A Most Graceful Life Ch. 09

"Grace, not exactly what I want to think about. Come on, they're my grandparents!"

"But you're here, aren't you?" she noted with a smug smile. "They had to have sex sometime since you owe your very existence to that."

"No doubt you are right, but not exactly what I was getting at when I asked the question," he squeezed his eyes shut, trying not the let his words drift into his imagination. Stephen found he was better off keeping his eyes open.

"Very well," she playfully sighed, "But that will work for us. Lots of sex, but lots of love as well. And the fact that we are completely and totally suited for one another. That will make us inseparable."

"Are we not already," he joked, looking down at how firmly she was pressed into him. "I don't think I've had a true moment alone since I opened your portal."

She turned around, looking at him with a small smirk, "Does that bother you, Master?" Her hand drifted a little higher up his thigh, high enough to make him gulp.

"Not at all," he sputtered, earning a victorious grin from her as she settled back into place.

"They are good role models for us," she said, softly. "Showing us how to be if we want a long life full of love. That's why I enjoy when we can spend time with them. Any lessons that we can sponge up from their experience, the better. I don't ever want to be apart from you, or not full of love for you, Stephen."

His arms held her a little tighter after that statement, and his heart grew one full size as well. "I love you, Grace."

She turned back around and kissed him soundly, "I love you, too, Stephen."

"One thing does kind of bother me though, Grace," he began, choosing his words wisely. "They choose each other freely, out of love, and stayed together because of that love. I chose you freely because of love, but you are compelled to be mine without any of your own free will. I mean, it practically makes you a slave, Grace..."

"Please," she said, sitting up straight, and turning to press her fingers towards his lips. "You are overthinking this one, my love. To think of me as a slave is to miss the forest for the trees."

"But, Grace..."

"No, Stephen," she interrupted, quite firmly. "The alternative is...," she shivered, "much worse. This is how things are supposed to be, and we can't change them. Please, let's just talk about something else?"

He stared into her blue eyes for a moment, before dropping the subject. Content to hold her, and trying not to think about her servitude, he occupied the rest of his thoughts until his grandmother poked her head into the family lounge finding them together.

"There you two are," she said, giving a small smile. "I'm afraid the pain meds have knocked him out cold. He's in a deep sleep right now. Probably will be for a while. Just wanted to tell you now in case you had anything else you may want to do today."

Stephen looked at Grace, before resuming to look at his grandmother. "That's okay, Grandma. Why don't we keep you company for a while? Even if he's resting, it couldn't hurt to have family present."

Her face lit up, "I was hoping you'd say that!"

Together the three of them returned to room, with a very sleepy Grandpa dozing on the hospital bed. For the next several hours, they switched between talking, reminiscing, and finally resting on their own. All keeping watch on one of their own, and providing the best level of support they could.

-----------

Over the next week, Grandpa's pain levels seemed to level off, and the family noticed a steady return to his usual upbeat and comical demeanor. There was still not a timetable for discharge and, from what Stephen understood, someone so elderly with so serious an injury couldn't expect to be let home anytime soon.

Thus, each day in the next week usually ran a similar course. First thing in the morning, Grace and Stephen would go to the hospital for a few hours, and sit with Grandpa. Usually it was just the two of them, and Grandma, but occasionally they would be joined by his mother, his aunt, or the twins for the morning. Since the pain levels weren't as overbearing as the first few days, the visits became highly enjoyable, and Grandpa hammed it up for his audience as per usual.

It was hard to see him in the hospital, hooked up to every possible drip and monitor as could be, but Stephen gradually became used to it, and as the week wore on, became more comfortable with the environment of the hospital room. He was beyond thankful to have Grace there with him. The thought of going through it alone sent a shiver down his spine.

After the trip to the hospital, they would usually hit a gym session, working from Stephen's established workout plan. From there, they would either find something fun to do, or get ready to go into Price Chopper for the night.

A few days after Grandpa's fall, and after a long discussion with Grace about the nature of those types of accidents and making sure you live your life to the fullest, Stephen surprised her by calling up his manager and wanting to know whether the manager position had been filled yet. His manager, Eric, told him it had not, and asked the million dollar question: Was Stephen interested in applying?

"I am," he announced firmly, to the shocked look of surprise on his genie's face.

That was how he wound up with an interview the next Monday morning. Grace, of course, was ecstatic, and did everything she could to help him prepare for the interview. However, in her own words, it was clearly "in the bag" and not something he had to worry much about. From helping him prepare answers to common interview questions, to knowing when to take strategically passionate practice breaks, she did everything she could to make him comfortable to really nail the interview.

Yet, the interview was still a couple days away, and it was Saturday, and after a vigorous workout session from the early afternoon, Stephen and Grace decided to reward themselves with a trip to the community pool for a swim. After over two weeks of working out, Stephen was down seven pounds already, something that made him hold his head up high in pride. Though Grace had explained most of that weight would be pure water, he still felt the satisfaction in the accomplishment. He was starting to beat something that he had struggled with his entire life, and couldn't have been happier. Seeing the result on the scale made all those hard gym sessions worth their while.

The community pool wasn't a far walk from the house. It had just opened for the summer not too long ago, and since it wasn't a very big community, there were usually few people around to take advantage of it. For today, they were a few groups of people about, mainly teenagers enjoying their summer vacation, but the pool otherwise wasn't too crowded.

"Oh, the water looks just perfect," purred Grace, practically jumping up and down as they entered the gate.

"I had no idea you liked swimming so much," chuckled Stephen, amazed at her child-like innocence.

"Mhmm!" She purred, as she found a couple chairs on which to place their stuff. "I think it may have to do with my other life. Not much water in the desert, you know?"

She kicked off her sandals, and in one smooth motion, pulled off her light white shirt, revealing the red piece of her swim top. Stephen couldn't help but watch, loving how her curves always made his eyes bulge.

She seemed to notice right away. She pulled her sunglasses a little further down her nose, looking at him with playful accusation, "Are you checking me out again?"

He just nodded, not even taking his eyes off of her creamy flesh.

"Good!" She laughed, before pulling the light fabric away from her breasts slightly, flashing her nipple to him alone.

"Grace! We're not alone!"

She just laughed, while covering herself back up. "Did you forget already? Anonymity, baby. We could be very alone right now if you would wish it so!"

Stephen cast a weary eye around the pool, looking at the two main groups of teens on either side. The thought of anything sexual with Grace with such an unwitting audience was a little daunting to say the least. Even their last public coupling, at the gym, was shrouded from eyes by being in the empty locker room.

Grace just laughed, as she shimmied her shorts down her long, creamy legs, revealing the other red tinged piece of swim material. No matter how many times they had sex, he never quite could get enough of looking at her perfect body.

But at least his own was making some progress. Stephen peeled off shirt and tossed it over one chair, and stood near the edge of the water. Most of the teens were out of the pool, sitting in the various chairs around the edges. One couple was bobbing together on the other side of the pool, but the water in front of him was clear. He didn't have long to think to himself before he felt the slightest of nudges against his back, a force pushing him into the water itself.

His head popped back up out of the water, and using his hands to wipe away the water from his eyes, he looked for the source of the nudge. Grace stood near the edge of the water gently snickering until she noticed his accusatory eyes. She cast hers upwards, assuming the most innocent of looks pierced by the faintest hint of smiles.

"Oh no, did you slip, babe?" She asked, holding back a laugh.

Stephen got an idea. He began to swim closer to her edge of the pool. "Yeah, and my wrist hurts like hell right now. Why'd you do that? It really hurts! See, look here."

He offered up his wrist, still pretending the he was plagued with pain. Grace's demeanor changed instantly, looking down at it with concern, and reaching her hand out to examine it. It was all the opening that he needed. In one brief swoop, he hooked his hand around her wrist and pulled her into the pool.

"Ach!" Grace yelped, once her head resurfaced. "You tricked me!" She playfully splashed some water in his direction.

"I'd say now we're even," Stephen splashed back, earning a squeal from Grace. Together, they continued their water warfare until Grace came close enough for Stephen to grab, pulling her into him, and pressing their bodies together.

"Oh," said Grace, feeling him against her. "I'm done fighting now, baby," she said, her eyes twinkling her passion.

"I thought that would do the trick," he laughed, and together they floated in the water, connected by limb and lips.

"Have I told you lately how much I love your kisses?" Grace breathed, after one particular breathless lip lock.

"Mhmm," Stephen hummed, before rubbing her lower back, "Just this morning actually."

"I just need... to make sure... you know," she moaned slightly against him.

"I could stay like this all day," he whispered finally, looking into her blue eyes.

Grace looked up past his shoulder and then back to his eyes, "I think we're about to be interrupted."

Stephen looked behind him, following the line of her sight. He almost groaned when he saw what she did and wondered how he could have even missed this.

Ram Doyle was standing near the edge of the pool. By his sudden appearance, he had to have been with one of the groups of teens, since no one had entered the pool area since they got there. He was looking at the two of them, but as with every other time in the past, there wasn't a smirk present on his face. Rather, he seemed to almost be studying them, and trying to figure out the relationship between Stephen and Grace.

Finally, after several moments, he looked at Stephen, making eye contact with him. What happened next completely shocked him.

Ram looked at him and nodded, "Hey Willow," he said, before casting his eyes to look at Grace briefly, and then turned around to leave.

"Hey Ram...," Stephen sputtered awkwardly, his brow furrowed in confusion.

The rest of his group was packing up their things, and getting ready to leave. He tossed a towel over his shoulder, kicked on some flip flops, and after a few moments, turned to exit the pool area without another glance back at the stunned occupants of the pool.

"That was... weird!" Stephen said, finally, as they exited out of the gate. "He never misses an opportunity to give me shit. That was almost like he was friendly!"

Grace turned her head to look back at the leaving party, "Maybe something's changed with him lately?"

Stephen laughed, "Like he suddenly became less of a dick? I don't see how that's possible for Ram."

Grace shook her head, "I think Abby breaking up with him hit him a little harder than he expected. He's usually the one to be doing the breaking up, and now that the shoe is on the other foot, he's a little humbled."

"Really? So that change is just because of Abby?"

Grace grinned and shook her head, "Not exactly. He also heard that she changed her mind, and asked you out after dumping him. Not only is he humbled, but his opinion of you has changed quite drastically in the last couple weeks."

"He knows about that?"

She nodded, "Abby told him on one of the occasions when he tried to get her back."

He bobbed in the water, with Grace's legs wrapped around his waist. "Wow, things have certainly changed since you showed up, Grace."

She giggled, "That's the idea, my love. I find his crisis of character a little entertaining right now. Would you believe he has a grudging level of respect for you right now? Although he would be loathe to actually admit it, he does respect you."

"Just because of Abby?"

"Well, because of me, too. He really has the hots for me," she said, not too modestly, as she flipped her wet hair. "But he sees that you have me, and that you could have had Abby, and he's even a little jealous of you."

"Yeah, but Grace," said Stephen, offering an objection. "I'm still the same person. I haven't really changed. Why should he respect me just because I have a super hot girlfriend?"

Grace shrugged her shoulders, "That's just the way Ram is wired."

"He's a pretty weird guy," he replied, while Grace just shrugged her shoulders.

Stephen mulled the idea over in his head for a while, ultimately shrugging his shoulders as he cast the thoughts from his head. Surely it wouldn't hurt to no longer have to deal with Ram's eternal enmity: it would be one less problem on his plate, which he surely needed. It was actually rather pleasant, the whole exchange with him, even if it was a little awkward. Anything was better than the teasing and bullying that he was used to from Ram Doyle. He finally let the issue drop and resumed his attentions to his sexy genie companion.

It was the perfect day for being out in the pool. While the sun was out brightly, and shining in full force, it wasn't too hot just yet, and allowed the couple to enjoy themselves immensely playing and swimming in the water. Or rather, for Grace to mimic whatever Stephen was doing at that particular moment. If he was swimming laps, she was setting her own pace right beside him. If he was splashing her, she was splashing in return. It all became a very elaborate game of 'monkey see, monkey do' that kept them entertained and laughing during the afternoon.

During one particularly fun interlude, when Stephen was showing Grace how to dive and hold her breath underwater, her hand reached out underneath, gently massaging his swim trunks and looking for the treat held within. Not expecting the sudden intrusion, Stephen surfaced and spat out some water that had made it's way into his mouth.

"Grace! What are you doing?" He laughed/coughed, watching as her sultry grin formed right next to him.

"Just trying to liven up the afternoon, babe," she winked.

"There's people just right there," he whispered, nodding his head in the direction of a group of three teen girls, sunbathing right by the pool's edge, not a few feet from where they were.

"I know," replied Grace cheerfully, before making another grab for his member.

Stephen let her caress him underwater, almost powerless to stop her. Not that he ever wanted to stop her, but having someone nearby less than a few feet away made the entire experience a bit awkward for him. When his body began to respond to her touches, he shuffled slightly away and looked to see if any of the three teens had noticed.

Two of them were laying on their stomachs, eyes closed, and both appeared to be paying little attention. One even had her headphones in, probably listening to some music while she soaked in the sun. It was the one that was closest to the edge who had her eyes fixed on Stephen and Grace.

She was laying on her back, and was thus fully facing the action in the pool where the couple was playing. She had no sunglasses on and her eyes were fully open and fixed upon the two of them. She was looking down past Stephen's eyes, as if she could see directly through the water to where Grace was slowly masturbating him underneath.

Stephen felt his cheeks begin to redden at having an audience. He pushed Grace's hand away and began to put a little more distance between himself and the genie minx. The sunbathing girl's eyes followed them both still.

"Grace!" He hissed, before cocking his head in the girl's direction. "That girl is watching us!"

Grace looked over to where the girl was laying, gently treading water as she took in the girl's appearance. She had blonde hair, the type that was more bottle than natural, with just enough hint of dark hair underneath to give the secret away. She had high cheekbones, and a little dainty mouth as well. Her body was covered by a baby blue two piece suit, and by the darkened color of her skin, she had gotten an early start with the tanning this year. Stephen guessed that she was perhaps eighteen or nineteen, but hadn't a clue what her name might be.

The girl kept watching Stephen, her eyes darting back and forth to Grace as well, before Grace came swimming over to his side once more.

"She's into you," Grace whispered, before turning to look back at the girl again.

Stephen looked back at the girl as well. Was Grace right about that? She was looking at him funny, and she was watching him get masturbated underneath the water. When they made eye contact once more, the girl offered him a slow forming, shy smile, as if to acknowledge the truth behind Grace's words.

"See? I told you," Grace replied, reading his thoughts. "She's getting so turned on at watching me stroke your cock. She wants to switch places with me right now. Although, she's a little intimidated by me, I think she would gladly come in here with us and help me take care of you, my love."

Stephen blinked, and then shuttered when Grace resumed her affections on his rapidly inflating cock. This time, Grace slightly shimmied his trunks down, and pulled his cock free of their tight constraint. She was freely masturbating him in the middle of the pool now, while the girl on the edge watched them both.

"Her pussy is on fire right now," whispered Grace, stroking him faster. "Perhaps I should invite her to come join us both? Would you like that baby? To fuck two women right here in the pool? I know she would like it. Look at her face! She's practically whimpering for it right now!"

Grace was right, and the girl was biting her lip watching them. Her eyes had a pleading value to it, as if she was silently agreeing with every word that left the genie's mouth.

Stephen felt a bit overwhelmed. While he was very attracted to the sunbathing girl, and very turned on now thanks to Grace's deft and skill hands, something about moving forward with the proposed interaction didn't feel right to him.

"Just say the word, Stephen. I can make this happen. You can fuck us both until we cum so hard for you," Grace cooed, stroking him faster.

"Grace," Stephen said finally, his hand wrapping around her own to slow it down. "I don't want that," he said, in a clear voice.