Missing Dolores - A Novella

"So much for keeping the sheets clean."

"Oh, Sarah," Linda finally spoke. She scowled at her sister, but couldn't help smiling at the joke, reaching over to gently smack her kid sister's bare thigh. "Behave." But Sarah, as was her nature, couldn't help herself.

"Guess everything came out all right." Another snort. Another mischievous gleam in her eyes.

Linda shook her head, again looking at the ceiling. She knew when her kid sister was on a roll, there was no stopping her.

"Maybe he can get some sleep now." Sarah returned to her curled position. Linda noticed her sister's nipples had become erect.

Dammit, that boy's affecting both of us.

Linda, at that point, wouldn't have minded slipping a couple of fingers into her own throbbing pussy and frigging herself into oblivion.

"It's just a normal function of any healthy young man," she finally whispered. "There's nothing wrong about masturbating."

"Oh, I know, Sis." Sarah responded. "God, the way he was going at it, you think he would've blown his wad sooner. His cock must be red as hell by now."

"Sarah." Linda hissed. She couldn't raise her voice, lest Billy hear them. "That's your nephew you're talking about."� � � � � � � � � � � � �

"I know," Sarah retorted. "So what?"

"It's just not seemly."

"Does talking about masturbating bother you?" By then, Sarah had put her book down and extinguished the lamp. Except for the gentle, silver-blue glow of the moon, the room was enveloped in darkness. The young woman drew her legs up and slid under the blankets alongside her sister.

"You never spoke to me like this until you turned eighteen." Linda felt the heat from Sarah's body.

"Well, I'm not a child anymore, and neither is Billy, at least technically." That familiar sarcasm crept into Sarah's voice. "Although I don't know about you. And you just said there's nothing wrong with masturbating."

"Well, there's a difference between doing it and talking about it!"

"Oh, fuck that."

Linda couldn't always handle her kid sister's logic in recent days. True to many siblings, there were times Sarah would say what Linda was thinking, as if she delved into the darkest recesses of her brain and dug up all the secret, repressed thoughts lurking there. She reached over and squeezed Sarah's thigh again, this time leaving her hand on her sister's soft, warm skin. Sarah placed her hand over Linda's.

"You miss Dolores, don't you?" Sarah finally whispered in a moment of clairvoyance. By now, the two women had moved closer to one another, their bodies touching. Linda would be lying if she said anything other than 'yes'.

"Of course, honey." She whispered, glad for Sarah's physical closeness. "We all do."

"She's always been like the best aunt ever." Sarah spoke to the ceiling as flesh touched flesh, ocean sounds in the distance. "I can't remember a time when she wasn't around." The young woman turned to her sister. "Do you think she'll be back anytime soon?"

Linda paused. The thought of Dolores missing from their annual beach treks saddened her, and her eyes began to well with tears.

"I don't know, honey." She replied, her voice almost breaking.

Goddammit, just the thought of Dolores being gone makes me cry.

"Any news about her mother?" Sarah squeezed her sister's hand against her skin, sensing Linda's sorrow.

"I did get a letter from her last week."

"Well, thanks for letting me know!" Annoyed, but eager to her more, Sarah turned to face her sister.

"Sorry, I was going to tell you."

"What did she say?"

"Ah, things are taking their course." Linda could feel Sarah's breath on her cheek. "The old woman's just dwindling down day after day. It's not pretty."

"Well, there's nothing pretty about death."

"You're telling me, kid?" Linda turned to face her sister. The always perceptive Sarah realized what she had just said.

"Oh, fuck, Sis. I'm sorry." Their faces were just inches apart.

Linda pulled her hand out from under the blankets to touch her sister's face. She felt Sarah's lips draw up in a smile, eyes gleaming in the dim light.

She can still be my little girl at times.

And to think they were snarking at each other only moments ago.

"Dolores says she'll return from Mexico after the inevitable, and after she gets family business straightened out."

"The house isn't right without her." Sarah rubbed her cheek against Linda's fingertips. "The equilibrium needs to be restored."

"I know, I know, angel."

"I miss her as much as you do. Her touch, the sound of her voice, her scent."

Linda took pause.

You really don't know the half of it, young lady.

"She's family." Linda stroked Sarah's cheek, her mind now filled with thoughts of a physical reunion with her best friend and lover. She was already thinking of the right moment, once they returned to the city, when the house would be empty and they could wreck the bed. "Like there was any doubt."

These deep, sisterly conversations were popping up more and more as Sarah grew older, leaving childhood behind. After years of mothering the young woman, it made Linda feel a more adult connection to her sibling. She wanted to kiss her sister on the mouth, but refrained. She missed Dolores's full, lush lips and the joys of kissing them without hesitation.� � � � � � � � � � � � �

No more words were spoken. The women's arms encircled each other in a tight, loving embrace. Linda finally caved in, pressing her mouth against Sarah's, a simple gesture of sisterly affection. Their lips remained together perhaps a bit longer than proper for close family members, but Sarah didn't mind, brushing her nose against her sister's as she finally pulled away with a smack. As they fell asleep, Sarah resting her head against Linda's breasts, a familiar sound returned.

Creak creak creak creak creak.

* * * * * * * *

Sharing the same bed was something Linda and her kid sister hadn't done for years, and now, at the beach house, they not only slept together, but cuddled each other through the night. Such was the effect of those negative ions. Linda's usual tossing and turning, something she did back in the stressful city, vanished as Sarah curled up against her bosom, their bodies creating a furnace of heat under the blankets. Whoever, or whatever, soiled the mattress during their absence had unwittingly done them a favor.

Dolores was out of the picture, albeit only temporarily, and the mother sorely missed her friend's embrace and her warm, supple body. Dolores's absence on this trip was the first since the kids were babies and Linda felt the void acutely. Since that first night almost eighteen years ago, when they first made love, passionately orgasming together, then slowly wading into sleep in the sweet afterglow, the two women became secret, and ardent, lovers.

In the early days, when the kids were still infants, Linda and Dolores slept together almost every night. Linda's father was across the house, his bedroom on the opposite side, and it was a rare occurrence when he would tap on his daughter's bedroom door after a certain time. He understood the young mother's sleep schedule was erratic, what with nursing two young mouths, and let her be. Most evenings consisted of him coming home, eating dinner, usually prepared by Dolores, then sitting in his big, Naugahyde easy chair watching television until he dozed off, usually during The Tonight Show.

Now, at the lonely beach house, Dolores invaded Linda's dreamscape. Linda alternately snored and moaned, feeling her friend's naked flesh rubbing against hers, the gentle caresses, hard, tingling nipples and smoldering pussies. As the wee hours ticked by, Linda began to writhe against her kid sister, lost in erotic dreams, completely unaware of what she was doing.

In her dreams, she was back home, in bed with Dolores. The babies had been fed and tucked away in their cribs. Now the two women took care of each other, mouths locked together as they necked like teenagers, wet and aggressive. Then Linda pulled away, a glistening thread of saliva still connecting their lips. With a grin and a sexy gleam in her eyes, she lowered her mouth to Dolores's thick, hard nipple. After countless nights of lovemaking, she knew what her partner liked and needed. A few flicks of her tongue and Dolores quivered with delight.

"Ohhh, yes, my love," she hissed, her white teeth glistening in the low light. "Let me nurse you."

Linda moaned, drawing on the ample, pillowy tit, eliciting another searing hiss of pleasure from her lover when she switched from one breast to the other. Fully nude, Dolores spread her thighs to allow Linda access. The young mother slid up against her body, pressing their mounds together. In no time, erect clits rubbed against each other until Dolores bit her lip, trying not to cry out. It didn't take long.

"Damn...Damn!" She quivered and bucked against Linda's body, climaxing again and again as her friend held her tight. Linda was almost there herself.

"My turn. Coming for you...coming!" She would gasp as she joined Dolores in cresting multiple peaks of pleasure.

They clung together until the spasms subsided, catching their breath, the sheen of fresh perspiration glistening on their bodies. Then they would sleep soundly, skin melding against skin, until the babies cried once again for their milk.

Oh, so many years ago it was, when they were young.

Now, in sleep at the beach house with Sarah, Linda felt something new at her breast.

What is this?

The pleasurable sensation was very familiar, something she had missed since Dolores went away. Could it be a warm, wet mouth on her nipple? Immediately, the tingling sensation traveled directly to her pussy, making it pulse with heat. Although she was still in a dream state, it perplexed her. Linda didn't yet realize where she was or what to think.

Dolores is asleep and I'm no longer nursing the children.

Past and present mixed together and logical thought was the last thing on Linda's brain. The mouth suckled her with a steady rhythm, not too aggressive, but enough to elicit a response from Linda's body.

Mmmm, this feels so good, and it's getting me so wet!

The mouth kept suckling and tugging on her nipple, growing somewhat more aggressive, stoking the fire even hotter. Now Linda returned to the dark bedroom at the beach house, aware she was in bed, sleeping with Sarah. The suckling continued, and Linda's body did the only natural thing it could. Slowly, almost imperceptibly, she began moving her hips against the unknown breastfeeder.

Ohhh, fuck. My pussy's on fire!

Linda's clit found the right surface to rub against and so began the slow, liquid build.

God, if this keeps up, I'm going to come. This has to be a dream.

The pleasure swelled to monumental proportions as Linda's thrusts increased in urgency, and soon the moment arrived when she couldn't hold back any longer.

Shit, here it comes...YES!!!

Linda bucked against her unknown parter, climaxing, grunting and yelping with pleasure as her pussy erupted.

Then she awoke.

Opening her eyes, she looked down to see Sarah's mouth locked on her breast. Linda was still cresting the strong orgasm when she realized what was happening.

Oh, my god!

The next moment, Sarah opened her eyes, her mouth still full of Linda's tit. She looked up and their eyes met. With a loud pop, she released the breast. Sarah tumbled back, mouth now hanging open with surprise, eyes wide.

"Oh, fuck!" The young woman immediately made distance between herself and her sister. "I...I'm s-sorry, Sis!" The worldly young woman had become a stammering child again, deeply embarrassed at her unconscious actions.

Linda, still shuddering from the aftermath of the orgasm, was unable to do anything but stare back, mouth also wide, gasping until the pleasure subsided.

"Oh, oh, Jesus!"

It was difficult to tell who was more embarrassed, but it could have been a tie.

Simultaneously, they started apologizing to each other. Somehow, Sarah's nothing of a nightie had come completely off, leaving the waif naked, while her sister's nightgown was bunched up around her armpits, leaving her exposed as well. Finally, Linda tried to get a grip on the situation.

"Okay, honey, okay." She nodded, fighting for control. She still wasn't fully awake. "We were both dreaming. That's what it was."

"Dreaming." Sarah, also groggy, repeated her sister's words. "Okay." She didn't look convinced. "But this actually happened. It was no fucking dream." Linda noted her sister's choice of words.

"Yes, I know it actually happened, but we were both dreaming and forgot ourselves and where we are now." She finally had the presence of mind to pull her nightgown back down, covering herself.

"Yes, that's it." Sarah relaxed somewhat, although she remained on the opposite side of the bed. "I don't know why I was doing that."

"The same goes for me, Sarah." Linda's voice attempted a maternal air, but it was a farce. In spite of her shock, she was still aroused and needy. "I was sleeping so soundly, I didn't know what I was doing. Please forgive me."

"No need to apologize." Sarah's adult demeanor started to return. "You weren't the only one sleeping soundly." She managed to smirk. "But goddamn!"

Linda smiled, also relaxing somewhat. "Let's just forget about it and go back to sleep." She was still trying to process the situation. The absurdity of it all forced her to chuckle. "I promise I'll keep my distance!" Sarah let out a full grin and reached out to squeeze her sister's arm, dissipating the tension.

"I'd like to sleep, but now I'm wide awake." Sarah was now on her hands and knees, crawling around the bed, still nude, searching for her nightie. "Now where the fuck did my nightie go?" Linda quelled a snort. She couldn't help but gaze admiringly at a few strands of downy, blond pubic floss poking out from between the backs of her sister's thighs.

Like wearing that thing makes any difference, little girl.

Linda made a show of helping her sister look for the nightie, her hands probing between the folds of the mangled bedclothes, but her eyes never left Sarah's delicate, bare flesh.

God, your pubes look so very soft, and such a cute little ass.

In spite of all, her pussy still throbbed.

Heaven help me, but that was one helluva come. I've needed that so much since Dolores left. Skin on skin. Just going out of my mind with need, but my kid sister? Shame on me!� � � � � � � � � � � � �

Sarah finally found the wisp of a garment. Linda watched as the naked girl clumsily slipped it over her head. Big sis was right. There was no point in Sarah wearing it, but she wasn't going to press the issue, especially not now. Leaving the lamp on, Sarah curled up, returning to her novel.

"Good night." Linda said, mostly to herself, as she again draped the soft cotton pillowcase over her eyes. � � � � � � � � � � � � �

"Sweet dreams," Sarah responded.

A few beats passed before both of them broke into laughter. Again, Linda squeezed her kid sister lovingly.

Naughty girl.

* * * * * * * *

"May I ask you a question?" Dolores's eyes shifted toward the profile of her lover's face.

"Of course." Linda responded, her voice softened by afterglow. "Anything." She always thought the question about asking a question to be superfluous and silly. In reality, it was a prelude to asking the person something that might be deep or surprising or perturbing. She and Dolores had been lovers for almost a year and, for Linda, there were no secrets left to conceal. Or so she thought.

"You're young and beautiful and warm." Dolores said, whispering in the darkness of the bedroom. "I can't help but ask why you haven't you sought out a man? Surely you need more than what I can provide."

Linda closed her eyes, her friend's breath wafting over her face. Dolores continued.

"Do you know what I mean? Someone to love and support you and to help with the children as they grow." Her voice almost broke. "I know we can't do this forever."

Linda remained silent for a moment, but reached out to grip Dolores's forearm. Finally, she spoke.

"You're wrong, Dolores. We can do this for as long as you'll stay." Her eyes opened as she gazed into the distance. "The babies are weaned and I'm going to look for a job soon. With Dad working, there'll be no one to watch over them."

Linda delivered the words as a sort of catharsis, as if she'd been holding on to them for a long time. She had, knowing this moment would come and she was right. She turned to gaze at her lover, her face almost imperceptible in the darkness. "So you're stuck with this family as long as you can stand it." Linda broke into a wide grin.

The next moment, their lips met, and the kisses flowed, wet and generous, as the two women took their pleasure. After another interlude, they lie there, bodies intertwined. Linda whispered into her lover's ear.

"I wanted to ask you the same thing, my love. Don't you want a man in your life?"

Dolores hesitated to respond, then her words came slowly.

"I told you about my bastard husband." She took a deep breath. Linda could feel their breasts pressing together. "I didn't tell you every detail."

"And you don't have to, angel."

"No, I want to, now, that we're like this." She lingered another moment before continuing. "I'll say this once and never again. He was part of a cartel. He was a criminal. Aside from abusing and humiliating me, he passed me around to his other friends."

Dolores sobbed as she unearthed long-dormant memories.

"He did it to gain favor with his superiors, that son of a bitch."

Linda kissed Dolores's neck and cheek. "Oh, my love. I'm so sorry."

"He didn't care. I was barren. I could never get pregnant. He didn't even care if I caught some disease from those filthy animals."

Linda didn't know how to respond. She had never experienced such a brutal and degrading relationship. Still, she couldn't remain silent.

"That's all over now." She tried to hold her lover even tighter, if that was possible. "You're here and safe with me and my family." Another kiss. "OUR family."

Dolores wept fully upon hearing those words, but she wasn't done.

"From then on, I vowed never to have a man touch me without my permission." Her nose brushed across Linda's. More kisses. "If he did, I would kill him, or myself. Or both." Dolores took a deep breath and let it out. "Never again!"

Her last comment echoed off the walls.

"You know most men aren't like that, just some," Linda whispered, their lips almost touching. "I'm so sorry. I can't imagine being in a relationship like that."

Another kiss.

"I love you, my heart." Dolores pressed her lips against Linda's for the umpteenth time, their tongues lashing together passionately. Dolores broke the kiss only to take a nipple in her mouth. As she sucked contentedly, gratefully, Linda whispered.

"You know I'll stop lactating pretty soon." Her voice conveyed the pleasure she was receiving as she nursed Dolores. Having her lover drink her milk always made her heart sing and her pussy burn. "But don't let that stop you."

Saturday, June 8.

Taking an unmarked side road that wound through grassy hillocks for almost a mile, Linda arrived at her destination, parking the Mercury behind a row of dilapidated huts. At one time, they served as tiny guest cabins to beachgoers of long ago, until the inlet dried up and the secluded waterfront turned into fetid mud.

Now Mr. Peebles used the huts for storage, their windows boarded up for security. Linda watched one summer as he retrieved a tire iron from one of them. It was loaded solid with what appeared to be junk.