良的青年。公园是他的悠闲之地，更是他灵感如泉涌般涌现出来的地方。陈伟常常带着一杯刚买的热茶，在喧闹的公众场所里默默的发呆，享受那轻松的氛围，有时顺手喂喂公园的小鸟。En: This heartwarming story happened in a bustling park in Beijing, with Chen Wei as the protagonist, a carefree and kind-hearted young man. The park was his oasis of leisure and also the place where inspiration constantly flowed through him. Chen Wei often sat in a crowded public place, quietly daydreaming with a cup of freshly bought hot tea, enjoying the relaxed atmosphere, and sometimes feeding the birds in the park.Zh: 那个意外的一天，一个拥挤的星期六下午，陈伟恰好坐在著名的战士雕像旁边的长椅上，手中拿着微微冒热气的热茶，他对面坐着的则是一对合着手臂嬉笑的情侣。此刻，愉快的气氛突然被一个不小心而来的足球打破，陈伟被惊吓的一手反应性的站了起来，然而他的热茶却因此飞溅出去，正好洒在了那座威武的战士雕像上。En: On an unexpected day, a crowded Saturday afternoon, Chen Wei happened to sit on a bench next to the famous Warrior statue, holding a cup of steaming hot tea. Across from him sat a couple, holding hands and laughing. Suddenly, the joyful atmosphere was shattered by an accidentally kicked football. Startled, Chen Wei instinctively stood up, but in his haste, his hot tea splashed onto the mighty statue.Zh: 围观的人们首先是惊愕，然后是哗然，接着笑声如潮水般涌现，人们各种调侃，说他给战士涂了热茶色的保护层，提议公园采用这种保护方式，有的更狠，说陈伟用热茶对战士进行热身。陈伟原本羞愧无地，面红耳赤但望着这些笑着的面孔，他的心反而踏实了。于是他爽朗的笑了，当场邀请所有围观者去附近的茶馆，给大家带来了一片欢声笑语。En: The onlookers were first shocked, then made a fuss, and soon laughter erupted like tidal waves. People made all kinds of jokes, saying that he had given the Warrior a protective layer of tea color, and suggesting the park adopt this protection method. Some went further, claiming that Chen Wei was using hot tea to warm up the Warrior. Originally ashamed and embarrassed, Chen Wei looked at those laughing faces and felt strangely comforted. He burst into laughter and immediately invited all the bystanders to a nearby tea house, creating a joyful atmosphere.Zh: 这个笑料迅速在公园中传开，甚至变成了公园的一小段佳话。这个有关热茶的故事，就这样生动而有趣的活跃在了每个人的嘴边，陈伟也因此受到了人们的喜爱，公园的生活也因此变得更加有趣了。En: This amusing incident quickly spread throughout the park, becoming a small section of the park's anecdotes. This story about hot tea became vivid and interesting, passing from mouth to mouth, and Chen Wei became beloved by the people. Life in the park became even more entertaining because of it.Zh: 故事结束了，理工的雕像还在，保护层早已消逝，但是每个人心中都藏着一个关于陈伟，热茶和雕像的故事。这一切都是因为那杯不小心被洒出的热茶，也坚定了陈伟一个普通人值得被记住的信念——因为他把生活中的小事，变成了一件令人开心的大事。En: The story came to an end, and the statue stood there as before, the protective layer long gone. However, everyone carried a story about Chen Wei, hot tea, and the statue in their hearts. All of this happened because of that accidentally spilled cup of hot tea, solidifying Chen Wei's belief that even an ordinary person can be remembered because they turn the small things in life into something that brings happiness. Vocabulary Words:spectacular: 壮观的comedy: 笑剧Beijing Garden: 北京园life: 生活hot tea: 热茶spilled: 洒在statues: 雕像unpredictable: 无法预料hilarious: 令人捧腹heartwarming: 温暖人心的bustling: 繁华的carefree: 潇洒kind-hearted: 善良的oasis: 悠闲之地leisure: 闲暇inspiration: 灵感constantly: 不断地flowed: 涌现crowded: 拥挤的public place: 公众场所daydreaming: 发呆relaxed atmosphere: 轻松的氛围feeding: 喂食birds: 小鸟bench: 长椅steaming: 冒热气startled: 惊吓splashed: 飞溅mighty: 威武onlookers: 围观的人

A person getting hurt at the workplace is never funny. But it can be instructional to examine some of the strangest ways people manage to become injured at work. Hear about some “interesting” cases.  A schoolteacher whose leg “fell asleep” while he sat in a classroom falls trying to stand up. He broke his femur. Is he entitled to compensation from his employer?  An Amtrak baggage handler was visiting the restroom when someone tossed a firecracker into the room. Startled, he fell and was injured; is Amtrak responsible? How about a city worker who says he picked up a firecracker he found on the job, and it mysteriously exploded, injuring him?  People get hurt at work, but as these and other cases illustrate, it's not always the responsibility of the employer. (And sometimes, workers do silly things…). Mentioned in this Episode: Tom Robinson's Top 10 Bizarre Workers' Comp Cases For 2022 Steven Silberberg v. Palm Beach County Schools Phillip Durance v. National Railroad Passenger Corp aka Amtrak Dylan Junior v. Illinois Workers' Compensation Commission Jonathan Hollis v. Acoustics, Inc. and Associated General Contractors of MS, Inc. Donald Weed v. Spraying Systems, Co Stanis v. Workers' Comp. Appeal Bd. (Brand Energy Servs.)  

A person getting hurt at the workplace is never funny. But it can be instructional to examine some of the strangest ways people manage to become injured at work. Hear about some “interesting” cases.  A schoolteacher whose leg “fell asleep” while he sat in a classroom falls trying to stand up. He broke his femur. Is he entitled to compensation from his employer?  An Amtrak baggage handler was visiting the restroom when someone tossed a firecracker into the room. Startled, he fell and was injured; is Amtrak responsible? How about a city worker who says he picked up a firecracker he found on the job, and it mysteriously exploded, injuring him?  People get hurt at work, but as these and other cases illustrate, it's not always the responsibility of the employer. (And sometimes, workers do silly things…). Mentioned in this Episode: Tom Robinson's Top 10 Bizarre Workers' Comp Cases For 2022 Steven Silberberg v. Palm Beach County Schools Phillip Durance v. National Railroad Passenger Corp aka Amtrak Dylan Junior v. Illinois Workers' Compensation Commission Jonathan Hollis v. Acoustics, Inc. and Associated General Contractors of MS, Inc. Donald Weed v. Spraying Systems, Co Stanis v. Workers' Comp. Appeal Bd. (Brand Energy Servs.)  

The Man with a Storm in His Eyes – Volume 3NOTE: If you have not listened to Volumes 1 and 2 of this 4-part miniseries, please pause this episode, and go listen to the first two installments, otherwise the story won't make much sense.Over Thanksgiving I spent a few days house- and cat-sitting for a friend. The moment I met Russell the cat I was completely charmed by the milky cloudiness of his eyes. What fascinated me most was that he appeared to be able to see just fine... to the point where sometimes he appeared to be seeing things that I myself couldn't see. I found myself inspired and fully credit Russell with breaking through my writer's block.This story is available in written form in its entirety exclusively to Patreon Supporters, visit the link below to join.Join Melissa's Patreon for early access to podcast episodes, music downloads, and more: http://www.patreon.com/melissaoliveriContact: theskylarkbell@gmail.comThe Skylark Bell official website - http://www.theskylarkbell.comThe Skylark Bell on Instagram: @theskylarkbellAuthor/Producer: Melissa Oliveri - http://www.melissaoliveri.comAll music by Cannelle: http://www.cannellemusic.comCannelle on Instagram: @cannelle.musicFULL TRANSCRIPT:Things with Wings Productions presents: The Man with a Storm in His Eyes - A Skylark Special Miniseries written exclusively for The Skylark Bell podcast. I am your host, Melissa Oliveri.  Before I begin, if you haven't listened to the first two installments of this story, I strongly suggest you hit pause on this episode and go listen to volume 1 and volume 2, otherwise this episode won't make much sense. In last week's episode, Marie rescued a kitten named Jones, and made the startling discovery that Mr. Holcomb had been labeled a missing person decades prior.Now, get settled in… grab a blanket, and a warm drink… and let's dive back into the story.I didn't need to worry about waking the next morning as Jones took it upon himself to serve as an alarm clock when he felt it was time to be fed. “You little rascal, you're just loving this aren't you?” I teased as I placed a bowl of turkey pieces with a strong pour of gravy in front of him. I was about to go take a shower when the phone on the kitchen wall rang so loudly I was sure the neighbours three houses away could hear it. I grabbed my chest with my hand and waited a moment to catch my breath before lifting the receiver off the hook. “Hello?” I asked tentatively. “Oh, hello Marie dear, this is Florence,” came the voice on the other end of the line. “I was simply calling to let you know we plan on returning home early tomorrow morning. I trust things are going well?” she asked.I could still feel my heart beating out of my chest, but I managed to compose myself enough to reply. “Yes, everything is great. Mr. Holcomb is quite lovely. Oh, I should probably tell you, I found a stray kitten that I'm caring for, I hope that's okay?” I figured I should probably make mention of the fact that I'd brought an animal into their home.There was a moment of silence at the other end of the line, and I grew nervous that Florence was displeased. “That's quite alright dear. I'm sure Jones is thoroughly enjoying spending the holidays with you,” she eventually replied, and I heaved a sigh of relief. “Right then, we'll see you in the morning,” she added before promptly ending the call.I put the phone back in its cradle. Something about the conversation was bothering me... I stood barefoot on the cold ceramic kitchen floor running the conversation through my head again, then it finally hit me: How did Florence know the kitten's name was Jones? On cue, Jones wandered into the room and rubbed up against my legs. I picked him up and held him at arm's length. Of course! Jones had a name tag, perhaps Florence had seen him before, maybe he even had a reputation for visiting neighbourhood homes and getting a few extra meals out of it. “I knew you were a rascal!” I giggled. I pulled him in and bumped my nose against his, mesmerized by those unearthly amber eyes, before gently placing him back on the ground.I showered and put on a festive sweater and some dressy trousers before heading upstairs to join Mr. Holcomb for Boxing Day breakfast. I told him about the rowdy boys and the kitten, and how Jones and I had eaten Christmas dinner by candlelight before I spent a couple of hours reading Alice in Wonderland in the reading room. I was itching to ask him about the newspaper clippings, but something about his expression stopped me. His brow was knit, and his eyes had turned that stormy charcoal grey again. I realized then that I'd been speaking non-stop since we'd sat down, so I quieted myself and waited for him to speak.“So... Jones is here now,” was all he said. I nodded but wasn't sure if he noticed as he seemed to be staring off into space. I let the quiet linger between us, hoping he would elaborate, but his lips remained tightly pressed together.“Mr. Holcomb...” I began, unsure of how to broach the subject. “Your questions will all be answered in due time, my dear Marie,” he said, sparing me the trouble of asking. “There are things that should not be known before one is ready to know them...” he mused obscurely, still with that faraway, stormy look in his eyes. I didn't dare ask him to elaborate, I would just have to be patient. We spent the rest of breakfast speaking of innocuous things; childhood Christmas gifts, funny stories about relatives falling off chairs or spilling food and drink on one another at holiday parties. Though we only talked about surface things, the conversation was merry, and Mr. Holcomb's eyes progressively morphed from steely grey to an appealing feathery white.It was past noon by the time I got back downstairs to the sisters' flat. Jones meowed at me in greeting and climbed up my shin to be picked up. I curled him into my arms like a baby and stared into his eyes, bordering on chartreuse in the midday light, while feeling the soft rumble of his purring against my chest. I felt the weight of the world disappear then, there was such comfort in the softness of his fur and his desire for companionship. A sudden chill passed through the air causing Jones and I to shiver in unison. “I think I'm going to run a bath,” I said, lowering him to the hardwood floor. “Don't worry, I have no expectation that you will want to get anywhere near the water,” I laughed. “Why don't I make a fire in the fireplace for you, and you can wait for me on the sofa with a blanket?” I suddenly became aware that I was speaking to Jones as though he were human and felt simultaneously ridiculous and grateful that there was no one around to hear. I got Jones settled then made my way to the bathroom. I took the time to admire the vintage Art Deco tile pattern on the floor and walls before turning the hot water faucet on the claw foot tub to its maximum, then adding a bit of cold water and two capfuls of green apple bath bubbles. I placed a thick fluffy towel and a bathrobe on a nearby wooden stool in preparation for the aftermath of my soak, then draped my clothes over the edge of the sink before carefully slipping into the steaming hot water. I closed my eyes and breathed in the sweet, fruity fragrance while listening to the crackling of the bubbles.I sat quietly in the tub, keeping thoughts of cloudy eyes and mysterious disappearances at bay, choosing to think instead of what I would prepare for dinner and which tea from the three forbidden tea canisters I would brew first. Eventually the water grew uncomfortably tepid, and the skin on my fingers began to wrinkle. I used my toe to pull the chain attached to the bathtub stopper and let the water drain a moment before standing to step out of the tub. The towel and bathrobe were both luxuriously plush, and I relished the warm, cozy feeling of being wrapped in them. I walked to the living room and rooted through my weekender bag for a fresh change of clothes. Jones was fast asleep on the sofa, curled up on a throw pillow with the glow of the fire reflecting off the sheen of his velvety fur.I made my way to the kitchen and perused the pantry and refrigerator contents for inspiration. I grabbed some zucchini, carrots, peas, and broccoli from the fridge and a box of pasta out of the cupboard. With a little butter, cream, and spoonful of flour I could whip together a mean pasta primavera, there was even a block of fresh parmesan cheese in the fridge to top it all off. I still had leftover rum raisin cake and custard for dessert. “That will pair perfectly with a cup of forbidden tea!” I chucked to myself out loud in the empty kitchen. I set to work making a roux and roasting the vegetables. My mum had always loved my pasta primavera; the secret was roasting the vegetables rather than boiling or steaming them, the caramelization added a lovely depth of flavour to the dish. “Jones, time to eat!” I called as I placed a bowl of shredded turkey with a dollop of cream sauce at his place setting across the table from me. I set my plate on the table as well, then gave each of us a generous sprinkle of parmesan. “Now I don't want you to think this is what you get to eat every day, this is a Boxing Day special, okay?” I said to him as he hopped onto the table. I patted the top of his head then sat down to eat. A flood of memories of suppers with my mother came to me as I took my first bite. I could see her smile, hear her laugh... what I wouldn't do to see and hear her again...Jones finished his meal long before I did and stretched out in front of the stove, rolling onto his back to let its warmth tickle his belly. I cleared the table and quickly did the washing up, then put the kettle on. While waiting for the water to boil I unwrapped the rum raisin cake, cut a generous piece and placed it onto a plate. “Perfect timing!” I exclaimed as the kettle sounded its whistle. I turned off the stove, then stood in front of the shelf with the three glass tea canisters, I hadn't yet decided which one I was going to brew. I noticed a label at the bottom of each one, and squinted to read the ornate cursive handwriting in hopes it would help inform my decision. I started with the canister to the left, the tea inside was black and appeared rather nondescript. “Dark Moon, sounds like something Winifred would come up with!” I said, laughing at my own humour. I moved on to the next canister, the tea inside was shades of purple with delicate dark pink rose petals mixed in, its label read “Violet Storm”. Intriguing! The last canister was filled with a mixture of gold tea leaves, yellow and orange flower petals, and citrus rinds, the label on that one read “Golden Sunset”. I pondered a moment longer, and decided Violet Storm sounded like a good accompaniment to rum raisin cake. I gingerly lifted the canister off the shelf and placed it on the counter. I popped open its lid, and the aroma of lavender, elderberry, hibiscus, and a strange sickly-sweet smell I couldn't pinpoint rose from its contents. I found a scoop in the utensil drawer and placed three spoonfulls into the infuser part of the teapot, then poured the boiling water in and stepped away to let it steep for a few minutes. I walked to the stove and crouched next to Jones, running my hand over the sleek fur of his body. He looked up at me with those amber eyes and blinked that slow blink cats do when they're rather satisfied with their circumstances; a full belly, a warm napping spot, and a human to do their bidding. I finally admitted to myself that I'd grown unusually attached to this kitten over the past couple of days, as though we were kindred spirits from the start.“Tea time!” I said as I stood up. I poured tea from the pot into the teacup Mr. Holcomb had gifted me. I left the teacup on the counter while I brought my plate of cake and the little pot of custard to the table. Then I grabbed the saucer with the teacup precariously balanced on it and held it up to my face, breathing in the steam. The unidentified sweet smell was even more pungent now, and I desperately wondered what it would taste like. I shifted the saucer to my other hand and grabbed the teacup by its delicate handle, slowly lifting it to my mouth. Suddenly, a loud slam came from behind me. Startled beyond belief I jumped and spun on my heel. Before I could wrap my brain around what was happening the teacup flew out of my hand and went crashing to the floor, leaving the echo of a shattering sound ringing through the kitchen. I stared in shock at the purple streak of tea spreading across the black and white tile of the floor.“I told you not to drink the tea!”I gathered my wits about me and looked up. Standing a few paces away was Winifred. She had a small cut on her hand, presumably from when she slapped the teacup out of my grasp. It took me a moment to notice Florence was standing directly next to her. “Oh dear,” breathed Florence, looking at something behind me with sadness in her eyes. I turned and saw Jones voraciously drinking from the puddle of tea on the floor.“Oh Jones, that's not for you!” I said, bending to pull him into my arms.“It's too late,” croaked Winifred. I instantly recognized the voice on the phone that stormy Christmas Eve night in Mr. Holcomb's flat. What in the world was going on?!“I- I wasn't expecting you back so soon,” I stumbled over my words, both nervous and embarrassed. “Winifred felt strongly that we should come home early,” said Florence. “It's probably best that you go home now, Marie,” she added. Her voice was neutral, neither kind nor unkind, neither soft nor stern. I sheepishly bent to clean up the mess of broken porcelain on the floor. “Leave it,” she said. I kept my gaze glued to the floor and withdrew to the living room to tidy up and pack my things.As I made my way into the hall Jones sauntered over and looked up at me with those glorious glowing yellow eyes. I pondered whether I should scoop him up and take him with me, but Winifred came through the doorway to the right and stood between us, her inky eyes piercing into my soul, and slowly shook her head no. I muttered an apology and made a swift exit.I wallowed in self-pity and embarrassment for a few days, then decided to leave the confines of my flat to take a walk. I wandered through the woods where the crows cawed to one another as though saying “Look at that ridiculous girl, a guest in someone's home and doing as she pleases with no regard for them!” I felt disgraced, and disappointed in myself. Making a cup of tea seemed like such a small, innocuous, harmless thing at the time, but clearly it wasn't, clearly there was a valid reason why the sisters had forbidden it... and I should have respected their wishes.I wandered aimlessly, stopping at one point to select a drink at the local café. I stared hopelessly at the menu board, unable to make up my mind, and finally settled on some iced tea, then chuckled bitterly at the irony of my selection. My walk eventually took me to the top of Dimly Court. I looked down the street past the brick row houses and perfectly manicured shrubs, hesitating. Would it be out of place for me to walk by? The sisters were hermits, the odds of one of them seeing me were rather low. I decided to take my chances and turned onto their street. Every window covering at 51 Dimly court was drawn, but I could see Jones' silhouette sitting on the windowsill, the patterned chenille of the drapes hanging behind him like backdrop. I stood in front of the window, admiring the velvety sheen of his coat. “Jones!” I whispered as loudly as I dared. The kitten turned his head and I gasped. I instinctively took a step back and nearly tumbled off walkway. In the place of those glorious golden eyes that I had stared into just days before were two orbs filled with a swirl of thunderous grey clouds. The cat's head suddenly darted back and forth as though watching something behind me. I turned to look but there was nothing there. I stood on the empty street watching him get increasingly agitated. “Oh Jones, what happened to you?” I choked. Suddenly, the curtain was pulled aside and Winifred's pallid face came into view, that eternal streak of red lipstick still across her mouth. Her carbon-coloured eyes locked firmly on me as she pulled the kitten into her arms, then she quickly stepped back into the shadows from whence she came. The curtain closed behind her, a supple but effective barrier between us.I trudged back home in slow, plodding steps, my head hung low. My mind, however, was in overdrive. Jones' eyes were now in the same condition as Mr. Holcomb's... what on earth could have caused it? I let different scenarios play out my head, then stopped dead in my tracks as it hit me: The tea! It had to be the tea! That would explain why the sisters had instructed me not to drink it. Jones had lapped it up after it spilled on the floor, and now he had a storm in his eyes. I let the swirling thoughts keep coming; perhaps Mr. Holcomb had ingested some of the tea as well, and that's how he ended up the way he did. I suddenly remembered the glimpse of him I'd caught the night of the storm when he'd sat rod-straight in his chair, a blindfold strapped across his eyes. My next thought sent a shiver down my spine... What was it he was avoiding looking at that night? What was it, exactly, that Jones and Mr. Holcomb were able to see with those cloudy eyes that I apparently could not? I shuddered as I realised how closely I had come to joining their ranks.I spent the next few days alone, only going out for the odd walk in the woods and to do a bit of shopping at times when I was least likely to encounter other people. Thankfully, I didn't have to return to work until after the holidays. I rang in the new year by myself in my dark living room, doing my best to ignore the cacophony of the festivities outside the walls of my apartment. I simply wasn't in a celebratory mood, and other people's cheer was the last thing I needed.I woke at the crack of dawn the first day of the new year with the unsettling feeling that something was amiss. I heard the sound of a car door outside my window, and got out of bed, tugging my twisted nighty back into place. I slid into my fuzzy slippers, then walked to the living room so I could look out the front windows. My stomach clenched instantly. There, standing immobile on the walkway to my apartment building, a black 1940s style car parked behind them, were the twins. Winifred was dressed all in black with a black strip of fabric draped over her eyes, which made her white powdery makeup and smear of red lipstick stand out even more. In complete contrast, Florence was decked out in a floral dress with a long brown chequered coat draped over her shoulders. The sisters' arms were laced together, presumably so Florence could guide Winifred who surely couldn't see much, if anything, with the blindfold. Florence locked eyes with me, then carefully and deliberately bent down to place a brown leather-bound book onto the pavers of the walkway to my building. She gave me a small nod, then the pair turned and methodically walked back to the old-fashioned car. Florence helped Winifred get in her seat, then walked to the driver's side, and eased herself behind the wheel. I watched, equally confused, and mesmerized, as the pair drove off.Thank you so much for listening, I truly hope you enjoyed this third installment of The Man with a Storm in His Eyes.Be sure to check in next week for the final portion of the story!If you enjoyed this episode, please consider leaving a rating or a review, they are both greatly appreciated. You can also support my work by subscribing to Patreon. Patreon supporters get early access to ad-free podcast episodes, digital downloads of my music, and so much more. It's the first place I share my creations. However, if you prefer not to subscribe, but would like to make a one-time contribution, you can do so via your podcast platform. Any and all financial support is greatly appreciated.Once again, thank you for listening – I'm Melissa Oliveri, writer, composer, and producer of The Skylark Bell Podcast. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/theskylarkbell/exclusive-contentAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Fluent Fiction - Hindi: The Ice Cream Mishap: A Serendipitous Encounter in Mumbai Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.org/the-ice-cream-mishap-a-serendipitous-encounter-in-mumbai Story Transcript:Hi: मुंबई की वे तेज, भागदौड़ भरी सड़कें, जैसे स्वयं को शहर की जीवन रेखा मानती हों, जहाँ दिन के हर पल कुछ न कुछ अनोखा होता है। उसी भीड़-भाड़, हॉर्नों की गूंज और लोगों की अपार संख्या में, कुछ अद्वितीय हुआ।En: The fast-paced, bustling streets of Mumbai, as if considering themselves the lifeline of the city, where something unique happens every moment of the day. Amidst the crowd, honking horns, and a vast number of people, something extraordinary occurred.Hi: राजेश, जो उस वक्त एक मोर्डन आइसक्रीम कोन, भूलकर एक साधारण और बिना चिंता भरी दुनिया में खो गया था। उसके सामने सुनीता आ गई, जो उत्साह और ऊर्जा से भरी हुई लग रही थी। वे एक दूसरे को नहीं जानते थे, लेकिन उनकी मुलाकात एक अत्यंत अजीब सनसनी खेज करने वाली घटना के साथ हुई।En: Rajesh, who at that time was a modern ice cream vendor, lost himself in a simple and carefree world. Sunitha appeared before him, who seemed filled with excitement and energy. They didn't know each other, but their meeting was accompanied by a strange sensation that sent shockwaves.Hi: राजेश का आइसक्रीम कोन उसकी असावधानियों की वजह से उसी समय सुनीता की लाल टोपी पर गिर गया, जब वह खुद को शानदार स्कोटर पर सज़ा हुई महसूस करने का प्रयास कर रही थी। आइसक्रीम की ठंडक की वजह से वह चिल्लाई, और राजेश को उसकी गलती की सच्चाई का एहसास हुआ।En: Due to Rajesh's carelessness, his ice cream cone fell onto Sunitha's red hat at that very moment when she was trying to feel glorious on her adorned scooter. Startled by the coldness of the ice cream, she shouted, and Rajesh realized the truth of his mistake.Hi: "माफ कीजिए, मेरी गलती थी।" वह झुक कर कहता है, बिलकुल सिद्ध होते हुए कि उसने उसके दिन को खराब कर दिया है।En: "I'm sorry, it was my fault," he said, bowing down, completely aware that he had ruined her day.Hi: "कोई बात नहीं," सुनीता उसे देखकर हँसती है, "अगर आप कुछ इसी तरह के बदला ले सकते हैं, तो मैं इसे माफ़ी समझूंगी।"En: "It's okay," Sunitha smiled at him, "if you can take revenge in a similar way, then I'll consider it forgiven."Hi: जीवन में पहली बार, राजेश को यह महसूस हुआ कि भूल भी शायद किसी अनहोनी का मार्ग नहीं होती है। उन्होंने एक आइसक्रीम कोन सुनीता को दिया, और जैसे आपका अनुमान होगा, उन्होंने उसे सर पर डाल दिया। दोनों हँसते हैं। एक छोटी सी घटना ने दो अनजान लोगों को एक अनहोनी मिलाप की ओर ले गई। और वे अब बस मित्र नहीं थे, बल्कि उनकी कहानी उन भीड़-भाड़ भरी मुंबई की सड़कों पर एक अद्वितीय घटना के रूप में गूंजंती है।En: For the first time in life, Rajesh felt that a mistake might not necessarily lead to a catastrophe. He handed an ice cream cone to Sunitha, and as you might guess, he placed it on her head. They both laughed. A small incident brought two strangers together towards an unexpected encounter. And now, they were not just acquaintances, but their story reverberated as a unique event on the crowded streets of Mumbai. Vocabulary Words:Mumbai: मुंबईstreets: सड़केंcity: शहरunique: अनोखाcrowd: भीड़-भाड़honking: हॉर्नों कीhorns: हॉर्नpeople: लोगोंextraordinary: अद्वितीयvendor: विक्रेताcarefree: बिना चिंताworld: दुनियाexcitement: उत्साहenergy: ऊर्जाstrange: अजीबsensation: सनसनीshockwaves: झटकेcarelessness: असावधानीfall: गिर गयाred: लालhat: टोपीglorious: शानदारadorned: सज़ा हुईscooter: स्कोटरcoldness: ठंडकshouted: चिल्लाईmistake: गलतीsorry: माफ कीजिएfault: गलतीforgiven: माफ़ी

(00:00) Welcome to the Black Lincoln Collective Podcast. With your host, Parker, featuring the sultry pounds(00:57) This is the 119th edition of the Black Lincoln Collective podcast(05:00) Lionel Coxworth recalls bizarre incident involving his young son(08:18) My son has long hair, and he decided to shave it(13:00) Fred: Basketball season starts Monday, so he's got to shave head(17:12) Alan Black says he shaved his natural hair when he was 12(19:32) Come Christmas time, I'll share my friend's artwork with the world(20:18) Fred: I've never been out on Black Friday(23:52) Brown Friday is the day after Thanksgiving when most people put in water system calls(29:55) Brown Friday is one reason to go Black Friday shopping(30:42) You said you had a story you wanted to share with the podcast audience(35:39) If your baby has any interesting features, just say just say(40:21) Fred believes in the string universe, Alan believes in multiverses(41:18) This week on BLC news, it's sex offender news(42:11) Former South Carolina school teacher accused of having affair with teen student(46:45) If roles were reversed, all hell would be breaking loose(47:52) BLC reminds you that Christmas season is also syphilis season(49:40) Syphilis was a big deal before penicillin became a thing(50:05) Teenager gets USB cable stuck in urethra while trying to measure himself(53:55) Fred Flint does a Michigan accent for a news story(54:34) Michigan man accused of masturbating on porch during court appearance(58:33) Fred: It's weird transition between Thanksgiving and Christmas, Fred 

Fluent Fiction - Mandarin Chinese: Tea Mishaps: A Comical Encounter in Beijing's Traditional Tea House Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.org/tea-mishaps-a-comical-encounter-in-beijings-traditional-tea-house Story Transcript:Zh: 在北京的繁华市中心，尽管这个城市充满了当代的喧嚣和忙碌，却在一处隐约可见的小巷里，藏着一家传统的茶馆。那，就是我们故事的起源，也是刘翔和张伟两位主角的喜剧插曲的舞台。En: In the bustling city center of Beijing, amidst the contemporary hustle and bustle, there hides a traditional tea house in a faintly visible alley. That is the origin of our story and also the stage for a comedic interlude between our two protagonists, Liu Xiang and Zhang Wei.Zh: 刘翔，一个来自南方的学生，专攻中华传统艺术，特别对茶道有着浓厚兴趣。他初来乍到，对北京的一切都感到新奇。另一方面，张伟则是茶馆的老板，热爱传统文化，也是当地有名的茶艺大师，他对茶艺手法的娴熟与精巧，赢得了人们的敬仰。En: Liu Xiang, a student from the south, specializes in traditional Chinese arts, with a particular interest in the art of tea. Just having arrived, everything in Beijing feels new and exciting to him. On the other hand, Zhang Wei is the owner of the tea house, a lover of traditional culture, and a renowned tea master in the area. His mastery and finesse in tea skills have earned him people's admiration.Zh: 某个寒冷的冬日，刘翔踏入茶馆，他目光焦急地环顾四周，其实，他是为了一场即将进行的茶道比赛做准备。张伟见状，决定借此机会向刘翔展示真正的茶艺。En: On a cold winter day, Liu Xiang stepped into the tea house. His anxious gaze scanned the surroundings, as he was preparing for an upcoming tea competition. Seeing this, Zhang Wei decided to take this opportunity to showcase true tea artistry to Liu Xiang.Zh: 看似稳重的张伟，娴熟地展示着精雕细琢的艺术，慢慢地，温热的茶在茶壶中翻腾，一丝丝热气蒸腾，弥漫整个茶室。然后，他轻盈地向茶杯中注入热茶，茶的清香立刻充盈在空气中，为这个寂静的午后增添了一份宁静的气息。En: Seeming poised and steady, Zhang Wei skillfully displayed his exquisitely crafted art. Slowly, the warm tea churned in the teapot, steam rising and filling the entire tea room. Then, he gracefully poured the hot tea into the teacup, immediately filling the air with the fragrant aroma of tea, adding a sense of tranquility to this quiet afternoon.Zh: 然而，就在这个画面走向高潮之际，一个意外发生了。张伟的手突然滑了一下，热茶像是找到了出口，不受控制地向张伟面前的刘翔飞溅。刘翔被茶水的突然袭击惊得手足无措，瞬间跳了起来，画面真可谓喜剧滑稽。张伟也被这个偶然的意外弄得尴尬不已，他在那里连声道歉，面现红晕。En: However, just as this scene reached its climax, an accident occurred. Zhang Wei's hand suddenly slipped, and the hot tea, as if finding an exit, uncontrollably splashed towards Liu Xiang in front of Zhang Wei. Startled by the sudden attack of tea, Liu Xiang was taken aback, jumping up in a moment that could only be described as comical. Zhang Wei, embarrassed by this unexpected mishap, continuously apologized, his face turning red.Zh: 尽管事态突如其来，却也为这个午后的茶室增添了几分突如其来的欢笑。这其实就是生活，有时候，即使是认真准备的比赛，也总免不了一些出乎意料的插曲。因此，尽管刘翔被热茶吓了一跳，他还是以积极的态度去接受这个差错，并对张伟表示理解。两人的友情也因此得到加深。En: Though the situation arose out of nowhere, it added a touch of unexpected laughter to the tea house on this afternoon. This is life, after all. Sometimes, even in a well-prepared competition, unexpected incidents are inevitable. Therefore, despite being startled by the hot tea, Liu Xiang accepted this mistake with a positive attitude and showed understanding towards Zhang Wei. Their friendship deepened as a result.Zh: 故事以这个滑稽的瞬间结束，然而，也留下了深刻的启示。生活中充满了画风突变的瞬间，有些事，我们没法预见，也没法控制，这就是生活的美和魅力。有时，我们需要的，可能并不是怀疑和恐惧，而是开阔的心境以及对生活的热爱。只有这样，我们才能在生活的滑稽剧中找到乐趣，体验生活真正的滋味。En: The story ends with this humorous moment, but it also leaves a profound revelation. Life is full of sudden twists and turns, and there are some things we cannot foresee or control. That is the beauty and charm of life. Sometimes, what we need is not doubt and fear but an open mindset and love for life. Only then can we find joy in the comedy of life and truly experience its flavor. Vocabulary Words:Beijing: 北京tea house: 茶馆traditional: 传统的arts: 艺术tea: 茶competition: 比赛owner: 老板culture: 文化master: 大师area: 区域winter: 冬天gaze: 目光surroundings: 周围opportunity: 机会artistry: 艺术技巧craft: 手艺teapot: 茶壶steam: 蒸气pour: 倒fragrant: 香气aroma: 香味tranquility: 宁静climax: 高潮accident: 意外splashed: 溅startled: 吃惊的mishap: 不幸laughter: 笑声revelation: 启示

The ability to become startled is an adaptive behavior that protects us from being injured by a sudden threat, and prepares us for the fight-or-flight response when necessary. Nevertheless, getting startled too easily can be a sign that something is wrong. Here's what to do about it. For the written version with links to references and links to testing, see here: https://chrismasterjohnphd.substack.com/p/startled-try-glycine 

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GDP Script/ Top Stories for Oct 15th Publish Date:  Oct 14th From the Henssler Financial Studio Welcome to the Gwinnett Daily Post Podcast. Today is Friday, October 15th and happy heavenly birthday to author Mario Puzzo. ***GODFATHER THEME*** I'm Bruce Jenkins and here are your top stories presented by Peggy Slappy Properties. Lyft Rider Allegedly Exposed Himself, Groped Driver Federal lawsuit alleges former Gwinnett Police officer used excessive force during 2021 arrest Gwinnett man banned from Walmart after being told he ‘fit the description' of a shoplifter All of this and more is coming up on the Gwinnett Daily Post podcast, and if you are looking for community news, we encourage you to listen daily and subscribe! Break 1: PEGGY SLAPPY STORY 1: Man Dies After Jumping Off Lawrenceville-Suwanee Road Bridge A Duluth man, Antonio Cartagena, aged 25, has been charged with sexual battery and public indecency for allegedly inappropriately touching and partially disrobing while in a Lyft vehicle with a 55-year-old female driver. The incident took place at the intersection of Pleasant Hill Road and North Berkeley Lake Road. Startled by his lewd behavior, the driver reported the incident, and Cartagena fled the scene. Law enforcement swiftly located and arrested him. Cartagena was released on bond the following day. Duluth police are urging potential additional victims to come forward as they investigate the case, encouraging anyone with similar encounters to contact Detective Javier Bahamundi at 678-512-3708..............…..read more at gwinnett daily post dot com STORY 2: Federal lawsuit alleges former Gwinnett Police officer used excessive force during 2021 arrest In 2021, Angelo Black spent five days in the hospital with a head injury and brain damage. A new lawsuit filed in the U.S. District Court of Northern Georgia alleges that a former Gwinnett Police officer is responsible for these injuries. According to attorney Reginald Greene, the officer used excessive force, violating Black's Fourth Amendment rights when they tased him while he was attempting to jump from one level of a parking deck to another after a traffic stop in October 2021. This resulted in severe head injuries. Black was subsequently incarcerated on drug and firearm-related charges. The lawsuit seeks accountability and highlights the need for better training and supervision of law enforcement officers to prevent similar incidents. Gwinnett County acknowledges the lawsuit and pledges to respond appropriately.   STORY 3: Gwinnett man banned from Walmart after being told he ‘fit the description' of a shoplifter Leroy Jackson, a Gwinnett County man, claims he has been banned from a Walmart store for a year after being wrongly accused of shoplifting. Suwanee police stopped Jackson as he left the store, as he supposedly "fit the description" of shoplifting suspects. However, Jackson believes this was profiling, as he was approached by a stranger in the store and had no connection to the actual shoplifter. Walmart requested Jackson be criminally trespassed due to his association with the other individual. Jackson is dismayed by the ban and feels it was unjust. He won't return to the store, and he advises caution when interacting with strangers in such situations. Walmart has reported numerous shoplifting incidents to Suwanee police but offered no additional comment on the situation. We have opportunities for sponsors to get great engagement on these shows. Call 770.874.3200 for more info. We'll be right back Break 2: M.O.G. – TOM WAGES OBITS – CUMMING FAIR   STORY 4: Georgia's controversial 2021 voting law overhaul survives preliminary legal challenge A federal court judge in Georgia has rejected a request to temporarily block the state's controversial election rules, which have been criticized for potentially disenfranchising Black voters in the 2024 election. U.S. District Court Judge J.P. Boulee ruled that the U.S. Department of Justice and voting rights groups failed to provide sufficient evidence that Republican lawmakers intentionally discriminated against Black voters when implementing new ID requirements for mail-in voting, restrictions on absentee drop boxes, shorter deadlines for absentee ballot requests, and increased penalties for providing refreshments to voters waiting in line. As a result, the rules created in Georgia's 2021 election legislation will remain in effect for the 2024 election cycle. Plaintiffs, including voting rights and civil rights organizations, argue that these rules make it harder for marginalized groups to vote and violate the Voting Rights Act.   STORY 5: Dacula's Maple Creek Park Playground Nearing Completion The redesigned Maple Creek Park playground in Dacula is set to open by Thanksgiving, featuring new equipment and exciting additions. The $821,000 project, funded by an endowment from former Mayor Jimmy Wilbanks, began construction in July 2023. It aims to improve accessibility, update equipment, and cater to a wider age range. The new features include a separate toddler play area, adult fitness equipment, ADA accessibility, and specialized playground turf. Maple Creek Park, located at 425 McMillan Road, also offers a 9-hole disc golf course, a half-mile walking trail, and a pavilion. The city operates Olde Mill Park in downtown Dacula, while two Gwinnett County Parks and Recreation parks, Dacula Park and Rabbit Hill Park, are also nearby. Construction progress can be tracked on the city's Facebook page.   We'll be back in a moment   Break 3:  ESOG – INGLES 2 – JACKSON EMC   STORY 6: Lawrenceville man jumps off bridge A tragic incident occurred in Suwanee as a 24-year-old Demorest man jumped off the Lawrenceville-Suwanee bridge onto Interstate 85 south and was struck by a tractor-trailer. The Suwanee Police responded to the scene after receiving a report about a vehicle hitting a pedestrian at 8:43 a.m. Sadly, the man passed away at the scene, and his next-of-kin was notified. The accident led to the temporary closure of all southbound lanes on I-85, but by 10:30 a.m., the Georgia Department of Transportation had reopened all lanes.   STORY 7: Two Greater Atlanta Christian Students Named National Merit Scholarship Semifinalists Greater Atlanta Christian School seniors Kevin Liu and Akhil Sarikonda have been named National Merit Semifinalists in the 2024 National Merit Scholarship Competition. This honor places them among 16,000 Semifinalists in the 69th annual National Merit Scholarship Program. To qualify, they needed excellent academic records, a recommendation from a high school official, an essay, and strong SAT or ACT scores. These Semifinalists were selected from 1.3 million high school students who took the 2022 PSAT/NMSQT. They're now competing for 7,140 National Merit Scholarships, valued at nearly $28 million, with winners to be announced in spring 2024. To reach the Finalist level, they must submit additional information about their academic and extracurricular achievements. The school is proud of their accomplishments and looks forward to their promising futures.   We'll have final thoughts after this.   Break 4: BOO FEST & HARVEST FEST – Henssler 60 Thanks again for hanging out with us on today's Gwinnett Daily Post podcast. If you enjoy these shows, we encourage you to check out our other offerings, like the Cherokee Tribune Ledger Podcast, the Marietta Daily Journal, the Community Podcast for Rockdale Newton and Morgan Counties, or the Paulding County News Podcast. Read more about all our stories, and get other great content at Gwinnettdailypost.com. Did you know over 50% of Americans listen to podcasts weekly? 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Bible Reading: Ephesians 4:31-32; James 1:19-27; 4:17Ramona came down to breakfast with a scowl on her face. Her day was already off to a bad start. Her favorite sweater had a hole in it, and she had forgotten to do her math homework. While she ate her pancakes with blueberry syrup, Mom asked her to read a Bible verse for morning devotions. "Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you," read Ramona.Just then Jodi, Ramona's three-year-old sister, poked her with her plastic alligator. Startled, Ramona jumped up and knocked over her juice. "Look what you made me do!" shouted Ramona, dabbing at her soaked T-shirt. "You're such a pest!" Jodi began to cry as Ramona stomped upstairs to change. When she came back down, she grabbed her backpack and rushed out the door.After school, Ramona came home and plopped herself down at the table. "Did you have a tough day?" asked Mom gently."Today was the worst. I got a zero in math, and the other kids were laughing and pointing at me all morning. It wasn't until after recess when I went to the bathroom that I saw why they were laughing--I had blueberry syrup on my nose! I was so mad at my friends for not telling me, I told them I would never speak to them again!" "Do you remember what you read for devotions at breakfast?" Mom asked.Ramona looked down and shook her head."Well, it looks like blueberry syrup wasn't the only thing you missed in the mirror this morning," said Mom. "Huh?" asked Ramona, confused. "God's Word is like a mirror. When we read it, it shows us what's wrong in our hearts and points to our need for Jesus. It tells us to go to Him for forgiveness and to trust Him to help us treat others with love and kindness. But if we read it and don't do what it says, it's like ignoring a big smudge of blueberry syrup on the end of your nose."Ramona thought about yelling at her sister and her friends. "I guess I need to be sure to check my face and my heart in the mirror before I leave for school." -Laura KuehnHow About You?Do you pay attention when you hear or read God's Word? Do you do what it says and turn to Jesus for forgiveness and help? Don't just read God's Word--let it be a mirror for your heart. When God shows you smudges of sin in your life, confess them to Jesus and trust Him to wipe them away and help you show others His love.Today's Key Verse:Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. (NIV) (James 1:22)Today's Key Thought:Obey God's Word

5 - 18 - 23 STARTLED BY THE HAIRLESS CAT by Maine's Coast 93.1

Bible Reading: Exodus 20:7; Psalm 145:1-3; Philippians 2:5-11Lily was ready to nail the sides of the box together. She held the point of the nail against the wood and tapped the head of it with the hammer. She tapped harder, missed, and hit her thumb. Startled by the pain, she yelled out a word. "Lily!" Karen, Lily's stepmom, sounded mad. "Never use the name of our Lord like that again!"Lily could see the blood collecting under her fingernail. "Sorry, it slipped out." She didn't understand what the big deal was. Besides, that really hurt.Lily was making a keepsake box for her older brother Caden and his fiancée, Zoey. They could keep their special stuff in it, like tickets to their first concert together, or the dried-up flowers Caden had given Zoey for senior prom. Lily had her own keepsake box that her dad had made. She kept memories of her mom in it--some photos, a letter her mom wrote her right before she died, and her mom's turquoise bracelet.Later that day, Lily was working on her homework at the kitchen table. She muttered a few words about how much she hated math."Are you calling to God for help, or just throwing His name around?" Karen asked. Lily ignored her. Later that evening, Lily was looking through her keepsake box and noticed her mother's bracelet was missing. She immediately thought of her stepsister. "Sadie!" Lily hollered."Yeah?" Sadie appeared at the bedroom door. She was wearing the turquoise bracelet. "That's my mother's bracelet!""I was only trying it on."Lily was furious. "That bracelet is special. You can't wear it around like any old piece of jewelry!"Karen walked up behind Sadie. "Sadie, you know better than to touch Lily's things."Sadie took the bracelet off and handed it to Lily. "Sorry, Lily."Lily nodded and held the bracelet close to her heart.When Sadie left the room, Karen sat next to Lily. "Things we treasure should be treated with honor and respect, shouldn't they?" Lily remembered her words from earlier. "Sort of like God's name?"Karen put her arm around Lily and squeezed. "Yes, like the precious, holy name of our Lord. Jesus loves us so much He died and rose again to conquer sin and death and make us God's children. His name is special, and we should treasure it." -Bonnie CarrHow About You?Are you careful about how you use God's name? His name is precious and holy because it points to His greatness, power, and love. Don't use His name in a careless way. Use it to talk to Him and tell others about Him and to praise and thank Him for all He's done for you. Today's Key Verse:He rescued his people and made his agreement with them forever. His name is awesome and holy. (ERV) (Psalm 111:9)Today's Key Thought:God's name is precious