Eddie Gladfeather

Illustrations by “Lazy M Squared”

Originally Published in Bondage Life, No. 49, October 1992

Scanned and Transcribed by guardian46w

Stories Codes: M/f, bond, reluct, cons, first time, sex, X

Greg sat on the bench and watched the pool.  Up in the stands Julie Marlow, a slim hipped grad school student, bounced out of her seat and screamed encouragement to Don in the 100–meter breast stroke.  Greg grinned.  He was going to win his race and claim his reward.

Julie was a real beauty.  Blonde hair that fell in a lush, loose pony tail to a waist so small he could encircle it with both hands.  Lush, wide spaced breasts.  Pixie face and large, brown eyes.  She had a narrow, mobile upper lip and a plump lower one that she bit whenever she got nervous.

Tonight, she was wearing a tight, low-cut sweater and silky wrap-around skirt.  Greg could see the outline of nipples and of her bikini panties from clear across the pool.

Up in the bleachers, Julie felt risque.  She'd been feeling daring tonight so she hadn't bothered with a bra.  The sweater was having the desired effect.

They'd been parked out by the lake last night, one of Greg's hands, warm and insistent inside her blouse, making her feel all flushed in the dark.  She had to fight herself for control.  Gently, she moved his hand off her thigh for the third time.

"For crying out loud," Greg said.  "If I had any sense, I'd tie those hands behind you so they wouldn't get in the way"

Julie blushed, glad the dark kept him from seeing the effect his suggestion had.  The thought of Greg tying her hands sent shivers up her back.  All those movies they'd seen on his VCR, like "Gwendoline"...  scenes of women tied and stripped that made her squirm inside.  If she was going to lose her virginity, she hoped it would be that way.

"That's the only way, Greg Hartman: she said.  "I started taking the pill just in case we get carried away.  It doesn't mean we have to.  You promised."

"Stupid of me."

"Come on now.  Don't act like the world's coming to an end."

"Maybe it is.  I'm in the l00-meter free style tomorrow.  I was hoping for some incentive."

"Okay." She sat there in the dark, blushing, half afraid and half excited by what she was going to say.

"Okay what?"

"If you win the l00-meter tomorrow, I'll let you tie my hands."

"Then what?

Julie thought a minute.  Surely he was smart enough to figure it out.  "And then I won't be able to stop you.  Whatever you want to do," she said.

"Is that a promise?" he asked.

"It's a promise."

---

She was still clowning when he took her down to the TV room, throwing her long arms around him and doing a little victory shimmy that set the skirt to swirling softly around her long legs.  Tonight he couldn't help noticing how slender and delicate her wrists and ankles were.

"So, you're hot stuff in Centerville tonight, huh Hartman?  You think that's going to get you anywhere?" She felt jumpy, like she'd leap out of her skin the second he touched her.

Greg couldn't remember ever being so charmed by her coltish grace.  "We'll see," he said.

His hang-back attitude was exasperating Julie.  They'd come to the turning point and she knew it.  She could put things off a little, teasing him along, but she'd made the promise.  Promises were important between them.  His hand felt warm on her shoulder.  She liked the warmth, it was a little cold down here - but she slipped out from under his arm and pranced out into the room, her chest held high, her chin up.  She felt her nipples tighten against the light sweater.  It was now or never.  Couldn't he see that?  Abruptly she turned and lowered her head and crossed her wrists behind her.  "Okay.  Where's the rope?"

"Right here." He'd thought she'd back out, and had been looking forward to a playful tussle, but here she was suggesting it.  His hands shook with excitement and he took a breath to still them, then tied her lightly, two wraps around both wrists, one wrap around each separately, and a cinch that pulled her hands firmly, but gently together.  "How's that?"

"I expected it to hurt," she said.  The thrill was unmistakable, and it was hard for her to keep up her perky front; but she did her best.  It wouldn't do to let him know how much she wanted this.

"Hurt?  You think I'd do anything to hurt you?  I love you." He turned her to face him and kissed her mouth, and he let his hands slide down her arms, just brushing the sides of her resilient breasts.

"You do?" She couldn't believe what was happening to her.  Her nipples were so hard they made her shiver; and where she'd been cold before, her skin felt flushed.  And when he said he loved her...  God, she thought she'd melt.  For the first time she had lost control.  Whatever he wanted, he could do it and there wasn't anything she could do to stop him.  "I bet you say that to all the women you tie up," she said.

He chuckled.  "Yep."

"Greg!"

She twisted her wrists in the bindings, testing, a little shocked that she couldn't get them apart.  "How many others have you tied up?" she asked.

Her tone was playful, but she'd hit upon something he had to get straight with her.  "Only you."  Now that he had her standing there, bound hands held in the small of her back, her breasts thrust forward, and her hips working side to side as if her panties were uncomfortable, he didn't want to do anything to blow this.  "No others will ever get to be in my ropes."

This wasn't at all what she'd imagined.  She thought he'd just throw her down and strip her, and then they'd go on to the forbidden things.  The idea had turned her on when she was alone, but now that her hands were tied, she realized any roughness while she was like this would terrify her.  She appreciated his consideration, but she wondered, since he was still his usual sweet self, if she couldn't maintain some control.  "What are you going to do now?"

"I'm going to pamper you," he said.  "You're tied up.  That means I'll have to help you do things, doesn't it?"

"I guess," Julie bit her bottom lip, then stopped.  She didn't dare let him know this was almost too sexy to bear.

"You want a pop?"

"Sure," she said, surprised she could sound so normal.  They were just like they always were except her hands were tied behind her back.

He brought the drink with a straw and held it for her to drink.  She couldn't help teasing him a little by looking up at him and licking the tip of the straw when she finished.  "Now what?" she asked.

Her eyes were the thing: big and soft, liquid brown, staring up at him while her tongue lingered on the tip of the straw.  Self control, Greg told himself.  She's been driving you crazy.  See if you can get back at her, just a little.  "You want to dance?" he asked.  He reached behind the bar and let down the phonograph needle.  When he reached for her, she moved into his arms, those soft, full breasts pressing against his ribs.  He held her gently, one hand on the back of her waist, the other running down her arm to finger the rope around her wrists.  The contrast of the sinewy rope and the soft skin of her arms made him shudder with anticipation.

Julie put her head against his shoulder and moved with him, tugging at her bonds.  Not being able to get free made her feel small.  His muscles felt hard and powerful.  She was trembling... but no, it wasn't her.  "Are you shaking?" she asked.

"With passion," he said.

"Oh?" She laughed and pulled harder at the ropes.  How long would it take him to get to what they both knew was coming?

"I think dancing with you is passionate." She bit her lip.  "Somehow I didn't expect to be dancing."

She felt his hands slide around her waist.  At first she didn't realize what he was doing, then came a tug at the ties that held her skirt, and she felt it loosen and slide over her hips to the floor.  She was half naked, and couldn't cover herself.  A subtle shudder ran up her spine, and the only way she could suppress it was to press her breasts harder against his chest.  But before she could settle the riot of feelings running through her, he stepped back and looked at her.  "You're a little over-eager, aren't you?" he asked.  It was all he could do to keep his voice normal.  Lacy white panties and black stockings that clung to her thighs like dark mist, enhancing the movement of her legs when she shifted nervously from one foot to the other.  He slid a finger into the waist band of her panties and pulled her gently back toward the bar.

"What do you mean, over-eager?" Julie blushed.  Maybe it was the rope that was doing things to her, or maybe it was his gentle attention.  She wanted his fingers to touch lower.

"What did you expect to be doing?" he asked.

The way he grinned sent a shiver through her and left her breathless so she had to wait before she spoke.  "Well, you have me tied, you can do anything you want with me."

"I am," he said.

That threw her a little, but what he did next threw her even more.  He brought out another piece of rope and looped it around her waist.  Not tight, but snug so she could feel his knuckles pressing against her tummy when he tied the knot.  "What's that for?"

"Impatient, if not over-eager."

"Greg.  That's not fair.  I'm not impatient.  I'm in your power, after all."

"Okay," he said.  "Now you're going to do what I tell you."

"What if I don't?" A spark of defiance in Julie made her throw back her shoulders and lift her chin.

He took the long end of the rope he'd tied around her waist, and slapped her lightly on the thigh with it.

"You wouldn't," she said.  Would he?  She wasn't entirely sure.  None of this had been as she expected so far.

"How would you stop me?"

"I can't.  I'm tied up.  But please don't do that again."

"Why not?"

"It....  She shook her head, not wanting to tell him.  It... does, things... to me."

"What things?"

"I'd rather not say!" She knew she'd given herself away.  Now it was a matter of maintaining decorum for as long as she could.

"All right," He kissed her.  "While you're not saying, turn around and stand with your legs apart."

"What?"

"You heard me," He rapped her lightly with the rope again, and Julie jumped.  The fire in her made her want to kiss him and grind herself against him; but she turned quickly and spread her feet about shoulder width.

"Is this enough?"

"Fine." He looked at her firm little bottom where it bulged around the tight leg-bands of her panties.  "Now, don't move."

His hand moved between her legs, brushing her thighs and pressing for a brief moment on the bottom panel of her panties.  "Greg.  What are you doing?"

Then he grasped the rope and gently, with maddening slowness, pulled it up snug between her legs and attached it to her wrist bonds.  "What's that for?"

She pulled tentatively with her wrists, not so much to escape as to explore the limits of the predicament he'd put her in; and was shocked at the pleasurable electricity of the rope sinking in.

"You said I could do whatever I wanted.  He turned her around and studied her.  She was breathing harder now, her breasts rising and falling, and she was chewing one whole end of her lower lip with even teeth.  The outline of her nipples was prominent through the light fabric of her sweater, and a thin sheen of perspiration spread across the light sprinkling of freckles below her collar bones.  It was still too early for a final verdict, but so far, so good.  "... And I still feel like dancing with you." He took her in his arms again and they danced across the room in slow turns.

Julie gasped.  "That really feels strange when I move"

"Strange, how?"

"I'd rather...  "

" ...Not say," he finished for her.  Laughing softly, he pulled out the back of her sweater, and ran his fingers up the exquisite ridge of her spine.  Julie arched against him.  He could feel her leg go over his, could feel the pressure of her body all up and down his.  Her smile had a mischievous curl.

"Now who's getting in a hurry?" she asked.

"Hurry?  I'm not in any hurry.  My house mates won't be back until tomorrow afternoon.  We've got all night."

All night?  She felt like she was going over a hump in a roller coaster.  "But my folks'll call to check on me at about eleven.  They always do."

"Hmm.  I have to have you home in two hours.  I wasn't planning to be finished by then.  You'll have to walk home with your hands tied."

The song ended and he led her back to the bar and sat down on the stool, holding her shoulders so she'd remain standing in front of him.  "Turn around again."

Julie responded immediately, and stood with her feet apart; but what was he doing?  Untying her hands?  A sudden panic swept through her.  She didn't want it to end yet.  "I thought you just said I was going to have to walk home with my hands tied.  Why are you untying me?" The disappointment in her voice was clear even to her.

"I can't get your sweater off with your hands tied."

"But if you untie them, I can stop you from taking it off."

There were things she wanted, things that were becoming quite immediate; but none of them were to be untied.  Perspiration beaded on her chest and ran down between her breasts.  If he didn't get her sweater off soon, it was going to be drenched.

"That's a good point...  He remembered hours of sitting in the car, trying without success to get her bra off; and pulled the knots tighter.  "But how am I going to get your sweater off?"

"I'm sure you'll figure something out." She shifted her weight from side to side.  The friction of the rope between her legs sent shivers up her back, and she stamped her foot impatiently and shook her head as if to shake away an errant lock of hair.  "It's an old sweater," she said.

"How old?" The way she talked herself in deeper at every turn delighted Greg.  Slowly, he was allowing himself to believe this was really happening.  "I hate to ruin it"

"At least I'm not the only one making sacrifices tonight." Julie laughed.  "Cut it at the shoulder seams.  I can sew it back together if you really like it"

"Like it?" The play of the soft material across her breasts when she shifted back and forth, and the pronounced thrust of her erect nipples, were both almost as good as having her hands tied.

He took out his pocket knife and, with the delicacy of a surgeon, cut the seams where the material ran over her shapely shoulders, then tugged the sweater down slowly.  The suspense was delightful.  He held his breath, and was aware of Julie holding hers.  First the faint bikini lines appeared, then creamy skin, and finally the puckered pinkness of her erect nipples.

Once he got the sweater to her knees, she stepped out of it and stood there, chest up and tummy pulled in, wanting to display herself at her best.  This was going to be it, and she knew it.  If she got any hotter, she'd burn that rope between her legs.  And then with a shock, she realized she was almost naked.  She felt a blush spread across her cheeks and chest.  Now, he was the one teasing her.

"You're magnificent," he said.

"That's nice to know.  And what will it get me?"

He grinned, and reached into the box again.

"More rope?" she wailed in mock terror.  "There's hardly any place left to put it" The thought of being even more thoroughly tied left her limp with anticipation.  "You were going to tie my hands."

"I was going to tie your hands, and then... " Greg had finally realized he'd gotten lucky.  Maybe she was just being a good sport, but he knew that tonight she was his.  "I was going to do whatever I wanted."

"And that includes tying me more?"

"I think your brains are one of the reasons I love you."

Thanks," she said, a little ruefully.  It was hard to keep up her 'perky act'.  The way he was being gentle while he slowly controlled her body was driving her up the wall with desire.

The next rope went around the back of her neck, then he threaded it under her arms in front, crossed it in the middle of her back, and tugged it around the front of her hips.  Then he brought it across her tummy and between her legs with that same maddening slowness he'd shown her down there before: just light brushes, a few too many to be accidental and none of them hard enough to do her any good.  Finally he pulled the ropes up snug and fastened them to the waist cord in back.

She did a little side-to-side motion that would have impressed a snake as far as Greg was concerned, but stopped when the movement threatened to turn her knees to Jello.  She felt her desire for decorum tatter.

"I don't suppose you could tie those to my wrists too?" She shivered at the knowing grin he gave her.  He was sitting there with his arms around her, his face inches from her breasts.  She hoped he'd be tempted.

There was no way Greg was going to tie the ropes that followed the leg-bands of her panties around her sweet pubic mound to her wrists.  She just wanted the control.  He looked into her face.  She was still trying to be impish, but there was a little strain ridging her brow.  Her breast was right there.  He flicked out his tongue and ran it once around her left nipple.  Julie yelped and tried to twist away.  He could see the blush deepen on her cheeks and chest, and then she pushed at him with her elbow.

"Whoa.  I can see I have a little more work to do," he said.  "Turn around."

"Oh, please.  Not more."

"That's right.  You're not as secure as you've led me to believe."

"I shouldn't have given myself away." Julie pouted, but it was the hardest pout she'd ever made.  She was positively smoldering.  She turned obediently and felt another rope cinch her elbows together.  It was like cranking up the engine another notch.  Next, he wrapped a rope twice around her chest, one wrap above he breasts and the other below.  Heat spread through her chest and tummy, and electric sparks danced like little demons on her aching nipples.  "I can't believe I let you do this to me."

"A promise is a promise." He sat on the bar stool with Julie standing submissively between his knees, and almost couldn't believe his luck.  He'd been trying to prepare her for this for almost a year; but Julie with her famous self control had never let on how she felt.  He'd never thought he'd get this far.  If only he could make it good for her.  He tied one more rope to the three ropes that ran between her legs so it pulled them together just below her hands.

"What's that for?"

Greg grinned and gave the rope a couple of gentle tugs.  "How's that?"

Julie's voice came out a breathy gasp.  "It's... doing those, things."

"What things?"

Just things."

"No.  This time you're going to have to tell me.  Love Slaves aren't allowed to keep secrets from their Masters."

"Greg," Julie struggled.  The feeling was like being lifted on warm clouds that seemed plugged into the heat in her breasts and tummy.  Her whole body ached for him.  And then the tugging stopped.  She arched her neck and kissed him on the mouth, long and hard.

She's ready, he thought.  He reached around and caressed her buttocks with one hand, and held her breasts away from him with the other so her nipples just grazed the hair on his chest.

The tickling hair on her breasts was too much for Julie.  She tried to hold back, but her leg involuntarily went over his so she could get some friction and she thrust her breasts against his chest.  Her head fell back and she let out a moan of passion that turned into a deep gasp when he nibbled down her neck to the rope over her shoulder and played his tongue along it.  The sensation ignited a fire that threatened to consume her.  "I can't... " she panted.

"Are you all right?"

"Can't.  Oh, please – Don't stop." And then the fire was consuming her, spreading from her tummy and breasts with a heat that sent her squirming against him for relief.  She could feel her muscles straining against the ropes that contained her.  She fastened her lips on his, fenced with his tongue, her arms, shoulders and wrists all twisting against the ropes until she suddenly exploded in writhing passion.

Afterward, she sat limply on his knee with her face buried in the hot hollow of his neck.  His hands traced lightly along the ropes that held her.

She laughed.  "I've never felt like that before.  It was fantastic."  Then she sobered.  "I should've waited for you, but I couldn't"

"Then I'll have to keep you my prisoner a while more."

You what?  Oh, no.  Greg.  I can't do that again."

"You're tied up.  It doesn't matter at this point what you think you can or can't do."

"But if you don't untie me, I'll do it again."  Already she could feel her languid body building new tensions, and she struggled against the ropes in a desperate attempt to break out of them.

Greg loved the feel of her, pressed down against his knee, her breasts rubbing frantically against his chest, but he didn't want to make her truly uncomfortable.  "Are you really scared?" he asked.

"I'm in heaven.  But twice?"  That heat, like no other heat she'd ever known, was growing again every time she strained at her bonds.  Could she be breathing hard again this fast?  "No.  It's your... turn.  You may have to gag me."

He lifted her off his knee, enjoying the desperate quality of her squirming to stay there.  "Let's save the gag for another time," he said.  "I enjoy kissing you."

Her heart did a flip-flop in her chest.  Had he said another time?

But she didn't have time to think about that.  The next thing she knew, he had looped that wicked little tugging rope over her wrists and pulled it back between her legs.



"Come on," he said.

Her mind was floating.  This was so much better than anything she had imagined.  He was taking her upstairs, to the living room!  With its big picture window!  Julie pulled back, suffering this time, when the ropes pulled up into her panties.  "What are you doing?"

"Taking you somewhere more comfortable."

"But the window.  People can see in." She fought the ropes, panicky now.  He was going to expose her to the world dressed in nothing but a little pair of lacy panties, dark stockings, and ropes.  She set her feet and flexed her arms and shoulders, trying to break free, and as she did, the sparks of desire radiated through her from her bindings.

Greg's tone was the essence of reason.  "There won't be anyone on the street, and the lights are off so even if there were, they wouldn't be able to see in."

He was right.  She was being silly.  He'd given her no reason not to trust him.  "Okay.  Let me - have a minute... To get used to... the idea."  She stood, breathing hard, perspiring and grinding her hips back surreptitiously to get just a little more pressure on her leash.  When she finally caught her breath, she bowed her head to show she was ready, and he lead her up the stairs.  The living room was dark and there was no one outside, but simply being led like this through the exposed place sent new feelings into the roil of sensations that threatened to engulf her again.  What if one of her girlfriends saw her like this?

He led her into his bedroom and closed the door.  It was a relief to be somewhere private again, but as soon as she saw the four-poster bed, she knew what he was going to do.  "You're not - going to - spread me out?"

"No?  What do you think I ought to do?"

Julie stood there, her eyes lowered.  She could think of other things she'd like to try.  But on second thought, he'd already said there'd be other times.  She was almost to the point again where she didn't care what he did so long as he did it.  "Are you sure, about the... gag?" She couldn't believe she'd gotten there so fast this time.

"I'm sure," he said.  "But I think you're having too much fun."  He untied everything but her wrists, and hoisted her onto the bed.

With only her wrists tied she was almost free and she had to fight the bonds a moment to assure herself she was still restrained.

Her response was wonderful.  Once he had her on the bed, she scooted out and positioned herself, sitting, in the center.  Moving across the soft bed wasn't easy for her with her hands tied, and she fought the ropes.  Greg enjoyed the play of muscles in her stockinged legs and her arms and shoulders and her soft belly.  In the middle of the bed, she crossed her legs and tried to massage her pubic mound with her heel.

"None of that," he said.  He seized one ankle and tied it to a post.  She fought and kicked, but he managed to fasten the other one so she was spread.  "Do you know what a rat fink is?" she asked.  "It's a guy who takes off a lady's bra and then holds her hand."

"You weren't wearing a bra."

Pouting, she leaned forward so he could untie her hands, then he dragged one to the bed corner.  While her other hand was free, she slipped it into her panties.  The sensation was nice, but disappointing when she was in control.  Greg pulled her hand away, and soon she was stretched across the bed.  A little loosely; she didn't understand that.  She had almost enough slack that she could scratch her nose if she moved to one side, but slowly the situation sank in.  She could move.  She could move a lot, but she couldn't do anything to relieve her frustration.

"I'll buy you a new pair of panties," said Greg.  He pulled.  For the first time she was completely naked in front of him.  The sensation was incredible.  The panties, which had seemed so insubstantial, were like a suit of armor, taken from her.  She twisted and squirmed, arched her back, tried to roll over against the ropes, anything to get a little friction from the spread; but there was no way.  Her exposure made her nervous, and all her nervousness seemed to concentrate in her pubic mound.

Greg lay down beside her.

"This is it," she said.

"In a while."

In a while?  How did he think she could last a while?  She could feel him, warm and hard against her leg.  His fingers traced lightly around her breasts, brushing her nipples, which were tight again, or still.  She couldn't remember if they'd relaxed since the minute he'd first tied her hands, but now she didn't care.  The fingers ran down her chest to her stomach, and strayed into her belly button.  And then, he touched her pubic hair lightly.  She bucked against him, but he pulled his hand away.

"Don't be in such a hurry.  I want you ready."

"I'm ready.  I couldn't be - any more - ready..."

"Want to bet?"

"Please.  Nooo..." She rolled as far as she could against him, but he held her legs down with this thigh.  Strain as she might, she could press only one breast against his chest.  The other only just reached the hairs around his nipple and the tickling gave her fits.  It was like her skin was crawling with some agonizingly clever creatures that wanted to give her pleasure, but to hold back the ultimate pleasure.  She bucked against him, struggling for a better position.  "Oooh.  Pleeeease."  She thrashed back and forth, kicking her feet and twisting her wrists in a desperate attempt to shake off the ropes.  It was a contest of wills, hers against the rope's.  Could she break free before the ropes did things to her again?  Struggling, she could almost reach the peak, but the hot sensation stopped just short of release.  She heard herself begging him to quit teasing her, but he wouldn't listen.

"Rat fink works both ways," he said.  "After all, it's been a year of agony for me."

"But - your agony - wasn't so - strong."

"It was strong enough.  I fell in love with you in a way that doesn't have anything to do with how beautiful you are or how sexy you look in ropes"

A full, sweaty, 45 minutes later, she lay in her bonds, breathing deeply.  Her whole body was so relaxed, she imagined she was the lying in a tub of steamy water.  Even her bones felt liquid.

The phone startled them both.  Greg leaped up, leaving her undulating on the bed, and picked up the receiver.  She was excited at how like a Greek statue he looked in his nakedness.

"Hello," he said.  He looked at the clock, then at her with a long, lingering glance.  "I'll have her home in about ten minutes."

Her heart sank.  He'd said all night.  She didn't want to go home, didn't want to escape this.

"No," he said.  "We haven't been listening to the radio.  He took the phone away from his ear and covered the mouthpiece.  "It's your mother.  Can you talk?"

"I'd better," she said.

An incredible lady, Julie.  She didn't do any more than blush when he held the receiver to her mouth and ear.  She looked up at him through big, liquid eyes, and actually winked.  "Hi, Mom," she said.  "Yes.  He won.  Yeah, and he's being sweet tonight," She hesitated.  "Oh, we're playing.  It's sort of Cowboys and Indians."  She tugged with her arms and thrust out her breasts for emphasis.  "No, it's like Dungeons and Dragons.  We're too old to be chasing each other around the house." She listened a minute, her smile getting wider and wider.  "Of course.  Okay.  See ya.  Bye."

After he hung up for her, he sat there with his head hanging.  He'd thought there'd be a way he could wangle keeping her all night.  And tomorrow was Sunday.  They could have had all morning.

"What's the matter?" she asked.

"When are they coming back?"

"Tomorrow afternoon.  As planned.  Did they tell you why they called?"

"No."

"Somebody escaped from that mental hospital a couple of miles from here, and they want me to stay here."  She flopped her head down and pretended to be asleep.  "I think you just got lucky."

"I... got lucky?" He knew she was something of a conniver.  If he didn't get her to admit she liked this, she'd have him running all over the country for her.  "You've been like a firecracker since I first tied you up.  You're the one who got lucky.  If you're really nice, I won't untie you until noon tomorrow."

Julie giggled nervously.  Those feelings were coming back, distant, but building like a freight train way out on the horizon.  She shifted languidly against him when he lay down beside her.  "You're half right."

"Half right?"

"We got lucky," she said.  "Now if you'd just put your hand..."

"I'll put my hand where I want it," he said.  "That's a promise."