Attempt To Forget

Attempt To Forget

Chapter 1: Ann Wallin has a visitor.

Ann Wallin closed the front door of her house and locked it, then she turned around and smiled nervously at the bulky man who had accompanied her home from the bar. His name was Tom Jonas and, as she studied his face, she realized he wasn't nearly as good-looking as she thought he was in the dimly-lit, smoky barroom. "Oh, well," she thought, hoping her disappointment didn't show on her face, "Too late to do anything about that now. He's here." She smiled at him. "Can...can I get you something to drink?" she asked him.

Her guest shook his head. "Nah," he replied. He moved across her living room and abruptly pulled her into his arms. "I got a better idea." He bent his head and his lips clamped down on hers.

Despite the man's crudeness, warmth began coursing through Ann. He found her desirable! He wanted her! She returned the kiss, loving the heat that suffused her as his strong arms tightened around her.

Tom couldn't believe how lucky he was. He'd gone to the bar for a few drinks and a chance to bullshit with the guys. He was always looking to pick up women, but he never dreamed he'd score with a chick as pretty as this one! He thought he was doing pretty good just to get her to talk to him and dance a couple of dances. When she invited him back to her place he almost choked on his beer. She was really gorgeous, with long, beautifully-styled light brown hair and a terrific body, too. And the outfit she was wearing really showed off how good her body was.

Ann was wearing a soft cotton olive-colored dress that buttoned all the way down the front, fit tight around her slim waist, and had a full skirt that came to just above her ankles. She had purposely left a lot of buttons at the neck and skirt unbuttoned to display both cleavage and leg. Over the years she'd learned that men liked that.

She shuddered with delight when Tom grabbed her buttocks in his powerful hands and pressed her against him. She could feel the swollen ridge of his cock pressing against her belly! It felt huge! He would give her what she needed, she just knew it!

Tom kept hanging on to the lovely woman and moved both of them to the large plush brown sofa that sat along one side of the living room. When they reached it, he pulled her down onto it and began opening the remaining buttons on her dress. He still found it hard to believe this was happening and didn't intend to stop, even for a moment. No way did he want to give this chick a chance to change her mind. When he pushed the dress open, he gasped. All she had on under the dress was a scanty thing that was sort of like a bra, but was more than that. It was held together by three pearl buttons and had skinny straps that went up over her shoulders. It was almost transparent and he could see her breasts right through it! His mouth started to water as he stared at her chest. He'd never gotten it on with a woman this pretty and never dreamed he would!

Ann watched the look that formed on the man's face as he took her clothes off. She could tell from what she saw in his eyes that he thought she was pretty and she liked that. She felt him fumbling with the buttons that held her scanty camisole closed, then his rough fingers were squeezing her breasts. He was a laborer, which meant his hands were hard and calloused. That made his touch rough, even a little painful, but it stirred her, which was exactly what she wanted. "Yes! Ohh!" she murmured as thrills began to spread through her.

Tom pushed her dress all the way open and saw that the only other thing the woman wore was a pair of panties that were just as transparent as the thing she was wearing over her boobs was. His cock was so hard it felt like it was going to tear a hole in his jeans! Damn! He had to have her! Now! He couldn't wait! He grabbed one of the lacy strips that ran over her lithe hips and tore the filmy garment from her. Then he unzipped his pants and pulled his cock out and climbed on top of her.

"No!" Ann moaned. The bikini panties the man tore were expensive! Then his bulky body pressed down on top of her and she felt the roughness of his clothes on her bare skin. His cock, hard as oak, poked into her soft belly. He reached between them, grabbed it in his hand, and - without warning - sank it into her wet pussy.

"Ahh!" Ann cried. She was delighted and thrilled by the man's sudden invasion of her. He was doing it just the way she wanted him to. No love, no words of endearment, just action! Delightful action! Her hands pulled at him and her hips thrust up off the sofa. "Yess!"

Tom hadn't been in a pussy this tight in ages! He almost came before he was all the way in, but somehow he managed to control himself. Once he had his cock all the way in, he lay on her, hearing her moan, feeling her body moving under his. Jeez, she was the hottest chick he'd ever been with! Finally, after he calmed down a little, he started moving his hips, fucking her. Her cunt grabbed at his cock like it hadn't had one in years! He couldn't wait, he couldn't! She was too damn tight and hot! "Uhh!" he groaned when he felt his hot juices jetting into her.

"Oh! Uh! Ahh! Yess! Uhh! Uhh! Uhhh!" Ann moaned when she felt the man's hot cream splashing against her insides. This was what it was all about! This was what she needed! Her hands raked at the man's back, pulling at his clothes, as his hard body drove against her, crushing her against the sofa.

"Oh, Jeez, honey," Tom groaned, then rolled off and pulled his softening cock from her. "Goddamn, you're something! You really needed that, dincha?"

Ann lay there, puzzled. Her need was sated but, somehow, she felt the same nagging feelings of incompletion, of emptiness, that she always seemed to feel after she had sex. It had been like this ever since... She forced herself to drop that line of thinking.

Sex with the men she brought home usually was good, but after it ended, there was a feeling of edginess she found a little disturbing, if she let herself dwell on it. There was no warmth or caring in what she'd just done and, she told herself, that's the way she wanted it. If you didn't get involved, you didn't get hurt.

"Are...are you going to leave now?" she whispered. She hoped the man would leave now that he'd had her.

Tom was slumped on the sofa, still trying to get his wits about him. She was just about the best piece of ass he ever had! And it looked like she wanted him to stay, otherwise, why would she be asking? He shook his head. "Don't worry, honey, I ain't goin' until you tell me to," he replied.

"Oh," Ann said. She stretched and got up. "I...I have to go to the bathroom," she murmured. She pulled her dress around her and moved across the room, aware of the way the man was staring at her. Why did couldn't she enjoy sex for the pleasure it gave her, why did she always have to feel like this afterward?

In the bathroom, she finished cleaning herself up, slipped off her dress, put on a terrycloth robe, then went back out to the living room. The man was gone. Ann's mood lifted as she stood there, looking around. Maybe the man had changed his mind and left, so she could be alone.

"I'm in here, honey," she heard him call from the bedroom.

A bit saddened, she walked to the bedroom doorway, realizing she was trembling. Her companion was laying on her bed naked, his erection jutting from the mass of blond curls at the middle of his heavily muscled, deeply tanned body.

Tom was sure the chick would want more. He sure as hell did! He couldn't imagine she'd ever had any better fucking than what he'd given her. After she went to the bathroom, he got up, took off his clothes, and went into her bedroom. It was a frilly, feminine room, and he felt a little funny in there, but not enough so he wouldn't be able to do what he wanted. He was going to turn her every which way but loose before he left. She'd beg him not to leave when he was finished with her!

Then she came into the room wearing a white robe. Once again, he stared, still unable to comprehend that a woman as pretty as she was had picked him, of all people, up in a bar. He already had a hard-on, saw her staring at it, and saw her tongue slide over her lips. Jeez, she was one hot chick! When she started walking toward him, Tom's mind went wild.

As if she were sleepwalking, Ann moved toward the bed, undoing and dropping her robe as she walked.

Tom gaped at her. She sure was gorgeous. Her tits weren't too big or too small. They were just right. Her nipples weren't very big, either, but they were sticking out like little bullets. He could see she was hotter than a three dollar pistol! "You want more, doncha, honey?" he said, his voice a croak. "You liked what old Tom gave ya, dincha?"

Ann didn't reply. He might be coarse, uncouth, and not very good-looking, but his cock was hard! Soon she'd have it in her, making her feel wonderful again! She knelt on the bed, reached out a small, soft hand, and cupped the rigid pole of flesh. The man groaned when she did. She knew what to do to make him value her! She bent and took the flared, purple tip between her soft, red lips.

"Gaaddd!" Tom groaned as his cock sank into the beautiful woman's mouth. He couldn't believe it! She was giving him a blow-job! He sure as hell didn't expect this! She was fondling his balls, too, while her mouth slid up and down on his pole, and he thought he was going to explode! He'd never been with a chick this wild before!

Ann tasted the remnants of their mixed juices as she sucked his wand, and a tremor of delight raced through her lovely body. She could feel the man writhe, heard his moans, and knew he liked what she was doing to him. Up and down she moved her head, letting her lips drag along the veined flesh of the jerking, twitching pole, hearing his moans increase in volume as she did. He loved it! He loved what she was doing to him!

What the chick was doing to him was the most spectacular thing Tom had ever felt. She sure knew how to give head! His girlfriend sure didn't give head like this! "Oh! Baby!" he groaned, "You keep that up and I'm not gonna be able to control myself!"

Ann didn't want him to come in her mouth. She'd never been able to let a man do that. Instead, she swung a long, slim leg over him and, holding his cock firmly in her hand, settled herself onto it.

"Ohhh! Goddamn!" Tom moaned as she sank onto him. "Jesus, honey, you sure are some piece! Goddamn!"

Once she had the man's cock all the way in her, Ann began to rock her hips. She could feel the man's massive shaft caressing her insides. The feelings she so desperately sought began once more to fill her body.

"You're the best, honey! The fucking best!" the man under her groaned, shoving his hips up off the bed, driving his massive prong deep into her.

Exultation flashed through Ann, then something snapped inside her and her body went wild. "Uh! Uhhh! Uhhh!" she groaned and her body jolted and shook as wave after wave of delight swept over her. "Please! Oh, God, please love me! Love me! Love meee!"

Tom didn't hear what the woman riding him was saying as she came, and didn't care. All he cared about was feeling good, and he was! "Here it comes, honey! Goddamn! Godamn!" he yelled as he erupted, spewing his torrid cream into her once more. He grabbed her hips and held her tight against him as they ground out their lust. Her luscious body whipped and jerked, breasts bobbing, as she peaked.

Spent, Ann collapsed atop the man's hard body, then she rolled off, feeling a tickle as his softening penis slid from her. She lay next to him, hoping he'd get up, get dressed, and leave, but nothing happened. Then she heard a noise. She looked over at him. He was asleep, snoring softly.

"Why do I keep doing this?" she thought. "Why do I bring men like him home and do things like this with them?" Tears welled up in her lovely, soft eyes. She pulled the covers over her, turned off the light, and lay there, feeling confused and empty. At last, emotional and physical exhaustion combined to overwhelm her and she fell asleep.

Chapter 2: Ann has second thoughts in the morning.

When Tom Jonas woke up the next morning, he wasn't sure where he was at first. He looked around and as he work up more and more, he realized he was in a strange bedroom. He turned his head and looked at the woman lying next to him, then he remembered. He was in bed with the chick that picked him up at the bar the night before! He looked over. She was asleep. The covers had slid off, and much of her nude, body was exposed to his fervid gaze. His cock grew hard as he looked at the gorgeous woman lying next to him. "Damn!" he thought, recalling their wild time the night before, "I wasn't dreamin' I really did fuck her. She's gorgeous and, damn, was she ever hot!"

He pulled the rest of the covers off. The woman, whose name he couldn't recall right then, was lying on her side with her incredible ass toward him. He looked at the clock on the stand next to the bed. It was five a.m. He had plenty of time for one last roll in the hay before he had to get going so he wouldn't be late for work. He slid closer to the woman and felt his cock begin to slide between her ass cheeks. Electricity shot through him. "I gotta fuck her one more time!" he thought, "Damn, if she's as hot this morning as she was last night, I'm going to work bow-legged! Christ, I hope she didn't do the stuff she did last night because she was drunk or something."

Having a hard cock probing her bottom awakened Ann. After an initial surge of revulsion, she felt her body begin to fill with elation once again. The man she'd met the night before apparently wanted to fuck her again! Since he was here anyhow, and obviously wanted her, she might as well let him have what he wanted! She pressed back against him and tightened the muscles in her buttocks.

Tom felt the woman move and was ecstatic. She was still hot for him! He reached over her and grabbed one of her breasts and mauling the nipple with he fingers. He could feel her tremble as he did. Her ass moved against his cock, driving him crazy. "You want it, doncha, babe?" he murmured.

"Yes! Oh, yes!" Ann moaned. She did want him to make her feel the way he had the night before! She wanted to be fucked!

Tom grabbed one of the woman's long, slim legs and pulled it back over his, then he pressed even tighter against her. His cock slid between her legs and touched the damp, warm furrow of her cunt. Both of them moaned with joy at the delectable contact.

"Ahh!" Ann groaned. The hand squeezing her breast was rough, but that didn't keep it from making her crazy with need. And having his cock rubbing against her vagina was adding to the wonderful sensations. "Please! Please! I need it!"

"You want it, you got it, babe!" Tom said. He slid his hand down over her almost-flat belly and pressed the head of his cock between her cunt lips. With a jolt of his hips, he drove the massive wand into her. God, she was so tight and so fucking hot!

"Yes! Oh, yess!" Ann groaned as the man's massive pole filled her once more. Feelings of joy swept over her in unstoppable waves. "Please! Oh, please!" She twisted around, offering her breast to him.

Tom loved the position they were using. When the chick's breast smacked against his mouth, he began chewing the rigid nipple. As he did, he felt her begin to quake.

"Need it! Oh, please! I need it!" Ann groaned. He was doing it! He was giving her the feelings she needed so badly! "Please! Please! Give me more! I need it! Oh, God, I need it!"

"You're somethin' else, honey!" Tom groaned as he jabbed his erect cock into her. "I never seen a chick hot as you are!" He couldn't stand it. Never had he been with a woman who wanted sex as much as this one did! And she was damn good at it, too! He was gonna get her phone number before he left, that was for sure. No way was he going to forget her!

"Now! Now! Oh, now! Please! Please! Uhh! Yesss! Yessss!" Ann shrieked when her orgasm overwhelmed her and her body erupted into paroxysms of ecstasy.

"Oh, shit! Oh, shit! Oh, shit!" Tom groaned as he, too, exploded into bliss, hosing her insides with his essence. When he finished, he pulled from her, rolled over, and sat up, letting his legs dangle over the edge of the bed. "Jeez, honey, you are something else!" he exclaimed.

Ann rolled onto her back and looked at him. "Are...are you going?" she murmured.

"Hey, honey, I'm a workin' man, I gotta job I gotta get to," Tom replied, "Fucking you's been a real blast, but I gotta put bread on the table, you know?" He stood up and headed for the bathroom.

Ann lay there, watching him walk away from her. Once again, she felt sated, but empty. It was always like this. While the men were there, everything was wonderful, but when they left she felt empty and alone. But those were the kind of men she always picked. Was this loneliness and emptiness what she really wanted? "It doesn't hurt as much as losing someone does, remember?" she told herself. "And after what you did, you don't deserve any better." She pulled the covers over her and lay there, crying softly.

Tom finished cleaning himself up and came back into the bedroom. He located his clothes and began dressing. When he finished, he walked over to the bed and looked down at Ann. "Hey, honey, don't cry," he said, "You want me to come back sometime, I will." He chuckled. "You better believe I will."

"You...you...you will?" Ann stammered. She didn't like him very much and wasn't sure she wanted to see him again.

"Yeah, hey, I ain't gonna pass up a superior piece of ass like you. No way!" Tom said. "I'll call you sometime."

"O...OK," Ann stammered. She didn't believe he'd call and hoped he wouldn't. She didn't care if she ever saw him again.

Tom nodded and said, "You bet, babe." He smiled down at her, then he turned and left. "Man, she's a helluva piece of ass, and she's a real fox," he thought as he walked away from her house, "but she's kinda weird, too. Aw shit, I ain't fuckin' her brain."

Ann got up after the man left and took a long, hot, shower. She had to go to work a little later, so she put on her pink bathrobe and went out to the kitchen to make herself a cup of coffee. She thought about making herself some breakfast, but decided not to. She wasn't really hungry.

Carrying her cup of coffee in her hand, she ambled into the living room, curled up on the sofa, and turned on the TV. She wasn't interested in the early morning news shows, but they were something to take her mind off her loneliness.

"Maybe I'll go to the Buckaroo tonight, after work," she thought. The Buckaroo was a local bar that featured country and western music and line dancing. Ann had been there before. Many times.

Finally, she finished her coffee, got up, and got dressed, then she headed for her job at a local outlet of a large national chain of discount department stores.

Chapter 3: Ann's neighbor worries about her.

Martin Flannigan, Ann Wallin's next door neighbor, was standing at his kitchen counter making coffee when he saw the big blonde man leaving Ann's house. "Looks like Ann had another, ah, guest, again last night," he thought and shook his head sadly. "What's going on with that girl? What makes a pretty woman like her act like that?"

Martin, a tall, bulky graying man of fifty-five, had been Ann's neighbor for about a year. He moved to Jamestown at the invitation of his old friend, Alex Martin, the sheriff of James County, to head up an arson task force Alex had assembled. Martin was an arson investigator in a police department in a large city where Alex had once been a detective and was facing forced retirement due to his age at the time his friend called.

After he got the coffee brewing, Martin went outside and put the container that held his household trash out on the front sidewalk for pickup. He looked at his neighbor's house. As usual, Ann hadn't put her trash out. He walked around to the rear of her house, got the large, wheeled container, and rolled it out to the front sidewalk. Putting his neighbor's trash out on collection day had become a habit for him.

Martin was a widower. His wife died in a car crash two days before their tenth anniversary, some fifteen years earlier. They had two children, a son and a daughter. Both of his kids had followed in his law-enforcement footsteps. Martin, Jr., now twenty-four, was a trooper with the State Patrol. Melissa, twenty-three, was a detective with the sheriff's department in neighboring Lincoln County, and was attending night school, working on her law degree. Martin, with good reason, was proud of his kids. "I guess I didn't do too bad as a single dad," he thought as he walked back into his house.

Once more, he stood in his kitchen, looking out the window at Ann Wallin's house, pouring himself a cup of coffee. "I wonder what Ann's story is," he mused. He'd spoken with his attractive neighbor quite often since he moved in, and found her to be a soft-spoken, intelligent woman. He knew she lived alone, and she didn't wear a wedding ring, which probably meant she was either divorced or widowed. He had a feeling she'd been married at least once. "Why does a woman as attractive and intelligent as she seems to be drag home a loser every night?" he wondered.

Martin wasn't judging Ann, he'd been a cop too long, and had seen and heard too many things to make judgments about people. He had gotten to know Ann and his instincts told him she was a nice person. He always trusted his instincts.

The phone rang and Martin picked it up. "Flannigan," he said.

"Hey, Ash Man," a feminine voice said, "How are you doing?"

Martin laughed. "About as well as some hick sheriff's department gumshoe, why?" he replied to his daughter. Once, ages ago, he'd come home from a fire scene covered with ashes. His wife Marie commented that he looked like the ash man. The kids had picked up the nickname and continued to use it.

"You ready for some good news?" his daughter asked.

"What?" he asked, "You've decided to bag being a cop and get a real job?"

"Not yet," Melissa said, "besides, this is even better."

"You got a dog?" Martin said, "or maybe a new car?"

"Dad!" his daughter said, sounding exasperated, "Bill asked me to marry him last night."

"Well, now," Martin said, "I guess that is good news." Bill was Bill Wilson, a State Patrol sergeant his daughter had been dating for three years and living with for one. Martin liked him and had hoped Melissa and he would eventually get married. "When's the big day?"

"What, you're assuming I said I would marry him?" his daughter teased.

"Damn right that's what I'm assuming," Martin said, "I didn't raise no foolish daughter."

Melissa laughed. "No, I guess you didn't," she chuckled. "We've decided to do it in June. The twenty-fifth."

Martin's heart skipped a beat and his eyes felt wet. "Honey, I...I love you," he said, "that's really nice." June twenty-fifth was the day he'd married Marie, Melissa's mother.

"I figured it turned out pretty well for you and Mom," Melissa said, "so it ought to be a lucky day for Bill and me, too."

"Honey, I love you," Martin said. "And I'm really happy for you."

"I love you, too, Dad," Melissa said. "Look, I gotta go. You coming up Saturday for dinner like always?"

"Of course," Martin replied. "You want me to bring anything?"

"Just your appetite," his daughter replied.

No sooner had his phone conversation with his daughter ended than the phone rang again. Martin picked it up.

"Hey, Ash Man," a male voice said, "you hear the news?"

"Yes, son, I just got off the phone with your sister," he said. "When are you going to call and tell me something like that?" His son had been dating a fellow trooper named Jennifer for almost a year, and Martin expected them to decide on marriage any time now.

"Actually, Dad, Jennifer and I have been talking about it," his son said. "Do you think Melissa would be angry if we had a double wedding?"

"You'd have to ask her about that," Martin said. "As far as I'm concerned, I don't have any problem with that. Combining the weddings will cut down on expenses, you know."

Martin, Jr., laughed. "Yeah, sure, I'll remember to tell Melissa that when I discuss it with her," he said, "I'm sure that will help convince her. Hey, Dad, I gotta get out and among 'em, I just called to be sure you were OK. See you at Melissa's Saturday?"

"Of course," Martin said. "Be careful, son."

"You, too, Ash Man," his son said.

After his ritual morning phone calls from the kids were finished, Martin got ready for work. Once he was dressed, he went back to the kitchen and got himself one last cup of coffee. As he stood at his sink drinking it, he saw Ann Wallin come out of her house, dressed for work. She looked at the trash container sitting at the curb and turned and waved at his house. Martin, not sure whether she could see him or not, waved back. Ann got in her little car and drove off.

"What's driving her?" Martin mused as he sipped his coffee. "What could be making her act the way she does?" He paused. "You know, Flannigan," he scolded himself, "What your neighbor does, and why, is none of your damn business." He finished his coffee, rinsed the cup out and put it in the dishwasher, then he put his jacket on and headed off to the office. He had a particularly convoluted case he and his team were close to solving, and his thoughts turned to that as he backed his car out of the garage.

Chapter 4: Ann is sexually harrassed by her boss.

Ann arrived at work and punched in. When she did, Toni Wicks, who was working at the service desk, looked at her. "Mr. Lewis wants to see you in the office before you start work," she said. "He said I should send you up as soon as you got here."

Wondering what her boss wanted, Ann walked to the rear of the store where the manager's office was located and knocked on the door.

"Come in," a male voice said in response to her knock.

Ann opened the door and went into the office.

Mark Lewis, the store manager, was sitting at his desk. When he saw Ann, standing in the doorway, he smiled. He thought she was one of the most attractive of his employees, and he had been trying to figure out how to get closer to her for some time. A few days previously, while sitting in the lunch room, he overheard some of the other female employees talking about Ann, and how she went out to bars and picked up men a lot. When he heard that, Mark figured he might have the chance he was hoping for.

"Have a seat, please, Ann," Mark said. He gestured to one of the chairs sitting in front of his desk and watched as Ann sat down in it and crossed her lithe, lovely legs.

Unlike most of the women who worked in the store, who tended to wear slacks and casual clothing to work, Ann always dressed very well. Today she a loose black mid-calf length dress with white flower pattern that had buttons all the way down the front. It had a scooped neck and wide bell sleeves. Mark thought it looked gorgeous on Ann's lean body. He gazed at her, captivated by the expanse of pale, smooth chest displayed by the dress, and by her long, silky-looking light brown hair. "I sure as hell would like to run my fingers through that hair," he thought as he sat at his desk, smiling at Ann, who looked a bit sad.

"Toni...she said you wanted to see me, Mr. Lewis?" Ann said.

"Yes, Ann, I do," Mark told her.

Ann looked at the manager. He wasn't bad-looking, but there was an arrogance about him that made her wary when she was around him. He was one of those guys who was sure how good-looking he was. And even though he was married she'd heard rumors that he'd been having affairs with some of the other clerks.

"You look sad this morning, Ann. Is something wrong?" Mark asked. He made no attempt to hide the fact that he was staring at the slim leg clad in dark pantyhose which showed through the cut in front of Ann's dress.

"Well..." Ann said. "I...I it's nothing, really."

"Are you sure?" Mark asked.

"I...I didn't...know it...it was affecting my work," she murmured. "Is...is that why you wanted to see me, Mr. Lewis?"

"Oh, no," Mark said. "Not at all. You are one of our best employees. In fact..." He stood up and walked around in front of his desk and leaned on it. "I believe there is a possibility of your being offered the next management position that becomes open."

Ann looked at him, more than a little surprised. "Really?" she asked, smiling a little. Her personal life might be a mess, but here at work, things looked like they might be better.

"You do like working here, don't you, Ann?" Mark asked.

Ann nodded. "Very much so, Mr. Lewis," she replied. "I...I really need this job...and...and I like it, too." She wasn't sure what he was getting at, and was a little disturbed by the way he was looking at her. He began strolling slowly back and forth in front of his desk. Then he walked around behind Ann, and laid his hand on her shoulder.

"Ann, I believe I have to tell you that I've heard some things that concern me," he said. "Things that might have a bearing on whether or not you are offered the management position."

Ann jumped a little when her boss's hand came to rest on her shoulder. All of a sudden, she experienced a tiny, cold rush of fear. This definitely wasn't right. Mr. Lewis shouldn't be touching her and she shouldn't be allowing him to. "Ah...what...what have you heard, Mr. Lewis?" she asked.

Mark felt Ann jump, and was very aware of how tense she was, but he left his hand where it was. This wasn't the first time he'd done something like this with one of his female employees. He knew that just like the others before her, Ann would eventually understand that she didn't have any choice if she wanted his recommendation for that promotion. He sat down in a chair next to hers and leaned toward her.

Ann was surprised when Mr. Lewis began running his fingers through her hair, then she felt his hand slide over her shoulder and trail down her arm. She shuddered again. She couldn't believe he would take a chance and make a pass at her in his office! She knew the company had a very strong anti-sexual harassment policy. "What am I going to do?" she thought, her mind whirling. "He...he is making a pass at me!"

"Ann, I'd love to see you get that promotion," Mark said, "and my recommendation will carry a lot of weight with the people at the district office who have to make the final decision, do you know that?" He continued to run his fingers lightly up and down her arm.

"Ah...yes...I...I suppose so," Ann murmured. Her boss's hand slid further down, over her hips, and onto the outside of her leg. Her breath caught in her throat and, despite herself, she felt warmth rising in her. "Oh! Why is my body reacting like this?" she thought. Alarms sounded in her mind. This was getting way out of hand. She had to stop him, now, before this went any farther. But...but what if she did tell him to stop and he got angry? She could get fired, and she certainly wouldn't get that promotion, and if she filed a sexual harassment complaint it would be her word against his.

Emboldened by Ann's lack of resistance, Mark continued to stroke her legs. He could feel her trembling and her breathing sounded a little ragged.

Ann's mind whirled as she struggled to figure out some way of fending off her boss's advances without angering him. His hand, caressing her legs, was starting to turn her on, which was the last thing she wanted. Why was her body responding like this?

Mark stopped talking. He was surprised to feel Ann responding to his caresses. In his previous experiences with other women, they had submitted to him, and allowed him to do whatever he wanted to do to them, but they hadn't really responded. Ann was responding, and it showed. Her response thrilled him. He realized her dress had a zipper down the back. He reached behind her, unzipped it, and heard her sigh softly as he did.

He began to trail his fingers lightly up and down her bared back. "You really are an attractive woman, Ann," he said softly as his fingers stole over her warm, bare skin. "You are one of the most attractive women working here."

"Ah..." Ann murmured. She had no idea what to do or say. She could hardly breathe and coherent thought was beyond her. Things had gotten way out of control. She wanted to make him stop, but no longer possessed the ability to.

"You're getting aroused, aren't you, Ann?" Mark asked softly while he continued to gently stroke her back.

Ann felt herself nodding. "Uh-huh," she murmured. Why was she letting him do this? Why wasn't she stopping him? Why did it have to feel so good?

"I thought you were," Mark whispered. He slid his hands into her dress, around her sides, cupped her breasts, and began to rub his thumbs over her nipples, which were already hard and pressing against the gossamer fabric of her bra.

Ann felt like there were electric shocks were going through her when Mr. Lewis grabbed her breasts and started to play with her nipples. She couldn't get her breath. She thought about getting up and running out of the room, but she knew her legs, which were trembling like an aspen branch, wouldn't hold her if she did stand up. "Ahh!" she groaned, her body quaking.

Mark removed his hands from Ann's breasts, took hold of the bra clasp, flicked it open, then his hands again slid around to the front of her, onto her bare flesh. He cupped her naked breasts in his hands and felt her rock-hard nipples pressing against his palms.

"Mmm!" Ann moaned. She knew she should stop Mr. Lewis, but she couldn't! What he was doing was turning her on and robbing her of the strength to resist.

Mark thrust one of his hands under the waist of her pantyhose and panties, then pushed down farther, until his hand was between her thighs. When he touched her vagina, he could feel the wetness and heat emanating from her core. He gently probed her sopping middle with his fingers, seeking her clit.

"Gahh!" Ann groaned when Mr. Lewis began fondling her vagina. She knew this was wrong, but she couldn't stop him! And the terrible thing was that she wasn't sure she wanted him to stop, not as long as what he was doing felt this good!

Mark felt Ann's hips begin to squirm and thrust against his fingers; her body was obviously seeking more contact with him. He found her clit and flicked his finger over it. She reacted with soft moans, sighs, and more ardent thrusts of her hips.

Ann realized she was completely helpless at the hands of her boss. And even if she had the strength to stop, he'd made it clear that her getting promoted depended on his recommendation. Whether she wanted him to touch her or not didn't really matter. The situation was beyond her control! The horrible part of it was that he was turning her on. If he kept on doing what he was doing, he would make her come with his hands, she was that turned on, that close!

"Oh! Ohh!" Ann groaned. She continued to tremble as her boss's hands sent wave after wave of delight crashing over her. Then... "Ahh! Oh! Oh! Oh! Oh! Ahhh! Ahhh!" she whimpered when an orgasm blossomed through her. "Oh! Oh! Ohhh!"

Mark felt Ann stiffen, then she began to shudder violently, her moans grew louder, and he could feel the juices of love flooding out of her.

Ann felt Mr. Lewis's hands leave her. She slumped back in the chair while the orgasm he'd given her faded. She still felt an occasional jolts of pleasure as she tried to gather her wits about her.

"I made you feel nice, Ann, now it's your turn to return the favor," Mark said.

Ann watched as her boss stood up and positioned himself in front of her. He began unzipping his pants. She felt herself growing weak. "No!" she thought, "Please! Don't! Haven't I been humiliated enough?"

Mark took his erect cock out of his slacks and hefted it proudly. "I know you'd probably love to have this in you," he said smugly, "but there's no way we can do that here. You don't mind taking care if me with your mouth, do you?"

"No!" Ann moaned.

"Yes! Go ahead, Ann, kiss it!" Mark ordered, his voice turning rough. "Kiss my cock."

Knowing she had no choice in the matter, Ann leaned forward in the chair and reached for him. Gripping his pole in her hand, she took it in her mouth and began licking. She was repulsed by what he was making her do, but she didn't stop, she couldn't.

"That's it!" Mark groaned as her lips slid up and down his swollen shaft. "Ah! My God, Ann, you're a helluva cocksucker! That's it!"

While Ann licked and sucked Mr. Lewis's cock she could feel his legs begin to tremble and could feel the swollen shaft in her hand begin to pulse and twitch. She tried to blot the reality of what was happening from her mind. This was just like the men she brought home at night. Pure sex, with no commitment. Maybe it shouldn't be happening, but why not? After all, Mr. Lewis was getting what he wanted, and she was getting what she wanted, wasn't she?

"Ah!" Mark moaned. His hips began to rock fervently in response to the fabulous sensations his employee was bestowing on him. "Uh! Uhh! Uhhh!"

Ann felt Mr. Lewis's frantic motions, then a flood of his hot juices began spewing from his cock, splattering on the floor. She kept stroking him until nothing more came out then, finally, she released him.

Mark, finished, pulled a handkerchief out of his suit, wiped off his cock, then stuffed it back into his pants, and zipped them up. He walked around to his chair and sat down.

Ann, slumped back in the chair again and felt tears welling up in her eyes. This had to be the worst day of her life.

Then the intercom on Mark's desk buzzed. He picked it up. "Mr. Lewis," he said. "Yes, we're almost done. I'll send her out." He looked at Ann. "There are a couple of girls waiting to go on break," he said, a bit curtly, "why don't you get yourself cleaned up and get out there?"

"O...K," Ann replied weakly.

Mark sat at his desk, watching as Ann stood up and re-arranged her clothes. A feral smile formed on his lips. Now, more than ever, he wanted to fuck her. "What...what time do you get off work today, Ann?" he asked.

"Uh...five," Ann replied without thinking.

"I'd like to have dinner with you this evening, Ann," he said. "I really think we need to discuss your possible promotion, don't you?"

"I...I'm sorry, Mr. Lewis, I...I have other plans for tonight," Ann replied. "Maybe...maybe we can get together, you know, some...some other time?"

Mark frowned and shook his head. She still hadn't gotten the picture. "OK, some other time, then," he said, sounding angry. "Remember, Ann, you will need my recommendation if you expect to get that promotion. You do understand that, don't you?"

Ann nodded. "Yes, Mr. Lewis, I...I understand," she replied.

"Just so you do," her boss said. "You better get going, or the other girls will be angry with you."

"Ah...OK, Mr. Lewis," Ann said. She left the manger's office, went to the lady's room, got cleaned up as best she could, then she went out and relieved one of the girls who was scheduled to go on break.

When Ann got home from work later that day, she took a long hot shower, brushed her teeth and gargled about six times to try and get the feel and taste of Mr. Lewis off her body. "Why does what he did to me bug me so much?" she wondered, "He didn't do anything the guys I bring home don't do?" She thought about it a little more. "Maybe...maybe it's because he made me do it."

After she finished in the bathroom, she walked back to her bedroom and went to the closet and surveyed her clothes. Finally she picked out a navy sweater that had a deep V opening in back and a white cotton/Lycra stretch twill miniskirt. She didn't wear a bra, only a bikini that was just narrow lacy strip over her hips and down between her legs.

Before she left for her evening at The Buckaroo, she looked at herself in the mirror. "That ought to knock their eyes out," she said to the image that looked back at her. Then she picked up her purse and headed for the door.

Chapter 5: Ann meets two men at the Buckaroo.

Ann arrived at the Buckaroo parked her compact car in the parking lot, got out, locked her purse inside, and walked toward the nightclub's entrance. The parking lot was filled with cars and pickup trucks, and country music boomed in the air. They weren't much for soft music in this place.

She went inside and stood just inside the door until her eyes adjusted to the smoky darkness inside the bar. There was an empty stool at the bar, so she walked to it and sat down. The bartender, a short, balding, stocky man, hustled right over.

"Hi, there, pretty thang," he said while he looked her over with a very lustful gaze. "What can I get for you?"

"Draft beer," Ann said, "light."

"Be right back, ma'am." The bartender turned, drew her beer, and set it in front of her. "Pretty thang like you, first one's on the house."

Ann smiled at him. He ought to leave off the hillbilly accent. It sounded forced. She picked up the beer and turned around on the stool to watch the people line-dancing. The place was packed and everyone seemed to be in a festive mood. Couples jammed the dance floor, their bodies writhing and jerking in time with the music.

Ann was on her third beer when a plain-looking guy in a plaid western-cut shirt and snug jeans worked his way across the bar and walked up to her. "Do you wanna dance with me, sweetheart?" he asked.

Ann smiled at him, nodded, and said, "Sure." She set her drink down, got off the stool, and moved out onto the edge of the dance floor. She could feel the man's eyes moving over her body as they danced to the fast beat of the song.

"My name's Sonny," the man yelled over the music. "What's yours?"

"Ann," she replied.

"Pleased to meet you, Ann," Sonny said.

"Nice to meet you, Sonny," Ann replied.

"You come here often?" he asked.

"Sometimes," she said, "You?"

"All the time," the man said. "Don't remember seeing you before, though. I'd sure as shootin' remember a girl pretty as you."

Ann felt herself flush at his compliment.

"You here by yourself?" he asked.

Ann nodded and kept on dancing.

"You wanna join my friend Charlie and me at our table?" he asked.

Ann nodded and said, "Sure."

When the music ended, Ann retrieved her beer from the bar and walked to the semi-circular corner booth where Sonny and his friend were sitting. The man's friend was shorter, wore glasses, and leered at her as she approached.

"This here's my pal, Charlie," Sonny told Ann as she slid into the booth. He looked at his friend and grinned. "She sure is a knockout, ain't she Charlie?"

"She sure as shit is!" Charlie replied. "She's the best lookin' chick in the place! How the hell did you get her to come over and sit with a couple of guys like us?"

"I just asked her and she said she would," Sonny told his friend. He smiled at Ann. "Didn't I, sweetheart?"

"I couldn't resist," Ann said and smiled at both of them. Neither of them was particularly handsome and they were a bit crude, but that was the way most of the men in bars acted. And, like most other men, they were looking at her with unabashed desire in their eyes. She wondered if she'd be able to separate Sonny from his friend somehow. She had no intention of inviting two men back to her house.

The band swung into a slow tune. Charlie smiled at Ann, took a long swallow of beer, and got up. "Wanna dance with me, too, sweetheart?" he asked.

"Sure," Ann said. She got up and moved out onto the dance floor with him.

Charlie's arms locked around her, pulling her tight against him, pressing her body against his. Ann was as tall as he was, and their faces were close. She could smell his breath, a rather unpleasant blend of beer and cigarette smell. As they moved slowly in time to the music, she could feel something pressing against her leg. He was getting a hard-on! Despite herself, Ann felt thrills rushing through her.

Charlie was surprised the woman let him pull her as close as she did, and got braver. He slid his hands down, cupped her bottom, and pulled her middle against the growing erection in his jeans. Damn, she was a hot one! Not only was she the best-looking chick in the place, she was hot, too! Real hot!

Ann wasn't thrilled to have Charlie's hands on her bottom, but didn't protest. She didn't want him to be angry with her. She wanted to have a good time and wasn't about to do anything to spoil the chance of that.

The dance ended and they went back to the table. Charlie kept his arm around her when they walked back to the table, and he slid into the booth on the same side she did.

"Want another beer, sweetheart?" Charlie asked. As he said it, he dropped his hand onto her leg.

"Sure," Ann said. The hand touching her thigh sent tingles into her body and a soft shudder went through her.

Charlie signaled the waitress and ordered another round of beer. Sonny slid around so he was close to Ann on the other side, and asked, "You havin' a good time, sweetheart?"

"Yes," Ann replied. "I'm having fun." How was she going to deal with this? She wanted to ask one of them to come home with her. Which one would it be and how would she get rid of the other one?

"I'm sure glad," Sonny said. "'Cause I'm sure havin' a helluva time." He laid a hand on her other thigh.

Ann felt a shudder run through her. Having both men caressing her legs was making her feel good. It was clear that both of them wanted her! She was probably the only woman in the place who had two men wanting her.

The waitress brought their beers. Ann drank most of hers in one swallow. Sonny and Charlie gulped theirs down quickly.

Charlie belched. "'Scuse me," he said, and squeezed Ann's thigh.

"Charlie, you're a pig, you know that?" Sonny told his friend. "You shouldn't act like that in front of such a pretty lady."

"Sorry," Charlie said. "'scuse me, Ann." He really did look ashamed.

"That's all right, Charlie. Sometimes those things happen," Ann said. "Apology accepted." She bent over and gave Charlie a kiss on the cheek.

The band started another number. "Wanna dance with me this time, sweetheart?" Sonny asked. He took Ann's hand and pulled on it.

Ann accompanied Sonny went to the dance floor. This time there was little conversation, but Ann was very aware of the leering look in Sonny's eyes as they danced. It thrilled her to see it.

The band finished the fast song and swung into a slow number. Sonny pulled Ann into his arms. He was taller than his friend, and looked a bit flabby, but Ann had consumed enough beer so she had begun to stop caring what either of the men looked like. Long ago she'd learned that the more beer she drank, the better the men she met in bars looked.

Just as his friend had done, Sonny cupped her bottom and pulled her against him. Ann felt his hardness pressing against her belly and a shiver of delight raced through her.

"You're about the prettiest gal I've ever seen," Sonny whispered in her ear as they danced.

"Thank you," Ann said. She put her arms around him and laid her head on his shoulder. She was glad she'd come to the Buckaroo, and had met the two men. Sonny and Charlie appreciated her and wanted her! What was wrong with that?

When the dance ended, Sonny and Ann walked back to the booth, arms around each other.

They slid into the booth and once again, Ann was between the two men. Fresh beers sat on the table. Charlie must have ordered another round while she and Sonny were dancing. Ann drank some of her beer. Once again, Charlie and Sonny gulped theirs down. A hand fell onto her leg and began stroking it. Ann glanced down. Charlie was at it again.

"Come here, sweetheart," Charlie said. He took her chin in his free hand, pulled her face to his and kissed her, thrusting his tongue into her mouth as he did.

While Charlie's kiss sent thrills through her, Ann felt a hand slide under her sweater, onto the bare flesh of her back. She began trembling. She'd never had two men want her before and found it quite exciting! Charlie's tongue continued to probe into her mouth and Ann met it with her own tongue as electricity sparked in her body. She was getting turned on! Coming here was a great idea!

Finally, the kiss ended. Ann realized that the hand on her thigh had slid up and was probing for her vagina. She parted her legs and gasped softly when thick fingers slid over the satin fabric covering her middle.

"She's something else, isn't she Sonny?" Charlie whispered.

"She's fuckin' fan-tastic!" Sonny replied. His hand slid up under Ann's sweater, onto her breast and his fingers tweaked one rigid nipple. "You like us, doncha, sweetheart?"

"Oh!" Ann moaned. They were making her crazy touching her like that! She knew she shouldn't be letting this happen, especially not with two men, but she was losing control rapidly.

"You ought to feel her pussy!" Charlie exclaimed. "Christ! She's wettern' hell! This here is one hot lady!"

"I can tell," Sonny told his friend. "You oughta feel how hard her nipples are!" He continued mauling Ann's breast with his hand and the caress, crude as it was, still was making her breathless with need. "I told you we'd get lucky one 'a these nights. Christ, her nipples feel like bullets!"

"Damn, we sure as hell did!" Charlie exclaimed. "I never figgered we'd score with someone as foxy as she is, though!"

Charlie's fingers strummed Ann's pussy, making her writhe and moan. She was lost in desire and knew she wouldn't be able to stop the men from using her any way they wanted to.

"Hey, sweetheart, you wanna come out to my truck with us for a while?" Sonny asked.

Ann was so turned on she couldn't talk. She nodded weakly.

"Come on, Charlie," Sonny said as he slid toward the end of the booth. "This ain't no place to do anything. We can have a lot more fun out in the truck!"

"Yeah, sure, good idea, Sonny," Charlie replied.

When Charlie pulled his hand out from between Ann's thighs and she groaned. She didn't want him to stop what he was doing! Then he took her hand, pulled her to her feet and, with his arm around her waist, led her to the door.

Once they were outside, the two men led Ann to a pickup truck that was parked in the back of the parking lot, away from the lights. The two men were on either side of her. Charlie's hands were playing with her ass and Sonny was still grabbing and squeezing her breasts.

Ann felt as if she was going to faint. She no longer cared that she was going out to the parking lot with two men that she had just met. All she cared about was that they kept making her feel good!

Sonny opened the door of the truck and said, "Come on, baby, get on in there."

Ann was so weak with passion, she had a hard time getting up into the cab of the truck, but Charlie and Sonny helped her, then the three of them were on the truck's wide seat and the two men's hands were mauling her again. The men's caresses, though rough, were far more open and ardent than they'd been in the bar.

Ann moaned and burbled with desire as Sonny peeled her sweater down and began sucking her nipples. Intense feelings of delight coursed through her.

Charlie, meanwhile, managed to get her miniskirt pushed up and started playing with her pussy again. Ann was so tuned on she almost swooned with delight.

"Goddamn!" Charlie murmured as his finger stroked her pussy. "You should feel this, Sonny, she's fuckin' drippin wet!"

Sonny didn't reply. He was busy sucking Ann's nipples and squeezing her breasts. Ann was beyond being able to tell who was doing what to her. In point of fact, she couldn't remember the men's names and didn't care, just so they kept making her feel as good as they were!

"Come on, sweetheart," Charlie grabbed Ann's bottom and urged her onto his lap. "Let's get serious."

Ann let the man turn her so her back was to him, then pull her onto his lap. She was surprised to feel bare skin against her naked bottom. She hadn't seen him take his pants off! His cock pressed between her thighs as they fell on either side of his legs. He reached between them and pressed the tip of his prong against her pussy. With a sudden thrust of his hips, he buried himself in her.

"Ahh!" Ann groaned when she felt the man's hard shaft slide into her. She needed that! God, she needed a man to make her feel good!

"Goddamn! Son of a bitch!" Charlie groaned, rocking his hips on the truck's seat, shoving himself into Ann. "She's hot! Goddamn, she's hot!"

Sonny kept sucking Ann's breasts while his friend fucked her. The dual erotic assaults were more than she could take. She felt her insides tighten, then there was a sudden release. "Ohh! Uhhh! Uhhhh!" she moaned, her body jolting, as an orgasm swept over her.

"Fuck! Fuck! Son-of-a-bitch! Godamn!" Charlie cried, his hands dug into Ann's hips and he hauled her down on him while he exploded his hot juices into her.

"Now me!" Sonny gasped. He leaned back against the truck's door, tore his pants open, and fished out his cock. Then he reached for Ann, pulled her off Charlie's lap and got her settled on his.

Ann was still in the throes of orgasm and barely felt herself being moved. She did feel the first man's cock slide out of her, then another one was entering her. She was so wet and filled with come, she could barely feel Sonny's entry. Fingers dug into her hips once again as the man began powering into her.

"Goddamn! Oh, Goddamn! Oh, Goddamn!" the man fucking her groaned as he shoved his cock up into her. "Damn! Oh, Damn!"

"She's somethin' else, ain't she?" Ann heard the man behind her say.

"Jesus!" the man fucking her groaned, "I never felt anything like it!"

Even though she could barely feel the man's cock moving in her, Ann was thrilled by the words she heard. It meant a lot to her to have them believe she was special.

"Aw shit!" the man fucking her groaned. "I can't wait! Oh, Jesus! Goddamn! Gahh!" With powerful, rapid thrusts of his hips, he spewed his warm sauce into her.

Ann shuddered with delight when, for the second time, she felt hot fluids splattering against her insides. She wasn't coming, but she was delighted she'd been able to make the man feel good.

"Lookit this," the man behind her said as Ann lay slumped atop the man who'd just finished. "Hey, sweetheart, look what watchin' you and Sonny fuckin' did to me!"

Weakly, Ann turned. The man - she thought his name was Charlie or something - was holding a hard-on in his hand.

"I got hard again watchin' you and Sonny fuck, sweetheart," he said. "Whyn't you do something about it?"

Ann took the erect shaft of flesh in her hand and began stroking it. The man closed his eyes and groaned. His cock was still slick from their earlier joining and Ann's hand moved over it easily.

"Oh, Jesus, baby, that feels good!" Charlie groaned as she worked on him.

Sonny opened his eyes, saw what the girl was doing to his friend, and felt himself getting hard again. That had never happened to him before! He grabbed her hips and began shoving himself into her again.

Ann felt the cock in her harden and intensified her efforts on the cock in her hand. New thrills swept over her. She loved having two men want her like this!

"Goddamn! Shit! Oh, Shit!" Charlie moaned as the beautiful woman pumped his cock with her hand. "Oh, God, sweetheart, you sure do that good!"

"Unh! Unnnhhhh!" Sonny grunted as he shoved his cock up into Ann's swampy cunt.

Juices flowed from her, forced out by the man's pistoning wand, and thrills took their place in her body. Ann felt passion beginning to fill her body once again. If he kept it up, maybe she'd come again!

"Aww! Jesus! Jesus! Shitagodamn!" Charlie cried when his cock erupted, squirting his sticky white cream all over Ann's hand and arm.

"Sheeitt!" Sonny groaned as he, too erupted.

"Nooo! Not yet!" Ann thought. She was so close! If he could only keep going a little more...

Sonny stopped moving and lay there, limp. So did his friend.

Ann kept grinding her hips against Sonny, but his cock was softening quickly and all her movements did was cause it to slide out of her. She was disappointed and frustrated, but what did she expect?

Charlie looked at his watch. "Goddamn, Sonny," he said, "you have any idea what time it is? We better get our asses home or our old ladies are gonna have a fit!"

Sonny shoved Ann off him and patted her hip. "You're one fine piece a ass, sweetheart," he said. "I never had better. Sorry it has to end like this, but Charlie and I gotta get goin'. See you again some time, OK?"

"Ye...yes," Ann murmured, trying to straighten her clothes a little. Shame and embarrassment swept over her and she felt tears welling up in her eyes. "I...I ought to get going, too," she said softly.

Sonny let her out of the truck. "We'll be lookin' for you the next time we get out," he said as Ann staggered across the parking lot toward her car. "Maybe next time we'll get us a room somewhere."

Even the beer she'd drunk couldn't keep Ann from being filled with self-loathing as she walked to her car. Once she reached it, she unlocked it, got in, and sat there, beating on the steering wheel with her hands and crying. Why did she allow herself be used like that? It was horrible! How could she have let the two crude men just use her? And why had it felt so wonderful while it was happening? If what she'd done was so great, why did she feel so terrible now?

She saw the pickup drive by. Sonny blew the horn, waved and smiled. Ann sat there, with tears streaming down her face and didn't return the wave. Finally, she started her car and left.

When she got home, Ann parked her car in her driveway and went into her house. the effects of the beer she'd consumed were beginning to wear off and she realized she was a little stiff and a little sore. The two men had been pretty rough with her. She stripped off her clothes and got in the shower. She scrubbed herself hard, trying to get the feel of the two men off her body. When she finished she got out of the shower and began drying herself. As she did, she caught a glimpse of herself in the full-length mirror on the bathroom door.

She had bruises on her hips and breasts. She touched one rosy nipple and flinched. It was sore. Sonny's whiskers and lips had rubbed it almost raw.

"What's wrong with me?" she thought. She shuddered and hugged herself. "What am I doing? Why can't I stop acting like this?"

Stiffly, she walked to her bedroom, slipped beneath the covers, and lay there, crying. What was she doing to herself? What was driving her to debase herself this way? Why couldn't she find someone who cared about her, instead of throwing herself at men who just wanted to use her? Why, suddenly, was she thinking these things? She'd tried doing it the other way, tried living life the way it was suppose to be. All falling in love and having someone who cared for her got her was pain, pain that was far worse than she felt even after a day and like this one.

"Maybe...maybe I...I should try again," she thought. "Maybe...maybe it...it won't happen again. Maybe...maybe I...I could find happiness..." She shuddered. "You want to go through something like that again?" another part of her mind responded, "Do you think you could survive that kind of pain again? You almost died, is it worth it?" Her mind swimming with confusion, she finally fell asleep.

Mark Lewis, his face clouded with anger, sat in his car and watched Ann Wallin walk into her house. Angry that she'd turned down his invitation to have dinner with him, he decided to find out what was so important that she'd turn him down, he'd followed her home from work, and to the bar. He saw her go into the bar and kept waiting in the parking lot, growing more and more furious. When she came out and went to the truck with the two men, his anger grew even stronger. Observing her with the two men only served to make him want her more. And once he had her, he told himself, she'd be his, no screwing around with anyone else.

"Who the fuck does she think she is?" he thought as he sat in his car in front of Ann's house. "I asked her to go out with me and she turned me down so she could go to that damn bar and fuck two guys in a truck! She's gonna learn she doesn't treat me like that, that's for damn sure!" He started his car and, with tires squealing, headed down the street.

Martin Flannigan, sitting in his living room watching TV, heard Ann Wallin's car pull into her driveway, and heard her door close when she went into her house. Then, a little later, he heard an engine roar and tires squeal as a car left rapidly. "I wonder if Ann finally told one of those assholes to take a hike?" he mused. "If she did, it's about time."

Chapter 6: Ann gets unwanted attention & a hero.

Ann awakened the next morning feeling stiff and sore, dragged herself out of bed, slipped on a robe, walked to the kitchen, made herself a cup of coffee and sat down at the kitchen table to drink it. She felt hungry but wasn't sure she'd be able to keep anything down. She had way too much to drink at the Buckaroo the night before. If she tried eating right now, there was a very good chance she'd spend the morning throwing up.

What made things even worse was that not only did she have a hangover, it was Sunday. She hated Sundays. There was nothing for her to do and no place to go. Sundays always passed so slowly. She sometimes wondered what other people, people who were alone like her, did on Sunday.

There had been a time she loved Sundays, but that was in another lifetime. Now she liked weekdays better. At least during the week she had work to keep her mind occupied, to keep her thoughts off how lonely she was and why she was alone.

Tears rolled down Ann's lovely cheeks and splashed into her coffee. What had she done to deserve such misery? Why had her life, which once was so happy, turned into this?

She finished her coffee, then she took a shower and got dressed. Her outfit was an old pair of acid-washed jeans and a pale blue sweatshirt. She looked lovely, even though she didn't realize it. Force of habit made her fix her hair and apply the understated makeup she usually wore, too.

When she finished dressing, she went out to the living room, laid down on the sofa, and turned on the TV. A religious program came on, but Ann quickly switched to cartoons. She used to go to church, but when she needed it, religion had offered her no comfort.

She dozed off watching cartoons, but was awakened by the ringing phone. She reached for it and realized her hand was shaking. "Hello..." she said tentatively.

"Hi, babe." The voice was male. Ann thought it sounded vaguely familiar, but wasn't sure who it belonged to.

"Who...who is this?" she stammered.

"Jeez, babe, dont' tell me you forgot me already?" the man said, "This is Tom...Tom Jonas, remember? You and I had a helluva time Friday night and Saturday morning."

"Oh. How...how are you, Tom?" Ann said, disappointed. She really didn't want to have to deal with him again today. She could barely remember what he looked like.

"Hey, babe, I'm fine," he said, "Look, the reason I called is I got nothin' to do this afternoon and I got to thinkin' maybe you and I could get together. Whatta ya say?"

"I...I don't know," Ann said hesitantly. She was starting to recall who he was and knew she didn't really want to see him again.

"Come on, babe, what's the matter," he insisted, "You and I had a good time the other night. Jeez, you sure as hell acted like you was enjoyin' it."

"It...it was nice," Ann stammered. She wanted to tell him she didn't want to see him. She knew she should tell him, but...

"Hey, come on, babe, you and I we really had something pretty fuckin' fantastic!" the man said, "Or have you got other plans?"

"I...no, I...I guess not," Ann said. She didn't particularly want to see this guy again, but she didn't want to be alone, either. If he came over, it would make the day pass a little more quickly. Spending time with a stranger, even one she didn't particularly like, was better than being alone.

"Great!" the man said. "I'll be over about two, OK?"

"Ye...yes, that's OK," she said.

"See you then, babe." He was gone.