28.9 Shore Life (Higgins)

 Shore Life (fanfic)

An E&I Universe story by Higgins ©2022

----I want to thank Stormbringer for creating the E&I Universe and for allowing me to explore it a little more. I hope you enjoy reading. -Higgins

James handed his key to the girl at the desk and said goodbye. His car was packed and he was ready to go. It wasn't until about an hour later when he remembered the photo album, the one he had stashed in the air duct that contained his few happy memories of his time at Long Island University. He pulled off at the next exit of the turnpike and headed back.

When he got back to the parking lot, he did a quick loop to look for Ray's car. The purple Monte Carlo stuck out like a sore thumb, but drug dealers were supposed to stick out in a certain way. Ray was James's roommate and the last person he wanted to see in their room. He didn't see it in the parking lot.

James hung out by the emergency exit with the alarm that didn't work. He didn't want to explain to the desk girl why he was back. It was the last day of the semester and lots of people were moving out, after a few minutes, the door opened and a girl with a laundry basket full of clothes came out. James grabbed the door and started up the stairs. 

His hall was quiet, most of the people on the Honors floor had already left, a few were planning on partying and most kept their doors closed anyway. After pressing his ear to the door and hearing nothing, James went in to his room. He went straight to the air duct at the base of his bed and pulled the grate off. It was right where he expected, the slim book of photographs he had taken in his first year at school. He didn't bother to look, the book was hidden for a reason, most of the memories were painful to remember.

As soon as James snapped the grate back on, he heard a voice, that unmistakable voice from down the hall.

"It's gonna be a party tonight."

It was Ray's favorite line, something he said almost every night. He never kept his voice down, he liked to think that he ran the floor, but most people just avoided him. James froze for a second and then ran to the bathroom they shared with the adjoining room. He tried the door, hoping Cliff had left it open when he left, but it was locked. He jumped in the shower and pulled the curtain closed. He was already sweating; this would not go well.

The door handle turned and James heard Ray enter the room. 

'This has been a long time coming,' said Ray.

Another voice answered. "Man, you have got to keep your voice down for once.'

Ray responded only slightly softer. "Ok, for you old friend. Cause you're the man of the hour. How did you do it?"

"It took a lot of talking, but I think they are interested in your contacts in Newark."

"I know a lot of people in Newark that's true, but I have my eyes set on NYC, if you know what I mean."

'Yeah, I'm sure you have ambitions, but you got to realize, this comes with a price," said the second voice. "A million dollars. You will be paid a salary and some of that goes back to the man in charge. If you make more money, you can pay them back and then you can continue to work with them if you want or go be free."

"Million dollars is a lot; how do I know it's worth it and what's to stop me from taking off?"

Without pause the voice replied, "Because they will kill you. Don't fuck around on this. You know it's worth it because I say so. You remember me from high school, look at me now. You can still sell drugs, but I don't know if you will want to. It might be a good way to get paid off. "

"Man, nobody messes with me."

The voice laughed. "Listen Ray, you're a little, little fish in this pond. You're dealing with people way above you."

It dawned on James who the second voice belonged to, it was Will, the skinny kid who had been in his first-year logic class. The same Will who had nearly doubled in size over the summer and would not talk to James when they were sophomores and took Philosophy of Science together. 

They had started to be friends in Logic. The rest of the class seemed to ignore them sitting in the back talking about anime movies and books. They had gone to the arcade at lunch and played pinball and watched the terrible mating habits of the citizens of Long Island. 

They were going to be roommates the second year and had put in their application with Res Life, but something changed over the summer. When they came back to school, Will was one of them, one of the guys who towered over others and walked around like they owned the place. The skinny black nerd from Newark, Valedictorian of the worst school in the state looked like he belonged in the NFL. James tried to talk to him a few times and he just made fun of him, called him "white boy." Somewhere in there, the old Will lurked, James knew it, because he did receive an email once from Will that said, "For reasons I can't explain to you now or ever, we can't be friends anymore, stay away from me."

James left it at that. While his friendship with Will and the acquaintance of a few girls on campus had made his first year tolerable, things seemed to evaporate that sophomore year and life at LIU became unbearable. The worst part of it was Ray, James's drug dealing roommate who hated that he had been given a room with a white boy from the suburbs. He did everything he could to let James know he hated him and thought he was better than him, even tried to get him to try drugs. But James just built a wall around himself, listened to music constantly, or just kept his headphones on and tried to keep his grades up. Some nights he had to sleep in the common room at the end of the hall because Ray locked him out. That was better than the nights when he was already sleeping and Ray brought a girl back to the room. 

He made sure that James heard about it. Girls James had known from class started showing up to do all sorts of things for Ray. He fucked them with James in the room and then told him about it the next day. He bragged that they loved his big black dick. But James knew that it wasn't true. Sometimes Ray passed out on the bed naked and on his way to class, even though he didn’t want to look, James couldn't help but notice that Ray was average, totally average. But he talked a big game. One night a girl named Christine had said "Oh It's so small!" when she put her head under the sheet to suck him off. She followed it up with "I thought all black guys were as big as Mike." Ray told her to shut up and James went on pretending to be asleep, but he smiled.

Christine didn't come back. Most of the girls didn't stay with Ray. But James noticed that Will had a few steady girlfriends, hot, made-up cheerleader types with long hair and tight butts. And girls were always going to talk to him. One girl who had been in their logic class asked James for Will’s number. She told him she heard he was a stud. James told her he didn't have his number. 

James snapped out of his daydream when he heard the bathroom door opening. He froze in fear and tried to control his breathing. After a zip, he heard a torrent hit the water in the toilet.

Ray kept talking from the other room. "I'm gonna bang every girl in this place when I'm hung like you. How big is my dick gonna get?"

Still pissing Ray replied, "Twice the size of you are now minus one inch."

"Shit man, I'm gonna be huge. How do the girls fit it?"

"They do their best to try," said Will. "But there is a shot for girls too, you remember Carmen, the dance major."

"Yeah, I heard she does porn now."

"Check her out, she got enhanced too."

"Fuck, I'm gonna fuck her."

"Shut up, you won't get close to her, she only fucks inner circle dudes now. You won't get anywhere near her. Remember what I said, little, little fish."

"Yeah, not for long," said Ray. "Should I shoot this shit now?"

"You sure James is gone?" asked Will.

"Yeah," said Ray. "I asked the girl at the desk, she said he turned his key in and said goodbye."

"Then you can leave it here until tomorrow. You said you wanted to party once more for old times’ sake. That shit will make it so you can't get drunk or high anymore."

"That for real? You sure I want to take it?"

Will shook his massive cock off and straightened his clothes.

"Yeah motherfucker, I'm sure you do. When you wake up tomorrow smelling like skank and feeling awful, you shoot that needle into your arm or leg and in a month, you'll be a new man. Fucking will be the only high you need and it will be better than any drug you can get."

"That sounds about right, it’s gonna be a whole new me. Let's get to the club. I want my pick of the litter."

James waited, still frozen. His legs felt like they were going to collapse and he wasn't sure if he was breathing or not, in fact he was afraid to find out in case someone heard him. He took tiny sips of air and tried to hold it. He heard the door open and close and he gave himself a chance to breathe, but he didn't leave the shower. The door to the bathroom was still open so he waited for a sound he knew would come. When he heard tires shredding pavement from the parking lot, he knew the coast was clear.

James stepped out of the shower and into the bathroom. He looked down into the shower pan and saw that he had left footprints. Using toilet paper and water he wiped them up, then wiped up the water. That all got flushed. Then he stepped back into the main room. 

Sitting on Ray's desk was a slim silver case he had never seen before. Ray didn't wear glasses. Everything was starting to make sense to James. Will's transformation, his friend Justine who had turned into a slut before his eyes and all the girls around campus going crazy for the black guys. Something in that case made them bigger, more intimidating and that was the difference between Will freshman year and Will sophomore year. 

James realized he was still clenching the photo album tightly in his right hand. He opened the flap and leafed through. There were shots of him and Will in the student center playing pinball, a shot of him and Justine on top of a mountain they had hiked, the cake they had made for Will's birthday and a shot of them all on the ferry to Manhattan. 

James had hated that he had been abandoned by his friends. He wanted to take the case and throw it into the woods. But he also remembered the look in the girl's eye who had asked for Will's number. No one had ever looked at him like that. The guys on campus who had what was in that shot ran the school, they called the shots, and they had made it seem like it was all because of race. Some legend about black guys and big dicks. And for a while it seemed to be true, but now James knew that was a lie. They were cheating.

He closed the photo album and stuffed it into his pocket. He wrapped the sleeves of his sweatshirt around his hand and picked up the case. He thumbed the clasp and opened it. Inside was a syringe, nothing special, just a regular 10 cc syringe. When he remembered what it was worth, he almost dropped the case. But he caught himself. Should he take it and run?

"No, they will know it was me," thought James. But the needle was calling his name. 

He set the case down on the table again open and stared at it. The past year played through his mind and the things Will had said. "They will kill you" "One million dollars" "Enhanced." He thought about the life he was driving back to, living with his dad and working whatever job he could find, being a loser. 

"No," said James, not to the shot, but to that life, that life of retreat and loserdom.

He rolled up the sleeve of his sweatshirt and picked up the needle carefully with the other hand, still being careful to protect it from his fingerprints.

The needle went in more smoothly than he expected and he pushed the plunger and felt.... nothing. He pressed it extra hard and then pulled it out. "No going back now," he thought. In one month, a new man. He was about to put the needle back in the case, but then thought twice. He examined the syringe and confirmed it was nothing special, just like those he had used in science class. He rolled down his sweatshirt sleeve and then used two hands to pull out the plunger. He went into the sink in the bathroom and filled the syringe with water.

"Water can't hurt will any more than that shit he puts in his body on a regular basis," he thought. He put the plunger back in, tapped it like he saw on TV and put the cap back on. With the needle back in the case and the case on the desk, he rubbed the doorknob to the bathroom and then thought that it was silly to worry about that. This had been his room. His fingerprints could be anywhere but on that case. 

Moving towards the door, he ran through the way he was going to leave the building. Flipping his hood up, he turned right, when down the stairs and out the emergency door. No one saw him and he got in his car shaking. Turning the key, he said goodbye to his old life.

 

2.

Sean looked down at Nicole as she wrapped her lips around his cock. Every morning she did it and every day started out great. Sometimes she snuck off to the bathroom to put lipstick on before working his cock till he filled her belly with cum, that way he would remember her all day. She didn't eat breakfast anymore since meeting Sean.

He laid back and enjoyed her lips running up and down his shaft. When he came, he grunted loudly, his hips jerking against his will as he pumped cum into her mouth. 

She didn't miss a drop and licked her lips afterwards. 

"Brother, your dick is magic," she said smiling at him.

"Oh, what you don't know," he said slyly as he swung his legs over the side of the bed. 

'Aren't you going to fuck me this morning, my dear?" she asked.

"Sorry honey, I have to get to work early if I'm going to make it all the way down to my dad’s tonight. The turnpike will be a shit show."

She rolled over on her back spreading her toffee legs wide. "You sure?"

Sean's cock, which had only gotten half hard after busting a nut started to get fully hard so he turned and walked towards the bathroom to stop himself. "Yeah, I'm sure. It's his birthday."

- "Why aren't you taking me with you?" She moaned. " I want to meet your dad. He sounds like a great guy."

"Yeah, he is and I promise someday I will take you there. But we got some birthday traditions that mean a lot to him and they are boys only."

"Ok, I'm gonna have to go to the drug store and make sure I have a lot of D Cells for tonight then."

His cock was fully hard now and he had to stuff it down into the fly of his expensive wool suit. 

Grabbing his overnight bag, Sean kissed Nicole one more time on the lips. "I love you." He said as he looked into her eyes. Then he turned and left her to get herself off.

3.

James turned over on the back seat of his car, bumping his head on the armrest of the door. He was covered in sweat and chilly at the same time. He sat up and checked the parking sign. He had to be gone by 6. He got out of the car and stretched, then got into the front seat. Parking was always a bitch, but he didn't have a place to stay, so this was it for now.

He moved his car down towards the boardwalk and put on his sneakers. After running up and down the strip twice, he headed towards the workout area. A few of the old timers he recognized but he kept to himself. Sets of 12, he finished 8 today, 96. He seemed to be able to add a set a day. He did pushups and saw one guy doing funny one-legged squats. He tried to emulate them and found he could. 

After an hour of body weight exercises, he went for another run. He had never been a runner; he was on the science team for Christ sakes. Nerds don't run. But James seemed to be able to float. After 2 more laps, he went to the public bathroom and took a shower in his shorts. He had to stop himself from looking at himself in the mirror too much. His shoulders looked bigger and he felt stronger. It was the increased ability to do pull-ups that helped him keep track. He let himself strike a few poses before he went into one of the stalls. 

He pulled his cock out of his shorts and tugged on it a few times. it got hard right away, very hard. The running and everything seemed pretty believable. There must have been steroids in that shot, but the changes to his cock were the most impressive. It was common knowledge that steroids made your balls shrink. But these 'roids were something special. His balls were just as big as they had been, maybe a little bigger, but his cock was a full inch and a half bigger and fatter too. His nuts felt like they were full. 

Now that it was out, it wouldn't go down and James beat off quickly, busting his load into a wad of toilet paper. After the warm glow of orgasm spread through his brain, he tucked his cock back into his shorts and left the bathroom. Thankfully no one was there because he had a guilty look on his face. He went for one more walk up and down the strip and then headed to the library to read all day. 

4.

Sean pulled his Benz into the grease-stained spot behind his father's pizza shop. There was a small red Honda that looked like it had seen its fair share of miles on it parked in the other space, the spot that said "Deliveries Only." 

As he got out of the car, Sean heard a piano playing, something he hadn't heard for years. He pulled open the screen door that the screen hung out of and went into the pizza place, past the Formica booths and the pinball machine with boxes on top of it. 

Someone was sitting at the piano; a mess of dirty blonde hair prevented a closer look. Sean was about to say something and close the lid on the piano when he heard his dad.

"There's my boy! Big City comes to the shore!"

His dad wrapped his arms around his chest and squeezed hard. The old man was still strong even given his age. Sean looked down at his dad. His Italian American dad. 

"Hi Dad,” he said.

"Come on, you hungry? You hear her play the piano? She knows all the old songs!"

Sean passed by the little blonde girl sitting upright at the piano. She wore a dirty old sweater and leggings. "Who is she pop?" He asked as his dad drug him up to the bar.

"Another runaway. Just like you. Her name is Alex."

Sean sat down at his seat at the end of the bar, close to the door so he could watch people as his dad moved behind the counter. Before Sean could say anything, his dad was pouring a Dr. Pepper and grabbing slices out of the window to throw in the oven.

"Why is she playing Mom's piano?" He asked.

Vincent looked at him and then looked away. "Because I gave her the key," he said.

The piano had been locked since Sean's mother had died over 20 years ago. He remembered hearing her play it, ornate old Italian songs. She would sing too. In his early days of being in the shop, he would sit next to her on the bench and watch her fingers move. He had always wanted to learn how to play and she was going to teach him, but when she died of cancer at the age of 49, Vincent had locked the piano and never let anyone play it. He would say he lost the key.

Sean looked at the man he called dad for a long time and then turned his gaze out towards the boardwalk. It was June, the height of the season and everyone was out in full beach regalia. 

"Doesn't a guy deserve to hear some music on his birthday?" Vincent said quickly before sliding the wooden paddle into the oven to pull out two slices of extra pepperoni pizza. 

Sean looked at the slices, his first invention in the kitchen as a ten-year-old and nodded, "You sure do pop."

"Thank you. Now tell me about life in the big city."

"Nothing's new. I work and I go home. I'm just trying to get ahead."

"That car says you're pretty far ahead! What is it a 500 series?"

"Seven," said Sean with a mouthful of pizza. There was more pepperoni than cheese on the Extra Pepperoni Pizza. That was the only instruction on his recipe. He chewed thoughtfully as his dad, tornado of activity that he was, emptied plastic sandwich baskets in the trash and grabbed his paper cup of wine from next to the register.

"SEVEN series! And they gave it to you as a signing bonus. I would have thought you were joining the NFL instead of a law firm."

"It's a big law firm, but I'm just the junior member," said Sean. "But they wanted to make sure I joined." 

"Good for them, they need a smart boy like you. Maybe you can take Alex and me for a ride in it tomorrow."

"Does she live here or something?" 

Sean recalled his little cot back in the store room, where he had drawn cartoons on the bags of flour and hid his action figures in the broccoli. One time a customer got a GI Joe arm in their sandwich and they weren't too happy. But it was home. 

Vincent and his wife Mitzi, had taken him in as a toddler. His mother was a drug addict who would take pizza out of the dumpster from behind their shop until they found out. Then Vincent would leave 3 slices a day out for her on a plate. But one night his mother had gotten arrested for being in a crack house. Mitzi had found Sean in the morning, shivering in a filthy diaper crying behind the pizza shop. She took him in and started looking for his mom. She found out she had been arrested and wouldn't let Vincent call child services. She had been through foster care herself and wouldn't let him go. They didn't have kids and thought it would only be temporary, but Sean's birth mother died in prison after 5 months.  Baby Sean was a common sight around the pizza parlor from then on. He had been their son for as long as he could remember. He didn't have a birth certificate or a social security number until he was 16 and those listed his parents as "Vincenzo and Minterosa Garibaldi."

"She's staying for a few nights. She's a traveler. But boy can she play piano."

As if on cue, the piano stopped and Vince yelled, "Bravissimo! More! More!"

Alex stood up from the piano bench and wobbled up to where Sean and Vince were talking. She moved behind the counter and grabbed a paper cup, pouring herself some wine from Vince's stash under the counter. She wobbled as she poured and then looked at Sean.

"You're the boy from the pictures!" she said.

Sean was guarded. "That's me!"

"You're much bigger than you are in the pictures!" she was on the verge of slurring, but not quite there. 

Sean gave her the answer that he always gave his dad. "Yep, they have a gym at work and I go every day."

She nodded, "Good for you! Being healthy is important."  She glided back to the piano, miraculously avoiding all the chairs and tables that seemed to pop up in her way.

"She's wasted!"

"No, she’s not, she's just getting in the mood," said Vince. "Hey Alexandra, play the Tarantella!" He yelled towards the dark back of the shop.

On cue, the music came forth. Sean had to admit, it sounded just like the scratchy old 78s his father would play for him in the tiny upstairs apartment. 

Vince beamed at Sean. He hadn't seemed this happy in years. On some of his birthdays he had seemed weepy and cried as Sean helped him upstairs, but tonight he seemed happier than he had been in years. Sean decided to accept the change in tradition.

5.

They stayed up late. After 11, Vince closed the shutters on the front of the store and poured himself a glass of wine in a real glass. He thought he was fooling people with his paper cup trick, but he fooled no one, it was just that no one cared. 

Sean let his dad beat him at a game of chess and then they took out the photo album. Vince rattled off the historic tales of Sean's youth. He told him the story for every picture. The memories seemed so distant to Sean, but Vince told them like they were new. There was the time Mitzi threw up on the tea cups, and then laughed. There was the time that Sean had won first prize in the art contest. There was his high school prom picture from when he had poked his date with the pin while putting on the corsage. And there were the shots of them on their bikes. Each New Year's Day, they rode all the way to Cape May early in the morning, had a big breakfast and rode back. 

Sean was skinny in the pictures. He was about 6 foot tall but he only weighed 145lbs. But Vince would remember that it was not for not eating. Sean could famously eat all day, but never gained weight. He grew taller in the pictures, but always looked like he was going to be blown over by the wind. After he got enhanced, Vince said all the food caught up with him. 

Alex hammered away at the piano. Vince would keep yelling the names of the musicians who played the songs first at her. "That's FATS WALLER," He would yell, "SatchMO!" he cried. His merriment was unbelievable to Sean. Slowly as the night wore on and it seemed like Vince had drunk at least 3 bottles of wine, he started to get a little more calm. 

Alex kept up drinking with him. The little girl could put it away. At one point she came up and sat with them and made funny if not obtuse comments about the pictures. Sean went to the bathroom once and she was trying to rearrange the chess pieces while Vince wasn't looking. He was able to put them back again, he never forgot a game. 

Around 2, she passed out in one of the booths. Vince told Sean to put her to bed and he went and picked up her tiny frame. Her hair and her sweater were the biggest parts of her, she was all fluff and bones like a rabbit. He gingerly carried her back to the storeroom where he saw the old military cot out with the coarse wool blanket folded at the bottom. Every day, Vince folded that blanket and put it away and every night he put the cot back out for Sean. It looked exactly the same. 

As he put her down on the cot, she turned and her sweater came up on the small of her back. Sean saw that there were scars along her spine, nasty ones. He pulled the sweater down and shook the blanket out and tucked her in. 

As he was walking away, she murmured "Thank you Vincent. I love you." and started snoring immediately.  

Sean walked slowly back to the bar where Vince had his head down. He thought the old man might be crying but he wasn't, he was sleeping. He nudged his dad until he woke up and then Sean helped the old man up the stairs and into bed. Sean grabbed a blanket from the closet and curled up on the couch which was far too small for him. 

6. 

Two weeks after leaving LIU James needed to buy new clothes, the old ones didn't fit right, too short and too small. He had no way of measuring, but he felt a little taller. What he could see in the mirror was starting to be a very noticeable change. His morning run was just for fun now, one day he had run all the way to the end of the next island, 25 miles there and 25 back. His exercises weren't doing the work anymore, the shot was. 

Yesterday he had overheard one of the old timers at the workout area say "There's another one of those young bucks taking the easy way out." He wanted to tell the old man to go fuck himself, but he was committed to keeping a low profile. He promised himself that tomorrow he would try another town. He thought about maybe trying to get a job, but his savings was holding out for now.

After 4 laps of the boardwalk James got to the work out area a little later than usual. Some of the musclebound weightlifter types were there, the old guys who ruled the early morning were gone. James kept to his body weight exercises, he was up to 200 pullups and knew he could do more.  He did one arm pushup and 100 pistols, the funny squats he had seen the guy do before, on each leg. He was starting to do sit-ups on the rack when he noticed the two girls watching him.

He lost count after 300, he was trying to catch glimpses of them to see if they were watching him. Around 400 he stopped, his shirt soaked with sweat and clinging to his body. They definitely were watching him. James grabbed the footrest and swung his legs over. He kicked a leg up to stretch, which was just another excuse to try and steal a glance at the blonde and her dark-haired friend. He couldn't look at them because they weren't taking his eyes off him. His shoes were near the blonde, so at some point he would have to go over there. But, no matter how much his body changed, he was still having a hard time talking to girls. All of the things he could possibly say sounded corny to him. They would sound like a come-on and the girls would just try to get away from him, or worse laugh.  He wasn't ready for that yet. But he needed his shoes.

He didn't have a chance to get too close before the blonde broke the ice.

"Hi," she said.

James froze. "Uhhh hi" Pure terror.

"You sure like sit-ups," said the girl.

"Yes."

"You like running too."

"Yeah, I do. It helps me think." James was acutely aware of how terrible this was going.

"Oh yeah, me too. What do you think about?" the girl was chewing gum and she reached up to twist it around her finger, a move James thought only occurred on TV.

"I guess I think about movies and books and what to do when pretty girls talk to me out of nowhere." He kicked himself inside.

But she laughed and her friend laughed. 

"Oh, have you thought of anything revolutionary to say to girls yet?" She was smiling and back to chewing her gum.

"No. I have failed to come up with anything revolutionary on that subject. I'm still trying."

"I can tell. How about I give you some hints."

James lightened up and smiled. "Sure, that sounds great."

'Ok, ask us our names."

"What are your names?"

"My name is Beth and this is Shayna." The girl with the dark hair gave him a tiny wave. He couldn't see her eyes behind her big dark sunglasses.

"Hi. My name is James."

An awkward silence grew from a moment to a minute.

"You sure haven't thought of anything. Why don't you ask us if we want to walk a little to get away from these gross grunting dudes?”

"Do you want to walk or something?" 

"Yeah, these grunting dudes are gross."

James was floating on air; he had tuned out the sound of the weight plates clanking and the dudes cheering each other on in bro speak. 

He snapped out of it and reached for his shoes. He was going to put them on in front of them standing, but realizing that would look silly, he sat down next to Beth to tug them on.

Sitting up, he looked at her sideways, he realized he was closer to her than he should be. He could smell the light coating of sweat on her skin, the salt water in her hair and something else, his sense of smell seemed really acute lately. He looked past her and Shayna was looking over the tops of her glasses at him. She pushed them up with her finger but didn't move her eyes away.

Beth chimed in again. "Let's walk down to the pier." 

"Ok," said James. The two girls hopped down off the sea wall where they had been sitting and started off. James followed them like a puppy, a puppy with a very inconvenient erection.

Beth did most of the talking and let James fill in the answers. He had the foresight to ask them where they went to school first because he didn't want to tell them about LIU. When they said Monmouth, he said Rutgers. They knew a few people there, but they were all freshmen. James told them the truth and said he studied a lot and listened to music. 

They tried to prod him about his social life or his girlfriend, but he told the truth, he had neither. Books. Those were his friends. Even though his answers would have sent any other pair of girls running, it seemed like they held on to his every word. When they talked about the summer's movies, James let his nerd flag fly and they didn't seem repulsed.

James said he was thirsty and ran into a drug store to get a bottle of water. He half expected them to leave while he was in there. There was a line and he was very surprised to see them sitting on the sea wall when he came back. Walking across the boardwalk, he dodged a surrey and saw the girls again for the first time, this time he was allowed to look at them.

Beth was definitely taller. She had dirty blonde hair that came down past her shoulders. She was wearing sweat shorts and a tank top and James could see she had a red string bikini top on underneath that was tied around her neck. She wore flip flops and kept chewing gum the whole time. Her face was like a pixie's. She had pale blue eyes and smiled a lot. But she also cracked more jokes than most girls, which James liked.

Shayna was the quiet one, she was wearing a similar outfit to Beth except with stretchy black shorts, but it seemed to fit her in a totally different fashion. While Beth's legs were long and graceful, Shayna's were short. She had bigger hips and much larger boobs. Her hourglass figure was accentuated by her short bob haircut. James couldn't tell if her hair was black or very dark brown. She kept it tucked behind her ears but it kept falling down. She laughed silently sometimes and something had to be really funny to make her laugh out loud.

They both hopped down from the wall and then the three continued on their way towards the pier on the north end of the Island. The old timers were out in force with their rods and nets and the girls’ made faces at the fish they caught. They saw a guy with a stingray, a Mexican dude with a sand shark, and a few guys catching sea bass. 

The scent of fish was pretty potent and they eventually walked back to the foot of the pier. 

After a minute of quiet strolling. Beth piped up again in her slightly husky voice. 

"Well, we came out to get our exercise for the day, but stopped at the gym. Do you want to run with us?"

James was wondering if they were trying to ditch him. But he played along.

"Sure. But you don't have shoes."

Beth slapped him on the arm. "Who needs shoes? I'm a dancer, I'd rather do everything barefoot! Can you put my flip flops in your pocket?" She stepped out of them and handed them to James.

He took them without agreeing and stuffed them in his back pocket. 

In an uncharacteristic bout of talking, Shayna said "Last one to Vincent's is a rotten egg!' and took off. Beth shrugged and flitted after her. James followed.  What was another lap for the day?

The girls weren't that fast, they wove around beach cruisers and surreys. Shayna laughed occasionally and Beth moved quietly behind her. James thumped along, making more noise than both of them. He held back so he could watch them both from behind. Beth's hair swung calmly from side to side as she padded along. Shayna's butt jiggled just a little in her shorts and James was happy they were running because otherwise, his cock would have given him away. He had a vision of them both running naked in front of him, but he pushed it out of his mind. 

They ran all the way to the southern end of the boardwalk. James thought of a few things to say to Beth, but kept his mouth shut, enjoying the view. Vincent's Pizza was on the last block of the boardwalk but there was still a line. People stopped on their way home to get pizza. Shayna went up to window right away. Beth turned to James and said "You hungry?" He nodded but then patted his shorts. They were his exercise shorts; he just had his car key tied to the drawstring and his license in the pocket. No money. He had spent his last dollar on the water. 

"Oh, don't worry, we got it. What do you like?"

James knew what his favorite was. "I like the Extra Extra Pepperoni, but anything is fine. I just need a slice."

"I said don't worry about it. That's Shayna's favorite too. I like sausage, but we have been eating here every day."

James smiled as Beth ran over to tell Shayna something. He hung back and looked into the dim light. The guy behind the counter was black and really big. James wondered if he was enhanced. He got nervous for a second remembering what Will had said. "'They will kill you." 

Would another enhanced guy recognize one of their own? Maybe if he was naked, but he just looked like he worked out. He backed away slowly from the window, but the guy's eyes were on his notepad and Shayna's tits. James made a note to definitely try another town tomorrow, enhanced students from LIU could be anywhere. He had stolen the shot, would Ray be looking for him? What if there were cameras he didn't know about? Ray had injected himself with water weeks ago, by now he would know he wasn't getting any bigger. James was starting to get really nervous. He hadn't thought this through very much and in the past few weeks he had just been amazed at the changes, he hadn't thought much about the possibility of crossing paths with another enhanced brother.

James was on the bench as far away from the window as possible. He considered running, but he wondered why these two girls were even talking to him. They must have some ulterior motive. He would be cautious. Someone tapped him on the shoulder. 

Trying not to look scared, he turned around slowly. Beth said "Boo!" into his ear and stood up. Shayna was holding an enormous pizza box. She did a little spin and said "Grandèèèèè". 

"Shay's beach house is two blocks down, we thought we could eat on the balcony."

"That sounds good,” said James. "I guess I have known you guys long enough to not think of you as strangers."

Beth laughed and Shayna smiled. "Trust me, we're not going to kill you," she said.

James smiled and Shayna led the way. 

The houses at the end of the strip were some of the fanciest in town. Shayna took a turn into one with a stone wall and glass railings on the porch that sat back from the sidewalk. James had seen it before when he ran past. He followed Beth in, curious to see the inside.

Shayna kicked off her Keds and Beth was still barefoot. She made a ceremonious wipe of her feet at the door, so James kicked off his shoes and dropped Beth's flip flops. Shayna moved towards the back of the house. There was a sectional couch facing a TV that must have been 5 feet across.

"Huge huh?" said Beth. "Shay's dad is a stockbroker. He comes down here just to watch football games with his college buddies. Other than that, the place is empty."

Shayna took a turn and went up a set of carpeted stairs. James's jaw was on the floor when he saw the kitchen. It was all granite and steel. 

"Just for games," he said.

"Come on, upstairs is much more fun."

They followed Shayna upstairs. The second floor had another living room, but no TV. Shayna went out on the balcony. There was a couch and table out there. They could see out to the water, but not down to the sidewalk unless they got close to the railing. 

Shayna dropped the pizza box on the big square ottoman and flipped open the top. She took a slice and curled up in the corner of the couch.

Beth jumped over the back and grabbed her own slice. 

James sat down in the arm chair and took a piece. 

He looked up and Beth was stretched out on the white cotton sofa, which was warmed by the sun and the image of her ass bouncing lightly came back into James's mind. He almost crossed his legs, but his cock stayed quiet. It just threatened to get hard.

"Thanks for the pizza. Vincent's is the best."

"MHMMM" They both murmured at the same time. 

Shayna was taking tiny bites of her pizza and James looked out at the water. 

They ate in silence for a few minutes before it was too much for James.

"So how come you were at the gym today? I haven't seen you there before." "Why did you talk? Why?" he thought to himself. 

Beth held up a finger as she finished chewing. 

"We were looking for you." She said and calmly took another bite of pizza.

James was a scared. He didn't like the idea of people looking for him.

'Why did you come looking for me?" he said guardedly.

She made exaggerated chewing motions and when she swallowed, she said, "Because we have seen you run by here every day." This time she held her slice of pizza up and choose her bite carefully.

"You have seen me run by every day, and you came looking for me today. Why?"

Beth's last bite had been of crust and that required extra chewing. She looked over her shoulder at Shayna who blurted out, "Because I need you to fuck me."

Beth dramatically swallowed and said, "She doesn't say much, but when she does.... Boy" and shook her head.

James's cock jerked in his shorts and started to rise. It hit his shorts and stayed at half mast, he was still a little scared, but shocked more than anything.

Beth noticed for sure and Shayna's eyes were still hidden under her sunglasses, but her nipples appeared through her bikini top and shirt.

Beth started talking before anyone else. "Well, cat's out of the bag on that one. I should probably explain."

James nodded. Shayna's ass jogged through his mind while he looked at Beth.

"Shayna and I are best friends and have been since we fought over Timmy Martin in the first grade. In junior high we both made a pact to lose our virginity before our 18th birthdays. I managed to maul Billy Watson under the bleachers one summer junior year of high school, but Quiet Girl back here was always having a problem finding a guy she liked. They were always too short or too loud or too dumb. Plus, we went to an all-girls high school, so there weren't a lot of guys around."

James stopped them. "I thought you said you were in college."

"A little white lie. I'll explain in a minute... Here’s what happened. I busted my nut all over Billy and have had a few adventures since, but Shay here has kept her legs closed. She tried a few times bless her heart, but she didn't know that if you suck a guy off, he can't fuck you afterwards. She has fooled around a few times but usually guys see those tits of hers and they lose their load. She has a taste for nerds you see. Now. I held up my end of the bargain and girly here was gonna fall short. That brings us to now, going off to college and she's still got her Hy. I was gonna call up a few guys from my bench, but she was still against them all. She considered trying again with one of her minutemen, but her dad told her to use the beach house for this week because it was her birthday. It sounded like a perfect setup, beach house, birthday, summer. Anybody with Double D's and a smile should be able to get fucked, but our little Lady of the High Standards here didn't see any meat she liked. Until you ran by. Then we had a plan... but then on Monday, her dad showed up with the wind with presents and smiles and his new girlfriend who looks like she could be our age. He crashed the party. Cock. Blocked. And I am talking about yours." She winked. James shifted uncomfortably. 

"But Princess here sat on the porch every day drinking the biggest cup of coffee you ever seen waiting for you to run by and by again. She started to get sad because Daddy was here and as much of a slut as that man is, he has rules for the ladies."

"But, the world of high finance called his name and he ran back up to the city for the weekend and that's when we came looking for you."

James just sat there. He smiled. He blushed. His cock was officially all the way hard now.

He started to talk but Beth cut him off.

"Before you say anything, allow me to clarify one thing. She's legal now. She didn't make it by 18 but I graciously offered her an extension due to extenuating circumstances. Take pity on the girl, she can't go to college a virgin. This isn't the fifties."

James didn't know what to say. Shayna shifted her legs back and forth. It seemed like Beth was a warrior against silence.

"You don't have to answer. It's just that she set her sights on you and I had to help her out. We can chill and eat pizza and watch movies later. There isn't a bass player in the closet waiting for my cue, even though that would be awesome. We can hang out, break the ice and get to know each other more."

"We?" said James

"Oh, well forgive me for being presumptuous, but Shayna and I share everything. And if you stay, I might be the icing on her cake. If you can recharge your batteries in time."

The situation couldn't get any weirder.

James was shocked, but he was determined not to screw this up.  

But he couldn't think of anything to say.

Beth got a little impatient.

"Well, you haven't run, and we all know you love running, although it looks like that might be hard for you now. No pun intended. I think we have put you on the spot. How about instead of you saying 'yes, I would like to fuck both of you two barely legal coeds who just stalked me and insisted I fuck the virgin, you just sit there and finish your slice. If you want to leave after that, you can. But if you want to stay, take your shirt off, get comfortable and enjoy the ride."

James nodded. There were about three bites left of the slice and he finished it in two as a sign of good faith. As he was chewing, he held his finger up to tease Beth, chewed dramatically and then stood. Shayna took a deep breath. James reached down and grabbed the hem of his T-shirt and pulled it over his head. Then he sat back down. His changing body was on full display. He normally would have been shy, but his confidence was growing in pace with his cock.

Shayna let out a squeal of delight and clapped her hands. She jumped up on the couch and over the back. She ran over to the chair James was in, gave him a quick peck on the cheek and said, 

"Gonna shower. Come get me after" Then she flitted away. As she ran through the house, she shouted, 'Conjugal Visit!" and then went up another set of stairs.

Beth nodded. "She is so weird. But trust me, tonight is going to be a lot of fun."

Breathing heavy James said "I bet it is." He sat back in the chair and saw Beth was still watching him.

"Has anyone ever told you how hot you are?" asked Beth.

James looked down at his stomach and chest, there was more definition there than ever before in his life. His abs weren't chiseled like a models, but he had filled out and was looking muscular.

"To be honest, no,” said James.

"Well, let me be the first. I suppose I should at least match you with the shirt."

Beth sat up and pulled her tank top up and over her head. She laid back on the couch and locked eyes with James.

"I guess Barely Legal is going to get ready."

James was slightly confused, but happy with the turn his day had taken.

"Well, you have chosen door number one, the two maidens. I'm so happy you did. Are you freaking out?"

"No," said James "Not freaking out, just wondering if I have been abducted by aliens."

"Nope, just two germ free girls who picked you up with their good looks and the promise of pizza. And about that.... Have you been tested recently?"

"Tested?" asked James, not trying to play dumb but sounding dumb.

He got the jump on Beth. "Oh, for STDs.... no, I haven't"

"Shit I was hoping she could ride bareback. She's on the pill but one must play safe. We're prepared though.  What's your size? I think we bought Magnums as a joke, but..."

James shifted his cock in his shorts and held his breath.

"Um, I haven't been tested because.... I’m a virgin too......" He looked down.

Beth's mouth hung open. "Really?"

"Really," said James.

"Well, that's a surprise. I suppose that's a good thing. I hope you can hold your wad longer than the last few dudes she tried to bump. Guys don't lie about that sort of thing I suppose.'

'I'm not lying," said James. 'I hope she still wants me."

Beth looked at him hard. "Yeah, she does. Trust me, in a way that makes it even more perfect. But ok. There is one last thing I should tell you."

"Ok," said James. "I doubt you could surprise me anymore."

" It's not bad," said Beth, "It's actually kinda cool. You see, Shayna has a very vivid imagination and since she has been having bad luck with the boys, she has been forced to live in her own fantasies. She told me about a few of them and they are pretty kinky. But when she saw you, she flipped because you actually looked like one of the guys in her spank bank.'

James nodded.

"And since she saw you every day and Daddy gave her some money for her birthday, she went out and bought a special outfit in case this happened."

"What's the outfit? or more importantly, What's the Fantasy?" asked James.

"Well, I think you will find out both of them soon enough and I don't want to ruin her surprise. Did you hear what she yelled as she skipped up to the shower?"

"Conjugal Visit?" asked James 

"Yep. Do you know what it means?"

"Yeah, it's when prisoners get a visit from someone and they get to go have sex in a trailer or something."

"That's right. She has some fantasy about that and she's getting ready for you."

'Is there a trailer out back or something?" Asked James.

"No, nothing like that, I think she's doing everything she needs in her head. You just have to keep that dick hard and fuck her like you haven't fucked in years, which I guess is true."

James's cock strained against his shorts. He was starting to get anxious because it had been so hard for so long. Typically if this happened, he would beat off.

Beth was staring at his crotch for a moment. She blinked and looked up at him.

"Yeahhh, you should go get a shower and then head upstairs."

James stood up to go find a shower. Beth sat up too and grabbed his hand. 

"There's one last thing."

"Yes?" he said. 

"Let her be on top,” said Beth.

James walked through the living room and was about to go upstairs when Beth called after him. "Use the one downstairs then go up."

James turned left and went to the ground floor.

He went through the kitchen and found a bathroom with a shower in one of the bedrooms. 

"It sure beats the public shower," he said aloud.

He stripped of his shorts and started the water in the shower. He turned around and saw himself in the full-length mirror of the door for the first time. His cock was standing out, pointing upwards to 11 o'clock. He wanted to grab in to beat off, but instead pleased himself by squeezing his pelvic muscles so it jumped. Shayna was in for a surprise. He wished he had a ruler because it was looking bigger every day. Would the tiny virgin be big enough to handle it? He didn't want to hurt her. He turned and checked himself out from behind. Smiling he got into the shower.

The water was hot, and the expensive soap felt nice. James let the shower take him away from the past few weeks. He imagined that Beth slid in there with him and he almost started beating off. He didn't know which of the girls he though was hotter. Beth was a minx, but he was starting to appreciate Shayna's quirkiness. He couldn't wait to see her naked bouncing on his cock. 

He reached around the shower door to grab a towel and stepped out. He dried off quickly with one towel and then grabbed another to get himself extra dry. There was no point in putting on his dirty shorts so he wrapped a third towel around his waist and tied it in a knot. He had to push his cock down and it was visibly tenting front of the towel. He couldn't wait to see the look on Shayna's face when she pulled that towel down.

He when back up the stairs towards the third floor but Beth was waiting on the second for him. She motioned him with one finger to come over to her on the inside couch. She looked him up and down before she whispered, "That lucky bitch" under her breath. Beth was still in her red bikini top and shorts. James wanted to see her naked almost as much as Shayna. But remembered what she had said about later. Beth stood up and put her hand on James's shoulder. 

She brought her face close to his, he could smell her sweat. She put her other hand on the front of his towel and felt his cock. He looked down at her seeing her nipples poking through her bikini top.

"There's something I forgot to tell you. Actually, two things.

James's brain was swimming in horniness. He wanted to fuck both of these girls so bad.

"Yes" he managed to say.

"If you need to warm her up, which I doubt, lick her clit gently and not for too long. Otherwise she will cum from it. She's really sensitive and she should learn to come from penetration. So go easy on her big boy.

"Ok" said James. "What was the second thing?"

She squeezed his cock and kissed him on the cheek.

"Save some for me later."

James headed up the stairs to the third floor in a state of disbelief. The stairwell opened up at the top to the penthouse floor. There was another balcony looking out over the water to the right and a bed to the left. A huge bed. With, as he looked up, mirrors on the ceiling. 

"Stockbroker," said James appreciatively.

He couldn't hear the sound of water running so James said "Hello?" 

Shayna's voice came out of the bathroom. "Just a minute! Make yourself comfortable."

James looked at the king-sized bed and decided not to be presumptuous. He walked out to the balcony and looked at the beach. It was about 2 in the afternoon and the sounds of kids playing and parents yelling was faint in the background. Surf was high and the sound of waves was what he heard most.  He stood there for a moment before turning to go back inside.

Shayna had emerged from the bathroom.

James barely recognized her without her glasses. They moved towards each other and he saw how cute she was. Her dark hair was pulled back and tied this time with a maroon ribbon. She was wearing a maroon silk robe to match the hair in her ribbon and it made her petite frame seem longer.  

James looked down at Shayna and saw that she had big brown eyes. She put her finger on his chest and traced a tiny circle. 

"This has been a long time coming," she said softly

James nodded and she reached up and put her hand behind his neck, pulling him down to kiss her. Their lips touched and James wrapped his arms around the small of her back. She was the first to slip her tongue into his mouth and swirl it around. James had made out before but this was so much more exciting.

After a moment Shayna broke the kiss, still holding on to his neck and looked into his eyes. "Have you missed me?" She asked

James, slightly confused, but remembering what Beth had said, agreed. "Yes," he said.

He stood back up to his full height and looked down at Shayna who was untying the belt of her robe. "I've been saving this to wear just for you." she said. The robe opened and she was wearing a matching bra and panty set, the same color as the robe. 

Being so much taller than her, James couldn't see the full view. He saw the tops of her breasts, large and full, cupped in the bra and he felt his cock jump against the towel. 

She let the robe fall to the ground and James saw over her head that he could see her in the mirror on the wall. The maroon thong dove between her ass cheeks. 

She had one hand still on his chest and she reached for the knot in the towel.

  "You won't be needing this," she said as she pulled on the towel.  

His cock sprang out and pointed directly at her tits. 

"Holy Shit!" she said.

James was nervous for a moment, but when she reached out and wrapped her tiny hand around his cock, the pleasure centers in his brain suppressed all other thought.

"It's fucking huge,” said Shayna.

"Do you like it?" asked James.

'Yeah." said Shayna. Her eyes were locked on his cock, but she looked up for a moment at him. "It's hard for me?"

"Uh hmm," Said James.

Shayna smiled and looked back down at it. She dropped to her knees in front of him, but she ended up too low. She was face to face with his balls. James expected her to get back up, but she continued to stroke his cock and she buried her face in his crotch and sniffed deeply. He wanted to pick her up and throw her on the bed, but there would be time for all that. 

Shayna stuck her tongue out slowly and licked James's balls. The cool sensation of moisture on his sack made him shiver a little.

He looked down. Shayna's hand was still stroking his cock and she reached up with her other hand to cup his balls.

"Hello friends," she said. She bounced them in her hands.

She licked the root of James's cock and continued stroking the shaft. She had to get off her heels to get up to the head.

James moaned as she took the tip in her mouth. Her tongue swirled around his cock.  Her hand hadn't stopped moving on his cock. He looked into the mirror and saw her on her knees in front of him and it felt right to have her submitting to him.

She pulled his cock out of her mouth and gazed at it lovingly. "It's so warm and big," she said.

James moved his hips so it brushed her lips again. Her lips parted as the tip of his cock moved into her mouth. She bobbed her head in and out a few times then took it out and stood. 

"On the bed," she said. 

James put one leg up then jumped and turned. He landed with his head on the pillows. His cock bounced in the air but stayed hard. He saw Shayna for the first time full on.

Her pale skin was accentuated by the dark merlot of her lingerie. She was curvaceous and petit at the end of the bed. She was breathing heavy as she looked at James.

She put her knee up on the bed and crawled up onto his chest so he was looking her in the eyes.

She kissed him again and started grinding her pelvis into him.

"I don't know if it will fit, but I've been waiting so long," she said.

James could feel the heat from her snatch as she rubbed it up and down his cock. Her legs were spread wide over his hips.  He felt her breasts pressed into his chest and started to smell her scent from between her legs. He ground up into her, grasping her hips in his hands, squeezing her round ass.

Suddenly she sat upright on top of him and reached behind her to unclasp her bra. It took her a moment, but James saw the tension release and she dropped it in front of her. Her tits were round, her nipples a pale pink against her lily-white skin. They were already hard and crinkly. He reached up and drew her down to him, her breasts to his mouth and sucked on her nipples. She groaned and ground harder into his abdomen. 

James could sense that she was already wet, she had soaked through her panties and was leaving a trail of moisture on his stomach. 

He took her other breast into her mouth and her hips started to move in circles. When he released her nipple from his lips, she sat up again and rode him more. James was anxious to let his cock get its first taste of pussy and Shayna seemed hot, but he remembered what Beth said. He reached down and put his hands under Shayna's thighs and lifted her up so that her snatch was directly over his face.

He grabbed a pillow and stuffed it under his head as she ground her panties into his mouth. He nibbled and licked her through her panties. Shayna grasped her tits in both hands and kneaded them, moaning a little bit louder than before. 

James reached up to pull her panties aside, but she quickly bent over, raised her ass in the air and slid them down. She sat back down on James's face. He got his first taste of pussy on his tongue ever as she moved her hips around chasing his tongue. 

James looked up and saw only the underside of her breasts until she looked down between them and grabbed his hair. She used his hair like a pommel and swirled her hips on his tongue. 

"Weeeeeeee!" she said as she rode his face.

James was conscious not to let the lashing go too long so after a minute, he pushed Shayna off his chest and wiggled further up the bed. His cock was in her ass crack as she sat and looked at him.

Shayna could feel his cock behind her and raised up on her knees, reaching between her legs to grab him. She nuzzled the head of his cock against her labia and then closed her eyes to focus.

"Too Long," she said. “I've been waiting too long"

James felt his cock mash against her lips, he wanted to grab her hips and press her down, but she was on top and he was afraid of hurting her. 

Slowly, the tip of his cock sank into her honeypot and she straightened up at the hips, her eyes still closed. When she opened them, she looked right at James, her mouth open, but no words coming out.

As he watched, she slowly lowered herself, making only the smallest gyrations with her hips. She bit her lower lip and grimaced, James was staying still, but he felt his cock sliding in slowly. 

Shayna stopped after the head of James's cock disappeared between her lips. She was breathing heavy and starting to sweat. James felt his cock pushed up against something, he assumed it was her hymen. She put both of her hands on his chest, her biceps pressing her big tits together, her nipples rock hard and she started to hyper ventilate.

James looked down, between her thighs, which were shaking, he could still see most of his cock.

Shayna was moving ever so slightly. Her lips were moving, but no sound was coming out and then she said very softly, "It's time for you to go aaaaaaa" and instead of go, she started to moan and James saw his cock slowly slide up into her, her moist snatch sliding over his rod. He pushed up ever so gently and Shayna's moan became louder.

She bent down to her elbows on his chest and after a moment James felt his cock stop again. He was bottomed out.  Shayna collapsed on his chest.

"It's so big," she whispered. 

James held her gently, her body was quivering. He felt her pussy squeeze his cock a few times, slowly getting accustomed to his girth. They stayed totally still for almost a minute.

Then Shayna sat back up a little and moved her weight from side to side on her hips. She moaned softly between her lips; her mouth almost closed. Her hair had fallen in front of her face and she pushed it back with one hand as she sat up.

James looked down and he could see light between Shayna's legs, two inches of his cock was still sticking out. He lifted his hips up lightly and Shayna rose with them, he was as far as he was going to go.

She put her hands on her thighs and came up a little, his cock sliding out gently. He felt her tight quim gripping every inch of his rod. She rose up higher then slowly came down again, saying ah as every inch, every vein tickled her insides.

She put her hands behind her neck and moved just her pelvis, front to back, side to side and occasionally up and down.  James reached up and cupped her tits in his hands, even for their size, his hands were large on them. He kneaded them like she had and twisted her nipples.

She groaned and started to ride him harder.

"I'm so close and we just started," she said. 

"Don't worry, I'm good for a few rounds" said James.

Shayna was bouncing on his cock now and James started to realize what was going on. He was in a beachfront house banging an 18-year-old virgin with his nine-inch dong. 2 weeks ago, he was fleeing a college where he was the last guy to get any pussy. 

Shayna's cries snapped him out of it and brought him back to the hot chick on his knob. James put his hands on her hips and felt her bouncing up and down. Her quads must have gotten tired because she laid on his chest and just started moving her hips. James was a little more sure of himself and was thrusting up into her. They both picked up speed and Shayna started to come.

She was holding onto the sheets on either side of him with her tiny fists as he rocked his cock up into her. As if on auto pilot, her ass kept bouncing on his cock, she was riding about 3 inches in and out over and over again. 

Her pace quickened once again and she started to scream.

"YEeeeeeeessssssssssssss," she cried as her hips started to be erratic. Her ass clenched as she drove her clit into James's pubic bone. "FUuuuuuuuuuck," she cried and started to spasm harder.  Her cries were driving James crazy and he felt a burning sensation in his balls. A primal urge to dump his cum into this hot girl on top of him over took him and he bucked into her. He kept thrusting as she screamed into his chest and then he started to moan. 

But when it hit, his orgasm was a surprise even to him.

"AAAAAAAAAAhhhhhhh," he grunted as he thrust up into her. He felt a wave of hot cum running up his shaft and into her. His balls clenched and he kept fucking her as they spasmed over and over again, his cock jerking as it spit cum up into her.  Her pussy started to feel even more slick as his cum and her juices mixed and lubricated even better.

After he came, James's dick was sensitive and Shayna was still on top of him. She looked up and kissed him on the mouth hungrily. But she held him tightly and didn't let him move.

His cock was still hard inside of her and it felt electric, every time she breathed, he felt the slow motion of her pussy squeezing him ever so gently. 

After a minute, Shayna lifted herself up gently off his cock. James looked down and when his cock slipped out, he felt a rush of cum soaking both of their crotches. Shayna collapsed on top of him and didn't move.

James felt her breathing gently and wrapped his arms around her. He thought she might be asleep, but she wasn't. She shifted her weight slowly and dropped over to his side, curling up in the space between his arm and chest. She looked up at him with her big brown eyes and smiled.

"Back to your cell!!" she said and then laughed manically. She put her hand on his chest and rubbed it. "Can I be your cellmate?" she said.

"Any time," he replied.

She nuzzled him again and they both drifted off to sleep.

7.

Sean woke up on the couch and grumbled. His neck hurt, one leg was dropping off the edge and he hit his head sitting up. Vincent was an early riser and today he had let Sean sleep in, a luxury he only provided him later in life. He had morning wood, but nothing to do with it, so he walked up and down the room a few times before going down the tiny staircase and found his dad happily kneading dough in the back kitchen. The cot was folded up and put away behind the water heater in the stockroom.

"Where is princess?" he asked half grumpily still rubbing his neck.

His dad seemingly missing out on his mood, beamed up at him. "She goes walking every day. She likes to see the sun come up and the people come out."

"Oh" said Sean as he mechanically grabbed a ball of dough and started kneading next to his dad. It was something that a pizza maker had to do every day, there were no days off from making dough.

They both worked the dough for another half an hour. They had talked so much last night and were just enjoying the repetitive part of their day. When all the dough was made, Vincent took off his apron and hung it on the hook on the door of the freezer. 

"You ready for this?" he asked. 

Sean smiled. "Of course."

They went out back, leaving the door of the shop open. Their bikes, Vincent's ancient green ten speed and Sean's newer mountain bike were sitting on their kickstands between Sean's Benz and Alex's little Honda. Vincent threw a leg over and took off. The old man was still spry on the bike even if he limped a little when walking. Sean buckled his helmet and took off after Vincent.

They rode for over an hour without talking. Pushing the pedals and moving past the seawall of dunes gave Sean lots of time to think. He was always happy to be home with his father, but he still felt like he was holding something back from the old man. He told him the same tired lie every time he came home about going to the gym. Vincent knew nothing of the real world that Sean lived in and in view of all that Vincent had given him in his life, he felt like this was a betrayal of his trust. 

But he couldn't tell him about the real New York he lived in, about being enhanced. He had graduated NYU at the top of his class. Vincent had paid for everything that wasn't covered by his scholarship, his books, his room. And when he graduated, he received a letter from E&I Law and that said he should apply, that they were looking for young black lawyers. He dressed for his interview in his only suit and found the building in Harlem. All of the secretaries in the building looked more like porn stars then regular women. He had gone into that corner office and Tyrone had laid in on thick. "Do you hate the white man? Do you hate this system we live in? What if there was a way for a brother to get ahead?" He told him about the halfway houses and how guys were getting off drugs.

Sean had stayed quiet during the interview and the speech. He nodded in agreement, thinking of how his mother had treated him, how she had abandoned him for drugs and how the system had let her die inside instead of helping her. But at the same time, it all sounded so false to him. He wasn't raised on gangster rap; he was raised on comic books and pizza. Vincent had been a true father to him. He helped him with his homework and took him to the library. His mother had made sure he was always dressed nice and treated well at the school.

But he kept quiet. Tyrone was listening to himself more than he was watching Sean. But Sean heard everything. He heard of the salary and the benefits. But Tyrone's anger had been off putting. Sean had hopes of working in Business law or Social Justice, he wasn't full of black rage, he wasn't angry at the man. He wanted to help people, but all people.  He was about to thank Tyrone and leave when Tyrone called his secretary in.

The tall brunette had come in on her 6-inch heels and waited patiently until spoken to again. Then she dropped to her knees, unbuckled Tyrone's fly and pulled out the biggest dick Sean had ever seen. Then she proceeded to deep throat it and suck until Tyrone came in her mouth. Tyrone looked at Sean and said "Now, you're listening." and he told him about the X serum. Sean had signed on the spot and gotten his shot before he left the building.  

He had stayed in the city for the whole month of his enhancing. He lost his virginity to one of the dancers at the Zebra club, a curvy Italian girl named Victoria. She told him how she had been a cheerleader through high school, and a good girl, but how she only fucked black guys now. Sean hadn't been interested in talking to her again, there were a lot of girls in the Solomon's empire. 

He had met the man himself at the Blackspire Casino when the inner circle threw a bash for the higher ups. Sean was uncomfortable around all the guys with checkered pasts. But if you fucked you were ok. And Sean liked to fuck, but so did every enhanced guy. The culture was crazy. There were beauty queens and dancers around all the time, ready to fuck any brother in the room. Sean had double teamed Tyrone's secretary with him. He learned that she was one of the first Enhanced women. That explained her stamina. 

But for all the partying, Sean still had Vincent's work ethic and he did his best at being a lawyer. He was learning a lot. But in addition to the law, he was also learning about Solomon's empire. 

Although he had called him all the time, Sean waited four months before he went back to see his dad. That's when he started the, "There's a gym at work and I go every day to relieve the stress" line. Vincent accepted it and things were the same as always. Sean got an apartment in the city with his pay, which was generous. Vincent didn't take vacations from the shop. He was only closed two days a year, Christmas and Easter and he spent those in church. Other than that, he worked. Sean tried to come to the shore to see him whenever he could and they stayed close. 

But Sean wanted to introduce him to Nicole. He wanted to be more open with him. But he couldn't tell him about that world. 

Before he knew it, they were crossing the last bridge and Sean had daydreamed for 5 miles. They pulled into Cape May and locked their bikes outside the Pancake Hut. Every year, on the morning after their birthdays, they came here to see who could eat more pancakes. Every year Sean won, but Vincent tried.

Vincent liked to tease the old ladies who ran the place. He mixed up their names, asked them to dance, made blue comments. They remembered them because they saw Vincent and Sean twice a year. They loved Sean because he had been coming there since he was a boy. They asked him if he had a girlfriend every year and he always said no. They brought out more pancakes without them ordering, at least for the first few rounds. Once Vincent tapped out, Sean only ate a few more rounds. Each one was piled high with fruit and whipped cream. Vincent made jokes about unbuckling his belt and drank coffee. Sean stuck to water. 

After the pancakes, they went to the arcade, played skee ball and then a round of mini golf. This was where Vincent redeemed himself from his loss at the pancake eating contest. No matter how hard Sean tried, the old man could bounce his ball of three walls and make it go in. He was an ace. Sean had only beaten him once and he thought that perhaps Vincent had let him win. Sean had to tell Rubio at the mini golf the line about working out. 

Vincent won again, this time with a miraculous hole in one on the 9th green and Sean had to pay him his dollar. They returned their clubs and walked the boardwalk for a while. Vincent asked him about the girlfriend he lied to the old ladies about. And this time Sean decided to tell him. 

"I met a girl named Nicole," he said, still shy to talk to his dad about girls. 

"Yeah," said Vincent "Nicole's a good name. Is she Italian?" 

"No," said Sean She's black.'

He went on to tell Vincent how he met her. They had met at the movies. Even though some guys in the E and I world rarely left, Sean maintained some distance. He did company, brother shit, when he was around them, but it wasn't totally his world. Those guys just fucked and partied. If they weren't doing that, they were doing something to fuck over the man, or fuck the man's wife. Sean wanted to get his debt paid to the Empire and get out. So, he worked hard at the firm, occasionally sneaking off to fuck one of the ladies that worked there, but he worked. In his first year, he managed to pay $50,000 towards his million-dollar debt. But he didn't plan on being there for 20 years, even if he was going to live forever.  He thought about a second job, but ruled that out. 

So, during his evenings he went to movies and ate pizza. He also read. He wanted to bring back one of the girls from work to his apartment, but when she said his place was "Ghetto" compared to another guy's he decided to discontinue the practice. So, he hung out by himself, but he was used to it.

There was an Italian place around the corner from his building and he would go there for dinner. In his opinion, one of the best things about being enhanced was how he could eat whatever he wanted and still not gain weight. Sometimes he ordered a pizza to himself instead of slices.

Nicole waitressed at the restaurant a few nights a week and she waited on Sean occasionally. She teased him about what he read. The light jokes bounced off a very thick skin Sean had developed growing up. So, he tuned her out. She started to ask him what else he did besides read and he told her about the Crystal, the movie theater he went to that showed movies in series. Sometimes it was Samurai movies, sometimes robots. She seemed interested, she asked which series he was going to now. The staff were laughing behind the counter. They had seen Nicole be flat out mean to most of their customers and here she was talking to the bookworm like a cheerleader to the head of the football team. And it was totally going over his head.

Sean told her he was in the middle of the chronological Stanley Kubrick series and told her the names of the movies he had seen already. She said, "I might check that out" and Sean nodded, going back to his book. She was cruel to every patron for the rest of the night.

The next night, Sean went to see 2001: A Space Odyssey, the movie he had been waiting for in the series most of all. He was in line getting a soda when Nicole bumped into him. She said hello and then said her boyfriend was coming too and she was buying him snacks cause he would be late. Sean got his soda and made it in to the theater in time to get a good seat by the back. He saw Nicole come in and walk right towards him. She plopped the largest bucket of popcorn he had ever seen into his lap. 

"I bought this for you. Can I watch the movie with you?" She asked bluntly.

"Sure” said Sean and they watched the movie. Sean was engrossed in the visuals that he barely noticed that they were holding hands by the end.

When they left the theater, Sean asked what happened to her boyfriend. She stared at him with her big brown eyes and said, "You, you are my boyfriend. Now let's go get pizza someplace I don't work at."

Sean was shocked. He pieced it together later that she had come looking for him. He was so unused to women trying to date him that he hadn't noticed all the things she had done. At work, there was no flirting or courtship, the women who worked at EI were sluts for black cock. If he called one of them to his office to help with a brief, they expected that they were going to suck him off or bend over his desk till he pumped them full of cum. There wasn't much asking. They expected sex. They craved it. 

Nicole was into him for him. She told him about the restaurant, how she was working to take classes at City University of New York and how she was studying literature. It made sense that she made fun of what he was reading. She was a writer. She liked heavy books like Lolita and Don Quixote and he was reading Asimov and Ben Bova.

She played footsie with him under the table and Sean's cock got hard, but he didn't want to fuck this up. Nicole represented a world outside of EI to him and he didn't want to treat her like a slut. He played footsie with her and kissed her as he dropped her off at his building. But he called off coming up for coffee even though he knew what that meant. He asked her to come see A Clockwork Orange with him the next Tuesday. She agreed and sadly went upstairs by herself. In the week between, he read both Lolita and Don Quixote and was cracking her up with his impression of the insane Spanish knight after the next movie.

She wore a tight dress to the next movie, Barry Lyndon, but Sean played Mister Chivalrous until the end. Only after Eyes Wide Shut, did he take her to one of the fanciest restaurants in the city and then home with him. 

When she saw his cock for the first time, she said it was the biggest she had ever seen. But that didn't stop her from attacking it. She loved it. Sean was late for work the next day because they didn't sleep at all, they fucked like bunnies until it was light outside. Nicole could hold her own with any of the girls at E&I saved the enhanced women. He fell asleep on the train on the way to work and woke up in the Bronx. Sean knew he was in love because he didn't fuck anyone at work that day.

Of course, Sean left out most of these details as he told Vincent about her. Instead, he told her how smart she was, what a hard worker she was and how she looked prettiest when she wore jeans and a t-shirt. Vincent said she sounded like a classy dame. Which was high praise from the old man, that's what he had called Mitzi, his "A Number One Classy Dame." He made Sean promise that he would bring her down to the shore soon.

When they turned around at the end of the cement boardwalk, Sean asked Vincent if he had been to the doctor for his yearly checkup. Instead of his usual Yeah Yeah Yeah-ing of Sean, he got quiet. "Yeah, I went. They told me my cholesterol is high. Don't they have anything else they could say? Just cholesterol is high," 

Sean stopped walking and looked at Vincent. "You actually went to your physical?" he said.

Vincent tried to dodge knowing he had let on something. "Yeah, I went, it’s good to get checked out sometimes."

"Bullshit," said Sean. "I can distinctly remember you telling me 'All doctors are fucking useless' 'they couldn't save your mother' and 'I'd rather die than see a doctor.'"

"Welllll," said Vincent. "I had a scare."

Sean got scared, then he got serious. "Scare? What scare? You didn't tell me about a scare?"

"It really was nothing. My arm hurt and I had to close early one night."

"You mean you had a HEART ATTACK?" said Sean.

"Nah. They tried to tell me I did, but I don't believe those quacks. I think I was just working too hard. I must have pulled a muscle moving the flour bags."

"You had a heart attack and you didn't tell me?" Sean was hurt and mad. 

"It wasn't a heart attack," said Vincent.

"Sure sounds like one" said Sean. "So why did you go to the doctor"

"Eh, just to get checked out."

"You're covering something up. You hate doctors. I think even if you had a heart attack you wouldn't go."

"I'm not covering up anything. It's just, things have been different since you left. The boardwalk isn't fun anymore. The people just want their pizza. There's no one to talk to. I've been feeling a little old." Vincent was looking down as he talked.

Sean didn't know what to think. Vincent had been invincible his whole life, "Strong as ten horses" he would always say.

But the silence got to Vincent. "It's just, Alex made me think of my mortality."

Sean was slowly piecing things together. Vincent went on.

"She reminds me so much of your mother. It makes me sad to hear her play the piano but I don't want her to stop."

"She's just some traveler dad, she'll be gone at the end of the season."

"Yeah maybe. But geez, I wish I was a younger man, you know? But she couldn't love a guy like me. Too old. But it makes me happy that she has stayed around for these past few weeks. It has been lonely without you boy."

Sean stayed silent. His heart was slowly breaking.

"So! I went to the doctor. He said my cholesterol was high."

Sean looked at his father. 'Did he say you were as strong as Ten horses?"

"Yeah. Twenty." Vincent smiled.

They were back to the bikes. 

Vincent looked Sean in the eye.

"I don't want you worrying about me. You're doing the best thing possible right now, your mother would be proud. I'm proud of you. So proud of you, that I will let you ride in front of the way home."

"Sure," said Sean, knowing that it was just a ploy for him to break the southbound headwinds. Riding home was always harder than riding to Cape May. 

In an hour, they were back to the shop. Vincent threw a few pies in the oven and opened the front grate. Around 2 o'clock Alex returned. She was wearing the same clothes she had on the night before. Sean wondered if she had any others. But he was impressed that she started doing things without being told. She refilled the cups by the drink machine, got the forks out of the drying rack and stocked the bins. She cracked jokes with Vincent and told him the Phillies were going to crush the Mets. Sean worked the front window, but the whole time he was listening to the two of them laugh as they ran the pizza shop. He listened and plotted.

9.

James woke up with Shayna still curled up next to him. He tried to recover his arm and did so successfully. The summer heat was still present, but he pulled the sheet over her body as he got out of bed. His cock was hard and standing at attention, but she looked like she needed the rest. Most girls lose their virginity to a high school boy who comes quick, she had gotten the full workout.

James went to the bathroom to piss and was shocked at the size of the bathroom. There was an enormous soaking tub in addition to a shower that looked like it could fit five. "Stockbroker" he said. Then he saw himself in the mirror and decided that a shower was in order. He closed the door almost all the way, but wanted Shayna to keep sleeping.

He started the water and got in. It was warm, but not hot. Hot showers were for the winter. He was busy soaping up when he felt a second set of hands on his body. He said "I was trying to let you sleep" as he turned around. But he didn't hear the response in the voice he was expecting.

"How could you expect anyone to sleep after hearing that?" said Beth. "I thought you killed her." 

James finished turning and his cock brushed against her stomach. "Fuck, I'm surprised you didn't

with that thing!" she said. "How big is it?" She asked. 

James shrugged. "I never measured it." he said. 

"Well, there's a tape measure around here somewhere, but right now, I've got other things in mind."

Beth reached up and put her arms around James's neck, drawing him in to kiss him strongly. James encircled her in his arms and kissed her back. Her body was longer than Shayna's and she was closer to him in height. The kiss lasted a while before Beth broke it off. She dropped to her knees slowly and put her mouth on his cock. She sucked it for just a minute before she stood up.

"There that's foreplay out of the way. Now I need you to fuck me," she said. 

"You're not very patient." said James.

"Yes, I am, I had to listen to you fuck Shayna, now it's my turn and I've got lots of ideas."

She turned her back to him and bent over to the ground. James watched her, her strong back and muscular ass made him hot, even though his cock was already hard. When she got as low as she was going to go, she reached through her legs and grabbed James's cock. Pulling on him, she nuzzled her ass into his crotch and stood back up, squeezing him between her thighs. She leaned back into him and brought his hands up to her breasts. James squeezed her nipples as she worked her ass into him. She reached down and jerked on his cock with both hands slowly. After a minute, she stepped away from him and put her hands on the wall of the shower and spread her legs wide. James drank in the sight of her wet body, her muscular ass and her long legs. She looked over her shoulder at him and then down at his cock. "I want to see if I can take more than she did," she said.

James put his hand on his cock and bent it down, as he got close to her, she arched her back and stuck out her ass. James put his cock against her labia and moved it back and forth. Beth moaned. When he found the opening, he pressed forward slightly, dropped his hips and then pushed up. Her pussy muscles resisted for a moment until she relaxed. James worked his cock into her, seeing the W shape of her ass get closer and closer to his pubes. Beth squeezed her ass and relaxed, she swirled her hips and pushed back against him. In a few moments, James couldn't see his cock anymore, he could just see the pink lips of her pussy stretched wide around his rod, but she had taken the whole thing.

Beth groaned. "That feels amazing," she said and she started to squeeze him with her pussy muscles. He put his hands on her ass, but she said "Not yet cowboy, I still need to adjust." and she kept working her pussy on the inside. After a minute, James was ready to go wild. He felt her flutter and squeeze and that's when she started working up and down on his shaft. She reached back and put her hand on his hips and pushed him back, then pulled him forward. 

"Go gentle before rough,” she said. And James started to work his cock in and out of her. The water ran down her back and kept them both wet. After a few minutes of pumping Beth started to moan. But then she caught herself. She came up to pressing her body against James's and put her arm behind her and around his neck. "I want you to fuck me hard," she said as she ground her ass into him harder. James was thrusting now and kept going. He put her hands on her waist and kept working his cock in and out of her pussy, which was wet and still gripping him tightly. 

A squeal came out of Beth's lips and she started to jerk, the whole time still bucking against his cock. "Pull out' she said and James hesitated before he let his cock flop out of her. She continued to shake and twitch for a moment and he wondered if she was ok. But she turned to face him, put her arms around his neck and jumped, wrapping her legs around him. James had to reach down to guide his cock back into her pussy as she kissed him hard. He squeezed her ass with both hands and started to pump in and out of her. She rode him again. James was surprised his arms weren't getting tired, but then he remembered his workouts, the shot. 

"Are you on the pill too?" He asked as he started to feel the fire in his balls. "No, I have an IUD," she said. James continued to pump. He stepped out of the shower and laid Beth on the shelf next to the tub. She laid back as his cock when in and out. He grabbed her ankles and spread her legs wide as his cock continued to piston in and out of her. Her face contorted as she came again. James couldn't stand it any longer and he came too. He felt the cum streaming out through his cock and going into Beth, but he kept pumping. His cum belonged in her. He never wanted to jerk off again, this felt so good. After his balls were drained, James slowly pulled his cock out, which was now starting to go soft and a trickle of cum ran down Beth's snatch. She reached down with her finger and wiped it up, then stuck the finger in her mouth.

"Yummmmy," she said, "I'm going to want more of that for dessert later."

James looked at her and then turned and got back in the shower. Beth joined him and soaped him all over this time. When his cock got hard again, she tugged on it a few times and then started to suck on it. He came in her mouth before his third shower of the day was over. He dried himself and Beth off and then they both crawled into the big bed with Shayna.

10.

Sean's drive back to NYC was quick. He had said goodbye to his dad and Alex, who was already drinking wine and playing the piano by 6 o'clock. He had to admit, she was pretty good at the piano and he was happy that his dad had someone there. But Sean was still troubled that Vincent had had a heart attack and didn't tell him, or get the right medical attention. The past year of his life had been so crazy, he hadn't thought about home as much, but this trip down was making him think.

He got back to his apartment and Nicole wasn't home yet. He hadn't told Vincent that she had moved in, but it seemed like the right thing. It made no sense for them to be paying two rents and Sean's place was actually closer to school than hers. Plus, he could afford his apartment. 

When she got home, Nicole asked him a few questions about his dad and could tell that he had something on his mind, but didn't push it. They snuggled on the couch for a while before she sucked him off. The feeling of her lips on his cock distracted him sufficiently and pretty soon she was bent over the back of the couch getting Sean's cock slammed into her. 

In the morning, he woke up as Nicole climbed on top of him. The girl was mad for his dick. She rode him until he pumped another load of cum into her. They showered again and she left for class. Sean got dressed and then caught the uptown to work.

After a slow morning of paperwork, he went to lunch with the boys and then he went to see Hank.

Hank McGraw was the only white man in the inner circle of E&I. Some of the young bucks said things behind his back, but anyone who knew anything knew that the whole empire was possible because of him, they were there because of him. He kept pretty quiet around the building because while he was a part of it, he didn't need to be flashy or make a name for himself. 

Sean and Hank had gotten to know each other when they had gone to Cuba with Solomon to buy property. Sean had worked on the documents that allowed Solomon to make sure that when the fat Americans came to Havana instead of Miami, they would find their wives hungrier for Cuban cock more than margaritas. Hank had brought the shots that had enhanced the first Cubans. They had even double teamed a few dancers together. Sean had opened up to Hank a little bit by asking, "Is this all we do? Is this all Solomon's plan is?"

Hank had been honest with him that while it didn't seem like the mission for a lifetime, but counseled him that it was the mission for now. He told Sean that if he didn't like it, he shouldn't make waves, but pay his debt and get out. That was allowed. If he made waves there would be problems. Sean tried to find out more about Hank, but he had been evasive. He was there for a reason he said.

Sean said "Hi" to Hank and then hung around longer than the hello required. 

"What's on your mind Sean?" he asked.

"I've been thinking about buying a shot for my dad," he said. This wasn't anything out of the ordinary, some of the guys bought shots. And some guys were so deep into the corporation it would take them a hundred years to pay it off.

"Yeah?"  Said Hank. "I thought you were gonna be one and done. Why would you want to get deeper into the company?"

"I've been thinking."

"That's a problem,” said Hank.

"Can I tell you something?" asked Sean.

"I wish you wouldn't," replied Hank as he looked back into his microscope.

"This is important," said Sean.

Hank turned around on his stool and crossed his arms.

"Can you keep a secret?" asked Sean nervously.

"No." said Hank. "I don't want to; I don't have to. You want a shot, that's your business, but I'm not your confessor."

"Well, I'm going to tell you anyway," said Sean. And he proceeded to tell Hank what he hadn't told anyone else in the Company. He told him about his home and about Vincent and Mitzi.

Hank listened impassively. When Sean told him that he wanted to give Vincent a chance a new life, Hank nodded.

"I knew there was more to you than some of the other guys," he said.

"You'll help me?" asked Sean.

"Yeah, I'll help you" said Hank resignedly. "But you are going to be in a very tough spot. You're still going to have to pay for it, but you are going to have to keep your father off the radar." 

"I can do that,” said Sean. The thought of owing more money to the Company wasn't exciting, but he wanted to do something to pay back Vincent for everything.

"He'll have to leave the shore. I would even say the East Coast."

Sean was ready to promise lots of things. He knew how his perspective had changed; he was sort of certain he could convince Vincent of that. 

"Ok," he said. 

"But unfortunately, you're gonna have to wait."

"Why?" Asked Sean.

"Because carbonite has been becoming scarcer. The technology business has been making it harder to get hold of. I won't have any X shots til next week. All I have is X-minus and you don't want that."

"What is that?" Asked Sean.

"X minus is the stuff we make with synthetic Carbonite. It has the same effects but weaker and slowly the body returns to normal. You have to take multiple shots to stay enhanced over time. It's cheaper, but it's not the real deal."

"No, I don't want that." Sean wanted the best for Vincent.

Then he remembered Alex.

"Is there a Y- Minus?"

"Yeah, but that is more expensive, you would be better off getting Y for anybody you care about. Y minus is used just for controlling women. They can't be enhanced a second time. It fucks up their hormones too much. Is there a woman you want to enhance too? You got a wife?"

"No. I don't have a wife," said Sean. "My dad has a girlfriend."

"I think he'll find a new one. Everyone does."

Sean remembered the look on Vincent's face when Alex played the piano. The old man had already lost another woman in his life and for all his flirting, he pushed more women away than Sean could count. He had kept his heart locked just like the piano. That he had opened up to Alex was important."

"How much is a shot of Y?" asked Sean.

"1.2 million for Y and 1.6 for Y Prime. But no one can get Y Prime without Solomon's approval.' 

Sean didn't want to spend the money on the girl but he was about to agree.

"Wait," said Hank. He took a key out of his pocket and opened the safe under his lab desk. 

He rooted around, moving things carefully. He pulled out a case, one that Sean remembered well. 

Hank put it on the bench. "I thought that was still in there. It's your lucky day, you're just in time. This one is off the radar. Experimental and about to expire and experimental."

Sean picked it up and opened it. The syringe said "Y-L"

'What do you mean experimental?" asked Sean cautiously.

" Have you ever met Judy?" asked Hank

"Judy in accounting?" asked Sean.

"No. Judy Juggsl" said Hank.

"No. But I have seen her movies." said Sean. Images of Judy flashed in Sean's mind. Her breasts were the stuff of legend, huge but perfect and she was known to shoot milk when she came.

"This is the Y serum she got. Y-Lactate I made three shots and the company gave out two before we developed Y-Prime. No one wanted this afterwards."

"Was there something wrong with it?" Asked Sean.

"Not really. The breast growth is a little more extreme than the regular Y and there are a few other benefits, things that mostly suit porn stars. She can lactate, her pussy squirts. Hornier and produces more pheromones which means you are hornier too. While they are still as athletic as all the others, they stay a little curvier. Oddly there is something comforting about being around her. But other than that, just enhanced.

"Isn't that something the company still wants?" He asked

"You ask a lot of questions. You should watch that. I said it was off the radar. Do you want it?"

"Yeah," said Sean as he slipped the case into his jacket.

"Fine. That's my good deed for the day."

"You mean I don't owe on this one?"

"Nah," said Hank. "Like I said, discontinued. But it's about to expire. That shot has to get used in the next week."

"Does that affect potency?" asked Sean.

"No. But that's one of the peculiarities of the crystalline structure of Carbonite, when it starts to go, it goes. Seriously, use it now."

Sean remembered the stories he had heard about women going in to heat. He wasn't high enough up the food chain yet to breed any of them but he had fucked a few enhanced girls. Marcel in video had told him all about the experience. 

"What about those X shots? You say a week. If I give this shot to the girl, she goes into heat in 3 weeks. If my dad is only 2 weeks enhanced, can he hang with a bitch in heat?"

"Yeah, that should be enough. How old is he?"

"70,” said Sean

"Yeah, he'll be fine. But you got to tell them to get away from the world when she is gonna be in heat. Take them on vacation or something. Then you got to get away too because Judy is a pheromone beast. You might knock up your dad's girlfriend if you are around. It's survival of the fittest when these girls go into heat." 

Sean smiled. The weight of worry was starting to lift. 

"Hank. I owe you one."

"You don't owe me anything," said Hank. "Any thoughts you have of owing me you can use towards keeping your mouth shut. Now fuck off."

Sean left the lab with a bounce in his step. When he got to his office, he picked up the phone and called down to Video. He asked Marcel if she had the tapes he had requested. She said "What tapes" and he said "Just get up here"

Ten minutes later she was pulling her skirt down and Sean was cleaning off his cock.

11.

James was having a dream about swimming in a very warm pool. He swam under water thinking he could hold his breath forever. It started to seem like he had gone for a very long time without breathing when he realized he was dreaming. The sensations of his body started to come back to him and he felt something warm on his cock. When he opened his eyes, he saw Shayna sucking on the tip of his cock as it lay on his stomach. As his cock started to harden, she looked up and saw he was awake, but didn't take his cock out of her mouth. She winked at him before taking more of his shaft into her throat.

James looked around for Beth who was watching Shayna from his other side. She saw he was awake, she got up on her knees. She spun and threw a leg over his face and said, "You have to share the fun big boy." and she mashed her cunt into his face. 

"Mhhrhhhrhhh," he said into her already damp pussy.

She lifted up and said "What was that?"

"Let's race," he said.

"Race where, you centaur?" she said as she tousled his hair.

"I was talking to Shay," he said. "Let's see if I can make you cum before she can make me."

There was no response, but he felt Shayna redouble her efforts on his cock. She let herself drool and got him extra wet. The slurping sounds were audible even though he had Beth's thighs on either side of his head.

"I'm betting on her,” said Beth.

"You bet your ass?" asked James.

"Yeah, I bet my ass," she said. 

Shayna took a quick breath and said "Mine Too!" before going back to working James's cock hard. 

James started to lick Beth's clit and she dropped her weight back onto his mouth. But he was still a bit of a novice when it came to licking pussy. Shayna finished him off first and swallowed every last drop of his cum. When James asked what she wanted as her prize, she just said "More Cum for Everyone!"

James and his balls were happy to give her that reward.

The sun set and the day turned to dusk and then to night. James, Beth and Shayna fucked in every combination possible. James's favorite position for the night was when Beth rode his cock, because her hips were magical and Shayna rode his face because her pussy was pink and delicious. They all came at the same time even though the girl's energy was starting to wane. 

Shayna started the fake fireplace across the room and they all fell asleep in a pile on the bed.

12.

Sean waited until Wednesday and used the game as an excuse. He told Nicole he was just going down for the evening, that the Mets playing the Dodgers was their favorite matchup. He knew she had class at 7:30 in the morning so she stayed home. She was a city girl and didn't like spending that much time in the car.

Sean left work early to hit the shore by game time. Vincent gave him shit and asked why this game mattered, but he just said that the weekend had been fun and he wanted to start being around a little more. Vincent took him at his word.

Sean was relieved to see that Alex's car was still there when he got there. She wasn't at the piano but yelling at the TV from the last seat at the bar. When he walked in, she jumped off her stool to hug him and then went back to the TV.

Sean said hi to Vincent and grabbed a slice. He hadn't eaten since lunch and Marcel had worn him out. Sean sat next to Alex and watched the game. He tried to ask her a few questions about herself, but she deflected them. Vincent came to join them whenever the customers were taken care of. He answered some of the questions for her. They both were a little lit on red wine.

As the game wore on, Sean got more comfortable. Initially he had felt like Alex was some kind of intruder into his life, but she was really kind to Vincent. She joked with him and didn't say anything mean. At the seventh inning stretch, when the TV went to commercial, she went to the piano and played baseball music. Sean couldn't get enough of Vincent smiling at her.

The game ended close, but the Mets won with a double that bounced out. It wasn't as heroic a victory as they all predicted but they were happy they won. Vincent threw a free slice at the next two customers that came in and then started to tally up the register. When Alex went to the bathroom, Sean palmed a pill into her drink. He expected her to keep drinking but wanted to make sure she was out. He patted the bulge in his pocket when she came back.

The summer night was hotter than usual and she was still wearing her sweater. He tried to size her up, but couldn't get a read on her body. She was petite and female. That was fine. The Serum didn't really care. Sean had seen a few girls that were kinda plain get enhanced and it did wonders. 

After the game they watched the Late Show with David Letterman and only listened to the monologue. Vince asked Alex to play one last song and she gave him the finger. Her head seemed to be getting heavy. Vincent told Sean help her to bed. She threw an arm around his neck and they walked back to the storeroom as she sang "Buy me some peanuts and Cracker Jacks, I don't care if I ever go back!" at the top of her lungs. 

When they got back to the store room, she looked dazily at Sean, poked him in the chest and said "You know, you won the lottery. You got the best dad ever." Then she sat down heavily on the cot and yelled. "Goodnight Vincent. I love you!" and collapsed. Sean pulled the blanket over her and made picked up her leg that was still dangling off.

He went back out to the front and hung with Vincent.

"You know, she tells me that every night," said Vincent. "Even the first night she stayed here."

"Yeah, she seems nice, kind of a lush, but really nice."

"I don't think life has been very good to her, Sean. So, I just try to take care of her how she is."

Sean listened and nodded along. Her life was going to get better soon.

"Well, you got to go back to the city, I don't want you driving too late," said Vincent, "You're doing a good job at that firm, you have to be on time. You want coffee?" He asked.

Sean nodded. "Nah, I'm good." 

"You're going to bring Nicole next time you come, aren't you?"

"Yeah," said Sean.

"When?" Asked Vincent.

"How about next weekend?" said Sean.

"Yeah. That will be real nice. We'll go to Nunzio's."

"Nunzio is still alive?" asked Sean incredulously.

"That might be stretching the truth a little. Nunzio is there. Let's leave it at that. But I bet he'll be happy to see you. I told him all about you." Vincent was getting moony. "Alright, help me up the stairs and you get back to that nice girl."

Vincent started for the back staircase and Sean followed. Vincent wobbled, but seemed ok. When he passed Alex on her cot, he patted her hair and said "Good night little angel" and then started up the stairs. Sean followed him and watched him pull off his shirt and collapse onto the tiny single bed he kept in the corner.

"Night Dad" he said and went back down the stairs.

Vincent muttered "Night Sean" and started to snore.

Sean went down the stairs quietly, more for Vincent's sake than anyone. 

He walked over towards the cot and dropped to his knee.

"Alex." he whispered loudly.

No answer.

"ALEX!" he whispered as he put his hand on her shoulder. She made no move. She was drooling on the pillow. Sean pulled back the woolen blanket he had thrown on her and lifted the bottom of her huge sweater. She was wearing black leggings and he could clearly see her hip bones. 

By the dim light of the bare bulb hanging from the ceiling he pulled the case out of his pocket and looked at it. When he had been injected, he hadn't noticed the details, the shape of the syringe, the pale-yellow color of the serum. He pulled the cap off the needle and looked at it. A single drop appeared on the tip. He tapped it and then swallowed hard. 

He held the syringe out at arm’s length, over her ass with the needle pointing down and looked at her face again. She had a little bob nose and a cute mouth. He had no idea where this girl had come from, but he hoped this would make her stay. He hadn't seen his father this happy in years and she deserved something for bringing the sparkle to his eyes. 

He lowered his hand and the needle went in silently. She didn't move, didn't stir at all. Sean pressed the plunger down all the way and the yellow liquid flowed into the interstitial spaces between her cells, to be absorbed over the next few minutes, spreading all through her body and begin to make tiny but profound changes. He held still, expecting at any moment for her eyes to spring open, but she kept drooling. He pulled the needle out and put it back in the case. Hank had emailed him and reminded him to dispose of the needle back at the building so he put the case back in his pocket, hit the light switch and left. The drive back to New York was uneventful.

13.

James woke up in the morning to the smell of breakfast. The bed was empty. He went downstairs and found Shayna and Beth in the kitchen. The shades to the patio were drawn and both girls were topless. They were wearing matching black thongs. James stood quietly for a moment before they saw him watching the two young honeys move about the kitchen. His cock stirred, but he willed it down. He hadn't eaten since lunch and the girls had certainly helped him work up an appetite. 

Beth saw him first and flitted over to kiss him on the mouth. Shayna was staring intently at the waffle iron and blew him a kiss.  

"You ruined it. We were going to bring you breakfast in bed."

James smiled. "I already ate a lot in bed. I think it's better here so something gets into my stomach." 

They both laughed and James sat down at the table.

Shayna flipped the third waffle from the iron and brought all three plates to the table.

There wasn't much talking as they all ate their first waffle. Shayna was back to the iron quickly as Beth rattled off the details of their summer. They had to be out of the house today because the cleaning ladies were coming and then Shayna's dad had promised it to one of his work buddies for a family reunion.

She had written their cell numbers and emails on a piece of paper for James and she slid it towards him. He wrote his email on the paper. He didn't have a phone.

"We want to come back in August," said Beth. "Shay’s daddy is going to be in Europe and we have two weeks after our camp counseling job is over. We were going to get extra tan to tease the boys when we start school. Will you still be here?"

James thought about it. Several things ran through his head. Perpetual barometer that it was, his cock started to get hard as he thought about Shayna and Beth lying in the sun topless. But he was also still a little worried about the guy he saw at Vincent's. He wanted to move on, but the thought of a Beth's pussy stretched over his cock was a lot to wrestle with. He would be fully enhanced by then; his cock would be even bigger. He wanted them to see it, but wouldn't they get suspicious if he grew that much in just a month? 

"I need to go see my parents down south," he lied.

Beth frowned. 

"But I don't know how long I'm staying with them."

Shayna brought out another round of waffles and stood next to James stoically. She held the plate of waffles at her waist, her breasts were eye level with James.

"Say you're coming back.”

"I'm coming back," said James, doubting that it was the truth. 

Shayna gave him the evil eye before flipping a waffle onto his plate. They ate in silence for a little bit. They were both pouting. James didn't want to dig himself a deeper hole so he stayed silent too.

After breakfast Shayna started flitting around the house closing windows. Beth and James were on the sectional couch in the downstairs. Beth crawled up into James's arms and looked into his eyes.

"You aren't coming back, are you?" James couldn't lie. "Probably not," he said.

Beth had nothing to say in response. James held her and realized after a moment she was crying silently. 

He couldn't take it. "What is the matter?"

'You were the first guy to make me come..."she said into his chest. "The rest were boys, you're the first man I have been with." 

James just squeezed her and smelled her hair. When she looked up at him with wet eyes, he could see that she was truly hurting. He didn't know what to say so he kissed her.

She was tentative at first, but soon she was kissing him passionately. 

She felt his cock pressing against her stomach and silently reached down to guide his head towards her downy crevice. Without a sound, she slid his whole length into him and ground down slowly. They fucked silently on the couch, his chest wet with her tears, until she shuddered and came. James let his load go when he felt her cum and flooded her pussy with his seed. They lay there for some time until Shayna sat down and glowered at them both.

"Me too," was all she said and spread her legs. James got up and tugged on his cock with one hand as he walked over to her. By the time he reached her, he was hard. He pressed his cock into her pussy without any ceremony. She grunted a tiny bit, but made no other sound. She wrapped her legs around his hips and started to buck jerkily.

"Flip over," she said. 

James rolled over, as she held him deep inside her. Once on top, she bucked her hips into him. Beth stood behind her and cupped her breasts as she ground into James. She looked up at Beth and her best friend leaned down and kissed her. Shayna's motions became more spastic and her pussy clamped down on James's cock. He wanted to drive her to another orgasm, but she dismounted quickly and put his cock in her mouth. She used both hands to jerk his cock hard until he spurted in her mouth. He didn't see a drop of cum. She stood and wiped her lips with the back of her hand.

"Get out," she said as she turned and stomped upstairs. James thought he heard a whimper but was unsure.

He was dumbfounded. He looked at Beth who shrugged.

"Hell hath no fury Man," and she walked after Shayna. 

James saw his clothes folded on the chair by the table. He dressed and thought about going upstairs, but realized he should leave. It was for the best. He turned the knob and stepped out into the bright morning sun. It had been like a dream. He turned left and headed back towards his car. He walked slowly the whole 30 blocks back to where he had left his car. When he got there, it was gone. he looked at the sign. "No Parking Monday 11AM to 2 PM." 

He turned and walked back to the boardwalk. 

13.

Alex was used to waking up with bruises, she had stopped paying attention to their appearance. Her butt felt a little sore so she assumed she sat down too hard or something. When she woke in the morning, she felt extra groggy. But she disregarded it and went to the bathroom and then left out the back to walk the boardwalk. She kicked the doorstop into place to hold the door open. Her routine was simple. She wanted to see the dumpster seagulls raiding the fry dumpster, she wanted to see the guys in line at the soup kitchen and she had to see the lifeguards open their shacks. She walked up to her favorite bench and sat down to pass an hour of reflection.

Vincent's eyes sprung open at 6:30 AM precisely. He took a quick shower and then went downstairs. He folded the wool blanket and put it in its place, then he collapsed Alex's cot and put it behind the water heater. He did a quick inventory of his ingredients and started to knead the dough. Each ball had to be kneaded and placed back in its individual aluminum tin. He was able to do this on auto pilot. After all the tins were restacked, he turned on the oven and swept the floor. It was only 8 Am when he was finished so he decided to go for a bike ride. 

He pulled his bike out of the shed and decided to head north to the crabbing dock. If he hit it at the right time, he might see some of his fishing buddies. As he turned out of the alley and onto the main drag, he smiled, life was good. The pedaling warmed his legs up and he pushed on towards the north end of the island. As he was crossing the intersection where bridge from the mainland descended, he was struck by a pickup truck full of tourists that ran the red light and was killed instantly. 

14.

James spent his Monday night homeless sleeping under the boardwalk. He found the experience unpleasant and spent the next night fucking the redheaded barmaid from The Sea Hook until they collapsed in a sweaty heap. In the morning he learned her hair wasn't really red and that he didn't find her that enjoyable to be around. She smoked after sex and when she woke up and almost all the times in between. He left without giving her his cock one more time even though she had begged him.

Under the pretense of a jog, James found himself in the next town south the following night, a college town with lots of dance clubs and no library. For a few days he bought paperbacks and then went into the clubs at night. For someone who had been a virgin up until a week prior, he was finding that it was pretty easy to get laid. All he had to do was hit the club and dance, or pretend to dance until someone started a conversation with him. Then he danced with them for a while. The girls seemed drawn to him. One girl took him into the bathroom to suck his cock before she even got him home. Another wanted to show him that she was a dancer and tried to get him to go to a strip club where they had an amateur night. James thought better of it and convinced her that he had a pole she could dance on.

Some of the girls went to work in the morning and kicked him out, some of them said he could stay at their house so he was there when they got home. But James wasn't enjoying the feeling of waiting around to be some girl's sex slave. Also, he wasn't fully enhanced yet and didn't want girls getting suspicious as his cock grew larger. He moved one town further south in the next day and found a cheap hotel room.  There weren't as many clubs in this town and around 6 PM, James realized he wanted to fuck. It had been three weeks since getting the shot and he now had to cum every day. His body had gone through an amazing amount of transformation so far, it was hard to believe things would keep growing. James had bought a backpack and some new clothes at the goodwill and was only wearing XXL now.  His shoe size was 2 sizes bigger too.

But lots of guys are big, what James really enjoyed was showing his cock to girls for the first time. Even if they had been grinding on it at the club, they still seemed to think he had a sock in his pocket. When they unzipped his fly and his dick popped out, they went cross-eyed and they always wanted to measure it. 10.75 inches at last tally. Based on what will had said James was expecting to be bigger than 12". His cock was bigger than some girl’s wrists now and he loved watching them try to wrap their hand around it, or fit it all in their mouths. It seemed so right for them to submit to him. But their needs were always met, his cock could make any girl cum.

Sunday the library was closed so James spent the day on the beach. He was thinking about talking to some girls near him, but decided it wasn't worth the work. One of the girls he had fucked had asked him if he was a professional after he made her cum for the fifth time. He tried to play it cool and not let on that he had no idea what she was talking about so she elaborated on what she meant. 

"A gigolo," she had said.

"A guy that fucks for money?"

"No," said James.

"Well, you could with that cock. I'm surprised you don't do porn." She was still massaging him slowly while they lay in bed.

"That's not my sort of thing," said James.

"Well, you certainly could," she continued.

Then she told him about a club in town called The Paw, which was a "cougar club". She even had to explain that to him. Cougars were older women, usually over 40 that liked to fuck younger men and preyed on them. But sometimes they would take the boys out to dinner and slip some cash in their drawers later. James listened and his cock got hard, but his cock got hard for almost any reason, plus she was playing with it. She told him that one of her friends from college had gone there and charged a woman $500 to spend the night with her and they fucked in a hotel in Manhattan after a dinner out.

The thought of older women hadn't crossed James's mind, he had been too preoccupied stuffing his dong into college girls, a choice that seemed obvious to him. But he knew his savings couldn't hold out for long. When she told him a little more about cougar relations, he filed it into his memory. 

On the beach James remembered what the girl had said. He couldn't remember her name, but he did remember that the name of the club, The Paw. Around dusk, he went back to his hotel room, showered, shaved and got dressed. He checked himself out in the mirror. "Time for a new adventure," he said to himself.

15.

Alex spent her morning walking on the boardwalk. When it got to be around one o'clock, her stomach grumbled. She headed back towards Vincent's and when she got there, she let herself in through the back door. She immediately sensed something was not right. The atmosphere wasn't right. She checked the clock. It was 1:23. The sun was out so that meant it was 1:23 PM. She went over to the great horizontal pizza oven. It was cold. Usually, the grey beast radiated heat. It gave heat, food and happiness to her. Now it stood cool, inert. The front grate of the shop was closed. Through the dirty windows she saw shapes moving back and forth in the bright sunlight.

She walked back through the dark, past the tables and went upstairs to Vincent's room. It was empty save for the neatly made bed, small table and record player. She padded back downstairs; her cot was folded in its daytime place. Vincent had put it away. But Vincent was gone. 

Alex didn't know what to do with herself. She climbed the stairs again and sat on Vincent's bed for the first time. She curled up in the center on the sheets and stayed there for the rest of the day. She pretended that downstairs Vincent was making pizzas and telling jokes to little kids. Every aspect of life in the pizza shop was continuing as usual, she was just having an off day and staying upstairs so she was out of the way. 

She fell asleep at some point and woke up shivering. She went down the storage room and got the woolen blanket and returned to Vincent's bed where she went back to sleep curled up in the center. 

When she awoke in the morning, she checked the shop again, hoping that Vincent would come in sweaty and carrying groceries. She went in the refrigerator and found some baked ziti. She looked for a microwave and couldn't find one. She had seen Vincent heat it up in the pizza stove. She ate it cold.  She got a paper cup and filled it with wine from under the bar. Then she sat at the piano but in the dusty quiet, she felt exposed. To play the piano would break the spell of silence in the shop. Her fingers rested on the keys but she couldn't gather the strength of will to play. She finished her wine and got more. As the light faded to dark, she took her wine upstairs and drank till she passed out. 

In the morning, she woke with a dampness between her legs. She pulled the blanket tighter around herself in the bed and felt the scratchy wool rake across her skin in high definition. When she sat up, she felt much better than she usually did in the morning. She used the upstairs toilet and couldn't go downstairs. She stayed in Vincent's apartment for another night. She cried herself to sleep.

Having fallen asleep in the early evening, Alex awoke before dawn. She walked through the shop one more time. It was empty, there were no signs of life. Alex went back upstairs one last time and folded the wool blanket. She found a note pad on the table and wrote down just a few words. Then she took the blanket and went downstairs. She didn't place the doorstop in the jamb because she knew she wouldn't come back. The door locked behind her. Abandoned once again, she felt herself slipping back into survival mode. 

16.

Straddling the entrance of The Paw were two statues of cougars. James almost turned away, but realized he was in control of this situation. "Time to man up" he thought and strode in. Rooms diverged off the center hallway and James randomly turned into one that had a bar. The bartender was a handsome man with greased eyebrows. He sized James up and gave him a knowing nod. James chose a seat at the end of the L-shaped bar. There were pairs of women at a few of the tables and a few women drinking quietly by themselves. James didn't know what to expect. There weren't any TVs in the bar. The bartender asked him what he wanted and James ordered a gin and tonic. When it came, he took a taste. It tasted like pine trees. The bartender didn't seem interested in chatting. James read the labels bottles on the back of the bar and considered leaving. He shouldn't be here.

But when he finished his drink, before he could tell the bartender he wanted to settle up, the bartender brought him another. "It's from an admirer," he said. 

James looked around and found no one looking at him. There were three women alone in the bar, one was older with greying blonde hair, there was a brunette sitting by the wall playing with her phone and a redhead sitting by the window looking out onto the beach. None of them gave any sign of having sent him the drink.

James tried to keep an eye on the bartender but stopped when he realized he must look like a lost kid in the supermarket. When he finished the second drink, the bartender brought him two, another gin and a champagne flute with a lemon peel floating in it. "I think madame is shy," said the bartender and he nodded towards the window. Then he winked at James. 

Confused, but now involved, James walked over to the table and offered the champagne flute to the woman. 

"I suppose it's you I have to thank," he said.

She looked up startled and blushed. 

"Yes," she said.

"My name is James," he said.

- "Mine's Anne." she said and reached up to shake his hand. 

James stood there for a moment before asking, "May I sit down?"

Anne nervously looked around the room and said "Yes."

James sat down in the chair facing her. She pulled a dangling strand of hair behind her ear and blushed. 

James didn't know what to say.

Anne broke the silence. "Do you come here often?"

"No," said James. "It's my first time."

She breathed a sigh of relief. "Mine too. I didn't know what to expect."

James said, "Me neither." He let his eyes fall down her body, what he could see from the seated position.  She was wearing a green dress that tied behind her neck. Her face looked young compared to how some of the other women in the Paw looked and she was only wearing the slightest touch of makeup. 

"I'm sorry if I seem nervous, I'm terrified someone will see me here." 

"Should we leave then?"

"How about you let me buy you dinner at the Crab House?"

"That's fine," said James.

He stood and offered his hand to her. She took it and stood up. She was tall, almost as tall as him in heels. He picked up her sweater and held it for her.

They both felt exposed, the other women around the room were watching them over the rims of their martini glasses. Without making eye contact with any of them, they left. 

It was a short walk to the Crab House, an upscale seafood restaurant with a much more intimate setting. Anne whispered to the maître D and slipped him a tip. They were seated in a dark booth at the back of the restaurant. 

They hadn't spoken much for the last few minutes. When they sat down again, Anne smiled. 

"This is better," she said. "That place gives me the willies."

James smiled back but said nothing.

Anne couldn't let the silence hang and continued, "My husband is cheating on me."

James nodded, "I'm sorry to hear that."

"Don't be. We shouldn't have gotten married when we did. I think if I would have waited another year, I would have known better, but I was in love at the time. "

"We don't have to talk about it," said James.

"Oh, It's ok. I don't really know what to talk about at an adulterous rendezvous, so maybe adultery is a good topic."

James's dick twitched. This woman had every intention of fucking him.

"Sorry, that was crass. I'm just mad. Mad at him, mad at myself. But I guess I'm not surprised. My father did the same thing to my mother, His mother's an alcoholic, I don't suppose either of us had much chance of happiness. We thought pretending to be the perfect couple would fix that, but it never does. So anyway, he's off somewhere for business or pleasure and I'm here. But that doesn't mean that I don't want to keep this discrete."

"Is Anne even your real name?" asked James coyly.

"Yes, it is. I'm doing this as me. but I just don't want to get caught by one of the old bats from the city. I still have my good name and my business, I just need to get fucked, which isn't a crime."

"Speaking of business, how much do you charge?"

James was startled. He didn't speak for a second. "I don't know. How about this; Let's have dinner, and see if we are a match, if anything happens, you can evaluate my services and tip accordingly."

"You really don't know how to do this, do you?" she asked.

"Not really. I don't want to think about it too much. I'd rather just treat this like a date."

Anne thought about it for a second and then nodded. "Yeah, we just met in a bar. Now how do we make this seem more like a date?"

James slid closer to her in the round booth and said "I am glad we got to have this time together." He put his hand on hers.

She jumped ever so slightly and then relaxed. "Yeah. It's actually nice."

"Tell me about your job," he said. 

"Nah, I don't want to talk about that. Have you seen any movies recently?"

"No. I've been in kind of transitional time recently, but I like movies."

Their conversation prattled on for a while, after they ordered, they started to laugh more, and at times it actually seemed like they were on a date like two twenty somethings, nervous yet finding some common ground.

After dinner, they walked towards the Beach Front Hyatt where Anne had a room. After some light foreplay, they had fairly conventional sex. After he came, they fell asleep together.

In the morning, James woke up in a sea of sheets. Anne was gone. There was a note on the dresser and five crisp $100 bills. The note said "The service was exemplary. -Anne" 

James got dressed and headed out to the boardwalk. He had lunch, still marveling at the last few weeks and then went to the public lockers where he had left his stuff. He spent the day on the beach and then got dressed and returned to the Paw around five o'clock.

17.

When his cell phone rang at work, Sean rarely answered it. But when the number with a shore area code had called two days in a row, he picked up. 

"Hello?" he said.

"Sean Robinson?" asked the other voice.

"Yes," he said.

"This is Murray Capalano, I have some news about your father."

Sean's world began to spin, he grabbed his desk.

"Yes. Is he ok?"

"I'm afraid not. Your father was riding his bicycle the other day and he was struck by a truck."

The blood drained from his face.

"And...."

"And I'm sorry, but he's dead."

Seam almost dropped the phone, it felt like he couldn't breathe. Hank had stopped by earlier to tell him that morning that the shot would be ready by the weekend. He couldn't believe it.

"When did this happen?" He asked

"Two days ago, I'm sorry. Since he didn't have insurance, they had no information on him. One of the cops recognized him, but they didn't know who to call."

Sean sat in stunned silence.

Murray continued. "I'm sorry son, I had the body transferred to the funeral home according to your dad's wishes, but you should come down here."

"Ok. I can leave now. What will I need to do?"

"My office is on Ocean St. above Quick stop. If you stop by, I can fill you in on some more details."

"Ok, I need to get my girlfriend and we will be down there by 8."

"That's fine son. Please drive careful. When you get to town come to my office, I'll still be here."

Sean realized he had no idea who this man was.

"I can do that, but who are you?"

"I'm your father's lawyer and the executor of his estate."

"Ok Murray. Thank you," said Sean and he hung up.

Sean sat in his chair and started to weep. The tears were flowing down his cheeks before he realized it. The first memory he had of Vince came back to him. He was laughing and putting a pizza in the oven as Sean sat on the stool at the end of the bar with his superman doll. Sean couldn't remember what he was saying, but he knew it was probably at his own joke that he had told Mitzi. Mitzi was sitting on the stool next to Sean and she dug her fingers into his ribs until he squealed with laughter too. The man who had shown him how to laugh was gone.

He wiped the tears from his eyes and grabbed a few things out of his desk. There was a mirror on the back of his door and he made sure his face was straight before he left off. He went to Latrell's office and told him he was going to be out for a few days. That something had come up. The sleaze bag had winked at him. His secretary's head was bobbing in his lap.

Sean also went past Hank's lab. He stuck his head in. "Hank, I won't be needing that shot for this weekend."

Hank barely looked up, "Ok Sean." 

He took the train back to his house, texting Nicole on the way. She had a bag packed for each of them when he got home. She hugged him and he cried again like a child. His legs gave out and she continued to hold him on the floor until he stopped. He looked at her with new eyes. She was now all he had in the world. They went down to the garage and started out of the city. Through the traffic, they said little. They just sat in silence. 

At 8:30, Sean parked the car in the parking lot by the Quick Stop, there was a light on in the window above and a head appeared and waved slowly. 

Sean and Nicole got out and climbed the pressure treated stairs. Murray opened the door and gestured for them to enter the office that only had a desk and two threadbare chairs that looked like they had been thrown out by a library.

Sean shook Murray's hand who then shook Nicole's hand and introduced himself. 

"I was so sorry to have to call you Sean. This surprised me. I was sure your dad would live to be 100."

"Thank you. Me too," said Sean.

"Have a seat," said Murray.

A lit cigar was smoldering on the desk. He snuffed it as Sean and Nicole sat down.

"You're probably wondering why I called you here before going to the shop. But I wanted to warn you. It might be a bit of a scene."

Sean was confused. "What do you mean?" He asked.

"You have got to understand. Vincenzo's pizza has been a staple of this place for 50 years. That place meant a lot of things to a lot of people. There have been marriages that started there. Your father was an icon, a holdover from the heyday of the shore, and he worked every day. There have been people more outgoing, more famous, but there was no one more beloved than your dad. The shop being closed for a few days has already caused a stir."

"What kind of stir?" asked Sean.

"Just an outpouring of support. People have been leaving things in front of the shop, flowers and poems."

"That's really nice,” said Nicole.

Sean was still shaking his head. "That's fine. But what do I need to be warned about?"

"There are cameras there. News crews. It's a bit of a circus I thought you might want to avoid."

"Ok," said Sean still not getting it.

"There is talk of a parade. But I don't think it will happen."

"That's absurd," said Sean. "My father was great guy and I loved him, but why would they do that."

"Like I said, He was an icon." 

"I don't want to be a part of that," said Sean.

"I thought you might not. That's why I had you come here. Your father had no idea and no plans for something like this. He just wanted to be cremated and buried next to your mother. I have them holding the body at the funeral home because I thought you might want to see him. But other that you have no commitment to anything going on. I think you should let it blow over. If the mayor and the Rotarians want to honor him, you should let them but I would advise you to stay out of it."

"Why would Sean want to do that? Are you saying it's because he's black? From what he told me Vincent treated him like a true son!" 

Sean put his hand on Nicole's and Murray held up his. 

"I'm not suggesting anything of the sort young lady. I knew Vincent well and there was nothing in the world more important to him than Sean and all he had was pride. He told everyone about Sean. But this stuff, it's not what he would have wanted for himself or for Sean."

"He's right," said Sean. "I don't have any interest in it. When can I see him?"

"They are closed now, so we can go Tomorrow morning. I called Carmen Terissi and had her hold a room for you."

Sean nodded. 

"I'm sorry son. We'll have more to talk about in the next few days, but I think you should rest."

Sean stood up. Murray adjusted his thick rimmed glasses. 

"If you want to go over there, I'd say go after dark."

"Thanks Murray. We'll see you tomorrow at nine."

"Sure son. Nice to meet you ma'am" he said to Nicole.

Sean drove them to the Victorian bed and breakfast run by Carmen Terissi. She was one of his dad's oldest friends, a frail old lady who walked past the store every day at 2PM every day.  The afternoon was the only time of leisure for someone in her business. But her and Vincent would jabber in Italian, talking about the old days and the way the shore was going now. She had always been nice to Sean. When he was in high school, he had helped with the lawn care at her place, she tried to pay him, but Vincent wouldn't have it. He thought people should help each other.

She welcomed them into the kitchen. Sean towered over the grey-haired old lady. She could barely see anymore but she still walked.

"Sean I'm sorry. Your father. Madonna! The man was a saint."

"I know Ms. Terissi. I know."

"What a tragedy, to be die in that way. He deserved so much more."

"I know Ms. Terissi."

"I have been to Church twice since I heard. I prayed to St Peter, but your father won't need my prayers, he's entrance is assured."

"I know Ms. Terissi."

"Who is this lovely lady with you Sean?"

"This is Nicole. My girlfriend."

"An angel. You're staying in the Cream Room." said Carmen.

"Thank you for letting us stay, Ms. Terissi."

"You don't have to thank me Sean, your father, the best. I can't stop thinking about him."

"Ok. Well, you sleep well. We have to be at Murray's in the morning. We will try to be quiet."

"Goodnight, Sean, Nicole. Vincent. Ahhhh" She was crying and shaking. Holding a handkerchief in her fist, she walked towards her ground floor room in her nighty. Sean grabbed both bags and led the way up the stairs to the room on the third floor. 

Sean let them in. Nicole had never been to the shore before and certainly hadn't stayed in a room like this. The walls were papered, a wingback chair with a doily sat in a bay window. It was dusk outside, but the room was lit by several fringed lamps.

Sean set the bags down and sat on the bed. 

"It's nice of her to let us stay. Will you be ok here for a while? I have to go over there."

"I'll be fine baby, are you sure it's ok to go? You need me to go with you?"

"No. I have to go be there alone tonight. I'm still trying to process this. I need to go sit there by myself."

She hugged him on the bed, but he stood up and moved towards the door. 

"I'll be back tonight, but it might be late."

Nicole stared up at him wide eyed. "Whatever you need baby. I wish you would let me come."

"No. I'll be fine. Try to get some rest. I love you."

"I love you too baby."

Sean went down to his car and thought about driving, but that would bring too much attention. He walked the half mile to the shop, sticking to the alleys. He cut over a block early and walked down the boardwalk. There was an array of wreathes and mementos in front of the store. Vincent's picture surrounded in roses was there. People were taking pictures in front of the sign. Sean walked past and doubled back into the alley again. There was no car in behind the store. Looking over his shoulder, Sean put the key in the lock and let himself in. 

He stood in the silence for a moment. The place felt empty, dead. He stretched out his ears and tried to hear the sounds of the shop, the pizza oven creaking as it cooled and heated, the water heater, the fridge. But while those sounds were there, they seemed hollow. 

"Alex," he called out in a loud whisper. He walked through the store room and took up the narrow stairs. 

"Alex?" He said, hesitantly poking his head out through the doorway. There was nothing.

He flicked the light switch and looked at his father's room. It was tiny, and dull. A sink, a stove, a bed, the record player, the tiny table and a bookshelf. 

Vincent had always said he promised Mitzi the world, and all that she got was a third-class ticket on the USS Pizza. She would laugh when he told her that and it was a joke like so many of his other ones, but after she died, Vincent always said it with a little bit more sadness than levity. 

Sean saw the note on the bed and sat down next to it. On the ride down he had thought about Alex a lot.  His memories of his father were strong and he felt awash with them, but he had also in the past week spent so much time wondering about the future he was going to give him. If he had to leave the shore, Vincent really could have seen the world with Alex. What would she do now? What was Sean's responsibility to her? He would have to tell her about the serum, about why her body was changing. For a fleeting moment he had thought about bringing her back to New York, but ruled that out.  He wouldn't commit anyone to life in the E&I world. 

He picked up the note.

Scrawled in a tiny script were but a few words. He read them twice and set the letter down.

"Vincent, I wish you had been my father. I hope I didn't do anything to make you leave. I'm sorry. -Alex."

She was gone. Sean had no way to find her. He knew nothing about her other than she played the piano and made his dad laugh again. Would she show up in the days to come?" The door was locked when he got here. She wouldn't have had a key. Even he didn't have a key. Either the door wasn't locked or Vincent was here, that was how the door worked. "Who would steal the Dough?" Vincent would ask then laugh.

Sean walked over to the book case and picked up the two photo albums his father would drag out on his birthday. The put them under his arm and descended the stairs. He put the note in the pages of one of them and then closed it. He went back to the Bed and Breakfast. Nicole rolled over as he climbed into bed with her and he fell into a light and tormented sleep.

Alex had driven away from Ocean Park initially. She went out into woods and parked off a road that wasn't even on the map. She had bought food from the gas station and drank vodka from the plastic jug. Her dirty green tent was pitched next to the road.

One night it had been colder than her sleeping bag could handle so she crawled into the car and slept across the back seat. In the damp AM, she had driven into town in hopes of getting breakfast.

She parked in a free space and walked to the boardwalk. The morning runners were out but the sun still hadn't broken through the fog and shown itself. She sat on a bench and waited for the day to come alive.

James was walking down the boardwalk with his backpack. What had happened last night had left him shaken and he wasn't ready to go back to anywhere. He hadn't kept a room in the last few days because things had been so consistent for him at the Paw. He saw someone was sitting on his favorite bench, a small woman in a sweater with her arms wrapped tightly around her. 

"Can I sit here? " he asked.

"Sure," she said.