Incest/Taboo Soul Food

Two and a half weeks later...

"You promise you'll call the first moment you land?" Helen spoke in a worried motherly tone as she, Shawna, Will, and George stood in the lobby of PHL Philadelphia International Airport. She so didn't want Denis to go. She didn't want to be separated from her baby by over six hundred miles. However, she had seen how close they had gotten over the past two and a half weeks. Helen would never admit it aloud, yet Coraline was a nice, decent person. Still, she wasn't about to give up her baby to her. She never wanted Denis to be away from her side unless she knew where he was staying and within driving distance from her house ever since they had adopted him. This would be the longest her son would be away from home, and she was going to hate every moment of it. Nonetheless, Denis was determined to go, and she couldn't deny her baby. No matter how much she would miss and worry about him the whole time he was gone for his spring break. It was why she and George were letting him leave in the middle of the week and return the Sunday after next week.

"Yes, Mom, I promise I'll call the moment I'm off the plane," Denis nodded. "And I'll call every day," he said, reassuring her that he would be okay.

"You better," Helen said in a trembling voice as she hugged her son hard, causing her 38D breasts to pancake out as she did. "I'm going to miss you so much. You better be prepared for the best fucking of your life when you get back because mama's going to be horny," she whispered into her son's ear as she felt him hugging her back.

George pulled his son down into him, hugging him hard, knowing this would be hard on his son given his issues with trusting strangers. "You call if you need anything. If it doesn't feel right, or something happens, you come home. No one will fault you for that," he whispered in a fatherly voice, feeling his son nodding against his shoulder. "If we have to, it's only a ten-hour car ride to Knoxville," George said, making it known to Denis they would move Heaven and Earth to get him home.

"You better be sending me photos of everything," Shawna said, snuggling up to Denis as he lightly rubbed her back. "I want to know what you did and how your day was. I don't want to miss anything," she whispered, knowing Denis needed to meet this woman. She knew if he didn't, it would just eat at him. She didn't want him to have any regrets in his life once they were married, not that Denis had any idea that was what was going to happen to them in the future. Kissing her brother passionately, she didn't care if anyone saw; she wanted him to remember what was waiting for him when he got home. "You be safe down there, you here?" Shawna intoned in a caring voice, seeing his smile reaching his eyes as he nodded.

"You know you can call me anytime you need to," Will said, hugging Denis in a firm brotherly hug.

"I know why you're a good brother," Denis responded, matching his hug. To outsiders, they might appear the oddest of families. Yet, to Denis, it was the only place he ever wanted to belong. "You watch out for Dad for me," he said, pulling away.

"You got it," Will nodded firmly. "I'll make sure he isn't terrorizing the half-pipe in his rocket-powered wheelchair," he joked, getting a laugh out of his father and brother.

"I love you guys," Denis said, walking towards the TSA agent. Waving to them as he peered back at them. "I'll be home soon!"

"We love you too, Denis!" Helen shouted, not caring if she garnered looks from those around them. "You be safe and stay out of trouble!"

"Yes, Mom, no terrorizing Knoxville," Denis uttered, smiling as he was let through the gate. Knowing he had to meet this woman that the test they had run proved was indeed his biological mother. It was just something in him that drove him to meet her. What that was, he couldn't say. Nothing in his life has prepared him for dealing with that feeling, at least not the first ten years of it. Holding out his arms as the woman waved a wand along his body before he was let through the checkpoint. Wondering if there was a boxing gym close to his birth mother's place just so he could keep in shape. The title match was a knockout, literally. Given how Denis delivered an uppercut to his opponent's jaw in the middle of the first round, winning it by a technical knockout. He would have felt bad about it if his opponent hadn't ran his mouth about whipping him and doing things to Shawna after the match. He was already exiting the ring when his opponent finally began to stir.

His trainer had even begun to hint at seeing him go pro, given the number of wins under his belt. He might go that route, yet he knew his parents wanted him to go to college. Denis had to admit being in the same school as Shawna and Will once again would be awesome in his view. It would feel like all the other times they have been together. He loved being with them even if he couldn't understand half of what the two of them spoke about; they never once made him feel stupid when he knew he didn't have their smarts.

"Hello?" Denis answered when he brought his phone up to his ear as he walked towards his gate terminal.

"Hi, baby, I was just calling to see if you're on your way yet?" While Denis had to admit Coraline was a nice person over the phone, however, from his experience, he had to see if her actions matched her kindness.

"Walking to the terminal as we speak," Denis replied, knowing it was only a two-hour flight to Knoxville, TN.

"Okay, so you're really coming?!"

"Huh?" Denis uttered in confusion.

"Nothing, nothing, I just had this fear you would back out at the last minute."

"Ah, nope, I'll be in the air in a few minutes," Denis stated, seeing the sign for his terminal as he drew near. Arching an eyebrow hearing his birth mother sniffling.

"Sorry, Denis, you probably don't want to hear your mother cry. I promised myself I wouldn't, yet I've been waiting for this day since I first talked to you."

"Then cry if you want to," Denis said, knowing his mother would say this was one of those times it was okay to cry.

"I'll see you when you land; I can't wait to see you, baby."

"Mmmkay, I'll see you in a few hours," Denis spoke, pocketing his phone once they had said their goodbyes.

Denis had his face pressed against the window as he watched the Great Smoky Mountains rolling beneath them as they flew overhead. He's never been to the mountains; his family opted to go to the beach instead of the mountains when his parents had time to go, given their busy schedules. Not that he minded, he didn't like showing off his body to people he didn't know. He always got looks from people when he would never take the t-shirt he would wear to it off. With Shawna and Will in college, their vacations have become few and far between, again not something he was complaining about. Looking up when the fastened seat belt light came on, telling him he had reached their destination.

His gym bag that held his boxing gloves, tape, and everything else rested on top of his rolling suitcase once he had collected his bags from the baggage claim. He had placed his return ticket in the front pocket of it so he wouldn't lose it. It wasn't hard for Denis to spot his birth mother as her hands covered her mouth. No. The same soft green eyes and brown hair that they shared pointed her out to him. He tried not to eye how her breasts jiggled and swayed beneath the t-shirt she was wearing as she rushed towards him. If he had to guess, they were about the same size as his mother, nor was he trying to ogle how alluring her hips were in those jeans she wore. Something else that reminded him of his mother. Staggering slightly when Coraline threw her arms around him, crushing him a bear hug. Trying to ignore how firm her breasts felt as they pressed against his chest.

"Umm..." Denis mumbled when he noted the few stares they were getting when Coraline's hug lingered.

"Sorry," Coraline said bashfully, backing away and wiping her eyes. "It's just I thought I'd never see you again," she said, lightly rubbing Denis' upper right arm. "You got everything?" Coraline asked, so eager to show him her home, where he would always be welcome to stay. "My car is this way," she uttered, pointing to the left side exit of the airport when Denis nodded.

"Hold up for a sec; need to let them know I landed," Denis stated, seeing his birth mother nod in understanding. Taking a picture as he stood in front of the McGhee Tyson Airport sign and sent it off to his family's group text. Smiling at their responses before typing out his reply and pocketing his phone. Trying to be sly about it as he kept his head on a swivel as he followed after Coraline to her car. It was a habit of his whenever he was in a new place, a habit that had saved him many a time when he was living on the streets. When he wasn't doing that, he was slyly checking out his birth mother. He had to admit she wasn't a bad-looking woman. Shaking the thoughts from his mind when the images of his mother and Shawna appeared within it as he felt his body responding to them. Glancing down to her ass when her back left pocket rang. Watching how her fingers played along it as she pulled her phone out from it.

"Hey, Mom, yes, he's right behind me," Coraline said, flashing Denis a smile when she peered back at him. "No, he just landed. Mmmhmm," she hummed her answer to her mother's question. Yet, deep inside, she held a secret that she dared not let loose. "Hold on, I'll ask. Denis?"

"Yeah?"

"Do you have your fishing license on you?" Coraline asked as the light breeze lifted the strands of her brown hair from off her back.

"Of course, Uncle Stan told me to always have it on me," Denis stated in a matter-of-fact tone.

"He does, okay, hold on," Coraline said, holding her phone out to him. "Your grandfather wants to talk to you," she uttered with a warm smile on her lips. Noting how Denis looked at her oddly and then her phone before taking it from her.

"Hello?"

"Hello, Denis, I'm Teagan, your grandfather," he said, introducing himself to his grandson. "I was wondering if you would like to come with me and a pal of mine in the morning to Fort Loudoun Lake for a little fishing."

"I don't think my license covers Tennessee," Denis countered.

"That was why I had your mother ask if you had yours on you. I just checked; it wouldn't be too much to get yours tweaked a little so you can fish here. Your mother said she'll get it taken care of on the way over for dinner tonight." Denis shot Coraline a look who got a rather bashful look on her face. "So what do you say? There's bass and crappie in there."

"When?" Denis asked, knowing two old guys and a youngster sounded like the makings of a bad '70s porno.

"Say we swing by your mother's place at six; it will take about half an hour to get to the lake from there."

"Alright," Denis agreed, playing nice for his mother's sake. He had promised that he would give them a chance last night after she had ridden him hard. "But I didn't bring any gear with me."

"Don't you worry about that; I got plenty of rods you can use. When you go fishing, do you use live bait or artificial?"

"Uncle Stan doesn't believe in artificial, so never used it," Denis stated, following after Coraline once she started walking again.

"Okay, and what do you use?"

"Minnows."

"Ah, we can pick some up before we put the boat into the water. Maybe I could teach you how to use a spinner bait, the bass tend to hit it more often here than they do with live bait," Teagan said, imparting his sagely fishing wisdom into his grandson.

"Alright, I guess I could try it," Denis muttered, placing his gym back into the trunk of Coraline's car while she did the same with his suitcase.

"You're going to love my place, I'm sure of it?!" Coraline stated, laying her hand lightly on her son's forearm. Watching how he tensed up a little bit. "It's okay to be nervous, Denis. I am too," she said, thinking that was the reason for it. When, in truth, it was due to the years he was under the care of very abusive people. "I promise you, you're going to enjoy your time here," Coraline spoke, smiling at him as she started her car.

"You live here?" Denis asked as he stared up at the towering building looming over him.

"I do," Coraline said, coming to stand beside him once he walked out of the parking garage that was adjacent to her condo complex. "Come on, I'll show you around," she uttered, placing her hand lightly on her son's back. It wasn't the first time she felt something odd about it when she touched his back. She knew he wasn't wearing anything beneath his shirt; she wondered just what it could be.

"Is there like a boxing gym close by?" Denis asked, following Coraline into the building.

"I don't know Denis, I normally use the gym here, but we can look it up if you want," Coraline spoke, while she might not like the sport given its brutality. However, if her son was interested in it, she would encourage it just so her son would feel welcomed in her home and life. Smiling at him when she hit the tenth-floor button, given her salary, she could afford the payments. "Oh! I had this made for you for when you're here, so you don't have to worry about getting locked out," she said, pulling out the key she had made for him. "This is so you know you'll always be welcomed in my home," Coraline said in a warm tone as she curled his fingers around it once she had placed it in the palm of his hand. Beckoning him to follow after as she stepped out of the cab and turned left, leading Denis to her home.

"Nice place," Denis stated once she had welcomed him into her home.

"Thanks, the view isn't too bad either," Coraline said, pointing out the large windows at the mountains in the distance. "Come, I'll show you where you'll be staying," she spoke, leading him off towards her guest bedroom. A room she hoped he would like to one day call his.

"So, do you like, live here alone?" Denis asked, looking around, getting a feel for the place.

"Now I do, my ex-husband and I used to share this place, but I won it in the divorce," Coraline said truthfully.

"Can I ask, what happened?" Trying to keep his eyes on her back and not her ass.

"He was stepping out on our marriage, so I gave him the boot."

"So, is there like someone you're seeing in case I need to make myself scarce," Denis spoke, wondering why that got a giggle out of her as she led him into the guest bedroom.

"No, even if I was, I would tell them my time with my son was more important than... well, you're old enough, no sense in pretending you're not," Coraline replied with a libidinous smile, "a quick fuck, and well, I got toys for that if I need that release."

"Ah." Coraline wondered why he wasn't fazed by that remark. Wondering if her boy has had sex yet and if so was any good at it. Watching how Denis placed his bags on the bed, noting how his muscles moved beneath his skin. Recounting the nights they had talked, how she would just lay on her bed staring up at the photos he had sent of himself. She especially lingered on the one of him in his boxing robe. She wasn't saying it was right; nonetheless, her mind would picture that he was naked beneath it, only waiting for her to open and view the splendor of her son's body.

"The guest bath is just across from you, so you can store your things in there; there's also towels beneath the sink as well as extra toilet paper. I'll leave you be so you can unpack. I'll look up a gym for you while you do, then we'll have lunch," Coraline said, looking back at him as she left the guest bedroom.

Denis pulled out his phone once again, snapping off pictures of his room and a view of the Great Smoky Mountains off in the distance. Sending them to the group text he and his family were a part of. Reading their replies as he went about storing his belongings in the drawers of the dresser and setting his gym bag down next to it. His thumb moved quickly along the keyboard as he walked into the bathroom that sat across from the guest bedroom, putting away his toiletries.

"Baby?" Coraline called to him as she stood at the end of the hallway as he left the bathroom. "I found one that's close to here; want to go see?" she asked, seeing how he pocketed his phone when he gazed at her. Feeling her cheeks heating as she turned, hearing her son following along. She had purposely worn tight clothes to show off her body to him. Hoping that he liked what he saw. Some... everyone would call what she's been feeling an obsession; nonetheless, she didn't care what they thought. Her baby was home, and she meant to make up for the years they had been apart. If that meant seducing her son, then so be it; if it meant bending over and touching her ankles so he could slide his cock into her hot pussy she would say: 'Whip it out and fuck the shit out of me!' Plus, she knew if he knew he could have what all sons have longed for to fuck their mothers, then she knew he would be visiting her more often. Not that she would use sex to lure him away from his adoptive family. No. She would never do that. That would be wrong of her, especially when they have raised her boy.

"See," leaning over Denis when he sat in front of her laptop that rested on her desk, allowing her breasts to brush and rest lightly on his right shoulder, "the Eppolito Boxing Gym isn't far from here; I'll show you how to get to it when we go and get your fishing licensed altered," Coraline said, smiling down at her son.

"I wonder how much they would charge me to use it for only a week and a half," Denis mused as he browsed the photos the gym had up on their Google page.

"Hold on, I'll call," reaching across him, making sure her swinging breasts were at his eye-level as she did and plucked the cordless phone from its base, "yes, hello?" Coraline spoke into the phone once she had dialed the number. "Yes, my son is visiting from out of town and will only be here for a week and a half, and I was wondering how much would it be during his stay to use your gym. I see, thank you," she said, hanging up the phone resting her hand on Denis' shoulder feeling the muscle beneath her touch as she returned the phone back to its base. "How about we have lunch?" Coraline uttered in a warm tone.

They had stopped by Eppolito Boxing Gym on the way to BassPro Shop that her father had told her to go to to get Denis' license altered for the state of Tennessee before heading to her parent's place in Oliver Springs, TN. She had to pay for a temporary membership that would only last a month, yet the thirty bucks had been worth it as she noted how her son looked around the gym. Wondering if it had everything he used at the one he visited in Philadelphia. She noted how he was paying extra attention to the two sparring in the ring when she filled out the paperwork and paid the fee. Coraline noted how his muscles twitched like he wanted to be in that ring at that moment. Then she heard him mutter: 'You're dropping your guard too much.' Coraline wondered if that was because he was a featherweight champion or was that from his years of experience as a boxer or both. When they were in BassPro Shop, she noted how quiet Denis was compared to when they were at Eppolito.

Coraline began to think back, noting how quiet he was when they entered her condo and in the airport. Wondering what could have caused this in her son during his life growing up in foster care. Pondering if it was the reason Denis wouldn't talk about the years before his adoption. She made a mental note to herself to keep an eye on him when they showed up at her parents' house.

"Denis?"

"Yeah."

"I know they might come on strong when we get there, but they only mean well and are very excited to meet you," Coraline spoke as she drove toward her parents' place. Seeing him nod that he understood as Denis stared out the window at the scenery whizzing by. "Denis, can I ask you something without upsetting you?"

"Sure," Denis answered, peering over at her.

"Is something wrong with your back? Did you get into an accident when you were little?" Coraline asked in a caring tone. What she had felt didn't feel normal.

"I don't want to talk about it," Denis uttered in a dark tone, returning to gaze out the window.

"Sweetheart, you know you can talk to me. Haven't I established that I'm not going to judge you?" Coraline spoke in a motherly tone as she reached across the console. A little shocked when Denis moved his arm out of her reach.

"I don't want to talk about it, alright, just drop it," Denis said bitterly.

"Okay, Denis, I didn't mean to make you upset. I was just concerned, is all," Coraline said, pondering just what had happened to her son to make him like this.

"Sorry, I just don't like talking about it," Denis replied in a distant tone.

"I can understand that," Coraline nodded, trying not to tear up. "I don't like talking about what your father did to me either, but you and I have spoken about it. Yet, do I not get the same courtesy?"

Denis glanced over to his birth mother, "I don't think you could handle it if I told you."

"Try me, Denis, you know you can talk to me. Share everything with me, and I'll never judge you," Coraline said, willing her son to open up to her.

"It's not about judging; it's about accepting what can never be changed," Denis said cryptically.

Coraline was fighting back her tears as they crossed into Oliver Springs. Her mind raced with questions. Wondering what could have been so traumatizing that her son refused to talk to her about it. That he would rather keep it in the dark than bring it out into the light so she could help him heal from it. Shifting in her seat, her grip tightened on her steering wheel. Knowing that this just meant one thing -- she had to catch him in an undressed state. She knew that was the only way he was going to talk to her about it.

"They're very nice people; you don't have to be nervous," Coraline uttered when she looked over at him as she cut her car off. Seeing something playing across her son's eyes. Wishing he would just let her in. To confine in her whatever was troubling him, she was his mother; after all, that was why she put him up for adoption in the first place along with the other reasons she had; because she knew at the age of fifteen, she wouldn't be able to give her son the care and love he would need. "Just take your time to get to know them; I promise you; they won't hurt you. They aren't one of the Bad ones," Coraline uttered, seeing how intensely he was staring at her when she used that reference of his. Her heart was breaking how stern his face looked when Denis simply nodded.

Denis blew out a breath in his mind when he walked around Coraline's car. Glancing over to her when she placed her arm on his shoulders when she got up to his side. Noting how the man he took as Teagan pulled the woman that stood to the left of him into him as they stood on their deck. Teagen had salt and pepper hair and had a slightly portly body, not that he would judge anyone on their appearance. The woman he took as his biological grandmother was a little heavy set with brown hair like his birth mother; however, unlike his birth mother, her eyes were brown, while Teagan had the same colored eyes as she did.

"Mom, Dad, I'd like for you to meet my son, your grandson, Denis. Denis, this is my father Teagen, and my mother Arely, your grandparents," Coraline said in a warm tone smiling at him when he stood two inches shorter than she did. Something else she couldn't understand when the man who raped her was over six feet tall. Noting how her mother hid her trembling lips behind her hand yet couldn't stop her eyes from tearing up.

"Hello, Denis, we're so very pleased to meet you," Teagan said, holding out his hand to him with a warm, grandfatherly smile on his lips. It wasn't lost on him how Denis looked at his hand before shaking it. "That's a good firm grip you got there," he nodded in approval before Denis shook his wife's hand. Wondering why it appeared to him that Denis was so guarded around them.

"Thank you, my father taught me," Denis said, wondering if his father's ears were burning at that moment.

"And we hope that they are safe back home; I know they probably are missing you right now," Arely said in a loving voice. "Shall we go in; I have a very nice dinner just waiting for us. I hope you like sweet potatoes," she uttered in a grandmotherly voice.

"You mean yams?" Denis asked, confused. His Nana and mother only ever called them that.

"Mmmhmm," Arely nodded.

"I do, especially Nana's."

"Oh? And how did she get you to eat yams?" Arely asked in a light tone as she led Denis and her daughter with Teagan bringing up the rear into their home.

"Fed a starving boy," Denis said factually.

"Was this when you met the McCarty's?" Arely asked, referencing the Thanksgiving they had found him eating out of their trash.

"Yes, ma'am," Denis answered politely.

"Well, I hope you like them with marshmallows," Arely said, smiling at her grandson from over her shoulder. "Coraline, come help me in the kitchen and let the boys get their male bonding in," she teased, smirking when her husband rolled his eyes at her.

"I want to show you something, Denis; I think you might like it," Teagan said, noting how his daughter nodded to Denis as if she knew something that they didn't.

"Okay," Denis spoke, turning his attention to him. Following after the man as he led him across their house.

"This is my man cave, as my wife likes to call it," Teagan said, welcoming Denis into it. Noting how his eyes ran around the room to the fish he had mounted, to the two bucks he had on the other wall. Moreover, it was what sat in the display case he knew would peg Denis' attention.

"Are those...?" Denis asked in awe as he pointed at the pair of Golden Gloves sitting behind the glass.

"They are," Teagan answered with a nod. "My father, your great-grandfather, won them when he was in the Navy. Coraline told me you're a boxer." Watching how Denis vehemently nodded his head. "I've never boxed before, but my father taught me to love the sport. I heard you're a featherweight champ."

"I am," Denis said with pride.

"Also heard you had a title fight not too long ago."

"Yeah, but it wasn't a long one," Denis sighed, rubbing the back of his head.

"Oh, how come?" Teagan asked, offering Denis a seat in the other brown leather, rocking recliner that sat before the fifty-five inch hanging flat screen he uses to watch boxing matches and all his other sports games on.

"Knocked him out halfway through round one," Denis said factually as he took his seat.

"Really?!" Denis noted how excited the man was when he nodded.

"Was it just a knockout or a TKO?" Teagan asked, eager to hear all about his grandson's match.

"TKO."

"Hot damn, wish I could have seen that match," Teagan said, slapping his hand on the armrest of his chair. "So, what was it, a jab, a hook...?"

"Uppercut," Denis supplied.

"I bet your adoptive family was cheering loudly for you," Teagan said with a warm smile.

"They were," Denis said, keeping his dislike of the way they referred to his family like he didn't belong with them hidden from his face.

"So, have you thought about going for the Golden Gloves?" Teagan asked, wondering if he would like to watch the boxing match that's on Friday night.

"I don't know," ruffling his hair, "don't think I can qualify for that now that I have a title under my belt," Denis admitted. Looking towards the doorway when he heard someone approaching.

"Dad, Denis, dinner is ready; come eat," Coraline said, wondering why her son looked tense.

"Was dinner okay? You barely said anything during it unless asked something," Coraline stated once the doors of her car closed as they readied to return to her condo.

"It was fine," Denis spoke in a monotone voice, Noticing how the setting sun painted the sky in a deepening maroon color. Looking down when Coraline placed her hand over his.

"Denis, talk to me, tell me what's wrong? I want our time together to be filled with happiness and a lot of fond memories; I don't want you to think ill of this place, me, or your grandparents."

"Then stop calling my family, my adopted family; it's disrespectful; they are my family. Blood doesn't make us family; it's in here that it does!" Denis said heatedly, his fist striking his chest in a thump over his heart.

"Oh, yes, yes, I can see how that would upset you," Coraline mused, holding her chin between her thumb and index finger as she bowed her head.

Denis looked down when her right thumb began to lightly brush along the back of his hand. Wondering why she hadn't removed it yet.

"Denis, I'm sorry, I didn't know that was upsetting you. We didn't mean it in a derogatory light, just to distinguish between the two of us. You can understand that, can't you?" Coraline asked, peering over at her son as the waning sunlight bathed her face, causing it to make her soft green eyes to sparkle. "From now on, we'll refer to them as your family. Will that be alright with you?" she uttered in an apologetic voice. She would just have to take his nod as an answer. "Now, how about we stop for some ice cream on the way home?" Coraline spoke in a chipper voice, trying to lighten her son's mood.

"Is it good ice cream?" Denis asked, taking his seriousness for the cold treat from his mother. It could only be the best, anything else was just a waste, or that's what his mother told him when he was twelve, and he finally got the nerve to ask her about it when she was taking her time in savoring it.

"It's the best ice cream in Knoxville," Coraline stated with a warm, flirtatious smile.

"So Denis, how is it?" Coraline asked when they were halfway through their cones. She had her favorite dark chocolate coffee while Denis was enjoying his cookie-n-cream waffle cone. Wondering how his tongue would feel as she watched it moving along the cold, melting treat.

"Okay, this is good," Denis admitted. He had already texted a picture of it to their group chat. Telling his family, namely his mother and sister, that this had to be the second-best ice cream he's ever had. The first being when his father would pull out their ice cream maker. He was the only one brave enough to try his father's concoctions. Normally they were pretty tasty, even if they left a weird aftertaste. Still, it was his thinking that his father did such so the both of them could enjoy it together. Feeling his body responding at the picture that his mother and sister sent back of them pouting. Then another of his mother plumping out her lip when he told her what kind his birth mother was having.

Dark chocolate and coffee were her favorite flavors. His mother just never had it in one ice cream flavor. When he asked to try Coraline's, she would only do so if she could taste his. He hid the look he had from her when his birth mother had this odd look on her face when her eyes never left his as she ran her tongue along his ice cream. He was thinking of spoons, not that. He was equally weirded out when she held hers out with this rather bashful demeanor. Her eyes glanced at him as he took a lick. It was a strange flavor he's had both types when his mother would share a bowl with him. So he knew she would love it. Biting the inside of his cheek when his mother made it feel like the end of the world when he told her how good it was.

"I never lie about ice cream," Coraline uttered, brushing a strand of her hair behind her ear. She had paid extra attention to the area where her son's tongue had touched. Wondering if he would lick her pretty little kitty like he had done to her ice cream if it was covered in whip cream. "So, Denis, I know there was a little friction on your first day, and I'm sorry about that. It was unintentional. Yet, today has been good, hasn't it?" she asked with hope in her voice.

"I'll give you that," Denis agreed, knowing it was nowhere near the worst day of his life had been like.

"Listen, I know Dad is picking you up in the morning. I really hope the two of you can get along. I don't know why you're so guarded; maybe you have a reason to be; I hope it isn't because you don't like your grandparents..."

"Don't know them well enough for that," Denis said before munching on his waffle cone.

"Can you at least tell me why you are?"

"I have my reasons for not trusting strangers," Denis said after a few minutes to think of a response to her question.

"Will..." Her voice died in her throat when Denis shook his head.

"Like I've told you, I don't like talking about it. I don't know you well enough to get into that," Denis said plainly.

"Denis, how can we form a relationship if you're constantly keeping me at arm's length?" Coraline asked, trying to break through that shell of his.

"Listen..." Inhaling the last of his cone in three bites, "I get what you're trying to do, yet the way I have lived has taught me the only one that's going to protect me is me. It took years for me to trust my family enough to open up to them. You can't ask me to just reveal my dark history to you when I've only talked to you over the phone for two months," Denis said, wiping his mouth with his napkin.

"Then why did you come here?"

"To see if your words match your actions," Denis stated factually.

"If they don't?"

"Then you won't hear from me again," Denis said in an absolute manner of voice, seeing how that shocked her to her core.

"You would really cut ties with me?!" Coraline gasped in horror.

"In a heartbeat," Denis nodded.

"But why?" Coraline asked; her need to understand was clear as day.

"Because I've been around enough two-faced liars to know when I'm being played."

Coraline's hand covered her mouth as her eyes quivered. Pondering what had happened to her son that caused him to be so distrustful of everyone around him, even the woman that gave birth to him. What had happened to her son that would cause him to have that hard-edged look that was staring at her? This only steeled her resolve to show her son she could be just like what the McCarty's were to him.

"Listen, I'm sorry if that upsets you, I am. You seem like a nice person, but so have a lot of other people I've had the unfortunate fate to know," Denis said, softening his tone when he noted how her eyes were glistening with tears.

"But you're giving me this chance to prove to you I am what I say I am?" Coraline asked for clarification, to which Denis simply nodded.

"My Nana says I should at least give you the benefit of the doubt," Denis said offhandedly.

"Then I'm going to prove to you that your Nana is wise," Coraline stated in a firm tone. She might not understand why he was so distrustful of strangers; nevertheless, that wasn't going to stop her from winning her son's trust. "Shall we head home?" she asked once she had finished off her own ice cream cone.

"Denis?" Her voice filled the cab of the elevator as they rode it up to her condo.

"Hmm?"

"Nothing, you'll tell me when you're ready," Coraline said, shaking her head.

Denis was taken aback when she just hugged him out of nowhere. The moment her breasts pressed into him; flashes of his mother appeared in his mind. Recounting how they would press into him whenever she was on top of him as she leaned forward. Helen liked to kiss a lot whenever they were together. Not that he was complaining, he kind of missed feeling his mother's lips at that moment. His eyes shot wide when he felt himself getting hard. He could not let his birth mother feel that. He knew that would only freak her out, more so if she thought she was the one that caused it or the cause of why he was getting hard in the first place with the moans and mewing of his mother's sensuous voice playing out in his head.

"I'm going to work hard so you can trust me." Denis heard her whisper into his shoulder. Trying not to peer down at her orbs that were so close to his mouth he could taste them. "Come before the elevator takes us for another ride," Coraline spoke, taking hold of Denis' left hand and leading him towards her home. "Now, you go take a shower; Dad likes to be on time, so you shouldn't stay up too late," she said in a caring voice as she lightly rubbed her hands along his shoulders.

Coraline walked groggily out of her bedroom somewhere past midnight. What awoke her was some very odd noises coming from the other side of her condo. However, her fog of sleep quickly was banished when her son's voice filled the air. Her heart raced in fright at what he was saying. Her feet propelled her towards the guest bedroom when Denis uttered: 'Stop, stop, please stop! I'll be good, I swear!' Rushing into the bedroom without caring, she was only in a t-shirt with no bra or panties on.

Flipping on the lamp beside the bed, a horror-filled gasp escaped her lips as her hands flew to her mouth as her eyes just couldn't look away at the numerous scars that marred his chest as her son thrashed about in his sleep. "What the hell happened to you?" Coraline asked aloud, trying not to tear up at the sight of what was done to her son. "Denis, Denis," she whispered softly as she laid a hand on his left shoulder. Jumping back when Denis instantly bolted up, his chest heaving from the nightmare he was having. "Oh, God!" Another horrific gasp emanated from her lips when the light of the lamp played along his back, showing her all the scars that dominated his skin to the point where she couldn't even see one inch of his back bare from those wicked signs of his torment.

Watching how Denis pulled up his knees and wrapped his arms around his legs while pressing his head against them. "Sorry, I didn't mean to wake you," Denis spoke, his voice muffled by his legs.

"Baby, tell me, what happened?" Coraline asked, sinking down onto the bed and lightly touching his elbow. "Tell me why is it that your chest and back are so scarred when I can't even see an inch of skin that doesn't have something marring it," she said, praying that he would open up to her.

"Because for ten years, all I ever was, was a thing to them. Not worthy enough to be called a human being," Denis said, his muscles trembling as that ever-constant fear held sway over his body. "I was nothing more than a whipping post and a paycheck to them."

Coraline's hands flew to her mouth. That was not what the woman from the agency had told her when they talked about putting him up for adoption. Berating herself for ever trusting the system to see to the needs of her son. Wrapping him in a hug the best that she could in his position. Feeling her breasts pressing into his hands as she did. Knowing now what he had meant when he said those words to her when they had stopped for ice cream and why he was guarded around her parents. "Oh, my sweet, sweet boy," Coraline whispered into Denis' hair before placing a kiss on top of his head. "I'm so, so sorry you had to go through that. I should have never listened to those people. I should..." Sighing, knowing wishing for something wasn't going to change the past. It wasn't going to take the scars away; it wasn't going to take the fear away. Nothing could do that.

"When you get back from the lake, we'll sit down, and you can tell me every single thing that's happened to you. I don't care how gory it is. I want to know everything," Coraline said, running her hands down his back, showing him that his scars didn't scare her. That no matter how horrific his life was, she wasn't going anywhere! Not anymore! She wasn't about to let her son go ever again.​