'I can't take anymore, I'm going to die'.

'Your not going to die from getting some dick'.

Every limb that laid attached to my body was screaming in soreness. Begging for the hint of an ice bath, to ease the pain. Since the engagement, Keaton and I had been fucking like a membership sale at the swingers club. Finding any available surface, space and time to entangle our bodies, many of which were not appropriate for that sort of work. Just last week I'd been hidden under the desk of Keaton's office, devouring his cock between the warmth of my lips. When Iron and Gunner had walked in to query something with Keaton.

Thankfully the desk had provided a thin plywood screen, separating the view of me between Keaton's legs and the boys. At first I'd halted still, scared any movement would give away my whereabouts. But once Keaton started talking a stir of delinquency rose in me, licking the tip like a lolly pop whilst he acted indifferent to the boys. That had been a close call, yet it still hadn't stopped us.

Now I was lying in bed swollen and sore, in desperate need of heading into town. Both Keaton and Alice had birthdays coming up and I desperately wanted to surprise them with a thoughtful gift. Being that today was the start of my long weekend off at the library, there was no time like the present.

Getting a prospect to drive me into town as Keaton was busy, was easy enough. I still needed to work on applying for a license and taking my test. But nobody on the compound had ever made me feel embarrassed for carting me around, nor did I think Keaton or 'Manix' would be happy with the idea of me driving alone. Of course he would support every and all decision I make, but I knew it would worry slightly him deep down.

Summer was drawing to an end, only a few more weeks until a new school year for Aldo. Soon flip flops would be replaced with wellies, ice lollies with pumpkin pies and the desolated roads coated in a colourful display of orange and red. The main roads in town today however, were mixed with adults and children conducting tasks similar to my own.

Turning into 'Stanley and Susan's' ol Antiques' store, I was hopeful the store would have something for Alice. The girl was an antique lover, often happy to support reclaimed items within her shopping sprees. The brick building was named after its owners respectively, Susan a bubbly buxom women and Stanley a pessimist crank. Though both managed to balance one another out.

The vintage shop had been one of the oldest in the town, something Susan was proud of when she'd hit me with the fact the first time I'd entered. The grey brick exterior was painted grey, pairing well with the dark cream of the window frames. On first look, one would think the shop's sign hanging above the door for onlookers on the street, was created to fit the vintage theme. But only on closer inspection would many come to the realisation, the sign and building were just that old. A true novelty of the town, and hopefully a place I could located some gems.

Susan was upfront, sweeping the wooden floor and chatting away to Edith about what sounded like this weeks knitting pattern. The sight left me optimistic, that their focus on one another would give me enough time to search the store high and low, before I was destined to be averted by Susan's desire to gossip.

Searching around a few things peaked my interest, but not enough to place anything in the woven basket seated on my arm. Deciding to stay on track to my original plan, I walked towards the jewellery section.

A set of long drop earrings was the first item to catch my eye. The floral 70s hippie pattern, fitting well against the teardrop shape and silver metal. But after some consideration I felt this wasn't the gift I was after for Alice.

Casting my eyes further across the shelves of reclaimed jewellery, the ring section caught my eye. Every ring seemed to tell it's own story and provide its own vibe. Thought one seemed perfect for Alice, a brass snake ring. The stomach coil forming the band that sits on the finger, tiny green emeralds established the eyes, and its long thin tongue reaching  just below the nail bed of ones finger. In all, it was fierce like Alice and represented her deep appreciation for Medusa mythology. I'd read a book once that spoke of her as a rape victim, turned vengeful. Who had not done wrong, instead she had been wronged. Paired with Alice's education, I'd come to the conclusion Medusa was just misunderstood.

Clasping the ring and its respective black velvet case, I trudged to Susan praying she would not keep me until dinner time. I loved to chat to the women, but heck you could never get anything done once she had you in her clutches.

'Got everything you were after sweetheart?'

'Yes ma'am, I'll just take the ring please'.

'Of course'.

Ringing up my total and paying, I left the store feeling accomplished. Swinging my cross bag ungracefully over my shoulder, I headed off in search of Keaton's present. Unlike Alice's gift, I had no plan of what I wished to purchase for him. Their birthdays were only a little over a week apart, Alice's being the latter. So the pressure was on to find my hunk a suitable offering.

After window shopping for a good hour, the decision was made to surprise him through myself. Possibly spice up the sex, if that was at all remotely possible. Walking through the lingerie store I settled on a black bra and garter set, one I was sure Keaton would like. In addition to a couples vibrator set, in the hopes we could try it out together.

All in all, a very successful trip.

The familiar sound of the television greeted me when I arrived back, bags in hand knocking everything as I lugged them through the front door.

'Hey Alds'.

'Hey mom'.

'How was your day?'.

'Good. Daddy let me hang out with him, but he had to leave to do something so I decided to watch a film with Stella'.

'Aw that's good'.

Once all the bags had been lifted into the bedroom with the aid of Stella, I'd thanked her for looking after Aldo before starting on dinner. Leaving the lasagne warming off the heat, the trash could no longer be neglected. After some struggle, due to how much rubbish we seemed to have accumulated within the kitchen. A slightly sweaty, but successful Carina had made it to the outdoor garbage bin.

Before I could even hear the sound of the first bin bag hit the trash below, a hard thump made contact with the back of my head. The stinging ache sensation, being the last thing I recall before my eyes fell heavy and my body dropped.

....
Something super cool just happened. I was on tik tok and a video came up of someone recommending my book. I physically screamed because that's so sweet but unfortunately my dumb ass refreshed. But if that was you just know I saw it and thank you - Jess 😊💗