Caught in the RipTide

Running off to Europe seemed exotic and romantic, BUT life would catch up with them sooner or later. Life always did. Cal knew he could face it...still, how could he force Lilly to endure any unnecessary hardship? She'd already suffered so much by losing Charlie. He couldn't make her bear any more agonies.

Also, what would he and Lilly do in a European country? They had no friends, no family, nor understanding of local customs. Suppose Lilly got sick or, God forbid, pregnant; dare he even dream? (Cal would like a child of his own, BUT how could he even think that? Lilly was a lady!)

What would they do, and who could they rely on in remote and foreign Europe? So running abroad wasn't an option. It was a castle in the air. A romantic dream that could never be.

Lilly inadvertently yawned and stretched. It was late, past midnight. "So slwweeppy," she said.

"Take the bed. I'll crash on my Lazy-Z Boy," stated Cal. Lilly nodded. She rose up from the sofa, still encased in the thick woollen blanket and headed towards the bed. Cal liked seeing her off. He liked seeing her safe and secure in his bed.

It was early morning, very early morning, and the sun barely crested above the horizon. Cal groaned and rubbed his leg. He'd never gotten a chance to soak it last night, and now it was stiff. He looked over at Lilly sleeping in his bed. Cozy---snug, deep in the blankets on his bed. He knew she belonged there. She belonged with him! They were two peas in a pod, as right as rain.

Cal tried not to disturb his sleeping angel. Still, his leg was stiff, and his rousing stirred Lilly. He was surprised to see Lilly, with her emerald green eyes, staring at him with a grin on her face as he zipped his pants. Cal couldn't help but wonder how long she'd be staring at him and what she'd seen. He wasn't embarrassed or ashamed. He liked Lilly staring at him. "Gotta milk the cows... it's gonna be another scorcher today--- we'll probably get a thunderstorm later."

"Let me help you milk, Cal. You said you had 150 cows...it must take you all day. Two of us can get it done in 1/2 the time...I have work at the Shop N Save. Ross Burns doesn't like it if I'm late. He says I cost him to much money already" Lilly said as she combed the long tresses of hair with her hands. She probably should get going back to her farm. She needed to change, shower and head into work.

Ross Burns, her boss, was already on the verge of firing her since she'd been able to raise 3/4 of the money needed to save her farm. Ross was astonished and slightly exasperated to think a widow could make that much money. But, in a small town like Antelope Hill, Lilly had no human relations department to complain to. So people had no choice other than to suck it up, no matter how bitter their fates may be.

"I like that idea...milk the cows and have a little breakfast. But, I tell you what, Lilly. I'll give you a ride into town." stated Cal. He tossed Lilly a pair of his blue jeans from across the room. He had no desire to see her dress. He simply wanted to be with her.

"I've milked a cow before, back when I was a girl, so you don't have to worry about teaching me," yelled Lilly as she slipped Cal's jeans on. They were loose, but her own clothes were on the opposite bank. She'd have to make due.

Cal and Lilly went out to the barn. The cows were rousing from their sleep. Cal walked to the supply closet in his barn and pulled out his most important instrument.

"What in the world is that?" questioned Lilly, looking at the machine. It looked peculiar, like something you would see in a science fiction show, like the new and popular Twilight Zone on TV.

"It's called a rotolactor. It can milk fifty cows at once...I have 150, so I can finish my morning's work in about 2 1/2 hours. Then, I just put my feet up and wait till they can be milked again in the evening." said Cal as he attached the suction cups to the cow's teats.

Lilly nodded and followed Cal's example. She was amazed by the newfangled invention. Thanks to Lilly's help, the morning chores were soon done. Lilly and Cal headed into the house. He put the kettle on the oven and produced a box of Corn Flakes from the pantry.

"Two sugars and just a dash of cream," said Cal as he watched Lilly make the coffee.

"I remember, from when you used to come to the farm, you take your coffee the same way I do." she smiled as she passed a cup of coffee to Cal.

They sat around the green laminate table and talked some more. Lilly looked at the clock on the wall. "Oh no, I'm going to be late! Ross Burns will fire me for sure!" she said in a panic.

"Well, hop in the car. I'll be right there," said Cal. He could kill Ross Burns, bothering a poor widow like Lilly. What right did he have to do that? Cal and Lilly got into the old and rusty Ford truck and drove into town.

From across the street, Ross watched as Lilly hopped out of Cal's truck; wearing Callum Turner's clothes. He smirked to himself. Suddenly, it made sense how Lilly had been able to raise money for her farm. She'd been fucking Callum Turner.

He wondered how much a woman like Lilly charged and if she fucked any man. He'd be tempted to let Lilly stay on her farm if she provided him with the same "services" she provided Cal. Besides, if his brilliant fiscal investments continued, he would soon be a wealthy man who could afford a Mistress..or two.

He followed Lilly into the Shop N Save. Ross believed he could do with her as he pleased. He was her landlord and her boss. Lilly was just a woman and a widow at that...better for him. That way, a husband wouldn't bother them, and Ross Burns could have access to Lilly 24/7.

Diligently, Lilly had gone right to work stocking shelves. She was an excellent worker, and Lilly still needed to make money to save the farm. It was the dream Lilly and Charlie had together. The dream was all she had left of Charlie.

She was putting cans of peas on the shelf when Ross came up behind her. Ross suffered from the delusion; he was a gentleman. Ross had no qualms about looking down her shirt. Lilly was his employee, after all. He could do with her as he pleased. Ross was a lion, a town pillar, a king, and Lilly was just a gazelle. She had no societal standing.

Still, a part of Ross wanted to ease into a relationship. He wanted to play the game. For some reason, women liked men who treated and romanced them. Ross wouldn't want to start his"arrangement" with Lilly pissed off at him. Best take things slow for now. Best start romancing her in the stockroom, then visiting her at the house with flowers, chocolates, and so on...there were so many possibilities if Lilly was "his."

"I saw you come into town with Callum Turner this morning," said Ross casually, as he looked down her shirt.

"Yeah, it's so hot. Cal insisted on giving me a ride. He's kind that way, you know. He was Charlie's best friend..and a good friend of mine." Lilly tried to move away from Ross's unwanted advances. She didn't want to start a fight and hoped that would give him a hint.

Lilly just wanted to get done with her work. Lilly needed to pay off the mortgage if she was going to save the farm, and Antelope Hill had few jobs. So she would put up with Ross Burns even if it meant sexual harassment... after all, what else could she do? What other choice did she have?

She just wanted a simple life. What was so terrible about that? Lilly knew Ross was hitting on her. He was the last thing she wanted. Still, he was her boss and landlord. As a woman of her generation, Lilly had been raised to believe it was "her place" to do as a man bid, especially a man of power.

The longer Ross looked at Lilly, the more he changed his mind. Lilly was so beautiful. All through grade school and high school, he'd always wanted her, BUT Lilly spent all her time with Charlie and Callum Turner. No other men in Antelope Hill could get the time of day from her.

So Ross reluctantly married his wife, Wilma. Wilma had been pretty enough...he supposed. She was also a good cook. But, a poor "lay"; not like those French Burlesque women in the war. Now Wilma was always busy with the School Board or their five kids.

Wilma no longer had time to give Ross all the "attention" he deserved. Ross needed another woman for that. A woman who was willing to screw an ugly man like Callum Turner wouldn't have any moral qualms about being his Mistress.

"So I was thinking about the rent on your farm..." said Ross Burns.

Lilly's s eyes widened in terror at the conversation. There was something wild and animalistic in his voice and eyes. Primal instinct told Lilly to run fast away from Ross. Desperately she tried to get up from stocking the cans to escape him, but Ross grabbed her roughly by the shoulders and forced her on her back upon the chipping laminate floor, his malevolent eyes glittering at her darkly.

Before Lilly could react, Ross knelt over her, straddling her body and reached out to palm one of her breasts, squeezing it painfully and twisting her nipple crudely. Lilly squealed and tried to pull away from him, but Ross cackled malevolently and slapped her hard across the face splitting her lip, drawing blood.

"Be quiet! We wouldn't want the whole town seeing what a whore, you are," he snarled. Ross Burns was determined to have Lilly as his; after all she'd been screwing Callum Turner.

He reached for the button to her pants and pulled it, ripping the zipper down.

Lilly felt his hands clawing at her bare flesh, and then she felt something else against her, pressing against her. She swallowed the panic. This wasn't what she wanted! It wasn't loving or caring. It was vile and evil. Lilly knew Ross was going to brutalize her.

Her heart raced, and for a while, all she could hear was the blood pounding in her head. She tried desperately to calm herself. It seemed to last an eternity even though mere seconds had passed. Miraculously, Lilly managed to grab a can of peas and smack Ross across the face with it. She lacerated the edge of his eye. Ross released her hands to hold his bleeding eye, but Lilly continued pummeling him. Now was not a time to be kind or behave demurely.

Lilly's rage against Ross was deep, unrelenting and vicious. She slammed the canned peas onto him beneath the flickering fluorescent lights of the Shop N Save. Lilly repeatedly punched Ross with the canned peas until he was curled into the fetal position. Finally, as a parting gift, Lilly took aim and kicked him right in the balls. Then she fled for her life, not bothering to look back.

Lilly knew she couldn't flee to her home. Ross Burns was her landlord and had keys. What if Ross pursued her and continued unspeakable actions...she wouldn't put it past him. Out on her farm, Lilly was alone...other unspeakable horrors awaited her if she was alone with Ross.

Ross Burns owned half the town and was in the process of buying the other half. Lilly thought of one refuge, one safe harbour to which she could seek shelter, and that was with Callum Turner.

Lilly ran the three miles or 5 kilometres to Cal's house; she smartly stayed off the main road in case Ross hunted her like a lion. By the time she got there, her face was red and streaked with tears.

Her clothes were covered in blood, dust and mud. Lilly frantically knocked on the door, but no one answered. The door was unlocked, as were many doors in Antelope Hill, so Lilly scurried in, still worried that Ross Burns might hunt her down.

She huddled in Cal's Lazy Boy wrapped in the worn blanket, crying and contemplating her future. Now she would definitely be evicted from the farm. She should have just sucked it up and given in to Ross's obscene demands. That way, she could keep the farm and keep her and Charlie's dream. If only she had just given into Ross Burns, everything would be easier...still, she was no strumpet. Lilly did not have much, but she had her pride, and what Ross wanted was repulsive. Lilly wasn't that kind of woman.

As Lilly hugged herself in a stunned trance, wondering what to do, the door turned, Callum walked in. He was appalled to find Lilly in such a state of misery. Through bitter tears and shaking hands, Lilly was slowly able to tell him what had happened. She clung to him like a drowning person clings to a life buoy.

Cal swore and cursed the day he had saved Ross's life. Why had he let a good man like Charlie die in muddy trenches and saved an asshole like Ross?

Cal's heart pounded inside his chest, and hot blood coursed through his veins. Cal was in his early forties and had always been a bachelor. Despite desiring women, he was a virgin and had never been with a woman, not even the stunning and willing (For the money, at least.) French trollops during the war. He'd never found a woman he'd adored as much as Lilly. Now Lilly was soft and warm in his embrace. She was willing. He wanted her more than anything.

He cupped the back of her head and ran his hand through the long chocolate tresses of her hair. He brought it to his mouth. He desperately sought a reason to will his body to control. She was so small, like a bird. He told himself. Ten years ago, she'd been Charlie's wife. If he took her...what did that make him?

It took every ounce of strength Cal posed, but he managed to pull away, though his hands remained on her shoulders.

"Lilly, you are not ready.. we're not ready." He said hoarsely. "I shouldn't be kissing you."

Lilly covered his course hand with her small one. "I am ready, Cal. I want you... I've wanted you for a long time."

Cal shook his head. "No...no, you think you do. It was the incident with Ross. Trauma does things like this to people. It makes them act irrationally..."

Lilly smiled softly at Cal and moved a stray piece of hair behind his ear. Callum was so shy, so sweet, so soft-spoken. Never demanding or forceful. He brought her joy. She loved him so much. Callum thought she was like fine china or porcelain. Lilly knew Cal would never take action. It was up to her. Lilly needed to play her hand.

"Cal, it's not the trauma. I need you...for so many reasons," countered Lilly, looking at him demurely, eyes full of desire.

Cal groaned, closing his eyes in heartbreaking anguish when Lilly explored his body with her soft hands. Cal felt them roam over his chest, caressing downward until she took his erection into her hands. He nearly pushed her away. By the gods, he was going to explode. Her soft touch and exploratory caress were nearly too much to bear.

"Lilly, look at me." He cupped her face, urging her desire-filled eyes to meet his. "It is the trauma. Soon you..." His breath caught when her hands returned to his cock, stroking and squeezing him from the base to the swollen head. "Gods, Lilly, that feels amazing."

"I want you to make love to me..no...I need you to make love to me. It's been SO long, and I've been lonely. It's not about sex. If you're afraid... that's okay. We don't have to do everything all at once. I just want to be with you." Lilly whispered softly in his ear, hoping Cal would respond. She kept one hand on his pulsing erection, and she used the other to slowly unbutton his pants, pulling them down his waist.

Cal wanted Lilly as much as she wanted him. Cal had desires. He wasn't made of stone. Lilly was everything he wanted. He'd always wanted Lilly. Cal impulsively tossed everything to the wind. It was up to the Fates to weave their destiny.

Calmly, Cal lifted his shirt off Lilly, sliding it off her body. Lilly's full and rose-coloured breasts filled his palms, her nipples strained against his calloused hands. Lilly was aching to be loved, to be cherished. There was a light dip where her belly button was, and his gaze caught the triangle of soft dark hair. Lilly was beyond beautiful, and his heart tightened as he touched her.

Lilly beamed as she felt Cal kissing her neck. He was taking his time, eager to explore a woman's body, Lilly's body. Cal was warming her skin with his mouth and hands, modelling like it was clay. Lilly, in turn, touched him. Her hands gently explored the muscles that made up his shoulders and arms, alternating between kneading and running her fingers lightly over his chest and stomach until he was panting with desire.

Lilly fearlessly spread her legs when she felt him touch her there. She moaned when she felt his finger slip into her wet folds. Cal was nervous and afraid. He'd never been with a woman before. Cal worried Lilly was too small for him. He couldn't bear the thought of causing Lilly pain.

"It is going to hurt, Lilly." He warned gently, kissing her forehead and lips.

Lilly shook her head in achknowledgment. She knew it was Cal's first time. She needed to assuage his worries. She was a woman. She wasn't made of glass. She wanted this as much as him. They both desired each other.

"I'll be alright," she stated, kissing him and bringing him deeper into her.

"I'll go slow," Cal stated. He hoped he could be true to his word. He didn't want to hurt her. Lilly seemed fragile as she lay beneath him, almost made of glass. Her willingness surprised him. She wasn't acting whorishly. He was just amazed any woman would want to be with him with his injuries.

Cal angled his head to kiss her deeply and slowly added another finger with the first. Her inner muscles clenched around him. Then, with the palm of his hand, he softly rubbed against her clit. Lilly trembled in his arms.

Lilly was wet with desire, and it was for him! Cal nearly came at that thought alone. Still, Cal concentrated on her pleasure and felt her press closely against him. With three fingers in her now, he quickened his pace.

"Does this feel good?" he questioned. Cal was just doing what came naturally to him. As a virgin, he was unsure about his actions. How did one "make love"?

"Yes," Lilly moaned in pleasure. "Oh!" His thumb pressed lightly on her clit, and Cal felt her fingers dig into his arms.

"Spread your legs," Cal murmured against her lips as he kissed her. Lilly did as he said, and he lifted her until her legs wrapped around him. Then, he positioned her above his cock and rubbed his swollen head along her slit. The couple's eyes locked together. They were going to do this. They both wanted each other.

"Guide me into you," Cal whispered against her lips. Without breaking their gaze, Lilly held his cock as he slid into her. She gasped in wonderment and, if she were entirely honest, a bit of pain. It had been ten years since Charlie. Lilly felt stretched, and the heat of Cal inside made her moan deeply with pleasure.

Cal felt the head of his cock delve into Lilly. He held her firmly, taking his time and letting her adjust to him, just enjoying how beautiful she looked beneath him, like a Grecian goddess of old.

"Lilly," He breathed her name and kissed her hard as he slid to his hilt, muffling her cry with a kiss.

He pulled out until only his cock's head remained inside Lilly's quivering body.

"A-Am I doing this right?" Cal shyly questioned, not wanting to disappoint such a fantastic woman. Lilly groaned in pleasure. She'd forgotten just how good it could be to have a man loving you.

"Oh, yes, Cal, yes." Lilly closed her eyes briefly as her inner muscles tightened around Cal's cock.

"Gods," Cal gasped out. He hadn't known how amazing it could be either. He wrapped his muscular arm around her, lifting her over him as he began to move faster. "That's it. Oh, you feel so good, Lilly."

Lilly arched her back so she could take him deeper. Their mouths met in hot kisses, breathing in each other's moans as Cal worked his cock still a bit hesitantly deep within his beloved. Then she felt the first spasms. It slowly built into a passionate wave, and then, out of nowhere, Lilly gave a pleasurable scream as she animalistically cried out and dug her nails into his back.