Content Warnings: adult situations and themes
Author's Notes: After much gnashing of teeth, throwing up of hands and frantic emailing with my beta, I decided to post this version of Part 9. Every time I tried to take things out, Lynette would tell me to put them back in. In the end, I have to agree with her assessment. Please see the end of Part 9 for additional Author's Notes.
To the readers who've been with me from the beginning – You're the best! To the ones who've just joined us – Thanks for taking a chance on this little fic and its highly unusual pairing. Every one of you keep me writing! As always, any and all feedback is appreciated.
Part 9
By the time Wednesday night rolled around, Faith still hadn't talked to Jack, still hadn't asked any of the important questions she'd come up with the day before, despite the fact he had arrived home much earlier than she'd expected. She fiddled with her fork, staring at her barely touched food, her stomach rebelling at the little she'd managed to force down. Her realization the night before had disrupted her normally unshakeable ability to concentrate. Once she was focused on a task she had the tenacity of a snake, but today had turned into one half started thing after another. Dinner had been no exception.
"Hey," Jack called across the short distance of the table. "Babe, you okay?"
"Yeah. Fine," she answered automatically, eyes darting anywhere but up to meet his. She stood, unable to take the smell of tortellini any longer, grabbed her plate and headed for the sink. Her neck prickled as his eyes followed her, the concern she knew she'd see in them making her feel even worse. It wasn't his fault she was off-kilter. Well, it was, but only indirectly.
"Faith."
Her name was all he said, his tone quiet and not at all accusing, but it struck with the force of a troll hammer. She set the plate in the sink and turned back to face him, leaning against the counter. Maybe if she got one of the issues out of the way the other would just fix itself. Even as the thought coalesced, she knew it wouldn't be that easy, but she didn't have that many options to choose from. Swallowing roughly, she met his eyes for a brief moment before crossing her arms over her chest. A tiny part of her brain snickered at the defensive gesture and she squashed it ruthlessly. "Remember I told you about that weird energy field that keeps the assorted demons and vampires out of the Springs?" When he nodded, she rushed on, not giving him a chance to speak. "I did some research on the computer yesterday and a couple of things popped up that made a little too much sense."
"I'm guessing this has something to do with why we were attacked the other night." He stood, focusing all his attention on her, hands tucked down into his pockets. "You figured it out?"
"I think so." She straightened, pushing away from the counter and took a deep breath. "I think it's your job, your Mountain." He drew back with a frown, but didn't say anything. " Willow explained it like a bleed over effect. It's not intentional, it just happens because of leftover energy. Whatever's going on down there is creating this massive energy field that encompasses the whole town. She thought it was from NORAD, but now I'm not so sure of that." She had to tell him the rest of it, but the words stuck in her throat. Finally looking up, she met his eyes and tried one more time. "I went out on patrol last night. You'd said whatever was wrong down there wasn't really fixed, which meant if my theory was right then there might be more vampires out there." He didn't appear to be upset, but he didn't look happy either, his face not quite the blank mask she knew he had stored away. Unsure if the expression was because of her theory or because she'd gone out on patrol, she pushed on before she gave herself time to give up and run. "I found one. He confirmed it was the energy that kept them out of town, that every now and then it disappeared and some of them braved the pain for the easy meals."
"And you believed him?"
"I gave him a really good reason not to lie to me." A fleeting smile passed over his face before disappearing as if it never existed. "Look, I heard what Sam said last night on the phone. I didn't mean to, it just happened. I know the problems you've been having down there are power related. These latest failures allowed the four vampires to get into the Springs." There. It was said, for whatever good it would do.
An awful silence filled the kitchen for a horrible moment before he spoke. "What do you expect me to say?"
"Nothing. Anything. I don't know. Crap," she muttered, shoving her hands through her hair, annoyed with herself and wishing he would give her something more to work with. "I know I'm screwing this up, but bear with me, okay?" Nodding, he watched silently as she paced away to the far end of the kitchen before turning around. "Your job is hush-hush and you can't talk about it. I know that, and truthfully I don't care what it is you do as long as you're not experimenting on demons or creating evil cyborg monsters. Don't ask," she advised when his eyebrows rose. "Too long a story for tonight. But whatever it is you guys are doing needs a whole bunch of power and it's keeping the vampires, and every other demon, away. Score one for the secret military people."
That tiny smile made another appearance, this time settling on his lips. A very small thread of tension leaked away at the expression. He turned to set his hip against the table, eyes never leaving hers.
"While I was digging around for unexplained deaths, the usual flag for demons in any town, I found seven that had indications of vampire attacks. I visited all of the sites yesterday. They're all perfect places for vampire killings. I have the dates listed on a sheet by the computer. I need you to verify if your power was going wonky around those times."
Thankfully, Jack didn't give her one look to indicate he thought she was crazy. If his face was anything to go by, he wasn't dismissing her and her outlandish theory without thought. "I'd have to talk to Carter. She's got the head for those things. But I can't give you any details. I shouldn't even be telling you this, no matter how inconsequential it may seem to you."
"Look, I don't want to know and I don't need to know what it is you do. But I'm asking you to let me know when anything happens to affect your power. Those seven people didn't need to die. If I'd been patrolling during your power outages I might have been able to take out the vampires before they killed anyone. I have to live with their deaths because I was too afraid to tell you the truth." She met his gaze solidly. If he couldn't accept what she was asking and couldn't agree to her request, all the understanding about lies of omission and missing memory wasn't going to mean a thing. "But I don't have to let anyone else die. Not if you'll help me."
Silence fell between them, the quiet hum of the refrigerator the only sound to interrupt their unblinking stares. With a sigh, Jack stepped away from the table to reach for her hands. She followed his gaze down to their joined hands, both tanned, both scarred, both carrying a ring of promise and union. Lifting her eyes, she saw him swallow, continuing to stare down between them.
"I've thought about this a lot over the last two days," he said quietly. "And I can't really blame you for not telling me about the whole Slayer business." Meeting her eyes, he gave a wry smile. "I have too many secrets of my own that I can't tell you about. Some I'd even love to share. And if I said the idea of you going off to hunt those things, those vampires, made me happy, I'd be lying. In fact, if it were up to me you'd never face one again." Her heart sank slowly with each word. There was no hope for them if he couldn't accept that she had to do this. Tugging her hands away from the warmth of his, she took a small step back. He finally looked up, his eyes holding a fire she had no name for. "But I understand all about not wanting more deaths on your conscience. More importantly, I love you. Extra bits and all. If you tell me this is something you have to do, then I'll respect your decision."
The vise around her chest loosened, allowing her to breathe again. "You'll tell me what you can? And you won't argue when I have to disappear at all sorts of strange hours?" The irony of the question didn't hit until Jack smiled, one eyebrow quirking upward. "Okay, so that one's not an issue. What about when I get hurt? It's going to happen."
His face tightened slightly, eyes narrowing as one finger trailed up her right arm, pushing the loose sleeve of her shirt out of the way. A healing cut stood out against her tanned skin. It was such a minor wound she hadn't even noticed its presence. Apparently, Jack had. She must have scratched herself on the car the vampire had knocked her into on Monday night. "And how often can I look forward to that?"
"Here in the Springs?" She thought quickly, giving him what she hoped was an encouraging smile. "Not too often. I'll only be dealing with vampires."
"Uh huh." She bit her tongue on the inelegant snort at his perfect match of her tone the day before, wondering if he'd done it consciously. "Promise me you'll be careful."
"I'm always careful."
"Extra careful then."
This time she knew it was on purpose. Reaching forward, she took his hands back in hers. "I don't know why or how I let it go for so long without doing anything. But now that you do know, I can't just let the vampires have free reign when the energy field is down. I can't."
After a heavy sigh that lifted his shoulders, he nodded. "One more requirement." Waiting patiently, she met his gaze solidly. "Be completely honest. If you think you're going to need help, you tell me. I might not be imbued with special powers, but I'm not useless in a fight either."
Tugging him closer, she dropped his hands to wrap her arms tight around his back. "I don't deserve you." It was a mere whisper of sound and all she could force out. Jack held her close, arms a band of steel she had no desire to break. The warmth of his body seeped into her, melting her muscles.
"Now that that's out of the way," he said, his voice a soft rumble in her ear. "You want to tell me what's really bothering you?"
She froze at the question, her heartbeat kicking up once again. How did he know? Was she that transparent? Mouth instantly dry, she let him hold her tight, barely able to breathe. "Did you mean what you said?" That couldn't be her voice, could it? Thin and thready and vaguely childlike.
"I won't interfere with your Slayer business."
"No. I meant the part where you said you loved me." She had never felt so insecure, so out of her element.
His fingers were suddenly beneath her chin, bringing her eyes up to meet his. "You're my wife, Faith." The simple answer was more than enough to start her heart thudding against her ribs. "Did something happen while I was gone?" he asked, his voice turning fierce.
"No," she repeated, a strange tingling sensation flowing down her limbs, mixing with the warmth of his body still against hers. "Not really. I just," she stopped, jaw working but no sound coming out. Maybe if she went at it from a different angle the words would just slip out. She didn't have any experience to fall back on and honestly didn't know if she had the courage to say it aloud. Yet Jack deserved to hear it from her lips. "I know I only have the last few days up here in my head and nothing in my life to compare it to, but somehow I managed to fall in love you."
He froze for a split second before a grin took over his face, his eyes darkening to a shade just lighter than black. "Now that's not what I'd call a problem." Before she could get a word out, his mouth had captured hers hungrily, igniting the embers he'd left smoldering inside her the day before.
Arching up into the curve of his body, Faith knew she was going to burst into a million pieces any second. Every cell was on fire, heat burning through her clothes everywhere their bodies met. His tongue stroked roughly against hers, drawing a low growl out of her throat. Her arms tightened around his back, fingers aching for the feel of skin instead of cotton. Tugging his shirt up out of the way, she swept her hands over the broad plane of his back, his muscles tensing at the contact. His body shuddered against hers, one hand digging into her hair to hold her head still for his assault on her senses.
Abruptly, his mouth left hers to trail over her jaw line, the air of the kitchen a sudden cold shock on her lips. Tiny explosions flooded down her spine at each of his nipping little bites, settling deep within her gut. Her head fell back limply into his supporting hand, allowing him full access to her neck. Delicious shivers radiated outward from his lips as the hand he'd held at the small of her back pushed her offending shirt out of the way to grasp her waist, her oblique muscles quivering at the contact. So intent was she on his slowly moving fingers along the sensitive skin of her waist and lower back, that she only had a split second's warning from the heat of his breath before his teeth gently bit down at the juncture of her neck and shoulder.
Her body gave one heaving pulse, her eyes whiting out behind closed eyelids for a moment that seemed to last forever. Finally, she was able to drag air into her lungs and open her eyes, her racing heartbeat pounding low and hard. Glancing up to meet Jack's glazed eyes as he stared down at her, the breath she'd just managed to gasp in stalled on the way out. An expression she could only call devilry covered his face, small beads of perspiration dotting his forehead. "That's not fair, you know."
"What's not fair?" he asked in a slightly hoarse tone, his wandering hand trailing down to tuck fingertips under the waistband of her jeans. He pressed gently but firmly at the small of her back, causing her eyes to flutter shut again at the feel of him.
She couldn't keep a thought in her head, let alone force her brain to work out an answer with him pressed up tight against her. "I can't think when you do that."
Bending swiftly, he kissed her again, tongue playfully darting in and out of her mouth. His chuckle, filled with masculine pride, vibrated its way along her lips. "Sorry." The apology lost all meaning when spoken in such a smug way, the grin he wore speaking the truth for him. "What's not fair?" he repeated, loosening his hold on her a fraction of an inch.
"You've got three years of experience in turning me on. I have no idea what you like." She didn't feel even a hint of embarrassment at her straightforwardness. If Jack couldn't tell she wanted him, they had more issues than tiny secrets to deal with.
He nodded slowly, that devil's grin growing even wider. "True. But I'm going to have an awful lot of fun while you relearn."
Returning the smile, Faith flexed her fingers experimentally against the smooth skin of his back. "Then I suppose it's time for lesson number one." She curled her nails into his skin, raking them slowly and carefully down his spine just hard enough to leave tiny impressions. With a sharply indrawn breath, his head fell back, hand clenching at her back. "I'll put that one down in the yes column."
Wide eyes met hers, his hand keeping their bodies held together. "Oh yeah," it was a mere gasp of sound, "you can do that." He searched her face, right hand moving from her hair to cup her cheek. "I don't want to push you, but I've got to ask how far you want this to go tonight."
Unbearably touched by his lack of presumption, her heart settled the matter in an instant. Jack would never intentionally hurt her. A tiny voice whispered from deep inside, a voice she'd never heard before. With Jack it was okay to hide nothing, to let him see all of her, even the darkest parts. Setting her fear of true intimacy aside – the emotional one, not the easily mistaken physical aspect – she took his hand in hers. She didn't say a word, just stepped out of the circle of his arms and, walking backwards, tugged him toward the kitchen door, eyes never leaving his.
Comprehension flooded his face in a quick flush of color, his hand giving a quick squeeze of firm pressure. Somehow she led him into the bedroom without tripping or stumbling into a wall, although she had no idea how since she never took her gaze from the intent look on his face. Dropping his hand when they reached the foot of the bed, she slipped the five tiny buttons loose and let her shirt slide from her shoulders to land on the ground in a puddle of blue fabric. Jack stepped closer and trailed one finger down the center of her chest, along her abdomen to stop at the button of her jeans.
Nodding at his unspoken question, she reached behind her back and found the hooks on her bra. The zipper grated quietly down as she loosened the catch, his fingers skimming ever so lightly over her to send tiny shivers radiating outward and inward. Shrugging the cotton and lace down her arms, she let it fall to join her shirt, forgotten. His eyes never leaving hers, one hand stroked up her torso to cup her gently. She tried to stay focused on him, but his thumb rubbing lightly over the hypersensitive flesh stole her attention, electric shocks shooting from the tip of her breast straight down to her core. Heavy, aching pulses began beating low and hard. And yet his slow caress didn't stop.
Forcing her eyes to open, her lids felt weighted, arousal filling every cell of her body. She grasped the hem of his t-shirt, pulling it up his chest. She wanted skin, needed to feel his body pressed all along the length of hers. Ducking swiftly, he helped her get rid of the shirt, hands returning to meet hers at the open top of her jeans. As one they pushed them down, taking her panties with them, leaving her totally nude, open to his gaze. Without a pause, Jack's pants followed and they stepped clear of the pile of clothes.
The last rays of sunlight barely touched the room through the curtains, an intimate shelter where only the two of them existed. Faith stepped back, wanting to enjoy her first true moments of her naked husband and when he saw her eyes roving over his body, he stood still for her perusal. Long, lean limbs, muscled without being showy, a scattering of hair along his chest, and an abdomen that showed he cared about his fitness but wasn't obsessed by it. Not perfect, and yet he was. "Not bad for an old guy."
He chuckled, taking the two steps toward her to grasp her hips. "For a cradle robbing Air Force flyboy, I could have chosen worsem1 ."
"Hey!" She frowned up at him, not the least bit serious. With his body tight and pressed against hers, words were quickly losing any importance in her brain. "Talk like that will get you nowhere."
"And what will this get me?" Not waiting for her reply, he dipped his head and kissed her breast, nipping it sharply. She let a shuddering sigh out through her teeth, the wet warmth of his tongue curling things deep inside. Placing a hand in the short hair at the back of his head Faith urged him silently on. His breath was hot on her sensitized skin. Then he bit down.
With a ragged cry, her legs collapsed under her. Jack caught her, tossing the comforter aside with one hand, easing them both down onto the side of the bed and ran one hand possessively over her side to her waist. Sucking in a deep breath, she met his eyes, the pleased look she found there sending another quick pulse down her middle. "That, husband of mine, will get you anything you want."
Still grinning, he pushed her back onto the bed. "Let me see what else I can come up with." Without waiting for her to tell him she didn't need anything else, his mouth was on hers, tongue stroking long and hard while one hand cupped her breast. Her pulse pounded in her ears, her body shifting restlessly against the bed. He left her mouth to trail soft kisses down her neck, along her collarbone, and settled over her breast again. Hand holding her still for his mouth, he kissed it, a little rougher than before, but always gentle, never rushed.
The slow, careful caresses built on each other, making her almost hum with pleasure. His hand left her breast, sweeping down her stomach to rest on her thigh. He was going to drive her mad if he didn't do something soon. She couldn't stay on the cusp of such overwhelming sensations forever. Another gentle tug on her breast sent lightning shooting straight to her core. When she could speak again, she leaned up on her elbows, meeting his eyes. "Are you trying to kill me?"
A wicked grin played over his features, the look alone enough to stroke through her body. "I know exactly how much you can take." He must have seen something of her impatience in her face because he knelt beside her and leaned down, cupping her face with both hands. "Let me do this, just let me love you."
She froze, body throbbing for completion, his hands burning against her face, his eyes softly pleading. Jack was laid bare before her, all defenses tossed aside, his soul open to her every scrutiny. Ignoring her own need, she pushed up to kiss him. He met her halfway, lips both gentle and yet demanding at the same time. And then she lay back, trusting him as she'd never done before. She'd always been the aggressor during sex, the dominant, taking control until she'd had her fill, her style rough and quick. Oh, her partners had enjoyed themselves, she had no doubt, but she hadn't much cared whether they had or not in her single minded pursuit of her own fulfillment. Now, it was suddenly imperative Jack was fully satisfied and that meant she had to let go, let him lead the way in this completely.
Tucking her hands behind her head, she took a deep breath, not lost to his eyes following the rise and fall of her chest. "I'm all yours." Nervousness calmed the throbbing of her body slightly, cooling the ardor threatening to overwhelm her.
He shook his head slowly, gaze moving back to hers. "No, we belong to each other." Not giving her time to respond, his hands returned to her body, stroking, teasing, finding parts that twitched and made her writhe on the bed. Soon she was lost in a tidal wave of sensation, every nerve ending tingling uncontrollably. Her hands, long since past the point of remaining motionless, gripped the sheet, crumpling it in her fists. Shifting restlessly, her over-sensitized skin burned everywhere it brushed against him, each touch pushing her ever closer to completion.
Suddenly, his hands disappeared, their loss leaving her gasping, bereft. Her body hummed, her heartbeat thrumming directly into her center. Faith raised heavy lids, eyes glazed and filled with passion. Before she could focus enough to see what he was doing, his mouth grazed the underside of her breast. A moan broke from her throat at the wet heat. Nipping small bites down her abdomen, he soothed the gentle hurts with open-mouthed kisses and slow swipes of his tongue. He kissed the scar on the lower right side of her belly, the old wound strangely reactive, bolts of fire shooting from the area to lodge in her limbs. And still he kept moving, his mouth leaving trails of sensation in its wake.
She didn't think she could take much more of his torment. Her body was screaming for release. Swallowing dryly to ask Jack for help, the words died instantly when his hot breath on her skin pushed her over the edge.
The world around her exploded. Bright spots of light flashed over her eyelids, leaving tiny floating blobs in her vision. Half expecting to see her body glowing, Faith met his eyes over the length of her torso. "You really are trying to kill me." Her voice was a breathless semblance of itself, one she'd never heard.
Moving upward to press his body over hers, Jack just smiled, settling comfortably between her legs. He kissed her forehead, each cheek, her nose and finally her lips, a soft touch directly at odds with her furiously pumping blood. "Never happen."
For a second she couldn't remember what she'd said to elicit his words. And then she wasn't thinking at all as her body curled to match his gentle thrust. Breath freezing in her lungs, she wrapped her legs around him, encouraging him. He held her eyes with his and sank into her. The sensation had her arching her back, automatically seeking more.
With a ragged groan, he pushed up on his forearms and began to move. She struggled to stay with him, to hold back, to match his unhurried, unwavering rhythm, but the pressure built deep inside, teased her, called her. Jack held himself still, pushing high and tight, his face a mask of ecstasy and wonder.
"Jack," she pleaded, voice hoarse, body throbbing, suspended between total pleasure and simply too much.
Crying out, he gave one final push, shattering them both. Rapture flung her head back and she groaned, wanting to make the incredible feeling last forever.
Breath heaving from his lungs, Jack collapsed, slightly off center, head turned into her neck. She concentrated on breathing, on the feelings he drew out of her so easily. Maybe it was because she was with Jack, maybe it was because she loved him, but she'd never experienced anything like their joining before. She'd had sex, many times with many different guys, maybe too many guys, but what they'd just done was so much more than simple sex. It had been a total sharing, transforming love into a physical reality.
"Is it always like this with us?" she asked, voice breathless and sounding all too well-pleasured.
He nodded against her neck, either not having the strength or ability to lift his head. If he felt anything like she did, it was both. "Most of the time."
"How are we still alive? And why do we ever leave the house?" She was almost serious.
Chuckling quietly, he pushed back up on his elbows. His eyes closed briefly, a deep breath easing from his nose. Bending down, he captured her lips, mouth open and possessive. Even sated as she was, he had the power to send little sparks down her spine. He eased off of her gently and dropped another quick kiss on her forehead. "I'll be back in a second."
She watched as he went into the bathroom, admiring the unobstructed view of his backside. When her cheeks gave a twitch, she finally felt the broad grin that had taken over her face. Life was perfect. Jack was perfect. Her body gave one last pulse of pleasure, a dim echo of the intense feelings from mere minutes ago. Sighing quietly, she wondered how she'd ever gotten so lucky as to find, literally, the perfect man for her, ignoring the tiny voice in the back of her mind telling her she was turning into a sentimental sap. She was too happy care.
The sound of running water called her from her thoughts. Moments later, Jack came back into the bedroom, a washcloth in one hand, a hand towel in the other. To her mortification, she felt a blush creep up her neck and heat her cheeks. No man had ever thought about the 'after' part before. Too stunned to know whether she wanted to protest or not, she could only watch, silent, as he used the warm washcloth on her, gently wiping along her skin.
It was obvious to even her untrained eye he'd performed the action before. What she'd always thought of as a bothersome byproduct of sex, he'd turned into a caring gesture with one simple act. Her throat tightened, the embarrassment fading as her eyes followed his every move. Switching the washcloth for the towel, he patted her damp skin. He leaned back, hands full of terry cloth, and made to get up. Reaching out before he got an inch off the bed, she took his face in her hands and kissed him. She couldn't express the feelings coursing through her, had no words to properly convey all he invoked, yet she tried to put it into the kiss. All the tenderness she'd never before experienced, all the ferocity of the emotions, new and frightening, she poured it into him, hoping he'd understand.
When she sat back, his face was serious, the gleam in his eyes telling her he'd gotten it, every last bit. "Don't go anywhere." In less than a minute he was back, climbing onto the bed beside her. Tugging the sheet and comforter up to cover them, he cuddled in close behind her, his body cradling from her shoulders to her feet. One arm wrapped possessively over her waist, the other pillowing her head. Warmed inside and out, Faith relished the feel of his naked body. She'd woken Saturday morning in shorts and a t-shirt so she had an idea they didn't sleep in the buff that often. An idea she was going to encourage at every opportunity.
His hand wandered lightly over her abdomen in the dark, as if he simply couldn't help himself. Unerringly, his fingers found and traced gently over the three inch scar on her belly. "I take it this isn't really a surgery scar." His voice was quiet, inviting her to answer even though it hadn't been a question.
"Sort of." The bedroom enveloped them in a secure little cocoon, one where nothing could harm her. Not memories, not fear, not self-recriminations. "During B's senior year, about eight months after I first met you, I tried to kill her. She won." He didn't say anything, just continued the soft back and forth motion over the scar. The words didn't choke her as she'd always believed they would. They flowed out, one after another without thought. "I'd done horrible things to her and all of the others and she told me she would do it, she'd kill me. But even at the end, after she stabbed me and before I jumped off the roof, I knew she wouldn't do it, wouldn't finish the job. I spent the next year in a coma and three after that in prison."
His silence didn't judge, didn't damn her. Instead, he laid a gentle kiss on her neck, placing his palm directly over the reminder of her spiral into darkness.
"I had a lot of time to think in there, being isolated like the dangerous criminal I was." The words were calm, as if someone else was speaking them. "At the time I wanted B to end it all. I was too much of a coward to do it myself so I pushed her as far as I could for months. I pushed everyone around me. But I could never push them hard enough to finish it." He tucked her closer into the curve of his body, giving a mute support. "I still don't know what they saw in me that was redeemable, but I'm finally glad they did."
"You walked into my life out of the blue twice," he said quietly, his voice a gentle rumble at her back. "I don't know what sent you into that bar either time or why you singled me out. I can only be grateful that you did. And I can't resent anything that led up to you walking though that door. Every event brought you one step closer to me."
Warmth flooded her, overflowing her in a way she'd never thought possible. "I love you, Jack." This time it was the easiest thing in the world to say.
"I love you too, Faith."
More Notes: There is a full adult version of Part 9 available. I tried cutting a lot of this "clean" version out and it simply killed the scene. So between Lynette and I, we toned it down even more and then had a good friend's teenage daughter read it over. After she gave her age-stamp of approval, we went with it. If you would like the full adult version, please email me at elerimc gmail . com (remove all spaces). Please include an age statement of some sort when requesting so I don't have to feel guilty in sending it out. (vbg)
Once again, thanks for reading!!!
TBC