Thick morning mist draped over the mountainside, pale and ghostly in the early morning light. The tips of pine, aspen, and fir trees rose above the milky shroud like a panorama of small conical bushes. At ground level the mist touched exposed skin leaving dampness behind, clammy and cool at such a high altitude. Like a specter, mist drifted between tall evergreen pines, slipping in and around slender tree trunks in alternating dense and wispy ethereal clouds leaving behind a fine coating of dew on drooping branches and dampness on exposed moss-covered rock. Morning sun burned gaps in the mist in spots, finding morning moisture and making parts of the landscape glisten and sparkle, diamonds blinking brightly.

Crouching, a small girl brushed her hair back, tilting her head slightly, small fingers combing her locks from the front left to the back right exposing her face and delicate ear.

She reached out, her small hand slender, fine-boned, with knuckles prominent under thin, pale, alabaster skin. Her hand was absolutely rock-steady as it reached out towards the torn, bleeding face.

Had the man been conscious, he would have wondered at her platinum hair, not blonde, but a white platinum color that fell in a straight silky curtain to her middle back. He would have wondered what thoughts played through her mysterious silver-grey eyes, and what a nine-year-old child was doing on the highway sixty-seven miles outside of Boulder, Colorado.

But Jenkins was not conscious. His truck, traveling at fifteen miles per hour over the speed limit on the slick two lane mountain road, on cheap, balding, retreaded tires, and hustling to make up time his boss was going to financially penalize him for, had hit a small stone on the winding road. Unfortunately for Jenkins, the small stone, no larger than a silver dollar, was flinty and pointed, a shard fallen from the mountain rock above, detached by a relentless cycle of winter freezing and spring thawing. The flint-like stone was sharp, the tire worn, the result inevitable. The blow-out caused a massive and immediate swerve to the right, the semi's cab slamming into the rock wall, bouncing off with an ear-piercing screeching of torn metal, the front passenger side caving in.

Massive lateral forces from the impact shoved the cab in the opposite direction in a fraction of a second. The cab, unable to break the laws of physics, rolled onto its side from the explosive impact, sparks bursting as the metal body slid on asphalt. The old, rusted coupling to the trailer sheared from severe torque and, while the cab plowed into the rock wall and bounced off again, the trailer separated, tore through the inadequate aluminum guard rail and plunged over the edge, its sides crumpling and back doors exploding like an over-ripe blister when it hit the mountainside hundreds of feet below, corrugated cartons of electronic equipment littering exposed rock and sparse pines.

Jenkins hit the windshield face first, the airbag failing from a lack of servicing, another cost-saving measure his boss had instituted. His face slammed against glass, cheek bone crushed on impact, steering wheel crushing ribs. The windshield popped out, sliding across the asphalt surface like a surfboard riding a slick tarmac wave, gliding down the road before hitting the rock wall and fracturing into tiny pieces. The old frayed seatbelt failed, snapping where it was anchored to the rusty cab. Jenkins, unconscious from the blow to his face, had been hurled through the empty windscreen like a rag doll to scrape across asphalt before coming to rest in a jumbled, bleeding mess.

Crouching at his side, the girl's delicate hand gently touched Jenkins lacerated face, eyes looking at him with kindness. Had he been conscious, he might have felt a searing acid-like heat spread from her hand and through his body. Had his eyes been open he might have marveled at the way purple coronas appeared in her eyes, a ring forming between her pupils and silver-grey irises. But Jenkins wasn't. He didn't feel the fatal lacerations in his cheeks seal, nor the veins and capillaries heal, or cheek bone fragments reform into a whole, knitting together like a movie in reverse. He didn't feel ribs knitting together. Briefly a smile played across the girl's face when she saw an image of his two children, a ten-year-old son and twelve-year-old daughter splashing him in an above ground pool in their small back yard, their laughter sparkling as they attacked their dad who carried a silly smile of pride on his face.

By the time Jenkins regained consciousness and marveled at his lucky escape, the barefoot girl in a simple white knee-length dress had walked around the corner of the road humming a tune softly. Jenkins never knew how close to death he had come. He never knew of the angel that had saved his life. His only thought was to thank God he was alive, thank God he would get to see Marie and the kids again, and puzzlement at where all the blood had come from. Inspecting his blood-drenched clothes he couldn't find a single scratch on his body. It was a miracle, he decided, crossing himself as he observed the wreckage of his semi littering the road.

No one saw her walking down the road. No one would know where she had come from. No one would register her passage.

The waif-like girl walked down the mountain road, her pace just a bit faster now, admiring the incredible view of nature, a lush green valley several thousand feet below, the carpet of evergreens hugging steep mountainsides, the bright warm sunshine lighting verdant valley farmland. Without hesitation, as if she'd been there before, she turned into a narrow, almost invisible rutted lane that snaked back up the mountainside, cutting through dense, fragrant pines. She inhaled their sweet scent as she walked with purpose, bare feet unaffected by the rocky gravel drive that curled back in on itself, rising. One hundred and twenty-two yards from the main road, a seemingly small single story home appeared, wood-shingled, fronted by a porch and veranda, thick poles propping up a steep angled cedar roof designed to shrug off winter's snow. To one side tendrils of smoke wafted lazily from a stonework chimney.

She paused to take in the scene and inspect the home. She'd arrived. This is where she was supposed to be. The house was meticulously cared for, neat, clean and obviously loved. Despite the rustic appearance, she saw the careful touches of proud owners; small window boxes of blooming geraniums, their intense pretty red flowers cascading down towards the ground, a neat stone-paved walkway leading to the veranda. To the left, a wood shingled garage looked new with hinges and locks still shiny bright chrome. There was no junk or garbage anywhere; everything was neat and organized. To both sides of the three steps that led up to a wide veranda, twin flowerbeds waited. Soil had been turned, dark and loamy, as if ready for planting. On the right side of the home, the early sun side, an herb garden flourished with Tarragon, Basil, Sage, Parsley, and Oregano growing profusely. It was a pretty home. She liked it.

Why was she here? Who lived here? What did they need from her? All she knew was she was supposed to knock on the door. She stepped up, raising her small fist.

I COUGHED AGAIN, THUMPING my chest to dislodge phlegm. It felt like I was coming down with a summer chest cold. Damn.

Parking my butt against the kitchen counter I reached for the mug of coffee. I needed my coffee thick, strong and intense. Of all the things I could do without, coffee, good coffee, was not one of them. God help anyone who talked to me before I had my morning fix.

Lucy barked somewhere in the back yard. Glancing over my shoulder through the kitchen window framed by red-and-white-checkered curtains, I couldn't see her even with the morning sun beginning to burn the mist away. She must be in the woods. Lucy, my five-year-old Golden Lab, could entertain herself forever outside. I caught a flash of golden fur dashing between a couple of pines and disappearing. As always, Lucy made me smile. Dogs like Lucy have that effect. When people look into her soulful brown eyes, they'd naturally want to smile and pet her, bending to get close and whisper, nuzzle their faces to her soft fur, or coo at her. What they wouldn't realize was, as they did, their heart rate would slow, muscles would relax, blood pressure fall, and calmness would descend; stresses would fall away. Lucy had that effect. She was a critical and much-loved partner to me.

Mentally I reviewed the meager information provided on Mia by the nameless one over the phone; almost ten years old and at the end of her twelve-year tenure. I'd never had one so young.

I was a "teacher," a guide, counselor, tutor.

No one really knew how many like Mia there were in the world. Mortal man rarely saw them. When they did, if they remembered them, they called them Angels, or Guardians, accepting their gift as Divine, or fate falling on their side, or pure chance favoring them, the luck of the Irish, or a blessing. No matter what others called them, to me they were Angels, doing their work quietly, gifting deserving mortals with miraculous escapes or sudden cures, or fortunate twists of fate.

I didn't know how it happened. I didn't know why or who was behind it. These special people, these Angels, were similar in only their role and the goodness of their souls. They covered every race, creed, color, and age, different all. Yet each was graced with kindness and compassion, themselves afflicted by dark twists of fate. Frozen in time, each had died alone, unseen, unnoticed.

A force in the universe, called God by some, Allah, Bhagwaan, Yahweh, and thousands of other reverent names, picked people to be Angels, endowing them with special gifts; insight, healing, and prescience. Frozen at the time of their passing, held ageless in a type of stasis, in a state of grace, these Angels used their gifts, guided by a higher force.

Their tenure was twelve; twelve years of service. Once complete a "Teacher" helped them transition back, their reward, a new life, mortal again, the most cherished gift of all. I was one of those Teachers, completely mortal as my painful hacking cough attested to.

An unusual condition occurred with these Angels; they lost all memory of past lives to protect their psyche; learning stopped, emotional development suspended. For twelve years they lived in a between state, happy, innocent, unchanging, guided by a higher authority, never feeling hunger or thirst, sorrow or loss, need or desire.

My job was to prepare them for their new life as a mortal. I didn't know why I'd been selected. It just happened. I was an author and, after each Angel I helped transition back, my creativity flourished, a new novel created. It was as if it was payment for services rendered; I was allowed to do that which I loved the most, write. But it wasn't without cost. For six to twelve months I lived with my charge, each becoming a friend, each missed when they moved on to their new life, each leaving behind fond memories and an aching void. To my sorrow I never got to see them again.

Finishing the mug of coffee, I poured another, switched off the Braun coffee maker and worried. This one, the Angel that would soon arrive at my door, was the youngest I'd ever tried to transition; five months shy of ten years old. I'd never had a child come to me.

Lucy barked at the back door, paw scratching. When I let Lucy in, a knock sounded from the front door. "Quiet, Girl," I admonished as she barked and raced to the front door. I followed her. "Back, Lucy. Give me some room!" I pleaded while she shuffled excitedly between my legs.

Lucy moved away from the door, doleful eyes watching me, tongue hanging in a smile, tail wagging slowly as if to say "Okay, but answer the door, answer the door! Let's see who's there!"

"All right, just wait. Sit!"

Lucy sat, tail swishing across the floor, ears perked and alert, eyes turned to the door.

I opened it.

She was unusual. Long straight platinum hair fell to her middle back. Large silver-grey eyes looked at me with puzzlement in a small, pretty face. She tilted her head as if listening even though I wasn't talking.

"Hello, Mia," I said softly. She was slender, just going through a growth spurt, long legs with almost no curves on her body; coltish, a reed with thin arms and wrists, alabaster skin, and delicate hands.

MIA STOOD QUITE STILL. The man standing at the door seemed to know her name. How? They never knew her name. Soft, warm amber eyes watched her. Kind eyes she decided, smile crinkles hinting at amusement. Behind him she saw a Golden Lab sitting and watching her with eyes full of awareness, its golden coat thick and shining with health and vitality.

A strange feeling of disquiet emerged. Looking at the man, she couldn't see him; couldn't see into him, couldn't hear him. The house was a blank to her. She couldn't sense anything and it disturbed her. This was unfamiliar and disconcerting. There was a void in this house. Was it dangerous?

"Who are you?" she asked.

"My name is Cory, Cory Lassiter. Would you like to come in?"

I UNDERSTOOD HER HESITATION and nervousness. All my students felt the same initial disorientation. They were used to seeing into people, reading their minds, understanding and adapting to their needs. They were used to a guiding force that gently told them what needed to be done with soft whispers in their mind. But they couldn't read my mind. In my house they had no gifts, no mystical talents. In my house they were almost mortal and it was an extremely disorienting experience for them; as if set adrift in a strange sea, in a dense fog, with no sense of direction, no compass, and not knowing how they got there or where to go.

There was one rule. Each had to enter my house of their own accord. They had to make a decision to enter, and making decisions was something they hadn't done in twelve years. The younger they were, the harder it was. Mia was clearly struggling quite badly.

"Would you like to come in?" I asked again, stepping to the side to give her passage.

"Why?" she asked, her voice light and inquisitive.

"It's your time," I told her.

Lucy chuffed behind me as if adding her invitation or encouragement to Mia, her head nodding.

Silence fell. Tree limbs rustled in the morning breeze, birds chirped. The sun's warmth was burning away the last of the morning mist. Mia stared at me, so small, so young. I felt for her.

"I can't see you," she finally said.

I smiled softly, encouragingly. "No. You can't. In here you lose your gift. But you'll find happiness, Mia. I promise you."

She stared at me intently. Her voice was hesitant, now worried. "Will it hurt?"

Lucy chuffed again. Her tail thumped on the hardwood floor. I chuckled, too. "No. I promise. No pain. Would you like to come in? We've been expecting you." I backed further into the hall in encouragement, raising an arm in invitation.

She took a small step closer to the door, still hesitant. A frown appeared, brows knitting. I knew she could feel the disconcerting void. I understood her fear.

"Mia?" I waited for her to look at me, not studying the interior of my home as if peering into a Dragon's cave. "I promise you, you'll find happiness in here," I reassured again with a smile.

MIA SLOWLY WALKED THROUGH the door and stopped in her tracks as soon as she'd crossed the threshold. Her heart beat hard in her chest. Everything disappeared inside her, the comforting guidance she'd relied on for as long as she could remember, her friend that told her what to do, was gone. She felt empty, lost, without a thought. What am I supposed to do? She couldn't remember. A shiver passed down her spine; a new sensation.

The dog stood and approached her, gently nuzzling her with a cold, damp nose, sniffing her. Moving around behind her it nudged her in the lower back forcing Mia to take a step forward to avoid falling.

Cory held out his hand to her. She took it automatically and let him lead her down the hall. She felt odd, as if she was disconnected, not quite there in person, watching herself being led through the house.

It was much larger than it looked from the front; a big living room to the left with comfortable, well-worn furniture, lamps and a large fireplace. Patterned rugs with vibrant colors covered the hardwood floor here-and-there. She smelled the remains of a fire, sweet sharp, smoky pine. She saw a bathroom on the right, then stairs going down into darkness.

Letting Cory lead helped her. She didn't have to decide anything. Decisions seemed so hard. Why? The dog walked at her side, so close its fur brushed her leg and arm. Not knowing why, she rested her free hand on its neck, liking the warm soft reassurance it provided.

Cory led her past another hall off to the right and passed a study before entering a large comfortable eat-in kitchen, windows showing a small back yard hemmed in by a dark green pine forest. When he let her hand go she stopped, two feet inside the doorway. What was she supposed to do? A tremor of fear whispered through her, disquieting, unfamiliar.

"Mia, why don't you sit at the table? I'll get you a drink. You're thirsty. That's Lucy, by the way," he said nodding at the Lab. "I think she likes you."

Mia glanced down at the dog, Lucy, her warm brown eyes staring up, comforting. Somehow, when Mia pulled out a chair and sat at the round kitchen table, and Lucy settled at her side, Mia felt calmer, the tide of fear ebbing. Yet this disorientation was scary, an unfriendly companion. Mia wondered if she should leave. Should she? Frustration was a new sensation. She didn't like it, either.

Rich aromas assaulted her; coffee, toast, spices. She studied Cory as he took a glass from the cupboard and, opening the fridge, reached in, bending and pulling out a carton. He wasn't very tall nor very big, but he moved with grace. Dressed in an un-tucked blue Polo and belt-less worn and faded jeans with bare feet, he didn't feel threatening at all.

"Here you go."

She stared at the glass.

"Go on. Drink it. You're thirsty, Mia. You need to drink."

Mia picked up the glass of orange juice and sipped. Cory looked on, soft, warm, friendly amber eyes studying her as he leaned back against the counter. A flood of sensations hit her; sweetness, pulp, and a sudden strange ravenous need to drink. Gulping, she drained the glass, amazed at the delicious taste. She'd had OJ before so how come it tasted so different, so good? Why did she need to drink so badly?

"More?" he asked.

She didn't know. Did she need more? Would I like more? WHY WAS THIS SO HARD? She felt tears prickle her eyes, so lost, helpless.

I'D SEEN MIA'S REACTION so many times before; the inability to understand. But, in such a young girl, the disorientation was magnified a thousand times, her immaturity struggling to get to grips, incapable of understanding.

Worry crept in. I didn't have experience with any student this young. Would I know what to do? One thing I did know, it was going to be a long, tough journey; quite possibly longer than twelve months.

A coughing fit hit unexpectedly. Thumping my chest to loosen the damned phlegm, it passed and I straightened and smiled at Mia. She was watching me with her head tilted slightly, penetrating silver-grey eyes observant.

"How about breakfast? You're hungry," I said, busying myself with serving us both a bowl of cereal. I poured her another glass of OJ before sitting at the table and passing her a bowl. I took a spoonful of mine. She watched me suspiciously then took a tentative spoonful of Apple Cinnamon Cheerios. Surprised delight made her eyes twinkle and she dug in.

As she ate I studied her. I wondered when the change would occur; it always did. Some mystical change would subtly alter them as the last remnants of their powers faded. Mia was remarkably pretty. Her silver-grey eyes were framed by almost blonde lashes and pure blonde un-plucked eyebrows. In the kitchen light I saw a sprinkling trace of light freckles over her small nose and cheeks. Unconsciously she curled her straight platinum hair behind her small ear when she bent forward to take a spoonful of cereal.

After breakfast I guided Mia and Lucy outside into the warming morning sun. We walked leisurely around the small back yard, soft grass under foot. Lucy dashed off and returned with a piebald tennis ball, offering it to Mia. I showed Mia what to do and was treated to the sight of Mia's smile, a spectacularly pretty smile, as she played fetch with shy enthusiasm, Lucy racing, tongue hanging and seemingly grinning, returning and dropping the ball at Mia's feet, eyes turning up to her face and back to the ball; "Throw! Throw!"

Lucy's cold damp nose woke me with a shove.

"What's up, Girl?" I asked sleepily.

She turned and trotted to the door, pausing and looking back, waiting for me to follow.

I'd put Mia to bed when her eyes had started drooping. Between Lucy and I we'd exhausted her, just what the doctor ordered. She'd seemed hesitant when I'd shown her the bedroom, but surprising me, she'd showered and changed into one of my large T-shirts. Her eyes had seemed so large and watchful when I'd wished her goodnight and closed her door.

Glancing at the clock, I climbed out of bed. It told me it was only three hours since Mia had gone to bed. In my boxers, I followed Lucy.

MIA SAT SHIVERING IN the corner of the couch, curled up and hugging her knees. She was scared. Strange noises had woken her from outside. The bed had felt strange, cold, impersonal. She had immediately felt disoriented, the bed too big, noises unfamiliar. Jumping out of bed she'd run to the couch where she'd spent the evening sitting next to Cory watching TV. In the living room, sitting in the dark, she tried to rediscover the peace she'd felt when watching the TV. It wasn't happening.

She trembled, fearful. She didn't understand why she felt like crying, but she did.

When Cory sat next to her and wrapped his arm around her, drawing her to his side, a bit of peace descended. When he wrapped a blanket around them warmth seeped in. Lucy sat in front of her watching her with her caring eyes. Mia smiled slightly when Lucy chuffed at her. Gradually, as warmth and companionship infused her, as Cory's scent filled her lungs and peace returned, she felt her eyelids droop. Slowly Mia slipped into sleep, held at Cory's side, warm, safe, peaceful.

LUCY STARED AT ME with soulful, soft brown eyes. "It's okay," I told her as Mia snored lightly against me. Mia had melted and slowly slid down, her head in my lap, her shivers fading. Her little snores, almost purrs, were cute.

Lucy settled down, her soft golden fur coat warm on my bare feet.

I felt sorry for Mia. She'd looked lost and lonely when I saw her on the sofa, her eyes large and worried. She was such a gentle girl, quietly observant. I wondered what her personality would be like when it re-emerged. What had she been like before? Had she been happy?

With a hand resting on her small back feeling the slight movement of her breathing, I turned my thoughts to tomorrow. She'd need clothes. I'd take her shopping.

She woke me by stirring and sitting up, small fists rubbing her eyes, hair tangled. When she looked at me I saw the change immediately. She'd changed faster than any other student I'd had.

Light freckles had emerged dusting her cheeks and nose. Her hair had changed from platinum into light ash-blonde and, most noticeably, her silver-grey eyes had muted to iron-grey, almost lead-grey. With the changes Mia had lost her ethereal quality; a child had emerged, small and very pretty.

"Morning," I greeted her, smiling.

Her head tilted as she studied me.

"You need to go to the bathroom, Mia. Don't forget to brush your teeth. Dress, too. We're going shopping today."

Pulling the blanket off her lap she stood, paused to scan the living room as if to orient herself and left.

We spent the morning at a mall in Boulder, Mia holding onto my hand tightly. After finding her some open sandals, the first order of business, we strolled from store to store. I pointed out different items of clothing, telling her to just look, "Nice, don't you think?" I'd ask and steer her to another display.

For an hour or so all I did was show her clothes, talk about the personality of colors, styles, what I liked or didn't like. Then at a pile of T-shirts I spread out four; grass green, light pink, summer lemon yellow, and navy blue.

Holding her hand I said, "Mia, look at those colors. Don't choose one, just look at the colors." When she stared at them I added, "Now, which one wants you to smile at it?"

Her handgrip tightened. She studied as if she was being tested and I sighed to myself when she said in a small voice, "The green one."

I squeezed her little hand. "Well done. Green it is."

Two green T-shirts were bought. I added two pairs of jeans and took her to another store, presenting her with an array of simple summer dresses, all the same style just different colors; a simple stress-free choice.

"So. If you listen real hard, Mia, you'll hear those dresses talking. They're yelling at you. They're excited and want to be with you. Which one's yelling the loudest? I think it might even be using bad language, too."

Corners of her mouth curled slightly. It made me smile; progress. Would she? Mia tilted her head again. After listening intently her small finger pointed to a bright yellow and blue dress. I smiled. Success.

"Was it rude, too?" I asked.

She nodded, the curl returning. She was a sweet girl.

The rest of the shopping trip fell into place. I chose undies for her and undershirts, a one-piece bathing suit and, as I stood in front of a selection of sneakers, another breakthrough was made.

Scanning the choices carefully I found the ugliest pair. "Here, these I think," I said picking them up.

In the corner of my eye I saw her frown, eyebrows knit, concentration.

"They aren't talking," she said softly.

"What?"

"They aren't talking," she said with more feeling.

"You sure? Aren't they saying 'I'm pretty'?"

"No. Those are," she said, small finger pointing.

"Which ones?"

"Those," she exclaimed, little finger now jabbing.

I picked up the wrong pair.

"Not those, those."

Pausing, I said, "Perhaps you should get them."

She let my hand go, stepped up to the display and picked up a white and green pair of Nikes.

"Those were talking? What did they say?" I asked.

"Can't tell you. It was rude," she said with a small shy smile.

Eureka. A warm pulse of pleasure coursed through me when we left the store, Mia's hand finding mine.

A cold nose nudged my bare arm. Cracking my eyes open Lucy chuffed at me, soft brown eyes watching, her tail swishing. She left, turning at the bedroom door to stare back at me.

Two-thirty-seven A.M.

I sighed and rolled out of bed, following Lucy to the living room. Mia was curled up at the end of the couch shivering in my T-shirt. Obviously she didn't like the pajamas we'd bought and she'd put on before bedtime.

I grabbed the blanket and settled next to her. Without a word I turned her, her head on my lap, and covered us with the blanket. She sighed as I switched the TV on to an old AMC movie. Errol Flynn pranced through a forest in green tights. A few minutes later she stopped shivering. Ten minutes after that gentle little snores emerged.

Lucy settled over my bare feet and went to sleep. I placed my hand on Mia's tiny hip and settled into a long, long night. What was I going to do for Mia? Something about sleeping in bed scared her. What?

Yesterday's shopping had gone far better than I'd hoped. Mia had started making choices, even if she didn't recognize it.

She was such a sweet little girl. Maybe she just needed time. Maybe I was impatient to make her feel whole. Who knew.

It shocked me so much the soapy breakfast plate slipped from my fingers and shattered in the ceramic sink.

Bright, musical laughter floated in through the open kitchen windows. Glancing out I saw Mia running across the lawn after Lucy who was scrambling away, pausing, looking back at Mia with a tennis ball in her smiling mouth and running as soon as Mia neared; a familiar tease she liked to play on me.

"Drop it Lucy!" Mia yelled excitedly, letting another peal of sweet laughter out when Lucy artfully dodged around her.

Grinning, I noticed she was barefoot again. Mia really wasn't a fan of shoes and socks. If she didn't have to wear them, she wouldn't. That was fine by me. I had the same quirk.

Turning my attention to picking up the broken pieces of plate in the sink I enjoyed her pleasure, so pure and innocent. It had taken nine days and the determined dedication of Lucy's playful attention to get that laugh. There was hope yet.

Now, if I could get her to sleep in her bed it would be nice, I thought. It would also be nice if she'd talk more. She answered me, somewhat evasively, when I talked to her but never initiated a conversation, never expressed random thoughts, inquisitiveness, chatted, or felt the need to fill a silence; things I'd have expected of a young girl.

Those two things were my next challenge. Somewhere inside her there was a blockage. Even watching comedies she'd smile slightly, shyly, but never laugh or giggle. That laugh as she chased Lucy was a startling first. Perhaps it was a sign for me to press.

Sitting on the couch, an unusual wind stirring tree branches and making them rustle in the quiet darkness of night, one floor lamp casting soft yellow light over us keeping the shadows at bay, TV on low, I sighed; another night on the couch. My body already ached in anticipation, lower back sore. Ten days. It felt like torture. But, for Mia I'd grin and bear it.

Mia slept peacefully, her head on my lap, her arm over my legs, curled up on her side, blanket covering her small body. I loved her gentle snores, so soft and light, almost inaudible. There was something so innocent and young, so pleasing about them; almost musical; the purr of a kitten.

"Well, Lucy, another night here I guess," I said as she sat at my feet.

Lucy lifted her head, looked at me and chuffed, her remarkably intelligent brown eyes staring at me as if trying to communicate. I loved Lucy. She was my constant companion, a rock in my life, forever giving, never taking, bringing joy, and making me smile even when down. She stared at me intently and chuffed again, her "quiet" bark, talking to me.

"You know, you're right!" I agreed, reaching out to stroke her head. "Why do I have to sleep on the couch? Great idea."

Her tail wagged. She stood. If she could actually talk she'd probably say, "About time. You're an idiot."

I was.

With infinite care I stood and bent, gathering Mia in my arms and lifting her. Lucy was right; we could sleep in my bed, both be comfortable, and Mia would have the security of companionship she seemed to need.

Lucy led the way, I followed. Still sleeping, Mia snuggled closer to me and my heart ached. Looking down at her sweet face I felt myself melt just a bit.

It worked. I slept like never before, my bed familiar and so comfortable, the quilt soft and thick.

Three days later I thought Mia was settled enough to move to her room.

"Tonight you should sleep in your own bed, Mia," I told her gently after dinner.

She looked at me, big eyes.

"Do you understand?" I asked.

Mia nodded her understanding.

Four hours later a cold nose nudged me awake. Lucy's brown eyes looked at me from the side of the bed, as if asking, "Why did you do that, you twit?"

With a sigh, feeling like a twit, I slipped from bed wearing just boxers. I found Mia curled up at the end of the sofa, wearing one of my T-shirts, pink panties peeking out where her bum had become exposed.

What was wrong with her bed? Why couldn't she sleep there? Picking her up, so small and light, I carried her to my bed, put her in and covered her. She didn't wake up.

Lying next to her I smiled when her soft little snores resumed. They sounded so much like a kitten purring, a calming, rhythmic sound I was rapidly becoming enchanted with. Bending to her I kissed a soft cheek gently.

"Sleep well, Mia."

Pale moonlight lit the room, bleaching out colors and casting shadows. A cool breeze flowed through the open windows. Mia's unspoken struggles were breaking my heart; she was trying so hard. I could see it every day, a battle going on in her iron-grey eyes. I'd never had to help one so young. It was new territory for me and completely unfamiliar. I worried I was not helping; doing it wrong. But, rational, logical conversations were not going to work on someone so young.

As the moon slowly moved across the cloudless night sky and pines and firs whispered to me, I started working out a new plan. Why did Mia make my chest hurt?

CORY'S HACKING COUGH COMING from the kitchen woke Mia as it did almost every morning. She felt weird, different. Lying quietly she tried to understand what was different. She smelled Cory on the sheets, a musky nice scent. She felt different. How?

It came to her. She didn't feel scared. She didn't feel empty; the nothingness, the empty void inside her that had worried her so much was gone. She felt good! Stretching under the sheet, she felt better than she could remember, rested, not worried. As the sound of Cory's coughing reached her again, Mia understood. Cory's gentle nature, his care, his encouragement, it all made her feel safe, secure, as if everything would be alright. Even if she didn't know what was going to happen in the future, with Cory there she just knew it would be okay. She liked him, a lot! He made her feel warm.

Mia smiled as she reluctantly slipped from bed, her stomach growling for some reason, she dressed quickly.

Why did Cory cough so much? Why is my stomach growling? I'll ask Cory. He'll know.

"How come you live up here?"

I GLANCED AT MIA over my shoulder as bacon sizzled in the cast-iron pan. She was sitting quietly in her usual place, her iron-grey eyes watching me, head tilted, a small finger drawing her long ash-blonde hair behind a cute ear. I hadn't heard her enter the kitchen.

"How old is Lucy?"

A chill went down my spine; Mia was probing, initiating conversation, inquisitive! Turning to tend to the splattering bacon, opening my mouth to answer, Mia spoke again.

"How come you never wear socks and shoes?"

I smiled, warm excitement flushing through me. "I do."

"How did I get into your bed last night?"

"I put you there."

"What's for breakfast? Are you sick?"

"Bacon and eggs," I said, grinning like a Cheshire cat to myself and setting the bacon rashers on an absorbent paper towel. Suddenly the day was brighter, much, much brighter. "I'm not sick, just a summer cold."

"Can I sleep in your bed tonight?" she asked in her light, musical voice.

I chuckled.

"My stomach is talking. It's grumbling, why?"

I started laughing in delight. Mia was emerging and she was perfectly charming.

"Why are you laughing? Can we go for a walk today? Will it be hot? Do you think Lucy will want to play with me?"

As Mia cleaned her breakfast plate, I reached out and picked an apple from the ever-present bowl of fruit on the table, holding it out across the table to her; a breakfast ritual. "Have an apple. It's good for you."

Mia stared at the apple. She stared at the bowl of mixed fruit and looked at me.

"Can I have the orange?"

God, she was making decisions! It was the first time she'd not simply accepted the fruit I'd hand to her. "Of course," I replied, returning the apple and picking up the navel orange. "Why?"

In a completely serious voice Mia informed me, "The orange asked me to eat it."

My chest ached a bit as I smiled stupidly.

Progress came rapidly, as if a dam had burst.

I tried to keep the laughter inside. I tried to keep a serious expression as Mia stood in the aisle of Safeway with a box of Kellogg's Frosted Flakes in her hands.

"They talked to me, Cory," she said seriously, her little finger pointing at Tony the Tiger. "He said, they're Grrreat!"

"That was a TV commercial, Mia," I told her. Jesus she was cute!

She looked up at me. "Can we try them?"

"Of course we can."

A box dropped into our shopping cart to join several other packaged foods that had talked to her; the Campbell's Tomato Soup "said 'Mmm, Mmm, Good!' Cory," she assured me. A tube of Pillsbury Cinnamon Rolls "giggled at me, Cory."

Grocery shopping with Mia was probably the single most fun I'd had in years. She was intensely serious, studied everything carefully, occasionally tilting her head slightly as if listening to a box on the shelf, Pop Tarts, chocolate milk powder, and others. For some unknown reason some products made her frown - one she berated for being rude - others lighting up her beautiful eyes. I quite forgot what to buy as I lost myself in her charm.

Mia had a magnetic, lovable personality emerging. With every move, every gesture, I was beginning to appreciate what a truly beautiful soul she was. It felt like I was falling under her spell.

On the way home, a back seat filled with grocery bags and not many actual meals, I spotted a Best Buy and it gave me an inspired idea.

Mia held my hand as we wandered around the cavernous interior. She was all eyes, head turning this way and that, taking it all in. I took my time but finally bought an Xbox.

"What is it?" she asked, staring at the box in her lap as we drove home.

"No you don't! You can't kill me like that!"

I chuckled and regretted my inspired idea as I listened to Mia chastising the TV in the living room. I grinned even though I was somewhat concerned. The awe she'd expressed when I'd demonstrated different games to her was delightful. But, since that fateful afternoon two days ago, Mia had done nothing but play games, sitting cross-legged on the floor, eyes riveted on the TV screen. Even Lucy was looking a bit forlorn, her playmate gone.

I was going to have to ration access, I thought, grinning again at another outburst from the living room.

MIA WALKED INTO THE kitchen, yawning, wondering what was for breakfast. She paused at the doorway and stared.

Lucy, tail wagging, was shuffling in excitement, quiet barks and growls sounding like she was talking to Cory. Cory was at the counter, black backpack open on top as he filled it with packages, bottled water and other stuff.

"Relax, Lucy. Calm down," Cory was telling her.

Mia liked his smile. It was broad and filled his face with sunshine.

"What's happening?" she asked.

Cory glanced at her over his shoulder. "You'll need to get dressed before breakfast. We're going for a hike today."

"Where?" Mia asked.

"Somewhere special, Mia. Go get dressed. Lucy! Relax, jeez."

I WATCHED MIA DISAPPEAR into the hallway and yelled, "Don't forget shoes!" She was wearing another of my T-shirts; a good sign. Clearly she was comfortable making decisions for herself, even if it was to help herself to my clothes. She hadn't worn the pajamas we'd bought once, not once; something about them being in a bad mood, she'd claimed quite seriously, "They keep scratching me, Cory."

Today I was going to take Mia to an isolated spot higher in the Rockies, a place that both Lucy and I loved, a good two-hour hike. It would keep Mia away from the Xbox, I thought with a sly smirk.

We set out. The weather was perfect; an endless sky of indigo blue, not a cloud in sight, sun radiant as it made its lazy way across the heavenly ocean. Pine, aspens and firs, ripe with scent from oozing sap and evergreen needles, gradually gave way, thinning as we emerged into a meadow, Mia's hand small in mine.

Lucy scampered ahead, darted off to the side at a sudden movement, and eventually came trotting back, tongue hanging, a bright smile of unabashed pleasure.

Ahead the meadow stretched before us sloping up on a gradual incline, a carpet of yellow wildflowers waving in the breeze like ocean swells and knee-high wild grass. We left a trail of bent grass behind us, Lucy's trail a serpentine line forming half circles around ours.

Faintly, in the distance, a soft roar could be heard, the sound of rushing water.

Lucy barked and tore off, charging ahead, golden coat flowing as she bounded towards our final destination. We had another ten-minute hike to get there.

Five minutes later Lucy appeared, soaking wet. She ran up to us, barking as if to urge us to walk faster, "Come on! Come on!" Then, stopping next to Mia, she shook, a curtain of water drops showering us in icy coldness. Mia screeched and ducked away to my other side, using my body to protect her.

"Lucy!" she exclaimed. Turning to me she asked, "How did she get wet?"

I smiled, taking her hand and continued walking. "Just wait. You'll see."

Cresting the meadow a long slender waterfall appeared before us, perfectly white roiling mountain water cascading over the lip two hundred feet above us, smashing off protruding rocks and thundering into a natural depression. It formed a tarn, a small lake, perhaps fifty feet wide, and bled off into a rushing stream disappearing from sight.

Sun made the fine mist twinkle and added a magical quality to the falls. Faintly, a rainbow hovered above the water. Lucy bounded off and took a leaping jump, splashing into the tarn, dog-paddling with confidence, biting the water and curving back to the edge, rising and dripping wet, suddenly three sizes smaller.

With her tongue hanging she seemed to smile before bounding towards Mia, seemingly grinning. Mia took off, screaming as she ran trying to evade Lucy, her hair flying. Another screech echoed when Lucy caught her and shook.

The game was on.

They played together, loud, boisterous, delightful, while I set out a blanket and unpacked our picnic. This place was one of my favorites. Worries and concerns had no place here. Deep thought was impossible. The gentle roar of the waterfall was an aural massage, lulling me, soothing and calming. Mountain air tasted different here, cleaner, sharper. It was a place of magic.

Mia finally collapsed onto the blanket, damp, hair stringy, eyes shining with pleasure, cheeks flushed emphasizing her freckles, and a big, big smile on her pretty face. She giggled when Lucy started rolling on her back to dry herself.

"So, what do you think?" I asked.

"It's pretty," Mia gushed, absentmindedly taking the proffered tuna sandwich, her attention still on Lucy who appeared to be playing dead, asleep on her back, legs up.

The radiant heat of a late summer sun was strong enough to make me perspire, despite the occasional breeze that blew a cooling mist over us from the waterfall. With the last bite of my tuna sandwich, I brushed my hands and tugged off my Polo shirt.

Lucy stirred, sitting up, panting. Mia finished half her sandwich and turned to me. "Can I go in?" she asked.

"Can you swim?"

She thought, a serious expression forming on her pretty face. "I don't know," she finally said.

"Then only up to your knees, okay?"

"Kay."

Jumping up she started for the small lake. I smiled. She was in for a shock. Mountain water was icy cold. She stopped suddenly and raced back to the blanket. Mia proceeded to struggle and hop. At first I had no idea what she was doing. Then her sneakers came flying off followed by jeans falling. She hopped and shook them off onto the blanket and started running to the water.

"C'mon, Lucy!" she yelled.

Lucy jumped up at the sight, charging after Mia.

I sat, studying Mia almost clinically. Her white cotton panties were loose, yet they tightened as she ran, revealing a busy androgynous little bum with indents in each cheek. She had skinny little legs as yet untouched by maturity.

I smiled when she let loose with a scream of delight as Lucy bounded into the water next to her, launching a spray of icy cold water. They both treated me to my afternoon entertainment: Mia splashing Lucy; Lucy shaking herself next to Mia; Mia finding a stick and, with the energy only gracing children, throwing it into the pool for Lucy to fetch, an enthralling game that went on for the next forty-five minutes. I was extremely pleased with Mia's progress. It was as thoough a cork had been popped, a dam breached. Suddenly Mia was growing into a little girl in front of my eyes.

All was well. Life was good. The sun beat down.

And then Mia tired, turned and started walking towards me, Lucy pausing to shake a sparkling, curving curtain of water droplets. Mia smiled. Despite not going deeper than her knees she was soaked, her pink T-shirt darkened and her white cotton panties plastered to her, almost but not quite translucent, hair damp tendrils.

I was fascinated at how her panties formed to her little pubis, sharply revealing her mons, rounded and proud, and, above the gusset, a little camel toe forming to a tiny cleft, her little labia clearly outlined. I'd never seen a child's pubis before and it was surprisingly different from a mature one. It appeared larger relative to her small body, more prominent in front despite being so small, sort of padded, chubby. Her pubis narrowed in a deep v-shape and filled the gap between her slender little thighs, behind, her wet panties drooping down off her butt.

Seeing Mia's immature little pubis was unexpectedly riveting. It seemed to move almost sensually as she walked towards me. It was very . . . feminine. When she paused ten feet from me it broke my stare. I hadn't realized how obvious I'd been, but glancing up, Mia had a puzzled expression on her pretty face. She looked down at her panties and up at me. I felt my face heat up.

"Sorry," I said quickly.

Mia shrugged, smiled and continued, sitting on the blanket next to me.

"You're soaked," I observed.

"Uh-huh."

When she laid back on the blanket to let the sun dry her I tried to ignore her. But, out of the corner of my eye all I could see was two tiny hip bones and a startlingly prominent little pussy with a short little cleft.

"You're staring. Why?" Mia asked.

Why was I staring? I became aware of a tightness in my jeans. Despite being a child, Mia's body reminded me just how long it had been since I'd made love, held and caressed a female. Clearly too long by far.

"I shouldn't have stared. Sorry."

"S'okay. Why were you staring?"

The answer that rushed to mind made me very, very uncomfortable. I changed the subject.

"Why were you staring, Cory?" Mia asked as we lay in bed.

"Sorry?"

In a perfectly normal, curious voice, Mia explained, "This afternoon. You were staring at my panties. Why?"

I actually felt embarrassed again. It intensified when I remembered the sight. "I'm sorry, Mia. I shouldn't have."

"S'okay. I liked that you liked it."

"I what?" I asked glancing over at her sharply. This girl was much more astute than I was giving her credit for.

"It was in your eyes. You have really nice eyes, Cory." Her voice lowered. "Can I tell you a secret?"

"Sure."

"I liked it, too. That's why I kept going back into the water, to get them wet again. I liked how you were looking at me." She paused. "It made me tingle down there. Why?" her face turned towards me. She rolled onto her side, head propped up by her hand, eyes shining with inquisitiveness and innocent curiosity.

For perhaps a minute I just looked at Mia, really looked at her. She was a beautiful little girl, made more so by her sweet innocence, not a trace of embarrassment or self consciousness.

I was becoming far too attached to her. She pulled at my heart. How much did she know about her body? Judging by her words, not much. Was it my responsibility to educate her? What if I didn't? Who would? And yet, I could sense this was dangerous for me. I'd never been shy about sex or my body. I'd never felt guilt for lusting after nubile young women. I was twenty-six. It was human nature to admire and appreciate. Yet I knew somehow, I just knew that I was on dangerous ground. Why? What was it about Mia?

I decided. Better me than some unknown, misinformed person, I thought.

"You know about sex and attraction, don't you?"

A thoughtful expression emerged on Mia's face. "I don't remember."

"Well, your body was reacting. Your . . . Um . . . pubis is one of the places that give pleasure." I actually felt my face heat up.

"My what?"

"Uh, pubi . . . Most people call it a pussy."

I talked for the next few minutes, explaining about the birds and the bees. Mia was intensely focused on me, listening to every word.

"You understand?" I asked as I finished with orgasms and bodily pleasure.

Mia rolled onto her back, pushed the covers down and peered at her crotch, soft white cotton panties gently forming to her pubis.

"How does it work?" she asked.

I smiled. My chest ached. For the next little while I explained about pleasure, how boys and girls touch themselves to feel pleasure, "It's called a climax, or an orgasm," I told her.

Mia listened raptly, her eyes never leaving my face. Then, as if understanding dawned, she glanced down, pulling the hem of her night shirt up higher, completely exposing her white cotton panties.

With no hesitation, no embarrassment, Mia touched herself, hand exploring. Her face turned to me, questions flitting through her amazing eyes.

"Try touching under your panties," I suggested.

Her hand moved up and slipped under. I could tell she was probing and exploring by following the movement. Her touch slowly morphed into stroking.

Turned on my side, elbow on the mattress and hand supporting my head, I watched Mia, a nine-year-old, exploring herself. It was sweet. But a frown slowly emerged, her finger moving slowly.

"I don't feel anything," she announced softly, almost disappointedly.

"Did you find your button? Your clitoris?" I asked.

"Uh-huh."

"And nothing?" I asked, surprised.

She shook her head, no. "Show me." She removed her hand from under her panties looking at me expectantly.

I might be a Teacher. I might have been explaining about sex and her body, but touching her was going way beyond the pale, I thought. A definite no-no. Then the image of Mia at the mountain tarn came smoking back at me, shockingly cute, her little pussy so starkly outlined as if she was naked, my reaction. I looked at Mia in bed next to me, her expression one of simple curiosity, no trace of embarrassment, trepidation, or hesitation, such sweet innocence. She'd been touching herself in front of me without a trace of self-consciousness, just innocent curiosity.

I knew how important sexual release could be in bringing peace, calm, comfort, in providing stolen moments of pleasure. I wanted Mia to be able to have that. And, yes, the thought of caressing her was exciting, I admitted to myself.

"Okay. I'll try," I said, reaching out and placing my hand gently on her panties.

Mia's pubis was very small but surprisingly plump. My hand only made her appear smaller, emphasized when she parted her legs even more to give my hand room.

I rubbed gently finding the natural fold of her cleft, stroking soft cotton lightly. I was right. It was an amazing experience. But Mia stared at my hand as if studying an Economics text book.

Her eyes turned to me. "Inside. Try inside like I did," she instructed taking my hand and pulling it away from her crotch. With one hand she held the waist of her soft white cotton panties up, her other hand guiding mine inside.

Her hairless mons was warm, petite, and steeply mounded from her stomach. She pushed my hand in further, soft cotton caressing the back of my hand. When my palm rested on her little mons, a wonderful palm-full, my fingers covering her hairless labia, and a middle finger resting on her short, closed cleft, she let my hand go, her attention turning to me.

Mia gave me a quick glance, serious, cute. "Okay. Try now."

It made me smile. Her determination was so odd given what we were doing. Her determination to experience sexual pleasure, to feel, to see what a climax felt like in an almost dispassionate way was very strange to me.

I squeezed her little pussy gently, pressing my middle finger along her short cleft. Mia's attention went back to my hand, eyes intent, watching carefully.

Gently, carefully, I started pressing my middle finger against her cleft, rhythmically. I added a slight stroke then a side-to-side motion, her labia remaining tightly closed.

For the next few minutes I caressed Mia and made no noticeable impression. She was concentrating too hard. Her determination was impeding her bodily response, I thought.

Bending close, I kissed her cheek gently. "Relax, Mia. It will feel better. Close your eyes."

She stared at me and closed her eyes. I kissed her soft cheek again, liking it, and was rewarded with a little sigh. I actually felt her body relax under my hand. I heard her take a deeper breath. And, as I stroked her little pussy, I was eventually rewarded with the faintest trace of moisture against the tip of my middle finger.

Until that moment I'd been trying to remain dispassionate, as if I was a doctor operating on someone, being the instructor, the Teacher, caring only for the end result. But, that trace of moisture changed everything, everything.

That trace of silken, slippery arousal was suddenly intensely attractive, intensely sexual, intensely exciting, and I reacted, an erection forming. Soft, soft labia gradually became slippery, my fingertip discovering her tiny clitoris nestled protectively between plump lips. Mia became a sexual being in front of my eyes.

Her body trembled slightly at the touch.

With infinite care I caressed her tiny clit, circling it, never stimulating it directly. Every so often I dipped lower and drew her moisture up, caressing her again. Mia's breathing deepened. A slight frown emerged on her face, eyes still closed. She was incredibly cute. I couldn't take my eyes off her. Bending close, I kissed her soft cheek again, gently, her scent filling my nostrils.

And then I watched as Mia's small hands curled and gripped the sheet. She shuddered slightly, her legs twitched, her body stilled, the frown fading. Slowly her eyes opened.

"Did it happen?" I asked, removing my hand from inside her panties. "Did you feel it?"

Soft eyes looked at me, a ghost of a smile played at the edges of her lips. "Uh-huh," she nodded.

God she was cute.

"Did it feel good?"

"Uh-huh. It was nice."

"Well there you go," I said quietly, removing my hand from inside her panties and stroking her hair. "Next time you can do it yourself." With a rather obvious erection I didn't want her to see, I rolled onto my front, face turned to her.

"Time to sleep, Mia."

Mia rolled towards me and snuggled to my side with a soft sigh, so sweet. Sleep didn't want to arrive, my mind too active, my erection too insistent, the mattress too soft. What was it about Mia? She touched me like no one I'd ever known.

Morning light didn't wake me. Lucy didn't wake me. A small hand gently holding my erection did.

Opening my eyes, on my side, Mia was staring at me with her intense iron-grey eyes.

"Is this your penis?" she asked. "It's really big."

My erection was jutting through the flies of my boxers. Her hand was warm, gentle and very arousing. For one moment I let her grope and enjoyed the surprising eroticism I felt. Then reaching down I removed her hand. This felt like a step too far.

Through the day, Mia was slightly subdued, eyes watchful, thoughtful. I knew she was processing something, what?

That night I awoke when I felt her eyes on me. I didn't know why or how, but I knew Mia was looking at me. Opening my eyes, her eyes were large, moonlight making them glitter and muting the iron color to soft lead.

"Will you do it again, please?" she asked. Seeing the question in my face, she clarified, "Make me feel good, give one of those orgasms?"

I wanted to, really wanted to. But. "Mia, you can do it yourself, now you know how."

She looked at me intently. "I tried. It didn't work," she stated. "Please?"

My mind said no. My memory said yes. My growing erection tipped the balance. I did. She made me smile when she told me I was doing it wrong. "You have to kiss me, too," she instructed, turning her cheek to me. I did. Kissing her soft cheek I brought her to a gentle climax. She cuddled close. My chest ached.

Over the next few days, with every sigh, snuggle, and soft sexy climax, Mia was demolishing inhibitions that had been ingrained into me my whole life. I felt them weaken, attraction growing lockstep with desire.

Sleep was a reluctant visitor every night, held at bay by a stubborn erection and the residual memory of silky soft labia, slippery warm arousal and gentle sighs of pleasure, her sweet delight, her cuddling close. Without her seeing, I brought my hand up and inhaled her delicate musky scent, Mia's immature arousal. It hit a pleasure spot in my brain. My erection ached.

MIA SIGHED AS PLEASURE flowed through her, heat and waves of nice radiating from her pussy, up through her stomach, up through her nipples, emerging as heat in her face, blissful peace blooming, cumming at Cory's gentle stimulation.

She shuddered slightly, her legs tensing a bit, toes curling. Another wave hit, his lips on her cheek, kissing her, Cory kissing her. She let her climax take her away to that land of peace, secure, safe, feeling good, heaven.

Now relaxed, Mia opened her eyes to the best bit; seeing Cory's rich amber eyes watching her with such love. She melted. It was a physical sensation. His smiles filled her with happiness, his grins made her heart ache. And, in odd moments during the days, and after touching her, the love in his sexy eyes made her heart skip.

She knew she loved Cory. The thought of not seeing him when she woke up in the morning scared her. She wanted to hold onto him, or hug him during the day, but was too shy. She watched him constantly, riveted by him, the way he moved, the way his lips curled in a sneaky smile, the way he never wore socks or shoes, the way he always leaned back against the counter for his first sip of coffee. He filled her, made her better, made her feel, made her whole. She loved Cory.

Sometimes she wished she could tell him how much she loved him. But she couldn't. She didn't know how.

Watching him look at her as he pulled his hand away from her pussy, she sighed again, deeply; his eyes were so pretty. Smiling, she rolled to cuddle to his side, curling, face pressed to him, inhaling his scent, Cory, all Cory.

This was her favorite part, cuddled and sleeping next to him. Did he know she'd wake up in the middle of the night and just watch him sleep? Did he know the comfort she felt, how much she liked his smell, sort of smoky, woodsy, like the forest?

At peace from her orgasm, she let herself go, a small smile on her lips. This must be heaven.

IT ALL CHANGED WITH a kiss. I blame myself. Mia seduced me with her quiet good nature, her bright laughter, her endless inquisitiveness. She seduced me with big eyes that seemed so adoring, endlessly expressive. She subtly wormed herself into my heart with cuddles and sweet sighs of pleasure, with quiet giggles, sparkling laughter, and, strongest of all, a petite warm body nestled close every night.

She enchanted me, beguiling me with quiet little purring snores. And every night, she aroused me with her little smile, the shy gleam in her eye, "Will you give me another one? Please?" her hand taking mine, directing me, guiding my hand down under her cotton panties, reminding me, "You have to kiss me, too."

It was one kiss, one moonlit kiss. I bent to kiss a soft cheek and didn't. I succumbed to a desire that had been building. I kissed Mia on her small lips, pressing gently, so soft. Her eyed widened, she smiled, sort of melted. And then Mia kissed me back. God, Mia kissed me back!

The outside world faded away with the touch of her soft lips. Restraint crumbled at her quiet moan and active lips. I couldn't remember wanting anyone so much. I couldn't remember aching for someone so hard.

I had a raging erection, stiff and throbbing. My chest felt tight. No kiss had ever been so sweet and exciting, none. And, this time, when a small hand gently hunted and found me, holding me, I did nothing to stop her. It was too exquisitely erotic, too arousing by far; my resistance melting like the spring snow, flowing away to leave me exposed. I gladly let mores fall away and welcomed an angel's love.

I cradled Mia, drawing her to me, trapping her arm between us, kissing her gently, and nothing had felt better. She was so petite and warm and cuddly, wafting intoxicating soft scents of cucumber soap and little girl at me. My chest was painful.

My hand found a sweet little bum, curvaceous, firm, so excitingly petite. As we kissed, as our lips pressed together, I caressed her perfect rear gently, my hand following each curve, tracing the cotton-covered valley, palming a sweet buttock, stroking a silky soft bare thigh. My erection strained in her small hand.

And, when I moaned quietly, she squeezed my penis. Lust, like a freight train, came charging in, obliterating resistance and plowing though restraint. Opening my mouth I touched her lips, tracing them where they met. Slowly the tip of my tongue slipped deeper. My body trembled when Mia opened her mouth slightly. My erection strained in her hand when I probed carefully and touched her tongue. I felt dizzy, lightheaded. Kissing Mia was spectacularly arousing, her soft breaths wafting warm against my cheek.

I was surprised when I realized my eyes were closed, every sense concentrated on Mia. I broke the kiss and opened my eyes, my heart racing.

Warm pools of grey were watching me, filled with inquisitiveness and surprise. A gentle shy smile broke out on her pretty face that made my heart skip.

She sighed.

"Again?" she suggested as she let my erection go, pulled her arm out from between us and reached up to hug me.

Her small body formed to me. I hugged her tight, loving how petite and soft and exciting she was, loving how her body pressed so sensuously against my straining erection.

We kissed again. My hand caressing her rear moved up, drawing her T-shirt higher and finding the waist of her soft cotton panties. We kissed as my fingers slipped inside, discovering the dip that preceded the rise of mounded buttocks. I was having trouble understanding why slipping my hand inside her panties felt so sexy, so exciting. But it did. My erection ached and throbbed as I explored her seductive bottom, silky cool skin, firm to the touch, magnificently shaped twin buttocks, and an intensely exciting little bum crack.

My arousal built as we kissed, Mia's little tongue responding hesitantly, touching mine and flitting away, touching, staying, exploring. Deep inside I felt myself trembling as I inched her panties down over her little hip. I moaned into her mouth when she lifted her herself and let me slip the other side down.

Gently sliding cotton panties down her slender legs was an exercise in pure eroticism. Undressing Mia was stunningly arousing.

When she kicked off her panties my hand moved up the inside of her leg. Mia arched her body away from me to give me space. I sucked on her lower lip and she gasped quietly.

Once again I had closed my eyes without realizing it, drowning in the sensation of touch, of exploration, of a sensual kiss.

I knew.

I knew with absolute certainty Mia and I were going to become lovers. There wasn't a trace of doubt in my mind. And, when I opened my eyes and saw her looking at me with such trust and love, I relaxed. Maybe not tonight. Maybe not tomorrow. But we were going to make love eventually.

MIA LAY IN CORY'S arms, her body trembling. She felt damp and hot and agitated, pressure inside her that needed to get out. Her lips tingled where Cory had kissed her. They felt swollen.

Her pussy ached. It felt like she needed to hold it and squeeze, pressure needing release. Her heart was thumping loudly in her ears and Cory's look was burning her. She watched his pretty rich amber eyes, studying them. She saw love and excitement and care and gentleness glittering in the moonlight. She studied his mouth, his lips, the soft sparse hair on his chest.

She ached for him. She'd known she loved him ever since the mountain lake. He'd done nothing but stare at her, his eyes burning. He'd made her feel pretty. But there was more, too. Until the lake she'd known he cared. Now she felt like he loved her.

Cory suddenly smiled, his intense amber eyes almost glowing, and rolled her onto her back. She arched her back as he drew her T-shirt up and off, lifting her arms. For a moment she felt embarrassed as she lay naked under his intense scrutiny. When he smiled again, her heart pattered, such love in his face. She shivered when his lips kissed her nipples. Suddenly they ached. Why?

Sensations were bombarding her. His tongue felt rough on her sensitive nipples. Bolts of pleasure went all the way to her pussy. She felt moisture start, an ache inside. His soft, gentle kisses on her tummy made goose bumps form. She stared as he bent and kissed the mound of her pussy, pressing his lips in. Another bolt of pleasure flowed like a warm wave. She sighed. Good, Cory.

Cory moved down the bed. At first she was confused. He carefully lifted her legs under her knees, parting them, spreading them. A blush made her face hot as a look of wonder grew in his face. Cory stared at her pussy, glanced up at her and smiled.

"Beautiful, Mia. Beautiful."

She smiled at his awed whisper. But, when he bent and kissed her pussy, warm lips touching her, a wave of arousal hit. Watching Cory lay on the bed, half his face hidden, eyes twinkling at her from between her legs, she trembled.

And then everything changed. She felt his kiss right on her pussy. She felt something warm and moist on her slit. It was his tongue! Cory's tongue!

Before she could even react, it found her little button and a burst of pleasure coursed through her, a hot wave starting at her pussy and crashing into her head. She gasped. Her body twitched. This was much better than his hand.

Suddenly her heart was pounding, hot, she felt hot. Waves of pleasure were washing over her, his tongue teasing her clit driving her crazy. She ached inside badly, her little nipples tight, hard. She felt his hands holding her bum and, when another wave of pleasure hit, she curled up to press her pussy to his mouth, spikes of pleasure. A gush of moisture. A sharp pulse.

Dizzy, she felt him suck lightly. Her head fell back, eyes closing, colors flashing. Gripping the sheet, she stopped breathing. Her whole body froze, pressure built, pressure, pressure.

Oh God! Bliss crashed down, a hot wave coursing through her from her clit to her head. The room spun. She inhaled sharply. Another wave hit, aching, painful, beautiful. Breathing hard, heart thumping, Mia climaxed, pleasure punishing her body, hot, so hot, muscles tensing, straining, toes curling. It crashed over her, sounds fading as she drowned in her orgasm, body shuddering uncontrollably.

MY ERECTION WAS THROBBING. I was humping the bed, precum making the sheet slippery. Seeing Mia's little pussy was intensely arousing. It was the most beautiful pussy I'd ever seen.

Completely hairless, it filled her groin, mounded seductively off her stomach, stark, rising and curving sensually. Her little cleft, short and sexily closed, plunged down to merge with the swell of her buttocks pressed to the bed. As I'd parted her legs, like a delicate bloom, her labia had oozed apart revealing her immature secrets; a long clitoral hood with a slight rounded bump at the tip, undeveloped inner lips so small, and below, moisture, her cleft silky and red. I'd physically shuddered at the sight of her tiny, tiny entrance, her little vagina a dark opening protected deep between her labia.

But kissing her pussy had me humping. Her cleft was moist, her scent stronger, light yet intensely female. Tasting her made me lightheaded. Caressing her clit, sliding my tongue between soft labia and probing the tiny opening to her vagina had me on edge. I'd gently sucked her little clit, pressing my mouth to her pussy, so arousing, so intense.

And, as Mia announced her climax with a gentle shudder, her small hands gripping the bed, her small body trembling, I couldn't stop my response. Humping my erection against the slippery, precum smeared sheet, I came, unable to hold back. My erection swelled, I moaned quietly into Mia's sexy pussy, and semen rushed up to spurt in a burst of hot, wet pleasure. Another hard, hard spurt followed soaking the sheet, slippery, slippery. I humped and came, gently sucking Mia's little pussy, tasting her as she climaxed. I came hard, spurting again and again, hot semen jetting out, wet. I came with exquisite relief, finally releasing the pent up pressure, kissing Mia's sweet pussy, relishing her sexy soft climax. I came completely, drained, suddenly tired. Peace arrived.

Things had changed yet again. With my climax I shed all concern.

I enjoyed the gentle arousal I felt as I watched Mia play with Lucy. I loved watching her sit on the floor and scold the video game as if it was an animate thing consciously trying to defy her. I liked the mild erection that plagued me all day; the memory of her small pussy, her delicate flavor, her moist arousal and sweet climax never out of my mind.

I especially liked the new intimacy. In a wave of love, I had grabbed Mia as she headed to the back door, lifting and holding her and, smiling, drew her to me and kissed her small lips.

Mia's beautiful eyes had glistened at me, shining with pleasure. A smile had formed and her little tongue became busy, giving me a firm erection. Kissing Mia was intensely enjoyable, easily addictive.

She'd become a little vixen.

"Would you like to kiss me again?" she'd asked shyly with a soft smile, eyes wide after returning from the bathroom and heading out to play again.

"Would you like me to?" I'd asked.

She paused as if really considering it. "Yes," she decided with a serious nod.

Reaching down I'd lifted her under her arms, so light and petite, bringing her up, Mia's legs wrapping around my waist and her arms around my neck. I held her gently, one hand supporting her little bum, one on her back. Slowly, teasingly, I'd kissed her small lips.

A smile emerged again, eyes twinkling. She'd tilted her head slightly and her small tongue touched my lips. A sexy, sexy smooch ensued before I sucked her lower lip, let her down and she'd continued on her way to the back yard, a big smile on her pretty face.

Watching her play video games I felt at peace. Mia completed me. She filled a hole in my life I'd never known was there.

That night in bed, Mia looked at me. "I'm not tired, Cory," she said softly. When she hesitatingly reached for my erection I didn't stop her. I let her explore, feel, touch and squeeze. I explained about my testicles, which she felt with gentle interest. I explained about the clear liquid that leaked, which she tested between her fingers and spread over my swollen crown.

I explained about semen, stroking, a male orgasm. Mia appeared fascinated, gently fondling me, eyes riveted on my erection. As she explored me I caressed her sweet bum under her pink cotton panties, tracing my fingers down her bum crack. Mia shuffled, turning slightly to rest almost perpendicular to me, giving me access, her cheek on my chest as she gently played with my erection.

My hand delved further, finding a gap between the back of her thighs and, even more exciting, the swell of her little pussy. As Mia's soft touch aroused me ever higher I caressed her little pussy, probing and finding slippery arousal, spreading it along her short cleft, her plump labia hugging my fingertips sensuously. I rubbed her little clit and felt her tremble slightly, curling her bum back to increase pressure. I stroked and played, finally rewarded when I felt her climax, her gentle tremors, her small body shuddering slightly, so quiet.

But, Mia surprised me. As I luxuriated in her fondling and stroking, feeling that delicious tightness of a nearing orgasm, Mia moved, slipping down.

Suddenly I felt little lips kiss the tip of my erection. Being on edge, my climax was spontaneous.

"Mia," I gasped. I thrust up uncontrollably pressing the tip of my erection against her lips and came, cum exploding in an agonizing pulse of bliss. Another wave hit. I thrust again and, as silky little lips parted slightly, a massive surge slammed into me, cum jetting out against Mia's mouth. She surged back and off as I came again, semen jetting out onto my stomach. Gripping my shaft I stroked myself, spitting semen with every hunch, cumming hard.

"Can you braid my hair?"

"Sure. Why?" I asked, moving to sit at the kitchen table, turning Mia and pulling her between my legs. I started brushing her long blonde hair into separate ropes.

"I want to play with Lucy but my hair keeps getting in the way," Mia informed me.

"Try a ponytail," I suggested beginning to plait.

"Rubber bands hurt when I take them off."

"Then let's get proper hair bands," I suggested.

I triple looped a rubber band at the end of her long braid.

Spotting Lucy's treats on the table, I grinned as a sneaky idea hit. With Mia still facing away from me I slipped a piece of beef jerky out and, under the guise of brushing dust from her back, slipped the jerky into the back pocket of her jeans.

I saw Lucy watching my every move with her remarkably intelligent brown eyes. I winked at her and patted Mia on her small bum. "There you go."

"Thanks. Come on Lucy!"

They both tore out the back door.

Three minutes later my heart sang as screams of laughter floated through the open kitchen window. Collecting lunch dishes from the table I moved to the sink and started washing as Mia and Lucy provided me with entertainment.

Mia screamed in laughter again as Lucy nudged her from behind, sending Mia sprawling on the lawn.

"Lucy! Lucy! Stop!"

A storm of giggled ensued as Lucy snuffled Mia searching for the jerky, her nose pushing and probing. Mia rolled and tried to get up only to be shoved again and nuzzled, another storm of giggles floating on the air.

I chuckled. I knew Lucy was going to win regardless what Mia tried.

That night, on the sofa, Mia tuckered out, Lucy sleeping on the floor in front of us, Mia said, "That was mean."

"What was?" I asked, my arm around her.

"The beef jerky." Mia paused then added, "Can we do it again sometime?"

"Anytime."

"Good. I'm tired. Can we go to bed?"

Mia led me by the hand. Lucy didn't budge for a moment then, reluctantly, got up to follow, her paw nails tapping on the hardwood floor.

With teeth brushed and faces washed, Mia stripped to her panties, yellow cotton this time, drew on another of my T-shirts and crawled under the quilt. In boxers I slipped in, gently pulling Mia to me.

I kissed her warm cheek. "Night, sweetheart."

Large eyes stared at me. "I'm not that tired, Cory," she said softly.

I turned onto my side, pulling Mia close as she lay on her back. Her feet slipped over my legs, tugging. I curled up, her knees over my thigh and hip, her beautiful eyes studying me. She was truly a pretty girl. In the light cast-off by a bedside lamp, I could see the light sprinkle of freckles dusting her cheeks and small nose. I touched them, caressing them with my thumb as if wiping away tears, her cheek so small.

Her eyes grew more intense, focused. I could have drowned in them. They spoke volumes, just in a strange language I couldn't interpret. They pulled at me.

I let my thumb pad trace her lips gently, feeling their roundness, silky soft, the curve of a full lower lip. I traced her small chin, cupped her cheek, so sweet. Bending, staring into her depths, my lips touched hers, lightly, just a brush, exciting for the delicacy of the kiss. As I did her eyes seemed to smolder as if ready to burst into flame, smoky grey, absolutely riveting.

She brought up her hand and pressed the back of mine, pressing my palm to her rounded cheek. A sigh followed. Mia was perfect, perfect. My heart beat faster. I could imagine making love with this angel. I could feel the spark of excitement at the thought of holding her in my arms, loving her.

Her eyes never left mine. She examined me as if seeing my soul. A slight shiver passed through those magnificent eyes when I caressed a tiny nipple, the smallest bump, a little bead under my T-shirt she still insisted on wearing. It made her even more desirable seeing her every night in my clothes. Another shiver passed through her intent eyes as I found the other tiny nipple and coaxed it awake. I wondered what it would be like to see her mature, see her breasts form, touch and explore her adolescence when it happened. For a moment I dreamed I would.

MIA STARED INTO CORY'S eyes. They looked like liquid honey to her, emotions swirling through them; love, awe, tenderness. Her heart pattered as she realized how much she loved him. My Cory.

His teasing touch made her nipples ache, heat bloom in her chest, desire for something stirring. It felt like her whole body was talking to her, trying to tell her something.

"Why does it do that?" she asked.

"Do what?"

"Why does your hand touching me make me warm? Why do my nipples tingle?"

Cory nuzzled her neck. "That's arousal, Mia."

"I like it," she whispered, drawing his hand down and under her T-shirt.

When she felt his erection pressing against her bum cheek, she ached, her pussy flushing, heavy and throbbing. Inside her, in her belly, an ache grew, a feeling of need, something strange. Somewhere inside needed to be touched, caressed.

"Wait," she whispered, driven by a need to feel Cory against her. She rolled away and first tugged her cotton panties off. They stuck to her pussy before releasing, air cooling her. Sitting up, under his intent, watchful gaze, she tugged the T-shirt off over her head, tossing it to the floor. Naked, she resumed her position, legs up over his thighs, side pressed to his chest, on her back.

Reaching for his hand, she guided it back to her sensitive nipples, sighing gently when he caressed her with a feather-light touch. Cory's skin felt hot against her, his hand warm and exciting. Her pussy ached, clit throbbing. Inside she had a yearning need she didn't understand.

"Here," she whispered, guiding his hand down with both of hers, moving her legs apart slightly.

MIA'S NAKEDNESS DREW ME. Her youth and innocence intensified my desire, her eyes beguiling me. On her back, naked, I could see how slender she truly was, her ribcage, the dip of her diaphragm, flat tummy, and spectacular rise of a seductive mound, chubby and full, at the confluence of her thighs. Her pussy looked so small, yet so large on her small body, mounded and bare.

The top of her little cleft was visible, starting with a little dimple, two rounded plump labia forming a closed slit, seductive and exciting.

A pearl of dampness seeped from my erection into my boxers, my cock straining. When she took my hand and started moving it down, I stopped before reaching her little mons.

Rolling onto my back, hips lifted, I tugged my boxers off, my erection straining and lifted off my stomach. Mia watched, staring at my penis, not moving, her legs still bent waiting for my return. Tossing the boxers to the floor with my feet, I rolled back, on my side, Mia's legs once again hooking over my thigh and hip, my erection pressing against a small buttock.

Almost casually Mia reached down, fishing around, finding and drawing my erection up between her legs. I looked huge compared to her little pussy; long, thick and almost covering her. I felt huge, my erection throbbing and swelling. Mia seemed so much smaller, so much younger suddenly, just a child. Yet, she drew me to her like no one else.

A pulse of blood made my erection swell, the reaction to the touch of her delicate fingertips as she gently traced the flared ridge of my crown. Her touch was excruciatingly arousing, so gentle. It teased as fingertips softly moved down the shaft and back up, light, almost a tease, causing another swell.

I was torn, one part of me riveted by her beautiful face as she studied my erection, the dichotomy of such a little girl fondling me, and the other riveted by the sight of a small, delicate hand cautiously exploring my adult erection, so stunningly erotic.

When she laid her palm over my shaft and pushed it against her pussy a throb forced a clear bead of precum to ooze out.

"You're leaking," she said softly with a small smile. "Why is it so slippery?"

"It makes it easier to make love; for an erection to go in. Remember we talked about it?"

"Uh-huh." The tip of her index finger touched the bead of precum. She drew her hand back and rubbed thumb and index finger together, testing, feeling, silky.

I groaned to myself as Mia reached down and slipped my erection through her fist, a slow stroke that almost felt as though we were having sex, precum making it slide effortlessly. Bending, I kissed her gently. Her hand left my erection and reached for me. Our tongues met and teased, my cock strained.

Then, as we kissed, Mia squeezed her thighs together, trapping my erection. A wave of pleasure hit me and I thrust slightly, an automatic response. Unbelievable. Unable to resist, I drew back carefully and thrust again, a spark of pleasure hitting me. It felt as if I was fucking her, her soft thighs caressing me.

Mia must have liked it. Her hands moved down. She pressed my erection to her tummy, aligned with her little pussy, and curled her hips, timing her movements with my gentle thrusts. It was exquisite. It got better. Mia broke the kiss, eyes closed, her hands pushing me down as if trying to get more contact, as if wanting my crown to press against her little pussy.

My strokes grew longer, the tip suddenly sliding along her little cleft. Precum made everything slippery, silky, warm. Mia's palm pressed my crown against her little pussy. I felt her plump labia slide on me, precum leaking, my heart thumping.

With no help from me, Mia gradually pressed my crown down further. Now I could feel her little labia hugging me. I could feel it brush over her little clitoris. We were very, very slippery. And, when I turned my hips slightly, suddenly the tip of my erection was lodged at her entrance, labia caressing my crown.

Need was thundering through me. My erection was straining, tight, rigid, hard and pulsing. Resisting the urge to press, to penetrate her, was agony. I was close to cuming. Having my penis pressed against her tiny, nine-year-old vagina was unbelievably arousing.

I struggled to maintain control and almost did. But Mia suddenly grabbed my hand resting on her tummy. She gripped it. Her eyes closed. I watched Mia climax, her little body trembling slightly in that sweet sensuous way, the frown appear between her brows as if she was concentrating, her nostrils flare as she inhaled sharply, her little legs tensing slightly. The pure beauty of Mia cumming with my erection pressed tight to her little vagina was far too much for me; far too much.

Unbelievably, my orgasm smashed into me, too. A storm of pleasure crashed into me as semen charged up my rigid shaft to explode against her entrance. My body twitched. Another achingly painful surge hit, cum exploding out, pleasure drowning me. My body arched. Mia jerked.

Suddenly my crown was surrounded in a velvet grip, tight, tight. Mia jerked. I came again, explosively. Jesus! I'd penetrated her! My crown was penetrating Mia! My climax intensified, erection swelling, semen jetting out in a burningly hot explosion, endless, cumming hard into her. My body jerked, semen making Mia's pussy slippery. My erection slipped deeper, another inch. Mia gasped. I groaned. I tried to pull back but another intense, intense wave of pleasure crashed into me, taking my breath away. I swelled and exploded, cum jetting out inside Mia's little pussy, flooding her. My body convulsed with bliss and, as the orgasm crested, almost effortlessly, my erection slid into a velvety tight embrace, all the way, deep, so deep I was completely sheathed, the last of my climax gently pulsing semen into her.

Heart racing, breathing hard, I opened my eyes.

Mia lay quietly, eyes open and watching me. My cock, still hard, was buried in her tight, tight pussy.

"You okay?" I asked, reaching up to caress a soft cheek.

Soft eyes studied me. "You're inside," she finally said.

"Yes. I am."

She studied my face, hers quite neutral. I felt the gentlest of squeezes as she tested how it felt to have my penis in her. "I like it," she decided. Then a smile blossomed on her gorgeous face. "It feels nice."

God yes. Better than nice. Bending, I kissed her gently, smiling. Her eyes twinkled charmingly. Still watching me, her little tongue came out to play. I played.

"Are you going to take it out?" she asked when the frisky kiss ended.

Amazingly, I was still quite hard. "Do you want me to?" I asked.

"No. I like it inside," Mia replied. When she squeezed her little pussy and giggled at my almost silent moan, my heart ached.

Gently, carefully, I slipped my arms around her and drew her as close as possible. Quietly, relaxed, we lay together, my nose buried in her hair, filling my body with her delicate, desirable, sexy scent. No words were spoken. I held her. Perfect.

Then, eventually, Mia moved, just a bit, as if finding a more comfortable position. The sensation on my cock was astounding. Still fairly hard, it was as if her pussy gently massaged me. She was slippery wet, hot, velvety and warm and I responded, my cock swelling, returning to full tumescence.

Mia felt it. She squeezed. It felt like heaven. She shifted again, repeating her previous move and, again, her tiny pussy massaged me. I was rock hard.

Arousal came rushing back, a need to make love with her again. I moved, slowly and gently, pulling myself away from her side, moving legs, lifting, twisting slowly, gradually positioning myself between her legs, above, looking down at her slender immature body below me.

She watched me, a half smile on her face, as I trailed my eyes over her, top to bottom. Mia really was slender, slim, not a trace of curves, at least not until I saw her waist. With her bottom pressed to the bed, buttocks swelled out ever so slightly. That, with her legs parted, gave her a sensual curve, yet still very, very young.

The sight that had my pulse thumping was where we were still joined. Mia's little pussy was outrageously arousing, stretched so much, labia thinned as she accommodated my girth. Her slenderness was emphasized by her mons, rising high, starkly offset by little hipbones, a sensual mound. Somehow, unbelievably, somehow Mia had my complete erection inside her and she was tight, very tight.

I tried to imagine where the tip of my erection was and couldn't.

"Mia. Beautiful. God you look so . . . I'm in you all the way. Can you feel it?" I asked, glancing up, my erection pulsing gently, so tight.

Mia smiled. "Uh-huh." Then she almost induced my climax. Her hand moved over her tummy. "You're all the way to here," she said conversationally, her little index finger pointing to a spot an inch or so below her navel.

Just imagining it had me aching. Still supporting my body on straight arms, I tried to pull out of her tight, tight pussy. Her labia clung to my glistening shaft. Her vagina massaged my cock, tight, as if unwilling to release me; intensely erotic. The sight of my adult erection slowly emerging from her hairless little pussy was stunningly exciting and, as the ridge of my crown appeared, I reversed, gently pressing in, her labia inverting and almost disappearing, her tight, tight vagina caressing me, hot, slippery.

It was pure, glorious agony.

Eyes riveted, I repeated the move, withdrawing slowly, slowly, reversing, gently pressing in, her labia caressing my shaft, my crown massaged by a snug warm sheath. I watched as her little reddened and inflamed clitoris dipped to kiss my shaft as if in loving welcome. I shuddered, arms trembling. Nothing I'd seen before was this erotic, this sexy.

When I repeated the move a rhythm emerged. We started moving, Mia slightly curling her pussy up to press me deep, the tip nudging against her end. We started fucking gently, slowly, carefully, my eyes absolutely fascinated with the sight, her clitoris kissing my shaft in welcome with every thrust, labia stretched, so tight.

Gently, slowly I felt another climax stir, fucking each other slowly, long strokes, in, out, in, out, so snug.

Mia's hands held my wrists and, when I felt her grip tighten, I tore my eyes away from below. As I watched, fucking her gently, Mia's eyes lost focus. Her hands tightened. Her eyes closed and she shook slightly, a frown on her brow. I paused, my cock aching inside her.

She opened her eyes and smiled at me, hands relaxing.

"Did you cum?" I asked.

"Uh-huh," she nodded.

Once again I was astonished. It was so soft and gentle I had a hard time believing she'd climaxed. I found it intensely exciting, so different from my previous experiences. Suddenly those moans and cries of passion I remembered seemed so fake, so staged.

This, Mia's gentle climax, was far, far more erotic. My erection strained, aching. I absolutely loved Mia's climaxes; so like her; gentle and seductive, sweet, almost shy. And suddenly my need was urgent.

Lowering myself, I bent and kissed her. "It was beautiful to see, Mia," I whispered. Her arms held my chest. She smiled, soft, sweet.

Lowering myself, partially off her to the side, Mia so delicate and petite under me, a feeling I found intensely attractive, I caressed her side, stroking my hand down along her little waist, over a tiny, bony hip and slipped it under her sexy little bottom to cup a buttock.

Need aching inside me, I started moving gently, fucking Mia slowly, carefully. The sensation of withdrawing my erection, air cool on the shaft, and stroking in, warm velvet heat surrounding me, was utterly amazing. I fucked Mia gently, slowly, exquisitely, letting my climax build, build, pressure growing.

There was no sudden desperate rush, no sudden explosion. When I came, it was soft and sexy, my erection swelling, stroking into her, in, out, gentle. A wave of light-headedness hit, a pulse of pleasure, my erection slipping deep to press against her end. I swelled and semen pulsed out, pleasure blossoming. Almost languidly I fucked Mia, spurting into her little pussy deeply, intensely satisfying, cumming in her beautifully, so tight, so warm, so sexy.

And, as my orgasm crested and faded, I wrapped my little lover in my arms and rolled, holding her gently. No words were spoken. Side-by-side, I felt Mia relax. My softened penis slipped from her. She nestled close, her face in my chest. Peace descended at the sound of light, soft little snores.

Early September night chill breezed through the open bedroom windows, the quilt pulled high. I lay quietly with Mia curled back to me, spooning her small body as it threw off heat. I inhaled Mia's scent, an aroma that was at once delicate yet intense. I could smell the distinctive aroma of semen and it thrilled me. Hugging Mia was a singular pleasure and, when she murmured in her sleep and snuggled back to press against me, I found complete and utter peace. When her quiet little snores resumed, my chest hurt.

Mia had grown day-by-day, her sharp inquisitive mind asking endless questions. Initially I thought I'd never tire of her inquisitiveness, but I would. Regularly. At the end of every day I'd feel wrung out despite her sweetness.

Finding a simple sitcom to watch after dinner in the hope of some peace, Mia, cuddled to my side with her legs curled up, would pepper me with questions; where did the Taylors live? Where was Detroit? Why was Tim so hopeless? Why are you laughing?

My laugh would evolve into a hacking cough as I cleared my lungs of accumulated phlegm, my summer cold now officially my autumn cold. I'd change channels and just get more questions; have you ever been to New York? Why is Ross' hair so short? Can Monica cook as good as you?

Every night Mia would cuddle close in bed, some nights happy to just cuddle, other nights wanting to play friskily. I didn't understand the rhythm of her sensuality. I didn't initiate, either. I was too busy loving her being part of my life.

I knew I was privileged.

There are mysteries in this world that drive exploration and discovery, help build scientific understanding, or strengthen religious beliefs. There are events in this world that defy explanation; average people acting with heroism, sudden kindnesses, or unbelievable, incomprehensible violence. There are hidden secrets in this world that remain beyond our perception, even today, and wondrous things happen every day, unseen, unrecognized. And there are truly beautiful people in this world, miracles unto themselves. Mia was one such miracle, and I was forever thankful she graced my life.

Nine months had passed since her arrival. Mia was exceeding my expectations. To all intents and purposes, Mia was fully assimilated back into life. Another few months of schooling and she'd be ready.

I loved and hated it. I couldn't bear the thought of her moving on. I couldn't imagine life without her, couldn't imagine not having her gentle snores putting me to sleep, her warm little body next to me, her sweet, innocent scent to wake up to; her love. I had decided to defy my instructions and never let her go; I couldn't let her go, just couldn't.

I was intensely proud of her. I loved her passionately, too. But everything changed one warm spring day.

As I puttered in the kitchen preparing lunch, Lucy burst into our back yard from the forest, barking hard, her whole body shaking with each strident yap. It was wholly out of character.

I opened the back door. Lucy stood at the end of our yard, just out of the trees, barking at me, front paws leaving the ground with the force she was putting into it.

"What? What is it, Lucy?"

A sense of dread hit. Something was very wrong. My chest clenched. Mia! Where was Mia? They'd been out for a walk.

Lucy turned and tore off into the trees. Bare foot I chased after her, tree branches slashing, pine needles stabbing. I saw a flash of golden fur and plunged after her.

My chest was raw. I paused, gasping, bending. Lucy's sharp bark drove me on. Every hundred yards I had to pause to catch my breath, my chest agonizingly tight, Lucy reappearing and barking at me, "Come on! Come on!" she urged.

It felt like hours by the time I found Mia, curled up on the ground, holding her leg.

Diving to the pine needle-covered ground next to her I pulled her hands away. "What's wrong? What hurts? Where?" I peppered her.

Mia looked up at me, her eyes full of righteous indignation and pain. "I fell. I hurt my ankle. It hurts, Cory! Why?"

Checking, her ankle was swollen. I had no idea if it was sprained, fractured, or broken. Lifting her gently, I cradled her in my arms. "It's okay, Mia. We'll get it fixed," I said softly, my body trembling. Mia had not hurt herself in a long, long time; not since before she'd been an Angel. It was a new experience, an unwelcome one judging by her question.

Lucy loped off to lead the way back. I followed. I could feel the soles of my feet, slippery wet with blood. I didn't care.

"It hurts, Cory," Mia observed, tremulously.

"Of course it does." I kissed her hair.

Doc Kelsey, our local family doctor, a sixty-year-old institution that cared enough to still make house-calls, fussed and chatted with Mia in his clinic as he wrapped her swollen ankle in an ace bandage. A sprain he reassured us. He gave her a quick check-over.

"Quiet!" he ordered when a coughing fit hit me as he was listening to her, a stethoscope pressed to her small chest. Muttering and peppering Mia with questions, he completed his check-up by shining a pinpoint light in her eyes, making her say, "Aah," and checking her ears and nose.

Drawing me to the side, he said, "Well, Mia is fine. Overall she's robustly healthy, but you might want to make her eat more. She's a little thin. With the exception of her ankle and the deviated septum, she's a fine specimen of . . ."

"Excuse me, Doc. Deviated what?" I interrupted.

"Septum, Cory, septum." When I demonstrated my ignorance with arched eyebrows, he smiled. In a didactic tone of voice he proceeded to educate me. "The septum is the middle wall that separates each nostril," he paused, staring at me, "in the nose?"

I grinned. It only encouraged him.

"Yes, as I was saying, it separates each nostril. Now, when it has a kink in it, a bend, wave or . . . de-vi-ation," he emphasized, enunciating slowly with a grin, "it can hamper clear breathing."

"Is it dangerous?" I asked, somewhat intrigued.

Doc Kelsey smiled. "No." He paused then added, "but it can cause snoring. Mia won't mind, I'm sure. She's asleep when it happens," he winked.

I kept mum. I didn't tell him I knew she snored. I didn't tell him how relaxing and cute I thought it was, nor how addictive, nor how much I loved it. I nodded.

"Now," he said briskly, after helping Mia to the waiting room, "off with your shirt. I want to check that cough of yours. It doesn't sound healthy. How long have you had it?"

That day the world changed for me. It was the day I almost died from fear for Mia. It was the day I learned I didn't have a chest cold, X-rays revealing the harsh truth. It was the day I learned I could not have a lifetime of Mia's love.

It was the day a death sentence was delivered by a kind old man, concerned blue eyes full of sympathy and regret. Doc Kinsey patted me on the back, "I'm so sorry, Cory."

I carried Mia to the car with unusual care, reluctant to put her in. I made dinner, her favorite, Mac & Cheese, "It's the cheesiest, Cory!"

I held her close after dinner, caressing a small shoulder. Lucy sat at my feet and stared at me, her eyes never leaving me. Lucy knew. I didn't understand how, but Lucy knew.

"It's fine, Girl," I reassured her. She huffed and eventually settled onto my feet.

That night, in bed, I held Mia like she was fine bone china, jade, the most precious thing in the world. To me she was. I took comfort in her gentle breathing, gently caressing her T-shirt covered back.

I thought about what Doc Kinsey had said.

"It could be six months or a year, or less. There's just no way to know without further tests, Cory. I'll arrange the appointments . . ."

"No," I'd cut him off. "No tests. Thanks, Doc."

He'd warned me it could be long and painful, or short and sudden, his kind eyes appraising me as he wrote a prescription for painkillers.

It didn't matter anymore.

Lying in bed, holding Mia, I felt a deep sorrow descend, an unwelcome intruder. And then I realized I'd never told Mia how much I loved her and now couldn't tell her. I couldn't tell her and then send her away. That was just too callous, too hard on her. I knew how she felt about me, even if she didn't say it. I knew she loved me. My sinuses grew heavy, eyes prickled. Somehow I had to gradually pull away from her, make her transition as painless as possible.

Deep sorrow made me hug her small body tighter. I wasn't aware that Mia was awake as stress and unwanted sorrow pulled me under into a restless, dream-ridden, ugly sleep.

MIA LAY QUIETLY, LISTENING to Cory's beating heart. Her ankle pulsed with pain, feeling hot and swollen, the bandage too tight. Yet she didn't care. Something was wrong with Cory.

Sitting in the waiting room, unable to walk around, her bum going numb, she'd studied the colorful rainbow and animals painted on one wall. She'd listened to the receptionist taking calls, booking appointments, the sound of file cabinet drawers opening and closing. She'd watched an old couple enter, the man using a cane, smiling and giving her a mischievous wink that drew a smile from her.

She'd waited forever for Cory to come out and, when he did, she knew as soon as she saw him, something was wrong. His smile was gentler, his eyes softer. Lying next to Cory Mia knew something was wrong and she felt tendrils of fear.

She cuddled closer wanting to climb inside him. Sleep was a long, long time coming.

MIA HOBBLED ON CRUTCHES following me into the living room. "What's wrong, Cory?" she asked,

I sighed deeply. "Nothing. I told you, Mia," I said. Mia had been asking me all day, persisting despite my denials.

"Something's wrong. What is it?" she asked again, settling next to me as I turned the TV on, flipping channels to a sitcom. She grabbed my arm and pulled it around her.

"It's nothing. Just a chest virus. A few antibiotics and I'll be fine," I lied, my first lie to her. Mia stared up at me briefly and seemed to accept my explanation.

Later, in bed, I carefully rolled Mia to me, face-to-face, and kissed her cheek. She smiled and moved closer with a sigh, a little wiggle, her arm over me. As we nestled together Mia hitched her sprained ankle over my leg.

Caressing her T-shirt-covered back, so slender and bony, I moved my hand down to cup her spectacular bottom, petite, sweet, one of my favorite parts of Mia. A shudder passed through me.

Mia's eyes crinkled with a smile, a naughty smile, still shy, somewhat expectant. I grew warm. I became erect. Mia had no panties on. This was a first. This was Mia being playful. Her sweetness, her playfulness made me ache. Her spectacular bum made me erect.

"I'm not tired, Cory," she whispered. "Are you?" Her hand slipped down and started tugging at the waist of my boxers.

"I'm exhausted, Mia. Leave me alone," I replied softly, groping a perfect buttock, my fingertips teasingly stroking her bum crack.

Mia giggled softly, her body shaking, a big smile on her pretty, pretty face. "No you're not." She emphasized her claim by gripping my erection through my boxers.

I groaned.

Shuffling around, trying not to hurt her ankle, boxers were kicked off. I drew Mia back to me, face-to-face, her leg over mine, my erection pressed sensually against her little pussy.

Mia stared at me. She smiled, almost a grin, playful, and hunched her bum slightly. It resulted in the tip of my erection slipping along her short cleft. She reversed and repeated her little hunch. I watched her beautiful eyes as she humped herself against me and, when I ached, pulsed and precum oozed out, when her little cleft suddenly became slippery, her eyes clouded, smile fading. She lost focus and emitted a little sigh as if she'd succeeded.

Holding her spectacularly sexy little bum I felt every flex, buttocks stiffening and becoming firm, then relaxing and becoming soft, firm, soft, firm, soft. The tip of my penis was massaged by her short cleft. I could actually feel her labia slowly parting as she became very slippery to hug my crown, warm and silky.

Mia humped slowly, little sighs now joined by small tremors in her body, her forward humps becoming gradually firmer. The tip of my erection was catching at the base of her little cleft. She'd press herself down, ease off and hump again, sliding me through her slit. Despite an urge to grab her little body, roll over her and thrust, I did nothing, thrilled with the feel of her compact bum flexing in my hand and her pussy gently, slowly, teasing me with promises of heaven.

Mia was an assault on my senses, her soapy scent joined by the intoxicating aroma of her arousal, a delicate scent that could just be detected, clean, young. Her eyes closed slowly as she humped me, assaulting me with little sighs, breathing growing heavier.

I couldn't hold still. The sensuousness of it was way too much for me. My hand began pressing her bum on the forward hump, pressing her little pussy harder against the tip of my erection. All too soon there was no sliding, my crown lodged between soft, slippery labia at her entrance. Now I started moving, pressing forward, easing back, micro movements synchronized with hers. My cock pressed against her tiny entrance and eased back, pressing, relaxing, each move seemingly gaining millimeters.

Then Mia's hand moved to my hip as she hunched. My crown pressed harder at the urging of her hand. Slowly, exquisitely slowly, Mia's little pussy stretched, stretched and took my crown, slipping over the flared ridge, her entrance gripping my shaft.

I swelled, her small pussy so tight, hot. A bolt of pleasure hit. Resisting the urge to thrust into her was hard. Instead, with the head firmly held inside her incredibly small pussy, I bent and kissed her flushed cheek.

Mia's eyes popped open. She stared at me. The hint of a grin appeared and she clenched, hard. Stars burst at the sudden pulse of pleasure. I think I frowned, or growled, because Mia giggled and I felt it in my cock.

"You're really big, Cory. How come?" she asked.

Before I could form an answer Mia pressed. Heaven descended. With exquisite gentleness Mia worked her way onto my erection, slowly slipping down, pressing me deeper, pulling back, slippery, pressing me deeper. Slowly my erection was engulfed in a velvety sheath, Mia's pussy, tight, so tight.

I couldn't hold back. Gripping her bum I started stroking carefully, moving in counterpoint to her hunches. Suddenly everything was slick. Suddenly we were fucking, long, exquisite strokes, withdrawing almost entirely, pressing into her tight, tight warmth.

I kissed her, my passion making me forceful, pressing my tongue between her lips and into her small mouth. I couldn't get enough of her. Hunching as I held her little bottom, I thrust, sinking deep into her, deep, God so tight.

I needed more. I needed all of Mia. I wanted all of her. Rolling suddenly, I had Mia on her back. She felt so small, so young, so excitingly petite under me. Holding her bottom firmly I rose on one elbow, glancing down at her.

Mia made my heart ache as she smiled at me.

I trailed my eyes down over her flat chest, slender little body, spread legs, and sucked in a breath at the sight or her plump little pussy stretched, labia stretched, my adult erection buried in her, pressed to her mons. Withdrawing, I shuddered at how her labia clung to my glistening shaft, how massive I appeared penetrating her small pussy. I pressed in, watching her clit dip down and kiss my shaft.

It was so incredibly erotic. And too much. Lying back over her, so small under me, I kissed her gently, thrust into her slowly but firmly, pulling her bottom up towards me. My crown nudged against her end. Mia moaned and clutched at me.

I repeated my move, withdrawing from her tight hold, thrusting in firmly all the way. Mia moaned again. And, letting her bum go, I held her slender shoulders, resting my weight on her and gently we gained rhythm. Mia hunched her little pussy up at me, I stroked into her tight grip. We fucked slowly, deep, full strokes, my tip pressing against her end with every glorious thrust.

My erection swelled. Pressure built in my groin, a heavy feeling, the feeling of my orgasm nearing, balls aching. I fucked Mia waiting for her.

Heaven arrived. Mia clutched at me, her little body trembling softly, eyes closed, a cute frown emerging, her legs straightening, all signs of her quiet climax. It was intensely, intensely sexy, and enough to bring my orgasm thundering in.

"Mia," I sighed. My erection swelled, painful, heavy, thick. A dam burst, semen rushing up. I thrust and froze, cum exploding, pleasure blossoming.

"God, Mia," I sighed, withdrawing, thrusting into her tight, tight clenching pussy. Semen burned up my shaft. I swelled, my crown grew. Cum exploded deep into her, my body shaking. The crest neared. Primal need took over. Aching, holding my little lover tight, I thrust, cum jetting out, pleasure wracking me. I fucked, spurting gloriously into her, fucked, spurting hard, hard, until nothing was left, the crest of my climax passing, heart pounding, erection slippery, slowing, erection fading, sated.

Holding Mia's small warm body carefully I rolled to the side. My softening erection slipped out. On my side I held Mia close, her warm little breaths wafting against my chest. I held my little lover for a long, long time, smiling when purring little snores started, lulling me to sleep.

Coughing hard in the bathroom, door closed, my chest burned. As the wave passed I glanced in the mirror. I looked pale. Then I noticed flecks of blood on my lips. I tasted the bitter iron tang of blood in my mouth.

Bending, I rinsed.

I knew I should place the call and have them come for Mia, and now Lucy. I knew I should, but I just couldn't bring myself to do it. Mia enchanted me every day with light laughter that raised my spirits, with giggles that warmed my soul, with spontaneous hugs that wrapped me in her love. I was being selfish. I wanted as much of Mia as I could possibly get. I wanted to compress a lifetime of Mia into what remained. I knew I should have called them, but I was too in love, too selfish. Just one more day, I thought, yet again.

I left the bathroom and slipped into bed, drawing a sleeping Mia to me. She murmured in her sleep and cuddled into me like a kitten seeking warmth. I hurt. Just another day, then I'd place the call.

Sleep came slowly. I was exhausted but had done nothing all day. My chest felt heavier, breathless. With Mia curled up to me, as I did every night, I let images drift through my mind; Mia laughing at Lucy as she played fetch, Mia screaming in laughter as Lucy tried to find beef jerky in her pocket, Mia sitting rock still and frowning in concentration as she played video games, Mia smiling at me shyly asking for another kiss. Yes, just one more day. Sleep edged in without me knowing.

I slept.

I woke suddenly, chest straining, darkness still blanketing the window. I knew, immediately. I had left it too late. I knew it and chastised myself for my indulgence, for wanting to spend just a bit more time with Mia, a selfish act. It had hit suddenly, terminally. I could feel it. I was dying. Reaching out I fumbled for the lamp with leaden arms.

"Mia," I gasped shaking her awake. "There's a number by the phone. Go. Call it. A friend will come for you and Lucy."

The effort was too much. I collapsed back on the bed, chest burning.

Death, like a heavy shroud, drew close, numbness creeping inexorably in from my extremities. My leaden chest struggled to draw in thin life-sustaining air, rasping and rattling as it strained. I didn't care.

Mia's face hovered over mine, iron-grey eyes filling my vision. "I have to go. You'll be fine," I managed to whisper, trying vainly to push her away. I had no strength, my arms heavy. "You'll be fine."

My heart broke as tears welled in her eyes; my reassurances making no impression. Her sorrow was my hell, my purgatory. Nothing in this world could hurt so much.

"Please, please, don't go," she pleaded, her pain more agonizing than the insidious illness that was slowly squeezing life from me like a Boa Constrictor.

"Mia," I gasped, struggling to draw in precious air, "it's my time. Go. Please."

"Noooo!" she cried, almost a moan of horror. And, in the soft yellow light of my bedside lamp, I watched an Angel cry, eyes stricken with grief, teardrops welling. I watched as beautiful eyes filled with agony. As if from far away I watched as strange violet coronas formed around her pupils. Tears spilled over. They slid down soft cheeks, gathered and fell to my face in heavy drops, burning me like acid. A small hand swiped, unable to brush away all her tears of anguish. A small hand touched my face.

My heart shattered; vision dimmed; life drained. More than anything in this world I wished I could see her smile again; just once more shine with happiness that made her so achingly beautiful.

An Angel looked, her hauntingly beautiful face hovering over mine, her agony lancing into me, white hot.

Darkness rushed at me, death, the inevitable, eyelids closing. Why? Why would the last thing I'd ever hear be her wail of grief? Why my last sight an Angel crying?

A wet nose nudged me, drawing me awake. Lucy's soft, loving brown eyes looked at me. The room was bright with morning light. She chuffed, her gentle, quiet, not-quite-bark talking to me. Confusion set in. I felt Mia's head on my chest.

She stirred and lifted her head, looking at me in confusion. "Who are you?" she asked in her small voice, silver-grey eyes studying me, her pretty face framed by long platinum blonde hair.

I was torn, emotions cascading in one after the other. Horror struck. Mia didn't recognize me! I recognized her expression; one I'd seen when I'd first opened the door to her so long ago. I recognized those silver-grey eyes, the platinum hair. Inhaling sharply I felt clean, pure, beautiful air fill my lungs, no tightness, no spastic urge to hack my lungs out. And then I knew.

I knew Mia had healed me. Warmth flooded into me. I smiled. She'd given me the most precious gift; I was going to experience loving her all over again. My heart swelled as, more important by far, I realized this time I could tell Mia how much I loved her.

Drawing her into my arms and hugging her gently, I said softly, "Hello, Mia. My name's Cory. You're going to find happiness here. I promise you."

MIA STARED AT THE strange man holding her in his arms, his soft, warm amber eyes full of kindness. How did she get here? Why was she in his bed? Who was he? She inhaled and caught his scent, somehow familiar and comforting. She felt like she should know him. And then he smiled. Her worries faded away, calm descended, and peace emerged. It was as if he'd reached in and touched her inside. She was supposed to be here. She was supposed to be with him; she felt it.

A Golden Lab chuffed at her, seemingly smiling at her, intelligent brown eyes warm and caring.

"That's Lucy. You'll like her. She'll be your best friend."

Mia glanced away from Lucy back to Cory. She smiled. His arms felt good. "Kay."