Emily, my auburn-haired cousin, and I had drifted apart again over the last fifteen years. We had never talked about that night, agreeing the next morning, as we woke up wrapped around each other naked, that it would be best not to. Some years after she had gone abroad for some time, but we had kept in touch by phone or letter. These contacts had grown further and further apart and eventually stopped. I had no idea where she was or what she was doing until one evening in a local pub I saw her.
She was at the bar, trying to get a drink, and being accosted by some drunken romeo. I didn't know it was her then, but I didn't like the way he was pawing at someone who obviously didn't like it. I stepped behind him, grabbed his arm and forced it up his back, pushing him forward onto the bar, spreading empties everywhere.
"If you don't leave the lady alone bud, I'll keep pushing until your arm comes off, and then I'll stuff it up your asshole." I growled.
"Okay, okay." He said frantically. "What's it to you anyway?" By now I had seen who it was he was molesting.
"As it happens, it's my cousin. And if I'd have known that, I wouldn't have stopped when I did." I pushed away from him. The bouncers were coming over. "Its okay guys, we're leaving any way." I said, raising my hands, and then turning to Emily. "Hi Em. Long time, no see." I took her hand and led her out of the bar into the night air. Emily didn't say a word until we reached the fresh air.
"John, where did you spring from?"
"I never left, it was you who went around the world, remember?"
"You know what I meant."
"I was having a quiet drink before I went home, then I saw something I didn't like and decided to stop it."
"Thanks for that. I only wanted a drink before I left too, and then he started..." We were walking towards where my car was parked. "Anyway, how have you been?"
"You know me Em, same old same old. Take what life throws at me and shrug it off. What was the world like?" She smiled for the first time that night.
"Big and interesting. Can we go somewhere and talk; I'd like to catch up?"
"I've got a full bottle of Jack at my place, five minutes drive away?"
"Why not? I can get a taxi later."
She slipped off her jacket and sat down. I splashed some JD into a couple of glasses and was about to hand one to her.
"Is this wise, considering what happened last time?"
She laughed.
"I promise to be a good girl this time."
"You were pretty good last time!" I said before I could think. Emily blushed and looked away. "Sorry Em, that was out of order." She took the glass from me and downed it in one.
"That's all right John; I'll take it as a compliment. Now fill up the glass and tell me your news."
We sat and talked for well over an hour. I told her what I'd been doing for the last few years, she told me of her adventures travelling the world. As we talked I took time to appraise my cousin. Time had done little to spoil her looks, at least to me. When I mentioned it, Julie looked at me disbelievingly.
"You really mean that don't you?"
"Truth Emmy, yes I do. You still look as attractive to me as you did at fifteen."
"Oh! You want to start the 'Truth or Dare' game again, do you?" I looked into her eyes and saw the wicked glint I knew so well. The bottle of JD was now nearly empty.
"Maybe." She grabbed my wrist and twisted. "OWW! Ow! Yes!! Yes, I want to play 'Truth or Dare'."
"Good. I'll go first. Why have you never married?"
"Truth: I never found the right girl. What about you?"
"Truth: No one ever came up to my expectations." She sat back and folded her arms. "What girl were you looking for?"
"Truth." I said and then hesitated.
"Come on Johnny, who were you looking for?"
"Truth: I was measuring them all against you, Em, and after a while I stopped looking, there is only one of you."
She smiled and reached for my hand, squeezing it.
"Thank you. That means a lot to me. Your question."
"Okay, what were your expectations that no one could live up to?"
"Truth: I expected them to treat me like you did. Kind and caring, sweet but manly, and." She stopped. "And able to fuck me like you did."
"Emily, I think we should stop, we can both see where this is heading."
"I know." She burst into tears. "John, why do you think I left to travel the world? I couldn't bear to keep seeing you and not be able to have you. I said that you gave me the best sex I'd ever had and that was true. It still is true. Every fuck I compare against that night and nothing ever comes close."
I moved beside her and held her close, brushing her hair from her face, wiping the tears from her face.
"Emmy, I'm really sorry. I should never have done what I did. I've ruined your life." She looked up at me.
"No! No, it wasn't you. I started the game; I led you where I wanted you."
"I could have said no at anytime Em."
"You did if you remember, and I dared you."