Hello all you wonderful, supportive ladies out there. If you're missing any of my smutty Caryl scenes I've put quite a few in my most recent story, 'Our Brand of Love' – do check it out. This one shot is another Meth that is inspired by gneebee and her awesome story 'The Apartment Out Back'. TAOB is one of two AU Meth stories that she has created that take place in the early 1900's in the U.S. She has worked really hard to make her stories historically accurate, particularly in acknowledging gender roles. I realize that some of you might not like that 18 year-old Beth is basically Merle's 'property' in this one shot, but the plain truth of it is that women WERE property and were married off at an early age back then. Women were only formally educated to a certain point to ensure that they would be good housewives and mothers. They were told nothing about sex and it was expected that their husbands would teach them about it and discipline them as was necessary. I think a lot of people believe that love never happened back then and that no women were truly happy, but I don't believe that. Gneebee's story is very much a love story of two people who are crazy about each other and spend the rest of their lives together. In her story, Merle takes pains to make sex pleasurable for Beth every time.

Beth's sin

It had been a long day at work and Merle was greeted to the fragrant smell of liver and onions wafting from the kitchen. Smelled like apple pie for dessert too. He cleaned up and sat at the table, looking forward to talking about his day with his beautiful young wife. He was concerned that she seemed a bit off today. Merle noticed that Beth was pushing the food around on her dinner plate. "What's goin' on lil' girl?" He asked. " You ain't smilin' like usual". Beth's chin began to tremble and she looked miserable. "Merle", she whispered. She couldn't meet his eyes. "I sinned today". Merle frowned. How could this sweet girl possibly do anything construed as a sin. "Well darlin'," he replied, "ifn ya did I'm sure ya didn't mean it, y'aint got sin in your heart. Tell me what you did so I can help you." Beth's silverware clattered as she dropped them to her plate. She covered her mouth to stifle a sob. "You may not want to be married to me anymore Merle but I can't hide it from you and I can't lie. I…I committed a sin (sob)…of the flesh." With that Beth covered her face in shame and cried hard enough to shake the table.

Merle's blood ran cold. They hadn't been married more than a couple months and someone younger, someone more handsome had already got to her? He pictured Zach inviting himself in for some iced tea and caressing her ass as she stood at the sink. His jaws clenched and his fisted hand twisted his pant leg. "Who is it?' he growled. Beth's hands dropped from her face, her eyes were puffy and her nose was running. She looked to be in complete shock. "What?" she asked incredulously. Merle reached over the table and grabbed her wrist, a cold glint in his eye. "You tell me who's messin with you," he said icily. Beth's eyes bugged out and her face twisted in horror. "You think…you think I would….be…with someone else?" she gasped "You think I could throw our love away? Oh Merle! I'd die before I let anyone else touch me!" She sprang out of the chair, wresting her wrist from his grip and went to the sink, leaning against it with both arms and crying as if her very heart was breaking.

Merle sat back, completely flabbergasted. "Well ain't that what ya just said? You tell your husband what's goin' on right now! Get over here and set in my lap, we ain't doin' nothin' till we cleared this up." Beth wiped her face with a dishtowel and blew her nose in her handkerchief, then hesitantly walked towards him. Whatever it is he thought she thinks I'm gonna punish her and I told her I aint that kind of man. "Come on lil' darlin'," he said in a softer tone and she settled in his lap, pressing her face into the side of his neck. "Now what's this all about," he asked in a gentle voice.

He felt a tremble go through her and she said, "I had….feelings….today after you left for work, and I tried not to think about them but they got…stronger…and all I could think about was having relations with you. But you weren't here so I…., ", she hesitated and choked back a sob, "I touched myself," she whispered. She sat absolutely still with her eyes screwed shut, waiting for the blow or harsh words to come. The tension in Merle's chest released and he felt the world being removed from his shoulders. He almost laughed with joy at her naiveté but composed himself, knowing that laughing at her would destroy her.

"Look at me." He ordered. Beth's eyes opened and he stroked her cheek. "Ya touched yerself," he repeated slowly, "while thinkin' of your husband touchin' you?" Beth nodded stiffly and explained. "I know it's a sin for women to have carnal…thoughts," she quavered. "I'm so sorry Merle, I'll try not to. Do you still want to be married to me?"

He looked at her tortured face and said, "Come here". He put his arms around her and stroked her back until she relaxed, then he passed her his glass of water so she could have a drink. "Hey," he rasped, drawing her face to his, kissing her unhurriedly until he felt her quickening in response. He unbuttoned the front of her dress and slipped it off of her shoulders and her hands clutched his shirt. She was breathless, waiting for his next move. He slowly pushed the bra strap off of her far shoulder with one hand and pulled her near one down with his teeth. He backed out of the kiss to feast his eyes on her creamy skin then he gently scrubbed his days growth of beard on her neck and soothed it with licks and kisses until she shuddered. "Ya think about me doin' this?", he asked, nibbling down her shoulder. She nodded truthfully and his hand moved to fondle her breasts and squeeze her nipples beneath her bra cups. "Yes Merle," she breathed, rubbing against him unconsciously.

He could see that she beginning to pant with arousal so he reached under her skirt to pull her half slip and panties off and dropped it on the floor. His rough hand teased the tender skin of her inner thighs, opening them slightly. She was burning like a furnace. "Did ya think about me touchin' ya here?" he demanded, feeling the front of his pants getting very tight. "Yes husband" she moaned, squirming on his lap to try to move his hand up closer to source of her frustration. He watched her face in fascination as he splayed his fingers into the soft cloud of blonde curls and whispered gruffly, "Did it make ya hot like this?" She pressed her lips together and met his eyes, nodding mutely and emitting a small squeak.

He pulled the hem of her skirt up to expose her and pushed her legs further apart. The smell of her arousal rose from between her soft thighs and he stroked her mound, getting closer and closer to the vee between her legs. She was panting, still slightly uncertain, and as he teased her folds open with his fingers he captured her mouth with his to thoroughly her mouth with his tongue. She moaned, transfixed by his ministrations. By now she knew he wasn't going to hurt her. He slid his fingers smoothly through the crease of her slick lips and he reveled in the sounds of her wet pussy. For the millionth time, it amazed him that this was all for him. He tore his gaze from her sex and leaned his forehead against hers.

"Did I do this to your sweet pussy?" he whispered, sliding his fingers in to reach that spot deep inside her that brought her intense pleasure. She moaned loudly then whimpered helplessly and thrust her hips to ride his fingers. When her head dropped back he growled and attached her throat, kissing and biting a little more roughly than he ever had and he almost came in his pants when she trembled violently and came around his fingers, shrieking his name.

After her pleasure he pulled his fingers out and grasped her hip in his hand to hold her close to him. He lovingly nuzzled and kissed her neck and shoulders until she recovered. When he met her lazily hooded eyes he asked, "And is that what happened?" His question surprised her. "No," she said softly, missing his presence inside of her. "It only happens with you."

Merle never heard anything so fucking hot in his life. "Stand up," he directed, and when she stood on wobbly legs he picked her up and carried her to the bedroom. He took off the rest of her clothes and sat her on the bed while he undressed. She looked unashamedly at his hardness, even though she had had her pleasure she desperately wanted all of him inside of her. "Merle," she breathed. "Is it wrong to want to…touch you…with my mouth? I thought about it today and I wanted to so bad." She was looking uncertain again. He bent to kiss her deeply. "No Mrs. Dixon, you can do that whenever ya like and I surely won't complain. Do ya want to try now?" He had hoped and prayed for this day, he never brought it up before because of the violation she had endured in the past. Her increasing confidence was the payoff.

She bit her lip and looked from his manhood to his face and back to his manhood. She nodded with determination on her face and set about to softly stroke him with her fingers. By the time she was comfortable taking him into her mouth he was the happiest man on earth. When he felt himself start to climax, he pulled out gently. Her eyes darted to his and she asked, "Didn't I do it right?" He bent to take her face in both hands and said "Darlin', that was the best I ever had, but I had to end it because I ain't done with you yet." Beth smiled happily and he instructed her to lie back on the bed.

He made love to her slowly and when he felt himself getting close again he guided her hand to her own sex, instructing her on how to bring on her own orgasm while he was moving inside her. He watched her eyes widen in wonder at the sensations she was able to give herself and he studied her face as she came undone, bucking under him. It was all too much for him and he pumped into her rapidly and roared her name through his own release, his face grimacing in ecstasy as her arms encircled him.

When they recovered they assumed their usual position with him on his back and her cuddled into his side with her face on his chest. In the silence their hands moved languidly to stroke one another until the sun began to set. He pulled her on top of him and kissed her, loving the feeling of her hair forming a curtain around their faces. He stroked her face and looked at her seriously. "Now Beth," he instructed. "Ain't none a them feeling you had were wrong. When you get them feelin's and I ain't around, I want ya to touch yerself to feel good, then when I come home I want ya ta tell me what you was thinkin' about and what you did. Maybe you can even show me. And after that I'll lay you proper, y'hear? Ain't no sin to think about ya husband that way." Beth smiled and nodded, collapsing on him to revel in the feel of his skin against hers. He chuckled and rubbed his face on the top of her head. She giggled. "Can we lay in bed all evening?" she asked. He chuckled again. "We'll do anything ya want Mrs. Dixon."

OK, please be kind and remember that we're talking Depression era relationships here. I love your reviews, please send them!