The Pulitzer

He was fourth in line, and he hadn't seen me yet. I recognized his shaggy blonde mop of hair and that crooked smile when he came in the door. The sparkle in his blue eyes still gave me goose bumps.

Naturally, his order was way too complicated. Add this, take this off, make sure you properly cook the meat. I smiled and handed him his drink. "So, Greg, I forgot to ask, do you want fries with that?"

It clicked. "Toni!!! What?"

He screamed like a little girl. I laughed. I was probably going to get fired, but I ran around the counter, half tackled him and kissed him as hard as I could.

"Toni, what the heck?" My manager came out of the kitchen to figure out what was happening.

"This is Greg, my boyfriend from back home. We kind of lost touch, and now, here he is."

"Well, get out of here, then. I'll cover the register." My boss was pretty chill, especially when he saw the look on my face.

I grabbed Greg's hand and dragged him out to my car. He didn't protest when we got to my apartment. My uniform was all over the floor, as were his clothes. I tried to explain what had happened, but we kept getting distracted and his dick would end up in my mouth or in my butt. He was insatiable, remembering everything we had learned together. He was so smart. My neighbors were probably going to ask the landlord to kick me out, though. The funny thing was, I wouldn't have far to move. Our apartments were only two blocks apart. I just hoped his closet was big enough for all my stuff, or maybe he'd move in with me.

I went home to Langley for the weekend to talk to Susan about what I could and couldn't tell Greg. It was a consensus. We threw Mike under the bus, telling the truth, even about Susan 'adopting' me. That would have to be good enough.

"So, your brother is in witness protection, and the FBI agent that arrested him adopted you? That sounds like a cheap crime drama or something." Greg laughed. It did sound farfetched. Maybe one day I'd get to tell him the entire story.

Greg started eating at Burger King every day until I made him stop. Their burgers were good, but eating them every day was going to give him a heart attack.

We took turns on whose bed we slept in. Not really on a schedule, but just where we ended up. It was usually three of four nights a week and almost always ended up with both of us being late for our first class.

Greg went back to Langley with me for Thanksgiving. Susan and I cooked and some of her single coworkers joined us for supper. Mostly the ones that didn't have enough time off to travel home to their families. I watched football with most of them while Greg sat and talked about stuff nobody else understood with a few others.

"So, you're Susan's daughter." One of Greg's captives escaped and came into the den to watch some football. Everybody knew who I was, as far as it related to Mike. One or two might have known the full story, but nobody talked about that at all. "Your boyfriend is scary smart." He smiled at me.

"Yeah. He's a bit of a goofball sometimes, but very smart. I'm thinking about taking some computer classes next semester just so I can talk to him." We both laughed.

"Susan said you're into photography, maybe investigate digital image analysis. There's a workshop on the tenth. I'll see if I can get you and your boyfriend in. I'm even doing a presentation on some pictures I analyzed for a murder in Chicago a few years ago. You know Photoshop, right?" He smiled and winked at me. I faked my best smile and went to the bathroom.

Everybody finally left, and Greg and I helped Susan clean up the mess.

"Susan, does anyone that was here know the truth about me?" I waited until Greg took the trash out to talk to her.

"No, why?"

"There was a guy, Brown hair. He talked to me about digital image analysis for a few minutes. He mentioned some pictures he worked on for a murder in Chicago a few years ago. What other murders in Chicago would the FBI have been involved in?"

"Probably a coincidence. He transferred to Langley from Chicago about six months ago. Even if it was that murder, there's no way he could know it was you. Besides, he was right. Digital image analysis is a big deal right now, and Brian's probably the best we have at it."

Greg was all over the workshop. We were the only people there that weren't law enforcement, but that didn't stop us from jumping in and soaking up everything we could. It was a workshop, so after every presentation, there was an exercise. We tried to identify fake pictures. We created a couple, and we had to find an image hidden in one.

"I got this one." I smiled at Greg, pulling out all my old tricks, finally finding the little gray cat hidden in the shadows. We were the only team to find the cat.

For the final presentation, Brian took the stage and went over the detailed steps he went through to validate a picture of a murder he had worked. He deconstructed every step I had taken, every filter I had used. He described every nuance of Photoshop that had let me see Scaletti's face, and the blood spray flying out the back of the reporter's head.

"It's important to note that the processes someone uses are almost always unique. Like a fingerprint, almost. Nobody does it exactly the same way. Angelo Romano is a talented photographer, but he's even better at manipulating images. I'm just glad he's on our side." Everybody laughed. I wanted to throw up. "By the way. The picture is one hundred percent authentic."

Brian thanked everyone for coming and hung around to answer questions. I went to the bathroom to wash my face and try to regain my composure. That meant calling Susan and telling her exactly what had happened.

"Toni, I checked him out. It's just a coincidence. He's completely in the dark where you're concerned. I promise."

"Not too graphic for you, I hope?" I found Greg talking to Brian, or Agent Harris, when I got back from the bathroom.

"Um, maybe a little." I forced a laugh.

"One reason we do these workshops is to identify talent. I can promise you; I'll be keeping my eyes on you. Look into those classes I mentioned, ok. I mean, you found my damned cat."

As much as Susan assured me, something just felt off. It had since he winked at me at Thanksgiving. He didn't feel right, and I couldn't put my finger on anything concrete. He was an FBI agent. Why was I worried?

My boss couldn't justify giving me all the time off I wanted so Greg and I could go back to Phoenix and spend Christmas with his mom, so I got fired - with a wink. The kind that told me all I had to do was show up when I got back, and I'd get my job back.

Beverly picked us up at the airport and drove us straight to the little Mexican food place we always hung out at. All our friends were there, even Randall. I told him the story about Mike and me getting adopted by the FBI agent that arrested him. I let Greg tell him we were living together. Randall pulled out his wallet. Inside was a picture of a petite blonde girl with big blue-green eyes. Except for the eyes, she could have been my sister.

It almost felt like we were all still in high school, just a little older. Some had stayed local and gone to ASU, others had gone off to school, like Greg and I had. For now, we were all home, and that was what mattered.

Greg and I borrowed his mom's car and drove by Mike's old house. It looked like a nice family with young teenagers had moved in and made it their own. That was cool, and Mike would like it.

We all met a few times at the restaurant and even went back out to the natural spring where the guys had tried to convince us to skinny dip. It was fun and relaxing. I kind of missed Phoenix. Maybe after school. I'd have to talk to Greg about that.

Christmas was low key. Greg and Beverly both got me some new earrings. Greg and I gave her a scrapbook we'd put together of our everyday life in Boston. She loved it. I got Greg a leather-bound box set of Lord of the Rings. He'd had it book marked in his Amazon wish for as long as I could remember.

That night, as we lay cuddled next to each other, basking in the glow of trying very hard not to disturb Beverly, and probably failing miserably. Greg propped himself up and looked at me.

"I got you something else. I'm just afraid to give it to you. Please don't be mad at me."

"Greg, we are living together. I get mad at you for leaving your socks in the living room and the toilet seat up all the time." I laughed.

"This is different." He cringed and reached over behind him, handing me a box a little smaller than a shoe box. "I love you. You know that, right?" I smiled and kissed him.

"And when I look at you, all I see is a beautiful woman, but..." He grimaced as I slowly unwrapped the gift. "I also know you're different, and I, um... I wonder sometimes what it feels like for you."

Inside the box was a realistic strap-on dildo and a bottle of lube.

"You want me to...?" He nodded and looked away like he was ashamed or something.

"I've been thinking about it a lot. I just didn't know how to ask. You're a girl. I know that, but we have the same parts, and you act like it feels so wonderful. I just..." He was trembling. "Please don't hate me. I just wanted to know."

Damn, he was clever. It was hollow, so my cock could fit inside, and it vibrated. With a remote.

"Help me with this, ok?"

His hands may have been trembling as he helped me get the strap-on in place, but his eyes were eager. We didn't talk and there wasn't much foreplay. Greg had done his research, which didn't surprise me at all, and had prepared himself for what was to come.

Breathing heavily with anticipation, he rolled onto his back and opened himself. I slathered the dong with lube and moved on top of him. I couldn't believe I was getting ready to fuck my boyfriend.

Leaning down, I kissed him sweetly. "Greg, are you sure about this?" He nodded and bit his lip. Shit, that was my trick. I didn't realize how sexy it really was.

I had played with Greg's ass when I sucked his cock, but only one or two fingers, massaging his prostate until he exploded. This was different. I had small hands. The dong I was pressing into his star was so much bigger than my fingers. I watched as he winced, flinching as the tip opened him up.

"Greg, are you ok?"

"Unh hnh." He let out a soft moan. I remembered how it had felt when Mike took me for the first time. Pressed further and Greg shuddered, closing his eyes tightly as he licked his lips and chewed on them.

"Ahhhh." He let out a long sigh. He was enjoying this.

"My baby likes this, doesn't he?" I smiled down at him.

"I didn't expect it to feel like this." He nodded and moaned again. "More, please."

I picked up the remote and turned it on as I pressed the dong all the way inside him.

Surges of pleasure coursed through me as I moved in and out of Greg's ass. Greg moaned and writhed with each thrust, his body trembling below me. This was so surreal. I knew what he was feeling. I understood exactly what I was doing to his body. But to see my boyfriend moaning and moving beneath me as I fucked him, to know what he was feeling, and that I was giving him those feelings. I shoved the dong as far as it would go and kissed him hard. I felt it happen, his cock exploding between us.

"Oh fuck, Toni. That was incredible." I knew something he didn't, though. I kept going, pressing the silicone shaft into him again and again, driving him toward another, bigger orgasm.

Another massive thrust into Greg's bowels, and I filled the fake cock with cum when my orgasm ripped through me. It felt good. I almost stopped, but I could tell he didn't want me to. When he came a second time, I couldn't go any further. I collapsed next to him, my fake cock standing proud, my cum leaking out, running down over my balls, as Greg's sweat covered face smiled at me.

"We are so doing that again. Please."

"Right now?" I laughed.

"God no." Greg let out the biggest sigh I'd ever heard, followed by an exasperated chuckle. "But when we get home; definitely. I just hope I make you feel like that."

"Oh, you do." I gave him a quick kiss. "Now come help me get this thing off. You get to clean it, by the way."

When we got home, we spent some time in Virginia with Susan before heading back to Boston. We also quit pretending. My apartment was a little bigger, so Greg moved in with me.

I met with my advisor about the digital imaging classes Brian mentioned. She recommended that if I wanted to go that route; I change my major to computer science. I could still minor in photojournalism. Then, if I wanted, I could get a graduate certificate in digital forensics.

"The FBI or Homeland Security would love you." She laughed. I didn't know if she knew my 'mom' was with the FBI or not. I caught myself thinking it might not be such a bad idea.

"How would you feel if we took some classes together?" I lay nestled in Greg's arms, both of us completely satisfied.

"Is my girlfriend turning into a nerd like me?" He turned his face to mine and kissed me.

"Well, my boyfriend likes butt sex like me, so..." I laughed. "Seriously, I keep thinking about that workshop we went to. I talked to my advisor today about changing my major. I think that's what I want to do."

"Then you should do it. I can help you with your programs, if you need me to."

It was perfect, maybe too perfect. I had a knack for programming. It just seemed to make sense. Data structures, algorithms, databases, user interface -- it didn't matter. It just clicked. And when Greg and I worked on something together, well, it got even better.

The best thing about working with a problem with Greg was that his brain was his biggest erogenous zone. He got so fucking horny when we bounced ideas off each other and the solutions slowly came together. We woke up in our office, naked in each other's arms, after a late session of problem solving almost as often as we kissed and cuddled in our bed. It was hard to say which sex was better. Work sex usually ended up with his dick in my mouth before he ravaged me, taking me long and hard, often two or three times. The love we made in our bed was softer and took longer. Sometimes he fucked me, and sometimes I put on the strap on and fucked him.

We both graduated in December. Beverly joined us at Sarah's for Christmas, and to my surprise, Greg proposed. There was no question I was going to say yes. We had been talking about it for a long time. Even though it was a formality, I fell into his arms and cried while he slipped my engagement ring onto my finger.

"Is there any way?" I found a quiet moment to ask Sarah about telling my parents the truth.

"Eric is still looking for you." She shook her head no. "We think he may know where your parents are. Just us telling them you were safe puts them at risk. We offered to move them again, but your grandfather refused."

"And I can't tell Greg either, can I?"

"I'm sorry." She wrapped me in a massive hug. "Maybe one day when we get Eric in prison with his dad."

"Probably for the best, anyway. I can't even imagine what my grandfather would say if he saw me like this."

We both laughed, but the thought of not being able to tell my family about the most important day in my life stayed with me.

"Toni, what's the matter?" Greg stopped thrusting and propped himself on his elbows, looking down at me with a concerned look on his face. Having him inside me always felt good. I was just somewhere else, thinking about all the sacrifices, all the lies, and what they might do to our future together when he found out. There was going to be a day when he would. It was inevitable.

"I was just wishing I had my family to share this with. Well, not what we're doing at this exact moment." I held up my hand and looked longingly at my ring.

"Yeah, I understand. I wish my dad were here. He would have liked you." Greg adjusted a little and his cock moved inside me.

"Mmm." I let out a little moan. "Why don't you finish what you were doing? Then we can talk." I pulled his lips to mine and tried to change my focus. His getting more aggressive helped.

The way he looked at me while he moved inside me helped, too. The love, the acceptance; I loved him, too. Besides, an FBI agent had adopted me. He knew Mike had been in trouble. He knew there were secrets. Maybe he would understand. I crossed my ankles behind his butt and forced him just a little deeper inside me as he erupted.

Greg slipped out of my butt, and I rolled onto my side, falling asleep with him spooning behind me. We decided the talking could wait.

Whatever happened in our future, the sex was amazing, and that made it worth at least trying.

Sarah and Beverly surprised us with a ten-day cruise to the Caribbean. Sun and sea and, for Greg and me, lots of debaucherous fun.

Greg went straight into his PhD program in Cyber Security, and I started my Masters in Digital Forensics. Sarah confirmed the agency would probably be interested in chatting with me at some point if I were interested.

"I can think of worse things than working with my 'mom.'" I smiled at her. There was a special way I said it that was just for us. It was a little tongue in cheek, but let her know the way I felt about our relationship was real.

Sarah had done more than just save me and my family. She had opened my mind to a life I never thought I could have.

"Well then, I'll let my boss know you might be interested. No promises, but you should expect at least a phone call."

"Seriously, that would be so cool." When I told Greg, he was as excited as I was.

"Ooh, you could use your handcuffs when you use the dildo on me. That would be hot."

Ok, maybe not for the reasons I had hoped. I knew he was kidding. Well, mostly.

I figured they would call me, or they wouldn't, so I decided not to worry about it. I focused on my classes and on making Greg happy, which relieved some of the stress of his course work.

When I discovered Photoshop had a developer's API. I started playing with that; writing minor projects to exploit it in interesting ways, seeing if I could emulate some techniques I used when I used to play with my pictures.

I was even working a few shifts a week at Burger King. I was busier than I had ever been, but I loved everything I was doing.

Things went sideways the day a black Silverado pickup pulled into the drive through.

"Double Whopper with fries and a large Coke." I read the order before I handed it out the window.

"Toni? What the hell?"

"Mike." I almost dropped his order. "How did you...?"

"I didn't. This is a complete accident. God, I'm glad you're ok. I'm so sorry about what happened. You look great, happy."

I flashed him my ring. "Greg from Phoenix. You remember him, right? He goes to MIT."

"Does he know?"

"And I can't tell him." I shook my head. "Can you come inside? I get off in about ten minutes."

"I can't, and you know why. I love you, little sister." He smiled at me.

"I love you, too, big brother. Tell Jimmy and Scarlet I said hi."

He smiled and nodded.

The car behind him honked, and he was gone. At least I knew he was ok.

"Mike came through the drive through. We recognized each other. Thought you should know." I texted Sarah while I waited for my order and for Greg to come pick me up.

"You got to see your brother. That must have been exciting." I looked up. It was Brian, the FBI agent guy from the workshop.

"Excuse me?" I gave him a confused look.

"Oh, don't worry about it. Stuff like that happens sometimes. You just need to tell Sarah. She'll take care of it. I was sitting outside, waiting for you to get off work so I could talk to you, when I saw him pull out of the drive through."

Maybe this was about the interview. I relaxed a little.

"I'm doing the digital forensics thing like you suggested." I smiled and grabbed a fry when my burger showed up.