OK Esbee. I have finished all 11 JD Robb books and even read the short story about Eve and Roarke in the 'Silent Night' anthology. Where the heck is the baby-making scene? Did I misunderstand you or are you leading me astray? Regardless, I enjoyed the books immensely. The merger of two of my favorite genres - mystery and romance - plus the incredibly sexy Roarke. Where does one get a man like that? He instigated periods of major drooling. Now if we could only get ODB cast as Roarke in a movie - aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.

V.nice, Gail. I look forward to the next chapter.

What a delicious chapter and soooooooooo romantic,...*sigh* 11 books,....sheeeeeeesh I'd have to pick out a couple then,...which would you recommend, Gail!! I have to buy them on the net since they are impossible to get here. Well, not exactly impossible, but it's a difference between 48 hours (5 days delivered) ordered on the net, or 6 weeks if I ordered them in a Danish bookshop!!!

Hanne, I would recommend the first one in the series 'Naked in Death' as it is where Eve and Roarke meet and it's quite steamy. He asks her to marry him in the second book 'Glory in Death' and the third 'Immortal in Death' starts while they are on their honeymoon. The relationships Eve has with Roarke and other people plus her self-discovery (she was an abused child and long-buried memories come back sporatically) build from book to book so you may get confused if you read them out of order. Having said that, the books I liked the best besides the first one were 'Vengeance in Death' because it gets into Roarke's past and 'Witness in Death'. I wouldn't recommend this series unless you like murder mysteries as the romance, while incredibly steamy (and quite inventive), is definitely secondary to the mystery. I realize this discussion is a bit off-topic but I'll defend it by saying that Roarke is an incredible character and I personally view these stories as fanfic with ODB as Roarke. These stories also inspired pieces of the love scenes in my own fanfic. How's that for justification?

Thanks Gail,...I can definitely see ODB in Roarke....I guessed as much about the child abuse. I do like mysteries however they are wrapped, even in Bar Sinister there's a mystery, as life is full of them;-))

Okay! I promised I'd post this here.... a little snippet that belongs in the timeline of the last part of Parallels. As I did at DWG, I warn you that it is intensely emotional (although upon my rereading, I don't find it as tough to get through as I did when I wrote it! ;) ) so read at your own risk. :) Adieu The incessant sound of sirens was no longer a distraction. He�d been there too long to notice anymore. Seemingly hours had passed as he waited, unknowing. At every approach of a swishing white coat he had raised a hopeful and, at the same time, fearful gaze but no-one had come for him. Each successive enquiry he had ventured resulted in the same answer; he must wait for the attending physician for information. Any other circumstance would have found him barging into an office or lab to demand immediate answers, but this situation was beyond his control, beyond his ability to deal with rationally. �Dad?� Ben was shocked at the dazed look in his father�s eyes as he raised them to stare vaguely in his direction. Ben sat down quickly in the vacant chair beside Will. �What happened? How is she? What�s going on, Dad?� �I don�t know.� The words forced their way through a tightened throat and past lips that quivered with emotion. Ben placed an arm around his father�s shoulders and lowered his head. �Brenda said something about a fall. Did she hit her head on something?� �No.� Will drew a deep breath and assumed a detached air. �No, she didn�t fall. At least, that wasn�t the problem. She just complained of a sudden headache and wanted to lay down for a while. Before she made it to the top of the stairs she�d fainted... collapsed. Thank God I was with her or she would have ended up at the bottom of the staircase.� He paused to draw another steadying breath. �She didn�t wake up, though, not even in the ambulance all the way here. I kept talking to her, calling her. I begged her to wake up, but nothing!� Will looked into his son�s eyes, his own bright with moisture. �They took her away, into there.� He swept an arm toward the big set of double doors opposite their seats. �Wouldn�t let me go with her. I�ve seen no-one! They won�t tell me a thing! Nobody has �!� �Dad,� Ben interjected in an effort to calm him. �I�ll see what I can find out.� �They won�t tell you anything!� Ben crossed to the nurses� station and commanded the attention of the lone attendant. �My mother was brought in a while ago, Elizabeth Darcy. I want to know the names of the doctors attending her and I want to know what is going on. Now.� He quelled the rote reply on the lips of the nurse before the first word was uttered. �Now!� �Yes sir,� she said, backing away a pace and then hurrying through the doors that led to the examining rooms. In a few minutes she had returned and beckoned to Ben where he had rejoined his father. Ben came forward quickly. �You and your father may come through.� Will had stood when the nurse had called to Ben. Now he crossed the remaining distance in three strides and followed on the nurse�s heels as she led the way along the bright white corridor. Ben was close behind, glancing side to side as they passed open doorways on either side. The stinging scent of disinfectant, the clatter and ching of medical implements emanating from unknown locations set his nerves on edge. Will came to an abrupt halt, the nurse holding a curtain aside for him to enter one of the rooms. Cautiously, he moved forward. The sight that greeted him offered nothing in the way of reassurance. Several people, evidently doctors, were in consultation on one side of the room. However, Will�s eyes were instantly drawn to the bed where the beloved figure of his wife lay, still and silent, only the gentle rise and fall of her chest indicating life. Swallowing a growing lump in his throat, Will approached the bed and stood beside it, gazing down into Elizabeth�s face. Relaxed as in sleep, he could almost believe there was nothing amiss, except for the steady hum of equipment that surrounded her. Ben caught the attention of the doctors and they joined him, speaking in quiet voices. �What�s wrong with her?� Ben bluntly asked. �Would you prefer to discuss this in one of the private rooms?� asked the doctor who had introduced himself as DiLeone. �No, I wouldn�t. I think my father has waited long enough. Dad?� Ben frowned as Will didn�t appear to hear him. �Dad?� he called a little louder. �Mr. Darcy?� One of the other doctors had moved to Will�s side and touched his elbow. Will tore his gaze away from his wife�s form and looked enquiringly at the assembled medical experts. �I�m sorry,� began DiLeone. �The news is not good. Your wife has developed a tumour behind her left eye. It was an extremely rapid growing tumour, perhaps developing over merely weeks, but it has already grown too large.� �What do you mean, too large?� Ben stared at him in shock, his mind refusing to accept what was likely to come next. �It has already put too much pressure on the brain. At the rate it is growing, only a matter of hours remain before...� DiLeone paused. �Several areas of the brain have been affected and more are being forced to shut down due to lack of blood supply and the increased pressure. There is nothing we can do.� �Nothing?� Ben�s voice was hoarse. His gaze instinctively travelled to where his mother lay, willing her to wake up and refute this horrifying prognosis. �No.� The word was faint. �Oh, Liz,� Will whispered, his eyelids came together tightly, sealing in the tears. �Liz.� Slowly, the doctors began to file out of the room, leaving only DiLeone to offer further information. �If there is anyone else you need to call, please feel free to use the telephone in the room at the end of the hall. You will be undisturbed in this room until.... unless you call.� Ben watched his father�s struggle reflected in his face as he addressed his comment to the doctor. �How... how long did you say?� �An hour or two, not likely any more than that. These things are unpredictable. It all depends on how long her body fights to keep going.� DiLeone�s face was grave and sympathetic. After a moment he left the two Darcy men alone with her. Will pulled a chair up to Elizabeth�s side and sat down next to her. Taking her hand, he stroked the back of it as he spoke. �Oh my dear Liz, we never thought it would come down to this, did we? I was supposed to go first, or, ideally, we�d go together.� He choked on a weak laugh. �Why like this, though? No goodbyes... no chance to say... to say.....� Lips formed the words but no sound emerged. Will bowed his head against his wife�s hand and let out a stifled sob. Ben stood immobile, tears streamed down his face, unheeded. Never had he seen his father so vulnerable. It unnerved him, for he was suddenly faced with the reality that his world was about to come apart, his father would no longer be the strength to lean on, but would need to borrow the strength from the rest of the family. Worst of all, his mother.... his own source of love and support for most of his life was about to taken away, forever. His mind was spinning, unwilling to accept what he�d heard, what he could see happening in front of him. �Ben.� Will�s voice was harsh but got his son�s attention. �Would you call your sisters and Rich, tell them what�s happened?� �Sure, Dad.� �I don�t want to leave her......� Will turned his attention back to Elizabeth, his fingers continuing to stroke her hand. �Of course you don�t. I�ll be back as soon as I can.� Ben closed the door softly when he left the room. Will stood and leaned over the bed, one hand smoothing back the disarray of hair from Elizabeth�s face. One finger traced along her cheek, followed the edge of her jaw and rested against her lower lip. �Elizabeth.� He practically breathed the name. �You�ll take my heart with you, you know. It was always yours, from the moment I saw you. I thought my life was desolate during those years we were apart but I am afraid to even think what awaits me when I leave here today. To know that you will be gone forever, no smiles, no scolds.....� He smiled at a particularly fond memory of his wife giving him a good raking over the coals. The smile faded almost immediately, however. �I know I shouldn�t say this, you�d give me a right lecture on it, but even with our children and grandchildren to surround me, life will be empty without you.� Will glanced at the monitoring equipment surrounding the bed and the still form of his beloved Liz. Without a second thought he eased himself onto the surface next to her and raised her light form to lay against his chest. �Just like home, right?� Tears filled his eyes as he fought to deny the futility of this comfort. One arm held her securely against him, her body limp and unresponsive. Gently, he kissed the top of her head, his free hand taking her slackened one and intertwining their fingers. When he spoke, it was in the merest whisper, a voice filled with pain and hopelessness. �Thank you, dearest Elizabeth, for all that you have given me; our children, warm memories and years of exquisite happiness with the most beautiful woman I could ever wish to know.� Will�s voice broke on his final words. �I only wish I could say these things to you again, that you could hear them one more time.� Not a movement did he detect from her and Will could feel anger welling up inside himself. Why? Oh God, why take her from me, from her children? Oh, they could get along quite well without me, but their mother is indispensable! His face lowered to rest against Elizabeth�s hair, eyes closed and lips forming a small pout. He could feel the rise of her chest as she breathed, the rhythm beginning to become erratic. His own breathing was starting to labour as emotions fought for an outlet. Don�t leave me, Liz! His arms pulled her tighter to him, tears threatening to spill over despite his best efforts. Please! The woman in his arms gave a shuddering sigh and then silence reigned. I love you......... The End.

*sob*.....but you have changed the end, haven't you??? Not that it matters,..it's still very beautiful!! As I said when it was posted on DWG,..this is a fantastic epilogue to your sequels.

Sorry, I got them mixed up,...it was the end of Parallels that was the ultmate declaration of love..... and this is not an epilogue I know ....now. It's and iterlogue;-)!!;-)) I guess I was too caught up in it,.....*wiping eyes,....again*

Sorry Teg, but I couldn't read it again... I don't want to be sad!

Teg, that was so sad. You really have a way with words.

D-rn! Obviously I missed to close the tag! Will this fix it?

Yes! Fixed it! A new try: An Unusual Marriage Part 2 Confirmations When the men entered the parlour, Mr and Mrs Darcy�s eyes met and time stopped for both of them. The uninhibited erotic look in Darys�s eyes when he looked at her made Elizabeth blush and gasp. He let his eyes caress her form unrestrained. What now?! He can not do that here! Not being used to that look in company of others, and hardly being used to that look at all, she was almost at a loss. She was seldom as clearheaded as this when her passionate lover emitted these emotions. The heat of his ardent feelings was almost palpable. Unable to fully control her response, her breathing and eyes betrayed her. Colonel Fitzwilliam saw Elisabeth�s part of the heated exchange and was thrilled, amused and unintentionally aroused. Well, well, well! I think there will be some interesting exchanges this evening! Especially after they have got rid of the rest of us! Darcy, you lucky man! But I suppose you deserve it! And can match her passion� All the women saw Darcy�s look and no one doubted a word of what Elizabeth had said about his ardour and their mutual interests in their marriage. Oh my god! If a man would ever look at me like that!, they collectively swooned. Well, maybe not Georgiana. After all, he was her brother� But it added further understanding to some of the scenes she had witnessed over the years. Elizabeth struggled to compose herself and raised an eyebrow to her husband questioningly. Darcy merely gave her a wicked smile and turned off the heat somewhat, but not before again letting his gaze caress her body. She is so exquisite! Oh, if we were alone! I want to taste those lips� While Elizabeth was unable to greet her guests back to the parlour due to her preoccupation, her gentle sister Jane noticed the lack of concentration. She was intuitively aware of the reason for it, deemed it probable her sister would not regain control over her mind just yet and took over the obligation. "Welcome back, gentlemen! Would you care for some coffee? We were just about to ring the bell." Mr Hurst declined the coffee and sat down by himself with a glass of whisky offered by an obliging footman. Her sister�s words forced Elizabeth back to the present and she managed to compose herself. "Yes, welcome back! I take it you have been able to entertain yourselves without us?" Colonel Fitzwilliam laughed heartily. "Yes, madam, I believe our discourse was highly entertaining. And highly enlightening for certain individuals of the party!" Elizabeth again turned her gaze to her husband. He returned her gaze with a confirming subtle smile and a silent promise of more "enlightening" later. Elizabeth again blushed, embarrassed but at the same time thrilled at the anticipation his looks evoked. Whatever is Richard talking about? What can they possibly have discussed in there?! Nothing like what we discussed, surely? "Please do tell, Cousin Richard," Georgiana said, with a teasing smile. "Could it have something to do with the differences between men and women, pray?" Darcy�s reveries about his wife�s enticing form were immediately abandoned. What!? What would she know about that? He stared at his little sister. Richard Fitzwilliam coughed with surprise. "Georgiana! Have you eavesdropped!? That is exactly what we discussed." Georgiana laughed. "We just happened to discuss the same thing, you see. I think it was highly enlightening for certain individuals of our party too." Her eyes twinkled mischievously. "Is that so? Pray tell us, what did you discuss? The differences between men and women when it comes to flower arrangements?" the Colonel teased. "Well, not exactly. And some of us," here she gave a wink at Elizabeth, "claimed there are fewer differences between men and women than we think. But other members of the party objected to that." "Let�s hear! Mrs Darcy, do you think men have the same talent as women for flower arrangements?" The Colonel turned to Elizabeth. "Who ever said we discussed flower arrangements?" Elizabeth laughed. "No sir, our minds were much more pleasantly occupied. We discussed something much more stimulating, I dare say!" "Oh, such as�?" Darcy sensed his wife hinted at something alluring, as he recognised the twinkle in her eyes and her slightly curled lips. "Do you really want me to reveal that here? I would think it more appropriate to wait for later." Elizabeth challenged his look with lurking ardour in her eyes. "Maybe he could better wait, but what about the rest of us?" Charles Bingley cried. "Unless you tell us now, we will be kept uninformed." "Oh, I am sure your wife is eager to inform you when you retire to your chambers tonight," Elizabeth answered him, but rested her eyes on her sister. All the men looked with interest at Jane Bingley, who turned crimson. Sophia Fitzwilliam rescued her, by saying, "Each of you gentlemen may hear, and experience!, some interesting things this evening. Well, maybe not you, Richard dear," she said to her brother-in-law with an expression of regret mixed with her teasing smile, "but that reminds me to urge you to get married! You don�t know what you are missing! Ask your brother and cousin." "What could there possibly be in marriage that I don�t get in my present life?" Colonel Fitzwilliam retorted. He hated when people tried to marry him off. His eyes challenged his sister-in-law�s. "Then, obviously, I don�t want to hear anything about your life I wasn�t aware of. There are certain aspects of married life you are not supposed to know anything about," Sophia said in mock horror. He really is attractive when he defends himself like that! Almost passionate� Hmmm! I seem to have adopted Elizabeth�s vocabulary. "Yes little brother, I believe you and I should have a heart-to-heart talk. What would Mother say if she heard you?" Edward Fitzwilliam laughed. "I am thirty-six years old, you know," the Colonel said. "I doubt Mother would be too shocked if she heard I live a consummate adult life." "I do not want to hear you definition of adult life then, cousin," Darcy laughed. "You can not possibly live my definition of that kind of life." "No, I understood that much from our conversation just," the Colonel answered. "Now I think it is your turn to enlighten us," Georgiana smiled. "We merely compared different marital habits. It seems your brother was a bit surprised at the other married men�s� disclosures�," the Colonel said vaguely. "While I, an unmarried man, on the other hand knew exactly what they referred to. Doesn�t that seem strange?" "That depends on what you were discussing, Richard," Sophia said slyly. "Would it have something to do with tea parties? Then I know Darcy would be confused. Or was it perhaps about sleeping habits? Like shared bedrooms�, and time schedules�" The Colonel readily swallowed the bait. "Well, perhaps not sleeping habits� But definitely bedrooms routines. And something about closed doors and time intervals, I think." He gave a pointed look at Darcy who instantly turned his eyes at Elizabeth with an inquiring look. "Would you say there are different habits between men and women, my dear?" Darcy asked casually, but adjusting the ardour in his eyes. Elizabeth blushed under his eyes, If he doesn�t stop that right now I will have to take him out of this room and upstairs before I make a fool out of myself! "I really would not know. I do not have that many to compare with," Elizabeth managed with a faint gasp. "What is your opinion of the matter, sir?" Darcy stepped forward and took her hand in his and raised it to his lips and planted a feathery kiss on its back. He turned her hand and let his lips brush the wrist before he ever so slowly tasted the skin at the base of her thumb and completed the gesture with a delicate bite with his teeth. Elizabeth gasped and stared at him, nearly lost. She felt her pulse quicken, felt the familiar promising warmth between her legs and saw Darcy�s eyes drawn to her lips. He slowly lowered her hand without letting go of it and stepped even closer. For a moment they were oblivious of the other inhabitants of the room. They were acutely awakened by a discrete cough from Bingley and reluctantly stepped away from each other. "Will you answer your wife, Darce?" Charles teased. "Or must we ask her to repeat the question? I think it was simple enough, though." Darcy simply smiled at Elizabeth, showing his rare dimples. Again, the other ladies gasped. How does he do it!? Why doesn�t my husband look at me like that? Why haven�t I seen that before? "I� I am afraid I don�t remember what I asked," Elizabeth stammered between breaths, unable to tear her eyes away from her husband. "Never mind that, I think your husband answered your question, even though not verbally," Sophia said. "But as you said before, he is so intuitive and you communicate without words� Wasn�t that so, hmm?" "Intuitive! That was a new description of Darcy! And not the word that first comes to mind," Bingley cried. Darcy raised an eyebrow at Elizabeth. "Just my words!" Louisa Hurst exclaimed. But I am prepared to change my mind after this exhibition! Caroline Bingley eagerly nodded her consent, too frustrated to talk. "Well, then you don�t know the Darcy we know," the Colonel said as he winked at Elizabeth. "I already understood the Darcys have an understanding beyond what is common in marriage. No, I think men and women often look at these things from quite different angels, or what do you say Georgiana?" "You ask me? How would I know?" Georgiana was surprised. Don�t drag me into this! she reflected startled. "But you seemed quite well-informed when we discussed earlier," Jane interjected. "But perhaps not from personal experience; more as a spectator�" Darcy looked sharply at his sister. "What did you have to say in the matter?" "Absolutely nothing! I just said that I had learned a little of this and that by living with you two!" Georgiana retorted boldly Darcy averted his face to hide his smile. Yes, the things she has walked into must have taught her �this and that�. Knocking before entering, once and for all! Just think about all the times she has caught us in the middle of love-making! And she has probably seen us when we have not seen her� Poor girl - she must have been shocked. Poor Elizabeth who has had to comfort her and explain it all. "It would be quite entertaining to hear more about that some day, but maybe not in front of all these people. I have a sense your brother and sister-in-law would object," Edward Fitzwilliam said with an interested look at her young cousin. Darcy and Elizabeth looked at Georgiana in alarm. "Oh no, there is not a chance I would ever reveal that! Apart from my inborn discretion," Georgiana managed to check her full laughter, "I really would like to stay in my home, and not be thrown out into the street!" Everyone laughed. "It seems you have quite some holds on them!" Charles said. "If I need to blackmail Darcy, I will come to you." "You can always try! But as I said, I am not willing to risk their rage. Their secrets are quite safe with me," Georgiana laughed. "I only hope you will not be disappointed when you marry, and find out it is quite unusual to find such concordance of interests�, or what I should call it�, temperaments, maybe," Elizabeth smiled fondly at her sister-in-law. "Oh, I know that. But you have taught us how to make a husband happy, have you not?" Georgiana answered. "Is that so?" Stephen Cunningham perked up, having been silent during the whole conversation. He wasn�t totally comfortable in this gathering of people who were mostly family of the Darcys. "Pray, what did she teach you? Darcy seems happy enough, so I suppose it was good advice!" He smiled warmly at the young woman and then shot a hopeful sidelong glance at his new wife. "It sounded simple enough, but it is probable not that easy. But I would rather let Elizabeth say it herself, instead of me repeating it," Georgiana stated simply. Everyone looked expectantly at Elizabeth. She was forced to tear her eyes away from her husband again, as she had drowned in his bottomless eyes when the concentration had been turned to Georgiana. "I am not sure this applies to all marriages, but it is what my Aunt Madeleine Gardiner told me before I got married, and it seems to work for me, and for us." Elizabeth looked directly at her husband as she directed her melting affection towards him. "�Take care to show what you like, find out what he likes and strive to fulfil his desires�," she said, "�and he will return your wishes�. And I have done that, and I must say I have been rewarded thousand-fold." The Darcys were drawn closer to each other. It was pure magnetism. The others allowed them the privacy and turned their backs to the couple, though they had a hard time not looking at them. Especially Caroline Bingley had a hard time not staring at the couple. She was almost physically sick with envy. Darcy stood in font of Elizabeth. He acutely felt her proximity, smelled her scent, her essence and wanted to take her into his arms. Propriety prevented him, so he restrained himself and leaned close to her ear and kissed her cheek tenderly. As he let his lips linger at her soft skin he whispered in her ear, "You don�t know how much I love you, Mrs Darcy." "Oh, I think I know that. But if you doubt my perception, then you must show me, Mr Darcy," she whispered back and smiled with eyes beaming with happiness. "But unless you want to cause a scandal, I think it must wait until later," she added soberly. Darcy laughed throatily and again kissed her cheek tenderly. "It will have to wait, then, but if it gets acute maybe we could meet in the gallery?" His look was teasing, but held an undertone of fervency. "Why don�t we send them home right now?" Elizabeth quietly growled as she allowed her hand to tease the inside of his thigh, shielding her action from the room by blocking the way. Darcy gasped. "Madam, you mustn�t do that! What if anyone sees what you are doing?!" "Oh, there is no risk of that, but I am afraid someone might see the reaction it has on your --- physique," Elizabeth purred, as she stroked the outside of his breeches. She could feel his erection through the fabric and felt her own excitement grow. She felt the area between her legs begin to throb and perceived the moistness, anticipating the next step. Her nipples were teased by the restraining dress as her breath became shallow and quick. "Oh Liz, stop this or I will do something we will both regret. We must wait until we are alone. But then I promise you that you will experience something you have never experienced before," Darcy breathed against Elizabeth�s ear. He could hardly control his actions. "Yes. I will try to be good." Elizabeth whispered in between shallow breaths. "�Everything comes to those who wait�, I have been told. We don�t want to embarrass the guests, do we?" Elizabeth closed her eyes, took a deep breath and stepped away half a step from her flustered husband. When she opened her eyes, the bulge she saw in his breeches made her take half a step back and quietly say, "We must arrange this wisely, I think. Walk half a step behind me and let me cover you." Darcy growled but did as she said. They were saved by the arrival of the coffee tray and Darcy could unnoticed sit down on a sofa far away from Elizabeth, cross his legs and think about Aunt Catherine de Bourgh. The rest of the evening continued in the same way - on the surface a relaxed dinner-party among friends, but to those observant enough also a charged evening. Darcy and Elizabeth endeavoured to stay apart, to minimise the outbursts of emotions. Richard Fitzwilliam observed them closely, but refrained from interfering since he realised it could be dangerous. He had often noticed the suppressed suffusions of passion before, but never this palpably. The discussions must have triggered something fiery, I suppose. Or maybe it is like this always, when we are not along� What Georgiana said implies that�, the Colonel meditated. Maybe it is not such a bad idea to marry, after all. The guests, except Mr and Mrs Cunningham, were to stay at least for the night. While Mr and Mrs Darcy bid their neighbours farewell, the other guest started to make their way to the guest-rooms. Everyone had a lot to think about, and some were more anxious than others to retire to their own quarters. "Goodnight then, happy couples," the Colonel said teasingly to his brother and sister-in-law, Mr and Mrs Bingley and Mr and Mrs Hurst. "I expect reports at breakfast if the night offered some surprises, or if you still think men and women are different species. And you and I, ladies," he continues with feigned melancholy and a wink at Georgiana and Caroline Bingley, "must be kept in suspense for some time." "Goodnight, my dear," Sophia Fitzwilliam smiled. "Don�t sulk, it is your own choice to be kept ignorant. And I have gracefully chosen to forget what you said about living an �adult life� before." "And as for you two," the Colonel continued, addressing the Darcys, "I will not bid you a peaceful and good night, since I know you have wished us away for the best part of the night. Besides, I doubt it will be peaceful� Or that anything I say would have any influence!" Everyone laughed with assent. Elizabeth blushed prettily and looked away while Darcy challenged the Colonel by giving him a look straight in the eye that made even the Colonel blush and look away. The women felt weak and again gasped. Aaaaahhhhh� Why can it not be me who will spend the night with that gorgeous man? Darcy and Elizabeth were alone in the parlour. They could finally unleash their emotions. The air quivered with heat� To be continued� �eventually! I am a bit afraid of what I have started - not sure I can follow up this "foreplay" with a, for you demanding readers, gratifying final scene� ;-) I don�t want it to be indecent. Well, that depends on the definition! I want it to be graceful, not gross� It might take some time, so please be patient!

I don�t want it to be indecent...I want it to be graceful, I'm sure you'll find that delicate balance. I await with pleasure your next installment, Karin.

Wow, that was just amazing, Holy Cow......I'm burning up in here....Jeez, somenody open up a window and let some air in....YIKES !!!!!! I totally understand your tastefulness dilema, but pleeeeeeeeeezzzzzzz don't make us wait too long for the next installment. That was just great !! Git' writing girl !!

Darcy could unnoticed sit down on a sofa far away from Elizabeth, cross his legs and think about Aunt Catherine de Bourgh ROTF!! I love it! What a blend of heat and humour. :) Sound almost like one of those marriage retreats, but just imagining a group of Regency couples having a conversation on such topics!! hee hee!! Now as for the breeches.. just a passing thought. Is it any wonder, with the gentleman's wardrobe, that anyone could be in doubt of a man's interest in a lady when in her company? ;)

*splutter* coffee all over!! Darcy merely gave her a wicked smile and turned off the heat somewhat, but not before long again letting his gaze.... While Elizabeth was unable to greet her guests back to the parlour due to her preoccupation.... Hilarious, Karin!! More and yesterday rather than today;-DD!! Indeed, Teg, as we see in several scenes of P&P there is no doubt that occurrence of any change will be spotted immediately;-DDD

Delightful Karin - thanks!!

Karin, You've got a big audience out here awaiting more on Darcy and Lizzie.Thanks :-))

Yeah Teg, you have a point about the tight breeches of the day overtly displaying ..ahem.. a gentlemans's interest in a lady, but look at how loose and baggy a lot of Darcy's breeches are in P&P ? The wedding breeches and the ones he wears prior to jumping in the lake, are very puffy in front. Then again he does wear unrevealing black a lot........ Hmmmmmmmmm ??????????? God, I can't believe I just answered that question as if I was in n exam.....Darcy's breeches 101 !!!!!!!

Karin, what fun! Look forward to the next installment. Will try to be patient. :-) (Bethanne)God, I can't believe I just answered that question as if I was in an exam.....Darcy's breeches 101 !!!!!!! Sounds like one of the symptoms of Firthaholism to me, Bethanne. ;-)

Darcy 101... yeah! But there could be another reason Darcy's breeches are puffier and more roomy in front. He might need the extra space occasionally.... more space than, say, Bingley? *Ooh, bad Teg.....* *no Bingley slurs intended, either. ;)*

Ok Lisa, if it IS an exam in rampant Firthaholism, do I get an A++ ? Teg, no need to feel bad about insulting Bingley........its just that we all know Darcy to be much more of a man than Bingley could ever hope to be. I mean, this IS the Darcy Drool, isn't it ? How many websites are there dedicated Mr Bingley, for goodness sake ?

Oh KarinB, there was too much good stuff in this last chapter for me to pick out any favorites! All that heat... *siiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiigh* (Bethanne) Teg, no need to feel bad about insulting Bingley........its just that we all know Darcy to be much more of a man than Bingley could ever hope to be. I mean, this IS the Darcy Drool, isn't it ? How many websites are there dedicated Mr Bingley, for goodness sake ? ROTF! Truer words were never spoken...

How many websites are there dedicated Mr Bingley, for goodness sake ? Ha ha! The judge decides in favor of Mr. Darcy. Case closed.

Here, finally, is another chapter. What Matters Most Chapter 18 Liz and Will spent the next several days happily spreading their good news. The families on both sides were thrilled. Mrs. Bennet insisted that Will come for Thanksgiving dinner since his family was away and he agreed to try to get the day off from work. With a month�s notice and his seniority, he thought he could arrange it. Charlotte and Bill threw a celebration dinner for the couple, which included drinking copious amounts of champagne. Marty and Angie also insisted on throwing a congratulatory dinner for the couple. At the first opportunity (when Will and Marty had the same night off), the newly engaged couple drove to their friends� home to partake in the celebration. �You know, this is the first time we�re spending time alone with Marty and Angie. Usually when we visit they have a house full of people,� Liz commented as they walked up to the front door. Angie, with baby Amanda on her hip, opened the door and greeted them cheerfully. �Congratulations you two! I�m so happy for you! Come on in. Marty will be with us in a minute. He�s putting Susie to bed for me so I could finish feeding this one. Here, sit down. I�m going to put Amanda to bed now and then I�ll be yours for the rest of the evening. Well at least until one of these monsters wakes up!� Angie breezed out of the room leaving Will and Liz stunned in the aftermath of a whirlwind. �Whew! She makes me tired just listening to her!� Will laughed as he pulled Liz down onto the sofa next to him. �I guess having a couple of kids keeps you pretty busy,� Liz responded. Will leaned over to kiss her. �We�ll find out ourselves one day, I hope. How many kids do you think we should have?� Liz pondered seriously. �I�d like at least two I think. Maybe more. We�ll see after I�ve birthed two babies if I want to do it again! But I would like a couple of years with you all to myself first.� �That�s a deal I can live with. We�ll spend a lot of time practicing the conception part so when the time comes, we�ll know just what to do.� Liz poked him hard with her elbow just as Marty came into the room. �Fighting already you two?� he asked, grinning broadly. �Can�t even wait until after the wedding?� He offered drinks and as he went to fill their orders, Angie called out from the dining room,� Come on guys. Let�s eat while we can.� Again there was champagne but this time it was consumed sparingly. Angie was nursing after all and Will and Liz couldn�t face another hangover like they had the last time. But the conversation was lively and the friends enjoyed each other�s company. At ten o�clock, Amanda woke for her next feeding and Will and Liz decided it was time to go home. Marty said his good-byes and went to change the baby while Angie tarried a minute with her guests. �I really am happy for you both,� she said smiling and gave Liz a hug. She then turned to Will and laid a hand on his cheek. �I know you�ll be a great husband honey.� She kissed him and a private look passed between them that caused Liz to feel a little flutter of jealousy. Don�t be ridiculous! she scolded herself. It�s obvious that Marty and Angie adore each other. Still she couldn�t help but wonder at Will and Angie�s relationship. But as soon as the door closed behind them, Will pulled her into his arms and gave her a big kiss. �That was fun babe. I hope you had a good time.� �I did. I like Marty and Angie more every time we�re with them.� �I�m glad honey. Marty is my best friend and Angie is very special to me.� As she settled into the car, Liz felt that green-eyed monster make another appearance. �Oh, really? How special?� Will heard the tension in her voice and reached over to squeeze her hand. �Certainly not as special as you, my sweet Liz. But I guess I should tell you the whole story about Angie and Marty and me. It�s bound to come out at some point.� �Well now you have me very curious,� Liz said a little nervously. �What kind of sordid past do you have?� Will laughed. �It�s not that big a deal honey. The summer between my junior and senior years of high school, I met Angie. We hit it off and dated that whole summer. I really liked her a lot and thought she felt the same about me.� So far there was nothing in this story to relieve Liz�s jealousy and her stomach began to churn. �And just how far did this relationship go?� �Fortunately not as far as I would have liked. I tried to get in her pants a number of times, but Angie was a good girl and wouldn�t let me past second base.� That eased Liz�s stomach a little bit. �Well I�m glad to hear that. It would make me feel awkward around her if you guys had slept together. Knowing you wanted to is bad enough. How does Marty feel about all of this?� �Let me finish the story. I went back to Andover for my senior year thinking I was madly in love. Angie had promised to write to me and I couldn�t wait to show her letters off to my dorm mates.� �Will, how could you?� �Hey, teenage boys aren�t very sensitive you know. Anyway I only got one letter from her and that was it. I wrote several to her with no response and tried to call many times but she was never home. Well actually, she told me later that she was home but had instructed her family to get rid of me. See teenage girls aren�t all that sensitive either.� �That was pretty mean. She should have told you if she wasn�t interested any more. Had she met someone else?� �Yeah. She had met Marty. He moved to Mt. Desert Island that year and moved right in on my girl. Because my family was in New York, I wasn�t able to get back here until after Christmas. I begged some friends to invite me up for New Year�s Eve so I�d have an excuse to come back. I didn�t tell Angie I was coming and surprised her and Marty making out on the porch of her parents� house. �She cried, I yelled, and Marty threatened. But when I saw them together, I knew I had lost and went away with a broken heart.� Now Liz was stroking Will�s hand. �Oh baby, I�m so sorry.� �I got over it soon enough which led me to realize that it wasn�t really love. Anyway, after graduating from college I went to the police academy and who should be there but Marty. By then he and Angie had gotten married. We tried ignoring each other but ended up becoming best friends. It was strange at first but we�ve all gotten past it. And I love Angie as a friend and as Marty�s wife. She�s grown into a wonderful woman.� �Any regrets?� �No regrets, but over the last couple of years I have been a little envious of their happiness. I wanted what they had so much but I couldn�t find the right woman. I guess I indulged in a few moments of �what if� now and then. But now I have you and I have no reason to envy anyone else.� The rode the rest of the way home in silence, content in each other�s company. ***** �Hello?� Liz answered the phone groggily. �Hey babe, did I wake you?� �No, not really. Well, I guess you did. I was reading in bed and must have dozed off.� �I�m sorry honey.� �No, no, it�s OK, really. I want to talk to you and I�m awake now. How was work tonight?� �Busy. Marty and I busted a couple guys we had been after for quite a while. They put up a bit of a fuss but we were able to subdue them. Then we transported them down to the maximum security jail in Bangor.� He could hear the hitch in Liz�s voice. �Will, they sound very dangerous. You scare me.� Will kicked himself mentally for sharing a little too much about the job. He�d have to watch that in the future. �Honey, it wasn�t that big a deal. They weren�t armed and we were so there was no question about the outcome. Don�t worry Liz. I�m very careful and Marty and I watch out for each other. Now enough about that. How was your day?� �Fine. I missed you.� �I missed you too. I can�t wait until we�re married and I can come home to you every night. There�s nothing I�d like better right now than to be wrapped around you in my bed.� Liz felt the now familiar flutter in her stomach as her pulse quickened its pace. �Will, you can completely undo me in one sentence.� Will�s voice deepened and warmed. �Hmmmm, is that so? You know, I�m sitting in my bed and I�m naked. Thinking about you in your bed is getting me all worked up.� �Really? That�s interesting.� Liz was struggling to breathe. �Hmmmm, if you were here I�d be rubbing your nipples between my fingers. Why don�t you do that and pretend it�s me. Take off your nightgown first.� Will could hear her excitement over the phone in the little pants of breath she exhaled. �OK, I�m unbuttoning my nightie. It�s the red silk one you gave me last week. It�s all unbuttoned now and I�m taking it off.� Will was now fully aroused and groaned into the phone. �G-d Liz, I can picture you and I wish I was there. Are you naked now?� �Yes I am. I�m rubbing my hand on my right breast. The nipple is very hard and aching for your touch. Oh Will�..,� she gasped. �I want to put my mouth on it and feel it with my tongue. Liz, are you wet? Touch yourself there. Pretend it�s me.� He began to fist himself with his free hand wishing it was Liz�s. �I�m very wet and I want you Will. I want you to touch me. Oh G-d Will. I want to touch you too. Are you hard?� �Oh yes, and pretending this is your hand stroking me instead of my own.� Liz licked her dry lips and imagined Will pleasuring himself. �I wish you were here inside of me,� she whispered. �Will, I�m close. Will�..Will�..come with me.� �Oh G-d Liz, I�m right there. Are you ready?� �Yes, yes, yes. Ohhhh Will����..� �Liz���..I love you Liz����.� After a couple minutes of breath catching, Liz giggled. �Hey we just had phone sex. I�ve never done that before. It was kinda fun.� �Well don�t get too attached. I much prefer the real thing. But it was pretty good, wasn�t it?� �Better than doing it alone!� Liz laughed at Will�s gasp of surprise. �What? You can�t tell me you never do any tension releasing.� �Oh so that�s what you call it? I certainly have indulged in a little self-gratification in the past but I find the need is much less these days. Are you awfully tense Lizzy baby?� �Only when you�re not here. I�m getting so I need you all the time.� Will felt himself begin to harden yet again. �Baby, I�m so very glad because I need you all the time too. In fact, I�m in desperate need of you again right now.� �Again? Already? My, my Will, you are indeed insatiable.� �Hmmmmm. Please play along with me again.� It took a little longer this time but relief was satisfactorily attained on both sides. �Will, I have to go to sleep now. You�ve worn me out.� �I love you baby. Will you come over tomorrow night after work and wait for me?� �Yeah. I need you in person honey. I�ll stay over. I need to feel you inside of me.� �Don�t get me started again Liz. Good night honey. Sweet dreams.� �Night.� To Be Continued��

Avert your eyes: Fundraising Notice Ahead We've done very well, ladies, so a big Thank You for being so generous. As a housekeeping detail, I have personally contacted every person who made a donation. If you haven't gotten a thank you from me, then I haven't received it. Please let me know.

I've been gone for more than a WEEK and I only have ONE post to read????????? Shame! Shame on all of you... *sniff* I could... just... CRY! *waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!!!* Thank you, Gail. At least you care...

Yeah - where is everyone? I was gonna try to post another chapter today but since no one appears to be around to read it, I guess I'll wait until next week. Anyway, you're welcome Dani.

Gail, It's very quite here lately, but please, don't leave us!!! I love your history. I'm stil waiting the end of "The Wedding Singer". Thank you!!!

Awwww, Gail, please don't make us wait...! Your phone sex scene was wonderful -- and I've been waiting to see whether you tip more angst into the mix before we get our 'happily-ever-after'!! (<hanging head and scuffing the carpet with a toe> I meant to post last week how much I've enjoyed your last couple of chapters -- but they've rearranged some of the firewall security at work and I can no longer post from there. And, since I seem to be living there these days... <sigh>) Please post, soon??

Whoops - sorry about that - I hit something wrong. It's difficult to post during the week (that darn work keeps getting in the way) but I'll see what I can do. There is definitely more angst to follow. Can't make it too easy for our hero and heroine. But it will unfold in due time.

I concur with Dani,...full of eager anticipation did I tune in after a week's holiday in Portugal,..and...only one instalment (thank you Gail, heated as always. You could bring down fuel consumption here),...tsk tsk tsk!! Luckily I had brought some "material" along for the ride...

What Matters Most Chapter 19 The Loop Road is a 27-mile one-way boulevard that runs through Acadia National Park. It gets very congested in summer with cars in one lane and bicyclists, motorcyclists, roller bladers and pedestrians taking up the other. Motorists can rent or purchase an audio tape from the ranger station and listen to information about the park and its natural attractions. On a week day in early November, Liz and Will found themselves virtually alone as they meandered along on their bicycles. �Thanks for taking the day off to spend with me Liz,� Will said as they rode side-by-side. �I wanted to. I hate it when you have to work both weekend days and we can�t spend any time together. This is a pretty slow time at work right now and Andy told me to use up all my vacation between now and the end of the year. After that we�ll be really busy with preparing year-end closings and tax returns. And then the tourist season will start up again. So I should enjoy the peace and quiet in the office while I can.� �Perhaps we could both take a few days off and go somewhere. What do you think?� �I think that would be lovely. Where should we go? Some place warm?� �Actually I was thinking we might go to our ranch in Montana. It won�t be warmer but it�s a pretty time of year to visit. The aspens will be all in yellow and there will be snow on the mountain peaks. I would like to show it to you and introduce you to my father�s parents. They are retired now and spend most of the year at the ranch. I seriously considered moving there a couple years ago but then realized I couldn�t leave here. I�m very thankful about that now because of you. The ranch is my second most favorite place in the world though.� �Then I would love to see it and meet your grandparents. Let me know when you can get the time off and I�ll tell Andy. It will have to be after Thanksgiving though. We have to be here for that. You already promised my mother you were coming for dinner.� �Of course. I wouldn�t miss it.� �Oh Will, here�s Thunder Hole. Let�s stop.� Author�s note: Thunder Hole is a natural rock formation on the shore of Acadia. When the incoming tide is just the right height and comes in with just the right force, the water hits the rocks in such a way that it sprays up like a geyser and roars loudly. However, conditions have to be perfect otherwise it�s more like Trickle Hole. I managed to hit it right one time and it was pretty impressive. Unfortunately the tide was going out so there was no water in Thunder Hole. Liz and Will sat on the rocks for a few minutes, sharing a drink from Will�s water bottle. Liz pulled some stale bread out of her backpack and they amused themselves by throwing it to the seagulls who tried to catch the crumbs in mid air. A little while later they stopped their bikes again when Liz begged Will to take a short hike with her. �I can�t believe you have never climbed the Beehive Trail. Have you done Precipice?� �No Liz, what�s Precipice?� �It�s a similar type trail on another mountain but it�s quite a bit longer. We�ll have to do that another day when we have more time. Beehive is only a mile and we can go up and back in an hour. You have lived here all your life and don�t know the best parts of the island.� �You have to remember that I was away at school most of the time. We were only here in the summer and stayed away from the tourist areas. And once I started working, I never had time for exploration. In a way I�m glad because now you can show me everything I�ve missed.� Smiling, Liz took his hand and led him up the trail. It turned steep very quickly and they came to some metal rungs hammered into the side of the mountain. �OK, the trail goes this way,� Liz said as she began to climb. Will stayed close behind admiring the view. Not of the mountains, but of Liz�s backside. Hikers going down have the right of way on the narrow trail and a passing group had Will and Liz pressed up close to a rocky ledge. Then they climbed more ladders and were soon at the top of the small domed mountain. Though Beehive is not very high in elevation, it overlooks Sand Beach and the view is spectacular. Will and Liz decided to have their picnic in this picturesque spot. After they ate Liz had to go to the bathroom and found some shrubbery to hide behind. When she was finished she looked up and there was Will watching her. Startled, she screamed and he laughed. �Will! I�m going to kill you! You scared me half to death!� �I�m sorry,� he said not very sincerely. �I just couldn�t pass up the opportunity of seeing you with your pants down. A delightful sight I must say.� �You are incorrigible! What am I going to do with you?� �How about this?� Will asked, taking her into his arms and kissing her. It was impossible to be mad at him when such lovely sensations were flowing through her body. Will pulled her down to the ground and pressed up against her. Liz could feel his hardness through two layers of denim. She gently rocked her hips against his and he pushed back firmly. �Liz, I want you. Right here, right now.� �What if somebody comes?� �We�d better be quick then, hadn�t we?� Too aroused to argue, Liz allowed Will to unfasten her jeans and she wriggled them off as he yanked his down to his ankles. Covering her body with his, he slipped inside her parted thighs and moaned in pleasure before beginning to thrust frantically. �Hurry Lizzy, come for me baby.� The hardness of the ground at her back, the crisp fall air on her hot naked skin and the risk of discovery fueled Liz�s desire to a fever pitch culminating in a shattering climax, as she cried out his name. Her shudders brought Will to his own fulfillment and he emptied into her. After a very brief moment to gather their wits, they separated and quickly pulled clothes back on. Relieved that no one had disturbed their activity, Will and Liz looked at each other and laughed guiltily. Will tweaked Liz�s ponytail and gave her a quick firm kiss. �G-d girl, what you do to me! I can�t get enough of you.� Shaky from pleasure, Liz put her arms around Will and nibbled on his lower lip. �That was fantastic Will.� Slipping her tongue into his mouth, she kissed him deeply and thoroughly. �Wow!� Will exclaimed when she finally let him come up for air. �That really rocked your boat, didn�t it baby? I guess we�ll have to do it outside more often!� �Come on,� Liz laughed. �It�s getting late and it will be dark before we get back to the truck if we don�t hurry. I suggest we finish this discussion at home in bed.� �Oh yeah baby, sounds like a plan.� Will grabbed her hand and they bounded down the mountain. To Be Continued��

I loved this Chapter!!! This is getting better and better. Thank you for not leaving us alone!;)

Yeaa, another chapter! Thanks, Gail ;-).

Indeed,....*turning on the fan* thank you, Gail!! Don't miss any opportunity of enjoying yourself and entertaining us;-))

Thank you Gail. Looking forward to the next chapter "whew". BTW, I know this is very late, but thank you for telling us about Eve & Roarke. I've read all now except Judgement (can't find a copy in Australia at the moment).

Cathey, you're quite welcome although I can't take all the credit as Esbee got me started. And I'm very glad she did. Roarke has fueled many, many pleasant dreams! Not quite as many as ODB, but almost.

(Cathey) I've read all now except Judgement (can't find a copy in Australia at the moment). This is just a shameless plug for my favourite bookseller <shameless grin> ... Cathey, Pulp Fiction (Science Fiction, Fastasy, Crime and Mystery specialists!) in Brisbane has it. I was in there on my way home from work, just now... and Judgment in Death is on the new releases stand! They do mail order, too! If you want to try them, the number is 07 3236 2750 and their postal address is: Pulp Fiction, GPO Box 297, BRISBANE QLD 4001. Good luck! -- Thanks Gail for the new chapter! Lovely!

D'oh! I always remember something I was going to write as soon as I hit that 'submit' button! Getting Judgment in Death from Pulp Fiction (or another Australian bookshop) rather than an online bookseller gets around all the money lost from the Aus dollar being worth less than nothing at the moment, too!!

Thanks for this info Leanne. I'm not far from Brisbane (northern NSW), I might pop up there to do some shopping ;-)

Gail, thanks for the latest chapter on Liz and Will. I am afraid that my attempts to write a sequel to "Bridget in Lala Land" have been forestalled due to the demise of my hard drive last week (I now back everything up on a daily basis) and a bad spell of migraines, the latter which does strange things to my motor skills and ability to write. I have an idea for "The Interview," but need to take my time. I hope it will be worth the wait.

Don't worry, Lisa . As you must have gathered by now,...we are a patient lot(-_-)... I'm sure it will meet our sexpectations;-))

A little 'splendor in the grass'! Thanks Gail! �Come on,� Liz laughed. �It�s getting late and it will be dark before we get back to the truck if we don�t hurry. I suggest we finish this discussion at home in bed.� I'm finding it hard to be good on this Sunday afternoon! But a girl can dream, can't she? *sigh* (Hanne) I'm sure it will meet our sexpectations;-)) Sexactly!

*tap* *tap* *tap* uhhhh..... anyone out there? Getting so needy for some interesting reading material that I've decided to delurk. So helllooooooooooooooo out there.....

I've been checking every day just in case someone has had time to write but no luck. Nice to see you Betsy, even if its just to say hello.

Yep, purty durn quiet 'round heah.

I couldn't've put it bettah myself!!

I couldn't've put it better myself!!

Hehehe double trouble!!

I've been in a dry spell myself, but I can still beg some of our other authors... Wasn't Sadie supposed to have something written in October? or was it Judy? Nope, I'm almost sure it was Sadie! Oh... Sadie... where are you?

Hi Danielle, Bethanne, Heide...I'm just popping in to say hello. I haven't been able to be involved at drool lately. It is nice to be missed Danielle! (*Mental note to self, do not make promises* -))It was me who promised a story but I'm afraid it's on hold until further notice! *ducking* Anyway, this is a very belated thanks for your recent posting Gail. I'm sorry I wasn't around to express my appreciation at the time. Hope all is going well.

Hi everyone, I'm finally done with school, at least this quarter. Gotta go back in two weeks. I'm patiently waiting for more installments of old stories as well as fresh material. It's good to be home. Sarah

A WARM welcome to Betsy. Glad you de-lurked. Enjoy your mini-break Sarah. Hope you'll be entertained by the accommodating writers while you're home. I'm very happy to see Sadie's post. Hope that means you'll be able to come back more often. You've been missed. Maybe Judy will be encouraged to pop back in now too.

BETSY! Nice to see you've finally delurked. :-) Come on, authors, your appreciative public is waiting with baited breath to read a new installment. And they won't give up. Prepare for some heart-tugging begging and moaning. ;-D

What Matters Most Chapter 20 �And then I found poor Lizzy, still tied up and fast asleep with wet pants!� Everyone laughed as Emily Bennet finished yet another story about how her two eldest children used to pick on baby Liz. This particular event occurred when Robby and Jane tired of cops and robbers and went to play outside, totally forgetting about their five-year old �prisoner�. �That�s not even the worst of it,� Liz chimed in. �Once they hung me upside down and let the dog lick my face!� Will squeezed her hand sympathetically under the table but laughed right along with the Bennet family. They were gathered for Thanksgiving dinner and Will was getting an earful on the early days of the wild and rowdy Bennet children. While happy, his own childhood had been much more staid. He and Brian had their share of fights but rarely played together. And Georgianna was so much younger than her brothers, she was coddled instead of tortured. �No wonder I was such a brat!� Liz continued. �Who wouldn�t be with such tormentors as Robby and Jane!� But she looked fondly at her brother and sister. They had all come out of it none the worse for wear and now were as close as adult siblings could be. Karen heaved her heavy body out of the chair. �I need to walk around. After that meal I feel like I�m going to burst, in more ways than one.� Rob jumped up quickly to assist her. �Are you all right honey?� he asked with concern. Karen was a week late with their third child and Rob was edgy. Even though they had been through this twice before, it didn�t get any easier. Karen smiled and kissed his cheek. �I�m fine Rob. I don�t think it�s going to happen today. I just want to check on the kids. Come with me.� They walked out of the room hand in hand to check on their napping children. Jane, her own belly now softly rounded in her fifth month of pregnancy, took Charles� hand as he beamed at her. �Just think, at this time next year I�ll have two more great-grandbabies,� Mary Bennet said, smiling at the intimate exchange between Jane and Charles. �And my dear Lizzy will be married. Have you two set a wedding date?� �We�re thinking about August,� Liz replied. �We want something simple and preferable outdoors. No country club Grammy,� she added with a look at her grandmother. �You talked Karen and Jane into that, but it�s not for us.� �I didn�t have to do too much convincing as I recall,� Mary retorted, �but I have something much different in mind for you my dear.� �Mother,� Bob Bennet began with a warning in his voice, �you agreed not to interfere.� �My grandmother loves weddings and has managed to wheedle control of any and all weddings involving a Bennet,� Liz explained to Will. �We�d love to have your help Grammy, but it�s going to be our way.� �Well if you�d just listen to me, maybe you�ll be surprised,� Mary said huffily, putting a hurt look on her face. She knew the way to her granddaughter�s heart. Sure enough, Liz jumped out of her chair and kissed her grandmother on the cheek. �I�m sorry Grammy. Please tell us your ideas.� Pretending to be mollified, Mary continued as Liz sat down, �I suspected that the two of you would want something casual and I�ve been giving it a lot of thought. How about having the wedding at my house? Now before you say anything, let me tell you what I have in mind. We�ll have the ceremony out on the back lawn. It will be lovely with the ocean in the background and baskets of flowers everywhere. After the ceremony, we�ll have a big barbecue. Guests can use the pool and we can have volleyball and other games if you wish. They can bring their children too and I�ll hire a bunch of teenagers to tend them. That way no one has to worry about getting a babysitter.� Mary sat back, satisfied with herself. Liz and Will looked at each other and smiled. �Grammy, that sounds perfect.� �Mary, you�ve outdone yourself,� added Emily. �I think that sounds wonderful. Just one question � what if it rains?� �It won�t,� Mary said firmly. �But just in case, I was thinking we could have a picnic in the ballroom. We can still barbecue under the covered section of the patio and bring the food inside. We�ll have potted trees and flowers around the room and picnic tables. I think it will be fine if you don�t have too many guests.� �We don�t want a lot of people anyway,� Liz said. �Just family and some friends. I think we�ll be well under 100 people.� �Then that will work. And there�s plenty of room in the house for the kids to run around. We can have other types of games like a scavenger hunt or we could set up a casino where you win prizes instead of cash.� You could see the wheels turning in Mary�s creative mind. �It will be such fun!� �Grammy, I love you,� Liz said affectionately. Mary smiled at her youngest grandchild and rose from the table. �OK, we�ll plan later. Now let�s clear up this mess!� ******** Later that afternoon while Bob, Robby and Charles watched football, Jane and Karen took naps and Emily and Mary played with the children, Liz took Will on a tour of the Bennet home. Not that it was a large house, and two of the three bedrooms were in use but it gave them an excuse to be alone. �So this was your room,� Will said as he closed the door behind him. �Yes, Jane�s and mine. My father wasted no time when I moved out converting it into an office. They had already turned Robby�s room into a guestroom so this time he wanted a space of his own.� �How much time do you think we can get away with spending up here?� Will asked, pressing her against the wall. �You are insatiable Will,� she giggled, �and I think there will be a call to dessert before too long.� �I want you all the time my sweet,� he murmured between placing kisses all over her face and running his hands under her skirt. �And right now the only dessert I want is you.� Snaking his hand into her panties, he found her warm and wet. �Ummm, I�m not the only one who is insatiable.� He rubbed her sensitive bud with his thumb and plunged two moistened fingers deep inside. �Will,� she moaned, her legs turning to jelly. She would have slid to the floor but Will continued to hold her tightly against the wall. �Lizzy, I love to watch you. Show me your pleasure baby. Show me how much you like it.� Eyelids heavy with desire, Liz surrendered to the pleasure and rocked against his hand. Soft sighs escaped from her clogged throat. His expert touch drove her up quickly. Will watched her face intently as she gave herself up to the climax. He cupped her firmly until the shudders faded and slowly retrieved his hand. Wrapping his arms around her limp body, he kissed her deeply. �I love you so my sweet Liz.� Coming back down to earth and regaining her strength, Liz wrapped her hands around his neck. �Thank you,� she whispered. �What can I do for you?� �My pleasure and I�ll expect pay back later,� Will replied, grinning. He opened the door and they started down the stairs just as loud cheering exploded from the family room. �Sounds like the game is getting interesting. Let�s go see.� ***** On the following day, Liz and Will drove to Mary Bennet�s house for lunch and a further discussion of wedding plans. By the time they finished eating, they had set a date and Mary had lists of caterers, florists, and bands to research. Liz was happy to leave the details up to her grandmother. �Now my dear, let�s talk about dresses,� Mary began. Liz groaned, �Grammy, I�m wedding-ed out. Can�t we do this another day? Will doesn�t want to hear about dresses and Mom wants to get in on this act too. Why don�t we have a girls� day next weekend and invite Karen and Jane to help? After all, they will be bridesmaids and will certainly have an opinion.� �All right darling. Of course, Karen may be busy with the new baby by then.� �Then we�ll plan on meeting at her house. I�ll speak to Mom and set it up.� �Fine. Then I just have one other thing to discuss with the both of you and that is my wedding gift to you. I�ve been giving a lot of thought on how I want things split when I die.� �Grammy!� Liz cried, �please stop! You�re going to live a long time.� �Well I certainly hope so, my dear,� Mary replied, �but I�ve been having discussions with my lawyer lately and there are some things I would like to do. With Robby doing a wonderful job running the business, I want to make sure he is left in the position to continue to do so but I also want to be fair to you and Jane.� �Grammy, I don�t want anything but you. I don�t care about this stuff.� Mary took Liz�s hand and squeezed it gently. �You are sweet my darling, but a woman my age has to think of these things. You and Will will have children of your own some day and you need to think of their futures as well. Anyway, here�s what I would like to do. Robby, of course, will get the business and the majority of the stock. You and Jane will get a share of the rest. And I�ve spoken with Robby and Karen about this house. I want them to have it and we have decided that they will sell their house and move in with me now. This place is certainly large enough for all of us and this will allow me to spend lots of time with my grandchildren. Charles and Jane are already situated just down the street so I am giving them the house on Hilton Head with the caveat that I still get to use it whenever I please. That just leaves you two and if I can get you in the neighborhood, I�ll be able to have all my grandchildren and great-grandchildren close enough to see every day. What more could a grandmother ant?� Liz and Will looked at each other warily. �But Grammy, Will and I can hardly afford to live in this neighborhood. Well, actually Will could, but how would it look for a cop to live in a mansion? You know he lives fairly simply.� �Trust me, my love, I�ve thought it all out. What I am proposing for your wedding gift is a piece of my property on which I will build you a home. Now because the zoning laws in this part of town are quite strict, the land will technically remain as part of the estate. But all that means is if you decide to sell somewhere down the road, the current owners of the estate have first right of refusal to purchase it. And that right continues to the estate holder forever. Other than that, the land is yours to do with as you wish. I�d like to show you the lot I have in mind. It�s about 4 acres and has an ocean view. I�ve hired an architect and he will design a home to your specifications. You can build the little Cape of your dreams, but just keep in mind that children take a lot of space and plan accordingly. After all, you can always tell your friends that your grandmother just happened to have this lovely home on her property that she lets you rent for a song.� Will interjected, �As usual Mrs. Bennet, you�ve thought of everything. It�s a very generous offer but Liz and I need to discuss it.� �Of course. Just remember I�m doing this to be selfish. I want you all near me as I live out the rest of my old age.� Liz laughed. �Oh Grammy, you do know how to push my buttons.� �Of course girl! Now let�s go take a look at that property so you can make up your mind.� To Be Continued��

Snaking his hand into her panties, he found her warm and wet. �Ummm, I�m not the only one who is insatiable.� He rubbed her sensitive bud with his thumb and plunged two moistened fingers deep inside. O-H-H-H-H-H-H-H-H-H-H-M-Y! *fanning and needing a cigarette* Thanks Gail! *whew!* Thanks... �My pleasure and I�ll expect pay back later,� Will replied, grinning. Well????????? Where is it? I know I ask too much, but hey, you put it out there! Grammy wants full control doesn't she? She'd better hope their house not built too close to the mansion, she might hear some things that'll make her lose control!

�My pleasure and I�ll expect pay back later,� Hmmmmmmm,...lovely!! Can't wait;-))It has been very dry in here fore some time!!(-_-) (Danielle)She'd better hope their house not built too close to the mansion, she might hear some things that'll make her lose control! I doubt that very much, I think she knows her Liz. Coming from the same stock Liz might have inherited something from Grammy!

Wow, another hot chapter Gail! I'm bothered! Can't wait for the payback time!

Teg, I have just read "parallels" for the first time. It is amazing. I loved it. "Adieu" was so emotional that I teared up. I can't wait until your next stroy. Keep them coming. I wish I had the talent to write my own. Sarah

Sadie! I'm sorry your story is on hold... maybe something around Christmas?

*nodding vigorously* Pretty please!!! Christmas present ;-D !!!!...yayay

LOL! Tell my boss to stop overworking me so that I have time to write! It's been one thing after another.

Pray Sadie, what's your boss' name? Height? Hair color? and what time, exactly, does he/she get to work on most days? I'm thinking cement shoes...

LMAO Danielle. It's an intriguing idea. In the meantime, we need some fanfic SOMEONE!!

Thanks, Sarah! :) But don't think you can't write anything, yourself. You never know until you try! Dani, I thought for a minute you had something else in mind to distract Sadie's boss... all those questions about height, hair colour, etc. ;) Well, what else did you expect me to think??? This is a drool site, after all!!! Oh, now I have had an idea.....

(Dani)I'm thinking cement shoes Oh, I misread it substituting the th with an s. Yippie,...wonderful, Teg! I wish SOMEONE (read: Dani) would be so easily inspired;-DDD

I won't say this is my last 'extra bit' from Parallels, because who knows what ideas I may come up with in the future. The whole trilogy is an obsession with me, my characters an integral part of my own being. Anyway, I did add a bit to this since posting it at DWG. Enjoy! :) Letting Go The house was still. The clock at the bedside read two twenty-three. Throwing the coverlet back, Will swung his legs to the floor and wriggled his feet into the slippers that lay there. His dressing gown lay across the foot of the bed and he carefully slipped it on before padding across the room to open the door, peering out into the darkened hallway. Not a sound broke the silence but the steady tick-ticking of the clock near the top of the huge staircase. His eyes were inexorably drawn to the stairs, a twinge of painful memory brushing against his weakening resistance. The darkness of the hall was no impediment as Will made his way down its length toward the gallery. Slow, measured steps carried him past various doorways, pausing before each as more memories intruded upon his thoughts. Elizabeth and William, as he was called then.... the first time he�d seen them together. The snow was falling gently around them, the little boy covered head to toe in the white stuff. His mother�s face was red from the cold, or was that embarrassment? Never had he seen anything so beautiful in his life! This woman who had rent his heart years before, when he had tasted perfect happiness and then had it torn from him. To see her again was an exquisite torture, but one that he had thought himself prepared for, knowing she would be there. Was it the pain of past memories or the delight in a renewed opportunity that stung him hardest? He heard not a word she had said and, when she turned away, heading back to the house with the little boy in tow, for the first time he realized that his heart had returned... whole, intact.... tied irrevocably to this woman. Will sighed and moved on. Anna.... fresh scrubbed and in a pretty pink sundress, her hair tidily arranged in a French braid. Not fifteen minutes later her mother leading her by the hand back into the house and marching her upstairs to the bath, a trail of mud leading back to the scene of the crime. �Why did I ever think that a dress would deter you from following your brother down to the pond to catch frogs?� lamented Elizabeth in a voice that echoed in the open foyer. Even after all those years he could still hear her voice in the corridor as she had scolded their daughter all the way to the bath. Will continued down the hallway, no change in his pace. The memories didn�t surprise him. He had been reliving them for the last few months, since he first awoke in the middle of the night and began making these forays to the gallery. At first they were quite painful to accept but, as time wore on, he preferred to recall these pleasant and amusing snippets of his life to spending a lonely night staring at the ceiling of his bedroom, aching for the part of him that was no longer there. Each night brought new memories, he had yet to recall the same one twice. Will had even begun to look forward to these clandestine excursions every night for they at least afforded him the opportunity to be with his Liz once more, even if it was only in his mind. He glanced to either side of the hall, the two bedroom doors ajar. It had been several years since either had been occupied but he could still see his daughters as they had giggled and made faces at each other across the width of the corridor. �Back to bed, girls.� The hint of amusement around Elizabeth�s mouth belied the stern tone she was trying to effect. Two sets of wide brown eyes gazed apologetically back at their mother, more sorry for being caught than for being out of bed at this hour of the night. �Spoilsport,� Will grumbled behind her. �Shhh!� Elizabeth countered, grimly eyeing the collection of stuffed bears and assorted animals that littered the hallway, mute testimony to the battle recently waged. �Haven�t you encouraged enough rebellion for one night?� Leaning against one of the doorframes, Will stared into the inky blackness of the vacant room, seeing in his mind�s eye the tiny form tucked under the blankets raise herself up on one elbow and whisper a soft �Daddy?� He sighed and turned in the direction of the gallery once more. After countless nights repeating this ritual, he knew exactly how many steps would be taken before he reached his destination. As he passed the windows that looked out onto the front lawn, the moonlight streaming through the glass created illusions before Will�s eyes. She was laughing at him. Eyes sparkling, she beckoned him forward with one slim arm slightly raised. Before he had taken two steps toward her, Elizabeth giggled and spun herself in a circle, her skirt swirling out and around her shapely legs. He stopped and blinked, shaking his head to dispel the lingering image, then walked the final stretch of corridor to sink down into a chair along the wall. On the opposite wall was a portrait. Unlike the many others than hung in the gallery, this one was not a commissioned painting but a photograph. No artist, no matter the skill, could capture Will�s Elizabeth. This photo had been a tedious project. In the end it had been a shot captured at an unguarded moment, when she had caught sight of her husband playing ball with their sons behind the photographer, that had been the best. Will�s gaze rose to meet those of the portrait. The laughter in Elizabeth�s eyes, the sparkle... there was life in every aspect of her. A tiny smile hinted at the corners of her mouth. An almost inaudible sigh escaped him as his head came to rest against the back of the chair. He stared at the portrait and allowed his mind to take him where it may. �Will! Oh, Will, it�s lovely! How did you know?� Elizabeth�s eyes lit up in delight and she flung her arms about his neck, kissing him impulsively. �You are the most thoughtful, the best of husbands!� ~~~~ �You have a daughter.� The baby�s cry was music to his ears. He took the tiny bundle from the doctor and held her close for Elizabeth to see. One tiny fist was waving about as Will laid a gentle kiss on the top of her head. �She�s beautiful,� Elizabeth whispered. �She�s perfect,� Will smiled at his wife. �How could she be anything but?� ~~~~ A chorus of voices joined together in assorted keys to wish their father a happy birthday. Will�s ear registered the assault but his heart translated the noise into a beautiful rendition of the traditional song. His eyes met Elizabeth�s over the heads of their children as they gathered around, pressing forward to bestow hugs and kisses on him. There was nothing, he knew, that could rival the contentment and joy that filled him when surrounded by his family. Kneeling down, he allowed his children to push him over while they climbed on top of him, giggling and squirming..... The chime of the clock roused Will from a light sleep. Drowsily, his eyes sought the display on the face of the timepiece at the end of the hall. The huge, ugly gilt exterior was a sharp contrast to the delicate musical notes that daily sounded out the quarter hours. �No, no Will,� Elizabeth frowned. �You can�t send it back.� �I�m not hanging this.. this.. monstrosity in our home!� Will shook his head as he contemplated the gall of his aunt in sending a �gift� of this nature. His wife giggled. �I�ll bet it cost her a fortune!� Will was not amused. �It�s ugly. Elizabeth, it�s an insult. You know she meant it as one.� �Perhaps she did, but Will, just listen.� She drew the minute hand forward to trigger the mechanism for the chime. A delicate tinkling of bells issued from the unlikely source. Elizabeth grinned. �It sounds so pretty.� �Maybe we can hang it in the closet,� Will grumbled. �Clocks in the closet? Will, whoever heard of anything so absurd!� Elizabeth nodded her head decisively. �There�s a little alcove in the gallery that will be just perfect for this.� �Just perfect, Elizabeth,� Will whispered. �I�m probably sitting in the only place where the bloody thing can be seen.� He closed his eyes again and shifted uncomfortably in the chair. A chill descended and he pulled his dressing gown closer around his body. The steady tick-tick of the clock now caught his attention. Will opened his eyes to stare at the portrait. Focussing on the image before him, he allowed the rhythmic sound of the clock to lure his memories of the lady to once again take shape before him. �I didn�t think you were coming.� �Have I disappointed you yet?� �Never.� A pause. �How much longer?� �Not long. I promise.� �I miss you.� �I know. You have no idea how much I miss you.� Eyes still closed, Will�s hand reached out to empty air...... �Don�t make me wait any longer. Please... I can�t bear it.� �Patience... all will be as it should.� The clock chimed the beginning of a new hour. �May I?� A delicate hand was placed in his own and the music drew the couple to the floor for the dance. Sweeping a dramatic entry onto the floor, Will pulled her close, whispering in her ear. The smile that slowly spread across her face was not one of amusement but of satisfaction. She encouraged him to lead her through the maze of couples and away from the scrutiny of the spectators, those looking for evidence of discord in any form. Nothing could possibly give the impression of disharmony on this night of all nights. The bond was too strong, the need almost visible. A murmur from the crowd reached the ears of the couple. An unmistakable voice called out across the room. �You�re needed� �It�s time he learned to do things without me.� �Just go see what he wants. It will only take a minute.� �Not this time. We all have to let go eventually. Some just require a shove.� Their dancing carried them further away and the crowd began to thin. The voice grew quieter, less urgent. A flicker of something, not quite regret, flashed in his eyes and was gone. His partner saw it but made no comment, knowing the decision had been made. Wrapping his arms about her, he sighed as her body�s warmth seeped into his and the music led them even further from the others. Soon the strains of the song were left behind and they were alone, all vestiges of the outside world faded away. As their bodies swayed together he closed his eyes, allowing his fingers to trace lightly down her sides and along her hips. A soft sigh from her lips brought a smile to his own and his eyes opened once more to see the sparkle reflected in hers. Her hand reached down and took hold of his, stepping back a pace and leading him toward the misty end of the hallway. Nothing was visible beyond and he paused while she continued on a few feet ahead. Then she turned and waited patiently, the light from behind outlining her figure under the filmy gown she wore. He drew in a breath, inhaling the scent borne upon the air; a gentle scent of honeysuckle and roses, spring rain and sunshine. She now stood before him, naked but for her smile.... a mischievous, inviting smile, full of hope and promises. The mist curled tantalizingly around her legs in wisps and tendrils that caressed as they travelled upward. A few tendrils snaked toward him, whispering as they wrapped themselves about his body. He felt his own clothes fall away and the mist envelop him, gently guiding him forward until his body was next to hers. He gazed upon her, drinking in her beauty while she continued to watch him with that bewitching smile. One finger reached out to trace a line along his jaw, his throat and down his chest. He folded her in his arms and buried his face into her hair. �Make love to me, Will.� Her silent plea echoed in his ears. �Don�t leave me, Liz. Not again.� .... he added his own plea as the mists swirled frantically around them ...... �Never again.� .... she promised as they joined together...... Never again..... *** Ben sat back on his heels, his head hanging and his eyes closed. One hand was still wrapped around his father�s wrist. �This is how you wanted it to be, isn�t it?� His voice was a low whisper. Bringing his head up, he opened his eyes once again and stared at the still face. �I knew you wouldn�t stay with us for long, not after Mum was gone. I didn�t think it would be so quick, though.� Ben let out a long, broken sigh. �Just what did you find here every night?� He glanced up at the portrait smiling down on them. �Do you know much of him died with you?� Rising to his feet, Ben tucked the blanket around Will�s form one last time. His eyes closed in an expression of pain, then he turned away, walking down the long, quiet hallway to face his future. The End.

That was sad but beautiful Teg.I don't know how you manage to write about their death as it brings a lump to my throat just reading it.His memories were so poignant. Gail,I've enjoyed catching up on your story as well! To all writers out there more please & soon

Ohhhhhhhhhh Teg! *shakes head and wipes tears from eyes* I didn't need to see this today! Darn it! And you made me read it again, just to see what you added... Blast! Beautiful as always! (Teg) Dani, I thought for a minute you had something else in mind to distract Sadie's boss... all those questions about height, hair colour, etc. ;) Well, what else did you expect me to think??? This is a drool site, after all!!! LOL! I'll be more careful next time! And no Hanne, I haven't had any inspriation in quite a while...

Wonderful Teg,....*sniff*....A lesson in how to use your arts and allurements to make us read this sad story once again, but it was definitely worth it...beautiful additions!!!

Oh Teg, this is so beautiful and sad *wipes tears*.... Now, when are you going to write the death scenes for all their children? -D

AAAAAhhhhhhhhhh........so beautiful Teg. Will and Elizabeth have found heaven in more ways than one. While I could not bring myself to read the Lizzy death scene, this one was easier. Maybe because she was already gone and Will was ready to go and be with her again. Still sad, but yet hopeful. (Sadie) Now when are you going to write the death scenes for all their children? Please no!! I can't take any more sadness!!

(Sadie) Now when are you going to write the death scenes for all their children? (Gail) Please no!! I can't take any more sadness!! I'm with you on that score, Gail!

Oh dear, I left the italics on! Happy Thanksgiving! Perhaps someone will have the opportunity to write something for Drool during the long weekend...?

(DanielleL)Perhaps someone will have the opportunity to write something for Drool during the long weekend...? I second that-)

Yes, you have a long weekend, Danielle! Go to it! ;)

Not to interrupt the creative flow or anything but has anyone heard from Irene? Was wondering how she's doing.

(Teg) Yes, you have a long weekend, Danielle! Go to it! ;) Sorry Teg, no can do. now will to do it. major deadline at work in less than 2 weeks! Heide, I heard from Irene just two days ago! She said she was doing fine, although she had just left the hospital. She even said she would drop us a line sometime soon...

Thanks, Danielle. Glad to hear she'll pay us a visit soon.

I'm off to school tomorrow. I expect to have some drool waiting for me after "hours" of studying. Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving. Sarah

A couple of articles in The Times today that our writers and readers might be interested in reading. I'll link to the first and give you the second. Comic novelist Wendy Holden, nominated for this year�s Bad Sex in Fiction award, comes clean about her motivation http://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/0,,43081,00.html And the second: Good sex writing is hard Rowan Pelling isn�t surprised � good sex writing is hard ABOUT five years ago Chatto & Windus commissioned a series of erotic novellas from various well-known writers. When the first manuscripts turned up on the editor�s desk there was consternation. They were full of sex, but not one of them was sexy. This story confirms something I have long suspected: erotic writing is the trickiest form of literature that a writer can attempt. If a writer falls short of the G-spot they earn the derision of their peers and a Bad Sex Award from the Literary Review. When an author does succeed in creating a lubricious scenario, the plaudits pass them by in favour of the big book of ideas. Sex is by nature parochial � the biggest orgy takes up less room than the smallest battle. So it�s about time we acknowledged the quiet heroism of writers who evoke small monsoons in the groin area of their readers. Hitherto their only reward has been stained bed sheets and the odd stalker. The best-known names in the English language sex canon fall short of erotic greatness: John Clelland and Henry Miller never leave you with time to relax. D.H. Lawrence is superior to these brethren, but still doesn�t know where to stop: even the humble catkin becomes a pulsating vulva. The best sex writing, like the best sex, punctuates the main action, and leaves you wanting more. My favourite fiction from The Erotic Review describes sex but is not necessarily about sex; instead, sexual preference is used to illuminate character. Good erotic writing shares many of the characteristics of good comic writing. In both mediums the build- up of tension and exquisite pleasure of relief is the central motive; in both, you have to be audacious. Good comedians and eroticists are trespassers who go as close to the boundaries as they dare. And both mediums demand a straight face. A good erotic writer delivers a sex scene with the same deadpan authority that Paul Merton delivers a punch-line. The reader, or audience, decides to be seduced. In recent fiction several sex scenes have the kind of kinetic impact I�m talking about. Tim Binding�s In the Kingdom of the Air contains explicit descriptions of a purely physical affair. The protagonist�s calm descriptions of every permutation of adulterous sex are disturbingly erotic (even the author�s wife was reportedly shocked). Similarly, in Birdsong, Sebastian Faulks�s juxtaposition of a love affair with a soldier�s experience of trench warfare serves to intensify the horrors of war; sincerity is the key to describing both experiences. But it�s hard to get it right all the time. When Faulks wrote his next novel, Charlotte Gray, he wrote a sex scene in which the hero �slumps down gasping on top of her, breaking into tiny dying fragments�. It won that year�s Bad Sex Award. If only there were a Good Sex Award � Faulks could be the first holder of both accolades. Rowan Pelling is the editor of The Erotic Review, which has just published its first compilation of sex writing, The Erotic Review Bedside Companion (Headline) http://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/0,,43183,00.html

So it�s about time we acknowledged the quiet heroism of writers who evoke small monsoons in the groin area of their readers. ROTFLOL! Thanks, Karen!

Karen, thanks, that was quite illuminating! Good sex writing is hard Was that intended as a pun, I wonder? As one who has struggled mightily in the attempt to write erotic prose, I can only agree that it is indeed very difficult. I have found that Nora Roberts does it very well. especially in the JD Robb series. And lately I have been reading my way through all of Amanda Quick's novels. This is Jayne Krentz's penname on a series of Regency & Medeval romances which I am finding quite fun to read. While she uses the basic premise (with one or two exceptions) of a virginal heroine who is an Original (doesn't quite follow the "norms" of society) and a rather jaded, dark and reluctant hero, the plotlines are cute and the sex is steamy. I haven't read any other works by Krentz so I don't know if she carries this over into more modern day stories. Does anyone else have any favourites they would like to share? I'm always looking for inspiration for my own attempts at writing here at Drool!

Thanks Karen...a skill indeed. Like the part that writng about sex isn't always sexy. How true!

. Good erotic writing shares many of the characteristics of good comic writing. In both mediums the build- up of tension and exquisite pleasure of relief is the central motive; in both, you have to be audacious. The good parts are also the ones between the lines! Here we get the best of both;-))!!! Good comedians and eroticists are trespassers who go as close to the boundaries as they dare. And both mediums demand a straight face. The opposite is sooo toe-curling and embarrasing. Thank you, Karen, for giving us these articles!!

The good parts are also the ones between the lines! Here we get the best of both;-))!!! Between the lines and between the legs. ;-)

I have found that Nora Roberts does it very well. especially in the JD Robb series. And lately I have been reading my way through all of Amanda Quick's novels. LOL! I am so glad I have found a fellow reader.

FYI: slash goes in other direction to close a tag done

Thanks for that article, Karen. Much like a pat on the back for us, here. ;) It is definitely true about struggling over the composition of those scenes. Mind you, it must be equally difficult to write the 'Bad Sex' scenes with the intent of being really bad! LOL!! Oddly enough, and you're not likely to believe this (*grin*), I don't read that sort of stuff and never had, until pointed in the direction of this locale, and encouraged to try my hand at it (no pun intended!). I still don't seek out the books. I merely read here. As for the Bad Sex in Fiction awards... I have to admit that the winner was definitely worth a repeat read! British author Sean Thomas is the winner of Britain's dreaded Bad Sex in Fiction Award 2000. He won for the following passage in his novel Kissing England, where a female character's diminutive body is compared to several brands of portable cassette players: "It is time, time ... Now. Yes. She is so small and compact and yet she has all the necessary features ... Shall I compare thee to a Sony Walkman, thou art more compact and more -- She is his own Toshiba, his dinky little JVC, his sweet Aiwa ... Aiwa, aiwa aiwa aiwa aiwa aiwa aiwa aiwa aiwa aiwa aiwaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhh ..."

Couldn't be more deserving IMHO. ;-)

Still LOLling

Terry has posted a message on Topic #100..Spring Pledge Drive. Message #81. Spring is now accepting donations via Pay Pal. http://www.spring.net/paypal Great news for the overseas folks who were unable to donate in Sept./Oct.

Thanks Karen! It is very hard to write about sex! "It is time, time ... Now. Yes. She is so small and compact and yet she has all the necessary features ... Shall I compare thee to a Sony Walkman, thou art more compact and more -- She is his own Toshiba, his dinky little JVC, his sweet Aiwa ... Aiwa, aiwa aiwa aiwa aiwa aiwa aiwa aiwa aiwa aiwa aiwaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhh ..." ROTFLMAO! Oh that is bad! That is so terrible bad! LOL! Thanks Teg!

I wonder what those "necessary features" are.

Elizabeth Elliot�s Sexcapades! I know this is basically a P&P board, but I've been long in promising this story� I've chosen a character that, in my opinion, is not tormented enough and that is Elizabeth Elliot of Persuasion. Most of these stories really happened! Let's just say I have some interesting friends and family members� Prologue As we all know, the young lady was vain enough to believe that she could get any man she wanted. For her beauty was beyond compare! Although she could, indeed, get any man she wanted, her problem was keeping them. Her paramours quickly tired of the standard missionary mode of sexual pleasure and the constant cries of �Don�t muss my hair! My makeup!� When the �gentlemen� apprised her of these grievances, she dismissed each one of them and moved onto the next; only to receive, within a few dates, the same complaints. To her mortification, she had no one to turn to. No mother to receive guidance, no sisters she deigned to favor with a smile, and no real friends to commiserate with. But alas, from out of nowhere came a peculiar divorcee (scandalized for her many indiscretions and run out of town by her husband), in the form of Mrs. Amanda Clay, the daughter of her father�s solicitor. They became fast friends, to some other�s dismay. But now, Elizabeth Elliot had a confidant, a cohort, an accomplice! Their quiet whisperings, covert looks, and secret smiles did much to alarm her sister Anne and their dearest friend, Mrs. Russell. But no one would dare speak up, as Elizabeth had quite a temper. They would keep a close eye and ear to the door, and wait and see how far this friendship would go� *** Sexcapade #1 "Have you seen 9 � Weeks?" "The movie?" Mrs. Clay nodded. "No. Never." "Well, I�ve done� um, I�ve never done this before, but I always wanted to�" *** There was no way that one bath would get rid of this! She cringed at the thought that maybe some of it might need to be cut out of her hair! And everything was going so perfect too! He had wanted to make her dinner, he said� He was so sweet and loveable, a big ol� teddy bear! He had grilled some steaks and ribs and ears of corn and potatoes; he had even tossed a salad. Although this was too much food in Elizabeth�s mind, she did not care, because her big strong strapping young man would finish it off and sweep her into the bedroom. Dinner was delightful! He went into the kitchen for more wine, however, within a few moments, he called her to him and shyly apologized for forgetting to make the apple pie! He opened the refrigerator to show her the ingredients and an idea sprang in her head. Before Frank Churchill knew it, she was smearing the apple filling across her naked flesh! He was ecstatic! At first, he lavished whip cream on her breasts and labia, then honey� Unfortunately, in his overzealousness, he began to imagine her as the unprepared dessert and started in on using the other ingredients. He cracked eggs on her, dusted her with brown sugar, then dumped flour all over her! It was a squishy, sticky mess! In the end, he licked off more of himself than of her� Elizabeth looked to the mirror at the mess that was her and when she pounded her fist on her bed, dust flew everywhere! *** No more big men for her! Their appetites were oppressive! When her friend queried her about it, she only declared an aversion to apple pie and swore never to eat it again! Elizabeth Elliot rolled her eyes in the mirror as the stylist tried to do something with her hair�    To be continued�

It was a squishy, sticky mess! In the end, he licked off more of himself than of her! *roaring* Hilarious, Dani, thank you for a morning of complete break down!!;-)