"Oh, man!" Gabrielle looked up from her messages. "I'm going to have to get over to the university. Trouble with a painting. An accident involving solvent getting dumped on a rare-get this. Brynne-Abigail Wainwright." Gabrielle looked absolutely horrified, stood up abruptly and gathered her bags. "Not a good combination.""No, that's not good at all. Brynne said, shaking her head, "the solvent will eat through the canvas if they don't neutralize..."I tried to keep up with the art geek stuff they talked about, but it wasn't easy for me. I don't think I have an artistic bone in my body. I can appreciate it. though. Brynne's portrait was the epitome of art in my opinion."Do you want a ride back? Neil will take you over there if you like," I offered."No, that's okay, I'll get a cab-it'll be faster. I need to go right now, but thanks. I'll see you at your place tomorrow night, Ethan. Enjoy your lunch, you two.""Let me know how it works out," Brynne told her. "If anyone can fix the mess

.My thoughts were interrupted by the car door as Ivan opened it for Brynne, kissing her on both cheeks and making a big show of saying good-bye.At the same time, that fucking photographer started snapping pictures! They looked like celebrities even if they weren't, and Ivan technically was. Christ Almighty!Brynne looked stunning on the street talking to my cousin. How would I ever survive this, I thought. The desire for a smoke nearly had me gasping, but my vice would have to wait for the moment."Good-bye, Ivan! It was so lovely to meet you today, and it'll be wonderful seeing you again at the Mallerton Gala soon," Brynne got into her seat and smiled up at him."It was lovely to meet you too, Brynne Bennett," Ivan grinned and then bent down to speak to me. "Take care of this gorgeous girl for me, now, would you? No fits and tantrums, okay, E? You can do it." He was laughing as he shut the door."Well that was fun," I said sarcastically as I pulled away from the curb. "I like your

"That's going to be Aunt Marie! Ethan, can you let her in? I'm up to my elbows here." From the kitchen. Brynne gestured to her frantic last-minute prep for dinner."I've got it." I gave her an air kiss and said, "Showtime, yeah?" She nodded back, looking beautiful, as always, in her long black skirt and purple top. The color was lovely on her, and since I now knew it was her fa- vorite, I had to believe in my luck that first time when I sent her the purple flowers.All in, baby.I opened the door to a lovely woman of whom I had no expectations other than knowing she was Brynne's great-aunt. Sister to her grandmother on her mum's side. But the person smiling at my doorstep was about as far from a grandmotherly female as you could get. With her unlined skin and dark red hair, she looked young and stylish and rather... hot for a woman who could not be above fifty-five."You must be Ethan that I'm hearing so much about," she said in a native tongue."And you must be Brynne's aunt Marie?"

"I'm right here, baby." I took her hand in one of mine. "Were you dream- ing?" "Yeah... it was weird." She left the bed and went into the loo. I heard water running and a glass being set down on the counter. I waited in bed for her to come back, and after a couple minutes she did.Boy. Did. She.She slinked out stark naked with a look in her eyes that I'd seen before. A look that says, I want sex and I want it NOW. "I think you know," she said in a sultry voice as she climbed on top of me and looked down, her hair falling forward like a pleasure goddess intent upon ravaging me."Brynne? What's going on?"Oh. fuck yes!My hands went up to her breasts without a thought. God! I cupped all that soft flesh in my hands and drew it toward my mouth. She arched and began grinding over my cock, which was now as wide awake as my brain. I forgot about her being out of commission because she sure wasn't acting like she was out of commission.I got my mouth over her nipple and sucked it in deep. I

A call came through just then, pulling me out of my woolgathering moment and back into the very demanding and very urgent present situation of my job responsibilities. The day flew, and before I knew, it was time to get moving. I called Brynne as I was leaving the office to tell her I was on my way. I ex- pected to get a breathless rundown of everything that needed to be done before the thing tonight and our impending trip. I got voice mail instead. So I sent her a short text: On my way home. Need anything? And got no response.I didn't like it and realized right then and there that I would always worry about her. The worry would never go away. I'd heard people say such things about their children. That they didn't know what real worry was until they had someone in their lives important enough to measure the true essence of what it meant to love another person. With that love came the burden of potential loss-a prospect too uncomfortable for me to think much about.Remembering the env