*Purity is a paradox; we are awed by it yet we are repulsed by it as well*

(Posting this chapter and chapter 24 at this time. Thanks for your patience)

*

Vivian was terribly subdued as she walked me back to the dorm. It was the two of us because my Handmaiden mistress was Erica, a second-team Karate classmate. She'd given me a rain check due to the trauma we had all just been through during class.

"You can use my room this weekend if you like," I broached the silence. "I'll ask Rio and Mercy to be somewhere else and Barbie Lynn can stay with you."

"I don't want to sleep with Barbie Lynn, Zane," Vivian replied. "I want to sleep in my own bed."

"That's bull- ..." I decided saying "shit", while a minor infraction, wouldn't do my argument any good. "You know Barbie Lynn to be kind-hearted and decent. She's not going to molest you. You two will be totally platonic."

"I don't know what to think," she replied. "I never thought Barbie Lynn would be the one to have sex outside of marriage."

"I knew she was flirty but that was it," she continued. "Now...now she's moved into your room and is having sex with you as if you were a married couple." She sighed. "Fine, not like a 'normal' married couple so we don't need to go there." Ah, no mention of anal sex I see.

"Vivian, I don't like to talk about my relationships with other women but I think Barbie Lynn would understand," I tried to explain. "There was no seduction between us -- we collided. I showed up at FFU pretty depressed. I'd spent a long month with my Aunt trying to adjust to America and a place and lifestyle I didn't know."

"My Aunt and I fought a lot and that Sunday Pastor Bill and his buddies tried to shake me down for my inheritance. I had the feeling that is why they wanted Aunt Jill in their church, and after all the crap Jill had been through, I felt that sucked," I said. "I'm in my room, sad and pissed off, then Barbie Lynn Masters comes soaring into my life."

"She thought I was 'Glenda's' brother, I told her my name was Zane, and next thing I knew we were all over one another. She gave me a blowjob and I gave her multiple orgasms and we parted ways. She thought she might see me once a month and I had no idea this was a girl's college. You are aware of the humiliation that followed," I concluded.

"Zane, that explains nothing," Vivian observed.

"Okay, I could have been clearer," I admitted. "What I was trying to say is that Barbie Lynn didn't change. I allowed her to do what she wanted to do with a guy all along. She is still the same woman who goes after life full of enthusiasm, who likes to work with kids, teaching Sunday school and going to church."

"And you want me to sleep with her when I've avoided the pleasure for the past three years?" Vivian refused to give in.

"I'd want you to sleep with Iona if she wasn't already heading out with me. I have a few others I could ask but that would be awkward. I like Opal and Brandi but I also know they'd hit on you if given half a chance," I outlined.

"I can sleep alone, Zane," Vivian stated.

"I know that, but do you want to?" I asked. Vivian didn't immediately reply. "You climbed into bed with me and some of the ladies, Vivian. There is a certain quality provided by a sleeping companion that you enjoy. You wanted it enough to put some faith in me and Barbie Lynn last night," I added.

"Zane, why are you making a big deal about this?" Vivian inquired.

"Your happiness matters to me," I answered. Vivian and I walked into the dorm and into the elevator before she spoke.

"Coach Gorman warned me about this," Vivian groaned. "Do you realize how much easier my life would be if you grabbed my breast or something like that?"

"Is that an invitation?" I perked up.

"No," she stated decisively. Her glare emphasized the point. "I mean my job keeping the Devil in line would be easier if he wasn't constantly giving me my favorite cupcakes."

"What's your favorite cupcake?" I grinned.

"Behave yourself," she sighed, somewhat amused and somewhat exasperated.

"Yes, ma'am," I nodded.

"That's a good boy," Vivian acknowledged.

"When I'm a good boy Heaven gives me a ginger cookie," I prodded.

"We are NOT going to go there," Vivian declared authoritatively, and that was that.

IT DOESN'T MATTER AND I DON'T UNDERSTAND

I thought I would have to stop by and pick up Iona Beckett on my way out. I was obviously forgetting I was dealing with the most organized person I'd ever met. I know Iona looks after all her own affairs and most of mine, plus I suspect she keeps an eye out for Rio as well. She was waiting in the main area of my 'room' when Vivian and I arrived, her overnight bag beside her.

I gave her a kiss and hurried to my room...where someone had already packed a weekend worth of stuff for me. I do not deserve one tenth of the affection aimed my way. Being hung by my toes from a ceiling fan is a small price to pay for what I receive. Still, I make a note to avoid girls with bizarre foot fetishes while in close proximity to ceiling fans -- my life is pretty freaking weird enough already.

I gathered my stuff, gathered up Iona, and made my good-byes. Brandi was kind enough to snuggle up to my back, reach around and pinch my nipples. It was playful, not painful, so I didn't mind too much. Besides, I had bigger fish to fry. When I told Rio that she'd need to share another bed with Mercy for the weekend she nodded.

"No problem, Bro," Rio told me. She then stepped up under the guise of hugging me good-bye and tried to nut me. She's a dangerous friend to have but since I can count her public displays of affection for me on one hand, I was ready for her.

"Damn it," Rio snarled, "you can't give my room to that Jesus-freak!" By 'my room' she really meant my (Zane's) room and 'Jesus-freak' was Vivian...who was eight feet away looking at her.

"It isn't going to kill you two to behave for two days, Rio," I stated. Mercy, standing right behind Rio, remained unfortunately silent on the subject.

"Rio, if you two would agree to abstain until I got back, I'd be willing to let you stay, but you are the King Kong of bedroom antics and Vivian needs the space," I explained.

"Fine, we'll crash at Aunt Jill's," Rio smirked. "I'm sure she can't shut the door before I get a foot in. She's far too nice to break it or kick me out." Oh yeah, I cannot begin to describe what Jill's reaction to a Mercy-Rio lesbian love-fest at 2:00 in the morning would be like. It would probably involve paramedics and a defibrillator.

"Okay," I shrugged. I fished out my keys and tossed them to Rio.

"Sweet!" Rio trumpeted. "We'll meet you at the car."

"We are not going," I corrected Rio. "Iona and I will stay here, camp out on a sleeper-sofa, and take in some Pay-per-View. Come by and pick us up for the party around nine tomorrow night."

"Your loss, Princess," Rio mocked me and walked away. Mercy loyally padded along.

"I'm sorry, Iona," I said to my petite friend. "I promise I'll make it up to you."

"I'm not looking for any particular place but a particular man," she smiled serenely.

"Sadly, I still have a piece of business to attend to and I see the person I need to see," I said as I spotted Valerie playing a competitive game of pool versus Raven of all people.

When Valerie had taken her shot I stepped up to her side.

"Can I catch a ride to the Dixie Roadhouse in the next few minutes?" I whispered.

"Sure. Wait... are you expecting me to hang around when you go inside?" Val smirked.

"I've already gone a round with Gabrielle Black today so I don't feel I deserve a second ass-whooping. I'd appreciate you sticking around at least until the gunfire starts," I chuckled.

"Fine, I'll stay, but you'll owe me one," Valerie smiled. "By the way, how tough is Gabrielle?"

"I'll let you know when my concussion fades," I responded.

"That good, huh?" Valerie persisted.

"In less than thirty seconds she snapped my neck. It took her less than five minutes to break Dana's back after that, and right there at the end I swore I saw a lone bead of sweat on Gabrielle's brow," I related.

"Just so we are clear; if I ever see her chasing your ass down like Gorman did that day, you are on your own," Valerie snorted.

"I thought you were a bad-ass," I taunted her. I really didn't want her fighting Ms. Black on my behalf.

"Granddad is a bad-ass; I'm a teenage girl who is good with bikes and can handle myself in a brawl but I'm not a true bad-ass. What I am is smart enough to not attempt the craziness that is your life," she huffed.

"Being smarter than me is hardly an accomplishment to be proud of," I jibbed back.

Raven, who had been pretending to not be eavesdropping, made this choking sound at that comment.

"Let me finish Raven off and I'll take you there," Valerie said.

"Valerie, she's killing you," I noted.

"I like a challenge," Valerie countered. She must because Raven only had one ball left to sink while Valerie had four. Less than a minute later Raven sent Valerie and I heading for the stairs. Iona gave me a slight nod and grin.

Rio came storming up at us half-way down.

"You motherfucker," she snarled.

"Problems?" I replied cautiously.

"Mercy said she wasn't going with me," Rio growled.

"What did you do?" I asked.

"I slapped the bitch," Rio retorted. I could tell that pissed Valerie off; I wasn't too happy either. "You put her up to this, didn't you?"

"I certainly did. I told her that she was going to have to step up instead of taking advantage of you all the time," I explained. "Did it hurt?" Rio knew I wasn't talking about Mercy's pain.

"Yes," she rumbled. "If I can't trust her, I can't use her."

"Whatever you decide to do, I'll live with," I shrugged. "I hope you know how hard it was for her to do what she did."

Thankfully, Valerie was far more controlled than Rio and judged the conversation to be too delicate for her input.

"Mercy is my deal, Zane. She's my responsibility and I'll take care of her without your interference," Rio stated aggressively.

"It doesn't work that way. People aren't one dimensional and you can't expect to help people and not have them change," I countered. "You changed Mercy, for the better, and that includes her desire to take up some of the responsibility you've borne onto her shoulders. And the only reason for her to do that is...you annoy her so much."

"Yeah," Rio finally deflated, "she was looking pretty miserable."

"Buddies take your pizza; friends take your pain, Rio. Get used to the fact that there are three of us standing beside you when you need us," I reminded her.

"I wasn't asking for anyone's help," Rio insisted.

"In that case, get in Zane's car and take a trip. When the cops finally pull you over you will have three years friend-free in prison," Valerie now interjected.

"Ha!" Rio snorted. "That's no good. Zane already promised to break me out if I get sent away."

"Zane," groaned Valerie, "do you have even a passing acquaintance with common sense?"

"I get a lot of that," I answered. "What now, Rio?"

"I go back to my room," she sighed, "apologize to Mercy, then come back upstairs and work out a deal with Vivian for use of your room."

"No tying them up and gagging Vivian and Barbie Lynn in their sleep," I cautioned Rio.

"Fuck you," Rio muttered darkly. "Fuck you and your mind-reading ability. Fine, I'll be good...okay, I'll be as good as I can be." With that, Rio tossed me back my keys and then bounded downstairs and out the door.

"I swear to God I would have tossed her out a window by now, if I were you," Valerie snorted.

"Mmmm...she grows on you...kind of like a tapeworm," I chuckled.

"I think my invitation to catch a bullet has been voided now that you have your keys back," Valerie noted. "I'll catch you tomorrow night."

"Sure thing, but I may need you for that 'thing' if I can set up a meeting," I replied. That thing was meeting up with a possible undercover officer which held the possibility of being a real disaster. Valerie was being kind enough to ignore her instincts, and her advice to me, by helping me out.

Valerie shook her head in skeptical amusement at my poor decision-making before we walked back upstairs. That bit of drama over, I swooped in, picked up Iona (figuratively) and escaped my room before anyone else could intervene. I thought we were doing quite well until I spotted someone sitting on the hood of my car...with a suitcase.

"Hey, Paige, what's up?" I inquired with a good deal of exasperation. It was kind of stupid, actually. I knew exactly what she was doing here; I hadn't invited her and I didn't want her coming along on Iona's weekend.

"I thought I'd let you spend the weekend with me," Paige smiled smugly. A light breeze tossed her alabaster hair across her translucent albino features. "You are late, by the way."

"No, Paige, this is Iona's..." I started to say.

"It would be wonderful spending the weekend with you, Paige," Iona stepped up and hugged her. "It will be so great; their house is huge, Aunt Jill is so kind, and there is the sorority right next door."

"Okay, Paige, you can come along, but this is a no sex weekend. Are we clear?" I warned her.

"We'll see," Paige smirked.

"I plan to sleep both nights in his bed, completely naked and rubbing against him," Iona beamed.

"He'll crack," Paige wagered.

"No, he won't. I trust him," Iona pledged. Paige appraised me for a second.

"Okay, I'm game. We'll see if we can break him," Paige allowed. I once joked with some Kappa Sigmas about joining a monastery. I'm being driven to reconsider that option. After that exchange I was happy enough to make it to my home in one piece. I'd have been happier if there wasn't a police car in the driveway.

I was walking onto the porch when my ladies spoke up.

"Zane, why would the police be here?" Iona worried.

"Zane, if they arrest you and I then attack them, will they let us share a cell?" Paige mused.

"Iona, I have a few ideas and none of them are good," I responded. "Paige, they don't house men and women together, but I can probably smuggle a message to your side and tell all the lesbians what a screamer you are."

Iona didn't get to question and Paige didn't get pick on me before I opened the door and went inside.

"Hey, Aunt Jill," I called out, "I'm home and I've brought Iona Beckett and Paige Zeller with me." We had already talked over Iona's stay with Jill; Paige would be a whole new series of complicated hurdles.

"Zane," Aunt Jill greeted me heartily. She was coming off her lounger while Officer Danica Campbell rose from the sofa and gave me a measured look.

"This is Officer Campbell of the Lancaster Police and she has an official criminal matter to discuss with you," Jill finished in a worried tone.

"Mr. Braxton, if I could have a word with you on the porch," Danica put forth the question that wasn't really a request.

"Of course, officer," I responded. "Ladies, could you please hang out here with Aunt Jill for a few minutes and I should be back as soon as possible."

I walked back to the porch. When Danica passed me, I shut the door and we turned to face one another.

"Zane," Danica smiled.

"Hey, it is good to see you, Officer Danica Campbell, but I have a feeling this isn't a social call," I sighed.

"You are correct. There was an incident at the Dixie Roadhouse last night and your name came up during the inquiry. The Sheriff's Department contacted the PD and I decided that it would be more discrete that I meet you at your home as opposed to on campus," Danica related. "What can you tell me about the Dixie Roadhouse?"

"I went there with a few buddies, got into a fight, and beat a Warlord named Big Ted into unconsciousness," I informed Danica.

"What do you know about a guy named Peter 'Deacon' Baker?" Danica asked.

"He's like a big deal with the local chapter but I don't actually know the guy," I replied. She studied me for a moment then appeared to accept me at my word.

"This is a different crop of girls," she said with smirk.

"Yes, they are friends of mine. Iona is a best bud and Paige is...Paige. She's very smart but very hard to get along with at times too," I explained.

"How is your other friend?" She tried to sound casual. "I was curious if she'd be here tonight."

"I'll tell her that," I grinned. "It will make her week when she hears you've asked about her. She still thinks you are very special."

"She's quite a handful," she grinned back. "Not that I'm complaining. I can hardly get over the sensation of her nipples on my back as she drove into me." Heaven was going to love that, I was sure.

Her eyes wandered northward to the adjoining property. "More girls?" I followed her gaze to see three Kappa Sigmas coming through the tree-line.

"Those are some Kappa Sigma sorority sisters -- friends of mine. They are cool," I told her.

"Uh-huh," she sounded skeptical. "There has to be a story behind that that statement, I'm willing to bet." She pulled out a business card from her breast pocket. "Here's my card, in case something regarding the case occurs to you...or whatever."

The girls were almost on us so I had to whisper.

"You aren't, like, married, or divorced from somebody with violent tendencies, are you?" I inquired softly.

"No," she chuckled, "and cause for you asking that question has to be yet another interesting story, I'll bet. Maybe you can tell me about it if we get together."

"Mr. Braxton," she said a bit louder as she took a half-step back from me, "have a good weekend and try to stay out of trouble."

"I'll do my best, Officer Campbell," I responded.

"Ladies," she made a passing recognition of the Kappa Sigs as she left the porch and headed for the car.

Only when Danica's cruiser pulled onto the road did the Kappas speak.

"Hey, Zane," Leigh spoke up first, "isn't that the speed trap lady?"

"Yeah, she's nailed me before," I admitted, and immediately regretted my choice of words.

"Really?" Paris prodded me. "Isn't she a bit old for you?"

"No -- speed trap -- she pulled me over but I got off with a warning ticket," I back-pedaled.

"So, she got you off," Ferrara skewered me. "Which of her orifices was required for that?"

"Aarrrgghhh," I cried heavenward. "Fine, Iona and Paige Keller are inside. Together with Jill, they will be making dinner for those of us who care to share our table. I have to go a bar and pay off a biker gang chieftain before he hunts me down and kills me."

"Can we come along?" Leigh smiled. "We don't want to fight or anything like that, but I'd like to get some video of it...in case something fun happens."

"That's right," Ferrara joked. "Something like him being beaten up, shot, stabbed, or killed. Leigh, Zane has sustained two beatings on our behalf. Let's not go for a third time before the month's out."

"He didn't take a beating in the second fight," Paris corrected her sister. She was right; in the fight at the mall my opponents hadn't landed a blow.

"I heard he was pretty roughly abused when he went to jail over that," Ferrara gave me a knowing smile.

"All that conjecture is fascinating, ladies, but I do have a guy to pay off so go inside, make yourself at home, and I'll be back soon," I announced. I kissed each sister; Ferrara on the cheek, Paris on the lips, and Leigh with a tonsillectomy. I double-timed it to my car and didn't look back.

THE FADING LIGHT AND THE TIME LORD MAFIA

I made it to the Dixie Roadhouse five minutes late. There were only fifteen bikes parked out front so I figured that if something went wrong I'd only be kinda dead, as opposed to the totally dead -- killed in five or more fashions. There were three biker babes outside the door, drinking beers and talking; one was thankfully Willa. I made sure I had the money before disembarking from my car and heading in.

"Hi there, Zane," Willa greeted me. I recalled that Belle would be working at the bar near UV campus tonight and tomorrow.

"Hey, Willa, Katt, and Janet," I grinned. "Willa, if I get out of this, can I have a moment of your time when I get back?"

"Sure," Willa seemed curious. "I would like to talk to you too." That was a bit odd but okay.

When I entered the Dixie Roadhouse it took me a moment for my eyes to adjust but I knew where Deacon's table was from my last visit. Deacon was there with two of his associates, all in similar states of disrepair.

My first thought was: What in the hell happened to them? The second was: Wow, they let someone in a half-body cast out of the hospital rather quickly these days. It looked like a herd of water buffalo had worked out the dance routine from that prison scene in the play Chicago -- he had it coming -- all over their bodies. None of his infirmities kept Deacon from glaring with horrible malevolence at me as I approached.

"Here is your five thousand dollars," I stated as I lay the envelope on the table. None of them made a move on the money and I began to worry. Then I took in the full effects of their injuries and I figured out that not one of the three could reach over and get it. I opted to push the money across the table to the closest cripple. One of the guys managed, with some pain, to pick up the envelope and count the money.

"It is all here," the guy mumbled to Deacon. I could see in Deacon's eyes that his hate for me was far from quenched but I didn't know why. It wasn't like I came back and kicked his ass...oh fuck, maybe I had.

"I'll be going, then," I said as I backed up four steps. "I hope you feel better next time we meet." With that, I rapidly evacuated myself from the building.

I found myself de-stressing next to Willa outside.

"So, who in the hell fucked up Deacon and his buddies that bad?" I inquired.

"Some people were hoping you could tell us," Willa prodded.

"It wasn't me if that is what you are worried about," I assured her. "Tell me what happened."

"From what little we've been told or been able to figure out, Deacon and his two senior officers stepped out to their rides around 11:30 last night when they got jumped," Willa related.

"Then it gets weird...weirder," Katt continued. "Their attackers dragged them thirty yards over to the electrical shed," she pointed. That way no one could see them from the bar.

"Then they proceeded to beat the ever-living hell out of them," Janet concluded, then took a swig of beer. I had to think about that for a moment.

"Didn't they see who did it?" I questioned.

"Blackbeard and Booth (who I assumed were the other two broken bikers) were knocked out before they saw anything and Deacon hasn't related what he saw -- his jaw is wired shut because it's been broken in four places," Willa tried and failed to hide her grin. I had to think about that for a second; Deacon's jaw looked like it was carved out of granite.

"Ladies (an affectation they found amusing), if Deacon and his two buddies had gotten into a fight outside the Roadhouse, wouldn't the rest of you come running...and wouldn't they have called out if they saw a gang of guys they didn't know coming toward them?" I ruminated.

"That makes sense," Katt confirmed, "but what does that mean?"

"One person," I muttered; "one really, really skilled person."

"No way," Janet shook her head.

"I can and have one-punched a person and I'm only so good," I countered. "I would have figured out which bike was Deacon's, picked the third one closer to the door to hide behind. After that, when he passed by me, I would come around the bike at a crouch-run and kick the closest target where the ear and jaw meet. If I do it right his brain beats around inside his skull a few times and it's lights out," I explained.

"It looks like you've given this some thought," Willa observed.

"No; the move is standard kick-boxing and the tactics are the usual for ambushing a dangerous animal. If you come at it head-on, you might still win but the price is much higher. Deacon and the other two talking in a place they felt safe was the 'distraction' for the ambush," I explained.

"Oh," Willa contemplated the scenario. I could see her eyes walk over the parking lot as she considered the events playing out.

"Of course, that still leaves you facing two opponents -- right around six feet and 220 to 240 who are adept at violence," I pointed out.

"If you could hit the second guy the same way fast enough and somehow render the last one incapable of speech..." Willa concluded. "You would have to be insanely fast and if someone was that good, what would they be doing at a biker bar in Lancaster, Virginia?"

"Don't you know? This is the destination of choice for all international assassins on the run?" I joked. "Willa, can I have that moment now?" She shrugged, grinned, and walked with me to my car. It was refreshing to be side-by-side with a woman not interested in jumping my bones. If she'd been a lesbian instead of what she was, it would have been perfect.

"You are too young for me, Zane," Willa headed me off.

"Cool," I answered, which was not what she expected. "I need to talk with you a bit but not here. I don't want to risk anyone else listening in." Now Willa appeared to be curious.

"Okay. The abandoned roadside motel on Chandler Road, 2:00 pm tomorrow," she responded.

"Thanks, Willa. And also, do you know where I can get some fake ID's?" I asked as I got into my car.

"I'll see what I can dig up," Willa smirked. She rejoined her buddies on the porch and was chatting away as I took off for home.

I knew that my ordeal for this evening was far from over. There still was the hurdle of finding a place for Paige to sleep and making sure she stayed in the room Jill and I agreed on. The struggle with Jill over Rio had been epic enough; I certainly didn't expect the sounds of women's laughter and modern music to be the first thing I heard when I stepped out of my ride.

Mind you, Jill thought Rio still had moral fiber. If I told Rio she had even a single moral fiber left she'd span Heaven and Earth hunting the mythical beast down a la King Pellinore. On the plus side, Aunt Jill knew nothing of Paige so I could play up that angle. I walked indoors to a chorus of 'hey' and 'Zane' coming from the kitchen.

I strode into a flurry of dinner-prep activity. Apparently we were attempting Italian sausage ravioli, broccoli & carrots, mashed potatoes, salad, and gazpacho. Okay, I was pretty sure Jill thought ravioli was the invention of Chef Boyardee and gazpacho was some town in the former Yugoslavia so I had to wonder what the fuck was going on.

As if life wasn't interesting enough, Leigh glided up, greeted me again while whipping up the mashed potatoes, and then kissed me in a way that could only be called familial if both our last names were Borgia. Oh, and she did it with Jill staring right at us.

"I'm thinking of stripping you down and tying you up," I whispered in her ear.

"I like the sound of that," she snarled playfully in return.

"Then I'm going to leave you for a bunch of blindfolded kindergarteners to play finger-paint with," I snickered.

"Ouch," she recoiled. "Wait, what does that make me, molester and molestee?"

"Before or after you get revenge on me?" I joked.

"Zane," Paige materialized at my side, "what are you two talking about?"

"Gak!" I squawked. "Woman, what are you, The Cat that Walks Through Walls?"

"Schrödinger's Cat," Paige gleefully corrected. Leigh's eyes were still bugged out from Paige's sudden appearance.

Leigh gingerly poked Paige with her right forefinger while holding the bowl cradled in her left arm.

"Are you real?" Leigh prodded my albino stealth-monkey.

"Are these real?" Paige countered, massaging Leigh's breasts vigorously. Thankfully for me, Leigh's body shielded that action from Jill's eyes.

"Enough, Paige -- Leigh. I've got to talk to Jill about Paige's sleeping arrangements and right now she is in a good mood," I instructed this micro-gathering of ladies.

"Oh, it's okay," Paige smirked. "Iona vouched for me so I'm sleeping with you guys." I clearly looked incredulous. I mean, it took me hours working on Jill to get things like that done last time and Jill has known me for years. Whoops; that might be the problem.

"Wow, your nipples are really getting hard," Paige giggled softly to Leigh. She had continued to caress Leigh's goodies while I'd been working things out mentally. Leigh could have backed up; she could have swatted Paige's hands away or at least worn a bra. "Zane, does the 'no sex' rule apply to the whole weekend or only to the house?"

"Mmmm...a no sex rule?" Leigh licked her lips.

"Yes. Zane has forsworn sex for himself all weekend long," Paige whispered...while still teasing Leigh's nipples. "Iona and I plan to sleep cuddled next to him totally naked. We even have a little something extra planned for tonight."

"Why don't you tell me all about it? Zane, take the bowl," Leigh shoved the bowl and mixing spoon into my stomach. Paige and Leigh quickly slipped out of the room and disappeared from sight and sound. For some perverse reason I thought that if you slept with one girl, then slept with another one who had possessiveness issues, there would be a disagreement -- silly me.

Dinner was odd yet enjoyable with the six ladies and me. We ate, talked, even laughed a bit. The Kappa Sigmas and us FFU's exchanged anecdotes of our not so radically different campus lives. Girls ran in clumps (cliques, posses, BFFs, what have you), teachers still came in three flavors -- wonderful, indifferent, and outright wretched, and they liked to talk about the myriad interests -- boys (or girls) -- that intrigued them.

After dinner was cleaned up and leftovers put away we migrated to the living room. We watched a little TV and I was introduced to a yet-to-be-experienced modern phenomena -- the battle for the remote control: the Sorority edition. Apparently it is a combination of Machiavellian politics, mortal combat, and the exploration of sexual frontiers.

Had I known it was this much fun, I would have introduced it to my room on the first weekend. As it was, your ally one moment would betray you by choosing the Women's Network the next. You can defend yourself by whatever means necessary -- be it tickling with fingers and toes (damn Iona's short, flexible legs), grabbing and fondling the breasts (or my package), nipple pulls, kissing, and your normal wrestling moves.

At its culmination, I was triple-tackled over the back of the sofa by Leigh, Paris, and Ferrara. I gamely held onto the remote and lue loods until my ally Paige rescued the device. I celebrated my victory for all of two seconds before Enchanted came on -- I had been deceived! There was a vague awareness on my part of Iona tumbling with Paige but I had my own problems.

"I don't have the remote anymore, Ferrara," I reminded her quietly. There was no need to freak out Aunt Jill who was all of ten feet away -- in her chair on the other side of the sofa.

"You don't have the remote and I don't have underwear," Ferrara leered down at me. She was sitting on my chest and was pressing her hands down on my elbows. The implication of that statement wasn't lost on me.

"I'm trying to have a no-sex weekend, honest," I pleaded.

"We knew about it before we came over," Leigh giggled, "and we don't believe it."

"And that is why we are all not wearing underwear," Paris teased.

"How did you find out about this and why are you tempting me?" I was afraid of the answer.

"Oh, the challenge is on your website," Ferrara grinned down at me, "as well as a suggestion list for achieving penetration from you." Oh, I was wrong; this answer was much worse than what I had been imagining.

"This has gone all over UV, hasn't it?" I groaned.

"Yep," Leigh snickered, "along with you and Barbie Lynn in the shower...all forty heart-racing minutes of it."

"Oh, Fucking God!" I screamed out in soul-wrenching anguish.

"What?" Jill inquired.

"Zane got a splinter and we are trying to work it out," Leigh answered. "We'll keep on him until we are satisfied that it is taken care of."

"I think we are going to have to suck on it," Paris giggled. Iona promptly appeared, leaning over the sofa.

"No, I think Zane's difficulties will be dealt with right before bedtime when we can get a good look at things," Iona insisted. I was saved!

"Oh, come on," Ferrara muttered.

"I imagine a little kiss on the lips wouldn't be out of order as a reward for your compassion," Iona offered as an appeasement. Ferrara looked down at me, her eyes smoldering.

"Okay," the three sorority girls agreed. What that meant for my immediate well-being was less obvious. Paris and Leigh massaged my cock a few more times, to the point I would have been grinding my teeth in frustration had it not been for Ferrara; apparently a 'kiss on the lips' meant something else to her.

Ferrara did a one-armed push up, worked her shorts down then off before shuffling forward on her knees to my face. She glowed lustfully down at me. This would be the point where I showed how perturbed I was about these ladies coming over and sexually assaulting me in my Aunt's house. Come on, who do they think I am? It's not like I go over to their house and...ah, damn it.

I grabbed each of Ferrara's butt cheeks and drew her lips over mine. As I pulled us into contact -- I didn't want to have to arch my neck to do what I wanted to do -- her legs spread wide to either side of my head. I waggled my tongue in deep for my initial approach. She was very richly wet with an enticing aroma. While soaking in all of this stimulation I was also convincing myself that I was still remaining true to my pledge...then Paris and Leigh began unbuckling, unzipping, and yanking my pants down.

"Hey," hissed Iona, barely above a whisper, "stop that." According to later accounts, one or both of the Kappa Sigmas looked up and gave Iona a raspberry. I was buried in Ferrara's honey box at the time, launching my own oral perversions. Normally I focus on having my woman enjoy the experience. In Ferrara's case, I wanted her to cum hard, fast, and soon.

I opened my mouth as wide as possible and sucked as much of her sex in as I could, then thrashed my tongue about violently. Next I tucked my tongue, scooped up her clit in a tight embrace and rubbed it over the ridges of my teeth. Ferrara bucked away from the move but I held on to her deliciously plush ass. I let her clit slip between my lip and tongue and rolled it over in a less vigorous pattern which calmed her down.

"Ah...God...ah...God," she whistled through clenched teeth. I would have grinned but I already had plans for my lips and teeth. I used my stiffened lower lip to part her labia that allowed my tongue to get a 'running start' at her clit from beneath. I didn't roll over the clitoris but crested the tip, rubbed my tongue there, and then retreated to repeat the process again.

Every lap stole a breath from Ferrara; every withdrawal caused her to tilt her hips to prolong contact. She clued us in to the close proximity of her climax by slamming a fist against the floor twice in rapid succession. Iona slipped a throw-pillow down to Ferrara but it took the girl a moment to realize it was there. Thankfully, she was able to grab it just in time. Ferrara placed it on the floor, pushed her face into it, and screamed.

I swear to God it wasn't my name she screamed. That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

"Zane?" Jill called to me with curiosity.

"We've almost got that splinter taken care of," Paris piped up. Leigh would have agreed with that lie but she had nearly half my cock down her throat. According to Bill Clinton, a former President of the United States, this is not sex so my pledge was still good.

At that time Iona disappeared from sight and I had a difficult time believing she had abandoned me. Ferrara slumped down between my body and the back of the sofa, resting a knee on my chest. She was still taking deep, ragged breaths brought about by her orgasm.

"Are you okay?" I whispered to Ferrara. She just gave me a weird smile.

Leigh switched up with Paris, letting Paris put her lips on my cockhead and lick around the circumference. I propped my body up on my elbows so I could make eye contact.

"Come on -- stop it," I hissed to Paris and Leigh.

Leigh grinned seductively and shook her head. Paris rocked her head from side to side, which felt nice, but clearly wasn't about to stop.

"Basement," Ferrara commented. I had to assume that was a reference to the secret basement the Kappa Sigmas kept male sexual prisoners in, which may or may not have existed. They threatened me with it regularly so I had reason to be worried. The Kappa Sigmas responded with nods (brief in Paris' case) while I responded with a loud slap to Ferrara's inviting backside. She glared at me with a surprised and offended 'O' on her lips.

That reaction turned out to be more useful than I realized. Iona came speeding down the hallway from the kitchen with two tall glasses of ice water. At the last second the three realized she was coming but all Leigh could do was turn on her side. Iona dumped the glasses on Leigh and Paris. Leigh gasped and Paris shrieked (being the least aware of what was coming her way).

"I'm sorry, Aunt Jill," Iona said to our host to preempt the required question. "I had to put out a fire," she finished while looking down at the two top-soaked girls. Damn, Leigh has some really nice nipples. "I'm going to go fill these back up and get some paper towels to clean up this mess," Iona gave us all a cautionary look. "Ferrara, you dropped something," Iona indicated Ferrara's shorts with a tip of one of the glasses.

"What the hell?" growled Paris softly.

"She told you to stop that," I warned her. "Now we can go upstairs and I will give you some of my t-shirts to wear."

"I'm going to get Iona for this," Leigh grumbled.

"Me too," Paris added. My silence hadn't gone unnoticed.

"Zane, are you going to get in the way of our vengeance?" Ferrara questioned.

"Oh, hell no," I promised. "See, Iona and Paige are part of a group at FFU called the Science Club but in reality, they are the Time Lord Mafia. If you go after them, I'm running for cover. I promise I'll remember ya'll fondly."

"Oh, come on now," Ferrara rolled her eyes.

"Check that: I'll remember you fondly if they let me keep those memories. If you don't believe me, look up," I cautioned them. We all looked up and there was Paige who had been invisibly looking down on us, listening in.

"Hello, Ladies. Zane, I like that -- the Time Lord Mafia," Paige blessed me with a radiant smile. "I'll let Cordelia know and I'll even give you credit for the name." She pulled out her phone and proceeded to do just that.

"Zane, we are an international sisterhood," Ferrara stated smugly. "This Science Club is what; fifteen girls?"

"Hey, if you want every water source in your house to pump out Tang, be my guest," I chuckled. "Don't say I didn't warn you." Iona reappeared, gliding back with a towel over her arm and a full glass in each arm."

"Zane, we are a sorority; we can deal with this," Leigh smirked as she and Paris stood. Ferrara began wiggling back into her shorts.

"Leigh Douglas: born August 20th, age 21, majoring at the University of Virginia -- Lancaster with a grade point average of 3.3. Your first dog was a silver Yorkshire terrier named Buttons," Iona stated calmly. "Leigh, we like to know who is spending time with Zane. Paige, what would we do first?"

"I'm partial to re-routing all their information services to the Delta Omegas," Paige mused, citing one of their major sorority rivals, "including giving them access to their private Facebook accounts. I mean, nothing says "call me back for a second date" like a relationship status update that reads 'My herpes has almost cleared up'."

"Huh?" Leigh finally managed to articulate.

"Time Lord Mafia," I reiterated. "It is far better to have them as -- if not allies, at least thinking fondly of you. Which reminds me: Cordelia knows I'm gunning for her; right?"

"Yep," Iona responded.

"She's starting to get really curious what you are going to do." Paige hinted for a clue.

"Whoa," Ferrara jumped back in, "how come you can go after them but we can't, assuming that this Cordelia is one of them."

"I live without fear," I boasted.

"We need him alive and apparently a medically induced coma isn't an acceptable solution," Paige corrected me in a terrifyingly clinical manner.

By the way, I was pulling my underwear and pants back on and I had no idea what Aunt Jill was making of this conversation -- what she could catch of this over that damn 'Enchanted' movie.

"So, what is the plan, Zane?" Paige kept prying.

"I withhold comment because anything I say will be used to undermine my intentions," was all I gave her. You see -- I had no plan.

"Oh, you have no plan," Ferrara, Paige, Paris, and Leigh stated simultaneously. I had to imagine that Iona hadn't spoken because she didn't want to finish stomping on what remained of my dignity.

"Do not be upset," Iona knelt down and comforted me. "When a guy has something, he brags about it, even if only by oblique reference. It is basic human nature."

Since I had mastered the moment so successfully with conversation I shut the hell up and took the crowd toward my room. Halfway up the stairs I expected Jill to call out but it didn't happen. I counted myself lucky, handed out fresh t-shirts to Paris and Leigh, only to have Paige regale them for fifteen minutes about all the female swag I had in my dorm room -- from female silk robes in a variety of lengths and colors to thongs and dog collars.

Girls should not look at me and lick their lips; it is scary because I thought that men went to college to chase women, not the other way around. Back at the start of the year, I knew that I was such a Man-Stud that I'd pick up more than my fair share too. I now have multiple women in my life and one day soon I hope to chase one down and call her my own -- provided the other women let me.

"We will see you later," Leigh gave me a sexy nudge with her hip. I nodded and promptly made sure my windows were locked. They had the annoying habit of being unlocked with glowing neon signs outside that said "Kappa Sigmas enter here". This time I was ready for them. I was also on the ball enough to know that when none of the Kappa Sigmas were upset by my action, that indicated there was something going on that I was clueless about.

I was hardly convinced to let my guard down by the limited conversation the three sorority sisters and I had as I escorted them out of the house and kissed them goodnight. I diverged to the dryer to warm up Paris and Leigh's shirts. I kissed Aunt Jill goodnight as well. She gave me a bemused, maternal look as I headed back to my room before my 'bed time'. I must have looked like I felt -- pretty exhausted.

I joined Iona and Paige in the bathroom where we went through the nightly routine before heading for bed. They stripped slowly; I crawled into bed fully clothed and was feeling rather clever with myself.

"No, you don't," Paige insisted.

"Zane," Iona gave an angelic smile, "you have to do what you feel comfortable with but this is a matter of trust between us." Was Iona beating me up with a variation on the argument I'd used on Vivian a few hours ago? I was definitely undecided so Iona brushed my lips with hers. "It's okay."

The only thing worse than being manipulated is being manipulated with sincerity. I shucked my clothes and shot them to the foot of the bed. I took in the view of Paige and Iona stripped out of their bras, then panties. Paige even made a little game of it, shooting her panties at my head. She missed so I snatched them as they sailed past.

Paige flashed me a wicked grin as I did so.

"Hey, Zane," she purred. Paige put her knee on the bed, followed by the other, so that she was standing on her knees.

"Hey," Iona mimicked from the other side. Together, they sensually flowed toward me and each other. When they were settled against my hip they looked down and smiled.

"You both look lovely," I sighed dreamily at my slightly-built beauties. They graced me with a smile once more before looking into one another's eyes. Then they kissed, and after that they really kissed, and several steamy seconds later the girls extended their right hands to their opposite's breast. They rolled their tits beneath their palms. I would have wept at this point but it would have been unmanly.

When their left hands joined in the fun I nearly lost it. Did I mention they hadn't stopped kissing yet? It was hard enough that I was intimately familiar with their bodies, head to toe. I was the first man either of them had put lips to lust with (discarding Paige's grade school fiascoes). I had licked, teased, and plucked those nipples they were now so readily fondling.

I had placed them naked in bed with other women and beheld their first steps into a far more sexually dynamic life than a strict fundamental Christian life would have deposited them in. I would have continued to wax poetic on the vision above me but the horror of my decision to sleep with both their naked bodies without sex was grinding my happiness into despair.

"Oh, wow," Paige giggled, "it's throbbing on his stomach." She was referring to my penis. If it had something larger than a series of nerve clusters, my cock would have been screaming at me, questioning my sanity and demanding a passionate reason I wasn't mounting them both, drilling them hard, and going back for seconds...and thirds.

They both leaned down onto one arm before reclining to their sides.

"Good night, Zane," Iona whispered. She kissed me on the lips, rather chastely, then rolled over so that her back was to me. She wiggled her ass tight against my thigh because, you know, I have a thing for butts.

"Sweet dreams of me," Paige gave a sultry roll of the voice. She rested her head on my shoulder and languidly placed her right arm on my chest and her right leg on my groin. Her hand came to rest on the top of my sternum while her knee covered my balls and the base of my cock. My sexual organ gave her limb a sympathetic throb. Paige sighed pleasurably, enjoying the torture she was putting me through.

My right arm cradled Paige and drew her tighter. She kissed my chest with a feather-light touch. My left arm draped around Iona with my wrist being poked by her left nipple (it was still aroused by Paige's attentions) while my fingers coasted along her stomach. I drummed my hand on her abdomen; Iona snuggled in deeper and gave me a delightful little murmuring noise.

That was enough to send me off to sleep and I was grateful. If I hadn't been asleep I knew I was going to stick my cock into something, even if it was an electric outlet. I couldn't screw Iona and wouldn't sex up Paige because she would never let me get over having broken down and nailed her in defiance of my own word. What woman doesn't want to think her body can drive a man to forgo his honor? Again, she would never, ever let me forget it.

I wasn't sure how long I'd been asleep when I heard my bedroom door open. I wasn't sure what Jill would want this late but that wasn't a problem. The first one through the door was Leigh but Paris and Ricky Frasier snuck in right behind her. I need to invest in some home defense apparatus, things like pit-traps, trip-wires, and nests of feral Chihuahuas.

"Don't worry, Zane," Leigh whispered. "We are here for Paige."

"Ah," I grunted. Paige stirred next to me, rolled onto her back, and smiled at the newcomers. "We won't need you tonight," Paige assured me. "This is all-girl."

"I see; I need to go back to campus and spank Barbie Lynn, Opal, and Brandi's bottoms until they glow red," I growled. They had turned Paige onto the whole lesbian orgy theme.

"Hold on," I begged the girls as they began stripping. I rapidly moved to the closet, pulled down two comforters and two pillows for Iona and I to use as a bed. I set things out and Iona gave me one of those sleepy, sweet, innocent smiles and joined me on the floor, a comforter as a mattress and the other as a cover.

I quickly became obvious to me that the object of Leigh, Paris, Ricky's and Paige's fun wasn't to have intercourse with one another but to drive me nuts. It wasn't ego talking here; statistically, an ass, calf, or grinning head pops over the same side of bed you are on only so many times before it becomes enemy action. It was working too; I was rock hard and sleep was escaping me. Sadly, fate intervened, to my detriment.

In movies you often see couples roll out of bed, say 'ow,' then go back to passionate love-making. Paris came off the bed with a squeak; me -- I felt a stomach-churning pain and a soundless scream escaped my lips. Paris' knee had come straight down on my nuts and impacted them into the hardwood floor with only a thin quilt providing any absorption.

Paris' playful grin and giggle turned into fear as she saw my face.

"Zane?" she whispered, "Sorry?"

"Zane, are you okay?" Iona inquired at my side.

Paris backed off me, allowing me to wheeze and roll over in a ball facing Iona. Iona cradled me in her arms.

"Zane, what's wrong?" she worried. I wasn't articulate at the moment but Paris was.

"Oh, God," she gasped. "I landed on his nuts." Paige and Leigh immediately poked their heads over the bed, appearing in my peripheral vision. I heard Ricky padding around from the other side of the bed.

"Damn it," Leigh moaned. "Now what are we going to do?"

"How about show a little sympathy?" Iona grumped at the others. I know her heart was in the right place but pulling me tight to her bosom with a nipple resting on my upper lip didn't do my damaged genitalia any good. There was a light, coastal breeze off Madagascar calling for my dick to get hard once again and damn me if it wasn't answering.

The resulting pain was describable -- similar to having my testicles used by an 800 pound gorilla to sink the cue ball on a Carom billiards table. And damn if that bastard wasn't determined to get it done no matter how many attempts it took. Next time some psychopath stares me dead in the eyes and asks if I've ever prayed for death, I can match his gaze and say 'Hell yes.'

"Leigh, get some ice," Paige whispered. "Paris, go to the bathroom down the hall and get some ibuprofen and salve. Iona, help me get him back on the bed." The girls hurried off quietly, for which I was thankful. I was equally thankful that Iona and Paige were so gentle in moving me off the floor and onto the bed -- and yes, I hammed it up a bit.

Once the rush of taking charge of events passed, Paige began to flash me guilty looks. This was definitely her plan and she'd miscalculated the body motion dynamics of three women playing sex games on a queen-sized bed.

"I...I apologize," Paige admitted. "This was my fault." I was somewhat more than stunned.

"Okay," I gasped. "Flesh heals but memories are forever."

"That means you are going to get me for this," Paige realized.

"I'd buy a seat cushion if I were you, Ms. Spanky-bottoms," I tried to joke, but the pain got in the way of my laughter.

Paris padded back in with a pill bottle, a foil tube, and a glass of water. She handed the pill bottle to Paige and the water to Iona. When Paris started unscrewing the top to the salve, things became difficult.

"Paris," Iona grumbled, "why do you get to put the cream on his balls? It was your knee that caused his pain."

"I know," Paris whimpered, "and I want to make it up to him." Paige popped the pill cap and handed me two ibuprofen; Iona propped me up. I took the pills and she put the water to my lips.

"I'll take care of it," Iona insisted.

"My plan -- my fault -- I'll take care of it," Paige countered.

"Take care of what?" Leigh panted as she slipped into my bedroom with a bowl of ice.

"Massaging Zane's poor crushed nuts," Ricky murmured.

"If I've hurt him permanently, I'll never forgive myself," Paris moaned piteously. Was she more afraid of my promise to get her back or the other ladies' retaliation for the maiming I'd gone through?

"I said I would take care of it," Paige insisted.

"No, I think I will take care of it, if no one minds," I ground out. The implication was that if they didn't let me medicate my massive melons of masculine might, I'd come after them all...in thirty or so minutes when I could freely move once again.

It took me a second to realize that no one was arguing with me.

"Ricky, could you please get a damp hand-towel from the bathroom," Iona requested. Ricky looked confused so Iona added, "We can't put the ice cubes directly on his scrotum unless we really do want to take him to the emergency room."

"Oops -- sorry," Ricky sounded embarrassed. "That makes sense. I'll be right back." When Ricky left, Paige and Iona reclined on either side of me.

"Hold on," I requested. "I'd like to give Paris a hug." Iona scooted first, letting Paris crawl on all fours over my body. I gave her a kiss with as much strength as I could exert.

"I..." she mumbled.

"We were playing a game and it was an accident. I already feel somewhat better," I assured her. "Besides, I'm pretty sure I have yet to fuck you to orgasm and that's not a challenge my cock takes lightly." Paris wept and collapsed onto my chest. I lay back, head on a pillow, so I could stroke Paris' hair.

When Ricky returned I struggled around Paris to kiss her and Leigh as well. I also took the opportunity to coat my scrotum with the salve, which instantly cooled my pain, then started heating damaged parts up. Leigh applied the towel holding the ice gently to balance out the sensations. We hugged, confirmed our date for Saturday night, and parted ways.

Iona, Paige, and I returned to the bed and tried to get back to sleep. This time we kept our limbs to ourselves, though we remained close. I waited a while before surrendering to my dreams. A decision was reached internally that the next time I took Iona out for a quiet weekend, I would have to make it somewhere off the beaten path...somewhere in Appalachia no doubt.