Note: I am Australian and use UK English, the Oxford University Style Guide, and the European Union Guide for Translators - affects punctuation, like positioning of commas with regard to quote marks.
*****
The evening meal was over and the family were watching the news on television, with dad sitting in his favourite, recliner chair, mum in the other large, single, lounge chair, Amy and Robert sharing the three seater couch, as was their usual wont. The broadcast ended and the parents left the room to do things in his office and her kitchen, respectively, while Robert and Amy elected to stay and watch the 7.30 Report, before going upstairs to do their university homework.
It was Amy's custom, when watching TV, to either tuck her legs up under her on the couch, or stretch them out along the length of the couch, and if Robert was in the way it was not unusual for her to drape them over his lap, as she was doing now - nothing remarkable from their parent's point of view, but for the siblings there was a new found feeling of intimacy in this hitherto innocent act.
"I'd like to spin around and put my head in your lap, instead of my feet", she said, after her parents left, "but I guess we should keep our distance and not make it too obvious that things have changed between us."
"On the contrary", he replied, "Most people who get caught out in a secret affair do so because they do exactly that - change the way they interact with each other, thereby attracting others' attention and suspicions. As Hamlet's mother, Queen Gertrude, said,
'The lady doth protest too much, methinks'
. You've been following me around all your life, sitting on my lap, cuddling up when you're cold, and leaning against me when we're watching TV - you even got into bed with me one morning when you were cold. I know that was a few years ago, and was totally innocent - Mum certainly thought so when she came into the room and asked us when we were going to get up and do something useful. No, Amy, I think you should just continue to be your delightful, loving self and then they'll have not reason to think anything has changed. Obviously, it would be wise not to do anything
new
in front of them - of a boyfriend-girlfriend nature, I mean - but cuddling up on the couch in a
casual
way is something you have always done, so if you feel like it, do it. I know I'm cool with it, as I've always been. In fact, want to know a secret?"
"Yes please", she said with bright eyes, sitting up a little straighter to better hear the revelation.
"Well, as I say, you've always liked to cuddle, and while it was totally innocent on both sides for the first decade or so of our lives, since puberty I have actually enjoyed that sibling intimacy in a new and different way. As I said last night, whenever any lustful thoughts crept into my mind I tried to suppress them, because we are family, because of our religion, and out of respect for you as my sister, but I thought it was okay to enjoy the warm fuzzy feelings I was starting to have when you cuddled me, or when my hand was innocently resting on your hip while we listened to music or watched TV."
"Oh, Robbie, that's lovely and I am so glad you told me. Want to hear a secret of mine in return?"
"Sure", he replied with an amused smile.
"I've always loved my big brother in a sisterly, platonic way, but since puberty I've had an enormous crush on you. I found myself getting jealous when my school friends were talking about you, especially when they said things like they would give anything for you to ask them out on a date. Fancy being jealous of other girls perving on your brother! - but I was. I thought it was unfair that being your sister excluded me from the Robert Clifton fan club, and that I couldn't say the same things they were saying, without getting into trouble. Then last night happened, and I'm over the moon!"
He had a quick glance around the room to make sure they were still alone, smiled, and said, "Come here."
She quickly reversed her position so that her head and shoulders were on his lap and her feet at the other end of the couch, and said, "That's better. This is where I want to be."
"I'm enjoying it too", he said as she nuzzled her head in his lap. "If Mum or Dad come back just pretend to be more interested in what's happening on TV, than in me, and they won't even notice - it's not as if you haven't used me as a cushion in the past."
She smiled and gave his manhood another little rub with her cheek before focusing on the TV as her father passed through the room on his way to the kitchen. Robert just sat there with his arms spread on the back of the couch as he, too, looked at the screen. A few moments later both their mother and father re-entered the room.
"We're just going next door for a cuppa and a chat", said mother. "Won't be long."
"We'll probably be upstairs studying when you come back - see you then", said Robert and Amy just looked up at them and smiled, before going back to watching what was happening on the box.
As their parents walked down the path the the front gate their mother said, "Bert, we're so lucky to have such good children, aren't we."
"They're not children any more, my dear, but, yes, they are good kids, or responsible young adults now. What specifically did you mean?" he asked.
"So many of my friends complain about sibling rivalry and how it wears them down, but Amy and Robert have never had a fight that I know of, and always get on so well together. Amy adores her older brother and he obviously cares for her too, and has always looked after her. As I say, we're very lucky in that regard."
"Too true", said Bert as he opened the front gate for his wife.
Amy rolled onto her back, looked up at her brother, and said, "I wish they were going out for longer."
"Me too", he replied, as he looked down at his lovely sister, tousled her hair, and then casually fondled her breasts through her T-shirt. "... but they'll be home soon and we can't afford to take any risks."
"Not even a quickie?" she asked with a cheeky grin.
"I think I have unleashed a sexual tiger in my hitherto innocent, churchy, little sister", he said with a chuckle. "No, my love, but as we haven't had a private moment to talk today, either at uni or here at home, let's that. First ... I got the 'morning after pill' for you today and also the oral contraceptive pill - they're up in my room ... and, I'd love to know how you feel on this proverbial 'morning after' - obviously not traumatised after being fucked by your brother."