Chain Lightning II: Sheet Lightning

Talk to Me



Written by C. Sandford.


I can see we're thinkin' bout the same things
And I can see your expression when the phone rings
We both know there's something happening here
Well, there's no sense in dancing round the subject
A wound gets worse when it's treated with neglect
Don't turn around there's nothing here to fear

You can talk to me
Talk to me
You can talk to me
You can set your secrets free, baby

Dusty words lying under carpets
Seldom heard well must you keep your secrets
Locked inside hidden safe from view
Well, is it all that hard
Is it all that tough
Well, I've shown you all my cards now isn't that enough
You can hide your hurt
But, there's something you can do

You can talk to me
Talk to me talk to me
I can set your secrets free, baby

Though we lay face to face and cheek to cheek
Our voices stray from the common ground where they
could meet
The walls run high, to veil a swelling tear
Oh, let the walls burn down, set your secrets free
You can break their bounds, cause you're safe with me
You can lose your doubt, cause you'll find no danger here

You can talk to me
Talk to me
You can talk to me
You can set your secrets free, baby

Oh, I can see you running I can see you running
I can see you running all the way back home
I can see your expression when the phone rings
And I can see that you're thinkin' bout the same things
Is it all that hard
Is it all that tough
Well, you've taken all there is now baby
Isn't that enough
Well, I can see you runnin' I can see you runnin'
All the way back







Chapter nine






Talk to Me






She was well enough to do some work now, and as much as Jean loved staying with Billy and Sean, she wanted to be able to do for herself. She didn’t want a keeper, even if the keeper was two and not one, even if the keepers were the sexiest men she had ever known. Not even if everything they did for her was done with no strings attached and with no expectations. To let them keep her would be to undo everything they had done to put her on the road she had to travel, the road that led back to herself.

She told them the day after Viggo had joined their little playgroup. Recalling that night, she remembered how she had felt when, after that phenomenal fucking she and Billy had gotten, Sean had gathered Jean and Billy to him and held them closely but oh, so tenderly as they kissed, then had taken their kiss for himself, too. She recalled how Viggo had looked at the three, he had looked tenderly at them as Jean and Billy had cuddled up together and let themselves be drawn to Sean, drawn in like a pair of moths to a candle. Sean had murmured sweetly to the pair, his voice soft and warm and filled with affection, as though he would draw them into himself. Billy and Jean hadn’t needed to return his words. Their own feelings had spoken clearly to Sean how they felt.

She had felt so good in Billy’s arms, and better yet when Billy’s arms were supplemented by Sean’s arms. And Billy felt so good in her arms; his face and body glistened and glowed. He felt lazy and giving, his remarkable eyes drooping with satiation, his mouth soft and giving as she kissed him, the both of them melting into Sean, soaking up his murmurs, his embraces, the touch of his hands as he skated his palms around their bodies. She had felt as light as air, and at once heavy with pleasure, pleasure promised and given, pleasure fulfilled and pleasure yet to be tasted.

Jean loved kissing Billy after lovemaking. He was a great kisser. The mouth she thought looked so delicious was indeed delicious, delicious and as talented with her mouth as it was with her cunt. Billy knew how to use his lips and tongue to impart a sensuality when he kissed her, a sensuality sweetly outlined with affection when he kissed her mouth. His kisses at her crotch conveyed a deeper sensuality, a hunger to make Jean’s body sing that most primal of songs, a powerful and ancient song at the core of her being. From the way Sean reacted, Billy’s talents translated just as easily to male as well as female. Viggo’s reactions, too, when she and Billy had shared him, had demonstrated that Billy’s mouth could play flesh like a fine instrument and play it with great passion.

And Jean loved Billy’s post-coital kisses because it was always a prelude to Sean kissing them both at once. Jean loved this because it was something she had never thought of doing before she met this pair of men. It was incredibly sensuous, almost overwhelmingly so. The effect on Sean was amazing; he soaked it up like a sponge. It seemed to rival his enchantment with their twin-like appearance. Plainly the one magnified the other for Sean. Jean and Billy reflected each other so well in everything but gender and the resemblance went far deeper than the surface. Like a magical mirror, they reflected each other, male and female, inside and out, and it never failed to capture Sean.

Billy felt it as well, felt Sean soaking his twins up like a sponge, only to return it all to the pair in his arms. Sean would dip his head, inhale the fresh scent of their passion, whispering and murmuring to them, his tongue would slip between their mouths and Billy and Jean would relax into the kiss. Sean would moan so softly that the sound was almost ghostly. The shuddering of his body, the hitch in his breathing, the trembling in his limbs, these things weren’t soft or ghostly at all. His arms would tighten yet more around them as if he could, by sheer force of will, make them a part of himself, take them into himself. This was a complete turnaround from the Sean who was so masterful in bed. He was like a great lion which, in his happiest and most contented state, would purr.

Viggo had seen this occur with his own eyes and had been spellbound by it. The artist in him saw a great lion with two lion-tamers. The thought tickled his fancy. After the four of them had played as late as they could, they had broken up their playtime. Viggo felt he could have gone on for hours, for days, but they had to work tomorrow, so he had reluctantly withdrawn from the three, sitting in a big, comfy chair near the bed. He watched as the three had stretched out in the bed, squabbling a little about whose turn it was to sleep in the middle. Sean had finally settled the matter by taking the middle himself, jokingly scolding Billy and Jean as if he was an indulgent uncle watching over children. Billy and Jean had linked their hands on Sean’s chest and the three dozed off, wonderfully exhausted from playtime with Viggo. When they were sleeping deeply enough that he wouldn’t disturb them he had taken a few more pictures, pictures of their sleeping faces. Beautiful in their serenity, they were the faces of angels. After that Viggo had dozed off in the chair.

The following morning, around their usual porridge, Jean, Billy and Sean couldn’t help noticing that Viggo kept looking at them, a dreamy look on his face half the time, the other half looking at them with large, liquid eyes, like a puppy begging for tidbits from the table. Jean tried hard to control herself, but little by little she lost her ability to control her girlish giggle. Billy, noticing her giggle-fit, watched Viggo alternate between the lost puppy look and the moonstruck calf look and broke into laughter as well, soon to be followed by Sean. Viggo then looked bewildered, which not only made them laugh raucously but also served to confuse and embarrass Viggo further. When he started to look a little hurt, Jean gave Sean a not-exactly-subtle look. They seemed to make their decision silently, and Sean gave a nod of approval, again seeming like an indulgent uncle.

“When?” Jean asked. She knew she looked and sounded like an excited schoolgirl.

“How about next Monday?” suggested Sean.

“It’s a date, then.” Viggo said. His eyes regained their usual spark. “I should have the pictures developed by then. I’ll bring them along. I’d like to hear your plans for these pictures. And I’d like to keep copies for myself. Some of them are going to be just gorgeous.”

“I’ll be looking forward to it,” Jean said, then added, “Bet the pictures will be nice, too.”

He finished his breakfast and went to take a shower before work, giving each of his companions an affectionate peck on the cheek. The three at the table finished their meal, then took a shower together. This time Jean saw three men off to work instead of two.

When they came home after work she had spoken to them over dinner about returning to work and going back to her apartment in a week to ten days. They had known all along this was her goal, so this shouldn’t have affected them, yet the rest of the evening they were unusually quiet. That night their lovemaking was particularly good, with all the fireworks, sparks and flame. Yet it was also more intimate, almost sentimental and quite affectionate.

Her decision seemed to have no effect on their desires. One thing only did Jean notice: Billy. He seemed more subdued than she had ever seen him. He drank more than he usually did and ate less than he usually did. When she woke in the wee small hours to go to the bathroom she had been surprised to find Billy wasn’t in the bed. She walked through the house and found him up and watching television. She quietly sat beside him on the sofa and waited for him to speak. When he didn’t she took his hand between hers and stroked the back of his hand affectionately.

“Want to talk to sis? I’ve noticed you seem troubled, bro.” Jean said quietly.

“Who?” Billy said, “Troubled? Not me, I’m fine…just can’t sleep is all. I’m okay.”

“Billy, sweetie, come on, now. This is me here listening to you.” she replied.

“Really, Jean, I’m fine, go back to bed. No sense in both of us not sleeping.” he said with a sigh.

“No sense in you suffering in silence, either, sweetie,”

“I’m fine, Jean, really. You should rest.”

“Billy?”

“Yeah?”

“Why is it that when I ask about you, you answer me by saying something about me?”

“Sorry,” Billy shrugged. “Didn’t mean to.” He became silent once more, pretending to be absorbed in something on television. She took the remote from his hand and turned the television off. Billy scowled. “I was watching that!” he said, “Give it back!”

“Billy,” Jean said patiently, “That was a children’s program. You having trouble with your A B C’s?”

Billy looked at her sheepishly. He sighed, then said, “Well, I guess you have your bullshit detector on you somewhere.”

“Matter of fact, yes I do.” Jean replied.

Billy sighed unhappily, staring at his hands, which she still held. “Hmmm,” he began, “Tell you what, I should be getting off work early tomorrow. Why don’t I get here as quickly as I can, then we can talk.”

She could tell he was going to be bull-headed tonight, so she placed a hand on his cheek, leaned over and gave him a brief, tender, chaste little peck on the lips. “Tomorrow, then,” she agreed. “Don’t let me down, sweetie, I’ll be waiting.” She gave him the remote. “Tomorrow, now. Okay? Promise?”

“Promise,” Billy answered, giving her one of his sunny smiles. Or rather it would have been a sunny smile, but the smile didn’t touch his eyes. “Go on back to bed, okay? I’ll be okay until we can talk tomorrow. Oh, and Jean? Can this be between us, for now?” he added. She nodded her head with a gentle smile. Now it was Billy giving her a chaste little peck. She reluctantly went back to bed, glancing back over her shoulder. She lay down and cuddled up next to Sean, quite sleepless for some time.

Billy was true to his word. He did get off early, and he did go home early. She poured him a single malt and met him at the door. With a sad little smile and a sigh, he took the drink and thanked her, then tossed the drink back in one gulp. He walked to the bedroom to change into shorts and a tee shirt. She sat on the bed, watching him, and when he was done, she patted the mattress next to herself. “Now, will you tell me what’s wrong?” she asked him. “Come on, now, bro’…” she took one of his hands and pulled him onto the bed. He allowed her to pull him down next to where she sat, but he wouldn’t look at her. “Now, sweetie, please talk to me? What’s gotten into you, Billy? You hardly eat or sleep. And I miss that smile, Billy. So tell me…have we done something? Not done something? Is it me moving back to my apartment?”

“No,” Billy replied softly. It was little more than a whisper.

“No to what, sweetie?”

“It isn’t any of those things,” he said, again so softly, so low he could barely be heard.

Jean sat patiently, holding Billy’s hand, watching his face. He looked so sad, staring at their linked hands, his face a picture of hurt. Something inside her rose up and sounded in her heart like a clear bell, and she realized that maybe Billy really was like a brother to her. “It’s alright, Billy,” she said, her voice calm, soothing, comforting.

Billy looked at her. His eyes held a sadness she’d not seen in him, and she recalled how Billy rarely ever let anything get him down, how he was always such a positive person, and the sadness in his eyes cut her deeply. Somehow she found she was suddenly holding him, kissing his cheek, stroking his hair. “Tell me, Billy, please, tell me.” Jean said soothingly.

Billy buried his face in her soft neck. His arms held her gently but firmly. “I... I…” he took a deep breath. “Jean, am I out?”

“I don’t understand what you mean, Billy,” she said.

“When Viggo spent the night with us,” Billy began. “Remember how he wanted to join in again? Remember how Sean said ‘yes’? Remember how happy you were?”

“Yeah, I do, sweetie.” Jean replied fondly. “We made Viggo very happy that night, didn’t we?”

“Maybe too happy,” Billy said. “Do you remember what I said when Viggo got invited to come over Monday?”

“Well, no, I don’t, sweetie,” she said.

“That’s because I didn’t say anything,” Billy said, his reply low and ragged.

“I don’t understand,” Jean said. Then it dawned on her. “Are you out, you said,”

Billy didn’t reply. He had butterflies in his stomach something awful. He chewed his lower lip anxiously. He swallowed hard and just continued to hold Jean, resting his head on her soft shoulder.

“Billy? You don’t think Sean and I would… would ditch you, do you?” Jean asked, her voice subdued.

“If you and Sean do ditch me, I guess I can’t blame you.” Billy choked on his words, then went on. “I mean look at the two of us, Viggo and me. He… he’s tall and handsome and hung like a horse, as you pointed out. And he’s Sean’s best mate. Why would you and Sean want me when it could be Viggo?” Billy sounded miserable, hurt, unsure. “And he’s so… so…”

“So what, sweetie?” Jean asked, careful to keep her voice calm, serene.

“Well, Jean, think about it. I mean, can you see Viggo doing some of the things I do? I… I’m not like him, Jean! Viggo’s a real man. Not like me. Only look at me, Jean! Look at how I act when Sean touches me. How I act when I… when I s-s-s-suck him. How I act when he fucks me. Compared to Viggo I might as well be a flaming drag queen.”

“Billy, no, sweetie!” Jean was horrified.

“And just look at me, Jean! Viggo’s no runt, like me.” Billy said miserably. “He’s everything I’m not, Jean! Why wouldn’t you and Sean ditch me for him?”

Jean finally just let herself act instead of speak. She hugged Billy to her body fiercely. “No, no, no, Billy, sweetie! You got it all wrong, Billy! Can’t you see? Billy, Viggo could never take your place! He can’t, he can’t because it’s just like you say, Billy. He’s not like you, Billy, not at all. He can’t… can’t fit us like you do, sweetie. He can never take your place! Only you can fill that spot, sweetie. Viggo could never click with Sean like you do; he could never do the things Sean loves so much. He can’t do the things you and I do together, because he isn’t you; he doesn’t fit with me like you do. Sean could never react to Viggo and me the way he does when it’s us. Viggo could never give himself the way you do. And, Billy, you being small… don’t you see? That’s part of your charm, Billy! Good God, Billy, don’t you ever look at Sean when he’s loving us? The way he looks at you? Can’t you tell that he loves it that you’re small, that we’re the same height, that we look alike? How could Viggo ever… oh, my sweetie…”

Jean had run out of words she needed to comfort her friend, this dear, sweet man who gave so much of himself that it was a miracle he had any of himself left to call his own. She couldn’t think of the words needed to say what she felt, or to express to Billy how Sean felt. In the end, all she could think to do was kiss him, hold him. She peppered his face with damp little kisses, she held him tight, ran her slim fingers through his hair, kissed his eyelids, the tip of his nose, and then his mouth. She let her lips linger on his for some time. This was getting to her. She had meant only to comfort Billy, but she had forgotten just how them touching each other could ignite the passions in her. Yes, and in him, too... and she knew, too, that Billy needed this, he needed it to soothe his hurts, to calm his worries, to restore his self-image. She wanted him, wanted him badly, and he needed her just now. She practically ripped her own clothing off before going after Billy’s clothes. In one hot minute they were naked, their bodies pressed together, Billy’s cock was in her cunt and they were fucking like minks…

At least they had been when the bedroom door opened and in stepped Sean. He stood beside the bed, surveying what he saw, and on his face was a look of disapproval, disapproval and hurt.

“What the bloody hell?” Sean growled. “What the fuck is this?