The Thorns in Our Hearts

Prologue

December 17th 1982

The day of my 18th Birthday was bitterly cold, and the rain fell in drenching, whipping sheets. My name is Karl, and I will never forget that day. The day I watched my mother's coffin being lowered into the muddy earth. I stood there in the driving, freezing rain shivering, and didn't feel it. My hot, bitter tears intermixed with the cold rainwater running down my face.

The only thing I did feel was a burning, agonizing fire in the right side of my face. The wreck that had taken my mother from me had left its marks.

I wondered vacantly if my father would survive. He lay in the hospital now in the twilight world, hanging between life and death. I didn't have a clue what would happen to me next.

Late December through Early Spring 1983

The weeks after my mother passed were hard. My father recovered quickly from his skull fracture and started trying to take care of me. I say trying because frankly, I can't say as he succeeded.

I found solace in the soft, feminine arms of my best friend's fraternal twin sister Vanessa. She was beautiful, same age as me, but looked younger. Her and her brother, my best friend, came to stay with Dad and me awhile. Their mother Sharon also came with them. She'd always had a thing for my dad.

Ness had tousled brown curls and hazel eyes and a curvaceous body with just enough fat. She had never hidden her affections from me. She was the first girl I ever kissed.

Sometimes at night Ness would sit on my bed. We'd hold hands and look at each other.

"Karl, if you don't kiss me I think I'm going to die." Ness closed her eyes and tilted back her head.

Our lips pressed together and her mouth opened to mine. Our tongues explored each other's mouths.

Ohhhh, ohhhhh," she exhaled softly into my mouth.

My hands slipped gently under the hem of her black and blue Journey Tour shirt, as hers crept under my plain black one, to softly caress the sharply defined edges of my abs.

I broke our kiss and looked down as I pulled the shirt over the rondure of her lovely breasts. My blood surged hot gazing upon her soft, white mounds, encased as they were in black lace. I pushed the flat of my palms into them and my fingers sank into Ness's soft flesh.

"Ohhh Karl."

I crushed my lips again to hers.

The softness of her lips, her moans, Ness's pink tongue darting in my mouth as my own sought to wrap around it. My world narrowed to only that.

I kissed across her cheek and down to her graceful

neck as we burned in our passion for one another.

"Oh Ness, Ness," I said, breathlessly.

"Love me Karl. love me," she softly moaned.

Would that I could return her feelings, sweet and tender as they were, I knew only my burning lust. My hands pushed the lacy fabric of her black bra up and over Vanessa's breasts as they burst free.

I growled low in my throat, like an animal.

Looking down at her, panting beneath me. I took her small rose-pink nipples in between my fingers.

"Ohhhhhhh UHHHH!" The sounds of pleasure escaped her throat.

I slid one of my hands down the curve of her abdomen, and over the waist of her tight jean shorts. Her skin was as soft and warm as satin under my pushing fingers.

The hardness of my cock pressed outward, rubbing against the fabric of my black boxers under the tight fit of my jeans.

My hand slid into the tight V between Vanessa's creamy white thighs and I rubbed my first two fingers against her mound directly through her jean shorts and lacy black panties. "Ohhhhhhh ahhhhhhh," Ness moaned so sweetly as I kissed her neck and she pressed her sex against my hand. She began grinding her pussy against my probing fingers, her hips rocking back and forth as she fed her lust. My lips were on her erect nipple, sucking her sweet nub into my mouth. Ness arched her back and quivered.

. "Ohhh Ohhhhhh oh God oh God oh fuccccccccck"

She orgasmed hard through her jeans against my outstretched hand.

I was past caring if we were heard. I suspect Dad and Sharon were too busy and Ronnie was studiously trying hard not to think about what I was doing to his twin sister.

We spent half the night making out, kissing so hard our mouths ached, but never went farther.

Soon enough, they'd all gone back home.

In the weeks that followed, I healed and my father recovered and went back to his job as Administrator at City Hospital. He left me alone to fend for myself, most of the time. He was too busy, dating every woman he could date. I swore I'd never be like him, but I was wrong.

April 8th 1983

My father's long journey through the world of middle-aged dating continued. The names and faces came and went. I didn't care. I barely saw him during this time. I mostly had the apartment to myself. I'd make long phone calls to Ronnie and Ness. I'd wander through town looking for the bookstores and music stores, hang out at the mall and arcade, generally being aimless.

My father, in his capacity as the Administrator of the hospital, met and interacted with a lot of the staff. One of the people he met was an RN in charge of the entire extended care wing of the hospital. Her name was Bernice Warren and soon she and my father began dating. I suspect she wanted a long-term relationship. But like Sharon and others had found out, Dad could be a slippery eel. So, she decided ingratiating herself with me would be a good avenue to approach Dad from. Therefore, one weekend she asked my Dad to a Family Reunion of hers, and told him to bring me along. I went, but I was bitter, angry, withdrawn. I sat alone at a picnic table and read an epic fantasy novel I was engrossed in.

Most of the day had gone by, and the afternoon shadows were growing long. One of them fell across me and my book. I looked up, meaning to tell the interloper to get lost, in so many words.

My words died in my throat. I looked up to see a stunningly beautiful girl. Her features were exquisite. She had shimmering sea-blue eyes, and a gorgeous cupid's bow in her soft, and so very red lips. Her skin was as light and creamy smooth. Her slim, feminine neck and shoulders were accentuated by the long and softy tousled chestnut curls that fell about them in loose profusion.

I was stunned, taken aback and just a bit mesmerized.

As my eyes gazed downward along the blue fabric inlaid with golden blossoms of her dress It accentuated her small, but full breasts and slim hips. The material flowed freely over her coltish legs.

Then she spoke and her voice was the most beautiful sound I have ever heard, redolent of burbling brooks and silver bells. "Hi, I'm Leigh and you must be Karl."

"I am Karl, but I'll be anyone you want. But how do you know my name?"

Leigh giggled and then said, smiling. "Oh. Your dad is going out with my Mom, Bernice."

The smile on her gorgeous face held me entranced.

"Oh"

Again Leigh giggled like the tinkling of a bell, It made squiggles of delight travel through me.

"I see you're not a fan of my Mom either."

I turned red as a brick. I began to blurt an apology but Leigh reached across the table and took my hands, Her skin felt like warm silk.

"Don't apologize Karl, my mother's treated me dreadfully her entire life." She looked down and continued.

"My father used her, and when he found out she was pregnant, he ran away and abandoned us both. I've never known him. But Bernice, well, she hates him, venomously and, well, I am the only thing she's ever had to take that hate out on."

I saw tears well in the corners of Leigh's crystal eyes. That was the beginning of my lifelong hatred for Bernice Warren.

"My father is no prize either," I looked deep into Leigh's gorgeous eyes. "I mean who just leaves their eighteen year old son to the wolves?"

The tenderness and warmth in her face melted into my heart. "I'm sorry Karl, I guess we both have some thorns in our hearts."

As our conversation progressed, I found she was barely a month younger than I was, and that she went to a different high school in our same town.

Far too soon her mother called for her, she released my hands, and stood.

I knew I couldn't just let her walk away "Leigh wait. I've had a wonderful time talking with you....would you like to go to the movies tomorrow night?"

Leigh's face broke out into a beautiful smile. "Yes Karl, I'd like that, do you have a pen?"

"Yes"

"Here's my number, I can't wait to see you again." I watched her walk away, carefree. She moved with a sinuous grace I found indescribably thrilling.

April 9th 1983

The next day came around and it was time for Leigh and me to go to the movies. She showed up wearing a different dress but looked just as beautiful as she had the day before. This time she was wearing a black dress with white and red orchids all over it. It left her creamy smooth white shoulders bare, and the tousled curls of her chestnut brown hair fell in loose waves across them.

My heart skipped a beat in my chest at the sight of her.

Same as the day before, her dress clung to her body in all the places required to make me feel an animalistic heat inside myself. I did my best not to steal sidelong glances at her beautiful face and lithe body as we stood in line waiting for popcorn.

As we walked into the theater looking for a place to sit, she intertwined her hand in mine. We ate our popcorn, looking at each other occasionally as we watched the coming attractions.

Our fingertips touched each other in the popcorn bowl and an electric shock went through my body. I knew Leigh felt it too because I saw her tense for a second. I didn't know what this chemistry was but I knew we had it.

I stretched and put my arm around her. It was the first time I felt her soft, warm skin, like satin under my hands. I sat there watching a few minutes, feeling her presence next to me. I looked over and Leigh was peering intently at me. Our eyes locked and I felt as if I was falling into the azure pools of her eyes.

I lowered my face to hers, and she tilted her head back and closed those gorgeous eyes and we kissed for the first time. It was magical, I can't describe what I felt. The passion in our hearts just exploded and we began kissing each other passionately. Our tongues intertwined in our mouths.

I wanted very much to touch her body with my hands but did not dare.

I did put my hand on the back of her head, my fingers sliding through her wonderfully soft hair, pulling her into our kiss.

Leigh moaned softly into my mouth.

I used my hands to pull her youthful body as close to mine as I could, with the side rail of the seats being in the way. I felt her small breasts, so warm and soft, press against my chest. Her slim arms twined around me and I felt one of her wonderfully gentle feminine hands slide tentatively into my hair. Our passionate kissing went on and on, only stopping for occasional gasps of air.

Leigh finally stopped and drew back a bit, panting softly. She looked very deeply into my eyes and her soft pink lips formed a shy smile that stole my heart.

I was almost desperate to kiss her more, but she pressed her face into my neck, turned her head to lie on my shoulder and went back to watching the film. She again took my hand.

Three times more during the course of the film we stopped watching to passionately, feverishly, make out.

Far too soon the film was over and we walked outside, my head in the clouds. I was filled with sadness as I saw Bernice's car and knew our time, at least for tonight, was over.

I was about to say something to her when she spun in a pirouette, and looked directly in my eyes and, again with a smile that turned my heart to jelly, said, "Karl, I have had the most wonderful time with you tonight." She hesitated and a warm flush came into her cheeks. She looked down, then back up into my eyes as she continued "I...I really like you Karl and I want to see you again."

I've never, in my life, felt such a thrill as I did hearing those words. I pulled her close in an embrace and told her I liked her too, as I bent my head to kiss her, the breath caught in her throat. Bernice honked the car horn. I reluctantly let go of Leigh.

"Wanna go to the mall tomorrow?" she asked with a bright smile.

I said yes and she grabbed me, pulled me down to her and kissed me once more.

Then she turned and walked to her mom's car. I was in the clouds walking home

April 10th 1983

When I met Leigh in front of Fayette Mall the next day I got another pleasant surprise. She was wearing a pair of tight jeans and a form fitting T-shirt, white and green with the number 34 on it. She had a stunning, lithe, curvy body and my eyes drank her in. She had, to me, a perfect figure.

She put her arms around my neck and we kissed deeply. She tasted like sunshine and joy. Before I got to say much she'd grabbed my hand and pulled me inside. We spent the morning going through a dizzying number of shops: Camelot Music, American Eagle, Waldenbooks, Guess, Kaybee Toys and many many more.

Our conversation flowed naturally. I made her laugh and it was a wondrous sound.

She tried to drag me into Victoria's Secret, but we got turned away for being too young. Instead she pulled me along to Spencer's where she modeled naughty lingerie for me, over her clothes. She'd drape a lacy bra over her perfectly round, small breasts, over her T-Shirt, look at me and then look away. She'd pick up some other risqué things, pause a moment, look at me, then put them back. She messed around with the racks of frilly underwear for a couple of minutes while I made small talk with her.

The dithering made me think she was working up her nerve, and she was. She spun, giving me a great view of her rounded ass in the jeans, grabbed something and turned back to me. Her lovely face was flushed, cheeks red. She had a pair of tiny white thong panties in her hand. She placed it directly over the core of her, the V distinctly visible in her jeans. Leigh looked up at me slowly until our eyes locked and asked, in a voice that had dropped an octave into huskiness "What do you think Karl?"

"I think you're the most beautiful thing I've ever seen Leigh, you amaze me."

Her flush deepened and she looked down. But she giggled like the burbling of a brook and said "Thank you" in the softest, sweetest voice I had ever heard.

Hours had passed, so we ended up going hand in hand to the food court for, in my case, a slice of pizza and order of onion rings and in her case a cheeseburger and deep fried mushrooms.

We sat and ate, looking at each other, but the more I mulled over the question I wanted to ask her in my mind, the less appetite I got, until my stomach twisted up into knots. Leigh noticed I had stopped, She looked at me with concern, so I reached out and took her hands. I don't know from where I marshaled the courage to say it, but in a clear voice I said, "Leigh, will you be my girlfriend?"

The shock and surprise in her eyes was replaced by the most gorgeous smile I ever saw as she stood so fast her chair and purse toppled backwards

"YES!" Leigh nearly shouted, and leapt into my arms, causing my chair to fall backwards, her arms wrapped around me as we rolled in the floor, kissing passionately.

Many of the Food Court patrons burst into spontaneous applause for what had just happened between us.

As I poured all the fire and passion in my heart into our kiss I realized, I had never been happier. Whether I knew it yet or not, I was in love with this girl I'd met just two days before. The sparks that passed between us could have set fire to the entire mall.

It was hard to stop, but realizing we were in a public setting being watched by many people I let Leigh go and sat up. She did as well, getting to her feet, her face bright red. We got another smaller round of applause as I righted our chairs, sat down and took her beautiful hands.

I told Leigh this was the happiest day of my life.

Very shyly, looking down she said "Why don't we go find a place to sit outside?"

So, hand in hand we walked around the back side of the Mall until we found a secluded nook about a hundred yards from one of the back entrances and sat there and made out for awhile.

The urge to put my hands on her was very nearly overwhelming. But I really cared about her and felt like I was seriously falling in love, so I still did not.

Leigh however had no such compunctions and got her soft and warm hands up under my tee shirt.

As I kissed her deeply and passionately, our tongues intertwined as if serpents, I felt her fingertips exploring my abs and chest.

As she ran her fingertips down my abs towards the waistband of my jeans a soft moan escaped her into my mouth. Nothing in my life had ever thrilled me more. The tendrils of electricity between us reached down into my core and exploded up my spine. I pulled her tightly into my grasp and kissed her as hard as I could, I was burning in my passion now.

Leigh responded with all the feverish intensity of her eighteen-year-old hormones. It was almost as if we wanted to devour each other in the moment of passion, love, and lust.

My hands for the first time went under the back of her tee shirt, I spread my palms and fingers across her satiny skin and felt the strap of her bra, which sent another primal thrill through my body. But I went no further.

Eventually we broke the kiss.

I had never been stared at the way Leigh looked at me. I will never forget that. Her face flushed, eyes nearly blazed, panting for breath. She looked like a wild animal that wanted to tear me apart. And I am sure I looked the same way to her.

I spoke first, softy. "Oh Leigh."

And we grabbed each other and the kissing started again. Making out with each other is pretty much all we did until it was time for her to be picked up by her mother. My mouth ached deeply by the time we released each other. I walked home to mine and my father's own empty apartment in a daze.

I called Leigh that night and talked to her for hours. She told me Bernice was upset that she was visibly disheveled from our intense making out.

We talked about what we were going to do if her Mom kept dating my dad. And how much we'd miss each other during the week since, regrettably, we went to different schools.

I dreamed of her at night, so soft in my arms, her hot breath in my mouth. Soft moans. She drove me mad. I was dying for Friday night and seeing her again.

I knew she liked me but didn't know she was in the same dream state, hopelessly fallen for me, writing "Leigh Loves Karl XoXo" all over her school books.

Friday night we went to the movies again but didn't watch much. We were safely ensconced in the darkness of the back row, lost in each other, kissing almost endlessly, only stopping to rub her cheek with my hand and tell her how beautiful she was before plunging back into our deep kisses. As I looked into Leigh's eyes love carried me away in its currents helplessly, like an autumn's fallen leaf in a tumbling brook.

Sunday night I climbed the trellis into Leigh's room for the first time.

She and I laid together, intertwined in a mutual embrace, our hot passions pouring forth into each other's mouths as our tongues slid almost desperately into each other's mouths. We kissed until our mouths ached and for the first time, began to really touch each other.

Her hands, after rubbing my chest and abs, ventured lower. Her palm rubbed against the hardness behind my jeans causing her to gasp and moan softly into my mouth. I closed my hands onto Leigh's breasts for the first time, gently squeezing them through her shirt and bra. Then I reached down to cup and squeeze her perfect ass through her jeans. Rubbing my palms across the soft roundness and squeezing my fingers into it through the material of her jeans.

We were in heat, writhing against each other. But when I tried to slide my hand down her abdomen she stopped me with a firm grip on my wrist.