Caught in the Net (21 page)

“I insist on it.  Believe it or not, I’m pretty
submissive when I'm with the right man,” she admitted. 

Michael touched under her chin.  “Then you fully
understand the implications of being involved in a relationship with me and,
subsequently, my crazy family?”

“Yes.”

“Tell me, then.  What are they?” he asked firmly, not
letting her look away.

“To follow the rules as they are listed and suffer the
consequences should I choose to do otherwise.”

“Can you tell me what the consequences are?  And what
they are not?” he asked. 

She shivered, hearing a mix of both his father and
uncle in his tone.  “They are not separation or avoidance.  I’ll be stuck with
all of you.”

“Good.  And please tell me what they are?’’

“Discipline,” she whispered, embarrassed.  She hated
that he was making her speak aloud, but instinctively knew this was part of his
expectation of obedience.  He seemed to grow taller and broader as he
straightened himself before her.

“Be specific, please.”

“Corporal punishment.”  She looked down, blushing.

“Look at me.  What type of corporal punishment?”

“I might be spanked,” she whispered, wanting to sink
into the deck.

“No, you WILL be spanked.  And it is rarely
administered with the presence of clothing.  Which would mean,” he placed his
large hand on her ample bottom, “this beautiful backside will be bared.  Can
you accept that?”

“It’s so humiliating.  I mean, if we become lovers,
that’s one thing, but…”

“But nothing.  That is how it is.  Just think about it
for a while.  I won’t rush you.”  He swept his hand over her cheek to kiss her
again.  “The solution is to behave.  Then you won’t have any difficulties from
any of us.”

“Any of you?”

“The four of us.  You adopted Rich as a brother.  I expect
him to care for you like I do for my own sister.  Would you care to share about
your vices before we go to the next step, so I can prepare myself?”

“Well, I’m stubborn and sometimes have a big mouth.  I
am easily distracted from stuff I don’t want to do.  I also hate cleaning.”

“Oh God, you are like my sister.  Please, don’t let
her pull you in.  It won’t be good.  Anything else that you think I might not
go for?”

“I like to party sometimes.  You know, get drunk. 
That’s the worse I do, with an occasional joint.”

“Okay, as of now, no more of that.  You’re under 21,
so it’s illegal to drink unless you are in the company of my parents.  Second,
absolutely no more pot.  You’re going to be working in a governmental research
facility so you need to keep your nose clean.  Agreed?”

“Yes, Michael.  No problem.  Now your turn.  What are
your vices that I need to be aware of?”

“I am also incredibly stubborn and sometimes
opinionated, and tend to be a little uptight when it comes to safety issues. 
Especially after last year.  I’m a bit of a workaholic and not much of a risk
taker.  My sister does enough of that for the two of us.  I sometimes will jump
on a decision before taking in all the info.  If I do that to you, please go
straight to my dad or Scott.  They’re good at helping me see beyond my thick
skull.  I also like taking things apart.  I’m presently forbidden to tinker
with anything that isn’t broken,” he chuckled.

“It sounds like you have a lot of vices.  What should
we do about them?”

“I think some of them will improve with time.  Others,
well… I doubt it.  Count your lucky stars that I have my dad’s disposition
instead of Scott’s.  I’d be impossible then,” he laughed.  “Come on, let’s go
join the family.”

The couples met at the same time, coming from opposite
ends of the ship.  Dr. Quimby was sitting with Scott, talking quietly about
work.

“Hi Daddy.  This is so nice.  Thank you,” Sam said,
kissing his cheek.

“You’re welcome, sweetheart.  I'm glad you’re having a
good time.”

“It was my idea,” Scott grumbled.  She laughed,
kissing him and letting him pull her onto his lap.  “Having fun, kids?”

“This has been the most wonderful surprise of my life,
Scott.  Thank you.”

“Didn’t you ever take family vacations, Jennifer?” Dr.
Quimby asked. 

She shook her head.  “We never had the money for
anything extravagant.  It would have driven me nuts.  My brothers are
nuisances.  Plus, Pop used to drink a bit too much when he vacationed, so we
avoided it.”

“My mother was a full blown alcoholic.  I did anything
to avoid her,” Rich said.  “That’s why I don’t drink.”

“I probably shouldn’t either.  I don’t think he was an
alcoholic, but he sure didn’t handle his liquor well when he did drink.  He got
moody.”

“I think it would be a good idea to abstain.  No more
for you, okay?” Dr. Quimby said. 

Jen nodded.  “You’re right.  Mike and I talked about
that.  I also promised I wouldn’t smoke pot anymore.”

“You do that?  What’s it like?” Sam asked, jumping on
the new topic.

“Nothing you will ever need to know, kidlet.  We have
zero tolerance for drugs,” Scott commented.

“Mike told me.  I’ll submit myself to drug tests if
you want me to,” Jen offered. 

Scott shook his head.  “No need unless we feel you are
fibbing about it.  That wouldn’t be wise.”

“Just come to us if you have a problem with it, okay? 
I will also expect you to tell us if you slip up.  We are accepting your word
to stop and your word…”

“Is your law,” Michael, Sam and Rich completed.  Dr.
Quimby grunted.

* * * * *

It was late when they returned to the house.  The older
men went straight to bed while the two couples hung around downstairs to talk. 
After the boys left to get some tea in the kitchen, Sam looked at her friend.

“Jen?  Can I try something with you?” she suddenly
asked.

“Sure.  What?”

“I want to see what happens if I try to integrate
you.  You know, swirl.”

“You’re going to try to seduce me?  You’re cute, but
I’m not into girls.”

“I don’t know how it will be felt.  I’ll have the boys
stand on the other side of the room.  I need to be within a couple of feet
right now to do it.  Are you game?”

“Sure, but if I try to kiss you, you better stop it,”
Jen teased.  Sam announced her plan when the boys returned.  They shrugged,
going to the far end of the room when they could see, but hopefully, not feel.

“All right, relax.  Think of floating… I’m going to
start sending images to you.  Tell me anything you think or feel.”

“Okay.  I’m hungry.”

“No, you’re not.  Relax.  Are you sensing anything?”

“I am,” Michael announced.  “The kelp forest.”

“Me too, only it’s warm,” Rich said.

“How about you, Jen?”

“Nothing.  I like having my eyes closed, but all I can
think about is chocolate.”

“That’s not my doing.  Okay, try to think about
Michael.  What he sounds like, how he smells, how he tastes…”

“Mmm, that’s easy,” Jen said smiling.

“I’m getting pheromone reaction here, little sister.”

“Go upstairs until you feel it stop.  Rich? 
Anything?”

“Nope.”

“It stopped at the top of the stairs,” Michael
announced.

“All right, one more thing.  Mike, come down here next
to Jen.  I’m going to remove myself.”

He trotted down and felt his head start to swim when
he stood about five feet from the girl.  His sister moved further away, keeping
her concentration on Jen.  At the top of the stairs, she released the swirl. 
“What’s happening now?” she asked.

“I need an ice bath,” Michael groaned, burying his
face in his hands.  “I want to jump you so badly, Jen.  I’m sorry.  What the
hell happened?”

Sam came down, sitting next to them and joined by
Rich.  “I guess I stimulated her pheromones without her endorphins.  This part
of swirling is like a mating ritual.  Cool.  Wait until I tell Daddy.”

“Don’t you dare!” Jen gasped.

“Why not?  It’s science, that’s all.”

“It’s personal!  And private.  Don’t you have any
social boundaries?”

“Hey, Jen, please don’t talk to my sister like that.”

“No, Michael, it’s okay.  Look at her eyes.  Instead
of bliss, she’s angry.  Interesting.  What else are you thinking, Jen?”

“I want to fuck Mike’s brains out but can’t do
anything with you in this room.  Why can’t you leave?”

“Jennifer!” Rich scolded.

“I told you that this isn’t her; it’s the chemicals. 
She’ll balance soon, don’t worry.  It seems to be a pretty good truth serum,
though.  Jen?  Are you jealous of my relationship with Mike?”

“Samantha Anne, don’t do this,” Rich warned.  She
ignored him.

“No, except I want him to take care of me the way he
takes care of you.  I want him to love me.”  Jen sounded like a little girl.

“What do you think of Rich?”

“He’s smoking hot.  I always wanted a big brother and
he’s the best.  Rich?  Hold me,” she whimpered.  Sam nodded to Rich, watching
him pull the girl into his long, strong arms. 

Michael rubbed his temple.  “She’s sincere about this
family.  I’m not happy with what happened, though.  You need to tell Dad in the
morning.”

“I will.  And I did it supervised, so he can’t yell at
me.”

“Rich?  There’s a joint in my purse.  Will you get it
for me?” Jen asked, eyes glazed. 

Michael scowled, looking in her bag.  Sure enough. 
“My girlfriend is a pothead.  Great.”

“It can’t be that bad, her grades are good and she
shows up for school,” Rich said, rocking her.  “Jen?  How often do you smoke
dope?”

“Once or twice a week, maybe.  I have a green thumb,”
she giggled.

“Are you telling me you are growing this shit in your
dorm room?” Michael asked.

“You’re so cute when you frown.  Come kiss me.”

“Not now.  What are we going to do?” Michael asked,
holding the joint out of her reach.

“Let’s get her off her high and then re-question.  If
she lies to us, then she’ll discover the consequences.  If she tells the truth,
she needs to figure a plan.”

“Should we tell the folks?”

“No, let the brother and boyfriend handle this. 
Samantha, you are not to say one word.  Got it?”  Rich ordered, that ‘look’ on
his face expressing his seriousness. 

Sam bit her lip, nodding.  “Yes sir, Rich.”

“ ‘Sir’?  Did I hear a ‘sir’ come out of her for you? 
You are a miracle worker, my friend.”

Jen returned to normal within an hour.  She shook her
head, still dazed as things began to focus again.

“How are you doing?” Rich asked.

“That was the weirdest thing.  Last I remember was
thinking of Mike and his presence exploded in my senses.  Wow.  I remember I
was angry, too, but I don’t know about what.”

“Jen?  I’m bothered about something.  How often to you
smoke pot?”

“Not much, Mike.  I promised I’d stop.  Did I say
something?”

“Yes, you asked Rich to get this from your purse.  Why
didn’t you tell me you had this?  We’re in Canada.  We could all get in trouble
if you’re caught.”

“I’m sorry, I forgot about it.”

“Okay.  Sammi, go flush this,” Michael ordered,
watching Jen’s pained expression.  She wanted the damn thing!  “My next
question.  Where do you get the stuff?”

“I live in college dorms, it’s everywhere.”

“So if I went up with you to your room, there wouldn’t
be any plants around?”

She didn’t answer, looking at the floor.  Michael’s
jaw started twitching along with the pulsating vein in his neck.  Sam swallowed
hard; she felt more sorry for her brother at this moment.

“Mike asked you a question, little sister.  Answer
him,” Rich said gently.

“I have a few in my bathtub.  I make extra money that
way.  I’m so sorry, Mike.”  She was in tears.

“So am I.  You know what this means, don’t you?” 
Michael stood up, hands on his hips. 

Her crying increased.  “I blew it.  I knew it was too
good to last,” she sobbed. 

Michael squatted in front of her.  “What are you
talking about?  Blew what?”

“Us.  I fucked up bad.”

“Yes, you screwed up, but I don’t understand what you
think you blew.”

“Michael, don’t be a nimrod.  She thinks she ruined it
with you.”  His sister slapped him on the back of the head. 

He frowned at her.  “Don’t hit me.  Is that what you
think, Jen?  Nothing has changed with us.  Except that you are in big trouble. 
I just need to decide what to do.”

“Please don’t tell your parents.  They’ll hate me.”