Chapter 8

There were days when Val was pretty busy, having to service two women in the same house. The tricky part was keeping either from finding out about the other. This see-sawing back and forth kept his nerves on edge. He had no difficulty, really, because when he made love to his sister, his mother wasn't home. He and Rena had decided on that after that one night in her room. His mother was often tired and even she began to feel the strain of making love in the house when Rena was home. So, Laura and Val changed their times for love to when Rena was at a girl friend's house. Still, it was unnerving to Val, most of all. He was jittery and the hours kept him from getting the rest he needed. He began to have trouble with headaches and with his eyes. But he didn't complain. He was sure it would go away, once he leveled off.

He was enjoying himself and thought that he just wanted sex so much because it was new to him. There were times, even, when he didn't want any, but these were seldom. With Val, the more he got, the more he wanted. At school, he was pretty much of a loner. There was no one in whom he could confide, so he kept to himself. If he wasn't an introvert before his sexual awakening, he was fast becoming one under the new routine of his life. He noticed that his mother was edgy too, and this affected his feeling of security. She was working longer hours now that she had learned the bindery trade and when she did get off early she often stopped to have a few drinks before coming home. Or she would bring home a bottle "to relax" her.

The truth was that Laura was beginning to feel the demands made on her by Val. What had begun as an urgent necessity had developed into a kind of trap for her. She was somewhat disconcerted by Val's expanding sensuality and felt responsible for it. She wished she could take back all that she had done, but she knew that this was impossible. Instead, she hoped that he would find other interests and indeed, she had noticed that he had slacked off in his demands of her. She didn't have the nerve, however, to ask if he had found a girl his own age to enjoy sexual relations with ... no, she was still touchy in that area. But still, she hoped that she would find a way to break off with Val and not hurt him. Or herself.

Then, as if in answer to her desires, along came someone who might be the lover to turn the tables of her life. Burt Nevins had noticed Laura from the first day she came to work in the bindery. Quietly he had watched her and gradually they had become acquainted. He was a mild-mannered man, slightly older than Laura, who had been divorced twice. He was short with a slender build, close-set ferret eyes of hazel hue, a squat nose and thick dark hair. He was forty-one or forty-two and drank beer during the week because he usually spent most of his money going on a bat as soon as he got paid. He lived alone in a trailer a half block from the bindery. He wasn't neat as a housekeeper, but he kept his person clean and, because both his wives had left him, Laura felt something of a kinship with him.

They often stopped after work to have a beer or a cocktail and in this way their friendship solidified. He liked Laura because she was prettier than either of his ex-wives and because she had a nice body to go with her pleasant personality. Gradually he learned as much of the story as she wanted him to know about her old man, Red. Laura looked like a pretty good deal to Burt because she had a home and kids, neither of which he had ever owned, and because she was bright and sensible where he was not. Burt had been a carney worker, a dishwasher, a stevedore, a truck driver, a busboy, short-order cook, janitor and once, a vacuum salesman for about a month.

In short, Burt Nevins had been through the mill and around the horn. The other bindery workers were either women or married and it was perhaps natural that he and Laura would find each other under the circumstances. While he didn't make her heart flutter, he was male and he was companionship. It meant a great deal to her and she was grateful for his company. She looked forward to their cocktails or beers after work, but for those first several weeks that she knew him, her thoughts never went beyond that. Now, though, their relationship had developed to the point where she began to look at Burt as more than a friend, if not a potential husband. He had told her where he lived, but had also said that it wasn't fixed up and he was shy about inviting her over. So the idea had settled in her mind. Why not invite him to her home? It wouldn't be anything out of the ordinary. She was almost divorced and she had children. "Would you like to come over this Friday for cocktails and dinner?" she asked him on Tuesday.

"Why, I'd like that very much," he said. "But

I insist on buying the refreshments." It was payday and he knew that it would represent a considerable saving to him in this instance. Better than hitting the honkytonks all night as he usually did. "Do you like Scotch?"

"That sounds fine," she said. "Friday night. We can stop for a drink then you can follow me home in your car."

"Swell," said Burt, and the matter had been settled.

Laura had thought both Rena and Val would be home that Friday, but on Thursday night, Rena asked if she could go to the show with Linda. Laura agreed, but had hoped Burt could have met both children. She told Val that she was bringing someone home for dinner who worked at the bindery. She didn't say who it was and he imagined it was one of the other girls who worked there.

Friday, after work, Laura and Burt stopped and had a couple of drinks. Then they cashed their checks at the market. Burt bought Scotch and soda and a bag of ice. Laura bought a few items for dinner. She planned to have lamb chops because they were not expensive and were easy to prepare. After they got their groceries, they had one more drink then drove to Laura's in their separate cars, neither of them feeling much pain.

Burt was smacking his lips as he followed Laura up her driveway. He was impressed with her modest frame house, because it represented something he had never had. He had taken a couple of nips from a bottle stashed in his glove compartment as he drove so he was in a mellow mood when he followed Laura into the house.

"Val," she called when they were inside.

"Come here. I want you to meet somebody."

Val came from his bedroom where he had been resting his eyes. He was surprised to see the man with his mother and he stopped up short.

"Burt, this is my son, Val. Val, this is Mr. Nevins, my friend, who works where I do. We're going to have dinner together after a while."

"Hey, a nice-looking youngster," said Burt, offering his hand.

"Pleased to meet you, Mr. Nevins," Val said nervously. He took the handshake, and thought it was weak.

"Me too, son," said Burt.

Val didn't like the "son" but he didn't say anything. He was a little piqued, though, that this guest turned out to be a man. He was wary and didn't want to appear so. He mumbled something about studying and left the room.

"Fine boy," said Burt, when Val had left. "I compliment you, Laura."

"Thanks, Burt. Now you just get comfortable here in the living room while I fix our drinks. I'll get things ready so that it won't take but a jiffy to fix supper. Rena, my daughter, went to a movie but you'll meet her sometime."

"I'm looking forward to it," said Burt, finding himself a spot on the worn couch. "You got a nice place here."

"Thank you. I won't be but a minute." She took his sack and hers into the kitchen. Burt looked at his surroundings and could see himself living there. It wasn't too much to hope for, he reasoned. Laura didn't go out with anyone else, he was almost sure. And she was a woman without a man. Maybe, he thought, he could be that man. He almost guffawed aloud thinking about his chances.

Laura brought their drinks, took a sip, then went back to the kitchen to get things ready. She called for Val to help her and he came in reluctantly.

"What'd you have to bring that creep here for?" he whispered.

"Shh! Don't talk that way, Val. He's a nice man. He-he's been very kind to me."

"Shit!"

Laura was angry. "Don't you talk that way. You hear? Now, help me with the salad, will you? I want to be proud of you."

Val pouted and helped her clean the vegetables. Laura got the chops on the platter, the oven heated, and the potatoes ready. She asked Val to set the table for three and then she joined Burt in the living room. Val would get over it, she thought. He probably resented any man since his father had left. It was only natural.

Laura joined Burt in the living room with fresh drinks and as they talked, Val sulked back to his room, trying to control his anger. Burt Nevins' coming had caught him off balance. Val didn't know how to take it. Was this just a casual after-work thing, or did she plan to marry the creep? His blood turned to ice at the thought that his mother might have serious intentions about Nevins. Whatever the relationship, Val was shook up. His security had been threatened, his perch shaken, if ever so slightly. He threw himself on the bed in his room and tried to listen to what they were talking about in the living room.

Laura and Burt chatted over their Scotches in low tones so that Val couldn't hear what they were saying. It was maddening. He decided to try and cool it because his ill temper was giving him a headache. He got a magazine out of his drawer and tried to shut out the low hum of voices in the next room.

Burt was telling Laura how he'd started at the Bristol Bindery, as a janitor and handyman, four years ago. He'd become fascinated with the process of turning printed pages into bound books and magazines and had talked his way into a job at the bottom. Now he could run every machine in the place and felt secure. Laura couldn't help feeling that Burt was laying some groundwork for some kind of future proposition. It gave her a feeling of self-confidence to know this and, with the drinks, Burt didn't look so shabby as he did at work. In a home, he had an entirely different appearance than in the bar. She was feeling good from the drinks. It was pleasant talking to Burt, rather, listening to him.

After the third drink, Laura forgot all about their supper. Or Val. She was more than tipsy, she was drunker than she ever had been. The empty stomach, the strangeness of having a man in the house after so many months, the drinks, all worked their special spell on her. Burt, too, was feeling no pain. But he had a much larger capacity than Laura. He was exulting in the limelight Laura furnished him. He felt warm and welcome sitting next to her on the couch. He too forgot about their expected supper and about her son somewhere in the house.

"You're the nicest woman I ever met," he said, in a drink-thickened tongue.

"Thank you, Burt. You're so nice," Laura said, fawning over him.

"It's sure nice to be here with a swell woman like you, Laura."

"Mmmmmm. You're my best friend ever," she said, her voice low and wavering.

He took her hand in his. She liked his touch. She leaned over, near him and kissed him on the cheek. Encouraged by this, Burt moved close to her so that their thighs were touching. He took her in his arms and they kissed for the first time. It was not a sensual kiss, just a touching of lips, but it stirred up the fires in Laura. Burt was aroused instantly. He hadn't kissed a woman like Laura in a long time ... only the bar flies when he was drunk, the chippies he met when he had a heavy wallet.

In a few minutes he was all over her. His hands were on her breasts, feeling them, on her waist, reaching under her dress. He was slobbering kisses all over her and she, in such a stupor she hardly knew what she was doing, was returning his kisses, surrendering to his embrace. In a dizzy haze, she thought she was with Red again, but no, it was someone else, someone different. It didn't make any difference. She was being loved and she wanted it. The room spun and the lights went haywire. She could feel herself being forced backward, her dress falling up above her knees, a hand crawling up her leg, touching her panties.

Val, wondering when they were going to get around to dinner, walked in just at that moment. His eyes blazed with a fierce hatred. He clenched his fists and the room drenched red. A dizziness assailed him as he saw the two clothed bodies writhing awkwardly on the couch. The room reeked of alcohol. He saw the man groping his mother, his hand halfway up her dress, and a blind rage gripped him. "You sonofabitch!" he shrieked.

The pair struggled to disentangle themselves from each other on the couch. Val had caught them by complete surprise. Even in their drunken haze they knew that they had a problem on their hands. Val's face was contorted with fury. Burt raised himself to a sitting position, his mind clearing. Somehow, he knew he had made an awful mistake. If only her kid hadn't been there! Another minute and he'd have been in her pants! He shook his head groggily. "I'm sorry," Burt blurted out. "I guess I got carried away."

"Get out of here, you-you mother-fucker!" Val screamed.

"Val!" his mother shouted. She tried to sit up straight. She knew she looked a mess. She felt woozy, but seeing Val angry made her afraid.

"That sonofabitch better get out of here or I'll kill him!" Val said. He stepped toward Burt.

Burt looked like he'd been kicked in the nuts.

"Val, this is none of your business. It's as much my fault as..."

"Get out, bastard!" Val screamed again. His eyes bugged out and his face was livid. He no longer had control over his emotions. He grabbed Nevins by the collar of his shirt and jerked him to his feet. His strength was multiplied by his uncontrollable rage.

Burt trembled with fear. He didn't want this. He wished it had never happened. He just wanted to get away. The kid might make a scene and cause all the neighbors to rush in, the police. His face blanched and he stumbled away from Val, trying to get away. Val kicked at him, missing.

"Burt, please," screamed Laura. "Don't leave like this!"

"I've got to leave," he mumbled. "Sorry."

"Val, stop it!" She was hysterical.

Val took a swing at Burt and missed again. But Nevins had had enough. He shot to the door and went out. A moment later, Val and his mother heard the car start up and drive away. His mother broke into tears, holding her face in her hands.

"That dirty bastard," Val said, his fists still clenched. He was shaking.

"Oh, Val, you spoiled it. Why?"

"You wanted that slimy fucker's hands up your dress? You wanted that creep handling you like a whore?"

"No. I don't know. I didn't know it had gone that far. Oh, Val, I'm so sorry!" She looked up at him, the tears streaming down her face.

"I could have killed him," Val said, still raging inside.

"Oh, no, don't say things like that. He didn't mean anything. Really."

"Shit. I saw him. I saw both of you. Oh, Mother, why did you do that with him?" He fought back the tears that threatened to come.

"I-it was the drinks. Too much to drink," his mother said weakly. She stood up, unsteady on her feet. "Oh, dammit, now what will Burt think of me? Of us?"

"I don't care. And neither should you. I don't want that sonofabitch or any other bastard in this house again. Do you understand? Do you?" He was shouting again, out of control.

Laura bit her lip. She was frightened. She knew she had been wrong, but now her own son was threatening her, closing her in.

"Val, I-I'm upset. Can't we talk about this later? You're upset too." She went to him, trying to calm him down. Val jerked his arm away when she touched it.

"You-you!" he began. He couldn't say it.

But Laura knew what he had been about to say.

"You'd better never bring anybody home again," he said levelly. His voice was like a gun barrel, cold and deadly.

"Please, Val, don't say anymore. I'm sorry. The evening's ruined." She patted his arm and he didn't pull away this time. Then she turned and lurched into her bedroom. She went into the bathroom and ran cold water. She splashed her face with it and looked at herself in the mirror. Her hair was mussed and her eyes rheumy. But the cold water helped and she felt better, though still woozy. Her emotions were all tangled up and she was afraid of what she had done to Val. To Val and to Burt. She felt crushed and depressed.

A few moments later, Val came in the bedroom. She staggered out of the bathroom and he grabbed her in his arms. He led her to the bed and she tumbled onto it. "I'll help you," he said. He took off her clothes and was about to get her nightgown from her drawer when an uncontrollable urge for sex came over him. His mother lay on her back, naked, one arm thrown over her eyes. She was all but passed out. He turned off the bathroom light and the room was in darkness. His mother moaned but didn't move. Val could still see her lying there from the light that spilled into the room from the hallway. The dark patch between her legs enticed him. He began taking off his clothes, never taking his eyes off his mother's nude body. When he was undressed, he closed the door to the bedroom, then walked back over to look down on his mother.

"Are you awake?" he asked. No answer. "Are you awake, Mom?" he asked more loudly.

"Mmmmm," she muttered. He took it in the affirmative, but he wasn't sure. But looking at her nude body and knowing that he was alone with her in the house he again became excited. He crawled into bed beside her and began playing with her breasts. His hand went from breast to breast, inscribing circles with the palm. Next he went down to her crotch and felt the matted pubic hair and the cleft.

"No, Val, go away," she mumbled.

"No," he said tightly.

"Too tired."

"No, you're not. You weren't too tired for that creep." His anger suddenly arose again.

"Please. I'm sorry," she said. She didn't open her eyes, but lay there in a stupor, half awake half asleep.

Val kept his hand on her pussy. His erection came to life. He knew what he was going to do He put his finger inside her and began playing with her clitoris. She responded very lethargically, but he didn't mind. When the wetness was sufficient, he pulled himself over on top of her, his hardened cock aimed at her soaked slit. He wanted her so much now he couldn't wait to get it in her. But he looked at her, with her arm still thrown over her eyes, and he was glad that she wasn't fully awake. He wanted his revenge for what almost happened and it had nothing to do with the love they usually felt for each other. No, not now. Not after what happened with that creep!

He spread her legs with both hands. They stayed where he put them. Then he rubbed his finger once more down her sex cleft and moved his hips closer. He wanted to jam his cock straight in her and all the way to the hilt in one savage stroke, but he had trouble finding the entrance without her help. The head of his swollen staff slid up and down her slit until it found the aperture, then went inside. Since she was not responding, though, he found he could not bury it in one stroke. He hunched down further, then found he could enter her all the way. He became very excited with the warmth enveloping his instrument. He began to fuck his mother with slow sure stroking.

She moaned and muttered, still in her sodden stupor. Val began to like it. He pumped his cock in and out of her and she began to stir. "Val, wha-what are you doing?" she managed.

"Like it?" he asked.

"Oh, Val," she moaned. But she became caught up in his rhythms and soon her hips began to respond. This excited Val even more and he began concentrating so that he wouldn't ejaculate prematurely. He wanted his mother to remember this session. He was still angry with her because she had almost let herself be enjoyed by that Nevins bastard. Well, this night should let her know who was the boss. She better never bring anybody home again!

He drove into her with a fury then. The thought of Nevins made him lose all restraint. He jammed his cock into her in long strokes that went from her lips clear up to her womb. Laura was becoming more awake with every stroke and she could tell the difference in her son. She was more than a little apprehensive. Val was fucking her with a savagery that she hadn't expected. She gushed every time his big cock made its downstroke and filled her cunt with swollen hot flesh. She thrilled to his manliness. But underneath, she felt a tremor of fear. Val was using this act to tell her that he was her master and her mind rebelled at this. She must be free to do what she wanted, yet she had to acknowledge that she was under obligation to her son, a terrible obligation, now.

Had she had more strength, mental and physical, she would have thrown Val off her. But she became weaker with every stroke. The exquisite thrill of his cock throbbing over her clitoris was enough to turn her legs into jelly. Val was grinding into her with an animal-like intensity, wordless and strong. But every touch of him was thrilling to her and she was wracked with repeated orgasms of magnificent power. Her whole body quaked at this thrashing sex that was being wielded upon it by her son. She could no more have stopped him, then, than she could have stopped an earthquake.

Val seemed to sense his mother's reaction. She seemed to be excited but holding back. This only infuriated him more. He increased his sexual attack upon her, for that's what it amounted to. He drove his rod in her as far as it would go and he never let up for a second. Faster and faster, he fucked her until her body began to move totally in counterpoint to his. The slap of their bodies cracked through the room like distant thunderclaps.

Faster and faster he went, and Laura was caught up in the relentless rhythm of his love-making. She was drawn up with him and at the height of her greatest orgasm she screamed and dug her fingernails into Val's back. He felt the change and drove his cock in all the way as it exploded its sperm on the walls of her womb. He collapsed in her arms then, sated, as she gently stroked him back to earth.

"Mom, I love you so much," he said weakly, his head buried between her breasts.

"I know, Val," she said. "Perhaps too much."

He fell asleep after a while, still huddled in her arms as though he were a small child.

But Laura, despite her being inebriated, was unable to drop off right away. A wave of apprehension rose up in her breast as she thought of the evening. Val had protected her, she knew, but was this right? What would happen if she met a really decent man and especially one who wanted to marry her. She shuddered. It would be horrible if Val behaved anything like the way he did tonight. No, she was more than a little frightened of her son now. And of herself. She had started something that had grown bigger than she could have known. What she had created was larger than she or Val, separate or together. It threatened them both and at the moment she didn't know how to cope with it. Either it would run its course or...

But she didn't know. Val looked so helpless, now, asleep. But she remembered the savagery in his manner when Burt was there and the almost rapacious way he had taken her tonight. For the first time since she had seduced her son, Laura was afraid. Deathly afraid.