We had agreed safe words. Traffic light system. Red, stop. Amber, close.I remained silent!Crack!..................... Crack!................... Crack!............... Crack!............. Crack!......Fuck he didn't hold back! Six good solid strikes! My cheeks burned red hot! I knew I was going to be wearing the bruises for a couple of days at least!I was breathing hard, feeling the heat sink in."Six more?" He asked. The edge of concern and hint he was liking this!I opened the poppers and took a few. You dance wonderfully.”“No, I don’t,” she laughed. “You were just lucky that my first partners tonight had to bear the brunt of my ignorance. With time I learned the steps though. Richard, why have you been avoiding me?”“I was afraid,” he whispered.“Afraid? Of what? Of me?”“I was afraid that you might refuse me.”“But why should I?”“You know why, Ellen.”“Richard, I thought we had that behind us. I have long forgiven you. More than that, I care for you.”“You do, Ellen? I care for you too, more. The old man isn't going to accept anything less than this now." Marty, about what you said earlier, about it not being right away for you to want to have sex again. Is there any way you might be willing to make an exception? For me? I've been so edgy and moody lately. I'm afraid it might start interfering with all the work I need to get done."Maybe it was my feelings of shame and anger at having been humiliated by Melanie. Maybe it was my having gone without sexual relief for a month. Possibly,. My half sisters were growing into young women and my 'adopted' brothersand sisters, Meg's children, were starting to become their own peoplewith wants and desires and awareness of self. I was needed as a mentorto all for Kate was to involved in her own practice of medicine and thenannies were attentive, but not quite ready themselves to take theirplaces as adult women who could tend to the variety of needs thechildren had.I was becoming aware that I might very well be spending the rest of.