“There’s nothing on TV,” I said. “I’m taking a shower,” I said. “And then I’m going to bed,” I said. “Good idea. I’m right behin... you,” he said. Pleased that our little drought was about to come to an end, I sashayed down the hall knowing, just knowing, he was watching. I stripped in the bedroom and met him half-way back to the bathroom. I pressed myself against him and scratched my breastbone against the coarse curls on his chest. We kissed briefly and he gave my ass the gentlest of smacks. I guess Ann noticed that I wasn't crying anymore, because she finally spoke up."Do you want to talk about it?" she asked quietly."I... I guess. I don't know," I said, sort of stumbling over the words. I sat up on her bed, and leaned back against the wall."Here, have some soda." She handed me a half-empty can of Coke that I hadn't noticed before. I wiped the tears out of my eyes, took the can from her, and took a long drink. Cool liquid felt really good right about now."I... I -- It's about. I hadn’t pieced it together, until I remembered Tobias telling me not to put up the sound block. “I’ve known him longer than I’ve known anybody,” I defend myself. “Show me,” Aaron says. I take Aaron’s hand, allowing him into my thoughts. “I raised that boy into a vampire,” I tell Aaron as images flash from my thoughts into his. “He was dying when I first met him. He was in a war, and he was begging to live. He had light in his eyes, he was the kind of person who could live forever. He wanted. It always made me want to take her in my arms and comfort her.I smiled, making a game of it.‘Oh? And what is it you want to confess? Will I have to punish you for being naughty?’Judy looked at her feet, worrying me for the first time.‘Well, while you were away, I – I, um, I asked your mum to spank me again…’She swallowed, and looked up at me nervously, her eyes uncertain.So that was why she’d winced! No wonder! Anybody spanked by my mother would be squirming for days afterwards!‘Oh, you did,.