(Yes I know the difference between desert and dessert, again)

*Fire and water are opposites but together they build islands*

(Chelsea and Kyle)

Kyle had driven them to one of the nicest places on the lake front. Chelsea kept looking quizzically at Kyle then back again wondered how far they were going. Finally they pulled up a gravel driveway and headed off into the forest and she became really curious.

"Nice place," Chelsea joked.

"Dad's a real outdoorsman and he likes the rustic feel," Kyle answered. Only when they came around a corner of woods and rocks did Chelsea see the 'lodge'.

"How much of that is yours?" Chelsea wondered.

"All of it; didn't I tell you he was big in real estate," Kyle said. Chelsea was almost speechless.

"Oh, does this place have a staff," she weakly joked. "This place seems awful big for the two of us."

"Well, that is sort of what I wanted to talk to you about. My family is here for the weekend," Kyle admitted.

"Family?" gasped Chelsea.

"Yeah; Mom knows all about you – us. Dad thinks you're a PA at an insurance office. He's a bit of a snob so I didn't want to put you on the spot this early with us."

"Kyle, it is your fucking family! Don't you think you should have asked me about this instead of springing this on me?" Chelsea rounded on him angrily.

"I was afraid if you knew you would say no," he said softly.

"The hell Yes I would have said No, Kyle. It is your damn family and they are rich and I'm not and they are going to think I'm some sort of whore. Damn it, this is a stupid idea," Chelsea shouted.

"Trust me Chelsea, you'll do fine. If you impress them as much as you've impressed me, you will do fine."

"Kyle, they are all going to think I'm your fuck-bunny," Chelsea groused.

"You and I know differently Chelsea. The rest doesn't matter," Kyle responded.

"And if your dad tells you to dump me; what then?" Chelsea accused him.

"I do fine on my own, that's what," Kyle shot back. "Chelsea how often how do I have to tell you that mean the world to me? I wouldn't ask you to do anything I didn't believe you can do."

"Well, I guess it is too late, but if you think you are getting anything tonight you are so mistaken," Chelsea grumbled.

"Well, that sucks," Kyle confessed. "Does this mean an afternoon session is out of the question?"

"Don't press it," Chelsea snapped. "I will hurt you." They passed the last moments in silence. When they got there Kyle got their baggage out, Chelsea insisted taking her own, and he led her indoors.

"Kyle," called out a short, slender woman with a few streaks of grey in her brown hair pulled back in a ponytail. "Chelsea," she added. She hugged each one in turn which kind of freaked Chelsea out.

"Kyle, go out and see your Father, Tony, and Dorothy," the lady said. "Hi Chelsea, I'm Ellie. Why don't you help me get some drinks?" Kyle stole Chelsea a look but Ellie shooed him away.

"Chelsea, you are very lovely. Let's get some gin and tonics and whisky sours for the others. Kyle's Father is Simon, his older sister is Dorothy, and her fiancé is Tony," Ellie grinned.

"I'm Chelsea and there is just me," Chelsea shrugged.

"Kyle says you have a good friend called Rose," Ellie commented.

"Oh, what else has he said about me?" Chelsea hazard to say.

"He says you and your friend are exotic dancers, you are quite good, and that he's pretty crazy about you," Ellie smiled.

"He says that does he?" Chelsea said curiously.

"Well, I made up the 'crazy about you' part, but you should see the way he talks to me about you. It is good to see him interested in a girl once again," Ellie answered.

"Um ... it does seem to have been a while since he took a girl out," Chelsea grinned.

"Oh, he hasn't been out on more than two dates with a girl since his senior in high school," Ellie informed her.

"They break up went they went to college," Chelsea guessed. Ellie bit her lip.

"They had dated since the tenth grad and right before senior prom she died in an auto-wreck. Sarah was driving; Kyle was thrown clear of the accident and only got a few scratches. He held her while she died. I imagine he should have been the one to tell you about that, but I wanted to know that he really likes you so that means I really like you too."

"Umm ... thanks," Chelsea murmured. This was clearly a lot to digest but it explained a great deal about Kyle. Like her he was a damaged. It also explained why he knew so little about women but was as good looking as he was. The thing was his mother was really happy to see her and career be damned. She'd never thought about what it was to make another person happy.

It also made her wonder about Rose and what she might mean to Rose, and Rose to her. Ellie handed her one small tray while she took another. The fact that she was serving drinks at her new ... boyfriend's place was not lost on her. Kyle's Father came across as a hard-ass, a stockier version of Kyle. His Sister was in law school and looked like Ellie but with Kyle's lighter coloring. Tony looked ... well ... kind of sleazy, but then he turned out to be an entertainment agent and one who couldn't keep his eyes to himself.

Chelsea was able to deflect questions about her career with a bit of judicious help from Kyle and Ellie. The Father made little comments about Chelsea's breast size and that was something that Kyle took personally. The two men locked horns and everyone grew silent. Ellie finally intervened but Chelsea swore she saw a smile on the old man's face as Chelsea led Kyle away.

After dinner Chelsea commented on it to Ellie, not wanting to cause friction.

"Oh, Simon is always pushing Kyle. It is good to see my son fight back for a change," Ellie smiled.

"I don't want to be stepping into the middle of anything," Chelsea said.

"Well, if you like Kyle, you need to get used to dealing with Simon. My husband is difficult, but he's basically a decent man. More to the issue, I think Kyle is a good man. I think you will find him worth your time," Ellie suggested.

"I'll certainly give it some thought. I'm less angry with him now than I was when I got here," Chelsea offered.

"Huh?"

"Oh, Kyle sort of failed to mention I was meeting his family until we were in the driveway," Chelsea informed her. Ellie face-palmed and groaned.

"Really, I guarantee he is normally smarter than that," Ellie grinned weakly. Chelsea giggled.

"Oh, that would explain you two having separate rooms?" Ellie inquired.

"Yes, but I'm thinking about forgiving him," Chelsea allowed.

"Well Chelsea, whatever makes you happy, but if you ask me he deserves a night alone for what he pulled today," Kyle's mother said. Chelsea decided she liked Ellie right then. Of course, if she kept Kyle's father in line, she probably needed some vigor and backbone and that was worth its weight in gold.

(Morning)

Chelsea took a perverse pleasure in crawling into bed and hovering over Kyle when he woke up. His eyes went from her eyes to down to her dangling cleavage.

"Whoa," he mumbled coming to wakefulness.

"Good morning, Kyle," Chelsea purred.

"What have I done wrong?" he asked.

"What makes you think you've done something wrong?" she smiled.

"So I've done something right?" Kyle said hopefully.

"No, I'm still pissed with you for deceiving me to come out here, so I've decided to torture you before putting on my tank top and short shorts before everyone else sees it," she grinned evilly, "but I want you to remember me just like this ... hovering over you ... in your bed."

"I apologize," Kyle offered cautiously. Chelsea turned around and wiggled her ass in his face before looking over her shoulder at his agonized soul and giggling.

"Maybe ... around midday I'll consider it," she snickered at him. Kyle pulled the spare pillow over his face and groaned.

For Chelsea it was something she never experienced before. Sure exuding sensuality while denying sex was her job, but to do it on a personal level was exciting. She could taunt Kyle and still be sure he would be there – a repeat customer with benefits. Only when she got downstairs to help with breakfast did it occur to her that her idea of breakfast attire was a little less than everyone else expected?

It was soon clear that Dorothy had developed a sudden dislike for her. Even Ellie seemed a bit surprised. Tony was leering and even Simon was peeking at her goodies. At least Kyle came down and cuddled right up to her.

"So, surprised to see you two up so early," winked Tony to both Kyle and Chelsea. Chelsea felt embarrassed for Kyle but Kyle took it in a non-plus manner.

"Oh, Chelsea and I don't share the same bedroom Tony. We aren't engaged after all," he said before sipping his coffee. He didn't even bother to meet Tony's gaze but Chelsea resisted the impulse to hug him to her.

"Yes," Ellie added, "they have only started dating a month ago."

No one said anything for the longest time then,

"Sorry we had the wrong impression of you, Chelsea," Dorothy apologized.

"No problem Dorothy," Chelsea responded. She didn't bother asking what Dorothy thought she was before apologizing.

What Dorothy thought of her wasn't helped by the bathing suit Chelsea chose to wear. It was meant to excite Kyle but it had that effect on all the men there. She found herself talking with Ellie and Dorothy a lot which made her feel a bit out of her element. They talked about people she didn't know, but Ellie reminded her of who they were. What soon occurred to her was the people she mentioned she did know – professionally.

It was stunning how many men 'stepped out' on their wives on a regular basis. That these were regular men with normal professions, wives, and children weren't something she'd ever bothered with, but this was the other side of their lives. It became a game between her and Ellie when talking about men she 'knew'; something Dorothy was kept in the dark about. Again she found herself becoming closer with Ellie.

After lunch Simon and Tony went boating on the lake. Kyle would have gone along but Chelsea flagged him down before he joined them. Ellie and Dorothy went to the store for some last minute stuff for the evening's cook out, leaving them alone in the house. Kyle approached Chelsea on the deck and wrapped her in an embrace from behind. Chelsea wiggled her butt against him.

"Something on your mind?" she asked.

"You've been driving me crazy since this morning and I was wondering how much longer I will have to suffer."

"What says you are going to get anything this weekend?" she taunted. He tightened his hug about her.

"You are right; I shouldn't expect anything from you. It is just that you are driving me crazy with your expert teasing and your fantastic body. I can't help what I wish for," he confessed. Chelsea reached back and stroked his head behind her.

"So you are good for being sexless all weekend?" she asked. He kissed her on the neck.

"Of course, Chelsea," he murmured as he kissed her neck again and again. She titled her head to give him greater access. When he found that special spot, she held his head there.

"Maybe tonight," she suggested.

"Whatever you want," he said. They were still holding each other on the deck when the others returned.

(Sunday)

Chelsea sat back in the car, window open and the morning wind in her hair. Sure she and Kyle hadn't had sex, but they had slept in the same bed together and she felt as safe as she did with Rose. Ellie had turned out to be a kind of friend she'd never had before. They'd even agreed to meet up later in the week. She'd even started becoming comfortable calling him her boyfriend.

Rose met them with some anticipation. She ushered Kyle out of Chelsea and Roses' place as quickly as possible then turned on Chelsea.

"Okay, something weird happened. What was it?" Rose inquired.

"Oh ... we went to his family lake house," Chelsea began.

"Okay, we knew that it wasn't his – so?" Rose persisted.

"His family was there," Chelsea positively beamed.

"OH crap," Rose gasped.

"Oh no, I had a blast. His mom was great," Chelsea grinned.

"How much did you have to put out?" Rose griped.

"Not one time, and I tortured him all weekend for it too," Chelsea's eyes glowed.

"How did they treat you?" Rose wondered.

"His dad is a bit of an ass, and his sister is stuck up, but his mom is wonderful. Dorothy has this fiancé who kind of sucks. He's a real grabby-hand so I had to keep us from being alone, but it was worth it," Chelsea smiled.

"Do you really want to be part of that lifestyle?" Rose said negatively. "You know what those guys are like at the club."

"Rose, do you think Kyle is like that?" Chelsea asked honestly. Rose had to hesitate. Despite her desire to dislike him, the guy seemed to be trying. Worse, he made Chelsea happy.

"No," Rose admitted.

"That is good because do you know what I was taught this weekend? I take you for granted Rose and that's been bad of me. Being with Kyle has reminded me how much I love you Rose."

Rose stood still for a long moment.

"I really like you," Rose finally responded.

"No Rose, I love you. Not only have you always been there for me, I want you in my life. I'd never thought about it really. Do you feel the same way?" Rose stared back at the woman that was familiar yet strangely different.

"Yes Chelsea, I love you," Rose confessed. She stepped up into Chelsea's welcoming embrace. After kissing and pressing up against each other for what seemed like forever,

"What about Kyle?" Rose asked Chelsea. The other woman sighed and looked down.

"I love him too," Chelsea admitted. Rose hugged her tighter.

"Chelsea, sometimes you have a way of weirding out the moment," Rose said as she kissed Chelsea's head.

"Sorry?" Chelsea whispered.

"Somehow if you didn't confuse me it wouldn't be you," Rose joked.

"Sorry?" Chelsea repeated.

"Promise me one thing Chelsea," Rose asked.

"What is it?" worried Chelsea.

"You have to tell him about ... what happened," Rose insisted. Chelsea flinched.

"Why?" Chelsea whispered.

"Chelsea, it is something that he needs to deal with and you need to deal with him," Rose explained.

"Oh God Rose, what if he freaks. Friday I could have dealt with that, but today ... it was such a good time," Chelsea moaned.

"Chelsea, if you think he loves you then he will understand and if he doesn't then he's not worth keeping," Rose suggested. It hurt but Chelsea nodded. She hadn't thought about losing a guy in ten years and now she felt raw and vulnerable.

"Rose, what if I do if he walks away?" she said softly.

"I'll kick his ass," Rose promised.

(Chelsea, Kyle, and Rose)

Kyle looked at the two women with a smile. He knew that he and Rose had been having some issues and he expected the reason, but they both liked Chelsea so everything else didn't matter. He sat down and immediately felt some worry. Chelsea wasn't looking at him.

"What's up?" Kyle began.

"We have something we need to talk to you about," Rose said. She nudged Chelsea. Rose had wanted this moment of decision, she hadn't but she felt trapped between Kyle and Rose.

"Kyle ... I was raped," Chelsea said sadly. Kyle responded by reaching across the table for her hand which was in her lap. It wasn't what she had expected. Chelsea reached her hand up and took his. Even Rose took a deep breath of relief. Chelsea's heart was on the line.

"What happened, if you feel you can talk about it?" Kyle asked. Chelsea gulped. After several seconds Rose intervened.

"There was this guy and he 'sold' Chelsea to eight guys for an evening."

"Who?" Kyle said with a sudden intensity that startled Rose.

"Why does it matter?" Chelsea muttered.

"You are right," Kyle responded in a rapid change of direction. "What can I do for you?" Chelsea squeezed his hand.

"Kyle, your mom told me about you and Sarah," Chelsea said hopefully. "I was hoping you would understand."

"Oh, I understand alright," Kyle promised her. He held onto her hand and met her gaze evenly. They ate for a few minutes in silence. When Chelsea went to the bathroom, Rose grabbed Kyle's arm.

"What's your game?" she hissed.

"Someone hurt the woman I love. I lost one woman I loved; I'm not going to lose another," he replied with frank honesty.

"What does that mean?" Rose asked.

"Someone hurt her and if there wasn't a chance that he might hurt her again someday, we wouldn't be having this conversation," he answered. Rose had to see some logic to his statement. The bigger thing in her mind was that someone like Kyle was deadly serious. He'd never let anyone hurt Chelsea and if they had hurt her there would be hell to pay.

"Give me a few days to think about this and maybe – maybe – I'll help, but this has to be what is best for Chelsea; not you and not me," Rose informed him. Kyle nodded. Rose wasn't sure what to make of him now. He'd seemed so ... soft and pampered but she had to ask Chelsea about this Sarah. There was something more to this young man.

Only after they were on the drive back did Rose turn to Chelsea and ask her.

"What's with this Sarah?" Rose asked.

"I don't know if I should talk about it," Chelsea evaded. Rose stared at her. "She was his high school girlfriend. They were in love and right before they graduated they were in a horrible accident. She died and he lived and even though it wasn't his fault he's been grieving for her all these years – until he met me. Corny huh?"

"Do you think Kyle loves you?" Rose persisted.

"Yes, after today I'm pretty sure he does. He didn't hate me or anything," Chelsea answered.

"No one deserves to hate you Chelsea," Rose responded angrily. "You did nothing wrong."

"I cared for the wrong guy," Chelsea sighed.

"Do you think Kyle would do anything for you?" Rose asked.

"I don't know. Why do you ask?" Chelsea inquired.

"No reason; I was only asking," Rose said thoughtfully. Chelsea thought that was odd, but it had been a stressful day.

(Three days later – Kyle and Rose)

Rose came by Kyle's office which earned her a few looks. Clearly she wasn't his normal kind of client. Kyle hadn't been in the office, something that Rose should have thought about, but he immediately agreed to meet her the moment his assistant was convinced to call him. When he picked her up she asked drive out with him to the desert.

When they reached a deserted dirt road he pulled over and looked out over the arid landscape.

"What is this about?" he asked cautiously.

"I ... I want to be part of this and if I call it off, it ends, promise me," Rose told him intensely.

"What am I agreeing to? I can't agree to something without knowing something about it," Kyle countered.

"It has to do with Chelsea," she answered almost as a test of sorts.

"Okay," he agreed. He really was crazy about her.

"All I have is two names: Rodney and Tamara from ten years ago," Rose volunteered.

"Anything else at all?" he thought.

"Umm, he picks up impressionable girls straight off the bus and sells them to their buddies to fuck"

"Buddies? Any hope on names with them?" Kyle wondered.

"Well, there was this guy who came in a few days ago. The night you came over and stayed with her she nearly killed one of those buddies, which is the only reason I'm talking to you now. I don't want her doing something stupid," Rose responded.

"I'll let you know what I find out. I know some good investigators in my line of work. If nothing else they will know some criminal investigators and if there is something to be found out, I'll do what it takes," he promised Rose.

"I know you will Kyle. I'm sorry we haven't always gotten along," Rose confessed.

"We love the same woman Rose. There are going to be problems but we are putting the right person first," he answered.

"She can never know," Rose insisted.

"For what I plan to do to this guy, the fewer people who know the better," Kyle growled. Rose nodded. Kyle had impressed her with his intensity. Kyle was impressed with Rose's own fierce devotion to her friend.

(Three Weeks Later)

Chelsea rolled over and looked down from her elbow at the sleeping Kyle. It was a strange feeling to feel this way about a guy. She had done this a few times with Rose, but there had always been the taint of betrayal by men in general. Kyle slept easily at her side, trusting her even when she wasn't sure about him.

He was attractive, young, and vibrant though she was sure he wouldn't understand that in his current state. Kyle was the first man she had sex with more than once since Rodney. He was also the first man who had let her stay the night without wanting sex in the morning. He wanted to hold her and nestle with her in a way that made her feel whole. He wanted her, inside and out.

Chelsea went to sleep in his arms but woke up alone with the smell of coffee and microwaved bacon. She found her blouse, put it on, and sleepily found her way to his kitchen. Kyle was already up and dressed in a nice shirt, slacks and tie. The coughed when she walked in to get his attention. He gave her a confused then appreciative grin.

"Coffee? I've got orange juice and I've made you some bacon and grilled cheese the way you like it," he offered. Chelsea stumbled into the kitchen, bumped against him then took the coffee he handed her.

"Coffee is what I need," she murmured. "Do you have to get to work?"

"Yes, I've got a big meeting with some contractors this morning," he sighed.

"Are you sure I can't convince you to stay," Chelsea said taking a provocative stance that barely allowed her shirt to cover her most private of places. Kyle blinked once then began undoing her tie. Chelsea laughed.

"Just kidding Tiger," she motioned to him. "I only wanted to know if you had grown tired of me, which clearly you haven't." Kyle looked suitably heartbroken which only made Chelsea's heart grow fonder. Kyle came up to her and wrapped his hands around her waist.

"Never," he whispered to her.

"I won't get off tonight until two," she sighed back to him.

"How about we grab a coffee afterwards?" he asked.

"Sure, you can tell me about your day and I'll tell you about my day with your mom," she grinned. Kyle muttered something about meddling women under his breath. Chelsea laughed again.

"Well," Kyle admitted, "I have to go. Lock up when you leave." He kissed her on the lips; she returned it with more passion. After he was gone Chelsea took a seat in 'his' chair and curled up with a plate of toast, bacon and her coffee on the armrest. She sat back, cut the TV then looked around. Kyle had given her a key to his place the second time she'd spent the night so she could sleep late.

Chelsea finished up and took her time walking around the house. It wasn't huge, but it was nice. More to the point it was a place she shared with another human being. It felt like a home away from home. It felt so much like home she found herself lying back on the bed. She touched herself and slowly rubbed around. She rolled over and brought his pillow up to her nose and breathed in deep.

She imagined his fingers touching her and his tongue tickling her where she liked it. Her other hand reached inside her shirt and began to roll one of her nipple around.

"Kyle," she panted as she came close. He wasn't the best lover, but he was learning to know what she liked and more to the point, he was eager for her body without being demanding. If she didn't know herself better she might think she was in love.

(Evening)

Chelsea was surprised to be told that her 'boyfriend' was in the crowd that evening. Better yet, he had brought four other customers for the girls to enjoy fleecing. Chelsea was kind of pleased the he politely deferred them with the words that he was here for Chelsea. His companions teased him about it until they actually saw Chelsea, then they teased him for a totally different reason.

Chelsea didn't waste any time of making a b-line for Kyle.

"Lap dance for you Mister?" Chelsea teased.

"Can I touch you?"

"Only as much as I allow," she answered.

"You always keep me in line," Kyle smiled up at her. Kyle was a good boy, keeping her attention on him for the entire time she was on the floor. Only when she went for her next costume change for on stage did he have another girl over and that was Rose.

"Hey," Rose smiled to Kyle. "It is good to see you here." It was good to see that he'd pay for her time as well.

"Actually, can I talk to you in a secluded place," Kyle said quietly. Rose studied him a moment then nodded. They got a few cat-calls as Rose led him off. When they got to a singles room she looked at him curiously. Rose would be highly disappointed if he chose this moment to make a pass at her.

"I found something out," Kyle told her. Rose eyes narrowed in anticipation. "I found Rodney. It also turns that Chelsea – Tamara wasn't the only girl he treated like that. I was able to find four of them. One tried to commit suicide and one is a drug addict, but the other two live in the area. I haven't made contact with any of them. I wanted your advice."

Rose thought that over. She hoped for more time to figure out what to do about Rodney, but Kyle had busted his hump, and undoubtedly some other people's hump, to find this stuff out.

"Is he with someone now?" she asked.

"Yes," Kyle told her.

"I need to think about this. Promise me you won't do anything until you hear from me," Rose told him.

"I already did Rose, but I'll promise you again," Kyle swore.

"Give me a day or two and I'll give you an answer," Rose sighed. She gave Kyle an appreciative look. She pushed him into the padded seat and straddled his lap.

"Huh?" Kyle wondered.

"Well, you are paying for an exclusive dance and I wouldn't want people to think I was cheating you," she grinned as she began to give him her best gyrations. Rose decided Chelsea was right about something; he looked utterly adorable when he was caught between excitement and shyness.

When she got him good and riled up, grinding her ass into his incredibly hard hard-on, she pressed back against him put his hands on her breasts and panted,

"How would you like a three-way?"

"What?" Kyle gasped. "Really I hadn't thought about it. Okay, I kinda of never thought about it."

"Seriously," she asked, studying him.

"I thought you disliked me," Kyle admitted.

"What if Chelsea asked you to?" she teased.

"Well I guess I would," he agreed.

"Am I really that hideous," Rose asked seductively.

"Hell no Rose, but would either of us cheat on Chelsea?" he countered.

"No but would you date me if Chelsea wasn't around?" Rose inquired.

"I don't know Rose. You know I'm not dating Chelsea because she is an exotic dancer. Maybe if we dated a bit we could build something,"

"That is the nicest 'not likely' anyone has ever told me," Rose chuckled as she continued her dance. "In fact, since I got my boob job, you are the only guy who has said 'no'."

"Can I see?" Kyle asked innocently. Rose stole him a curious glance but she turned around and undid her top. He put gentle pressure on her back he brought Rose forward.

As her breasts came closer he took one in his mouth and moved his mouth and tongue in a uniquely skilled technique.

"Mmmm, Chelsea has trained you well," Rose noted. He mumbled something but kept at it. He kept at it for some time going from breast to breast all the while running his hands from mid-back to the top of her ass. After several minutes he broke from his suckling and looked up.

"Friends?" he queried.

"If you do that for her, hell yes we are friends," she smiled down at him.

"Should we get back now?" he asked softly.

"We'd better before one of us forgets themselves," she sighed.

Rose got off his lap and pulled him up. Suddenly she had a real kinship with this man and not because of what he'd done but because he was willing to do it to make her happy. She took him back to the main floor in time to see Chelsea's act finish. She gives Rose and Kyle a wink when she saw them. She joined them when she came back around at the bar.

Kyle paid for the overpriced drinks that allowed him to spend time with them legitimately.

"So, what were my two favorite people up to?" Chelsea teased.

"I was giving him a private dance," Rose taunted back. "He was quite creative and grateful."

Kyle nearly spewed but Rose and Chelsea laughed. Chelsea rubbed Kyle's thigh.

"It is an old tradition here to scoop up another girl's guy to get their blood pressure up," Chelsea said. "Nothing happened," she cautioned, "Right?"

"Unless you mean did I grab her ass and suck on her magnificent tits then nothing happened," Kyle gulped. Chelsea looked at Kyle suspiciously then smacked Rose in the arm.

"Oh, you were mean," she grumbled to Rose. "Poor Kyle, are you okay?" she added in a sympathetic tone.

"Well," giggled Rose, "you told me that we should learn to get along. How was I to know that didn't include a titty-snuggle?"

"Chelsea, don't lay all the blame on Rose. I could have left but I chose to stay. What can I say; she made an offer I could refuse," Kyle admitted. To emphasize the point Rose pushed her bosom together and offered them to Chelsea.

"Fine," Chelsea declared with a wicked grin, "you both were wrong and I'll get both of you."

Kyle looked to Rose who stole a glance back.

"Is this a bad thing?" he inquired.

"I'm expecting to go home and get a severe tongue-lashing," Rose grinned innocently.

"Oh, neither one of you are getting anything," Chelsea announced.

"Ouch!" groaned Rose.

"It is all her fault," Kyle blamed Rose with desperate hope. Rose punched him. Chelsea flounced off looking terribly sexy.

"You are really starting to grow on me Kyle," Rose commented before she headed backstage leaving him even more confused. Which part of their relationship was she talking about?

(Seven Days Later)

It had taken Rose only one day to think it over. While she waited she knew that some other girl was one day away from going through what Chelsea went through. The next few days involved them hunting down the four girls on the list. Rose knew about the nightmares and felt some longing to bring peace to minds Rodney had touched in the same way he'd damaged her love.

The conversations went something like Beverly's;

"Hey, do you two want me to play a double," the young prostitute asked them. Rose negotiated a price and they went up to a decent motel bedroom. Bev looked around, pleased with her environment. Undoubtedly her clients had some money, so maybe this was all she had to work tonight.

"How do you want it?" Bev inquired. The guy looked kind of green, but the woman looked professional. Maybe that could work in her favor – a little woman on woman sympathy. The woman doled out the agreed upon money and sat on the bed.

"We want to talk," the man responded. Bev groaned inwardly; she had known this was too good to be true.

"Cops?" she sighed.

"Hell no," the woman replied with a dark grin. "We want to talk to you about Rodney." Bev stood up and made to leave. Only the man's quick actions prevented her.

"I'm done with him," she said desperately.

"You may be done with him, but we aren't. He hurt someone we really care about and we are going to deal with him," the woman declared. Bev was a bit taken aback by the woman's ferocity.

"I don't want anything to do with him," Bev said cautiously.

"Okay," the man said, "but if you want payback, this is your chance. I'm offering you the opportunity to know he will never harm you or another person ever again." Bev gaped.

"You two are talking about ..." she whispered.

"We aren't promising anything," the woman said, "but if you want closure ... we are offering it to you."

"Why? I mean, I you told me about your friend, but why are you talking to me?" Bev wondered.

"My friend wakes up too many nights haunted by what he made her do. He's traumatized other women. This has got to stop. With or without you, we are going to make him pay."

"So I can walk away?" Bev hazarded to guess.

"Yes, but I'd hope you would reconsider," the man stated. Bev eased around him and made for the door. She was still looking over her shoulder when the door shut behind her and she walked down the hall. It took her fifteen minutes and two stiff drinks to come back up. Even as Bev's hand knocked on the door she prayed they were gone. The man answered the door.

"Come in," he said as he ushered her in. Bev found herself shuddering and near tears even though it had been over four years.

"What do you need me to do?" she shook.

"That is up to you," the woman said with some sensitivity. "You want to write him a harsh letter I'll read it to him. You want to wave goodbye, I can do that for you too."

"Are you going ... are you going to kill him?" Bev stammered.

"Do you really need to know that?" the man answered.

"Can I have some time to think about it?" Bev finally managed to say. This was a whole lot happening very fast over a really dark place in her life.

"Take a few days," the woman offered. "Here is a card. It is good for a week, but I hope you call sooner."

Bev took the card and examined it like a terrible thing thrust upon her. How could she tell them about her own nightmares, a long degrading slide away from her dreams into an empty, pointless existence that she called day-to-day life?

"What is in it for me?" Bev muttered. The man seemed surprised but the woman reacted with understanding.

"What do you want?"

"I want a way out," Bev stated. The woman nodded her understanding.

"Have you ever thought about dancing?" the woman asked. Bev looked that her less than impressive chest and back to the woman quizzically.

"Hey you," the woman called to the man. He looked mildly confused then his eyes grew brighter.

"Whatever size you are aiming for I'll take care of," he told her. He looked honest.

"How do I know you will deliver?" Bev persisted. She didn't know why she even said that.

"Come with me tomorrow, Bev and I'll set something up for you. Even if you don't help out you will still get a leg up getting away from him," the Honest Man promised.

"What happens if I back out?" she cringed.

"Nothing," the woman responded. "Consider this your big break."

"Who else is going to be part of this madness?" Bev found herself stumbling into the question.

"We are looking for two of the girls, but we have one online and ready to go."

"What's the plan?" Bev questioned.

"Sign up and we'll tell you," the man said.

"Then we are free?" Bev asked.

"You never need to see us again," the woman said.

"Or, you can keep in touch until you can stand on you own. Something needs to be done for you for the crap this city has put you through," the man informed her.

"Could we go to the police?" Bev said as she sat down on the bed.

"They have their chance. Do you want to face him in court?" the woman. Beverly shook her head. Facing her tormentor would be horrible.

"Beverly, you have the room for the night and I've run a two hundred bill for room service. Stay here tonight. You have to be out by ten a.m." the man sounded compassionate.

Suddenly Bev some sort of synergy with these strangers, each of them wanting the same thing – to ruin another human being who richly deserved it. Bev felt very tired. She sat down on the bed looking at the two other people.

"We'll let you spend some time alone," the woman said. They made to leave.

"Who are you people?" she asked.

"We can't say," the woman answered.

"But we are friends," the man responded.

"The woman you are doing this for is very special?" the inquired.

"Very," the woman replied. The man nodded. It was a realization that had long eluded her – to feel special in someone's eyes. She'd felt that with Rodney until he betrayed and abandoned her and despaired of ever feeling that way again, but maybe if this other woman could end up this way, so could she. Life was no longer the endless road to a bottomless pit.

"I'll do it," she said before the door shut. "What do you need me to do?" The woman looked into the room and smiled.

"All we need you to do is show up and say goodbye. Think about what you want to say because you'll only get this one chance," Rose said with finality. Bev nodded. She had a lot of pain to think about.

(Rodney's Last Night on Earth)

Getting two guys to grab Rodney had been pathetically easy; she'd used some of Kyle's money to hire two bouncers from the club with the added bonus that they were doing Chelsea a secret favor. They were also doing Rose a not-so-secret favor, but she could live with that. Kyle had the fleabag apartment and Rodney was bright enough to have his latest little thing answer the door. She was hardly an impediment.

Rodney's biggest problem was he was a bottom-feeder amongst bottom-feeders. He wasn't worth even someone collecting protection money from. As a criminal he was pretty much a failure. All he did have was fading good looks and dreams about making the next big score. He had no idea why two large men came for him and he cried like a baby as they bound him up and tossed him in the trunk of the car with his girl. Whatever had gone wrong he was already blaming her for.

Kyle had come up in his mind of some elaborate way to save the young girl. The other girls could give testimonials, he could show her investigative evidence gathered against the scumbag, or maybe just reason with her. As he drove the car into the desert his mind was racing with all kinds of things. He almost missed the turn off where Rose and the others were waiting.

Rodney wasn't the strongest man who had ever lived and he put up a bit of a struggle, but when Rose came over to help Kyle they yanked him out soon enough. Rose and Kyle threw him to his knees and ripped off the tape over his mouth while leaving the hands cuffed behind his back.

"Whatever it was, it wasn't me!" Rodney explained. "It was the bitch."

He looked around the site and could make out four figures backlit by the lights of a second car. After the darkness of the trunk the light was blinding. He heard his girlfriend muffle something as she knelt beside him.

"So, if we off your 'bitch' we can call it even Rodney?" Rose suggested.

"Sure, yeah, whatever you say. She's always fucking up. There has to be some mistake, it wasn't me," he blubbered. Kyle slowly pulled the tape off the girl's mouth though she too remained handcuffed.

"Baby?" the girl pleaded to Rodney.

"Shut up bitch," he snapped.

"But ..." the girl began sobbing.

"So, we can deal with the person responsible and the rest of us can go home?" Kyle said quietly.

"Yeah, whatever, as long as you don't make me walk back from wherever it is we are," he grinned.

Rose slapped the tape back on Rodney then knelt in front of the girl.

"If we let you go do you promise to walk away and never look back?"

"I don't ..." she gulped.

"Get your life back. We'll find something for you to do in the city, but you have to promise to walk away now or you can suffer the same fate as Rodney," Rose told her.

The girl was clearly torn. Rodney had his hooks into her deep so that even with his recent betrayal she was still confused and frightened.

"Gale," (her name) Kyle said, "you heard Rodney willing to have you buried in an unmarked grave in the desert without a second's thought. If you still have your dreams this is when you reach for them. You have to know that Rodney is no good for you."

Sometimes Rose thought Kyle was hopelessly naïve, but his saving grace was his sincerity.

"What about Rodney? I don't want anything bad to happen to him," she hesitated.

"Don't worry about it; Rodney is only getting what's coming to him," Rose promised.

"Okay," the Gale said meekly.

Kyle led her to the first car and drove some distance from the site and told her to wait for him to come back. When he returned to the others they had gathered around Rodney they were still shielded by the light. Rose removed the tape once more. Now Rodney was looking like a trapped, cornered animal.

No one said anything at this terrible moment, but Beverly finally broke the silence. She stepped out of the lights and walked up to Rodney.

"Remember me?" she spat. It infuriated her when he clearly didn't. It made them all wonder how many girls he'd gone through.

"I'm Beverly. You left me with that biker gang for a weekend, and never showed up to get me. When I finally got home bloody and battered you had moved on. I bled for a week and had to get an abortion," Bev growled. Something inside him clicked and he paled.

"Bev baby," he pleaded. She spit in his face. Three more women stepped up and their anger was unleashed.

In the end Kyle wasn't sure how much good they'd done. They'd torn open wounds. They'd sent the girls back to the car before dragging Rodney into the pit, putting him into the packing crate, and buried it in the pre-prepared hole. They'd packed down the hard desert soil and left the scene.

Kyle drove the girls back to the city. There were still arrangements to make. They hooked up before Chelsea got off and waited in the parking lot.

"Did we do the right thing by not bringing Chelsea?" Kyle asked Rose.

"She has us, and we make up for the hole he ripped in her life. Those girls only have what they've been able to piece together on their own. They needed this and quite frankly I needed this," Rose admitted.

"I would do anything for Chelsea," Kyle responded.

"Kyle, you just buried a body in the desert for Chelsea. I believe you and even if Chelsea must never know, what you did means a hell of a lot to me," Rose told him.

"Friends?" Kyle suggested.

"Best of friends," Rose replied with a genuine smile. As much as she hated to face it, Kyle would do right by Chelsea. He would almost do as good a job for Chelsea as she would. Rose alone picked up Chelsea from work and they chatted amiable on the way back to their apartment where they shared a tender moment. Afterwards she was running her hands through Chelsea's hair along the edge of her breast.

"I like Kyle," Rose stated. Chelsea looked into Rose's eyes.

"What brought this on?" Chelsea wondered.

"Let's just say I've come to appreciate his finer qualities," Rose grinned.

"You two ..." Chelsea hinted warily.

"No, we would never do that to you, Chelsea, but we did spend some bonding time together and I think we reached an understanding," Rose announced.

"Well, that's a good thing then," Chelsea sighed.

"I would have to agree with you on that," she responded.

(Six months later)

Christmas was coming and Rose was packing up the last of Chelsea's boxes from the apartment. The move-in with Kyle had come along slowly but they were finally done. Chelsea took forever to pack things. They drove back to Kyle's new place and moved in the boxes to upstairs to Kyle and Chelsea's room where Chelsea was rearranging the closet –again.

"Here you are Dummy," Rose teased. Chelsea stuck out her tongue and made a raspberry.

"Can I help?" Kyle asked Chelsea.

"No Kyle," she responded looking from one set of shoes to another.

"Come on and help me," Rose suggested, "before she sticks you in the closet too."

Downstairs they went into Rose's room. She'd been packed up when Kyle had first arrived and had her moved in before Chelsea had gotten half way through her own stuff. He sat on her bed while Rose began unpacking her clothes.

"Thanks for giving me a room," Rose said for not the first time.

"You don't need to say that Rose," Kyle smiled. "We both love the same woman and she loves us. I couldn't imagine life with her without you." Rose looked over to him.

"Sometimes I can't believe you are for real," she grinned.

"Well I am," he shrugged. "I wouldn't be here without you and I'm smart enough to know it."