Author's Note: A lot has happened since my last post. And I'm not sure it's either good or bad. It is very exciting, though. And scary. Over the past few weeks, I've had a series of FaceTime conversations with my sister Maura. We usually have a few drinks and chat over the air. Anyway, in an unguarded drunken moment, I let her know about my writing on Literotica. And she read it. She called me to question me about some of it - especially some of the similarities between her and "Ruth," one of the characters in "Hanging Out With the Girls."
*
I spent the week of my birthday out in Arizona and I guess the best way to explain how the truth is stranger than fiction is to write about it. Without giving away the whole plot, I'll say that during my visit more than a few lines were crossed. We've got a lot to talk about before my next visit.
She's given her consent for me to write the story. In fact, she said she was really turned on by the "Hanging Out With the Girls" stories. I was going to complete that series but I guess, I've got a whole new story to write.
I don't quite have all the dialog the way everything was said exactly, and who knows - she may offer her own version to amend this one. One thing I did learn is that during real moments of intimacy, brothers and sisters don't always refer to each other as 'brother' and 'sis.' Suffice it to say, I've written a few non-fiction entries - I didn't think I'd be doing it in this particular category.
Day One:
I was waiting at the terminal of Sky Harbor Airport in Phoenix. It was October, though it wouldn't feel like it to a New Englander because the air was dry and hot. Scorching, in fact. Just walking through the jetway to the gate let me know that I was would be walking into the seventh circle of hell when I hit the outside.
Maura's face shone on my iPhone indicating that she was calling. She'd recently lost her job due to a layoff at her company and she had time to come down from Flagstaff to pick me up. She lived with our mom in a nice single family home in University Heights and my vacations consisted of taking either one of my kids to visit with them for a week. Usually we'd just do a few hikes, play board games, cook and drink wine in the hot tub. This time I would have no kids as school was in session.
I am divorced and have been for about four years. During a FaceTime chat, Maura told me that she and Alex, her boyfriend (who was also her boss) had broken up. I had just ended things with Iris, my girlfriend for about the past three years. We were both looking forward to a week off to just hang out.
"Happy Birthday! Brother "N!" she called into the phone. I could see her waving at me on the other side of the baggage claim. I walked quickly over to see her and we hugged.
"It's not my birthday till Sunday. You've still got a week! Don't make me older than I am!"
"Ah!" she said, "Once you hit forty, who's counting?"
I would be forty-three this Sunday and counted myself among those people who could always say they were in the best shape of their life. I hike, swim, run and lift weights. I tend to eat lean meats, whole grains and salads. Maura is forty-one and a hiker too but has a coat of "fluffiness" from simultaneously indulging in rich foods and cheap wine.
We collected my bag and hit the sweltering miasma of heat outside. We got into Maura's car and headed north towards Flagstaff, stopping at Trader Joe's to pick up snacks and wine. Wine was important and usually fueled the most vigorous discussions we had as a family.
The drive up was humor and small talk. Gossip about my Aunt Petra and our cousin Micah filled the two hour drive north. At about six, we got off on our exit and drove up the hill to what I fondly think of as my home away from home.
We pulled into the garage and the house echoed with the woofing of their two large dogs, Rufus and Louie. We dragged our travel-weary bodies into the house amid the clatter and into the kitchen where my mother was preparing some snacks.
We hugged and sat down in the spacious Southwestern-themed living room. I lit a fire in the fireplace, Maura lit some candles, and my mother put some New Age music on the the stereo.
We talked and caught up for hours. Mum is a doctor though and goes to bed early. She usually falls asleep before the beginning credits of a movie have rolled and we often tease her about her inability to stay up for prime-time. That being said, she's also quite a light sleeper and is up sometimes as early as four.
Mom hugged me goodnight and asked us to make sure the fire was out before we went to bed - and told us not to drink too much.
I was getting a bit tired myself as the time-zone is two hours different and it was nearly ten. Also, the three glasses of "two-buck Chuck" didn't help. Maura, being unemployed for the moment, had adjusted to a later schedule and was eager to hang out. I agreed to get in my jammas and come back out. She did the same.
We reconvened back in the living room with a new bottle of wine and both of us dressed in flannel bottoms and a t-shirt. Maura poured and I asked her about her and Alex. I hadn't had time earlier to talk about the details of her break-up and I wanted to get the full story.
"Well, he wasn't the person I thought he was. I guess it was one of those things that only worked when we had to keep it a secret at work. Once I got laid off, I guess the sense of purpose diminished."
"I'm so sorry to hear that," I said.
"It's alright. I guess if you have to live as someone's secret, it probably not worth clinging to anyway."
"Any guy should be proud to have you at his side," I said.
That was true. Maura is smart and beautiful. Her face is warm-and-friendly-girl-next-door-type and her figure, though a bit husky by some standards is an abundance of curves. I wouldn't have written fake stories about my fake sister if I didn't carry real feelings about my real sister.
"You're sweet, but biased," she said.
"So speaking of sweet, did you read all the stories on Literotica?" I asked.
"All the stories, or just the ones by you?"
"By me."
"All the stories by you or all the stories by you about me?" she said.
"Either way," I sighed.
"I read the Jenn stories. I read the comments too. I think that was more interesting in some ways. Seeing what people felt as they read them."
"It's kind of a thrill, actually. A lot of people didn't like the ending."
"Yeah, well. How do you end something like that? Who wants to read about you raising babies?" she said - and quite rightly.
"Did you read the "Hanging Out With the Girls" stories?" I asked.
"There were only two," she said.
"You're evading the question, and there were three," I said.
"The one about Micah?" she asked.
"Sure. That one."
"I thought you portrayed yourself as a cad. I could see it happening. I remember that apartment too. And I can totally see Mary walking in on you. The buildup was pretty hot too. I liked how she put the fake cock right on his crotch and started sucking it. I have to admit I was a bit aroused."
"Did you read the others?"
"Yeah, yeah!" she sighed, "What do you want me to say? I've secretly been lusting after you and it was like seeing my own fantasy in writing?"
"Well what is your fantasy? Or you can at least comment on how flatteringly I portrayed you."
"My fantasy? My fantasy is to have a normal relationship where I'm not hidden away like a disease!"
She was tearing up a little at this sentiment, and I did my best to console her. I pulled her up and hugged her as her hot tears soaked the shoulder of my "Life Is Good" tee-shirt.
The clock read eleven, and I was surprised to see snow falling outside in the pale porch light. Maura looked up and wiped her face with the loose sleeve of my shirt. The snow seemed to distract Maura from her sadness for a brief moment
"It's snowing. Let's get a quick hot-tub soak before bed. It's been a long night."
I'm not one for being half-naked in the snow, but trudged toward the guest room and put on my swim trunks.
Being a guy, I was ready first and slipped out onto the brick patio to flip off the cover. I immersed myself slowly and let the warm wet heat envelop me. I realized I had forgot my wine and was about to get out when Maura came out in a white terry-cloth robe with two refreshed glasses of wine.
"Last glass of the night. Make it count!" she said and handed me my glass.
I drank a sip of the ruby liquid as she let the robe fall to the bricks revealing her full figure in a black two-piece swimsuit. Maura has a nearly flat stomach although her hips, rear and breasts are especially curvy. The moon was full and the bright light let the shadows play across the contours of Maura's body.
"And no, you don't get to rub oil all over me like you do in your story. I'll suffer through the 'moonburn' all by myself," she said, chuckling.
The hot tub itself is small. Rather more of a two person fixture than one meant for four or five. There's a bench seat on one side that also doubles as a recliner if a single person should want to lay down for a luxurious soak. This being the case, it's hard to sit inside without your arm being around the other person. But, Maura and I tend to be pretty close so perfect boundaries are never an issue. Neither one of us has much of a bubble of personal space.
"For the record, you portrayed me in a very good light, but let's get down to brass tacks," she said.
"Kay, lay it on me," the literature lesson was starting.
"Well for starters, you've got me doing a very similar job, but I know next to nothing about solar power. I'm open-minded sexually, but I don't think I could ever get something going with Micah. In fact the writing staggered a little with the first story. It got better with the second, but the third is where it really took off. Maybe because you brought real conflict into the story. That being said, what's going on with the panty collection? And did you ever creep up behind me in my sleep?"
"I don't know. Well, I never did anything to you in your sleep. Can't explain the panties. The first story came off because I thought it was something that could've happened. I've helped Micah move a few times and she's always a big flirt."
"True that. Her boobs aren't nearly as big as you make out in the story though."
"My fantasy, my boobs," I said.
"You got mine right though. Is that your fantasy too?"
"Just a natural fact," I said and took another sip of wine, "And no I never crept up behind you in your sleep."
"Mm-hmm"
Maura was fading fast from the lateness of the hour and the strength of the wine. Her eyes were at half-mast and the water was getting tepid. I tapped her shoulder and suggested we go to bed.
"Damn," she said, "Now I'm gonna go to bed thinking about you. Bastard!"
"I'll be thinking of you too. Fair's fair."
