Carson Evolved Ch. 11

Her declaration brought a tear to Carson's eye, and he reached for her, pulling her face to his and gently kissing her lips. Softly he said, "Thank you for trusting me, Aria. I'm so happy that you have a light in your life again, and I'll do everything I can to keep that light shining."

Aria smiled and sat up. Looking down at him, she grinned wickedly and said, "Now that we've got all that out of the way, I think you said something about making sure I was expecting?"

Her shrieks of excited laughter when he pounced quickly turned to moans of ecstasy as he did his very best to finish the job.

*****

The week after Aria spent the night with Carson proved to be quite exciting.

First, Starfyre cracked the new and improved NeoGenesys security, with the help of her cutting-edge rig. Her quirky faux-evil laugh as she reported to Carson and Tilda on her successes made him chuckle again. When she'd finished her report, Carson reached out and pulled her into his arms, hugging her in congratulations. When he released her, he missed the color that rose in her cheeks and her general unsteadiness on her feet; Tilda didn't though. Her heart went out to Addison, and she thought the computer whiz might be desiring some alone time with Carson. She resolved to discuss it with the other members of his Pride.

Starfyre had installed a backdoor into the NeoGenesys computer system and was working hard to mine useful information. Her frustrations mounted until she realized that while they'd attempted to segregate the research data by cutting hardline access, some biochemist with no understanding of network security had left his terminal logged onto the building's wireless intranet. From there, with a little ingenuity, Starfyre created a virtual machine that kept the network access open from his terminal whenever the machine was powered up. If anyone checked access logs, they'd see that Dr. Antonov was unusually busy during the early morning hours for someone who usually worked during the day.

The picture that Starfyre managed to assemble from the data she pilfered was horrifying, but not entirely unexpected. Obviously, Eisenfaust had little reticence about potentially ending the human race. Dr. Cross was stunned to find out that the NeoGenesys researchers had apparently made almost no effort to create an actual cure for the virus. Instead, they'd created a biomechanical "vaccine." It was a diabolically evil concept. Similar to the nanites that breeders in Orriri were given, the injection would install a limited number of molecular machines into the body. They drew their power from the latent electrical charge in the body, and their job was not to destroy the virus. Instead, they bonded to a key amino acid sequence on the viral vector. As long as the machines received a periodic reinforcement of the 'disable' command, the virus would be unable to dock correctly on target cells or deliver its DNA payload. If, however, that command did not come, the machines would fail in such a way as to disengage. From there, infection and replication would take place as designed, and before long, the man would be sterile.

Eisenfaust had created what was essentially a subscription model. Men who got the injection would have to pay a monthly fee to maintain the system or face sterilization. It was brilliant. Evil, but brilliant. Buried in the project report was the suggestion that the system be used to selectively eliminate undesirables from the breeding population, simply by pricing the treatment beyond what the average citizen could pay. Carson had almost lost his lunch when that little bit of info came to light. Afterwards, it merely strengthened his resolve to find a solution to the problem and bring Eisenfaust to its knees.

With the increased understanding of what Eisenfaust's goals were, and especially with the new data about the viral vector itself, Dr. Cross was confident that a true vaccine could be synthesized. Unfortunately, it would be a time-consuming process and they were starting from behind in the race to save as many men as possible from this horrible fate. What they could do, though, was start production of an alternative form of the molecular machines that could serve as a stopgap measure, one that didn't require a signal from Eisenfaust. Until an appropriate antibody to the virus could be synthesized and produced in sufficient quantities, it was the best they could hope for.

The second major event took place a few days after Starfyre's report. It would prove to change Carson's life dramatically, but he wouldn't find that out until later. The day started off as usual, but little things began to creep up almost immediately that, individually, would not necessarily have raised his eyebrows. Collectively, though, he began to suspect that something was afoot. Walking into the office that morning, Corinne greeted him at the door with a cup of coffee as usual. Then, in an odd turn of events, she simply went back to her desk.

Sipping his coffee, Carson frowned slightly in confusion before he finally had to laugh at himself. He couldn't believe how spoiled he'd gotten to expect Corinne to blow him in the office every day. He resolved to make sure, once again, that she knew that as much as he enjoyed their morning routine, she was under no obligation to do so. The rest of the day was fairly standard; Corinne didn't turn down her flirting one bit. She did, however, seem to be hinting at something. Carson couldn't quite grasp it, but he sensed there was more to her comments than usual.

At some point during the day, each of his wives and lovers contacted him. Again, nothing unusual in and of itself, but he couldn't recall another day when each of them called his work. There weren't any apparent reasons for them to call, either, other than to tell him that they loved him. Each was pretty flirtatious, though. Even Quinn, who had continued to be aloof in recent days and weeks. Carson was distracted, to say the least.

Heading home with Edwards, he could see that the man was on the verge of saying something but didn't. Instead, a little smile played across his lips. Carson thought he knew a secret, but trusted the gentle giant enough to accept that, if he wasn't offering info to Carson, there was a reason. When they arrived at the LD, though, Edwards stopped him by gently placing a paw on his chest.

"Carson, I've heard it said that no one can go back and make a brand-new start, but anyone can start from now and make a brand-new ending. I don't know who said that one first, but I've always thought that we sometimes struggle letting go the past enough to truly appreciate the now and the future. Just something to think about." He smiled at Carson and patted his shoulder before returning to the driver's seat. Carson turned to watch the transport receding, thoroughly confused.

He couldn't remember the last time he'd entered the foyer at the end of the day to find the house so quiet. No children laughing, no babies crying, no murmurs of conversations between the Lionesses—nothing. Even the staff mostly seemed to be absent. Carson was becoming a little concerned when he saw a note with his name scrawled across the outside in a lovely script. Picking it up, he caught a whiff of a scent that was both familiar and imprecise. He knew it was the preferred perfume for one of the women in the house, but he couldn't make the connection in his head. Still, he breathed in the fragrance deeply before he began to read.

Carson—

We love you more than we thought possible. Every woman in this house feels the love, care, and devotion you lavish on us so selflessly. We have encouraged you to be with other women for the Project, or to help couples who needed help. It's not in your nature, but you do it for us.

We have tried not to direct your actions, instead trusting in your innate sense of honor and your instincts to guide you along the way. Tonight, we need you to do something for us, something that you need, and we need. While we are out this evening, we ask that you bring another Lioness into the Pride. We recognize that this is not the usual way of doing this, but it must be done.

This woman has grown to love you as much as any of the other women in your life. We can't think of a more deserving person to share our lives moving forward. Your family will see you in the morning to welcome her formally.

Your Pride

Carson reread the note and thought he had a pretty good idea of who they had in mind. Then, he spied a familiar ring box. Opening it, he instantly knew that he'd guessed correctly. Suddenly, he was anxious to consummate the evening's activities. At the bottom of the note was a series of instructions on how to prepare himself for her arrival. Glancing at his watch, he realized that he needed to get a move on if he was to be ready.

After showering and shaving, he donned the clothes that had been laid out in advance for him. They'd foregone the tie, but his slacks and suit coat made it more formal than business casual. Strolling into the kitchen, Carson found that the regular cook had assembled a small team of assistants and wait staff, and they were hard at work putting the finishing touches to a meal that smelled incredible. He watched them work for a few minutes, marveling at the tight efficiency of their team. Entering the dining room, he found that two places had been set. Through careful arrangement of flowers and decorations, the large dining room and table had been transformed into an intimate setting for two. Soft candlelight glowed, casting warmth throughout the area.

As the appointed time of her arrival approached, Carson was surprised to find that he felt a little nervous. Taking a few deep breaths, he closed his eyes to calm himself. After a few minutes, he heard the tone that signaled the arrival of someone from the gate, and he made his way to the front entry. Opening the door, Carson stepped out to greet the black limousine that pulled to a stop before him. A chauffeur hustled around to open the rear door and assist the occupant out.

Carson watched in stunned silence as one of the most beautiful creatures he'd ever seen emerged. She stood nervously, gauging his reaction. Cara was standing before him in an emerald green backless maxi dress. In her mid-30s, he knew that she was not prone to the slinkiest, clingiest formal wear. Thus, he wasn't surprised to see that her dress had short flutter sleeves, nor was he surprised at the double-tiered skirt, though the sexy front slit was a nice touch. The plunging neckline accentuated the size and fullness of her bosom without showing too much. The green of her dress set off her porcelain skin and dark red hair. In short, she was a vision of perfection.

When he eyes finally returned to her face, he found that she was blushing shyly. It was a touching contrast to the usual confidence that she exuded.

Softly, he heard her ask, "How do I look?"

The spell broken; Carson rushed to take her by the hand. He kissed her cheek and said, "You look absolutely stunning, Cara. Really, breathtakingly beautiful!"

Taking the offered arm as they walked into the house, she asked, "It's not too much? I'm not a little girl anymore."

Carson stopped her and looked into her eyes. "Cara, I am surrounded by beautiful women. I know what I'm talking about when I say that your dress, your hair, makeup, jewelry—everything—is absolutely perfect. And I wouldn't change a thing about you. You are just as lovely as any other woman in my life. Don't ever think anything less of yourself. Please?"

Her eyes shining with tears, Cara carefully dabbed to avoid mussing her makeup. "Thank you, Carson. I...you...I can't believe this is really happening."

He kissed her again and murmured to her as if sharing a secret. "You and me both, Cara. You and me both."

By the time they reached the dinner table, the first course had been served. Carson assisted his date into her seat before taking his own. Then, grinning cheekily, he asked, "So, do you come here often?"

Cara looked at him in surprise, and then they both burst out laughing. The next few minutes were spent in a game of one-upmanship as each offered ever-worse pickup lines. The nervous tension that they'd both felt at the outset melted away. When the laughter finally died down, Cara looked at Carson in love and asked, "How do you do that? No matter what's going on in your own life, whatever stresses you're feeling, you always know the right thing to say, the perfect time to take someone's hand or give a hug or kiss."

Carson was never prone to tooting his own horn, and questions like she'd asked were always kind of an embarrassment to him. Blushing slightly, he replied, "I, uh, I just try to do what seems natural. Honestly? I think I get lucky a lot of the time."

She shook her head at him. "Mm-mm. I know it makes you uncomfortable to talk about yourself, so I won't push it. But you have a special gift, Carson. That's why the women in this house love you so much. That why..." She took a deep breath. "That's why I love you."

He looked into her eyes and could feel the love pouring from her. He squeezed her hand and said, "You know that I love you, too. Don't you? Somewhere along the way, you went from being Sam's hot aunt to something so much more. I only waited because I thought it was important for you to get closure with your ex."

Smiling, Cara assured him that it was the right thing to do. "Speaking of which, I have something for you." Reaching into her clutch, she removed a folded piece of paper and passed it to him.

"What's this?" he asked, opening it. Lifting the first flap, he caught the words "Certificate of Dissolution of Marriage" and looked into her eyes. She was looking at him with a giant grin on her face.

"I'm a free woman, Carson." She said it, but immediately frowned. "That's not right. I take it back. I'm not a free woman."

Suddenly concerned, Carson frowned and asked, "What do you mean? Is there anything I can do to help?"

She reached up and laid her hand alongside his cheek and smiled sweetly. "Don't you see, Carson? I'm not free because you have my heart. And I couldn't be happier about it. In a way, this is the sweetest freedom I could ever hope for, to love and to be loved."

Carson visibly relaxed when he realized what she was saying. "You can't say things like that to me, Cara!" he chided. "I hear a hint that the women in my life are unhappy or struggling and it immediately becomes my mission to solve the problem. I don't ever want you or any of the others to feel a moment's pain, if I can help it."

"I know, sweetheart, I know. That's just another reason to love you."

The rest of dinner flowed smoothly. So engrossed in each other's company, they managed to plow through the three-course meal as if the rest of the world had ceased to exist. Finally, as the last spoonful of an exquisite bread pudding was consumed, the moment they'd anxiously awaited arrived. Carson stood and held out his hand. He didn't need to say a word; they both knew what they wanted in this moment. Cara took his hand and they silently headed towards his bedroom.

As they passed her room, Cara touched his shoulder. "Carson? Just for tonight, just this one night, I'd like to be in charge. Any other time, I'll want you to be the aggressor. But this is important to me."

"Whatever you want, of course," he replied.

"Thank you," she said with a smile. "Will you please wait for me in your room? I have something I'd like to wear for you. It'll just be a few minutes."

Carson smiled and said with a wink, "Don't take too long."

It ended up being close to 20 minutes before Cara entered his bedroom, but for this result, Carson would've waited hours or days if necessary. She was clothed head-to-toe in white. A lace ribbon choker adorned her delicate neck, while a diaphanous babydoll top over a lacy garter belt and sheer thigh-highs covered important bits of her sexy body without covering too much. A pair of white spike heels and tiny v-cut panties completed the all-white ensemble. She looked like the sexiest wedding-night bride that Carson could imagine.

"Wow," he said. Not his most articulate moment, but in fairness, a lot of his blood flow was being redirected from his brain to his groin.

Cara giggled at the look on his face. "That's what I was going for." She gave him the runway walk, crossing over her steps, putting extra wiggle in her hips and adding bounce to her breasts. Carson simply watched in fascination as she approached, subconsciously licking his lips in anticipation.

Carson was mesmerized by her performance, anxious to see what she had planned. Cara tentatively reached out and placed her hands on his stomach before sliding them under his jacket to his shoulders. She eased his jacket from his body and draped it over his favorite chair. Stepping close to him, she looked into his eyes as she slowly leaned up for a kiss. The moment their lips touched, it was as if an electric charge hit both of them, causing both to lean back in surprise.

"What was that?" she asked.

"Dunno," he replied. "That's never happened before."

She giggled. "I kind of liked it. There's a tingle on my lips."

Carson touched his own lips and agreed, only to hear her giggle a little more. "Not those lips, Carson."

Understanding dawned and Carson smiled. "Well then. I can see why you might like it. Want to try again?"

"Absolutely."

Their second kiss did not produce the same response, nor did subsequent kisses. But there was a decided low-level connection between them as their hands roamed. It was like passing a charged rubber balloon near the skin and feeling the hairs extend in response.

The sensation fascinated Cara and brought her a new level of pleasure as she unbuttoned and removed Carson's shirts. She spent some time running her hands over his chest and abs, admiring his gorgeous body up close for the first time. When she licked his nipples, each in turn sprang to hardness in response to the tiny zap between them.

She unfastened his belt and the fastener to his pants but did not bare her prize immediately. Instead, she reached into his pants and wrapped her fingers around his cock as best she could. She began stroking him firmly while she began kissing his neck and talking softly to him.

"You can't imagine how often I've dreamed of this moment since we first met, Carson. I've been so jealous of my niece getting to experience you. She told me all about you. I don't know if she was trying to make me jealous, or if she just knew that someday I would have my chance. But I didn't believe her when she said how...long...thick...and hard your cock is. Feeling it in my hand is making my knees weak and my mouth water. I can't wait to have you in my mouth." With that that, she ran the tip of her tongue along the side of his neck, eliciting a groan.

Then she knelt and helped him remove his shoes and socks before drawing his pants down his legs and discarding them. Carson watched for her reaction and wasn't disappointed. Cara could barely tear her eyes away from it, and breathily said, "It's so beautiful." She stared Carson down as she dragged the flat of her tongue along the underside of his cock; with a flick of the tip, she collected the droplet of pre-cum that collected there.

To his surprise, Cara's reaction to that first taste was subdued in comparison to others. Her eyes unfocused for just a second, and her body seemed to shudder briefly, and then she was back. "Mmmm," she said. "I'm going to want a lot more of that." She pumped his shaft a few more times, enjoying his size and hardness. She didn't even look up as she said, "After tonight, you will own me. I will never deny you anything, because I trust you not to abuse it. Tonight, is about giving you a taste of what I like, so that I can pass that control onto you."