Courtship by Proxy

"I judge my men, or I should say 'man' since there's only you, on more than his movie preferences," she told him, "and Kyle, you have always been the 'ideal' man in my eyes."

"Thank you Bubbles."

"I know that you can't say the same thing about me, but I am interested in your perception of the 'ideal' woman. Have you ever given it any thought?"

"To some degree," he said. "But a lot of it was probably more subconscious than conscious, and I'm sure there is some psychological explanation for that."

"Can you describe your 'ideal' woman to me?" she prodded.

"I can try, I suppose. First there are physical attributes that I tend to favor, such as taller women over shorter ones, athletic figures over voluptuous ones, and so on."

"So Cammy and Tara were in the ballpark?" she asked.

"Oh yeah. They matched my ideal perfectly," he confirmed.

"I'm glad. Please go on."

"She should be intelligent, but not intimidating. Funny but not a comic. Charming but not haughty. Again, Cammy and Tara personified."

"When you visualize your ideal woman, what do you see?" she asked.

"Well," he said, "prior to you coming into my life, the physical image in my mind was most often that of Karen Mayes, but the personality image would have been the diametric opposite of her."

"You didn't consider Karen Mayes intelligent, funny, or charming?" she asked.

"Sure, Karen was all those things, just not with me. A woman unwilling to share her attributes tends to be a deal-breaker if you know what I mean. A willingness – no a passion to share herself with me would be the real definition for me of the ideal woman. Karen Mayes was never that where I was concerned."

"How do I match up so far with your perception of the 'ideal' woman?"

"Bubbles, I can tell you with all sincerity that you are redefining my perception of the ideal woman. You have raised the bar to a level that surpasses my original definition by astronomical levels, and I don't even know what you look like yet."

She laughed and said, "How can I be better than 'ideal'?"

"I didn't say you were better than 'ideal', I said you were redefining my definition of 'ideal'. For example, in addition to being intelligent, funny and charming, you have introduced 'intriguing', 'mysterious' and 'passionate' to the mix. Oh, and a good cook too," he added.

"So if I'm cute and cuddly besides do you think you could love me?" she teased.

"Try to stop me," he said. "Just try..."

"I love you Kyle Mason"

"I love you Bubbles."

"You should probably get some sleep. Your body clock is still out of synch with the time zone," she told him.

"Only if you go to sleep now as well. I would like to think that our dreams were occurring at the same time and shared as much as I want our waking hours to be."

"I can do that," she said. "Don't worry about an alarm for the morning. I'll wake you in time for you to be prepared for your breakfast."

"I look forward to it. Goodnight Bubbles."

"Goodnight Kyle, I love you."

"It's beautiful Kyle. Thank you."

"It feels insufficient for all you have done," he told her. He had sent a single red rose back to her in the basket that his dinner had come in. Apparently her delivery boy had just presented it to her.

"Well you are more than sufficient for me without flowers, but I love you for the thought. What's on your agenda for today?" she asked.

"Actually, I'm glad that you brought it up," he responded. "If the day pans out like yesterday and I'm not able to meet with my contacts at the NSA or Langley, I was thinking about trying to catch a return flight this evening instead of waiting for tomorrow morning. I know it would cut into your plans for this evening, but I will more than make it up to you this coming weekend. In fact, one of the reasons I am even considering it is because it will give me more time to plan for our time together once we meet."

"When will you know?"

Kyle could hear the disappointment in her voice. "I should know by 10:00am," he told her. "The problem is how will I let you know?"

"Don't worry about me," she said. "I'll know."

"If I do leave early, will you call me each evening and morning until we meet? I have grown very used to starting and ending my days with you."

"Of course, Kyle. It will be my pleasure."

"So what's on your agenda for today?" he asked her.

"I'm meeting with my boss' boss' boss this morning, but after that I will be working from home. Once back here, I will either be preparing your dinner for this evening or waiting for the next spontaneous orgasm to occur as I think about you. Although, doing both hasn't been a challenge for me so far."

He laughed. "I would really like to see that sometime."

"Play your cards right and maybe you will," she said.

"I play the cards I'm dealt, lovely lady, and you appear to be a Royal Flush in spades."

"Hello," she said as she answered her phone.

"Uh oh, Bubbles doesn't sound happy. What happened?"

"Oh, hi Uncle Mike. Nothing, except he's probably going to fly home today instead of tomorrow. I had hoped to have one more night with him preparing myself."

"Is there anything I can do?" Uncle Mike asked.

She giggled, "There's always something that YOU can do Uncle Mike, but in this case I think it's best if I just modify my original plans and adjust to the change. It really doesn't affect anything; it's just an unexpected complication. The target is still in sight and I still plan to accomplish my mission."

"I don't think I've ever done enough to support you Bubbles. You've been very insistent in maintaining your independence and your own agenda. That's why you're where you are today with your Kyle Mason project. I would have put you out of your misery years ago if you had let me deal with him."

"I know, but I want him to realize that I'm the one who finally got him, on my terms, and without help from you or anyone else. That's the only result that will satisfy me and allow the torment to end."

"Okay, but I'm here if you need anything. I need to run to a meeting, but you know how to reach me if you need to."

"Thanks Uncle Mike. Bye."

Kyle had just finished packing his bags and was checking the room for anything he might have missed when his cell phone rang.

"Kyle Mason," he answered.

"Why do I have to hear about you being in town from my sister instead of my nephew?"

"Crap," Kyle thought. His Uncle had called him directly rather than going through one of his secretaries. This could be good or bad.

"I'm sorry sir, but I know how busy you are and my original schedule for this trip was very fluid. I knew that you would try to make adjustments to accommodate me and I didn't want to waste your time or efforts."

"I appreciate that Kyle, but why don't you let me worry about my schedule from now on. I want you to just let me know that you're coming to town, so at least if your mom calls me I can let her know that you and I are communicating."

"Yes sir."

"And on the subject of your mother, you do know that she has certain expectations for you and Karen Mayes to get together this coming weekend?"

"Sir, I don't think..."

"Stow it Kyle. I know that what happened between you and Karen wasn't your fault, and I'm sure in her heart she knows it too. The problem is that YOU have let things drag on too long without closure for either of you, and that needs to end before your mother – my sister gets her heart broken as well. Do you understand?"

"Yes sir."

"Take this number down." He waited for Kyle to say he was ready then read off a phone number.

"Now Kyle, you know I have always been proud of you and stayed out of your decisions out of respect for your self-reliance and personal fortitude. You have never disappointed me with the exception of how you have dealt with the whole Karen Mayes issue. I'm asking you now to man up and bring closure to the situation as soon as possible – preferably by this weekend so that your mother isn't left hanging. Can you do that?"

"Yes sir and you're right. I have been holding out hope for far too long and it has affected my life and relationships up to this point," Kyle told his uncle.

"Kyle, sometimes we make our own hope. Don't go into this with pre-conceived objectives, but keep an open mind – and more importantly an open heart. Don't assume you know what lies in Karen's mind or heart, just make the call and see where things go. Okay?"

"I'll take care of it sir. Thanks." His uncle disconnected.

Kyle continued checking the room for anything he had forgotten, and once satisfied, he went to the front desk to check out. He considered making the requested call during the drive to the airport, but he felt it best to wait so that he wasn't rushed.

After returning the rental car, Kyle called the American Executive Platinum desk to see what earlier flights might be available to get him home this afternoon. There was a flight with a connection through Chicago leaving in about an hour that he could take, or a flight through DFW two hours later. He chose the latter flight and made the necessary arrangements through the agent on the phone.

Once he cleared the security check point at the airport, Kyle sought out the Admirals Club so that he would have a quieter place to hold his conversation. He found an area of the club that was virtually unoccupied and selected a seat near the window. He looked at his watch and wondered if the current time of 1:15pm would be acceptable with her schedule or if he would need to try some other time. "Only one way to find out," he thought and he dialed the number his uncle had provided.

His call was answered on the first ring, "Karen Mayes."

"Hello Karen. I don't know if you remem...

"Kyle Mason? Holy Mother of God, how did you get my number here at work?"

"I'm surprised that you recognized my voice after all these years," he said, "and if you think real hard, you'll probably figure out how I got your number."

"It's not important," she said. "What do you want Kyle?"

"No 'How are you doing?', 'How's your life been?' or other niceties Karen?"

"Those are discussions that friends have Kyle. I think you know my position on that where you are concerned. Nothing has changed."

"Oh I remember," said Kyle. "I am calling to bring closure to us Karen. Apparently one or both of our mothers still harbor optimistic romantic fantasies about you and I, and I can't allow that to continue. In addition, I have fallen for someone and in fairness to her, I need to dismiss my guilt and regrets over you and enter this relationship free of the encumbrance that my feelings for you had brought to every other relationship I have ever had. You will always hold a special place in my heart Karen, whether you want to or not. I just can't hold onto my love of what we might have been any longer."

"Explain how you envision this 'closure' between you and I happening, Kyle. I'm really interested," she said.

Kyle was surprised by the question almost as much as the calmness of her voice. "Naturally, I can't speak for how you will deal with it, but I can't imagine it even being an issue for you, so I'll focus just on my perspective. As I said, I will always hold a special place for you in my heart, but I now simply refuse to accept any responsibility for what happened between us. I didn't do anything wrong and I realize that now."

"I see," she said. "So ruining my life is now okay with you? Putting me through almost fifteen years of torment and misery will just be forgotten? Hmmm, how will I deal with this 'closure' as you put it?"

Kyle started to respond but she cut him off. "I'll tell you how Kyle, it simply isn't going to happen. You can't come to me and call "Ollie-Ollie-Oxen-Free" or something else to indicate you are now safe on home base and can't be tagged. Closure between you and me will be when I say it will be and it will be on my terms."

Kyle almost laughed remembering the recent use of those same words during his weekend with Tara. Fortunately, he was able to restrain himself.

"Fine Karen, what do you need from me for you to obtain closure from your perspective? Or is it that you want to continue playing the role of a martyr? Explain it to me Karen."

She was silent for so long that he checked his phone to make certain that they hadn't been disconnected. Finally she regained her calm and said, "Interesting question; 'What do I want from Kyle Mason?' I don't know Kyle, what do you have to offer me that could possibly right the wrongs of the past between us?"

"You could start by finally telling me what I did to wrong you Karen."

"You continue with being so obtuse that you never realized what you did to torment me," she said. "Nothing else I can tell you would make any difference until you recognize that the problems between us began with you being too blind to the whole situation and our lives at the time."

"And you could have helped me see through the blindness. That's what friends do Karen, and I can't forgive you for shunning me so completely that you doomed our relationship rather than talking to me about what I supposedly did. Your actions hurt me more than anything before or since, so excuse me if I don't have a great deal of sympathy for you claiming to have endured years of torment caused by your own selfishness."

"Fair enough Kyle. I'll just have my say and then I'll enlighten you with what you did. First of all, I don't know who this woman is that you say you have fallen for, but I won't allow it to happen. There is no way that I will ever allow you to have a relationship, a spouse, children or any semblance of a normal life before I do. Think back to high school Kyle, and why no girls would ever date you a second time. I stopped you then, and I'll stop you now. Secondly, I had no timeframe in mind for achieving closure with you, but that has now changed. I will get you Kyle, and it will be sooner now rather than later. My torment began with you and it will end with you, don't ever doubt that. I know that you're not planning on attending our class reunion, but it doesn't matter. I will find you Kyle, and when I do, I will get you. You brought this on yourself buster."

"Fine Karen. Anything else?" he asked.

"You wanted to know what you did to me didn't you?" she asked.

"At this point I think it's more important to you than me, but go ahead."

"It may not be important to you now, but it will mean the world to you very soon," she said.

"Okay, Karen I'll bite. What did I do to torment you and ruin your life?"

She was silent again for several minutes before responding, "You made me love you too much Kyle. You made me love you too damn much. Goodbye."

His flight was delayed due to some unexplained FAA hold, but at least he was allowed to board and take his first class seat before they halted boarding for the rest of the plane during the delay. He had his typical aisle seat in the second first class row on the right side of the cabin. Kyle typically spent the pre-flight period checking and responding to e-mails on his cell phone before he had to shut it down, and seldom paid attention to the other passengers boarding.

It was somewhat hard to ignore the sandaled foot that suddenly appeared on his left armrest as the owner reached down to adjust the strap on the shoe. It was harder still to ignore the tattoo evident just above her left ankle. A Sister?

Kyle turned to look up at the woman just as she removed her foot and continued down the aisle to her seat in the main cabin. She hadn't said anything to him, or acknowledged that she even knew of him, so it may just be a coincidence, but he suspected otherwise.

His suspicions were confirmed when this same woman took the first class seat next to his on the connecting flight from DFW to Orange County. He smiled at her as she scooted past him into the window seat. She was easily as attractive as Cammy and Tara, but with her own unique features. Tall, slender and sexy in her conservative blouse and shorts, she had long brunette hair tied into a pony tail and dark blue eyes.

"I'm sorry it took so long to join you Kyle, but your change in travel plans didn't allow me a lot of time to make my own changes. My name is Lauren Wragg and I'll be your companion for this afternoon."

Chapter Six - Lauren

"You appear younger than your other Sisters," Kyle told her.

Lauren had a small scar on her chin that Kyle had the strongest desire to kiss. Other than the scar and the obvious tattoo on her leg, she looked flawless.

"I may appear a few years younger than Cammy and Tara, but we are the same age."

"Don't get me wrong," he said. "They are both beautiful women, it's just that you look like you're still in high school, or college at the latest."

"Yes," she said nodding. "I do get carded frequently, but it has its benefits in my line of work."

"What sort of work do you do?" asked Kyle.

"I'm a paid escort, an exotic dancer, and I've been in a few adult movie scenes, but I don't consider myself a professional actress" she told him, "so being able to play the role of a young innocent girl positions me for some very lucrative assignments that older looking girls couldn't get."

"I can imagine," Kyle said.

Lauren ran her index finger up the back of Kyle's hand. "What man doesn't look at a young, nubile high school beauty and say to himself, "Boy, wouldn't I like to have that again, knowing what I know now?"

Kyle laughed, "I suppose it happens quite often."

"What about you Kyle? Do you ever see a young body and wonder 'what if'?"

"I wouldn't be embarrassed if I had, but I can't honestly recall having a thought like that," he said.

"I understand that you have some pleasure issues though," she said.

"Do I?" he asked. "That's news to me."

"You're a 'giver' not a 'taker' and you don't easily get aroused by actions you deem focused solely on your unilateral pleasure. Isn't that the jest of things Kyle?"

"I obtain greater satisfaction when it is obvious that both parties are deriving pleasure, but I take exception with this being referred to as an 'issue'."

"My apologies if my choice of words offended you Kyle," she said. "I also understand that you have limited sexual experience – totally of your own choice. You've been very selective and treated sex as something special between two people, which is laudable."

"I think I'm missing the point of this conversation," he said.

"The 'points' of this conversation are that I am your companion this afternoon for a very specific purpose, or purposes," she began.

"First, in the event that you had ever fantasized about taking a young nubile body again, I would be more than willing and able to fulfill that for you. Secondly, the limited sexual experience of your previous partners has likely contributed to your feelings about selfish pleasure. I can make you very aware of the pleasure a woman can derive simply from bestowing pleasure on her mate. You will have no doubt in that regard, believe me. Finally, I will introduce you to new experiences and educate you on how to please your woman in ways that you may not yet even have dreamed about. I understand that you have never had anal sex with a woman, correct? Well that ends today."

"Can I see your tattoo again?" was all that Kyle said in response.

She raised her leg and placed her foot on his lap, wiggling her now bare toes into his crotch. He licked the tip of his index finger and rubbed her tattoo with the moistened digit.

Lauren laughed at him, "It doesn't come off..."

"Well, your approach is so very different than your Sisters that I had to check. What about the pledge to maintain your virginity until your wedding night?" he asked.