Francis

This story is for persons of eighteen years or over. All comments, good or bad, are welcome and all will be answered.

Part Eighteen

`Come on, let me take you home.'

`No. I don't want to go home yet. What time is it?'

`Just gone eleven,' he said after looking at his watch.

`Pubs are open. I need a drink after that. Do you know a good one?'

`Well as it happens I do. I rent one of their upstairs rooms. It's cheap and clean.'

`The drink or the room,' I gave a little laugh.

`Both. We'll go and have a drink there.' He hailed a taxi as we got out into the open air and that little breeze helped me to recover somewhat. It was such a short distance that the meter hadn't even started clocking up the extras.

`We could have walked,' I protested.

`You looked as though you needed a ride. Oh, I'm sorry. That could be taken two ways. Oh, I've done it again,' he grinned as I laughed at his faux pas. He pushed open a door into the saloon bar of the pub where he lived upstairs.

Hello Wesson, Miss,' said the man behind the bar. Bit early for you to come in the bar isn't it?'

`You wouldn't believe the stress and strain we've been through this morning. Pint of best and a, er, large gin and tonic, please.' He paid for the drinks and we sat down in a corner. He wanted a blow by blow of Operation Switch. I left out certain aspects of my trips as I told him the story. We both made several trips up to the bar. And before we knew it, the landlord was calling time.

`I think it's time for us to go too,' Wesson said.

`Don't you want to hear about Rome? We haven't covered that part yet.'

`Of course I do,' he replied.

`Then let's get a few more drinks and take them upstairs to your room. I don't want to go home yet.' He eyed me speculatively, but didn't say anything. I went with him to the bar and bought a bottle of gin and a dozen tonics. He wanted to pay, but I wouldn't let him.

You haven't heard the end piece of the switch. I can afford it,' I said as I gave a giggle. Tell you upstairs.'

His room was pleasant if you liked a cramped bedsit.

`It's not much, but then I don't pay a lot. Bathroom and toilet are down the hall. I'm afraid I've only got one chair. You have that and I'll sit on the bed.'

`No. I'll take the bed. I can curl up then. Can't do that on a chair, but I want to use the loo first.' I didn't think people lived like this I thought as I used the facilities, and was glad to get back to his room.

`Do you like living here?' I asked as I curled up on his bed and took the drink that he'd poured out for me.

`Not really, but it's cheap and convenient for the office. As you said, you can walk it in almost the same time as taking a taxi.' He went to sit down on the chair, but I patted the bed.

`Sit here. I don't want to shout half way across the room.' He gave a little smile and sat down, not quite next to me, but near.

`How long have you worked for Frobisher?'

Too long.' He caught my look. Sorry. I can't really say. I joined the army as a boy in 1936 and was a sergeant when the war broke out. Still am,' he gave a little laugh as he leaned back against the wall. `I refused to go on an officer's course. Twice actually. When they asked for volunteers for special duties, I thought I might get out of some of the mundane aspects of soldiering. Boy, was I right. There was nothing mundane about the mob I went with. We trained till we dropped. We did quite a few special ops and I think that it must have been somewhere in that time that I ended up working for him. We never did get to see the people who thought up and sent us out on our missions, but I think he was involved. When the war was over, what was there for me? The army was my life and as I didn't there and then opt to leave, I was asked if I wanted to work more undercover as it were instead of in an established camp. So I can't really say how long I have worked for him. I've risen as it were by being trusted with a lot of inside information, but I am still technically a sergeant in the army. That's it really.'

`He thinks a lot of you, you know,' I said as I moved up close to him and put my hand on his arm.

`Frobisher?'

`Who else? That's why I couldn't ask you to come in on it. I wanted to, but I couldn't. I had to go and get outside help when I really wanted you there with me. So what I did was to put some of that money aside for you.'

`That's not a lot then, besides, I don't want it. He's taken most of it from you, alright, you've got some houses, but not a lot of money left.'

`I didn't tell him the truth about how much I had left.'

`Why not?'

`Because somewhere deep inside me, I knew he'd find out. I just didn't think he would do so, so quickly.'

`There was something else said back in the office that I didn't quite understand. I can't put my finger on it, but it was there.'

`As I said, Frobisher thinks a lot of you, and I also think he does for me too.'

`You mean after the way he treated you in there, and then had a go at me?'

`Wesson. He's like a broody hen looking after his chicks. Why was Smith sent into Berlin for us and not use a local operative? Think on it and you might begin to see some light at the end of the tunnel. Then this last thing. He let me run with it, but I bet you my last dollar that he wished he could have sent you in to help me. He knows why I kept you out and he now can't retract what he asked of me. Though I wouldn't in any case.'

`What the hell are you talking about woman? I didn't understand a word you said.'

`That's because it's the gin talking. He said, no, made me promise that I shouldn't hurt you.'

`That's ridiculous! I can still throw you around the mats. Don't forget. It was I that taught you.'

And a fine teacher you are,' I said as I stroked his cheek. I had started to get a burning pain in my stomach and there was only one way that I knew of to quench it. He wasn't talking of the physical side, but the emotional part of you. He's seen the way you look at me, treat and defend me. He told me that he was afraid that you were falling in love with me.' There! I'd said it. Now I had started the ball rolling. I had to question myself if I was doing the right thing. I had Harry, but deep down, my subconscious I think was now coming to the surface and that I was falling in love with Wesson.

`He said that? Then he's a fool. I...I'm not in love with you. I...I occasionally, well. I don't know what I feel.'

`Then why do you keep a photograph of me in your pocket?'

`I...I, damn it woman! I don't know.'

`Do you know that's the second time you've called me woman in the last few minutes?'

`Well it's ...it's because I constantly see you as one. One that I want to protect. One that I want to take in my arms and kiss and make love to.' I could see the tears in his eyes though he wouldn't look at me.

`But I'm a man,' I said softly to him.

I don't care, I first saw you as a woman, and you will ever remain so.' I pulled his head down onto my chest and held him tight as he gave a sob. It was only for a few moments, but he let me hold him and stroke his hair. He's right, damn him. I am in love with you Francis,' his voice tight and muffled. `I've never felt this way about anybody in my life and I'm confused. Help me Francis.' He lifted up his face and my heart was full of pity for this strong man. It takes a really strong man to say the words he had just said, especially when it is to another man.

I bent my head and kissed him on his tear stained cheeks and pulled him down so that we lay on the bed. I wiped some of them away with my finger tips and his hand came up to take hold of them and he kissed them. He let go and then traced my lips with his fingers before moving up a little he put his own lips on mine. That kiss was one of love and it seemed to last forever. The lips of both slowly parted so that the tongues could touch and play and explore the other mouth.

He moved his body and I knew that he was getting, or had an erection and he was making it more comfortable. I already had one, but my dress hadn't hampered its rising up hard on my stomach. The ache inside me getting worse and harder to bear, but I didn't want to rush him. It was his decision to make in either saying that he wanted to make love to me or back off. I reciprocated his kisses and was yearning for him to take me, almost begging him to. He made his decision and I sighed with some relief.

`Let me make love to you, as we did in the tent,' he whispered into my open mouth between a kiss.

`Oh Wesson. I never thought you'd ask,' I cried. We undressed in a really indecent haste and were soon both naked and back on the bed. He was trying to kiss parts of my body as I was his.

Slow down,' I begged him, and put this on.' Giving him a condom that I'd retrieved from my bag as we'd taken our clothes off. I watched him squat back onto his heels, his body was strong and muscular and not over hairy, his cock looking huge between his thighs. I saw the purple red of it being covered by the rubber and watched him having difficulty in unrolling it down his length. That was when I rolled over and went onto my knees. He was gentle but firm as he knocked at my portal before entering.

I've lost count of the number of times that my gate has been entered, but I still give out that gasp as the head of a cock enters me. Whether it's painful or not, the pleasure can sometimes be unbearable, but then comes the slow stretching as the rest of the shaft makes itself felt as it slides in. This is a beautiful moment too; the feel of the hot throbbing piece of flesh as it fills my insides. Then comes the soothing massage as he moves himself in and out of me, calming the screaming nerves that had built up in the anticipation of this moment. You should know by now that I do like a man's cock. Whatever the shape or size, I love it when it is inside me as Wesson now was, his upper thighs tight up against the cheeks of my bum. Then comes the gentle slapping as our bodies meet at every thrust. As with Wesson, when a man's well hung, his balls also slap at me, hitting my balls which generates mine to send the sperm up the tube to spill out across whatever I'm kneeling on.

I now knew that this man really loved me though I already knew that I loved him. He cried out as he came inside me and I eased us down so that could lie on my back and stay inside. I could feel his heart giving out its tattoo and then slow down as he regained his breath, his weight comfortable on me. He eventually pulled out and I quickly pulled off his condom with a tissue and lay down top to tail so that I could take him in my mouth and suck and lick what was left inside him. As I sucked on him, I knew that he could see my erection near his face, but he only stroked it, whereas Harry would have been sucking it. Would Wesson ever do this I wondered? Also I could get to fuck Harry, but I don't think Wesson would let me do that to him.

So here I was in a quandary over these two. I could do everything with Harry but not Wesson, and yet, if Harry were playing away, then I would have to finish with him. This was the woman inside me talking, because even though I was doing it, what I did didn't count. Women can be possessive and jealous when it comes to their man going off with someone else and I felt the same.

I'd finished playing with Wesson's prick and turned round on the bed and went into his open arms and let him cuddle me. We lay like that for some time, comfortable in just being together. I eventually stirred and moved out of his arms and turning round, kissed him, and got that thrill when he kissed me back.

`What time is it?' and he looked at his watch.

`Nearly six.'

`I'd better be going,' I said as I slipped off the bed. He lay there and watched me as I put on my padded bra and suspender belt. I put on my stockings and was fixing the tops to the belt when he spoke.

You've got a lovely slim body and from this view,' which was of my back, you look perfect, and, oh God, I've got another hard on just seeing you, especially when you bent over.'

`Would you like to take me again then?' I asked, looking over my shoulder to see him sitting on the edge of the bed with his erection actually pulsating.

`God yes,' his voice thick. I threw him a condom from my bag and bent over the chair as he quickly put the thing on and came up behind me. He was quickly pushing himself inside me and moving like any dog that finds a bitch in heat. I loved that cock of his in me as he used rapid movements till he gripped me hard as he came, pumping and grinding himself at my rear. When he pulled out, I used another tissue to remove the rubber before kneeling down before him to suck on that still erect tool. His hands held my head gently as I moved it slowly back and forth on him. Then he pulled me up and crushed me to his chest.

You've destroyed me Francis,' he said between the kisses he was given me. I don't think there can ever be anyone else I'd rather be with than you.'

`I'm beginning to think the same about you Wesson,' I said, loving his kisses that were now being given to my neck and throat before finding my lips again. We eventually broke apart and he went and sat on the bed as I put on my dress and wig. I then put a little make-up on before putting on my shoes. He hadn't moved from watching me, now he seemed to shake himself awake.

I'm sorry,' he said getting up from the bed. I got carried away there. Let me get dressed and I'll take you home.' I put my hand up to his hairy chest.

`No. You stay here. I can easily get a taxi.' I gave him a light kiss on the lips and whispered that I loved him before I left his room. There was a staircase that let me out onto the street without going through the bar.

Back at the flat, I soaked in a bath and ran through my options regarding Harry and Wesson, not forgetting Harry's links with Frobisher. What a tangled web I had weaved for myself and could not think of how to untangle myself. Then my thoughts turned to Frobisher and felt angry at the way he had manipulated me and got some of my money by making me take on all the houses in this street. All had been turned into offices during the war and were now empty. These had to be renovated to bring them back up to habitable abodes that befitted the location. Did that include this house, I thought. Would it still be wanted as a safe house with a guard? If it did, then I would demand rent. Yes, the houses would be for rent, because there was no way I was going to be able to sell them at what I'd been forced to pay for them. But I could also see that over the years the value would go up and then exceed the price I had paid. Add on the cost of the renovating, I said to myself, but that is money going out of the window. Not if it were your own company that did it, said a little voice in my head. You may also be able to screw some government contracts out of Frobisher into the bargain, the voice had continued.

`Confound this,' I cried out aloud and finished my bath. With only my bathrobe on I had to get this money sorted out before Harry got home, so it was out with the suitcases. It still looked a lot of money when it was all stacked up on the table. I then counted it out to make three piles. The first two million was for Frobisher, and the second of four was what he knew I had. The third pile was what he didn't know about, and it was slightly smaller than the second being just over three and a half.

Then I realised that I had come up to a stumbling block. With the currency restrictions this country had, how in hell was I going to be able to change all these dollars into sterling without there being lots of questions asked as to how I had come by this money. That only left Frobisher, and that meant I would get screwed again. Yet that would still leave three and half that I couldn't let him get his hands on. This needed serious thinking about before letting him touch any of this money.

So I returned two piles into the suitcase, locked, and put it away. The first pile I put in a small bag for me to take in on Monday. I didn't have any immediate need to worry about exchanging my share for the time being as I had ample funds to draw upon to start or buy a business.

Harry came home and we had supper before going to bed. Our love making was rather perfunctory which brought my doubts of him to the surface again, but it wasn't the time yet for a confrontation. The sex was better over the weekend.

I met Wesson on the steps Monday as we both arrived at the same time. We both smiled at each and his hand brushed mine as we went in. I waved the bag at him and said that I would meet him later. In the gym, he said as we parted at the lifts.

In Frobisher's office, I gave him the bag and received the twenty deeds in exchange. I found out later that night that they were in fact leases and not deeds, but as there were eighty years to run on them, it wasn't a problem. Though I was annoyed at being screwed again.

I went down to the gym where Wesson was exercising and I got changed. We then faced each other for unarmed combat, specifically for killing, though when a killing point was reached, we would break apart. Our fighting was sharp and fierce. I was not giving any quarter to him, nor did he to me. After a kill, we had a short break to go over it again in slow motion to try and either improve or correct it. After about an hour, we were both drenched in sweat and I had killed him once and I had been killed four times. I had been lucky and he didn't let it happen again. It took six months before we could fight for an hour without either of us achieving a kill, such was his training of me.

We had our shower and got dressed before going up for some coffee. At the table, I told him my plans for a business to do the renovating of the houses and he thought that it was a good idea. So we started that afternoon, poring over directories to select some likely candidates for taking over. I wanted a going concern, small, with at least twenty workers and not have to start from scratch. We finally had eighteen firms listed that we started to look at from the outside as it were, over the next two days after our work outs in the gym.

These we whittled down to three and Wesson said that he knew someone who would be able to see their tax returns and how they had been faring over the last few years. We got the answers a week later that ruled two of them straight out. One was on the verge of bankruptcy, so if the management was no good, it was no good for me. I wouldn't be running it, so it had to be efficient. The next was under investigation for fraud, so that left a small family firm by the name of Clement and Son in South East London. I'm not going to go into all the details of what we did, but keep it as brief as possible.

First I started G.F.L.Holdings, owned by Gervaise. Then he, me, approached Mr Clement to talk about renovating the houses, leading on later to other lucrative contracts. He listened, but said that they wouldn't be able to cope with the amount of work that was being offered, neither did they have the cash flow. This led into the financial side of things. They were surprised about how much I knew of their firm on this side of things. Then when I explained what I really wanted, they became hostile until they were assured that they would still be running the business and that they and all of them would prosper with this merger under the banner of G.F.L. It took the whole week in negotiations with lawyers present to come to an agreement.

The father was pleased that they would move to larger premises, as he ran the office side. The son was delighted with the promise of a yard as big as he wanted and the money injected into the firm to be able to get materials and tools that they were always short of. Plus the almost doubling of their salaries. The staff were happy too at the increase they would receive in their hourly pay rate.

The Clement's found new premises that suited both of them in their requirements within a week and the whole kit and caboodle took another week to move.

I, in that first week, had my daily work out with Wesson before showering and getting dressed as Gervaise and dealing with the Clement's and our lawyers. Gervaise then bowed out and Francis was back. The Clement's had already been told that I was his identical twin, and after the oohs and ahhs and being told how we could never be told apart, acted in his stead. I approved the new premises and said how happy I was for them.

When the new office had been settled in, I took Mr Clement with me and showed him one of the houses that needed doing. He was delighted at the prospect of bringing these houses back up to their former glory and couldn't wait to get back to collect his architect to start work immediately on some drawings.

One drawing was sufficient, as all the houses were the same, so all the structural work could be done from just one blueprint. There would only be two left for the time being in terms of the inside and that was the one I was living in at the moment and the one I would be having as my own house. I arranged a later date and time with the architect to discuss this latter house.

In the meantime, I was being thrown around the gym by Wesson, though I did my share of throwing too, in the first hours of the morning. Then it was out to see Clement junior discussing materials, and then out at the shops to get ideas for the interior decoration and furniture. Then I would try to read my notes of the day and transfer them and ideas onto paper.

Most nights for those couple of weeks, I was asleep by the time Harry came home, to be woken up for sex. But then I would fall back to sleep as soon as he had finished with me. But most nights, he didn't bother. I didn't have a chance to be alone with Wesson, except in the gym, though we would sometimes snatch a quick kiss in a clinch.

It wasn't until the builder's had started on the first house did I find I had some spare time on my hands. Then I had the idea of slipping into the theatre to watch some of the rehearsals. As the door man knew me, it was no problem to sit near the back of the stalls to watch. Their current production was Much Ado About Nothing. It took three visits to see that my fears were right, and I could see who it was he was seeing. It was too obvious, well to my eyes anyway that it was a minor member of the cast.

A lunch break had been called and I watched Harry and this other young thing disappear into the wings. I made my way down to the front and went round to the dressing rooms. I gently tried the handle to his door and found it locked. So I went back to the stage door and told the man if he could lend me a key, saying Harry had given me a spare, but I had left it at home. He offered to open it for me, but I took the key from his hand saying that it was okay and I would return it before I left.

I gently inserted the key into the lock and unlocked the door and carefully and quietly, opened the door and slipped inside. There on a cot before me was a naked Harry behind another naked man as he stroked his cock in and out this fellow's arse.

`Yes you slut! You like this cock stuck up you, don't you, you whore? You like having a real man fuck you like this.' His eyes were closed and his head thrown back as he fucked away. I was right by the small cot that he was performing on before he opened his eyes and saw me standing there. They went wide in shock at seeing me and his jaw dropped just before I hit it. It snapped shut at the blow and he fell backwards, coming out of the other man's rear. I noticed that he either hadn't been wearing a condom, or it was still up the other man's arse. The recipient of Harry's cock gave out a cry at the sudden withdrawal and turned his head towards me. My fist caught him just below the right eye and I knew that would be black in no time. All I was hoping for in that short encounter was that I hadn't broken Harry's jaw.

Harry was a crumpled heap at the end of the cot, and I checked and found that his jaw felt all right. His cock had shrivelled up in the shock I noticed. His pretty boy was also out cold and I could see the skin already beginning to discolour around the eye. There was no point to words as neither of them could have heard me. So I just walked out, but left the door wide open so that everybody who passed could see them lying there.

I thanked the doorman and returned the key saying that Harry was out. I took a taxi back to the flat and I was amazed at how calm I felt. It was when I was in the bath that I erupted, water going everywhere as I smacked the water time after time. After I had finished, feeling drained and let down, I dried myself and got dressed. I rang for Palmer and asked if he could fix me something light to eat. This he did and returned with one of the best and tastiest omelette that I'd ever had. I'd already opened a bottle of wine and asked Palmer if he would oblige me by having a glass and sitting down because I had some things to talk about.

He thanked me and accepted the wine and sat down as I tasted and praised the omelette. I told him that I had purchased the house and that I wasn't quite sure of his relationship with Harry or the house, or what was going to happen. I got him to talk and he seemed quite happy to do so. He was happy in his job, as it wasn't demanding and he had nice quarters. He had an extensive collection of classical records and plenty of books, these being his passion, and had plenty of time to enjoy both. A confirmed bachelor and wished to remain so. He was paid by the Foreign Office and it was meagre, but adequate for his small needs. So if Harry were to move out, he wouldn't have to go too? No, was the answer.

`It's a foolish question under the circumstances, but I have to ask it if only to make everything clear. You do know who and what I am, and my relationship with Harry?' He gave a little cough and took a sip of his wine, which I knew was just a subterfuge for him to pick his words carefully before speaking. I didn't press him.

It's more than one question,' he said with a smile, and I had to smile back, but you came here dressed as a woman with the name of Miss Francis, and so that is how I see you at all times. That you and Mr Harry are both male, has nothing to do with me. Nor does what happen when you go to bed together have anything to do with me. I know that you go away on assignments for Frobisher and that it was he that was instrumental in bringing you two together. The only aspect that would be a problem would to be an adjudicator between you or, er, to be asked to, er, participate.' I laughed and clapped my hands.

`Wonderful Palmer, but have no fear on either of the last two things you mentioned. You are far too precious to be involved in either case. How long have you worked, as it were, for Frobisher?

`Five years.'

`Would you consider leaving his employ and working as my house man at twice the salary, non-negotiable for the next five years when we will review it again?'

`Well I would consider it if I knew that it was an offer and not just some hyperbole.'

`It is an offer, and what's more, there's this to consider. It would be in one of the houses in this road, and you know the layout of this top floor. You would have the say in how it is designed. Designed to suit you and decorated to your choice.'

`Really? Then my answer would be yes, though we would still have to have a cleaner come in. That I do not do!'

`Palmer. I want you to run my house. If you think we should have a living in maid, cleaner, or whatever, there is the basement flat. Just ask and it will be done. I say that because when I ask for something, I expect it to be done too. Do we understand each other?'

`Yes Miss Francis. Perfectly.'

`Good. Now when, and if Mr Harry comes home tonight. See that he has his supper as usual. When I come back, because I am going out in a few minutes, when I come back and if he is here, there will be fireworks. Please stand back when the blue touch paper is lit.'

`I fully understand Miss Francis. May I go now?' he asked, placing his empty glass on the table.

`Yes, and thank you Palmer. I really mean that.'

`I know that. Have a pleasant evening Miss.' He gave me a little bow and left me to my thoughts. To hell with you Harry Brougham! I've just lit the blue touch paper. I rang down to the doorman and ordered a taxi. I went and saw to my make-up and was ready when the phone rang to tell me the taxi was waiting. I gave the address of the pub where you will guess I was going.

Inside the saloon bar, I ordered a gin and tonic and then asked if Wesson was about.

`He's upstairs miss. Shall I give him a shout?' the barman asked.

`Yes please. Just say Francis is here, thank you.' He disappeared through the back, and a few minutes later Wesson came into the bar.

`Francis. What are you doing here?' He turned and ordered a pint of beer before turning back for my answer. I waited till he had collected his beer and drew him to a small table and waited till we were seated.

`I came to see you.'

`Why? Has Frobisher called?'

`It's nothing to do with Frobisher. I came because I wanted to talk to you. I...I came because I wanted you to take me up to your room. Then to hold me tight and say that you really love me before I go and say something stupid.'

`Like what?' he asked looking closely at my face.

`I don't know. That's why it might be stupid.' I could feel tears starting to come to my eyes. I hadn't intended them to and tried to hide the fact that they were there, but he saw them.

`Finish your drink and we'll go up,' he said, and drank almost the whole pint in one draught. He took my arm and led me out of the bar and up to his room. Inside, he took me into his arms and kissed me deeply as he sat us down on the bed.

`Francis, I love you. I keep telling myself that I shouldn't, but I cannot stop myself from thinking about you all the time. This is a love that is forbidden, but I just cannot help myself.' He kissed me again and I gave myself up to his kisses, returning them with as much love as I could with just those lips of mine.

We writhed on the bed as we tried to kiss, stroke, and caress at the same time as trying to undress each other. He stopped me from taking anything else off when my dress slipped to the floor along with my shoes. He stripped off totally and looked magnificent with his rampant cock standing out proud in front of him.

I bought some of those rubbers myself, he said with a half embarrassed laugh as I brought his pillows down to the middle of the bed. I then lay down with my bum high on the pillows and held open my arms as well as my legs.

`Come and make love to me,' I said.

With my bum so high, it was easy for him to enter me as my legs went higher up his arms as he pushed himself right into me till our lower bodies met. His arms had come down by my sides and for the first time I could see the expression on his face as he pushed inside. It was of bliss and I loved that. It's not the most comfortable position to be fucked in, but I didn't notice my cramped body as I watched him move and see the thrill and enjoyment he was getting out of his taking me. The sweat had started to run down his face as he began to strain tighter to me as I felt him swell even larger in me as he came. Then after several sharp jerks into me, his eyes opened and he smiled down at me as he moved forward to embrace me. Doing this in the position I was in made him slip out as our sweaty bodies came together. With his moving on me as we kissed, made me come on our stomachs making it mingle with our sweat.

It was a few minutes before I could get him off of me so that I could remove his soiled condom. Then as we lay in each other's arms, I told him of what I had seen in the theatre and that I was going to throw him out.

`You can't do that! He lives there,' Wesson said.

`But it's my house!'

`Oh, yes. I forgot that. But don't throw him out. Just tell him that he will have to leave. Believe me, it would be better that way. Is that why you came here tonight? To get your own back?'

You beast!' I cried, trying, in the confines of his arms to beat my fists upon his chest. You men all seem to think the same way! I wanted to know if you loved me. Really loved me before I told you what had happened. Then I was going to ask if we could live together. You and I. In one of the new houses that are being done up.' I saw some confusion in his eyes that made me want to cry. Don't answer now. Please think about it, but I will not be sleeping with Harry anymore.' I was going to say more, like if he didn't, I would become celibate or some such wild thing, but I didn't want to blackmail him. All I'm going to say is that Palmer has agreed to be my houseman, to look after me. Not in any sexual way, he made that quite clear,' I said with a funny little laugh. `Look darling, I'd better get going. I've given you a lot to think about. You stay in bed. I can get home on my own all right.'

I slipped out of bed and put my dress on and went to the mirror to touch up my make-up before slipping on my shoes. I went and gave Wesson a peck on the lips.

`I'll see you tomorrow,' I said.

`Don't kill him,' I heard Wesson say in the gloom of the room.

`He's not worth it,' I laughed, and it sounded brittle to my ears, but I felt like doing it.

It was late went I got home and I let myself into the flat and saw that the bedroom light was on and I that Harry was in bed watching me as I entered the room. I walked past the bottom of the bed without acknowledging him and went to the dressing table and dropped my bag and wig on it. I deliberately undressed there so that he could see my back and in the mirror, my front. I took my time in unclipping the stockings from their clips and rolling them down my legs. Then off with the belt and bra before going into the bathroom and into the shower. I dried myself in there and walked naked back into the room, his eyes watching me as I got into bed. I rolled towards him with my knees up and then kicked him out of bed. He gave out a yelp at the sudden shock of what I did.

`You're not sleeping in here with me,' I said.

`Why not?' he answered from the floor, trying to untangle himself from the sheet that he had taken with him.

That was the wrong question to have asked. If fact he shouldn't have said anything.

Why not?' I screamed at him as I scrambled out of bed. I grabbed him by the hair and dragged him across the floor. I'll show why not,' and I pull hard upwards, forcing him to stand upright to find he was facing the mirror. See that limp piece of flesh there between your legs. Go on! Look at it,' and I shook his head, his hair still tangled in my fingers. You had that up the arse of a whore without a condom. I suppose you think I am going to take it in my mouth or have you stick it up my arse? Well you've got another think coming,' and I belted him one in the kidneys. He dropped to his knees, pulling his hair free from my grip as he gave out a strangled cry, putting his hand to his back. I then kicked him in the side. He was lucky I was barefooted, even so he cried out and scrambled away on his hands and knees. I kicked his arse twice before he reached the chair and hauled himself upright.

`You bitch,' he screamed and took a swing at me, foolish boy.

He crashed into a small table quite a few feet away from where he'd tried to punch me. He'd knocked it over and a vase that had been holding some long stemmed flowers rolled around spilling them out over the carpet. I picked up a few of these blooms and took a swipe at his bare bum as he rolled and got to his knees. The blooms blew apart in a cascade of petals at the strike and I saw a small red weal on his flesh. I would never had said that I had any sadism inside me, but at the sight at that weal set me off and I beat him with these flower stems all the way to the door to the sitting room. His bum was now covered in these red streaks as he rolled over to try and get to the door knob. I pulled at him so that he fell flat on his back and I fell down onto his chest, my knees pinning his arms to the floor. He was not supple or trained enough to get out of that position, and as I looked down at his terrified face I also saw that I had a good hard erection. I gave a wicked smile, which must have looked worse than it was to his eyes, because he was shaking underneath me. I then jerked myself off and came all over his face, spraying it into his eyes and his hair. When I'd finished flicking my penis at him, I got up and opened the door to the sitting room.

You can sleep there,' I said, pointing to the settee, now move you two timing piece of shit.' I kicked his arse as he crawled out and slammed the door behind him.

I went and got into bed and just lay there for a few minutes before I began to cry. I rolled over onto my stomach and up onto my knees and punched and punched the pillow. I knew what I had just done was wrong and that was why I was now crying. I had let the wrong emotions take control and I collapsed on the bed hating myself.

I woke up at the sound of the shower and then a few minutes after the water stopped running, Harry came out of the bathroom and after a quick glance at me, started to get dressed.

Harry,' I said, propping myself up on my elbow, about last night. I want to say I'm sorry.'

`Too late for that,' he growled, dressing quickly.

No it's not,' I cried. Let's talk it over.'

`You said it all last night.'

`I was mad. I was mad all day and night after...after what I saw.'

`What you saw was me with a person who loves me. Really loves me. He doesn't go off somewhere without telling me! He tells me everything he does because he loves me. You come home from God knows where and expect me to jump through hoops because you finally were home.'

`That's not fair!' I cried.

Nothing's fair in this life Francis. I'll collect my things while you're at the office',' he said as he slammed out of the room. I just rolled over in the bed and cried again.

I was late getting to the `office' as he had called it, and in the gym, I just seemed to let Wesson knock the shit out of me. It was a good catharsis for me though Wesson didn't understand and I didn't tell him. We had our shower and got dressed, but I didn't want to go to the gallery. I didn't say anything about the night before. I couldn't. Wesson had to make the decision whether to come with me or not.

I went up stairs to tell Frobisher what I had done to his Godson. I knocked and waited till I was called in.

`Francis! Come in. I was just thinking about you. Wesson tells me you are improving in all your training. He's finding it rather difficult now to get the best of you. How are the renovations coming on? I heard that work has already started. Sit down, sit down, you're looking a little peaked. Must tell Wesson to ease up and not bear down too heavily on you.' I looked at him wondering if that was one of his innuendoes.

`By the way you are talking, you know,' I said.

Yes,' he said, looking down at the blotter on his desk. Harry phoned me an hour ago. He said he's moving out.'

I didn't want him to,' I cried out. We had a fight, yes. But I didn't tell him to go.'

`I know Francis. He told me that he had found somebody else, Somebody that needed him more than you did. You were too strong for him. You have a strength that even I hadn't realised you had when I brought you two together. So it's partly my fault that it has ended this way, I'm sorry. Then just after I put the phone down from Harry, I get a call from Palmer. He's resigning from the service, but he will be staying on at the house for awhile. Do you know anything about this?'

`I'm afraid that's my fault. I didn't know that Harry was going to leave. I thought that if Harry was going to play around with too many different partners, that it would be me walking out. It was only last night, before we had the fight that I asked Palmer if I went, would he come and work for me. He said yes. I'm sorry.'

`It's been a morning of surprises. Through Ratsovski's papers, we've hooked another top spy. The Prime Minster phoned to tell me himself as soon as I had got to the office this morning. Then he asked me to take over my files about you. Those and all the things that have happened that involved you.'

What?' I said rising from my chair in alarm. Does he know who I really am?'

`No. I'm afraid Gervaise has got to surface. I've got to convince him that you, Gervaise, acts the part as Francis, my best undercover operative in the best disguise I've ever seen. That's the best I can do.'

`Shit!'

`Almost my words. I don't know exactly what he wants, but it must be something big or he would have left it till we had our weekly meeting. So be prepared for anything. If I summon you as Gervaise, that means a suit and if as Francis, then as you are.'

`You mean today sir?'

`Yes. I'm off now, so hang around somewhere so security can find you if you are to be summoned.'

`How long do think? Do I have time to go back to the flat for my suit?'

`I should think so.'

I took a taxi back to the flat and worried myself half to death wondering what the Prime Minster wanted my file for. Was I about to fall foul of the Homosexuality Law? Thoughts of Oscar Wilde came to mind. Prison! I had the taxi wait while I shot upstairs and packed a suit in a case and I got out my brooches and pinned them to my dress. I was going to down with all my flags flying if I came under heavy fire. My Legion of Honour medal was already on the suit that I'd packed. Back down to the taxi and off again to the Foreign Office.

I left my case with security and told them that a message may come in from Frobisher and I would be in the library. There I looked for and eventually found the wording of the Law in respect of a person such as myself. The way I read it, to be found guilty, it had to be proven beyond doubt and that would mean having a witness say that they had either witnessed the act or been part of it. I don't ever recollect to being seen doing it and I don't think Harry would condemn himself by being a witness, or anyone else I had been with. I'd returned the book to the shelf when a security man came in and found me.

Message from Mr Frobisher. He told me to say it exactly. Francis. Come with the aide.' Do you understand what he means?' the man asked.

Perfectly thank you,' I said as I went with him back to the front desk. Would you mind keeping the suitcase there till I come back?'

`No problem,' he replied. It was only a few minutes wait before a suited gentleman stopped and asked a question of the guard, who then pointed to me.

`Miss Francis Lyon?' the gentleman asked. Confirming this, he asked if I would follow him round the corner to Downing Street. With trembling knees and a thumping heart, I went along and into that famous short street where the Prime Minister lived. The black door with the brass number ten opened for us and we went inside. The man led me down a short passage and knocked at a large door and opened it and gestured for me to enter.

It was a long, fairly narrow room with this big long polished table surrounded by chairs. Half way down on the left hand side, opposite the windows, just rising from his chair was Mr. Clement Atlee, the Prime Minister of England etc, etc. On the other side of him was Frobisher, getting to his feet too.

I'd seen pictures of Mr. Atlee in the papers, but never in the flesh before. He was shorter than I expected and he looked at me over his small thin glasses that were perched on his nose. I took his outstretched hand and shook it.

`It's a pleasure to meet you, er, um, Francis. Take a seat, over there,' indicating the opposite side of the table. I went round one way and Frobisher went round the other. I stopped by the chair opposite Mr. Atlee and waited for Frobisher to pull it out for me.

`Just like a lady,' Mr. Atlee chuckled, waiting for me to sit down before he too sat down. Frobisher went back round the table and resumed his seat alongside the P.M.

I cannot believe it,' Atlee said turning to Frobisher after studying me, I cannot tell.'

`Neither did I the first time sir.'

`The, er, disguise, if you can call it that, is perfect. Even the walk, the poise, and that touch of waiting for you to pull out the chair was perfect. I would never have guessed. How many people know?'

`With you now sir, about five or six, in England. I'm not sure how many know abroad.'

`Less than a dozen sir,' I said, the first words I had spoken since entering the room.

Oh this is too much!' Atlee exclaimed. Even the voice sounds like a woman's. Have you, er, um, do you, er, you know, examined her credentials? Oh, excuse me,' he said with a titter, `that came out rather risqué, what?'

`Er, no sir. I...I've rather had to take it on trust sir.'

`Oh dear me, dear me. I can't decide myself,' Atlee mused. I could see him slightly shaking his head in disbelief, as a wicked thought came into my mind. This thought became a little voice that said make history.

You don't believe me,' I said, rising from my chair, it moving back a little, giving me some room before the table. The other two rose up automatically as I had stood. If you will not be offended, there's only one way to prove it.' I took the hem of my dress and slowly pulled it to reveal my stocking tops and thighs and eventually my penis and balls between my legs. I only held it up for a few seconds, but long enough for them to see that they were real and not false. I dropped my hem and sat down again.

Both men had gone bright red in the face and Atlee pulled a handkerchief from his pocket to wipe his suddenly perspiring forehead as he slumped back down onto his chair.

`Well, I've never seen that in the Cabinet Room before.' Frobisher glared at me as he sat down, his face still red.

Well that's certainly proved the point, and if I may say so, makes the disguise appear even better. I apologise for doubting you, er, Francis. Now er, let's get down to why you've been called here. It's not that I doubt Frobisher, I just wanted to see you for myself before, before, well you'll see in a minute. To cut it short, you've come to the attention of his Majesty the King.' My eyes flicked up to the portrait of King George the VI that was on the wall behind the Prime Minster as my heart gave a lurch. His Majesty had heard of the capture of another spy and asked me how we had managed it. I told him that the information came from papers obtained by one of Frobisher's agents, and he asked me the name. I gave him yours. Your full name, Francis Gervaise Lyon. He then said that that was most curious, as the name of the man who had prevented the assassination of the President of France recently, was almost identical. A Mr Gervaise Francis Lyon, who then received the Legion of Honour for the deed. Were the two related? When I could not confirm this, he told me to find out and let him know. That is why I sent for your file and those of your er, activities. Most interesting reading.' He picked up a piece of paper.

Saved the life of Prince Hassan al-Khoum in Aden,' he read out, and a new award was created for the act.'

`Er, the brooch of the Palm tree on her dress is a symbol of the award sir,' Frobisher interrupted.

Her!' he exclaimed, don't you mean his!'

`No sir, with due respect. When Francis is dressed as a lady, she is treated as one. Then one is unlikely to make a slip of the tongue at a later time that could prove fatal.'

`Hmm, I see your point. Sorry about that Francis,' and he smiled at me. I didn't think that stern pinched face could give out a smile as nice as that one.

`To continue. You broke up a Mafia family in Italy at the same time as delivering into our hands a ship load of arms that were destined for Ireland. Then as Gervaise Lyon, saved the President of France etc. Then came the providing of intelligence for Frobisher to get the documents of a Russian Army General in East Berlin. On that same mission you captured a Russian agent, the papers which he had been carrying leading up to the arrest of the two spies. Then just a short time ago, you intercepted monies from the Egyptian Army that was to buy Russian arms for use in Egypt against their King, and possibly us. Bringing in some much needed dollars for us to repay the War Loan. Very impressive over such a short time I must say,' he said, placing the paper back down.

`Excuse me sir. I didn't put in there the breaking up of one diamond smuggling operation in South Africa,' said Frobisher.

`You knew about that?' I blurted out.

Hah!' he exclaimed. I knew it! You have just confirmed that I was right.' He then went on to explain to the P.M. that with the death of a courier, the authorities were able to back track and break up a smuggling gang. It was just a matter of me being in the wrong place at the right time.

`Did they recover the smuggled gems?' Atlee asked.

`Unfortunately not sir. They disappeared,' and Frobisher gave me a grin, but I managed to keep a straight face. He wasn't going to get his hands on that money.

Well that's about it, I think. What His Majesty is going to say when he reads this, I cannot say. Well thank you both for coming, and it's been a pleasure seeing you...oh, I've done it again,' he blushed. I meant, it's been a pleasure meeting you Francis.' We'd been walking either side of the table towards the door and there we shook hands again. Frobisher had gathered up his papers and put them in a briefcase and he too shook Mr. Atlee's hand, and we both were shown out.

`Really Francis! What on earth made you do that in there! I've never been so embarrassed. The Prime Minister's face went bright red,' Frobisher said as we walked out of Downing Street.

So did yours,' I grinned. The look on both your faces made me want to laugh. Well, the old boy wasn't believing you or me and it was the only thing I could think of to prove who and what I am.'

`But in the Cabinet Room! It was indecent.'

Well it might have been, but he'll never doubt your words again,' I said with a laugh. I can't wait to see his memoirs when he retires.' But he never did mention it, but I bet he made some mention of it at a dinner party as an anecdote. We entered our building and he went over to the lifts and I collected my suitcase. I waited till he'd disappeared into a lift before leaving the building. I wasn't going to start working in the gym now, so I went back to the flat to find that Harry had been back and collected his things and moved out. This made me feel very depressed as I stood alone in the sitting room. I had to snap out of this mood, so I called Palmer and said that I was going to send the architect round for him to design his new living quarters. I think he was quite thrilled at this prospect and went off happily to fix me a light snack, as it was now well past lunch time.

I got through on the phone to the architect and he promised to visit, and found out that John, the younger Clement was on site. I told Palmer about the impending visitor and went down and out to find John. The men were systematically stripping each house and trucks were constantly moving back and forth as they moved down the road.

The house that I'd earmarked for myself had already been cleared of all the partitions and debris, so work could start at anytime. The intention had been to strip all of them first, but when I found John, I told him that I wanted as many men as possible to concentrate on getting my house done first. He estimated it would take about six weeks to be ready, but if I was willing to pay the overtime, it could be done in four. Four weeks it was then, though I wanted it there and then, I had to accept this time frame. We were just coming into August, so it would be sometime in September before I could move in.

I sat down to a lonely supper and had an equally lonely night in bed and cried in the darkness for Harry and Wesson alternately. I found it hard to keep my hands from touching Wesson except when we were in the gym. The trouble with that was I began to find myself getting into holds where we would fall so that I would have his full body weight on mine. I would look up into his eyes, using mine to plead my case as the sweat from his face would drop onto mine and mingle with my sweat to run down my neck.

The weekend was the worse, being on my own and I was nearly crawling up the wall on the Sunday night for the feel and touch of a man, both in and out of me. On Monday morning I fought Wesson fiercely before being borne down onto the mat, our bodies locked together.

I can't stand this any longer Wesson,' I said as we lay together panting. Please, I'm begging you. Make love to me tonight. I love you and I want you with me.'

`I want you too, can't you feel it?'

`Yes, and that's what's driving me mad. Please come home with me, I'm so lonely,' tears were starting to fall from my eyes to mix with the sweat.

`When?' was his question.

`Now. Let's go now.' He released his hold and rolled over to get up and then helped me up to my feet.

`Let's shower first,' he smiled. I wanted to take his hand as we left the gym for the showers, but you never knew who might be watching.

Nice place,' Wesson said as we entered the sitting room. Big. You could put my room in here twice.'

I know,' I said softly, the bedroom is just as big, come through.' He followed me into the bedroom and I closed the door. The bath-room is through there,' I pointed as I sat down on the bed. I felt as nervous as a kitten. I was trying to sell the place but didn't want to push him too hard. Do you like the place?'

`Yes, very much,' he said, coming and sitting down next to me. He put his arm round my slumped shoulders and gave me a squeeze. I turned my body and went into his arms and we kissed. We progressed on from there, till we were naked on the bed, kissing and fondling each other. I was burning up inside as I felt his hardness pressing against me, torturing me as I began to beg. I was almost slobbering over his erection as I mouthed him before fumbling the condom onto it. Then I was on my knees to receive him and felt an immense wave of heat pass right up my body as he entered me. I cried out with relief as he stretched and filled me. His heat fought mine as he surged in to begin to calm the ragged nerves within me. His hands holding me steady as he kept up a steady motion inside me. The piston style of his shaft in the smooth bore of me was like a balm as he rippled my inner lining. I was crying in happiness as he kept moving in and out, quelling the fire and I came in a massive surge as his balls kept hitting mine. I bent my head down to watch every spurt from the head of my cock as he began to move faster. My cock was bouncing about now, spraying drops of seed all over the bed cover, until I raised my head up high and gurgled out a tiny scream as he gave out a groan and rammed himself in tight. With quivering jerks of his body, I felt his penis swell even more as he spent himself inside me in short quick jerks.

`Oh my darling,' I sighed as he loosened his hold on me and let me ease us down to the bed. I kept my muscles clenched to hold him hard within me as his weight lay on my back, and I gently rocked, loving that hard piece of his flesh still there inside. I was now relaxed and happy and my heart was soaring high and singing that my man was now with me.

When he eventually pulled out, I cleaned him up as usual and then lay in his arms as we occasionally kissed and smiled at each other.

`I want to drain you of all your strength and then maybe I can beat you on the mats.'

`That'll be the day!' he chuckled.

`I will one day.'

`You mean the day I go into the gym in a wheelchair smacking my gums.'

You beast!' and I thumped his chest. I will one day,' I promised. We spent the afternoon bantering like this and I think I had given him enough rest to start to arouse him again. I slowly worked my way from his face down till I reached my goal and took him into my mouth. He groaned with pleasure, I hope that is what it was, as my mouth covered him, giving him the tongue and teeth till he cried out that enough was enough. He laughed and put on another condom and gave me a good fucking which pleased me.

I could see that the night was drawing in and I felt that he was getting restless, so it was time to ask the question.

Wesson? Will you stay the night with me? I feel so alone in this big flat on my own. Please stay with me tonight.' I was curled up to him and running my fingers through his chest hairs as I said this. Why not have a good bath and get this he man smell, the one that I adore, off, and we can have supper and then if you hold me in bed, maybe I'll get a good night's sleep at last.'

`I should really go back to my flat,' he said.

`Why? What has your flat got that this one hasn't? You haven't got to down the hall for a pee, it's just over there. You said yourself that this is twice the size of your room, besides, I'm here. Wesson please, I do really need you. I love you and you said you love me. Please, please stay with me. I told myself that I wasn't going to beg, but I am. I need a strong man to look after me.'

`Look after you! You must be joking. The girl who takes on three thugs in Rome and walks away without a scratch!'

`Wesson. I was scared shitless that night. I thanked you before I thanked God as I walked away. I had a young boy with me. Before we went out to Cairo I had to take him down a peg or two because he didn't believe in me. After, trying to unwind, these thugs appeared. What could I do? I closed my mind to everything but you. You! You were with me. You were watching over me and I felt strong. The boy, well he couldn't move. Then later, he apologised for the way he had acted when we first met. I was you and he was me! Do you see that? I had to be strong for him as I need you to be strong for me. I cried myself to sleep that night, as I have done for the last few nights. I need you as that boy needed me.' I buried my head in his chest and held him tight before I lifted my tear stained face up to his.

I once loved a man, Donald. I think you know,' and he nodded. That man was old enough to be my father. In some ways he was, but he was also my lover. Try as I might, even with him, I tried to be a man. But I told him eventually my true feelings that, though my body was that of a man, I was a woman. I tried, but I always kept coming back to that fact. I need a man to look after me, to protect and love me. Call it, or me, whatever name you like, I am a woman that craves the love of a man, in both the physical and mental sense of the word.'

I could do no more. I had bared my soul to this man in my arms and now I waited to see if he did love me. Would love, cherish and protect. He already said that he would rather have me with him in any conflict than anyone else. Would he do so when there wasn't any conflict, only that of love. He held me tight and rocked me in his arms.

I've been through a war,' his voice sounding thick on the emotion, and seen friends that I care for, drop. I felt a loss when we later buried them. I'm glad that I didn't love them as I do you. No one has ever said that they loved me and meant it the way you do. Nor ever needed me. Will our house be the same as this one?'

Oh my darling,' I cried as I moved up and kissed him, our tears mingling together on our cheeks. You can make it as you want my darling,' and I smothered him in kisses and cried whilst laughing. He too was doing the same as we rolled on the bed together in our joy at being together.

I rang Palmer when I had calmed down and asked if he would do supper for two. The answer was no to any oysters, but then I said I didn't think the new master would need them anyway. He laughed and said that he would leave the supper tray in the sitting room.

So Wesson stayed the night and after another bout of lovemaking, he asked a question that he said was bothering him.

`What will people say when we keep arriving together at the office in a taxi?'

`They'll be jealous, or would you be ashamed to have a beautiful person like me on your arm.'

`Ashamed? Of course not! Though there is many a man in the building who would liked to have taken you to bed.'

`Even if they saw that?' as I pointed to the erection I had between my legs. He laughed.

`Well, it might have put some of them off.' We laughed and hugged.

`What about Frobisher? Won't he have something to say?'

`Leave him to me. It's his fault anyway. He put us together.'

`But how many people know that you...you are, er, not what you appear to be?'

`In the building? Only Frobisher. But then, he did tell the Prime Minster, who will shortly be telling the King.'

His face was a picture as it dropped.

`The Prime Minister! The King! I'll be up in front of a firing squad.'

We had our supper as I told him of the meeting at number ten, Downing Street. He laughed out loud when I described the lifting of my dress in front of the Prime Minister. Then it was to bed and it was nice to go to sleep with the man I trusted most in the whole world.

Every day, we would go off and have our fights in the gym. Then to the shooting gallery where my marksmanship was steadily improving. With the world more or less at peace, except in Asia, where North Korea had invaded the Southern part of the country, we weren't called upon. In the afternoons, we would inspect the work being done on our house and the others and I soon had an interior decorator in for ideas. Palmer had a little friction with the man, so I took the designer to one side. I spoke to him as if he was one of the girls in the Paris or Hamburg clubs, and that he was to do as Palmer requested. Shocked at me knowing the argot, not realising that I was like him, but nowhere as blatant, he instantly did as he was told. The man would have kissed Palmer's arse if he had asked him to after our little talk.

`Miss Francis. You amaze me in everything you do. I have been arguing with that cretin for over an hour. You speak for two minutes and, voila! It's done.' He went away shaking his head as Wesson stifled his laugh and hugged me.

It's true! You do get what you want. But,' he wagged a finger at me, I think you made a bad choice here.'

`No I didn't Wesson, and you bloody well know it, you great hunk. I haven't made many mistakes, and I know you are not one of them.' I hugged his arm as we went on looking as our house slowly came together. I gave Palmer carte blanche in selecting the furnishings for his top floor flat, as well as to seeing about the basement flat. Below this flat I'd had the ground dug out to provide a deep cellar for my wines. Wesson was staggered when I gave Palmer ten thousand pounds to fit and stock it with wines, but it was worth it. Palmer knew his wines and he did a first class job. He also reminded me that it was approaching the birthday of little Francis, him being told of the prior event. So with the presents bought, he saw that they were despatched to Dorset in time for the event.

It took him a month of interviewing before he finally selected a couple to live in the basement flat as cook and housemaid. The husband did the cooking in the upstairs kitchen, supervised by Palmer, whilst the wife saw to the cleaning etc. One of the back rooms on the second floor was fitted out with wall to wall matting as a fighting gym. The item that pleased Palmer the most, was the lift that I had installed. The no running up and down of stairs pleased him enormously.

The furniture, some of which Wesson picked, though he acquiesced to my choice for most of it, was finally delivered and distributed about the house. I was very pleased with the result and upsetting John Clement somewhat, took the whole building crew to the nearest pub and stood drinks till the three o'clock closing time. I don't think he got much work out of them that afternoon, but two hundred American dollars pressed into his hand mollified him. I'd found a way of using up my dollars by leaving them as tips. Don't get me wrong, it wasn't as if I was throwing them away. Only where or whenever the service warranted a twenty five pound sterling tip or imbursement, I left a hundred dollar bill. Let them have the problem of changing it I thought.

But the house itself was magnificent. It's very deceptive from the outside, having just two windows either side of the large front door which is up a few steps. In the hall and off to the left was a large dining room and on the right was a reception or drawing room. The staircase too was on this side and down by the side of the staircase was a passage way that led to the kitchen, placed behind the dining room. Opposite the kitchen was another room that served as an informal lounge that led out into the, I must admit, not very large garden, though tastefully laid out. Patio, seats, etc. Between the dining room and kitchen the lift had been installed that serviced all four floors, including the basement and wine cellar.

The whole first floor was Wesson's and my rooms. Lounge to the front and the bedroom to the back with private bathroom and the necessaries. In between was the lift and a small kitchen come pantry so that if we just wanted coffee or a small snack we could help ourselves instead of disturbing Palmer. On the second floor and above our bedroom was our gym. Most of it padded but other items of equipment were added later. A large shower, big enough to accommodate four people at a time was above our pantry and the front half was divided into two en suite bedrooms.

The third floor was made up of four bedrooms, all with their own bathroom and toilet. The top and last floor was Palmer's. The ceilings were lower, but that was of no consequence to him. It was laid out as he wanted and he was more than satisfied. The basement was a self contained flat for the couple that assisted Palmer in the running and well being of the house.

It had eventually got round the office building where we ostensibly worked, that Wesson and I were co-habiting and he kept getting jibes as to when we were going to get married. He was sometimes cursed for taking the most prettiest female out of circulation, which we laughed about later. Smith gave in graciously at Wesson winning me as it were. I think it was a thorn in the side to Frobisher, but he accepted it with good grace, but I was still warned that I was not to hurt Wesson or impair his abilities that were highly valued in the department.

Then with us having moved in and established ourselves, we had a house warming party. That was something that was talked about for some time to come. Extra staff was employed for the evening and I even managed to get Palmer to don evening dress, even though he was only doing the supervising. I had bought an exquisite gown for the occasion and also made Wesson get dressed up.

Frobisher was of course at the top of the guest list and I think he almost refused until he heard who had accepted the invitations. A prince of Kuwait on behalf of his country, accepted to the party for a gallant woman that had had their first decoration ever awarded, the Order of the Desert Flower. The sash I wore that night over my gown.

The Italian Ambassador to this country, no doubt prodded by the Leopardi family. The French Ambassador in honour of my illustrious brother who was a holder of the Legion of Honour, which I wore on his behalf. I apologised to him that Gervaise was unable to attend because of a previous engagement. I laid my finger alongside my nose and he understood that it was of a most secret nature.

The Prime Minster saw fit to send, as well as Frobisher, the Foreign Secretary on his behalf. There were over forty notable persons there at our party and we had a special section of police outside to control the cars as well the security people to look after their own countrymen that were attending. A pleasurable surprise was when Kim and Wang Chen turned up. I had sent an invitation to Lee Chen on the off chance, but I was satisfied that he saw fit to send his two sons on his behalf.

Wesson was by my side as each and every guest arrived to be greeted by us both, welcoming them to our little gathering. I couldn't help but be amused when Kim and Wang arrived. We three bowed three times to each other before speaking. I noticed also, that Frobisher came over to hear what was said, but there was nothing I could do about that.

`Honourable greetings to our sister. It is with regret that our Honourable Father cannot be here and sends his unworthy sons in his place. It is age, he says that prevents him from being here at this time of your joy and begs you to forgive him for this lapse which he fears may lower him in your eyes.' They then both bowed again to which I responded. I could see other people watching us, none more so than Frobisher.

`I am sad that the Honourable father could not come here this night. But I am most delighted in the fact that he has praised me beyond belief that he should give you both the honour of taking his place to visit this, my humble abode. Please tell the Honourable Father when next you see him that he has filled my cup to overflowing, that he, in his wisdom, deemed me worthy enough to honour me by sending such fine and worthy sons of such a great father in his stead.'

Thank you Honourable sister,' said Wang this time, we are proud to be here and will pass on all that you say. We are also proud to be your brothers in the House of Chen.' He bowed low first and then with his finger touched my Chinese brooch. Kim did the same, bowed and lightly touched the brooch before retiring into the crowd.

`What was that about?' Wesson whispered to me.

`Tell you later,' I said as the last of the guests arrived. I then circulated and made a point of speaking to each and every guest and made sure that they were at ease and had access to the food and the drinks that were constantly circulating. Everyone seemed at ease in this cosmopolitan mix of people. I even saw the Kuwaiti prince knock back a few martinis.

After about three hours, not bad really, that some of them started to drift out, and the drinking began getting faster as the others knew that it was nearly time to go. They were leaving slower than they had come in, which was a good sign. I can't remember the order that they went out in, but it really dwindled down and those that were there at the end, saw that they were being out of order by almost being the last, soon departed. The only one who hadn't taken the hint was Frobisher.

When the last guest had departed, he took a glass from the serving man and sat down and waited till the man was out of earshot before speaking.

`Francis, I take my hat off to you. What, a year, two years ago, you were singing in a trio on a ship. Now you have ambassadors and a prince beating a path to your door. It's, it's so amazing that I'm almost lost for words.'

`Almost?' I couldn't help saying.

`Don't be flippant. I wasn't going to come, but I was virtually told I had to by the Prime Minister himself.'

Then don't let Wesson and I stop you from leaving,' I said coldly, putting my arm through that of Wesson's who was standing beside me. I invited you out of courtesy, and if all you can do is to insult Wesson and myself and...'

Francis, he said, rising rapidly from his seat, interrupting me, which I'm glad he did, because I was just about to say things that I would never have been able to retract. `I'm sorry. I spoke well out of turn. To you too Wesson. I most profoundly and humbly apologise. I...I'm not good at this, look, please sit down.' He beckoned over a man that was still hovering with a tray of drinks whilst the others were clearing up. He drank his down and took another glass, and Wesson and I also took one and sat down opposite him.

`I've never really had to apologise in all my life, so it's difficult for me to do so. I've always led from the front and had people jump when I shouted jump. You didn't. You might have hopped, but you didn't jump. I thought I could control you when you went off at a tangent by bringing you back from ruining your life. I brought back, but to control, no.' He paused and took a sip of his drink.

`I watched you tonight with the two Chinese men, and of what I know of the Chinese, they held you in the utmost of esteem. A thing I've never seen before, and they called you their sister. Now that I found strange, though I know you had connections over in Hong Kong to do what you did in Cairo. But it was the way they talked to you, you were their superior! Maybe in time you will tell me, but it wasn't only that. It's Wesson.'

`What?' Wesson said in surprise, but Frobisher waved his hand so that Wesson would listen to what he had to say.

`I've always thought of him as the son I never had.'

The bastard's pissed, I thought. His getting maudlin in his drink, but neither of us stopped him from continuing. `Then you come along and take him away.'

That's not fair,' I cried out. You've not lost a son, but gained a daughter! Haven't you looked at it that way? I think you're drunk and should go home before you say more than you should. We care for you. If you say go and do this, we'll be off like a shot. We're training hard every bloody day waiting for the cry, "Let slip the dogs of war," Otherwise why would I be here?'

`Hear me out Francis. I haven't finished yet. I love you both in my own way and, though I can't condone the relationship you are in, I can understand it. I've seen it in the war. Brotherly love and all that, turning into more than just being brotherly. But there has loomed another cloud on the horizon that you are about to be told of.

After that meeting with the Prime Minister, he did as he was told and went to His Majesty. The King, after talking to his advisers, has seen fit to make me a Knight Commander of the Bath.'

Well congratulations,' both Wesson and I echoed, it's about time your services were recognised sir,' Wesson added.

`Thank you, both of you, but! It is this but, that is the cloud. The King has also seen fit that Gervaise Francis Lyon be knighted.'

That was the cloud that shut us all up into a stunned silence.

Well now that I've dropped that bombshell,' Frobisher said, breaking that long silence, I'll take my leave.' He got unsteadily to his feet and straightened himself. `Lovely party Francis, Wesson. I'll see you tomorrow. Goodnight.' Then he walked rather stiffly to the door and left.

So many thoughts had flooded my brain that it went blank because it couldn't cope with all those questions and queries that his stunning announcement had made.

That must have been a shock to him, because I've never seen him in that state before. Well congratulations Francis,' Wesson said, giving me a hug. Sir Francis!'

Gervaise,' I said absently, correcting him. Oh fucking bloody hell!' I shouted, getting up from the chair. `As if my life isn't complicated enough without this!' Wesson had hurriedly risen too and took my arm, a look of concern on his face.

`Let's go upstairs and get a decent drink and think about this,' I said. So we went up to our rooms and left Palmer to see to the clearing up of the debris from the party. I went straight to the drinks cabinet and poured myself a large gin and tonic and Wesson made himself a small one. I sat down on the settee and looked around the room as if seeing it for the first time.

How would this affect me? Would I lose all this and Wesson? No I chided myself. I'd only just got this and him and I was not going to give either up. I'm Francis Gervaise Lyon. It was my brother that was being knighted, let him have the problem. Shut up, my little voice said in my head. You're sounding as if your brother actually existed. You only make him appear when you want to, so he can disappear too. `That's right!'

`Pardon?' said Wesson.

`Sorry. I was talking to myself. I was making mountains out of molehills. I was going to refuse it, but I've changed my mind. It'll make no difference to us. But it will to Diane and little Francis. I shall have to go down to Dorset and tell her. You'll come with me?'

`I don't think so. You are after all married to her. I'll be an embarrassment.'

`No you won't!' I cried.

I will be to myself. No you break the news to her, but,' he took my hand, you will come back to me?'

Of course I will my darling,' I said, stroking his cheek and strong jaw. I am only going because I have to, but I will most definitely be coming back. But the thought of all this frightens me. Take me to bed and hold me Wesson, please?'

We went to bed, and for the first time, he kissed the head of my erection before making love to me. I would have loved it if he had sucked it so that I could suck his at the same time, but it would happen in time I thought as I gave myself up to the pleasure of having him inside me.

Next morning, we went into Frobisher's office.

`I want to apologise for my crass and juvenile behaviour last night in your home,' he said.

Apology accepted,' I replied. Er, when is the execution due to take place?' I enquired.

`It's to be a private investiture, or as private as they can make it for the two of us. The date given is the sixth of November.'

`The day after my birthday!'

`Yes. Right. Down to business. You know that there is now a war in Korea with the North invading the South. We have learned, not officially, that the Americans will be going in to support the South sometime next month. It appears that we will then be following them shortly afterwards. Now we, in this department, steer clear of wars. We might start them, but we definitely stay out of them.

That means that our young men will be going to this war. Most of them are National Service men who've probably only fired their guns once. The War Office has stepped up their training programs accordingly. Now a certain Colonel at a training camp has asked for more instructors, not just asked, mind you, but was specific. He wanted you two. This went through all the channels and onto the P.M.'s desk, and he has told me to comply with this request.'

Wesson and I looked at each other. He grinned, I didn't.

`This has made life very difficult, because you are known to be a female, and that is how you must go Francis. It's going to be very hard because I know for a fact that men don't like being taught anything by a woman. Especially in the Army! It's going to be very tough.' I could see that Wesson was trying to speak and I knew it would be to protest, but I punched him on the leg to keep quiet and let Frobisher finish.

`Though you are a civilian, you will be given the acting rank of a Captain. You too Wesson.' He held up his hand towards Wesson.' I know what you are going to say about officer's, but this is to ensure that you can have some privacy in your sleeping arrangements and dine in the officers' mess. You have to have the rank because there will also be officer's that need to be taught some of your skills. You were specifically asked for because of the way you both handled yourselves at the combat zone, and the Colonel wants you to knock some of your skill into the raw recruits.'

`Do I have to wear military uniform sir?' I asked.

Dress is optional,' and he chuckled at his little joke. You leave in ten days time and report to the Colonel and will be under his command.'

`For how long sir?' Wesson asked.

`For as long as it takes. Or I have need of your services. That's it then. Take Francis away now and show her how to salute.' I heard him chuckle as we left the room. The bastard was paying us back I thought, and said as much to Wesson when we were outside. He didn't think so, but I was pretty damn sure he was.

We went down for an hour's tumbling around on the mats. We'd gone through nearly every weapon that can be handled in hand to hand fighting. The hardest was the sword because of the length. Distance had to be kept at all times, but then the response had to be very fast when the opportunity came to get on the inside of the weapon. The most painful was to tackle the wielding of a bicycle chain. It was mostly swung from shoulder height and you had to catch it before the man's arm came past his body when the force was being increased by his forward motion. Also to then try and catch the very end and twist your wrist to take a turn of it round your hand and ride back with his movement. This way you took the sting out of the blow and could then wrench it from his hand. I had many painful blows to the knuckles doing this. But I don't think we would be using chains at our training sessions.

After our shower, we dressed and went to see a friend of Wesson's at the War Office and he showed us some training manuals. He briefly sketched in for us what we should and shouldn't do and even lent me some books to study. On the way home, I cogitated on the mode of attire I should be using, and decided that I needed a little help here.

I told Wesson that we were going out for dinner that evening, so he'd better look smart. After my shower, I sat down and carefully did my make-up for the Eurasian look and put on one of my new cheongsams that Wen Chi had given me. Then with my black wig and my gold Chen brooch on, we went into what is now called China Town in the heart of London for dinner.

We were welcomed into a small and pleasant Chinese restaurant and the owner was called when the brooch was noticed. After such pleasantries that a member of the House of Chen should honour his humble establishment etc, etc. we were seated. The meal was excellent and Wesson really enjoyed himself. When we'd finished, I asked the owner if it were permissible to speak to his wife for a talk of woman's matters.

I went to a small unlaid table and there spoke with a small woman who was his wife. I told her what I wanted and if she could help me, and I took my thong out of my bag. I had put on a tight pair of pants in place of the thong for this visit. I wanted one made like this, but with a hard exterior, but it had to be of the same size and even have the small indentation at the front.

Also I said that I wanted one for Wesson, though his would have to be larger. She giggled at this and said that one of her daughter's could make them for us. Mine could be copied, but, she giggled again, your man will have to be measured. When, I asked her? We have a private room in the back and the daughter was there, now would be the best time. I thanked her and went back to join the owner and Wesson. After a few minutes, I excused us and took Wesson into this room where a young Chinese girl waited with a bowl that contained a white mixture.

When I told him what we wanted to do, he objected most strongly. The girl was amused at our argument, especially when I said that I didn't want a man with a broken or bent cock and a missing ball. It took me fifteen minutes before I was able to get his trousers off and hold up his shirt, while red faced, the young girl started. First she washed his cock and balls and then, making him stand with his legs slightly apart, applied a cream all over and under him. Then she took a handful of this mixture and coated his cock and balls with the stuff. Five minutes enough she said, so he stood there for that time most embarrassed till the mixture hardened. Then the girl gently eased it off having a nice impression of his parts inside the hard shell. She let me wash the cream off him and he quickly stopped me from doing too much because I was starting to arouse him. He quickly dropped his shirt and put his trousers back on. They would be ready in three days time, they told me.

As I expected, they refused to offer me the bill, so as was my habit, I called out a small child and put two of my one hundred dollar bills in her hand and then thanked them all, going over the well worn litany of thanks.

Wesson berated me on the way home for humiliating him like that, but I let it wash over me and told him that it was for his own good that he had some protection. He wouldn't come with me when I went to collect the jock straps, and they were more than happy when I gave them four hundred American dollars for the pair. The girl had done a good job, the insides being soft and comfortable and yet hard on the outside. When I put mine on and then donned a swim suit, you still couldn't tell that I was a man, except for the lack of tits. I also had a special bra made with a thicker than usual strap that held me tight and was expandable for breathing, but unable to break.

With Wesson's box, it was indiscernible, like mine, even when he wore shorts. After a few sessions wearing it, he admitted that he was comfortable with it on, and when I kicked him hard between the legs, said that he was glad that he'd been wearing it.

Then we had lessons for me in saluting. I wasn't parade ground perfect, but adequate enough for the field, and so the time crept on. I eventually got around to getting dressed in a suit and made my way down to Dorset. Wesson wouldn't come, so I was alone when I knocked at the door to Diane's house.

Francis,' she cried with delight and flung her arms round me and kissed me before dragging me into the house. There on a blanket in the middle of the lounge was little Francis sitting and playing with some toys. He smiled up at Diane but looked curiously at me. Here's your daddy come to see you,' she said, picking him up and held him for me to see face to face. It was strange to hear that word daddy being applied to me. `Isn't he a handsome little boy?' she said, brushing a blonde lock of hair from his eye. I stroked his cheek and felt a tear in my eye.

`You sure are a handsome little thing,' I said to the solemn face.

`You will stay for dinner?'

`Yes if I may.'

`Then you can help me feed Francis his supper while I fix ours,' she said. This I gladly did, and got food splashed over my suit for the effort. But at least he let me feed him and watched as he had his bath before being put down for the night.

`At least he sleeps through now, right to morning. That is bliss. How are things with you and Harry?' she then asked.

`We've parted.'

`Oh, I'm sorry to hear that. Are you alone now?'

`No. I'm with somebody who is much stronger and can cope with me better than Harry could.'

I'm glad for you,' she said as we sat down on the settee with a drink each after a lovely dinner. Are you going back tonight?'

`I should really,' I said.

Please stay the night,' she said softly, looking down into her glass. I too sometimes need what you need. Please Francis.' I couldn't say no when I hadn't even told her the news yet.

`If you are sure,' I said.

`That's settled then,' she said, snuggling up to me and then seemed to notice that I was in a suit and asked me why.

`Well I seem to have the knack of making simple things complicated. I now have to be two people. When in a dress, I am Francis. In a suit I have to be Gervaise. You'll have to get used to calling me that when I'm dressed like this. I know that we are living apart even though we are married, but there are going to be times when we have to be together. Like in November.'

`November? I don't understand.'

`In November, the sixth to be precise, you'll be meeting the King. And the Queen,' I added.

`The King and Queen! What in heaven's name for?'

`For you to become Lady Diane Lyon. I'm to be knighted.'

Oh my goodness gracious me!' she exclaimed with her hand to her mouth, her eyes wide and round as saucers. You're not really serious, are you?'

I'm afraid I am. Oh it's caused me an awful lot of bother I can tell you.' I had her rocking with laughter at the telling of me exposing myself to the Prime Minister as I told her parts of the story. They couldn't really make me a Dame, could they,' and we both had to hold each as we laughed, and she made me feel much better about the whole thing. We went to bed and she told me that I was the only person to share that bed as we made love together. It was nice to get my rocks off is all I can say.

Over breakfast, I told her all that we should do when the time came. Hotel in London for the weekend and all that. I gave her several hundred pounds to get her and Francis kitted out for the occasion before we kissed goodbye.

Our meeting had gone off better than I thought it would, I mused on the train back to London, and that little Francis really was growing and looked well. I was glad to get back to our house and take that suit off and go to bed for Wesson to see to my needs as I had seen to Diane's.

I met with John Clement and told him that I would be away for some time, and that he would have to deal with any problems if they should crop up. I think he was happy that I would be out of the way. I also told Palmer that we would off for a while, but might be able to pop back now and then without warning, so always to have something handy for us if we did.

Then Wesson and I were off to the northern part of the Salisbury plain and the training ground. I had opted to stay dressed as a female and I think it was with genuine delight that the Colonel greeted us on our arrival. We were introduced to the other officers in the mess as Captain's Wesson and Lyon.

`You may be wondering why Captain Lyon is in civilian clothes. She has quite rightly pointed out that if or when our lads are sent out to battle in Korea, they are not going to meet many female officers of the other side. They are more likely to meet civilian women who can be just as dangerous as an armed soldier. Having seen some of the end products of her time when she was here, the men are going to be in for a rude shock.' With that out of the way, we had dinner. Then Wesson and I went to the hut we'd been allocated for sleeping, just the two of us. We got undressed for bed, though I kept my bra on and my strengthened thong handy. With the lights out, kissed Wesson goodnight and we got into our separate beds.

`Better make it a good night's sleep Francis, because tomorrow is going to be the hardest day of your life, believe me.'

Breakfast was at six, so we were up at five thirty and got dressed. With my fixed bra on, I put on my box, telling Wesson to put his on too. When he asked why, I just said that he would find out later. I then donned a pair of panties that I'd sewn a double elastic waistband to so they wouldn't slip. Then my dress and a pair of supple low heeled shoes with straps so they too wouldn't slip off. No stockings or belt, but I did put just a hint of make-up on.

There were about sixty men out on parade and were called to attention as the officers arranged themselves behind the Colonel. I noticed that some of the officers were in uniform while some were in battle dress. I stood out, as I was the only one wearing a dress. At a signal from the Colonel, the order to stand at ease was shouted and the men adopted that pose and I could see that many, or I should say all of them looked at me instead of at the Colonel. He then gave a short speech about why they were here and what was expected of them blah, blah, blah. Then they were called to attention again and dismissed to be formed up into twelve man squads. This would be reduced later to six men squads when the training got more intensive.

In the mess at breakfast we had seen the roster board and saw that we, Wesson and I, had Charlie squad as our first one. There was a sergeant in charge of each squad and they were marched out to their various locations to begin training. With them gone, the Colonel gave us all a short little pep talk and then we were off to find our squad. The sergeant called them to attention and turned and saluted us as we came up to him. Wesson returned the salute to indicate that he was the senior of us two.

Stand them easy sergeant,' said Wesson, and when they we at ease, he spoke to them. I am Captain Wesson and this is Captain Lyon,' all eyes looking at me. You may have noticed that Captain Lyon is a woman in a dress.' There were a few titters from the men. But don't let it fool you. She can be more dangerous than a man with a loaded gun can. Okay Captain,' Wesson said to me, `take over please.' Wesson then beckoned the sergeant to one side and briefly spoke to him, and I think it was to tell him not to interfere in whatever might happen.

Okay. There are only two rules here with me and they are that you don't try to fondle my tits or make a grab for my fanny.' This caused a lot of whispering, Because the first thing I will do is to break that hand just before I break his fucking neck. Do I make myself clear?' There was a chorus of yes's, but one voice I heard say they might be small, but I'll grab them.

`You!' I shouted out, pointing to the big man that had spoken.

There was the usual shuffle of feet and heads to see who I was pointing at.

Yes you. The big pile of shit with the big mouth. Come here. On the fucking double!' The others parted to let him through and he came swaggering up towards me and just before he stopped walking, I hit him with all my strength and he went down as if pole axed. When I say on the double,' I shouted at the others, I mean on the double, and that is as close as he will ever get to touching my tits be they big or small. Leave him alone!' I shouted as a couple of men started to move forward. He stays there until can learn to be a man.'

I turned and walked to Wesson and I think he guessed what was coming. I lashed out with my foot right between his legs. I heard the men behind me gasp as Wesson staggered back a little as he half bent before standing up straight again. I turned back to the men. Now that is a man! When you can take that I will call you men, but at this moment, you are still boys. You will die as boys if you do not listen and believe what we are going to try and teach you. Now who wants to be next to touch my tits?' No one moved and they were all silent and I could see wariness in their eyes now. Don't be shy. I might even kiss the one who can. Don't worry,' I said over their titters, you won't make it. You!' pointing at the nearest man. Attack me. Use hands, fists or feet, whatever.'

He looked sheepish at being chosen to go first and it was with great hesitancy. I think my two demonstrations had been over the top. He was pathetic and it was easy just to push him over.

Maybe you should be wearing the dress,' I said as I kicked him in the rear. Go back with the herd. Captain! Would you oblige me to show these crawling vermin exactly what I want of them?'

Wesson grinned and handed his cap to the sergeant and came and squared off to me. We feinted and lunged at each other as we had done many times, fending off arms and legs as we fought for a hold and then he let me get a grip and I was able to throw him.

Thank you Captain,' I panted as he got up from the ground and dusted himself down. That is what we are here to teach you. So pair off and see if can knock the shit out of each other. Sergeant!'

`Yes sir, er, ma'am,' he said, coming to attention.

`Pair off with the last man.'

`Me sir? Er, ma'am?'

`Yes. You're not exempt. If you don't want to do it, knock him out like this one. Then the problems solved. To it man!' and he doubled over to pair off.

`Well? How did I do?' I asked in a low voice when I got to Wesson.

`Brilliantly. They'll be talking about that for a long time. I'm glad you told me to wear the box. I felt it, but no damage done. It was a good idea too.'

`Okay, shall we go in and try and make something of them.'

Right,' he grinned, what about him?' pointing to the prone soldier.

`Oh he'll come round in a minute and then he can take the sergeant's place. I think I've shocked him too.' We both laughed and went and started to do our job.

I was exhausted when we called a halt at five o'clock that afternoon, but at least they'd got the rudiments and were making falls. The men were dismissed and we went to our hut and collected our towels. The officer's showers were like the men's, communal, but we set a pattern where I would go in first on my own and Wesson waited outside so that no one else could enter till I'd finished. It was all right for him to mix, but I couldn't. It worked and the other officer's knew that while Wesson was outside, there was no point in them going over till he had moved.

In the mess at dinner, the Colonel sat at the head of the table, and seating was normally by rank down the length, but because I was a woman, I was to sit on his left hand opposite his adjutant. Wesson sat next to me, and it was in order of rank from there.

I hear you have had a very good first day,' the Colonel said as we sat down. A first rate job the sergeant said.'

`I thought he might have been a little disgruntled by being detailed off to make up the numbers.' It had only been for about ten minutes before the fallen man had recovered and been put back into the program.

He was, but after the little exhibition, he wasn't prepared to face you and argue the toss,' he laughed. I wish I'd seen it myself.'

We were both too tired to do anything Wesson and I, when we got ready for bed. In the dark, we just had a short kiss and cuddle before falling into a deep sleep. It was a week before we were both fit enough to make love and that was a short sharp fuck at that. Also at the end of the week, the men were getting the hang of unarmed combat which made it less tiring for us too.

Though Sunday was supposed to be a day of rest, we still spent some time in a classroom with charts to point out some of the finer aspects of unarmed combat to those who were interested enough to show up.

On the Monday we had another group, but no one spoke out of turn, much to my disappointment. I couldn't even provoke them into it, such had the word gone round.

To be continued.