QT: Dave in Dallas Ch 16 (Final)

Ch 16 – Halloween Hijinks

October 30, 2020

The happy sounds of women returning from shopping calmed quickly when Dave walked up to Peggy and Tasha to deliver a hug and a kiss.  The others each got one as well.  He hadn’t intended to have a cooling effect on their conversation, but it happened anyway. Though, it did spur everyone to remember the bags they carried included groceries that needed putting away.

Peggy and Tasha grabbed a few bags and headed upstairs.  Lupe called for everyone carrying kitchen items to follow her.  Then Jan asked everyone else to follow her off to the ‘staging room’ as she called it.  It was the medium-sized room that sat astride the transverse hallway and also separated the foyer from the lounge adjacent to the kitchen.  She specifically asked Dave not to follow them.  The twinkle in her eye suggested she had a surprise for him and didn’t want to spoil it.  Dave shrugged, kissed her on the cheek, and drifted to the open lounge.

Sitting there, he finally recognized the origin of some of the furniture.  Dave hadn’t looked closely before, just noted that there was more here than he’d had at his house.  His old house, now.  Twice before lockdowns, Dave was invited into Lupe’s house.  The black cloth couch, second coffee table, and the two wingback chairs were from Lupe’s living room.  Well, that meant there might be enough seats for everyone.

He wasn’t alone long, as the ladies joined him once their hunt trophies had been stowed.  First, the kitchen crew trickled in, then Jan’s group, minus those who took bags up to the bedroom.  Peggy and Tasha, in newly changed clothes and acting lightly flirty, were nearly the last to return.  Peggy wore a filmy, loose top with fluttery accents around the collar and shoulders.  A repeating motif of tree branches, birds, and butterflies further enlivened the breezy appeal.  Below, she sported white denim shorts that came a few inches below the curve of her tight, round ass.

Tasha wore a slimming black bodysuit with small cap sleeves and no frills.  On her bottom she wore blue denim shorts that ended right at the curve of her butt.  And she rocked it.  For a woman in her late 40’s she looked damn good.  Her legs were lightly muscled, neither loose nor skinny, just well-toned.  Her generous bosom pushed the satiny bodysuit out into eye-drawing curves.  In other company, she might be the largest breasts in the room, but Peggy, Reyna, and Liv were more bounteous in that department.  As was Shawna, but she would … probably be getting off work about now.

Dave’s phone buzzed.  Checking it, he smiled.  Shawna sent a selfie from her driver’s seat.  Her shirt was unbuttoned a bit lower than it had been on air, and the phone was above and aimed down her shirt, providing a delectable view of her milk chocolate mounds.  That’s the part that got Dave’s dick’s attention.  His heart locked onto that beaming smile and lively eyes.  I am so fucking in love with this woman that I just met!  His heart raced at the thought of her walking in the door, her springy black hair strands flouncing with every step.

-I love you babe, you are a bright spot in my day and my heart.

Shawna responded with a heart-eyes emoji.

-On my way home, see you soon.

He looked up to see that even those engaged in conversations with each other had their eyes on him.  “That was Shawna.  She’s headed home now.”

Lupe rose and quickly walked towards the kitchen.  “I should get dinner started.”

“I’ll help,” Reyna and Peggy replied.  The younger woman giggled at the simultaneous statement.  Peggy merely smiled, patting the teen’s shoulder.  Dave gave his new partner a wink and a smile as she passed by.  He was a bit surprised at the impact of his action, as she smiled all the more brightly.

When Shawna arrived, she called out as she ascended the stairs that she was heading to the bedroom to kick off her shoes and change into something more comfortable.  The first view Dave got of her that day was her broad smile and her springy, stylishly coiffed hair bouncing joyously with each step.  By the time she dropped herself into Dave’s lap, certain parts of him were paying close attention to every detail of her lovely body.  The gentle wiggle of her juicy, round ass, as it rested on his cock, foretold of her intentions for later in the evening.  After a few minutes of cuddling and kissing, Shawna motioned for Tasha and Vanessa to join them on the couch.

“Tasha,” she started, “I only got a few minutes to speak with you this morning before I rushed off to work, so I just wanted to say it’s nice to have you here.  I also wanted to include you in this discussion, to keep you in the loop, so to speak.  I didn’t invite Peggy since she seems otherwise engaged at the moment, and there’s only so much space on the couch anyway.”

“Thank you for the welcome, as well as the inclusion.”  The ladies shared a smile that was more than pro forma, but not yet the affection of close friends.  Much like the more sincere smiles shared at rich people’s cocktail parties.

Shawna returned her attention to Dave.  “I thought Vee and I could get you caught up on what happened on the home front while you were out rescuing damsels in distress.”  She gave a quick side-eyed wink to Tasha, whose responding smile reached all the way to her eyes.

Dave delivered a quick kiss to Shawna’s cheek.  “Sure, that sounds good.  For starters, how the hell did you get everything moved in barely a day?  And where the hell did this house come from anyway?”

“Well dear, after you and Liv took off on an adventure with everything but your pocket handkerchiefs,” Shawna said with a churlish smile, “I spent the next few hours figuring out how I would tell the rest of the family what you to were doing and why I didn’t wake all of them to stop you.”

Dave had the good sense to look sheepish.  “Sorry babe, I know that was a tough position I put you in.”

“Oh, honey,” her brown eyes gleamed, “you can put me in any position you want.”  Vanessa high-fived Shawna while Tasha smiled and laughed.

Dave gave her a swift, but mild, swat on her tight round ass.

She raised her face to the ceiling and rolled her eyes back.  “Oh yeah baby, just like that.”  Then she turned her face back down to Dave with a huge grin.  Raising one hand, she reached out and ‘booped’ his nose.

Dave tried to regain his composure as the blush receded from his face.  He said, with a carefully level voice, “Perhaps you should continue your narrative.”

Shawna laughed again, kissed him, then continued.  “Ok, so the morning was tense, with a lot of arguing.  Seriously, Lupe was in my face, chewing my ass out in Spanish at one point.  Jan talked her down.  And yes, she apologized profusely an hour later, but I told her I understood completely, so we’re good.”

Dave sighed in relief.  Two of his partners with a grudge between them would be bad.  Lupe and Shawna were two that he counted on to lead the family.  He’d caused a rift, but they had healed it themselves.

“So, about an hour after your text that finally let us know that the two of you were alive and well, Vee gets a call informing us that we’re being relocated and that help is on the way.  Four army trucks show up, and a couple of Humvees loaded with soldiers.  Lupe, of course, took charge of packing the kitchen, and Jan took the library.  The soldiers split up and worked under their guidance.  Reena took care of Becca's things as well as her own, since Becca was helping Esme.”

The dark-skinned woman paused for a moment. She lay her head on Dave’s shoulder. “When the kitchen was done, Lupe led them over to her house for furniture and such that we hadn’t brought over yet, or hadn’t had space for.  One of the soldiers had already passed along that the new place was much larger, with more rooms.  I started out upstairs in the main bedroom, and once that was going, checked in with Becca and Reyna.”

“Well, then I remembered the weapons closet, but I had no idea how to open it.  I managed to get hold of Olivia, who told me the passcode and how to open the access panel.  The soldiers lost their shit.  I argued with them for ten minutes straight before they finally relented.  They were going to leave it or confiscate everything, but backed off eventually.  They still insisted on ‘special handling’ so they brought in … armors?  No, armorers, that’s it.  Anyway, they supervised moving the weapons.  Everything that was in the secret closet is in the upstairs security room.  Oh, and Mel took care of your office, especially the computer.  Those boxes should be in your new office.  Have you seen it yet?”  She sat back up straight as she finished.

“Yes, Vanessa showed me around the house.  The office is really nice.  I’m a little leery of not having a wall behind my back, but the view is great.”  He paused for a moment.  “But how was this house here and ready anyway?  Or do I want to know?”

Vanessa took over the conversation from Shawna.  “Well, this area was already undergoing rebuilding. This whole circle we’re on – all five houses – was part of a new gentrification mixed development.  Once the powers that be realized we would need to consolidate the surviving population, the Lakeview area was picked as one of the hubs.  This house was previously designated for some rich guy’s errand boy.  It was roughed out, and the first floor was finished before the pandemic hit.  I think he got to redesign a few things.  Like that first-floor room that looks like a law library – that’s what it was supposed to be.  Even if he was home, he would have access to all his legal beagle reference books.”

“Custom design, huh?”  Dave’s eyebrow went up as he thought back to the little itch he’d gotten during the tour earlier.

“Somewhat.  They were far enough along that he couldn’t just get whatever he wanted, but he was allowed some input in the later stages.”

Dave grunted thoughtfully but elected not to speak.

“Anyway, when the powers that be decided we needed to be relocated immediately, this was the only available house large enough.  If I overheard some side conversations correctly, the errand boy was mollified by giving him a larger estate in the same gated community as his boss.  It had been slated for another super rich guy, a peer to the errand boy’s boss, but that guy died just as his first partner walked up the drive.  Now, that brings me to an idea I had this morning.  I’d like to keep it a secret, at least until we know it can happen, but …”  Vanessa laid out her suggestion.

“That would be a very sweet thing to do, if you can pull it off,” Tasha said.

“I’m all for it,” Dave added.  “If I need to do anything to make it happen, let me know.  It sounds like it’s an all you thing, though.”

“Oh, it is.  But I didn’t want to blindside you with it.”

“I don’t think that was really a problem, but again, it’s a great idea, and very thoughtful of you.”

Vanessa smiled and gave him a hug and a kiss.  Then Tasha did the same from his other side.  Shawna followed suit as well, though she kissed him on the lips where the others had kissed his cheek.  Just as the game was getting going, Lupe called everyone into the dining room.

******

Dave wandered into the TV lounge after dinner.  Reena and Becca had announced their intention to watch some of ‘their’ music videos and invited him to join them.  He promised to join them shortly.  After noticing a hushed conversation between Liv, Tasha, and Peggy, in which he was sure he saw Liv’s lips form the word ‘Eddie’, followed in short order by Tasha and Peggy looking his way with sad eyes, Dave decided it was time to fulfill his oath.

He entered to see a young woman with dark hair, upon which the leading edge on each side was dyed green.  Her voice was pitched low, almost drowsy.  It was sort of soothing, though.

When the video ended, the new-old original video jockey, Martha Quinn, sat on a four-legged barstool with a big smile.  “Well, that wraps us for this hour.  We’ll be right back with an hour-long ode to stadium rock – big hair and driving beats – after these commercials.  While you’re waiting, think on this, a word of wisdom from me to you – When you work on your own life, you are less likely to hyperfocus on the imperfections of your husband.  Of course, boys, that works both ways.”  Then the screen went to an ad for dog food.  Dave stayed for the full hour, explaining bits of 80’s trivia and adding a few contextual details.  To his chagrin, Becca and Reena both loved Bon Jovi.  Dave plastered a smile on his face and humored them.  Hell, he did the same in high school for people that meant a lot less to him than these two, he could surely be a good sport now.  The trio shut down the TV and left to mingle with the rest of the family when the hour was up.

Melanie caught him as he re-entered the living room.  “Hey Dave, what’s with all the CDs in your office?  I mean, I’ve never heard you play music at all, but you sure have an extensive library of songs.”

Dave schooled his face to shield his emotional response.  “I played them a lot before, but it hasn’t been a part of my life for a few months now.”  He saw in her eyes some recognition, maybe even sympathy.  He wasn’t looking for sympathy, though.  He just wasn’t ready to discuss the issue.  Some topics Dave just wasn’t up to talk about.  At least not yet.  Maybe never.

All of Dave’s partners were a little clingy that evening.  Niki, Carmen, Tasha, and Peggy because they’d only recently joined their lives to his.  Both the natural newness and the vaccine’s bonding effects drew them in close. The rest were anxious because of his … activities of late and the dangers thereof.  In each case, he was reasonably certain their concern was more than the serum-dependency they now had.  Each woman bore a place in his heart, and he in theirs.  It was a strange realization for one that grew up in a society with many generations of monogamy as the only permissible expression of … love.

Yes, each of them in their own way, Dave was beginning to love these ladies.  Some he was further along the path than with others - Lupe had been a part of his life for three years prior to the pandemic, and Olivia for her whole life - but in no case was the bond purely physical.  Maybe it was something about his emotional makeup.  The one-night stands he’d had were never satisfying.  In fact, they’d been more of an ‘acting out’ episode than anything remotely desirable.  Each of these relationships now were much more than serial one night stands.  Maybe someone else would enjoy that existence, but Dave had no desire to live like that.  Question was, how long would it last?  Or rather, once the geniuses that made this mess figured out how to give women their freedom back, would any of them stay?

Niki’s tug on his arm drew Dave out of his maudlin thoughts.  She was antsy after a long regen.  He followed her up the stairs, getting a marvelous view of her ass in pink cloth shorts.  The light-weight white cotton t-shirt on her torso was short enough to expose a bit of her midriff when they were on the same level, even with their height difference.  At this angle, Dave could see far enough up her back to notice her smooth ebony skin was unhindered by a brassiere.

When Dave turned from closing the master bedroom door, he found his short stack former athlete looking expectantly up at him.

“We, uh, haven’t talked much about your … preferences –”

“Tonight, I want it hard, but caring.  I don’t want long, slow, sensual loving making – this time.  I want to be reassured my man wants and needs me.  Pin me to the mattress and fuck my brains out David.”

Struggling to keep the look of concern off his face from the ‘wants and needs me’ part of that, Dave wrapped his arms around Niki and claimed her lips with his own.  She purred into the kiss as he reached down and grasped the globes of her ass and pulled her upward and against his body.  He kicked his shoes off as he carried her over to the edge of the bed.

He placed Niki on the bed in a seated position without breaking the kiss.  Leaning over her, with her head tilted back, Dave began disrobing.  When he was down to his boxers, he returned his hands to Nicole’s body.  He knelt on the bed, took hold of her, and began dragging her up the bed like a cheetah with a gazelle.  As he broke the kiss, she gasped and followed up with a nearly whispered “Yes, David” that was both affirmation and encouragement.

Niki spread her legs loosely so that Dave could take position between them.  Instead of stripping the two of them, Dave lay atop her, grinding his boxer-clad erection against her cotton-covered mound.  His right hand groped her small, firm breast under her shirt.  His left elbow kept his full weight off her as his left hand grasped the back of her neck.  Her eyes flashed when he took hold of her.  Niki’s body instinctively accepting his power.  She started humping up against him, accompanied by little moans.

Dave pulled her shirt off and dove, mouth first, onto the tight little chocolate drop nipples and areolas topping her dark chocolate flesh mounds.  She sucked in a breath and her body shuddered when he made contact.  While his mouth was occupied with her breasts, his hands removed her shorts and his boxers. More affirmative moans and whimpers greeted his actions.

Kissing his way upward, Dave traversed Niki’s neck, settling on her earlobe.  With little nibbles and licks, he worshipped the curve of her lobe, auricle, helix, and concha.  Her moans, and the motion of her pelvis became plaintive.  This was his cue. He drew his pelvis back, slipping his cock from between them, allowing it to dangle just in front of her entrance.  He inched forward, found her sopping wet, throbbing, needy hole – and thrust inward.  Her body rose off the bed, gasping as he penetrated her velvety tunnel with the first third of his length.  Her arms clasped his torso. He moved his lips to her mouth.  She responded enthusiastically.  As Dave seated himself fully within her, Niki moaned low and hungry.  He paused for a moment, then slowly drew out most of his length.  He pushed back forcefully, full length, and Niki grunted while clutching him tighter.  Then he quickened his pace.  Her cute little grunts as his pelvis reached her clitoris grew into small whispers of affirmation.  His head back, he watched her eyes.  They showed hunger for more.  Dave gave her what she wanted.  As her body built to climax, he suddenly found himself fountaining within her.  She immediately clenched, the serum-guaranteed orgasm seizing her mind and body.

Dave gently stroked the side of Niki’s body, feeling the light sheen of sweat that matched his own.  Both lay panting, gathering their breath.  As their breathing slowed, He noted a look of concern in her eyes.

“What’s wrong, Dave?”

“I just … I usually last longer.  Long enough for a lady to get at least one, if not more, real orgasms.”

“I asked for hard and fast, and that’s what you gave me.  And that orgasm – was plenty real, let me tell you.  Don’t go gettin’ all up in your head, Dave.  That was good for me.  Don’t ruin it by thinkin’ too much and gettin’ down on yourself.  Just text Tasha and Peggy so they know they’re welcome to come up for cuddles, and then hold me as we drift off to lala land.”

Dave felt a smirk draw across his face as he replied, “Yes, dear.”  He gave her a kiss, then reached for his phone.  By the time the other two entered the room, Niki was lying atop Dave with the covers over the pair.  Tasha and Peggy each stripped off their clothes and crawled under the covers, one on each side of Dave.

******

October 31, 2020

Dave awoke with the pile of flesh extended beyond the three he’d fallen asleep with.  Niki was still on top of his torso, her head on his chest.  Becca and Reyna had each claimed a leg.  Lupe and Jan were outboard of Tasha and Peggy, respectively.  Shawna and Carmen were the next two out, with Vanessa behind Shawna.  Melanie and Olivia embraced each other behind Carmen.

A gentle knock at the door clued Dave in as to what woke him in the first place.  Working carefully, he extricated himself from the piles of naked lady flesh immediately adjacent to him – most of the others wore night attire that provided varying degrees of coverage.  He spotted his boxers draped over a chair near the door and donned them as the third knock since he’d awakened sounded.

Given that all of his partners were in bed, there was only one person who could be knocking.  He leaned carefully around the door as he opened it.  “Hey, munchkin, are you all right?”

Esmeralda looked up at him, nonplussed.  “I’m hungry and bored and alone, papi.”

Dave felt a certain warmth in his heart that she would call him papi.  “Tell ya what, give me a minute to get dressed and I’ll take you downstairs and make you some breakfast.  Sound good?”

Esme nodded.  “Everyone’s still asleep?”

“Yeah, I think we’re all a bit wrung out from the past couple of days.  But don’t worry, Papi’s gonna take care of his favorite step-daughter.”

Fifteen minutes later, Dave was dishing out scrambled eggs with cheese on a plate that already bore two slices of buttered toast.

“So, have you decided what you’re gonna wear this evening?” Esme inquired between bites.

Dave looked at her, confused.  A rather disconcerting situation, as he already had twelve adult women to leave him confused.  He really didn’t need the young ward to follow suit.  Esme rolled her eyes when she noticed Dave had no clue what she was talking about.

“It’s Halloween, Dave – you know, that major holiday at the end of October?  A neighbor from the next street over said they’re all safe enough to do trick-or-treating.  Low contact, I think they said.  Everybody’s putting bowls of candy out away from the door, and people inside are waving to trick or treaters as they pass.  Now, what are you wearing to take me?”

Dave sat back.  “Wow, I lost track of days.  I know we were making plans to do something at the old house, just us.  I didn’t know what changes came along with the move.  I’ll think of something in time, though.  Promise.”

“I know exactly what you can wear,” Shawna’s rich tones sounded from his left.  Dave looked up to see her and Lupe entering, wearing thick, calf-length bathrobes tied over their bedclothes.  “I guided the packing of the bedroom, so I happen to know you have a costume that would bring glory to our house.”

Dave puzzled for a moment and then laughed.  “That’s a lot to put on for a candy run, hun.”

“Oh, did we not tell you?  Mitch and his ladies are coming over.  They should arrive about the time you get back from chaperoning Esme.”

“Oh, that’ll make a great first impression.”  Dave rolled his eyes for emphasis.

“Exactly.”  Shawna’s bright-sounding response contrasted with Dave’s reluctance.

“Maybe you should wear it then.”  He replied.

Shawna huffed.  “No, it wouldn’t fit.  Not to mention yours is a male version – no boobie window.  And besides,” she continued, trying to dodge a glare from Lupe, reminding her that Esme was in the room, “You are our honorable warrior.  It is your right and privilege to wear the uniform.  It would make the night a success.”

“It would take over an hour to prep.  Hell, the makeup and prosthetics are probably dry and brittle anyway.”  He paused a moment.  “I could wear the other one.  I have a prosthetic beard for it.”

Shawna’s smile nearly split her head.  “Oh, yeah baby.  Maybe that one is more appropriate for a man with a harem.  The consummate lady’s man.”  She squealed and clapped her hands.  “This’ll be perfect!”

Dave knitted his eyebrows at her mention of ‘lady’s man’.  He hadn’t drawn these women into his life with his personal charm.

Lupe cleared her throat from her place at the sink as she washed the skillets and bowls used to make Esme’s breakfast.  “The others are waking and will be down soon, Dave.  I think we’ll skip breakfast for most of us and just have a slightly early lunch in another hour or so.  But, Peggy and Tasha would like time with you.  Can you head back up?”

“Sure.”  Dave stole a bite of egg off Esme’s plate and raced out to the sound of her – mostly – pro forma objection.  He passed a drowsy Jan on the stairs.  She stopped for a tight hug.  Dave kissed her on the forehead before releasing her.

Mel and Olivia were just approaching the stairs when he reached the second floor.  The rest were strung out behind them in triplets and singles.  The last – other than Tasha and Peggy, who were waiting in the bedroom – was Carmen.  The short, pale woman with long black hair pulled back in a loose ponytail smiled at him before delivering a fierce hug to his torso.  She tilted her head up for a kiss, which Dave obliged.

“Tomorrow?” she asked.

Dave nodded.

Carmen smiled and bit her lip before rushing away to join the others.  She turned to look behind her as she went around the corner.  When she saw Dave still watching her, she grinned broadly.  Watching as she passed out of sight, Dave then took a moment to center his thoughts before opening the bedroom door.  Good thing, too.  The sight that greeted him threatened to scramble his brains all by itself.

By the broadest of descriptions, the two women were remarkably similar.  Long, naturally blonde hair.  Large breasts.  Well-toned legs.  Full, firm torsos.  Blue eyes.  Anyone with eyes could easily tell them apart, though.

Both women sat with their backs against the headboard, their knees raised, legs slightly apart.  Both were clean shaven, each pussy glistening in the natural light, attesting to the ladies’ arousal.  Both had one hand grasping the other’s breast as they kissed slowly.

“Oh, damn,” Dave muttered.

Two blonde heads turned, smiling invitingly.

“Come on up, David.  We’re just warming each other up for you.”  Tasha bit her lip as Peggy demonstratively massaged the older blonde’s breast.  “You know, I never had any interest in playing with other women before the vaccine.  Drew expected us to engage with each other.  Now … I just feel comfortable doing this for you.  And I know this fantasy must have crossed your mind.”

“Honestly, I’ve been so occupied, I hadn’t gotten there – yet.”  Dave shook his head and blew out a breath.  “This … this is a fantasy I didn’t know I had.”  Dave stripped as he spoke, then crawled up the bed to his two new partners.  Gripping one breast of each woman, he slowly massaged the fleshy orbs, delighting in the feel – and the women’s responsive coos.  Throwing any sense of restraint to the wind, he buried his face in Peggy’s massive mammaries.  She giggled happily, arching her back to give him access to every inch of her breasts.  Dave felt both breasts press to the sides of his face as he nipped at her cleavage and the inner surfaces of Peggy’s bosoms.  He pulled back, then zeroed in on her large, pale pink areola and thumb-sized nipple.  He smiled at the tremor that ran through her body as he feasted on her pap.

When he switched to the other side, he realized the support came not from Peggy’s other hand, but one of Tasha’s.  Each woman now had their inboard arm behind the other.  He groaned just as Peggy moaned in response to his oral assault on her nipple.

Dave turned his attention to Tasha now.  Kissing his way up her arm to a point closest to her breast, he made his way to her medium brown areola and eraser-sized nipple.  He felt rather than saw Tasha move her hand to support her own breast as he lavished it.  He noted the other breast moving in his peripheral vision, indicating Peggy was now providing the same assistance Tasha had just given.  He switched over to the fourth nipple offered to him.  The older blonde’s breathing responded to his attentions in a distinctly affirmative manner.

Peggy licked and nibbled at Dave’s ear as he ministered to Tasha’s tits.  Then she whispered, “Lie back, Honey Bear.”  Amused at the appellation, Dave settled on his haunches before lying flat on his back, his head toward the foot of the bed.  Advancing in tandem, the blue-eyed vixens locked their gazes on Dave as their chins skimmed along his legs, their mouths open and tongues out.  Each took a testicle into her mouth and lavished it with their tongue while their hands drifted languorously across his lower abdomen.  Taking turns, one, then the other, released his ball and dragged her moist lips and lascivious tongue up his shaft.  Reaching the peak, each massaged his frenulum with her lips before slowly descending back to his nut, upon which the other would ascend his manhood in like manner.

When each had made the round trip of his organ several times (Dave had lost count), both released his balls and wrapped their lips against his shaft providing continuous lip coverage of his crank.  Ever so slowly, humming as they went, the two gorgeous women sucked and licked their way up his cock in tandem, both sets of eyes locked on his, with huge grins on their faces.  Upon reaching the top, Peggy slid down to his balls again as Tasha took his head into her mouth, sucking and licking.  Her eyes twinkled as Dave groaned, his breathing heavy.  Slowly, Tasha took more of him in her mouth until she encompassed half his length in her warm, moist, oral embrace.  After a pause of a heartbeat, she began bobbing her head on him, stopping only when his helmet bumped against the back of her throat.

She paused again at the greatest depth she had yet reached before slowly rising, watching him, feeling him twitch in her mouth.  She gave the underside of his head one last flick as he came out of her mouth.  Peggy now took him in her turn.  With more energy and urgency, she sucked and licked, until she had a bit more than half of little Dave in her mouth.  His helmet pressed against the entrance to her throat, she swallowed and shoved her face all the way to his pelvis.

“OOOOHHH HOOOLLEEEE FUCK!” Dave shouted.

Tasha tittered as Peggy hummed, sucked, and licked at Dave’s member.  She drew herself off, then advanced again until her nose pressed into him.  Then she started … fucking her throat on his cock.  The image of this beautiful woman taking his entire cock in her mouth, the sensation as she expertly stimulated him, and the sight of her huge breasts swinging with her exertions rapidly pushed Dave over the edge.  He half-grunted a warning as he felt his sap rising.  Peggy responded by grasping his hand and placing it on the back of her head before diving down once more, forcefully jamming as much of his shaft down her throat and squeezing his organ with her esophageal muscles while stroking him with her tongue.

This was more than Dave had ever experienced in an oral session.  He registered the hand placement as permission, invitation even, to hold her down as he came.  He pressed her to him just as stars exploded in his brain and he blew blast after blast of cum straight down her gullet.  Peggy moaned and writhed, but kept her mouth locked on him, sucking as best she could while her body convulsed.

Coming to his senses, Dave released her.  The blonde woman methodically extracted his slightly softened member from her oral cavity, licking and sucking as she did so.  Panting through an enormous grin, she rested her head on Dave’s thigh, beside his saliva slickened cock.  He noticed Tasha watching him, smiling, as she stroked his chest.

“Do you suppose you have another round in you, darling?”

“Yeah, just gimme a minute to ‘reset’ so to speak.  This serum stuff cuts the down time, so it shouldn’t take long.”

“I bet we can help hurry it along,” she said with a lusty grin.  She tapped Peggy’s shoulder.  The younger blonde’s breathing had already slowed to a normal rate, and she rose immediately.  The two picked up Dave’s semi-soft and slightly contracted cock and wrapped their breasts around it.  Dave immediately felt the life rushing back into his member.

“Ooo, okay, that … that will definitely wake it up fast.”

Both ladies giggled, flashing him knowing, delighted grins.  Four bounteous boobs stroked his flesh rod until it stood rigidly erect.  Then the pair knelt on all fours, their asses side by side facing Dave.  Two pink, clean shaven, dripping pussies puckered and unpuckered as he struggled to control himself.  He’d had a lot of fun, now he owed them some in return.

Dave flipped himself onto his knees and scooched over behind Tasha.  Grasping her firm, rounded ass, he kneaded her globes, eliciting a moan.  Then he brought his cockhead to her entrance and slowly fed his meat into her waiting tunnel.

“OOoooooo, yes, David.  Take me, lover.  Take all of me.”

With firm, deliberate strokes, Dave worked his way into her sex.  He varied his angle from an upward one that had his underside continuously brushing her clit to a downward one that forced his head to trip across her g-spot twice on each stroke.  Three strokes upward, five downward.  Six upward strokes, three downward.  Tasha’s pleasure built as Dave cycled between pleasure points.  He reached under her torso and palmed her breasts.  A small shudder passed through her and she began humping back into him, grunting as she did so.  Within a few minutes, Tasha crested her first orgasm.  Dave fucked her through it, picking up his pace.  Tasha thrashed and screamed, but clenched on to him as the second orgasm clutched her fiercely.  Her inner muscles seized Dave’s invading organ tightly, stopping him in his tracks.

As she relaxed, Dave began softly rocking in and out, not quite sliding yet.

“Mmm, no, too sensitive.”

He immediately stopped and pulled out.  Tasha whimpered at the vacancy, but there were tinges of relief in the sound as well.  She collapsed onto the bed, half-turning, a dreamy smile on her face.  “Your turn,” she said, patting Peggy’s thigh.

Peggy wiggled her ass.  She turned her head to wink at Dave.  Gamely, he knee-walked into position behind her.  A slow, grinchy smile spread on his face, and he decided to try something different.  He bent down and playfully bit her round, juicy ass cheek.  Peggy yelped and jumped.  Then she giggled, looking back at him again.  That’s when Dave thrust his full length into her dripping passage.

Peggy pushed back against him, then twerked her ass, stirring her honeypot with Dave’s wand.  Taking another risky guess, Dave reached up and grabbed a fistful of her hair, near the nape of her neck.  He pulled her forcefully onto himself and began thrusting powerfully into her.

“OOOOOOO, fuck yes, baby.  Fuck me hard.  Fuck your bimbo bitch.  Come on, Davey, put me in my place.”

Some part of Dave felt worried about ‘putting a woman in her place’, but his new experiences suggested he roll with it, at least for now. After all, it was her words, not his.  Right?

He put his left hand on her shoulder, pushing downward, as he pulled her hair with his right and pounded her sex mercilessly.  The yips and grunts sounded like a cross between pain and satisfaction, which was confusing.  Out of the corner of his eye, he checked Tasha for any signs of concern, but found none.  The older blonde lay on her side, eyes roving over Dave and Peggy’s bodies.  She reached over, grasping Peggy’s breast furthest from her and pulled gently.  Peggy collapsed on her side, her torso twisted to face Tasha while her pelvis and legs stayed upright, speared by Dave.  Peggy trembled and moaned by the twin assault of Dave in her pussy and Tasha fondling her breast.  As the younger woman’s sub verbal coos reached a peak, Tasha leaned in and sucked her nipple.

Peggy’s body froze.  Dave felt her vaginal muscles run riot on his cock.  A moment later, the rest of her body thrashed as well.

“OOOOOO FUCK YES!  OH FUCK! OH YOU DELICIOUS FUCKERS!!  Fucking Jesus!  YEEEEESSSSS!!!!!!”

Peggy went limp, breathing hard, a light sheen of sweat covering her.  Dave’s cock slipped out of her as her ass fell to the bed, while he remained kneeling.  He rested back on his heels, taking the opportunity to catch his breath.  His initial attention was on Peggy, as she recovered from her orgasm.  When he shifted his gaze to Tasha … he recognized that look in her eye.  To be fair, her eyes were locked on his still-stiff prick.  That certainly aided in reading her intent.  He motioned her over, taking her shoulders when she approached, pulling her in for a slow, passionate kiss.

Tasha ended the kiss by pushing Dave onto his back.  Swiftly, she straddled him and impaled herself full length on his cock.  The sigh she let out was a mixture of lust and relief.  Then she began moving.  First, rocking back and forth, flicking her pelvis forward and back, riding his shaft at a canter.  From there, she progressed to an up-and-down motion.  She switched it up, raising her pleasure and his by increments.  Peggy, partially settled from her exertions, slid up against him, her mouth to his ear.

“Look at that hot babe, eyes locked on yours.  There’s nowhere she’d rather be, Dave.  She’s all yours, and that’s all she wants.  You’re a good man, Dave.”  She kissed his cheek, then licked his ear.  “You’re more than the man who saved us from that hell, Dave.  You’re the man who’s helping us reclaim our desires.  Thank you, David.”

He wilted a bit while she was speaking, but held his tongue.  Peggy’s hand stroking his chest and Tasha’s lusty stare as she rode his cock worked wonders to bring him back into the game quickly.  When Tasha tipped over the edge in a natural orgasm, Dave went with her, triggering a second wave of pleasure in her.  Tasha collapsed on his chest, breathing hard and moaning happy sounds.  Slowly, over several minutes, Dave softened and fell out of her.

Tasha lifted her head.  She kissed Dave’s chest directly under her head, then his lips.

“Damn good man.”

A tear rimmed one eye as he softly spoke, “I’m not as good as you think I am.”

“I have no illusions that you are perfect, darling.  But you are good.  And that is enough.  Accept yourself, David.  You are good enough.”

******

It seemed rather perverse that in order to get the beard prosthetic to hold properly, he had to shave thoroughly.  Reena coiffed his hair in a properly Riker-like fashion, then disappeared to help Lupe with her hair.  Dave, of course, was banned from cooking, and Lupe’s costume prep would take some time, so several of the others stepped up.  Mel made deviled eggs, Becca mixed the meatloaf and boiled the potatoes for the meatloaf cupcakes, and was just waiting for the right time to assemble them and pop them in the oven.  She ran about helping others and took over kitchen supervision since, as she put it, ‘All she had to do was throw on a costume.’

Dave made it downstairs as the sun rode low in the sky, but not yet touching the horizon.  The neighborhood consensus was that, at least this first year, the kids should be back home with their candy-laden bags before the sun went down.  Esme descended the side stairs – Dave heard her footsteps – and joined him in the foyer.  The young girl wore a dark green cape with a hood, dark brown shirt, and pants, and soft brown knee boots.  She carried a long bow in her left hand.  A quiver with four arrows was strapped to her right thigh.

“Robin Hood?”  Dave queried.

“Nope,” she replied.  “Wrong genre. I use my cloak to hide from orcs.”

“Ah, a Ranger of Gondor.  Well met, noble warrior.  Shall we patrol, and bring back a bounty of sweets?”

Giggling, the nine-year-old nodded and took his hand.

Not all the houses were occupied in a sequence.  There were gaps of one or three houses, then one occupied dwelling.  Another gap, then five in a row occupied.  The standard signal of a porchlight helped the matter immensely.  All houses had a large box or tub of some kind balanced on a stool or small table about halfway between the sidewalk and the front door.  Groups of kids with one or two adults greeted each other or the people in the houses excitedly, but at a distance.  There was a sense that a corner was being turned.  That they might all come out of this alright, if everyone can just hold out a little longer.

The fact that everyone was vaccinated certainly helped.  But safety from the virus was only one issue.  And not one fully solved for all.  Most of these teams only had four or five women.  Dave snorted.  Which probably means once the kids were safely tucked in bed, most of these folks would be having  a little orgy to make sure everybody’s immunity was maxxed.  Esme was beginning to droop after about an hour, but showed no signs of turning for home.  For one thing, any time other kids passed (each group taking distance precautions), she livened up, waving and saying ‘Hi’ to each and every kid in the other group.  She was having far too much fun seeing other kids for Dave to pull her away just yet.

It took a while to notice the absence.  There were no teenagers.  Granted, trick or treating was not as big a deal for teens as for the younger kids, but there had always been a few.  Not to mention the tweens that used trick or treating as an opportunity to recon which houses they would egg or TP.  There would be none of that this year.

When the sun touched the horizon at just after half past six, Dave informed Esme they were headed home.  He grinned when she begged him to carry her.  This was a stage he’d missed with Eddie.  Too big to do little kid things – until you’re too tired to be big anymore.  They were nearly home when a minivan rolled slowly past them and pulled into the drive. Dave and Esme reached the bottom of the drive just as the car doors opened.  Esme wiggled down and ran for the house door.

Dave turned towards the car, getting his first understanding of why Shawna thought his Riker costume was a ‘perfect’ choice.  The young man emerging from the driver’s door wore slicked-back dark hair and pale costume makeup on his face, neck, and hands.  The uniform he wore was of similar cut to the one Dave had on, but mustard yellow where Dave’s was crimson.  The only thing missing were contacts to make his eyes a golden color.  Dave smiled broadly, getting into character.  

“Hello, Pinocchio.”

The young man grinned for a moment, then caught himself and settled his face into a neutral mein.  “Good evening, Commander.  I was summoned by your domestic partner to your residence this evening.  She insisted I bring all of my partners as well.”

Kid did a nice job of maintaining a neutral tone.  Wonder if he rehearsed that line?

“You are most certainly welcome in our house, Lt. Commander, and your family members as well.”

“Puurrrfect.”

Dave turned to see a young lady in form-fitting black latex, with cat’s ears on the top of her head, and a tail dangling from the rear of the costume.  The upturned almond shape of her eyes hinted at Asian ancestry, while her medium brown skin indicated African heritage as well.

“Oh, not just Catwoman, but the Eartha Kitt version of Catwoman?”

“Of course, darling.”

“You better keep this girl, Mitch, she’s got class.”

The young lady leaned against Data / Mitch, her costume claws raking gently over his uniform as she nuzzled his cheek with her latex-covered head.  “Isn’t he just adorable, darling?”

“’Adorable’ being an aesthetic term, I am unable to personally comment on the matter.  However, given that Commander Riker’s visage is one that most women would find pleasing and his jovial nature exudes a welcoming air, I believe the term ‘adorable’ is reasonably applied in this case.”

Dave chuckled.  “You staying in character the whole night?”

Data / Mitch cracked a grin.  “No, but here and there, certainly at the start.”  The two men shook hands.

“Dave, this is Akira Jackson.”  Mitch began his introductions, “We’ve known each other for years.”

“Mitch always had a crush on me, but I used to think he was too dorky.  Now I’ve had time to grow up and realize that’s a good thing.”

Mitch gave her a squeeze with his arm around her shoulders before continuing.  A blonde in a Wonder Woman costume stepped forward.  “This is Kelly, she actually came to me first.  Pure luck of the draw, but Oracle did a great job.  We both love gardening.  Shawna mentioned you and one of your partners gardens as well?”

Kelly shook Dave’s hand as he replied.  “Yeah, I had a greenhouse before the move.  I’ll have to build a new one now.  It’s a lot of work, but worth it.  I should still have time for it.  Also, Olivia, one of my partners, was nearly done with a degree in horticulture and landscaping when the lockdowns hit.”

Mitch introduced the others in short order. Ginger Lawson, an anime fan and professional cook, was dressed as Raven from Teen Titans (that had to be explained to Dave), in part because her short bobbed hair was already dyed purple.  Mindy Yarnell, dressed as Harley Quinn, was a high school softball coach.  Her eyes told a tale of sorrow, even as she tried to be upbeat for social reasons.  Mariana Cordero, an early 20’s Latina with brown hair, brown eyes and dense but well-trimmed eyebrows, wore white shorts with blue trim along the legs and a white tank top with blue trim around the bottom hem and the arm / shoulder holes.  A red, orange and yellow bull’s eye had been sketched in marker in the center of the tanktop.  A pair of bunny ears perched on top of her head.

“Lemme, guess, Dave asked, “Lola Bunny?”

“Yup.  I think I’ll name my bot Lola and make it jump.”

“Bot?”

“I build fighting robots when I’m not fixing PBKAC’s.”

Dave chuckled, catching the acronym after a second’s pause.  “Oh, you may want to commiserate with Niki and Mel then.  Niki’s in cyber security, Mel was finishing her master’s in networking before all this happened.  Mel was Olivia’s roommate. I’ve known Olivia her whole life, so when Liv chose me, Mel decided to stick with her.  It’s been a good match.”

“Interesting.  What are they dressed as?”

“I dunno.  They kept it a secret.  I’m told there will be a parade when I enter, and I have to guess as they come down the stairs.”

”Well, we won’t keep you much longer,” said a short woman with a blonde pixie-cut wig and a mustard colored StarFleet uniform.

“Tasha Yar?”

The young lady nodded, smiling.  Dave turned to Mitch.

“So, programmed in multiple techniques, eh?”

Even the thick layers of pasty android makeup couldn’t hide the younger man’s blush.  It got worse when his partners replied.

“I’ll say.”

“Definitely.”

“Yeah, Baby.”

The faux Tasha held out her hand.  “Wanda Fowler, pleased to meet you.”

Three of Mitch’s partners turned back to the car to grab covered dishes.  Then, with House Westfield in tow, Dave walked to the front door of his new home and entered.  Esme sat on the bottom three steps of the spiral staircase in the foyer, a bag of candy on her lap and a big chocolatey grin on her face.  She rose when Dave came in.

“I was told to get them when you came in.  Oh, people!”  She waved enthusiastically.

“Esme, this is Mitchell Westfield and his partners.  Mitch works with Shawna at the station.”

“Under Shawna,” the girl replied.  “Shawna is the boss babe in the weather department, and Mitchell is her direct subordinate.”

Dave grinned and opened his mouth to reply, but Mitch got there first.

“You are absolutely correct, Miss Esmeralda.  Shawna is the boss of the weather department, and she’s very good at it.  I left school over a year ago, and I’m still learning new things from her.”

“You know my name?”

“Oh, of course.  Shawna talks about you, all of you, of course, but you especially, all the time.  She’s often laughing about something you said or did.”

Esme’s light brown face darkened, then she turned and ran up the stairs.

Presently, Jan arrived at the top of the stairs and descended at a sedate, classical pace.

“Your ladies, sir, will appear in the order they arrived at your home.  You have until the next one arrives to guess who we are costumed as.”

Dave scanned her outfit, also noting the semi-Victorian tone Jan employed.  Something niggled in his brain.  He knew this was familiar.  A medium brown, broad-brimmed, straw hat, white shirt with thin, vertical stripes, dark brown kerchief tied loosely over the shirt, lightweight tan jacket, ankle-length tan skirt, and brown sandals.

“This doesn’t bode well,” Dave admitted, "I know I should recognize the outfit, but my brain isn’t getting there.”

“Well, here’s a hint: ‘I may not be an explorer or an adventurer, or a treasure-seeker, or a gunfighter, Mr. O’Connell, but I am proud of what I am.’”

Dave grinning, having caught on, “And what is that?”

“I … am a librarian.” Then she flumped forward, burying her face in Dave’s chest.

Dave chuckled, patting her back.  “That’s perfect, babe.”

Lupe came down next.  Her long, wine red gown gave additional context to the waves and thin streaks of grey that Reena had spent the afternoon putting in her hair.

“The mother from Tangled?”

Lupe grinned.  “Mother knows best.”  A groan from the top of the stairs revealed Esme’s position on the matter.

Becca came down next.  The form-fitting green tunic and gossamer wings screamed ‘Tinkerbell’.  Shawna’s red TOS Uhura uniform showed a heart-stopping amount of leg – and ass, especially as she came down the stairs.  Mitch averted his gaze.

“Boss, that was more of you than I needed to see.”

“Aw, you made him break character.”  Dave rejoined.

“Has he been Data the whole time?”

“Mostly.  He’s pretty good at it.  But hey, the sight of your ass could break any man’s concentration.”

“Flatterer.”  Shawna delivered a soft, slow kiss to his lips. “But that would be in character for Riker.”

Liv came next wearing a long leather cape, brown leather vest over a black shirt and dark brown trousers.  She carried a Nerf crossbow.

“Some kind of huntress?”

Liv nodded, and Mel came down next.  Dark attire, with a bit of stage blood at one corner of her mouth.  She smiled, showing plastic fangs.

“A vampire.” Dave guessed, as Liv shot Mel with a foam bolt.  “And that would make you a vampire hunter.”  The two co-eds shared a high-five.

Reena appeared wearing light blue sweatpants, a blue crop top, and a yellow cord braided through her hair.  She carried a stuffed tiger.

“Jasmine.”

Vanessa wore tan cloth shorts, a pink button-down tied over a blue t-shirt, and leather ankle boots.  Once again, Dave drew a blank, knowing he should know this.

“I was overwhelmed by the power of this place.”  She said plaintively.

“OH, Jurassic Park!  Nice choice.”

Nikki wore dark, sturdy clothes and a toy shotgun over her shoulder.  Dave had never watched Walking Dead, so she had to tell him her character.

Tasha.  Oh, holy hell.  The green bikini she wore vanished into the background of her green-painted skin.  Her fingernails and toenails bore a slightly darker shade of green.  The model moved like sex on legs.  She’d clearly spent time watching belly dancers and other erotic performances.

“Orion slave girl.  I’d gladly hunt down every slave trader I can find, but I have to admit, this is an enticing prospect.”  Okay, so that was mostly in character.

Dave gave Peggy a slightly askance look as she arrived in a floor-length gown that seemed familiar.  Then she jumped three times, proclaiming ‘Amok, Amok, Amok!’  Ok, well, Sarah Parker is a good looking lady, and she certainly had a nice jiggle in that scene.  Peggy registered on the Richter scale half a continent away. Hell, must have been wearing two bras just to keep those babies inside her gown.

“Hocus Pocus, nice.” 

“Oh good, another man possessed by the sight of big boobs.”  Said a flat voice from the top of the stairs.  Carmen stood there, her hair in pigtails, her normally pale face dusted with powder for added effect.  Dark eye makeup and black lipstick completed her facial appearance.  She matched her dark black, knee-length dress with over-the-calf stockings and black low-heel strappy shoes.

“Ah, Wednesday, my little ray of sunshine.”

Carmen giggled, then descended the stairs with a smirk.  She immediately went to Peggy and hugged her, to emphasize her commentary was purely for her character.

Lupe led those bearing dishes into the kitchen, where she and the others had laid out their own offerings prior to rushing upstairs for their grand entrances.  Everything was arranged buffet style, and the games set up in multiple spots.  The TV and gaming room would be the site of Mario Kart and Mario Party gaming.  The dining room would start out with a Lord of the Rings version of Love Letters, but after several rounds would likely switch to Pictionary.  The lounge / living room was for Taboo.  Dave, after getting a plate, decided getting someone to guess the right word, with certain words not permitted, would be fun.  Lupe, Carmen, Vanessa, Mitch, Kelly, and Mindy made the same choice.  At some point during the game, Dave learned that Kelly was the organizing force in Mitch’s family, having honed her skills as a paralegal responsible for keeping a small law office functioning. The two female partners at her firm were still alive, having paired up with an intern who had been working on a second career in his early 30’s.

They split up by teams.  That left Mitch one person short, but he and his two were fine with that.  It sure didn’t hurt their cause, when in the second round, Dave kept guessing every generic name for Hispanic grocery stores, when all Lupe was looking for was ‘Fiesta’.  Mitch and his girls were rolling with laughter at his wild guesses that were landing way off the mark.  After several more rounds, the teams called it quits so they could play something different.  Mitch’s team won by one point.  Lupe looked at Dave and mouthed ‘Fiesta’, then winked.

“Ok, Esme.  Oops, I mean Lupe.”  He grinned, clearly not having ‘accidentally’ switched names.

“Oh, I know you didn’t just say that.”

“I’m just sayin, the avocado didn’t fall far from the tree.”

Lupe squinted her eyes and tried to scowl, but didn’t quite manage it.

“I see you can’t deny the truth of my assertion.  And why should you?” he said as he got closer, “She’s a great kid.”

Lupe put her arms around his neck and joined the kiss he offered.

“That’s pretty cool how you handled that,” Mitch said.  “I’m still working on how to smooth over differences and stuff.  Any advice?”

Kelly and Mindy insisted he was doing just fine.  Dave gave the twenty-something a moment to absorb the accolades, and then put his two cents in.

“Tell ya what, Mitch.  I will write down for you everything I understand about women.  You have a gum wrapper or a post-it note on ya?”

Giggling erupted from the ladies present, including Shawna, Tasha, and Ginger, who had just wandered in.

“See, just like that, be honest and occasionally funny.  Won’t always work, but no other method shows statistically significant results,” Dave said with a wink.

“Gotcha.  Complete honesty.”

“Whoa, there, Cochise, don’t go putting words in my mouth.  I never said ‘complete’.”

Seven women stared intently.

“Look, if you want to surprise her with something special, ya gotta keep it a secret for a while, so complete honesty is out.”

There was no change in their gazes.

“Don’t look now, kid, but I think we’re outnumbered.”

Mitch groaned.  Tasha swatted Dave’s arm, grinning.

“I suppose it doesn’t hurt to go striding into hell like God’s own army and save a bunch of women either,” Mitch said wryly.

Dave’s face went slack, and his eyes focused well past the opposite wall of the room.  “You know, I used to say things like that to my friend Carter.  I never understood his reaction before.  Beginning to now.  And I only did it once.  He served years in the military doing … that sort of thing.”

They mixed and matched playing partners, including folks from the Mario room, as it had been temporarily labeled. Dave wound up in the dining room, playing Pictionary with Jan and Reena.  Becca, Mel, and Olivia formed a second team while Akira, Mariana, and Wanda were yet another team.  Dave flipped his chair around before taking a seat.

“Riker Manuever!” Becca and Reena laughed to each other.  Mariana laughed like she understood the joke.

Competition was tight, laughs were all around, though Dave’s team held a decent lead.  On Jan’s fourth turn drawing – and also the last round – she drew an inward spiral.  Then a second, originating from a separate point, but arriving at the same spot as the first.  A third joined it.  During the first spiral, Dave guessed ‘lollipop’.  Reena guessed a few terms that he later learned were design styles for curtains and upholstery.  Jan, sensing Dave’s frustration, tried to soothe him.

“Patience is a virtue,” she said with a sing-song voice.

Without missing a beat, he replied, “Not right now it isn’t,” intoned in a way to make Brendan Fraser proud.  To punctuate his point, he indicated the sand timer running very low on grains.

“Black hole!” Reena shouted, as the last two grains fell.

“YES!” Jan jumped, fists raised in victory.  They now had two more points than the other two teams, and those teams only had one round remaining. They could fight it out for second place, but Reena & Jan had just locked in the win.

Dave nodded, the clue now obvious.  “Okay, now I see it.  I don’t know if I would have gotten that myself.  Certainly not before time ran out.”

House Westfield had a twenty-minute drive home, and it was getting late.  The ladies sorted out whose dish was whose, and what to do with leftovers, and then, after a flurry of hugs and promises to ‘do this again sometime’, Mitch and his ladies left.

Lupe and Becca wiped up the small spills in the kitchen while Tasha jumped in the shower to scrub the green paint off.  Everyone else changed into nightclothes and crashed, with the night time shower types getting theirs in as quickly as possible.  Presently, Lupe and Becca finished and met the others in the bedroom and prepared to sleep.  While there were some happy conversations at having had company over, even those were … sedate.  Every member of House Belsus, in mind and body, were too tired to do much more than hold each other that night.