Soul Food Pt. 05

"What are you doing?" Denis asked, eyeing Coraline when she lifted the covers on the other side of the bed.

"I'm not leaving you like this," Coraline uttered as her brown hair dangled down the sides of her face. Feeling the cool air of the A/C flowing over her uncovered mound as she stood there bent over. Trying not to get aroused as those green eyes of his stared at her, knowing it wasn't the time for that. Yet, she did hope he was peering down her shirt. "I know you don't trust me, and I can see why you would have trouble with that. But I swear I won't do anything. I'm just going to be here to give you comfort and nothing more so you don't have whatever it was that was happening in your sleep," she spoke in a warm tone as her bare thigh slid along the sheet as she climbed in beside him. Wondering if he caught the flash of her light brown fuzz on her mons Venus when her shirt rode up. "You just go back to bed, sweetheart," Coraline uttered in a motherly tone. "I'm not going to leave you," she spoke in a light tone as she rested her hand on his shoulder.

******

The next day...

Denis was sitting in the middle of the boat while Teagan's friend stood at the bow while his grandfather manned the stern. His mind was lost on the drift of his memories of that morning. Remembering how close his face was to Coraline's when the alarm went off at five-thirty that morning. He wouldn't admit it to anyone, but the way the lights of the city played along her sleeping face and how her lips moved in her sleep was rather cute. Then he felt something when she brushed her thigh along his in her sleep. He knew then she didn't have any underwear on. Making a silent but quick dash to the guest bathroom to take care of the tent in his boxers. When he had returned to his room to get dressed, Coraline was gone from his bed. Shifting in his seat so as not to let on that, he was getting hard at that moment.

"Shit! That's a huge one!" Teagan's friend exclaimed as the striped bass leapt from the water once Denis had set the hook.

"Let him wear itself out, Denis," Teagan said in a teacherly voice, "so it doesn't snap the line."

Denis had to admit it was bigger than any of the other bass he had ever caught before. Once he had gotten it out of the water, his grandfather snapped a photo of it with Denis' phone as Denis held it up. Knowing this would be his third bass for the morning. He had caught two small mouths, one ten minutes out once they had launched the boat and another an hour ago. That included the five large crappies that were sitting in the livewell at the moment. Denis also knew he could only catch three more before he reached his quota for the day. He had noticed how the two of them had switched over to using live bait instead of their lures. Given how his nine catches so far have been because he was using his uncle's favorite bait -- minnows.

"I'm going to have to up my game, can't let my grandson show me up," Teagan said in a joking manner, placing the bass into the livewell with the others once he had made sure it was of legal size.

"Hot dang, got one!" Teagan's friend exclaimed as his first catch of the morning jumped out of the water. Denis tried not to laugh when it was only a pound and below the legal limit for a large mouth. Noting how the man looked forlornly as he released the fish back into the water after unhooking it.

Denis was baiting his hook only to look up when his grandfather was working his rod. He knew he had a fish on it, given how the tip of his rod was bending.

"You know Denis, I think you're our good luck charm," Teagan said as he pulled the five-pound large mouth out of the water.

"Huh?" Denis muttered in confusion.

"This is the most we have caught out of this lake since Phil, and I have been coming here. I thought given the amount of people who troll these waters, this place was played out," Teagan said with a broad smile on his lips, very happy that his catch was legal. Taunting his friend with it before adding it to the livewell. "Glad to be proven wrong."

Denis watched as his line headed towards the reeds landing just an inch from it. He knew there was a crappie hiding in there; he could just feel it. Giving his rod a few bobs to get the minnow swimming. His hand quickly tightened on the handle of his borrowed rod as something hit his bait with force.

"Your boy is showing up us old-timers."

"Ain't that the truth," Teagan chuckled. "My lord, that's the biggest crappie I've ever seen!" he exclaimed in shock as Denis pulled the fish out of the water.

"I bet it will top the record," Phil agreed, seeing Teagan taking the fish from Denis after taking a photo of Denis' catch for him.

Whistling when he weighed it when it came in just over 4.5 pounds. It was definitely the largest he's ever seen. "How about we put this one back so it can spawn more huge monsters?!" Teagan said, peering back at his grandson, who nodded in understanding.

Two hours had passed since Denis' last catch. Feeling the boat slowing as Phil pulled the boat next to the dock to let Teagan out to fetch his truck. Hearing the motor going as Phil raised the outboard motor so the propeller wouldn't get damaged as Teagan pulled the boat out of the water.

"Let's get those fish flayed and get 'em packed in ice," Teagan said once he had parked his truck near the boat house that offered the service. Not that he couldn't do it, and he suspected Denis could as well, yet he didn't feel like handling fish guts that late in the morning.

"You can have them if you want," Denis said, climbing down off the boat as Phil handed their catch to his grandfather.

"You sure? These are your fish."

"I'm sure," Denis nodded. He doubted he could eat it all in a week.

"What do you say, an even split between you and me?" Teagan asked, looking up at his long-time friend.

"Sounds good to me," Phil replied with a nod.

"This shouldn't take too long, Denis," Teagan stated as he and his grandson carried the cooler towards the boat house.

Denis was standing off to the side, listening to the two of them making small talk with the woman processing their catch. A warm smile filled his face when his uncle cursed at the size of the crappie he had caught. Then texting his family in response to their questions if he had fun. Which Denis had to admit he did. He then told his parents about the 'night terror,' as they called it last night.

Bringing his phone up to his ear when his mother called him immediately, "Hey, Mom," Denis answered, seeing Teagan turning his gaze towards him.

"Baby, are you okay?" Denis was very touched by the concern in his mother's voice.

"Mmmhmm, it just happens, you know?" Denis said, feeling his cheeks heat as he toed the concrete he was standing on.

"Oh, baby, you know I'd do anything to make them stop."

"I know; it's why you're a good mom."

"I wish I could hold you right now, it's only been a day, and I hate it!"

"I miss you too, Mom," Denis said, already feeling better at the sound of Helen's voice. "How's Dad doing?"

"Oh, you know your father, wheeling around the house, trying to keep my mood up. That reminds me, we got a call from Havenwood."

"You did?" Denis asked; he was sure he wouldn't be hearing from them after two months.

"Mmmhmm." Denis heard her excitement in that hum.

"What did they say?"

"They're willing to give you a full sports scholarship if you sign onto the Men's boxing team! Isn't that great, baby!"

"Really?!" Denis uttered in disbelief.

"I know, I know, you thought they didn't want you. Well, sweetheart, they were only waiting to see if you could hold onto your city title. After the last match, you had they're so eager to have you on the team!"

"But if I sign up, what happens to my title?" Denis asked; he wasn't willing to give up what he worked hard to win.

"The Coach that called me said they wouldn't interfere with your matches you have defending it. You just might have to fight twice in a day if the teams and your personal matches are on the same day. Can you handle that?"

"I think so," Denis said, uncertain as he rubbed the back of his head. Glancing over when he heard Phil loading the cooler up with ice as Teagan placed the fish in it. "Okay, Mom, I have to go," he said, seeing Teagan handing over a few dollar bills.

"Okay, baby, I love you; I can't wait for you to come home."

"I love you too, Mom; I'll call you soon." His heart raced when his mother texted him a picture of her pussy as she sat at her desk in her office. It wasn't hard for him to see how wet it was. Fighting himself from reaching down and adjusting himself when he read his mother's text: See how much it misses you! It only gets this wet for you and your father. Come home soon! He wondered why she didn't include Will in that too. He knew she'd been with him after their first threesome. There have been two others after it, only when they had the house to themselves. He didn't know why his mother wanted to do that only then; moreover, he wasn't about to question it. Typing quickly back, "Not Will?" Following after, Teagan and Phil as they headed back to Teagan's truck.

"Nah-uh. Will's cock is nice and all, but I love yours more. Will only wants to fuck me because he was jealous of his little brother. Yet you baby, you did something out of love for us, and baby, that means more to me than a big cock. So, baby, how about you give your mother a nice, hard treat, hmm?"

"Okay, when I get back to Coraline's condo," Denis sent back as he climbed into the back of the truck.

"I'll be waiting." Denis couldn't pull his eyes away as his mother sent him another picture, only this time it was of the tops of her 38D breasts.

"So, Denis, where did you learn to fish like that?" Phil asked as they headed back to the city of Knoxville.

"From my Uncle Stan," Denis said truthfully.

"Do you two spend a lot of time together??" Teagan asked, trying to build that rapport with his grandson. Remembering how distant he was with them at dinner last night. He had asked Phil to come along because he deals with children as a psychiatrist to get a handle on what Denis had been through. Not to judge him, just to know more about his grandchild.

"As much as I can," Denis answered.

"Denis, don't take this the wrong way. Is your adoptive family important to you?" Phil asked in that clinical voice of his.

"Very. They're the best people I know," Denis stated in a proud tone.

"What of your biological family?"

"Don't know them, so how can I answer that," Denis retorted. "Why are you asking?"

Phil glanced at his friend when he heard the defensive tone Denis was taking. "I'm just curious as to why you were so silent on the boat, is all."

"Uh-huh, you sound like a shrink," Denis mumbled.

"Guilty," Phil chuckled. "Still, it feels like you don't trust people."

"I don't."

"Can I ask why?"

"You can ask, doesn't mean I'm going to answer," Denis said in a cold tone of voice.

"Have you ever thought about seeing someone about it?" Phil asked, arching an eyebrow at Denis' dismissive snort. "Denis, I'm only asking because your grandparents and mother are worried about you."

"Uh-huh." Was Denis' only reply. "Having me aborted would've been a more humane thing than what my life has been like," Denis said, leaving the both of them stunned as the rear passenger door of Teagan's truck closed once Denis had exited the vehicle.

"I'm sorry, Teagan," Phil said, softly laying a hand on his friend's shoulder when Teagan pressed his forehead against the steering wheel as Denis walked towards the entrance of Coraline's condo. "Without really delving into Denis' past, I can't tell you why or what caused this standoffishness in him."

"Do you ever think he'll ever let us in?" Teagan asked, watching his grandson disappearing into the building.

"I can't say for sure; all I can say is only time will tell."

******

"Damn it all to hell!" Denis heard his birth mother curse as he walked into her condo. Smelling something burning in the air.

"Something wrong?" Denis asked, noting how Coraline stared angrily down at what appeared to him as burnt chicken breasts.

"It's just I wanted to have lunch ready for you when you got back, and I've ruined it!" Coraline exclaimed in disappointment as the baking sheet thumped loudly on the top of the stove.

"You know sandwiches are fine with me, right?"

"You sure?" Coraline asked, knowing she had to step up her mommy game as Denis nodded.

"I might have eaten some questionable things in my life, but I don't think that would be editable," Denis joked as he pointed at the blackened chicken breasts.

"Hush you!" Coraline said, feeling a smile touching her lips. "So, how was fishing?"

"You didn't tell me your father's friend was a shrink." Seeing Coraline still in the open door of the refrigerator.

"Sorry, Denis, I hope Phil didn't ambush you," Coraline said, praying that her son wasn't angry because of it.

"Not the first shrink I've met," Denis said offhandedly. "I'm going to go wash up," he stated, knowing he had something he had to send to his mother.

"Okay, Denis, don't take too long," Coraline said, pulling out the lunch meats she had bought the day before Denis's arrival. Walking down the hallway towards the guest bath when it was taking longer than she thought it would for him to wash his hands. "Denis...?" Coraline just stood there frozen in her tracks as her eyes couldn't look away as she stood there gazing at her son's hard cock. Her mind was so focused on the sight she didn't see the phone in his hand that Denis quickly put away. "Sorry!" she quickly stated before slamming the door shut.

Pressing her hand against her heart as she leaned against the counter of her kitchen. Biting her lip as her mind delved into fantasies of what she would do to it. Not realizing that she was rubbing her clit against the corner of the counter as her mind just wouldn't let go of the sight.

"I'm sorry, Denis, I didn't mean to intrude on you like that. I should have knocked first," Coraline apologized, very red-faced when he rejoined her in the kitchen.

"It's okay, I should have locked the door, but I couldn't find it," Denis said bashfully, rubbing the back of his head.

"It's the little tab on the bottom of the handle you pull it out to lock the doors. Something I should have told you about; I'm sorry I dropped the ball on that. I was just so happy to have you here that it slipped my mind," Coraline said, feeling how throbbing her clit was.

"Ah, kind of weird for a lock," Denis said, walking over to the cabinet and getting a glass from it.

"Denis, you know there's tea in there; you're more than welcome to have some," Coraline offered, knowing how he's only had water since his arrival. "I didn't get any soda or pop as you know it," smiling at him when he had a confused look on his face, "since I didn't know what you like to drink."

"Oh, anything that says it's zero calories is fine; this is sweet tea, right?" Denis asked, pointing at the jug.

"Mmmhmm," Coraline hummed as she nodded. "Denis, can I ask why you only drink, say Coke zero?"

"Have to watch my weight," Denis uttered matter-of-factly.

"Ah, you have to stay in your weight class," Coraline mused as Denis nodded as he poured himself a class. "Now, I got roast beef, ham, turkey, chicken, swiss, pepper jack, there's mayo in the fridge if you want it, help yourself," she said, gesturing to the cold cuts.

"So, how did the fishing go? Did you get any bites?" Coraline asked once they sat down to enjoy their lunch.

"Caught the most," Denis said, not to brag, just stating the facts.

"Really?! What did you catch?" Coraline inquired as she watched her son chew on his bite.

"Bass, two small mouths, this one your Dad said was a striped bass, a lot of crappie, and this really, really big one. Biggest I've ever seen," Denis said, pulling out his phone and opening up his gallery.

"Holy! That thing is huge?!" Coraline exclaimed as her chip fell from her fingers back onto her plate when Denis showed her the picture.

"Yeah, Uncle Stan said pretty much the same thing, just not so reserved," Denis chuckled. He could hear his father's and uncle's lips just smacking at the thought of eating that fish, given how his father loves crappie.

"Did you at least have fun while you were out on the lake?" Smiling at her son when Denis nodded. "Good, I'm glad that you did," Coraline said in a motherly voice. The two chatted away as they enjoyed their meal. Before long, their plates were empty and their bellies full. "Now, I'll set these in the sink, you go sit on the couch, and you can tell me everything," she stated, getting up from her seat, taking his plate, and placing it on top of hers.

"You sure?"

"Yes, Denis, I'm very sure. I want to know what those people did to my boy," Coraline spoke in a stern voice.

"It's not going to be pretty," Denis warned.

"Honey, I saw your scars; I knew it wouldn't be," Coraline said with a firm nod. "I'm not running away; I want to know everything that's happened to you."

"Don't say I didn't warn you," Denis uttered, getting up from his seat.

Her eyes never left her son as she gave the plates a quick rinse and set them aside. Pondering on how she was going to approach him. Also, wondering if she did would it harm her son more than what he's already endured.

"Okay, start from the beginning," Coraline spoke, pulling her legs beneath her as she sat down beside him and leaned against her hand while her elbow pressed down onto the back of the couch.

For three hours, Denis detailed every horrific act done to him by the people the State had placed him with. Coraline was sobbing at what they had done to her son. When he was finished after telling her why he was digging through the McCarty's trash, her arms shot out. Pressing Denis face-first into her bosom. Stroking the back of his head as she held her son against her. Silently thanking the McCarty family for saving her boy from that fate. Pressing him tighter against her when he started to pull away, she wasn't ready to let him go just yet. She did notice the tent in his pants when she released her hold on him. Elation flooded her mind at the fact she had caused it. Praying that there would be hope that when she did make her move, it wouldn't backfire and cause her son any more pain. Biting her lip when she noticed how he readjusted himself when he thought she couldn't see as he walked to the guest bedroom

"I'm going to go to that gym; I'll be back in a bit," Denis said, reemerging from his room with his gym bag in his hand.

"I'll take you," Coraline said, eager to spend time with him.

"You don't have to, you know."

"I know, but I want to," Coraline stated in a firm nod. Grabbing her keys, her purse, and followed her son out the door.

All through the drive to Eppolito, Coraline wondered how much of a workout her magic wand would get once they got back after Denis' workout. She could already feel the heat forming between her legs as she followed after her son into the gym. Seeing him nodding when she told him where she would be waiting for him before he headed off to the locker room to change.

"Denis, what are you doing?" Coraline asked in a quizzical light once he had changed and set his gym bag down on the seat beside her.

"Taping my hands," Denis answered in a monotone voice.

"But why?"

"Helps prevent injuries and improves punches," Denis said as he wrapped his right hand. Tearing the tape with his teeth before doing his left hand.

"Really? Does it help?" Coraline asked, eager to be a part of every aspect of her son's life.

"It does. Punched the bag once without it on, thought I nearly broke my wrist when I hit the bag wrong," Denis said, remembering how his father had walked into the garage and saw how he was holding his wrist. That was the day his father taught him how to wrap his hands on his own, so he could be out there whenever he needed it.