All characters involved in sexual activity are represented as over eighteen years old.
*****
"All things truly wicked start from innocence."
-Ernest Hemingway
The night was alive with the sounds of summer in the country. He could hear the occasional bull frog from beside the creek some one hundred yards away, interrupting the steady chorus of crickets that sang in the darkness, as the fireworks of hundreds of fireflies flashed across the half acre of backyard. He loved it here, always had.
Here,happened to be the backyard patio, behind his Aunt Sherry and Uncle Mike's house. A brick and tile sanctuary he had known most of his life. River Woods sat at the small patio table near the dated looking, but, large in-ground pool. The big sun umbrella sticking up in the center of the metal table was still extended open despite it being well after dark. A large moth danced in the light that rose from just under the surface of the water, casting everything around in a greenish blue tinge. He could smell the chlorine in the water and the corn in the nearby fields and he relaxed, feeling more at home than he had in ages.
He had been sitting here in the backyard since sundown, nursing a highball glass, full of cheap bourbon from his Uncle's poolside bar. A single ice-cube the only accessory added to the 90 proof, whiskey. He had changed out of his formal black suit and tie, into a pair of swim trunks and a sleeveless nylon workout shirt. His tanned skin and obvious athletic build, allowed him to pull off such youthful attire despite his fast approaching middle age. He was pretty fit for a forty five year old man, and he worked at it to stay that way. Weight lifting, running and swimming made up most of his exercise routine, and he had in fact spent the afternoon since returning from his mother's funeral service, in the pool he was sitting by.
He ran a hand through his dark hair and took another sip of bourbon, as the images of the afternoon encounter with Bethany bubbled up into his thoughts. It had happened so fast. He hadn't really been prepared to have her like that again and he felt irritated. Her cock-sucking
had been superb, she had swallowed his load gratefully, and he knew he had pleasured her, as evidenced by the puddle of pussy juice she left on the floor, but now sitting at her parent's home, his favorite Aunt and Uncle's home, he wasn't satisfied. He wanted more.
The idea he had cheated on his wife panged him a little bit, but he managed to push the guilt away. He didn't try to rationalize it, or make an excuse for what had happened, he simply didn't think about it for very long when his conscience rose up. The whiskey had dulled the part of his brain that wanted to dwell there anyway.
The afternoon had been a whirlwind that swept him up before he could even begin to process what he and his cousin had done together. Bethany had disappeared without saying goodbye not long after they had emerged from the tiny women's room at the funeral home. He had stayed for a little while after the crowds had gone, to help clean up things. He remembered feeling light and happy, and a bit overwhelmed. He had assumed she and the "Blob" had left to pick up their son at her mother's house, and had been totally surprised when he arrived later to see the boy still there, playing a video game with his own son in the family room.
His daughter and wife were playing in the pool as his Aunt, lounged on a float sunbathing. He changed quickly and cannon balled his way into the deep end of the pool. His Uncle Mike had started the large outdoor kitchen grill and the smell of hotdogs and hamburgers cooking over open flames added to the celebration. He found himself flirting with and fondling his wife in stolen moments the rest of the afternoon, but he kept one eye on the door waiting for Bethany to arrive. She never did.
As the sun began setting he was sitting at the table across from his Aunt taking shots of bourbon, as the others had long since gone inside.
"You know Bethany has had some pretty rough times lately," she had told him.
"Really," he asked, surprised.
"Yes. It seems Randy has been sleeping with his assistant at the dealership. He doesn't know Bethany knows. He's been stealing money from the business too. She found out about it. He doesn't know that either. She came home for a few days last month, but I was so busy with your mother, I wasn't much help for her," his Aunt slammed a shot of bourbon then set the glass down.
"What does she want to do?" he leaned forward in his chair.
"Who knows, honey? Bethany has a hard time with decisions sometimes. Randy is loaded, and so is his family. They would use their money to make her life hell. She knows that," his Aunt slipped back into the small chair and lit a cigarette. She inhaled deep, and then exhaled the smoke up and over her shoulder. It was a very movie-star expression and he chuckled at it.
"I know you two have some history. I know you have been kissing cousins for some-time. I don't want details. I do hope that stuff is in the past, because she needs to focus right now. She's my daughter and I love her, and I will kill the son-of-a bitch if he hurts her, but it's up to her what she wants to do now. I told her she can come home anytime she wants, but she seems afraid. Anyway..." her voice trailed off as the big sliding glass door slid open and a troop of grand-kids poured out of the house and into the pool. Randy Jr. was in the rear as the group jumped into the water. The kid looked like his father and River thought how unfortunate for him.
Now as he sat here in the dark, he could see his wife and kids through the large glass door, lounging on the couches in the huge den. The glow of the television screen was the only light in the room. He had seen his Aunt and Uncles' bedroom light go off, a short time before. He looked at his watch, and was surprised to see that it was one o'clock in the morning.
The flicker of headlights over the privacy fence was accompanied by the sound of a car coming down the long gravel driveway. He waited where he was, even after hearing the car door open and close. He sipped his bourbon as the gate rattled and a small silhouette approached him from the edge of the darkness.
"I thought I might find you here," it was Bethany's voice.
"Yep. Where you been?" he asked.
"Had to go home to clean up a little," she giggled.
He could see she had changed clothes; she now wore a pair of dark, tight, yoga pants and a white tank top that he could see her bra-less nipples through. Her pedicured toes stuck out of cute sandals, and he smiled at her approvingly.
"Nice," he said.
"You like," she winked coyly.
She sat down across from him at the table, and helped herself to his drink. She coughed a little after swallowing the booze.
"Damn," she said.
"You alone?" he asked.
"Very much so," she said taking another sip. "Are you?"
"For the moment," he glanced over her shoulder at his sleeping family in the house.
She leaned across the table until her face was inches from his. He could smell her, freshly showered skin, and the mouthwash mixed with bourbon on her breath.
"It's been a long strange day, River," she whispered.
"Where'd you go, you disappeared on me earlier," he said.
