Incest/Taboo Lady in Red

After a second or two of eerie silence, all hell broke loose. Jason had turned his gun to the left and continued to fire. Steve suddenly brought two guns into play, exchanging shots with several men standing directly in front of him. Charlie was methodically firing at the men stationed to his right.

Ted finally tried to pull his handgun from his waistband, but something struck him in the chest. He was knocked back against the wall. As he struggled to lift his weapon, he felt another blow to his chest just before he lost consciousness.

The next thing Ted remembered was waking up as someone lightly slapped his cheek. He opened his eyes to see Steve's face quite close to his. Steve nodded to himself and then ripped open the heavy jacket Ted was wearing. He looked Ted over for about fifteen seconds before speaking.

"I don't see any blood, Ted. It looks like you took two bullets to the chest, but your vest did its job. It'll hurt like hell, and you may have a cracked rib or two, but you should be okay.

"Jason, let me have a look at your leg," insisted Steve as he stood and walked over to Jason, who was now seated.

"You'll need something to prevent infection, but it looks like the bullet went through muscle and missed the bone. Luckily, you're in a pretty damn good hospital. Charlie, how bad is your arm?" questioned Steve as he moved a short distance to inspect his friend's injury.

"It hurts like hell, but I can still use it," assured Charlie just as one of Hasko's goons groaned loudly. Without even blinking, Charlie placed a round into the man's head. "That was the bastard that shot me! We need to find out how Jordan and Ruth are!"

"I just tried calling, but it goes straight to voicemail," responded Jason. "If Mallory did her job, the girls' phones should be turned off and they should be in a safe place. We have to wait until they turn the phones back on."

"I'll call Chip and let him know what's going on," volunteered Steve as he made the call. He spoke briefly and then signed off.

"They have company. Chip says that there are ten of them, and the idiots think that they're sneaking up on the guys in the house. Chip said that Jared, Pete, and he are just about to lower the boom. Those poor bastards won't know what hit them. I've seen Chip work. Jared and Pete aren't any pilgrims either, as John Wayne would say."

"How come no one's coming in to check on us?" asked Ted. "They had to have heard the shooting in here."

"We gave the staff a bit of a head's-up about the trouble we were expecting and suggested that they stay away until the dust settles and we call for them. We'll need to get the bodies down to the incinerator as soon as possible. Charlie, help Jason down to the nurses' station and get those wounds taken care of. Ted and I will load up the bodies and get them disposed of."

"Are you crazy?" demanded Ted. "The police will be all over you if you move these bodies. We need to get them here to see that it was self-defense."

"Ted, these were sociopaths. They've killed without feeling any remorse. The police won't be concerned about them. Nadiya's father promised the government wouldn't be interested as long as it remained low profile. We're going to burn these bodies and go home to our families. Chip, Jared, and Pete will bury the ones they have up in the woods by the house we rented."

"You don't even know how that turned out. Those gunmen could have killed your friends," protested Ted as he tried to assimilate the information flying his way.

"Believe me, Ted. I know how it'll turn out," replied Steve. "Those men are trying to sneak up on an empty house while three very capable men armed with assault rifles are waiting for them. Chip could probably handle them himself. Jared and Pete could take them without Chip. Those thugs are either dead or dying right now. Let's get this over with."

Steve stepped into the hall and went into a nearby room. He soon returned with what looked like a small dumpster on wheels. Steve casually began heaving bodies into it. Ted shook his head and then moved to help Steve. It required three trips down the service elevator, but Ted and Steve managed to load the dead men into the fire chamber.

"How can you do this without feeling sick?" asked Ted as they swung the last body into the fire. "Doesn't this bother you at all?"

"What bothers me is worrying about our girls back home," answered Steve as he moved to a wash basin and began cleaning up. "These men have a history of killing and raping women, and even children. They were worse than wild animals. They were more like mad dogs. We simply exterminated vermin. Doing so will probably save hundreds of lives over the next few years. Did I enjoy it? Not even a little. Do I regret it? Not at all. If Hasko had lived, none of us would have ever been safe. We had to do this for your wife and daughters, for Ashley, Naomi, Becky, Charlotte and the rest.

"I would give my life to save our women from these bastards. So would you, Jason, Charlie, and the rest. It was forced on us and we took care of it. I'm not proud of what we did, but it needed doing and not many could have managed it. That was some of the most intense action I've ever seen. We did what we had to do and survived. It's a good thing."

Charlie and Jason insisted on being treated quickly and leaving as soon as possible. They had their injuries dressed, given antibiotics, pain medication, and went in search of Steve and Ted. They found Steve explaining to three of the custodial staff that he wanted the floor scrubbed and the holes in the walls and furniture repaired as soon as possible. The men nodded agreement and began working on the blood stains first.

By the time the foursome reached the rented house, Jared and Chip were carrying their bags out and putting them in a dark Mercedes. Pete was grinning as he stepped out from behind the wheel.

"We won't be crowded riding to the airport now. We'll ride back in this 'borrowed' Benz. You guys can take the rentals."

"What happened to the men who came here to kill you?" asked Ted as he looked around the area in front of the house.

"I don't know what you mean," chuckled Chip. "Some friends loaned us this great automobile. We're just going to ride to the airport in it. They don't need it anymore."

It was two hours later when Steve's phone rang. He and the others were preparing to board the Red Lady when the call came in.

"Steve, are you and the rest okay?" asked Gwen immediately and in an obviously agitated tone.

"We're fine. We're boarding the Red Lady right now. Is everything okay with you?" questioned Steve as he somehow dreaded Gwen's response.

"Four horrible men came to our house before sunup this morning. They were armed and intent on killing someone, probably Charlotte and me. Sybil had sneaked us out earlier and secluded us with some of her agents a few miles from the home. She, Janice, and three others hid in the house and waited just in case we were attacked.

"There was a gun fight and three of the men were killed and one badly injured," continued Gwen. "Charlotte and I are fine, but we're not going back to the house. Our security detail wouldn't let us use our phones until just now.

"I spoke to Mom a few minutes ago. She had pretty much the same thing happen. Mallory had moved all of the occupants of Asgard into the safe room in Valhalla. She and about twenty agents spread out in all of our homes. A van crashed through the gate, with two more following it. The three guards had been warned and they killed three of the men there before they were wounded so badly they were unable to carry on the fight. There were ten more guards on their way to help cover when the attack occurred, but they were a few minutes too late.

"The loud ruckus alerted Mallory's people and when the vans stopped in front of Jordan's house, they were prepared. Twelve men were shot to ribbons and three more surrendered after being injured. Mom said none of our friends or family was hurt, but they're all shook up and worried about you guys."

Steve saw that his friends were all using their phones as he spoke with Gwen. "I think the guys are talking to their ladies right now. I want you to tell Sybil that she did a great job. We need to think of something really nice for her."

"Steve, I hate to tell you this, but Sybil was shot in the gun battle at our house. I'm waiting to hear more from Janice, but it doesn't look good."

"Oh shit!" cried Steve in anguish. "I'm so sorry to hear that. We'll be back as soon as possible. I'll fly through to California and be with you as fast as I can make it. We need to be sure that Sybil has every chance possible."

"I already let it be known that Lady in Red will cover any and all expenses and efforts to help her. Everyone at the hospital is aware of how much Sybil means to us," replied Gwen as she fought back tears. "Hurry back to me. I'm going to need some emotional support from you."

Steve and Gwen spoke for a few more minutes before ending the call. As he returned the phone to his pocket, he brushed the tears from his eyes and looked at his companions. They were watching him somberly.

"We heard about Sybil being hurt," began Charlie. "We all like her a lot and wish her the best. Sadly, it goes with the territory. We're pretty damn lucky that we're all alive and going home."

"Yeah," agreed Jason. "I apologize if I jumped the gun, so to speak, but when that miserable fuck started talking about what he was going to have his men do to Lisa and Theresa, I knew he had to die."

"You saved me a bullet," admitted Charlie. "I was just getting ready to pop the bastard myself. He deserved to die just for saying the things he did. Apparently he intended to carry them out."

"Won't there be any trouble over this?" asked Ted. "We just arrived in a strange country and killed, oh, about two dozen men, give or take. How can they let us leave so easily?"

"I spoke to Nadiya's father a few minutes ago," responded Steve. "Without going into any particulars, I explained that Hasko was out of business, permanently. I told him that my understanding was that he and his associates left the country and would not be returning."

"Mr. Misko assured me that his government was relieved that Hasko decided to go elsewhere, and they would not be looking for him. We just did the government, and the whole country, a big favor. Those bodies will not be found any time soon. When and if they are, no one will care about them."

"So that's it? No repercussions? We just go home and act like it never happened?" wondered Ted in amazement.

"No repercussions? A beautiful, vibrant young woman may die, so yes, there are serious repercussions. Wait until you try to sleep tonight. You'll find out that there are repercussions," declared Steve. "Our women have been scared to death. There'll be repercussions for years to come.

"Jason, Charlie, and the other guys appear to be fine, but we'll all have some issues from this cluster fuck," stated Steve flatly. "We sure as hell could have planned and prepared for this better. Pete will have to devise some sort of barriers that prevent forced entry to Asgard. We need to study and know our adversary better before we get in the middle of something. I dropped the ball on this. When we left to come over here, I thought we'd either scare the prick off, or plant him under the ground. I had no idea how evil the sick bastard was, and it may have cost me a very good friend, and if it hadn't been for our security team, we could have lost everything we hold dear!"

It seemed to Steve like it took a week to reach Stanford. It was past midnight when he checked into a hotel and fell into the bed. Gwen was not allowed to disclose her location over the phone, so they decided that they would work out things the following day, after Steve managed to get some rest.

After a fitful sleep, Steve was at Stanford Medical Center at 6 AM. He strode up to the information desk and asked about Sybil Burke. The woman behind the desk looked up and immediately recognized him. "Mr. Hammer, I'm supposed to ask you to go up to the fifth floor, where an escort will join you."

Steve stepped out of the elevator on the fifth floor and was greeted by a nurse that had apparently been waiting. "We've been instructed to allow you to visit Ms. Burke. She's no longer critical, but has a very long road ahead of her. Please follow me."

Steve was ushered into a private room. His heart jumped when Sybil looked at him and smiled weakly. He hurried to her side and gently kissed her lips.

"Sybil, I was terrified when I heard that you'd been shot. You've come to mean a great deal to me. You keep saving me and my family. Now you were hurt doing it. I'll never forget what you've done for me."

"I saw how well everyone treated you in the hospital when you were shot, so I thought I'd give it a try. It really isn't worth it, is it?" joked Sybil in a small voice.

"You just work at getting well. I'll stop in and help you every chance I get. We'll have you walking out of here in no time," promised Steve.

"That may be a problem," admitted Sybil as tears began to slide down her cheeks. "I can't feel my legs. The bullet clipped my spine. They don't know how permanent the damage is yet, but I may never be able to walk again."

Steve was stunned by Sybil's words. He simply took her face in his hands and held his forehead against hers for a long time. "Sybil, I'll never lie to you. You have to believe that. I just considered what you said about walking and I know that you will walk again. Don't ask me how or why, but I know that you will.

"You and I will work together on this. If we concentrate on your recovery and your spine healing, it will. I believe this. My mother taught me all about positive thinking when I was a kid. It works. Will you promise me that you'll work with me every chance that you get to heal, to recover, and to be able to dance again?"

"I'll do anything you ask," assured Sybil. "But I wasn't a very good dancer before this happened."

"Sybil, I promise you right now that if you'll work with me as hard as you possibly can, we'll share quite a few dances over the years. I'll teach you to be a very good dancer. You know I can. You saw the movie."

"I'll work as hard as I can just so you visit me now and then," managed Sybil with a smile. "You're the best guy I've ever met. I'll make you proud of me."

"I already am," replied Steve as he once again gently kissed Sybil's lips.

"What are you doing with my daughter?" came a voice from the doorway.

Steve turned to see Mallory Burke and Gwen watching him. "I'm making a promise to her, if you must know. I'm going to teach her to be a very good dancer. We're going to put every ounce of effort possible into it. Your daughter is an amazing woman and I'm extremely proud to know her and call her a friend."

"I leave for an hour to go home and get cleaned up and you're already entertaining a gentleman?" teased Mallory. "He's going to teach you to dance? I want to see that!"

"Steve usually accomplishes what he sets out to do," noted Gwen as she entered further into the room and kissed Steve once he stood up. "You had better be prepared for some hard work, Sybil. The man is a real slave driver."

"He'll have his work cut out with me. I was never the most graceful person and now I can't even feel my legs. I don't know much about dancing, but I think that's going to be a requirement."

"And what did we just promise each other?" prodded Steve gently.

"We're going to stay positive and you're going to help me heal. Is that okay with you, Gwen?"

"Let me think about that. You saved my life and were badly injured in the process. Yes, Steve can certainly help you every chance he gets," promised Gwen. "You'll find him very persuasive and extremely determined. You'd better be prepared to work hard."

A short time later, Steve and Gwen left Mallory and Sybil and went for a breakfast. "Was it pretty bad in Kiev? The FBI has interrogated the attackers that survived and they feel confident that there are no more bad guys left here in the states. We're going back to normal precautions.

"Charlotte and I are going to share a suite in a hotel until we graduate. We only have a couple of weeks left and we're not going back to our house. We'll have it cleaned and then sell it.

"Tell me about Kiev. How bad was it? Is everyone okay? What exactly happened?" asked Gwen as she watched Steve eyes cloud over.

Steve spent the next ten minutes explaining how everything transpired in Kiev. Gwen gave an involuntary gasp when Steve told her how Jason shot Hasko in the head.

"Do you think that was necessary?" asked Gwen. "If Jason had controlled his temper, would you have been able to talk him out of his demands?"

"Honestly? No, I don't think that I could have. The man was a true sociopath. His goons were even worse. Charlie said he was about to shoot the guy himself, but Jason saved him the bullet. I was actually mulling it over. Jason had cause. Let me tell you this, Jason and Charlie are men to ride with. They were something to see.

"Your dad insisted on going with us, and we were pretty worried about him being hurt and how we'd face his wife and daughters if he was. I'm glad Jason insisted that we wear vests. Your dad never fired a shot, but was hit twice in the chest. The vest saved him, but I bet he's pretty sore today."

"Dad was shot? You neglected to mention that little fact!" cried Gwen. "Are you sure he's okay?"

"He's going to be sore, but he'll be fine. I bet Paula is treating him like a king. Your dad really has a lot of nerve. He refused to leave when Jason suggested it would be safer," added Steve. "You really should be very proud of your father."

"I am, and I'll tell him that next time I speak with him. More importantly, I'm going to tell Mom what you told me. She needs to know how brave he was and how strongly he feels about his family. Sometimes she sees Kate, Lisa, and me walking around on the arms of the toughest characters imaginable and maybe wonders if her man measures up. She needs to know that he does!"

Steve decided to stay in Stanford with Gwen while she finished her studies. He kept his promise to Sybil and visited her twice a day. They became very close friends. Steve constantly talked about her getting well and dancing with him. He would rub her feet and legs as they chatted. He kept telling her to picture her spine knitting in her mind and he would do the same. He insisted that his touch would increase the influence his thoughts had on her healing.

The third time Steve visited Sybil; a pretty nurse stopped him as he was leaving. "I would like to ask you a favor, Mr. Hammer. We have a very famous children's hospital here. Would it be possible for you to visit with some of the ill children and their worried parents? It would do wonders for their morale. Maybe we could schedule a visit sometime?"

Steve smiled and took the nurse's hand in his. "If you'll lead me there, we'll visit them right now."

Every time Steve visited Sybil after that, he would take time to visit the children's wing. He was humbled and pleased at how much his visits improved the children's spirits. On his second visit, he saw an old acoustic guitar by a teenage girls' bed and he picked it up.

He began playing songs and singing to the girl. When he finished his third song, he realized that the room behind him was full of children patients as they stood and listened to his little impromptu concert. Behind the kids were parents and hospital staff crowded into the hall.

"Wow, I didn't realize so many people were listening. Was I too loud? Do you kids want me to be quieter?" teased Steve.

"No! We all like your singing," retorted a girl about eleven with her head wrapped in bandages. "You're the best singer in the world and we're lucky we're in the hospital now so we can hear you. Don't stop!"

After that, Steve had a standing appointment to play guitar and sing every afternoon. The hospital had a small auditorium and they had the children that could be moved taken to the auditorium where Steve would perform for half an hour. By the end of the week, parents and staff would pack into the room as well as the hallways leading to the auditorium.

"Did you happen to hear anything about a new YouTube video?" asked Gwen one evening when she returned from classes. "One of the other girls showed it to me between lectures. You've been doing concerts without the rest of us, haven't you?"

"Not really," began Steve. "I've been playing for some kids at the hospital, but no one would call them concerts."

"No one except a few teenage girls that think Steve Hammer is the most handsome, sexiest, nicest guy in the whole world," countered Gwen. "There's a twenty minute video showing you singing to these girls in the hospital. You really should watch it."

Gwen placed her laptop on the table in front of Steve and tapped the 'enter' key. He watched the video where he strummed the guitar and walked around the small auditorium, stopping to sing a song directly to a girl in a hospital gown. When the song ended and the applause let up, he'd begin playing and singing to a different teen. He didn't realize that he had been recorded, but saw nothing wrong with it.

"Is there a problem? I was just trying to cheer the kids up. A nurse asked me if I'd visit them and one thing led to another. Are you upset?"

"Are you kidding? Look at the comments! These wonderful, but very ill teenagers have jealous friends! The kids feel like they're lucky to be in the hospital! That is not a common reaction, believe me. I've been hearing about you from the other med students and the staff. They think you're practically performing miracles! The kids are much happier and responsive to their treatments," explained Gwen. "You've done a very good thing, as usual!"

The doctors conducted a battery of tests on Sybil but were unable to reach a consensus on her prognosis. They felt it was still too early to determine if she'd recover use of her legs, or even any feeling. Early in the second week, Steve walked into her room to find Sybil sleeping.

Without thinking much about it, he quietly moved the chair down to the end of the bed to massage Sybil's feet and lower legs. As he took her left foot in his hand, Sybil suddenly gasped and came awake!

"What did you do?" demanded Sybil as she stared at her foot in Steve's hand. "I felt something!"

"I'm helping you get well," grinned Steve. He carefully released Sybil's foot and moved to stand close to her head. Then he kissed her gently before speaking softly to her.

"I'm going to dance with you at my wedding. I want to show everyone what an amazing woman you are. Plan on hours of work between now and July 4th. You're going to recover fully. I won't accept anything less."

"You don't owe me anything, Steve. You don't have to spend so much time with me. I'm a big girl and I can get through this on my own," insisted Sybil somewhat weakly.

"You're so wrong. I owe you everything, and I always try to pay my debts. You probably can recover on your own, but you won't be. I'm going to move you back to Sparta as soon as possible. We have most of the equipment we need for your therapy in Valhalla, and what we don't have, we'll get. We'll get the best therapists available. Gwen told you that you were one of us now. This is what we do for our friends and relatives."

"You're with my daughter again?" interrupted a smiling Mallory Burke from the doorway. "I hope Gwen is as understanding as she's reputed to be."

"Mom! I felt Steve touch my foot!" announced Sybil with delight. "He's going to work with me to get better back in Sparta. I'm going to dance at his wedding!"

Mallory Burke was unable to conceal her joy as she rushed over and hugged her daughter while tears ran down her cheeks and dropped onto Sybil. Then she turned and hugged Steve tightly.

"Now I have to worry about finding the right dress for Sybil to wear at your wedding? I should add it to your company's bill," cracked Mallory as she wiped her tears.

"No need," assured Steve with a grin. "I'll take her shopping and buy her outfit, right down to her little thong."

"You will not be buying my daughter panties, nor will you be getting into them," stated Mallory as she held Sybil's hand. "To think you talked me out of the sexual harassment clause."

"Mom, I'll decide who gets in my little panties," declared Sybil. "Quite honestly, Steve would be my first choice, but he seems to be taken and he has that damn moral code he lives by, so I'll keep looking. When I get so I can walk again, I'm going to be looking a lot harder than I did in the past. Almost dying makes you think about your life and the things you've missed. I want a husband and family of my own."

Lady in Red had a huge turnout for Charlotte and Gwen's graduation from Stanford University School of Medicine. Only immediate family was allowed to the actual ceremony due to lack of seating, but everyone attended the celebration held at a nearby hotel.

Gwen and Charlotte were smiling all evening as family and friends constantly congratulated them for their accomplishments.

"What do you call the person that graduates last in their class at medical school?" asked Billy to everyone within earshot, before yelling the answer. "Doctor!"

Steve and Billy were extremely proud of their fiancées. It had taken years of hard work to attain their goals and they had somehow managed to stick with it. The two women had just a week before they were scheduled to join the staff aboard the SS Charity. They would be gone for almost eight weeks as it delivered much needed medical care to countries bordering the Indian Ocean, from Southeast Asia to the African Coast.

While the main focus was on vaccinating children, they would also treat injured and ill people as time and room permitted. Gwen and Charlotte were extremely excited about the experience they would gain on the voyage.

Once the graduation celebration was over, everyone headed back to Sparta. Sybil, Janice, and Mallory rode back on the Red Lady with them. Steve and Gwen had arranged rooms to be readied for them at Valhalla. That way Sybil would be convenient to the equipment she would be using to rehab from her injury. A physical therapist had been hired to oversee her recovery.

That week saw Steve and Gwen make love several times a day as they tried desperately to 'stockpile' their sexual needs so they could more easily endure the almost two months they would be apart.

Steve was surprised to learn that Cheryl was going to be traveling with the two friends. She was working on a documentary for a school project at Duke. He was even more surprised when Cheryl introduced him to a young man named Jeff Hook.

"He'll be the one following you around all summer and recording everything that you do. Between the two of us, we should have a very good documentary on a summer in the lives of Gwen Anderson and Steve Hammer.

Steve turned in surprise to Gwen as he shook the young man's hand. "Could you excuse Steve and me for a few minutes?" asked Gwen. "We have some personal business we have to discuss."

Once they were removed from any possibility of being heard, Gwen faced Steve. "I'm so sorry! I forgot to tell you that I agreed to this documentary thing. It's really important to Cheryl and her friend. If they do a good job, they'll each gain four credits at Duke. I agreed to it while you were in the hospital after saving those kids on the bus. Maybe I wasn't thinking clearly. Are you upset with me?"

"Yes, I am," replied Steve with an evil grin. "For penance, you'll have to give me three blowjobs and one trip around the world, but in our bed, if you know what I mean."

"That seems fair enough," laughed Gwen. "Especially when I planned on doing more than that already. Thanks for being such a great sport!"

Two days before Gwen and Charlotte were scheduled to depart to their ship, a story broke on cable news about a Ukraine mobster running afoul of Lady in Red owners. Speculation held that the owners and their very close friends traveled to Kiev in response to an extortion demand. The supposed master mind of the crime had not been seen since the day the Red Lady flew out of Kiev.

The entire group was in Marsh's Landing when several reporters approached Gwen. "How do you respond to reports that Steve Hammer and some of his friends, including your father, traveled to Kiev in response to an extortion threat by a known mobster and vicious killer. That same day, your home in Stanford came under attack, as did your family compound here in Sparta, all by Ukrainian nationals."

"We're having a quiet dinner," responded Steve curtly as he stood to face the reporters. "You really need to learn some manners. I suggest you leave right now."

"Just a minute, please, Steve. Let me respond once to that rather long and ambiguous question," broke in Gwen as she stood and placed a calming hand on Steve's chest. "It was Winston Churchill that said, 'We sleep soundly in our beds at night because rough men stand ready in the night to visit violence on those who would do us harm'. These men sitting at this table are such men, including my father. No, make that, especially my father! They stand ready to protect us from anyone that would do us harm, and we're all thankful that they do. I will not comment on any specific incident, but I will say that these men are the real thing. We will never pay extortion. These men will never tolerate anyone attempting to harm any of us. That is what I want you to report to your viewers, and to the world."

With that, Gwen waved a dismissing hand, turned, and allowed Steve to help her back into her chair. The reporters took the hint and left the room.

"My God!" exclaimed Gwen's grandmother. "You certainly told them. People love how strong and protective these young men are, including Ted. You offered no explanation or apology, except that people should think twice before tangling with Lady in Red. Your message was unmistakable."

Two days later Gwen, Charlotte, and Cheryl departed for the other side of the world, while the rest of Lady in Red began working on planned films. Kate had her screenplay ready and production began on the movie. Steve found her extremely easy to work with and had a great time making the movie with her.

Paula, on the other hand, seemed stiff and nervous all of the time. Steve knew she'd have to relax or the movie would be a disaster. The first scenes they filmed were simple interactions with basic dialogue and little else. Paula had difficulty with her lines and finding her spots on the set. After several days with very little usable footage, Kate took Steve aside and spoke to him privately.

That evening, Paula rang Steve's doorbell. "Kate suggested that we work on our scenes tonight. She said you'd be expecting me. I know I'm really screwing things up for everyone. Maybe you should get Diane to take my part."

"I guess that's always a possibility, but there are two things wrong with that idea," replied Steve. "I wouldn't get to see you naked that way."

"There is that, but I doubt you'd miss it very much once Diane pressed her boobs against you. What's the second thing wrong with the idea?" asked a dejected Paula.

"I already mentioned the two things I'd be missing," grinned Steve.

"You only mentioned one. You want to see me naked. That's one thing," insisted Paula as she became aware that Steve was staring at her chest and arching an eyebrow. "Oh! That's what you meant be two things?"

"Absolutely," replied Steve with no embarrassment. "I've decided that I'd better act fast or I may miss my opportunity. If you bail on me and Diane gets your role, I may never get you naked, so let's rehearse the love scenes tonight."

"I don't think I'm ready for that," sputtered Paula as Steve pulled her close and began kissing her neck. "I don't even know how I'm supposed to act when you do that."

"Really?" asked Steve. "You don't know how to respond when a man you've been working to seduce for a couple of weeks finally begins to yield to temptation? It's called 'acting' and you need to think how your character would respond when mine does this."

With that, Steve again kissed Paula and slowly unbuttoned the top button on her blouse. He traced his finger along the upper swell of her breasts as he maintained lip contact. Slowly, his finger slid another button out of the way and allowed his fingers to trace lower on Paula's chest. Paula moaned into his mouth when he slipped his hand inside her bra.

He soon found her very hard nipple and squeezed it gently. Paula reached up and quickly began undoing the buttons on his shirt. She had it opened and pulled off his shoulders in seconds. Then she reached down for his belt!

"Paula," managed Steve as he pulled his lips from hers. "This is a rehearsal, so we won't do anything that we won't be doing in front of the cameras, okay?"

"I understand that, but you'll have your hands inside my bra, so wouldn't I have my hands inside your pants?"

"Well, yes, I guess you would, but you wouldn't be touching me, not really," replied Steve.

"So you're saying that I will be putting my hands down between your legs, but somehow won't touch your package?" whispered Paula as she once again kissed Steve. "How am I supposed to do that?"

"Well, you might be touching something when we film it because it'll be impossible not to feel me when you have your hands in my jeans, but for our rehearsal tonight, I don't think you should do that. When we film the scene, we'll be in front of quite a few people, including Ted, so I won't get so worked up that I get carried away. Tonight, we need to have some restraint."

"You really don't find me all that attractive, do you? Diane had her hands all over you in that movie and you had a hell of a time with her big boobs. How many times did you have to film those love scenes? You must have kissed and squeezed her for hours. This was a bad idea. I should go home. I don't belong in this movie. I'm too old and plain looking."

"I don't think so," replied Steve as he gathered Paula up and carried her to one of the guest bedrooms and placed her on a bed. "We're going to rehearse and you're going to do your best to seduce me. Just respect my limits and I'll respect yours."

Once again Steve began kissing Paula. She tried to resist at first, but soon was kissing him back with great ardor. Steve simply grabbed the front of her blouse and yanked it open, sending the remaining buttons flying across the room. He rolled over holding Paula tight to his chest and deftly reached back and unhooked her bra. He pushed her up and away briefly so her bra would drop off her substantial breasts. Paula watched Steve closely as he gazed at her exposed flesh. She saw his eyes widen with desire as she felt his cock grow beneath her. Slowly, she lowered a nipple to his lips.

"I think you've got the idea," mumbled Steve as Paula's nipples caressed his face. "In fact, we have to stop right now! You're an extremely sexy and I'm only human. Let's get in the hot tub and talk for a while."

"Are you kidding," demanded a very flushed Paula. "You've got me half naked in bed and you want to stop? I know you like what you're seeing. Can't we practice a little more?"

"Paula, it's called 'rehearsing', and no, I can't do this anymore. You're ready for the love scenes. Jesus! You're a hot woman, but you're also married and I'm engaged. It's almost seven thirty. Let's get into the hot tub. Come on with me. I have it ready."

Steve grabbed Paula's hand and pulled her to the enclosed porch where the tub was located. He knelt and tugged her jeans to her ankles and helped her step out of them.

"You'll have to decide whether your underwear remains or not," stated Steve as he dropped his jeans and then his boxers before stepping into the tub.

Paula shrugged and slid her panties over her smooth, round ass. She left them on top of her clothes before following Steve into the tub and sitting close to him.

"Thanks for not letting me make a complete fool of myself. I'm afraid I wasn't acting, or rehearsing," revealed Paula. "I was ready to go all the way with you and it's pretty embarrassing now that I can think rationally. It makes sitting naked with you seem pretty calm and boring. I know I don't have to ask you not to tell anyone how terribly I behaved. That's one of the things I like best about you. I know you don't tell tales out of school."

"I wanted to talk to you about the movie," responded Steve. "You seem nervous on the set. Is it because you've been worried about our love scenes? Kate thought it was and suggested that we have this little rehearsal tonight."

"Kate thought we should do this?" asked a very surprised Paula. "Or do you mean that she expect us to go over the scenes I screwed up today?"

"She pretty much told me that if I don't get you naked and over your fears, the movie would never get made," replied Steve. "She felt that you had to come to the realization that it's okay to be a little crazy. So now you're sitting naked next to me and I can see most of your beautiful breasts above the water level. How do you feel about me looking at them?"

"Truthfully? I really like it. I could tell that you liked them when my bra came off and you first saw them. I felt you get hard for me. That was a real compliment," admitted Paula. "I was worried about what you'd think. Now I only have to worry about how a few hundred million people will perceive me. Do you honestly think I look okay?"

"No, I can't say that you look okay," answered Steve as Paula slumped slightly. "You look fantastic. Ted told me that you've been using the gym and rearranging a few pounds. He said you have a better figure than Diane. I've got to tell you that you look perfect."

"Ted said that to you? You two were discussing me like a prize heifer or something?"

"I guess that's a good comparison. The old bull was telling the young one what to look for and to expect. He has experience in the area. I'm still learning about you."

"Well, you certainly learned a lot tonight," chuckled Paula. "It's funny, but I'm very comfortable sitting here naked with you. A lot of it is how well I can trust you. I finally understand what the girls have been saying about being naked around you and the other men. They feel very safe and protected. Being nude next to you isn't at all scary."

"You sure don't look scared, Mom," came Kate's voice from the doorway. "It looks like you're getting over some of those hang-ups. Think you'll be ready to film tomorrow?"

Paula had instinctively lowered her torso down into the water when she heard Kate's voice. For her part, Kate strolled toward the tub as she pulled her shirt over her head and then lowered the pair of shorts she had been wearing to reveal she had worn no underwear. Without any apparent embarrassment, Kate stepped into the tub and sat on the other side of Steve.

"You guys having a little party without me?" asked Lisa as she moved into the room. She was soon nude and stepping into the tub next to Kate.

"Mom, are you going to sit on Steve's lap, or shall I?" asked Lisa with a smirk as she watched her mother try to sink lower into the water.

"Here, Paula, let me help you." offered Steve as he gently grasped Paula's elbows and lifted her from the water and placed her on his lap. Lisa quickly sat where Paula had just been. "That's better, don't you think?"

Paula was a brilliant red as she held her breasts in her hands and looked from one daughter to the other. Finally, she let out a sigh and sat very still as Steve placed his hands over hers.

Kate and Lisa then engaged Steve in conversation about the movies they would be making, Gwen's work on a hospital ship, and the current situation in Washington. Paula began to relax slightly and join in. Finally, Kate pushed the envelope a little,​