I Will Never Forgive You Ch. 11

Beverly pulled up to the restaurant, trying to ignore how... Rustic it was. A downright historical piece of Americana, she would say if anybody asked her. Not that anybody would, seeing how her social circle was rather limited as of late.

She looked again.

It was a run down, forgotten, side of the road piece of trash. The large neon sign promised pancakes, but she somehow doubted their quality. A massive red eighteen wheeler truck was parked behind the place, putting the cherry on top of the evening. It was an amazing place to be serial-killed in.

She pulled her phone out of her purse and scrolled through the contact list. Not many friendly names remained. One in particular stood out. She looked at the restaurant again and made a decision.

The phone rang for a long time, long enough for Beverly to decide that Gloria would not pick up. It would not be the first time. Beverly was about to hang up when the line opened suddenly. Too late she found that she did not know what to say.

Gloria remained silent as well.

Beverly gathered whatever courage she had left and spoke. "Good evening Gloria... How- How are you?"

"I really can't speak right now... I am sorry."

"You have always been a terrible liar, dear." Beverly said, before she realised the implication. She wanted to smash her head into the steering wheel, but that would only make this conversation more painful.

"Yes... Well..." Gloria mumbled, clearly hurt. "I suppose that's true..."

"Oh... I am sorry. I don't know-" Beverly took a deep breath. "I am calling to... To ask if you still... Are you still working things out with your- your husband?"

"Yes."

"Good... Good... And how is that-"

"I don't think we should be talking..." Gloria cut her off. Sadness made her bold. "I am sorry- I am really sorry, but I can't-"

Beverly considered protecting her pride, before she remembered she had none left. "I don't really have anybody else to talk to." And apparently she was not above begging. "I just- Could we just get together for tea? Out of town."

The line went silent. For a moment Beverly was certain that Gloria hung up, but then the woman spoke. "Oh Beverly..." She sighed. "I- I can't... But... But I have a minute now. What- How are you? What are you doing?"

Beverly eyed the restaurant again. Talking about her evening plans would be a sure way to send Gloria running. "Absolutely nothing... But never you mind me... How are you?"

Gloria scoffed into the phone. "Robert is being obtuse... He still refuses to go to couple's therapy. He wants to flush twenty years together down the drain because-" The woman's voice cracked. "Because of a mistake."

"Therapy? I thought..." Beverly felt lost. "Last time we spoke... You mentioned him wanting a divorce... Him not following through must mean-"

Gloria cleared her throat. "Oh? That? Yes- well... That did happen. The divorce..." She trailed off for a moment. "He... Needs more time. I am giving him time."

Beverly had a distinct feeling of stepping out into a minefield. "That's... Wise."

"He will come around," Gloria said firmly.

"I am sure he will."

The silence that stretched between them felt vast. Beverly could not stand it. "So... About the tea-"

"I can't. I am sorry, but I can't. I can't risk it. I am sorry." Gloria said too quickly. "I have to go... I wish you well Beverly, but- I have to go."

Then nothing. Gloria hung up on her.

Well that was that as far as friends went.

Beverly stayed in her car for a long time, trying to talk herself out of what she was about to do. Then, when she found that she could not she grabbed her purse and stepped out into the snow. It was the middle of February and winter kept a tight hold over the state.

Beverly put on a smile as she walked into the restaurant. Then, after a moment, she decided against it. Beverly Carpenter did not have to smile anymore.

Inside of the place was proof that the book could, indeed, be judged by its cover. A handful of tired looking people sat in 1960s styled booths and ate their, actually rather nice looking meals. The smells coming from the kitchen made Beverly relax, the warmth made her feel human.

She ordered water and stood by the counter. The woman working behind it gave her an odd look. A man in the corner glanced at her over his phone. Beverly felt a spike of anxiety. Did they recognise her? It's been almost two months since anybody had, the news cycle having mercifully moved on, but still...

No, they were just surprised to see a lady dressed like her in a place like this. Beverly managed to relax as she continued watching other patrons until she found who she was looking for. The woman was sitting in a booth in the far corner.

She was older than Beverly, but not enough for it to be an issue. Long brown hair, with a streaking on silver beginning at the temples, tied in a messy ponytail under a trucker cap. She looked strong. Sturdy. Like a woman who spent her life working hard; her body thick with muscle and a pleasant layer of fat. A body built by hard work, not made in the gym like Ste-

Beverly focused on breathing through her mouth as she made herself stop that train of thought. Nothing good waited at the end. Instead she looked the woman over again. She had a wonderful figure, as far as Beverly was concerned. With ample breasts stretching a white tank top under an open flannel shirt. And God, her thighs were massive!

A trickle of desire made Beverly push off of the counter and walk towards the woman. It's been a while since she'd felt it... In the months since her forcible outing, she did not really have sex on her mind. But now, something was waking up and Beverly was tired of feeling bad.

She wanted to feel good.

"Uh... Hello?" The woman asked, looking up at Beverly with no small amount of confusion and... A small trickle of hope. "Can I help you?"

"I hope so..." Beverly said. "Are you... BigRoller78?"

The woman's eyes almost bulged out of her skull as she looked Beverly over again. Then she nodded. "Yeah. That I am... So... You're..."

"AToxicLittleThing... Nice to meet you," Beverly said as she slid into the booth opposite the woman. "But... You can call me Stephanie."

"Jolene..." The woman said, then blew out a long breath. "Damn Stephanie... You're definitely not just some guy fucking around, huh."

Beverly raised her eyebrow. Jolene laughed and waved her hands around in embarrassment. "You never sent me your picture so I was half sure you were catfishing me. You know?" She grew a bit more serious, a slight wry smile on her lips. "You know the things you wrote... I thought... Too good to be true, right?"

The things she wrote... Beverly felt the beginning of a blush. A month ago, driven by a combination of loneliness, unfulfilled lust and fear of public exposure, she began chatting with strangers on an anonymous online forum for... Enthusiasts of certain kinds of sexual play.

After a monumental string of awkward duds and men pretending to be women, she finally found somebody she could talk to comfortably in BigRoller78. At first their conversations were surprisingly chaste, just chatting about their everyday lives, but it did not take very long for them to write things to each other that Beverly could hardly even read in the light of day.

Jolene was not shy about sharing photos of herself, to Beverly's great delight... But she'd never sent one back.

"Well... Here I am," she said. "In the flesh..."

Jolene gave her a brilliant smile that made Beverly's heart beat faster. God, the woman was charming... Still, she felt frozen in place. She fought the urge to look around, make sure nobody was watching them, nobody was recording-

"So! Seeing that you're not catfishing me..." Jolene began, either ignoring or not seeing Beverly's distress. "It's nice to meet you."

She stuck out her hand, for Beverly to shake. Beverly almost did not take it, the idea of contact with this woman was suddenly too intense. Last time another woman touched her- she grit her teeth and grabbed Jolene's hand. It was warm and soft, with a promise of strength underneath.

"It really is nice to meet you Jolene... I..."

When Beverly failed to finish her sentence, Jolene leaned in. "Having a tough time? You never wanted to talk about any personal stuff but... I gathered that."

Beverly nodded and let go of the woman's hand.

"I'm all ears if-"

"No... Online, you said that you had a... Bed around here?"

Jolene blinked so hard Beverly could almost hear it. "Uh- yeah, but. Don't you want to talk?"

It was Beverly's turn to lean in. She let her coat slide apart just enough to show the deep cut of her cleavage. Jolene's eyes homed in on the exposed flesh before she swallowed hard. Beverly let some heat seep into her voice as she spoke.

"Maybe afterwards... We could talk. I don't feel like talking right now..."

Jolene swallowed again and nodded. She stood and offered Beverly her hand to help her up. The gesture was so old-fashioned Beverly's heart melted a little bit.

"So... Where to?" She asked Jolene as they walked out of the diner.

The woman chuckled with embarrassment as she pulled on her coat. "Well... Look... If I knew you were such a- a fancy lady I'd book a hotel but... Well..."

She led Beverly behind the restaurant and pointed at the large red truck. "My home away from home..." Then, seeing the expression on Beverly's face she added quickly. "It's pretty spacious inside."

Beverly closed her eyes and nearly fell over from the sheer god-damned idea of Beverly Carpenter getting fucked by a stranger inside of an eighteen wheeler parked outside of a diner.

She absolutely loved it.

"Lead the way."

It was, indeed, quite spacious inside. Beverly had never been inside of a truck like this, nor had she ever even wondered about the interior, but it was not what she expected. Once they climbed the ridiculously steep steps and shimmied past the driving area, she was welcomed to... A room.

There was a room in the truck. Who knew? It was not large, maybe three paces across, if you were Beverly's size that was, but it was cozy. Wood paneled cabinets and little shelves dominated the walls. Books, pillows and little bits of decoration made the place feel lived in. A large bed filled a nook at the end of the cab.

Beverly took off her coat and handed it to Jolene who hurried to hang it up by the entrance. While the woman did that Beverly sat on the bed and crossed her legs, enjoying the way Jolene's eyes followed her movements.

She knew she looked good. After spending hours picking out the outfit, and doing her hair and makeup, she better! A deep cut sweater hugged her breasts, her hair braided in a long braid. She sat back and pushed her breasts forward, hoping for a reaction. She almost smiled when Jolene looked away respectfully.

"Would you like- uh... Something to drink?" Jolene asked as she took off her coat and shirt.

God... The woman was so large and yet so... Tender. Would she even be able to do what they talked about? Beverly did not get an ounce of anger from her...

She was nothing like Stella.

Well, there went her mood... Beverly felt her stomach drop. What was she doing here? Trying to have sex with some stranger she met online? This kind of behavior was why she now lived in a small apartment, on her own; why she had nobody to talk to, except for her daughter.

Stella said gay people could be happy. She did not feel very happy as of late. She was free, more free than she had ever been in her life, but... What was it all for? Free to be a laughing stock, alone and-

"Heeey..." Jolene knelt in front of her. "Are you ok? Stephanie?"

Beverly made herself smile. "Perfect. And no, I would not like anything to drink."

Jolene gave her a long searching look, before she groaned and threw her head back. "God, damn it! Fuck me!" She said, before looking back at Beverly again. "I am sorry, Stephanie you're- God damn it, you're pretty much the prettiest lady I've ever invited over, but... This ain't right. I can tell that you're out of it."

Beverly's smile cut off. "I'm-"

"Sad as shit." Jolene cut her off. "I was serious about hearing you out... I don't want to take advantage of you, damn it."

Beverly almost laughed in Jolene's face. Was she really too sad to even fuck? She put on a pleasant smile and prepared to say anything to get this woman to just do it when she remembered something.

She lost everything... But she got freedom in return. She did not need to lie anymore, to herself, to her parents, to anybody. There is an upside to hitting rock bottom.

"Jolene... I've had a terrible four months." Beverly began, and found it made her feel better to speak. "But I don't want to talk about that. I really liked our... Chats. Talking to you, sharing my fantasies... It was a highlight of a miserable time in my life. And besides that I find you incredibly attractive." God, it still felt odd saying it out loud. "But now... I just want to feel good. Maybe we could talk... Later."

Jolene smiled again. More of a smirk that tugged the right side of her mouth up. "Incredibly attractive?"

"I... Like strong women."

Jolene lifted up her arms and tensed her biceps. Hard muscle emerged from under soft skin. Beverly instinctively reached out to cop a feel.

"Oh my..." She felt around, finding herself loving the feel of Jolene's body. "You're... Very well shaped."

"So are you... Stephanie..." Jolene said, that smirk never leaving her mouth. "Oh well, you've convinced me! I will not look a gift horse in the mouth... This time."

Beverly pouted. "So... I am a horse now?"

Jolene responded by standing up and pushing down on Beverly's shoulders. Not hard enough to hurt, but hard enough that she had no choice but to lay back. The woman straddled her and put her hands into Beverly's hair, holding her head in place, forcing her to look at her.

"You will be... Whatever I tell you to be... Understood?" She asked, her eyes filling with lust.

Beverly tried to nod, but could not. "Y-yes. Understood."

"That's 'yes ma'am' for you."

"Yes ma'am."

Jolene leaned in, until their faces almost met- the woman's belly pressed against Beverly's, the weight so warm and welcome, Beverly could not help but squirm.

"Good girl..." Jolene whispered.

The explosion of warmth in Beverly's chest was unbearable. She wanted to look away, but Jolene's hands in her hair kept her in place. She was forced to look at the woman's face as she smiled at her.

"So... Stephanie," Jolene whispered. "Tell me, out of all of our chats... What did you like the most?"

Beverly was taken aback at the question. This wasn't about what she wanted. "I... It was all great. Whatever you want to do Jolene-"

The fist in her hair tightened, the pain made Beverly gasp. Jolene smiled widely at her. "When I ask you a question, you will answer me, toy. And you will address me as 'ma'am', or there will be consequences."

Toy... One of Jolene's favourite nicknames for her. It made Beverly's mouth water. Made her think back to all the long nights writing back and forth with the woman, masturbating like crazy, imagining them together. Imagining how different it would be from her and Stella-

Beverly cringed. She let her mind wander again.

Jolene let up on her hair. "Hey, are you alright?"

That question again. It was beginning to piss her off. "Jolene. Just- just do what you want with me. Don't ask me if- "

The slap came from nowhere. One moment Beverly was talking, and then a sharp pain in her right cheek twisted her head to the side. She was so shocked she couldn't stop the gasp from escaping.

Jolene stuck a finger in her face. "Ma'am. Not Jolene. Ma'am. Understood?"

Beverly was almost too shocked to respond. Jolene just slapped her! They've talked about it online- the idea aroused Beverly to no end, but- but to have it happen in real life... She nodded, as much as Jolene's hand allowed her. "Y-yes ma'am. I am sorry, ma'am."

"Good girl... Maybe you are not as hopeless as you seem..." The woman caressed Beverly's stinging cheek gently. "Now... Here are the rules... You do what I tell you, when I tell you and you will address me properly, or there will be punishment... Understood?"

Beverly nodded.

"Good. Now, I asked you a question earlier..."

A question? Beverly was distracted by the way her pussy ached from the moment she had been slapped. She was being handled like an unruly child. A brat. She wanted to feel it again... But... But she did not want to disappoint Jolene. She realised, with another rush of shame, that all she wanted was for this woman to call her a good girl again. So, she thought very hard back to their chats and picked one.

"You- talked about disciplining me. You having me over your knee and-" Beverly swallowed hard. Would Jolene do this to her now? "And playing with my ass... Spanking. Scratching... Putting things inside until I can't take it anymore."

Another slap, to her other cheek, made Beverly groan. She called out, too loudly, before a third one came. "Ma'am! I'm sorry for forgetting, ma'am!"

"No..." Jolene caressed her cheek again, her hand so warm Beverly could not help but nuzzle into it. "You're not sorry yet..." She smiled a sweet smile. "But you will be."

The promise made Beverly's heart beat faster. For months, she was worried that she had been ruined by Stella somehow. That there would never be anybody else who could accept the filth inside of her... But, maybe... Maybe some little part of it, she could show to this woman.

"I- I can't wait ma'am," Beverly risked saying then closed her eyes anticipating the blow for speaking out of turn.

But another slap did not come. Instead she felt Jolene lips on her cheek followed by the other. Then, the woman's weight shifted and her full lips pressed to Beverly's ear. "You look lovely with my hands marking your face..."

Beverly did not know how to respond to that, so she stayed silent.

Jolene chuckled into her ear, before shuffling off of her. Beverly felt the lack of the woman's weight keenly. She wanted her back, she wanted them both: naked in the bed, touching, kissing, hands all over each other-

"Get up, toy," Jolene said, her tone leaving no room for disobedience.

Beverly was on her feet in seconds, eyes open, looking to Jolene for more orders. She hoped they would be terrible. She hoped Jolene knew how to twist the knife- the way Stella knew.

Stella really knew how to twist the knife. How to leave Beverly alone and hopeless, with nothing but shame and the void where other people used to be-

Jolene grabbed her chin and forced Beverly's head up. "Look at me, toy, not at your feet. I did not order you to look down."

"I am sorry, ma'am..."

Joelene regarded her through lidded eyes, then sighed. "You were not paying attention..." She showed her right hand to Beverly. "In a moment, I will slap you... Twice, as punishment... You understand why I have to do this, right? You broke the spirit of the rules..."

Beverly's spine straightened, her breath caught. She swallowed hard and nodded. God, it was good to be told what to do, again. Jolene's hand on her chin felt unbearably hot and soft at the same time.

"Close your eyes, toy." Jolene whispered, her voice growing more husky. Beverly obeyed. "Good... Close your mouth and grit your teeth... Keep your chin up. Good." Beverly felt her chin being tilted to the side.

She waited, in the darkness beneath her eyelids. Her heart hammered like crazy in anticipation of the pain. An ache rose from her heart to the throat- every heartbeat was a measure of time passed- would Jolene strike now? How about now? Why hasn't she done it yet-

Sharp pain blossomed on her right cheek, sudden and vivid. She moaned, a needy sound she could not hold inside. The blow was not hard, but it still made her knees weak.

"That's one..." Jolene whispered.

Beverly's pussy was aflame as she wanted for number two. This time Jolene did not make her wait long. She hit Beverly in the same exact spot as before- on the soft part of her cheek, under the cheekbone. After the sting cleared, warmth remained. She could almost feel the prints of Jolene's fingers.

"And that's two! Good girl..." Jolene hummed and let go of her cheek. "You did really well. You can open your eyes now."

She exhaled a slow, shaky breath. "Thank you ma'am..."

When she opened her eyes, she was met with the sight of Jolene looking at her with a big proud smile. It made Beverly flush to be looked at like that. Like she did something amazing, by just having been slapped. Her knees still felt weak- she wanted to sit, but Jolene did not tell her to, so she waited.

Jolene walked around Beverly, her hand trailing over her hip, then her ass. "Now... What should I do with you?" She whispered to herself.

Beverly almost answered, before she realised hadn't been asked a direct question. Jolene came back around and rewarded her with a sly grin. "Yeah, you're getting better at this." Then after a pause. "Take your clothes off. I want to see you naked before..." She pointed to the digital clock sitting on a shelf behind her. "Before the minute is up. Go."

Eight forty three p. m.

Seventeen seconds until the minute was up. Sixteen now.

Fifteen.

Beverly scrambled to take her sweater off, her elbow bumping into Jolene in her hurry. She froze, waiting for punishment, but the woman simply laughed and stepped aside.

Twelve seconds.

She got terribly tangled up as she tried to take it off overhead- how hard was it to undress herself?! She did it every day!

Eight seconds.

Her fingers trembled as she tried, in vain, to unbutton her slacks. She lost precious seconds, because of a god-damned metal clasp she forgot about, and was halfway through peeling the pant legs off when Jolene began counting the seconds down.

"Five," she said with obvious glee.

Beverly nearly fell over when she realised she forgot to take her shoes off. They got stuck halfway into her pants.

"Four... Three... Two..." Jolene stood over Beverly as she struggled with her task.

The woman did not count the last second down, she simply stood in front of defeated Beverly, who was helplessly tangled up in her own clothes. The feeling of abject humiliation at failing at such a basic task was overshadowed only by the anticipation of punishment.

Another slap? Or something worse? She trembled with the need to know.

Jolene sighed. "You know Stephanie, this was supposed to be an easy one to get you started..."

"I- I'm sorry ma'am..."

Jolene sighed again as she knelt down to help Beverly. With a few sharp yanks she managed to extricate her from her pants. Beverly sat back on the bed, clad in only a thin low cut blouse and lacy underwear. Jolene knelt before her, eyes taking Beverly in hungrily.

"My... You're lucky you're this cute, toy..." Jolene whispered.

"Thank you..." Beverly said, then in a fit of playfulness she added. "Jolene..."

Obeying orders was nice, but... In the end, she came here to be punished. Why not speed things along a bit? She was so aroused she could hardly stand to play along anymore.

Jolene's smile turned sour. "Well now..." She said, as she rose up. "That there was proper disobedience not just a mistake... Toy, are you trying to make me angry at you?"

Beverly found herself greatly enjoying Jolene's angry voice. It tickled something in the rawest parts of her mind. Oh, she was in trouble now!

"Of course not..." She said with deliberate slowness. "Jolene..."

The woman loomed over her, with her hands on her hips, looking down at Beverly with a rather annoyed expression. What was she going to do? Another slap? Beverly's pussy gushed at the thought. Or... Maybe... The fantasy they talked about before? Beverly, bent over the woman's knee, helpless against the assault on her bottom.

She bit her lip. She could not wait.

"This calls for some real discipline, toy..." Jolene sighed before she turned away from her and went to rummage in one of the cupboards. Beverly perked up- what would she bring? A toy? A paddle? Jolene laughed. "You know, there is always a point in training, when this happens. I am happy that it was this soon with you, toy... Best to establish where we're at early, you know?"

"Oh, I could not agree more... Jolene."

"I am happy that you do, toy..." The woman said, with an edge of steel in her voice. The sound of it made Beverly briefly reconsider her course of action, but she held firm. She wanted to be punished.

Jolene pulled out a dark rectangle from the cupboard with a flourish and turned to Beverly, holding the object in front of herself. Beverly blinked hard when she realized what it was.

A little blackboard, perhaps two feet across, with a bunch of chalk rattling around in a little box attached to it. Jolene pressed it into Beverly's hands and sat beside her on the bed.

"Now, toy... You will write lines until I decide that you've had enough." She said, matter of factly.

"W-what?"

"Let's start with... 'I will be obedient'." Jolene said, then nodded to herself. "Yes, that fits. You will write 'I will be obedient', until I tell you to stop, toy..."

Then, she pressed a piece of chalk into Beverly's hand. Beverly stared at it, not quite comprehending. Anger and pride rose up from within her. This is not why she came here! Who did this woman think she was? She wasn't her mother- she wasn't Stella! She wasn't- She wasn't...

Beverly took a deep breath and let it out slowly.

"What if I don't?"

Jolene leaned back on her arms and blew out a breath of her own. "Well, then the game ends..."

"That's... Not what we did online," Beverly said, hating how petulant she felt.

"Online..." Joline whispered as she leaned into Beverly's ear. "Online you have always been a good girl..."

"But- Just-" Beverly sputtered, her arousal making thinking more difficult. "You can- you can punish me... Just... Not like this!"

Joline kissed her neck, just below her earlobe, sending shivers down her core. "Stephanie... You disobeyed me... What kind of... Mistress would I be if I let it go? Do as you're told and later... You will be punished the way you like..." She kissed her neck again, harder this time. "I value discipline above all else in my... Toys..."

Her voice was so soft and honeyed Beverly almost melted down on the spot. Discipline... All of a sudden, Beverly found herself most concerned with her own discipline. She came here expecting pain and humiliation, and she got it but- but this was new.

Discipline...

This was something Stella never gave her.

The thought was so rebellious- so of her own- Beverly moaned. This- this was new! Of course there were things out there that Stella did not know about- or did not care for.

There were women Beverly never met, kinds of sex she'd never had... Kinds of feelings she'd never felt.

"Y-yes ma'am," she said, making sure to keep her happiness out of her voice. It would not do for Jolene to catch her smiling as she did what she was told. She tapped the piece of chalk against the board and reveled in the crumbly feeling as it slid across it.

'I will be obedient'

She wrote it in big letters across the board, taking up nearly a quarter of the space. Jolene tutted at her and wiped the words off with her palm.

"No. Like this," she took the chalk and wrote it in tiny, cramped little letters. Beverly's heart sank a bit. Like this- she would have to write it a hundred times to fill this board.

She was about to protest, when she saw Jolene watching her like a hawk. She bit down on her defiance and took the piece of chalk back. Then, with precision, she wrote the line again.

'I will be obedient'

In a tiny scrawl, right next to Jolene's, her penmanship far clearer than the woman's.

"Good girl..." Jolene whispered, warming Beverly's cheeks. "Keep going until I tell you to stop. And keep your eyes on the task. No peeking."

Beverly swallowed hard and got to work. The feeling of writing lines, like a little schoolgirl, sitting in a big rig truck, in her underwear and blouse threatened to make her giggle, but she locked it down tight.

She had work to do.

'I will be obedient'

'I will be obedient'

'I will be obedient'

A sound of cloth rustling almost made her look away. To her side, just out of the corner of her eye, she could almost see Jolene undressing. A hint of pale skin as she lifted her tank top over her head, an ample curve of her thighs revealed by her jeans sliding down.

'I will be obedient'

'I will be obedient'

'I will be

A large peach bra landed in her lap. It wasn't lacy or especially fancy, but it looked comfortable. With titanic effort Beverly fought the urge to look at the woman who threw it... Or to lift it up to her nose and sniff it. She put it aside and continued.

'I will be obedient'

'I will

Jolene crawled up beside her. Her nudity a magnet that almost made Beverly fail in her task, but the reward was too sweet to pass up. Jolene chuckled at her lack of reaction, then settled behind, her chin on Beverly's shoulder.

'I will be obedient'

Hands on Beverly's breasts made her jump, made her drop the chalk. It fell to the floor and rolled away, too far to reach with her feet. Jolene didn't seem to notice or care. She squeezed Beverly's breasts through her shirt and bra, her strong hands sending a terrible ache down Beverly's center.

"Ma'am? I- I-" Beverly could hardly think. "May I pick up the chalk?"

Jolene bit her neck in response.

Beverly groaned. "Ma'am- Please- I have to do this-"

"There's more chalk in the box," Jolene chuckled into her ear.

Oh! Of course! Beverly flushed at her own silliness. She fished another piece out and continued her lines.

'I will be obedient'

Fingers on the buttons of her top. One by one opened it, until her front was bare.

'I will be obedient'

Strong hands tugged at her sleeves, taking the shirt off. Beverly let it happen, mindful not to stop her lines.

'I will be obedient'

The clasp of her bra snapped open. Jolene's hands dug under the cups; flesh meeting flesh. Beverly groaned hard, but did not stop writing, even as Jolene began pinching and tugging at her nipples.

'I will be obedient'

A hot, wet mouth on her neck, kissed on the nape, teeth raking across the sensitive skin, making her eyes cloud, making her hands shake. Her writing became shaky, but she did not stop.

'I will be obedient'

The ache in her pussy grew to be almost unbearable. It has been months since anybody touched her like this. There were nights when she awoke from a dream- halfway a nightmare- of Stella in her bed, touching her, groping her. That was the closest she got to this.

And now that she got what she needed, she could not even enjoy it fully, for she had to be obedient.

'I will be obedient'

'I will be obedient'

'I will be obedient'

'I will be obedient'

'I will be obedient'

'I will be obedient'

"That's enough, toy..." Jolene whispered. "You have been a really, really good girl... I am impressed..."

Beverly let out a shuddering breath. "T-thank you ma'am."

"How are you feeling right now?" Jolene put her chin on Beverly's shoulder and her hands on her thighs. Beverly dearly missed them on her breasts.

"I-" Beverly thought to lie, but she was asked a direct question. All at once she relaxed. She did not need to think or scheme. She just needed to obey. "I am really aroused. I- I really need... I need you."

"Oh really?" Jolene smiled into her neck. Her hands raked across Beverly's exposed thighs, leaving white nail marks in their wake. "Will you be obedient, from now on?"

"Yes ma'am... I will be."

Jolene hummed into her ear again, then continued scratching at Beverly's legs, moving onto her inner thighs. Beverly spread her legs, letting the woman in, but she did not escalate the touch. She merely scratched alongside the most sensitive spots Beverly had, clearly reveling at the torture.

Beverly stifled a groan and looked down on the chalkboard. 'I will be obedient', scrawled at almost all of the available space. Dozens and dozens and dozens of times. She steeled herself to endure.

"Now, that's a wondrous turnaround..." Jolene laughed in her ear. "And here I was, ready to really let you have it..."

Beverly shuddered to think what other 'discipline' the woman had. She hoped she would never find out... Alright, maybe a little bit, but only if she really deserved it.

"Thank you for being... Merciful ma'am," Beverly whispered.

Jolene grabbed her chin and forced Beverly to twist around, and look at her. "Did I tell you to speak, toy?"

Shame twisted in Beverly. She fucked it up already. She really did not want to write any more lines...

"Oh, don't look at me like that... That was a mistake..." Jolene cooed. "I know you're trying. Now, close your mouth."

Beverly closed her mouth. Then, when Jolene looked at her with expectation, she grit her teeth, raised her chin and angled her head just right for her punishment.

The slap was lighter than the others, but it still stung something fierce. Tears pricked in her eye, right above the impact site. Jolene's hand felt soft and cool when she caressed Beverly's cheek. Somehow the touch made the tears harder to hold back this time.

"Look at you," Jolene whispered, her mouth maddeningly close to Beverly's. "So quick to pick it up... So eager now... I am so happy we met tonight."

Beverly nearly choked on her words. "M-me too ma'am. I feel very happy."

And she did. For the last four months she was a pervert, a pariah, a disappointment and a public spectacle... Now all of those labels felt far, far away.

Now she was a good girl, who did a good job.

Jolene flushed looking at her, she bit her lip, her eyes blown out. Beverly realised with no small amount of wonder that she was as affected by the 'discipline' as Beverly was. She let her eyes wander down, and her breath caught at the sight.

Jolene's body was beautiful. Her breasts were large and heavy, with wide, dark areolas and thick nipples that Beverly was dying to feel in her mouth. They rested on her soft looking belly, which pressed into her thick strong thighs. Between them, a wiry tangle of pubic hair, invited Beverly in.

"Toy..." Jolene purred. "Did I allow you to look?"

"I'm sorry ma'am," Beverly said and assumed the position again.

She was slapped twice- once for looking, and another time for lusting. Beverly did not believe the distinction made a difference, but she was not stupid enough to voice her thoughts.

She was obedient.

"Now..." Jolene smiled as she cupped her face in both hands, the coolness of her hands made Beverly sigh. "You are allowed to look... And touch."

Beverly took advantage of the first, but held off on the second. She decided to be careful for now.

"Come on, I don't bite, toy..." Jolene laughed and grabbed Beverly's hands. "Here, I'll help you."

She placed her hands on her belly, the plushness of it took Beverly's breath away. It reminded her of Stella, the ways he used to be in high school. She cast the thought out. This moment was for her! She let her hands glide over Jolene's stomach, then down her thighs, enjoying the strength she felt under the softness.

She dared not explore between her thighs, so she doubled back up and grabbed the woman's breasts. They were heavy, much larger than her own. Jolene hummed and let her head roll to the side, her eyes half lidded, as Beverly played with her body. Stella never allowed her to- Beverly bit her cheek to stop herself.

"Is my body boring you, toy?"

"No- No ma'am," Beverly hurried to say. "I love it..."

Jolene moaned happily and pushed out her chest, pressing herself harder into Beverly's hands. God, she wanted to taste the woman- but she was told to touch, not to kiss or lick. Still... The urge was too great to ignore.

"May- May I use my mouth? Ma'am?" Beverly asked shyly.

"Oh?" Jolene raised her eyebrow, without opening her eyes.

Beverly hurried to add. "I want to make you feel good... Ma'am..."

Jolene hummed again, her happiness clear and incredibly sexy to see. She opened her eyes and looked into Beverly's, glee and steel inside them.

"Oh, you will make me feel good soon... But first, close your mouth," Jolene said. Then added, when Beverly blinked in confusion. "Did I allow you to ask questions?"

Beverly shook her head, before assuming the position, again. This time, Jolene made her wait with her eyes closed for a moment, before she slapped her, hard. The first slap she took in silence, the skin of her right cheek becoming oversensitive and tense. The second, she could not help but cry out- the pain was too sharp.

She could not help but raise her hand to her cheek and found it too warm and prickly. When she opened her eyes, she saw Jolene examine it closely, with a frown.

"I think... I think you've had enough of that for tonight, toy..." She said with a sigh.

What? They were barely getting started! "I- I can take it!" She said before she could stop herself, then added quickly. "Ma'am."

Jolene grabbed her face, thumb pressing into her oversensitive cheek, her fingers into the other. "Did my ears deceive me, or did my toy disagree with me?"

"I'm sorry ma'am!" Beverly mumbled out, through Jolene's fingers. "I- I just want to please you..."

Jolene relaxed her hand and cupped Beverly's cheek. "What will please me the most, is my toy being safe and whole." She said softly, then added more sternly. "You will never disobey me, when it comes to your safety. Is that understood?"

Beverly felt like another woman when she nodded, her body feeling odd and alien. Jolene looked her deep in the eyes, then nodded and released her.

"Lay on your back." She pointed at the middle of the bed. "You are not allowed to touch yourself, unless I say otherwise."

Beverly did as she was told, praying that Jolene was going to make her do what she hoped she would. They talked about it online, and Beverly masturbated to the idea more times than she could count.

"Now... Toy, you will make me feel good with your mouth." Jolene told her as she straddled her head, facing Beverly's legs. Beverly's mouth watered at the sight of her pubic hair, so close to her mouth. "You will do it as many times as I want you to... And you will not touch yourself, or me, with your hands. Understood?"

Beverly nodded eagerly, as she did not trust herself to speak. The warmth from Jolene's pussy was radiating onto her face, the smell amazing up close- musky and heady. She wanted it- she wanted it- she wanted it-

"Good girl..." Jolene cooed before lowering herself slowly. "Make me proud..."

Beverly became enveloped in a world of softness, thick scent and warmth. Her stinging cheeks were pressed against Jolene's powerful thighs, their coolness a stunning contrast to the heat emanating from her sex. Beverly tried to lean her head back, to reach it with her tongue, taste it gently, but Jolene had a different idea- without warning she lowered herself, and ground her pussy against Beverly's face.

The softness of her folds was unbearable against Beverly's lips and chin. She tried to capture them in her mouth, but the woman would not stop moving, as she rutted herself against Beverly's face. Frustrated, Beverly stuck out her tongue and settled for capturing Jolene's taste whenever she could.

"Oh, that's it! Good girl!" Jolene cried loud enough for Beverly to barely hear her. "Keep it up!"

So, she did. Jolene was everywhere, all around her, coming down on her like torrential rain, her pussy juices smeared all over Beverly's face, her heat seeping into Beverly's. She tried to catch a breath whenever Jolene ground herself farther up her face. As her nose buried in the woman's cunt, she took whatever breaths she could, before she was enveloped again.

It was sweet torture to be used like this, like- like a toy! Beverly laughed into Jolene's sex, the woman hardly noticing her giddyness. However much she was given, Beverly wanted more, so she reached up and hugged Jolene's thighs with her arms, her hands exploring her hips and backside. The woman seemed to like her initiative, because she grabbed her hands and pressed them harder down. Then Jolene began grinding harder into Beverly, before her hands moved onto her breasts, playing with them at her leisure.

It went on like that for God knows how long- Jolene fucking Beverly's mouth, and her barely holding on, reveling in the feeling of her wet pubic hair dragging against her tongue and cheeks.

Before long, she felt Jolene stiffen, her thighs squeezed her head, held her in place, left her with nothing to do but hold her breath and wait. She endured and kept moving her tongue on Jolene's pussy as she came. Beverly was held like that for so long, she could hardly stand it anymore- her lungs burned for oxygen, before she was released abruptly, as the woman shuffled off of her and fell back on her ass.

"Jeeesus Christ!" Jolene gasped for air. "That was- Good girl! Fuck me!"

Beverly laid there, gasping for breath, finding joy in the feeling of Jolene's juices cooling on her face. Not only her lips and chin, but also her cheeks, and even forehead were smeared with the stuff.

"Th-Thank you ma'am," she heard herself saying. "It was... Wonderful."

Jolene laughed hearing her, a sound of pure joy and want. The laugh filled Beverly's heart to bursting. Some of the weight she'd been carrying around with her for months melted away into the air.

"Yeah. Wonderful is the right word... However..." Jolene trailed off, before getting up and crawling towards Beverly. She got her face real close to hers, a promise of pain in her eyes. "Tell me... Toy... Did I give you permission to touch me with your hands?"

Beverly felt delicious dread spread through her. In the heat of the moment, she forgot about that order. Would it mean more lines? No- that was for disobedience. This was a mistake.

Mistakes got fun punishments.

"I'm sorry ma'am." She said, trying to sound contrite. "I really am..."

"I know that you are, toy..." Jolene reached out to smooth out Beverly's hair, which she suspected was quite the sight right now. "But rules are rules... Go face the corner, with hands on your knees and stay there until I tell you otherwise."

Beverly did just that, wondering feverishly about her coming punishment. Jolene said there would be no more slaps... Maybe something to do with her breasts? Once, Jolene wrote her a very long, incredibly exciting message about how she would like to put clamps on her nipples... Beverly had wondered, since then, how would it feel?

"Alright, you turn around." Jolene said, and Beverly did just that. The woman was sitting on the edge of the bed, with a towel nearby. Various butt-plugs and toys were displayed on it as well as a bottle of lube. Beverly's heart soared at the sight.

"Come here and lay across my lap. This way." Jolene instructed her, and Beverly obeyed. In a few short moments, she was laying across Jolene's lap with her panty clad ass up in the air, her head inches away from the display of toys.

"Pick one." Jolene said, sternly. "The biggest you can handle."

Beverly hesitated for just a moment before she picked a thick, ribbed dildo with a bulbous grip. Jolene picked it up and brought it to Beverly's mouth. She kissed it without needing to be told.

"Good girl," Jolene said as she patted Beverly's hair. "Now... I know that you've been trying to be good, but I will have to spank you for what you did... Do you understand why?"

"Because-" Beverly swallowed hard. "Because I disobeyed."

Another pat on the head was her reward. She melted into it, almost crying out for the loss of it when Jolene's hand moved onto her ass, grabbing it possessively.

"That's exactly right..." Jolene whispered, then picked up one of the dildo's Beverly passed on- a long and thin one. "You will bite onto this... Do not let it fall out of your mouth... Got it, toy?"

"Yes ma'am," Beverly said, and then bit onto the offered toy. Her teeth felt odd digging into the silicone, but her grip was solid. She was expecting something more difficult, but this was-

Smack!

Joelene spanked Beverly's ass so hard the clap reverberated through the truck cab. The hit drove a shockwave of pain and pleasure so deep into Beverly she had no choice but to cry out. The force of her moan so strong the toy almost fell out of her mouth.

The slaps were new, but this- this she knew. This is how Stella hurt her- She grit her teeth over the toy. Don't think about her!

Jolene chuckled knowingly. "Let's warm you up..."

The 'warm up' was an earth shattering series of slaps to both her cheeks which left Beverly as a drooling puddle of arousal laying over in Jolene's lap. But even despite the growing ache in her pussy, she could not stop the memories from coming.

Her in Stella's apartment the night when she was allowed to sleep over. It hurt worse back then. Jolene knew what she was doing- but she was holding back. Beverly tried to wiggle her ass, to get the woman to hurt her more, but she kept going at the same pace.

Each strike brought another throaty moan out of her, one which she could not stop even if she wanted to. Saliva coated the toy then ran down her chin, but it all felt distant.

"God... You look so beautiful like this toy..." Jolene said in between slaps. "I really am a lucky gal!"

The compliment almost made her feel good, but something was off. It was all wrong. Beverly tried desperately to recapture the good feeling she felt a couple of minutes before, but it all kept souring.

Stella would know how to make her stop thinking. She would know what to say to drive the knife in. She would not hesitate to make Beverly really hurt.

The arousal was gone. She was laying across the lap of a stranger getting play slapped around. It was just a game she was playing because she was so fucking lonely she would have anybody who take her.

Jolene slapped her ass hard, three times in quick succession and it felt like nothing. Because she did not mean it, did she? Jolene just wanted some fun sex with a pretty woman- she wasn't this twisted creature that longed for pain.

Something hard lodged itself in Beverly's throat. Try as hard as she could, she could not dislodge it.

"Hey, Stephanie, are you alright?" Jolene said, the command gone from her voice, leaving only warmth behind. "Do you want me to stop?"

Why was she asking this?! Why did she keep asking her these questions which made Beverly feel warm inside? She did not want to feel warm. She wanted to- she wanted to.

She wanted Stella.

The tears surprised Beverly as much as they did Jolene. Before Beverly realised what was happening she was sobbing on the woman's lap. A powerful wrecking heave, she could not have any hope of stopping. The toy fell out of her mouth and clattered to the ground.

"Hey now..." Jolene said, sounding somewhat panicked. "You're ok! You're allright!"

Beverly scrambled off of the woman and crawled away, trying and failing to stop the tears. They felt hot and cold on her abused cheeks, which only made her feel worse- she was ruining Jolene's night with her bullshit. She curled up in a ball, turned away from Jolene and tried to get herself in order.

"Hey..." Jolene knelt behind her and put her hand on her back. It was so warm that Beverly started crying harder. "It's alright... It's ok to have a cry sometimes."

"It's- It's not!" Beverly choked out, which only made her feel more like a crazy person.

"Let's agree to disagree..." Jolene whispered as she kept rubbing a circle onto Beverly's back.

It took Beverly far too long to get a hold of herself. Jolene never stopped touching her gently along the way, grounding her. When she finally ran out of tears, Beverly decided that she needed to leave. But, that would require uncurling herself from the ball and that was unthinkable for now.

"Hey... Is it ok if I hug you from behind?" Jolene whispered.

Beverly nodded, because she did not want to seem any more difficult. She was rewarded with strong warm arms wrapping around her. Jolene hugged her so tightly to her chest that Beverly started crying again for some reason. She kept sobbing as Jolene hummed a soft melody into her ear- something that sounded like a lullaby.

"I'm- I'm sorry..." Beverly said when she was, hopefully, done crying.

Jolene hummed into her ear: "It's fine... You said that you had a rough time."

Beverly laughed humorlessly.

"Want to talk about it now?" Jolene asked.

"I would rather be boiled in acid, thank you very much," Beverly said.

Jolene laughed, shaking Beverly. "Not a big talker, are you?"

"That, I am not..." Beverly sighed. She enjoyed Jolene's warmth, but it made her feel odd. That nasty feeling of emptiness from before was still there, threatening to surface again. "More of a doer, for better or worse... And I really wanted to do tonight..."

"We did a thing or two," Jolene laughed into her ear.

Unfulfilled arousal reared its ugly head. Beverly felt bold all of a sudden. "I... I wasn't finished, ma'am..."

Jolene was silent for a while, before sighing. "You've had enough of that. I am sorry..."

Beverly wanted to turn around and bite her, but she stopped herself. She was too damaged even for a pity fuck in a truck. Go Carpenter! She was brought out of her thoughts by the feeling of Jolene's hand on the inside of her thigh.

"But..." Jolene kissed her earlobe, making Beverly shiver. "If you were up for something... Softer I could help you out..."

What she wanted was for Jolene to pull her hair until she cried, but... She could do with softer. Hell, her pussy was waking back up after her brief crying session and would settle for just about anything. Beverly nodded and uncurled herself from the ball position a bit, letting Jolene's hand in.

The moment Jolene's fingers made contact with Beverly's very, very wet pussy she chuckled. "Oh my... Stephanie, you are really, really in need, huh?"

Beverly arched her back to press herself against the woman some more. "God, yes..."

Jolene proceeded to hug her close and give Beverly exactly what she needed. Her fingers pressed into her clit and rubbed it gently, at first. Then harder, when Beverly asked for it. Before long, Beverly was melting into Jolene, gasping and moaning with every press of Jolene's hand.

"There you go... Good girl..." Jolene whispered, her voice tender and full of warmth. "You're doing so good."

All through the night, Jolene's praise tore at Beverly's heart, made her feel warm and fuzzy inside, then empty and hurting. She barely knew this woman! She was nearly forty years old, she was not, in fact, a good girl.

Now, at the end of her rope, exhausted and aching all over, Beverly did not have any more strength to resist.

"Am I? Really?" She heard herself ask.

"So good..." Jolene said as she reached lower and pressed her large fingers inside Beverly. "You're the best... So good and obedient..."

Beverly squirmed against Jolene as her fingers dug deeper. She felt hot and sweaty, all loose inside. Her head was buzzing- empty of thought, other than the powerful need to be praised some more.

She did not even have the spare strength to feel bad about it.

"Say- Say it again! Please!" She babbled, "Pleeease!"

Jolene picked up the pace, drilling in and out of Beverly. "You're so beautiful, like a miracle... And you try so hard to follow orders, and you do so well..." She whispered, each word like a hot spark falling onto Beverly's spine. "You deserve your reward, Stephanie..."

"Beverly!" She could not help but cry. "I- please!"

Jolene did not pause at her admission. "Beverly... You're a good girl, Beverly..."

Beverly's orgasm was cloyingly tender. A warm and sticky thing, the kind she'd never experienced before. It felt wrong, but she let Jolene's strong hand, and beautiful voice carry her through it. When she was finished, she laid against Jolene's soft body, gasping for breath, her head pounding, her heart lighter than it had been in months.

"My... You look like you really needed that... Beverly," Jolene said, as she gently extricated her fingers out of Beverly.

Beverly nodded, but said nothing. She had nothing else to give right now. Jolene let her stay like that for a while, before she gently prodded Beverly to lay on her back. Was this it? Was it time to go? Beverly did not want to go... Her apartment was so dark...

Jolene was moving around the cabin, opening and closing cupboards. Was this the universal 'we just fucked, now get out of my truck' signal? She hoped it wasn't... The bed was too comfortable, and her bottom was not quite up for sitting in her car right now.

The bed shifted as Jolene settled beside her. Beverly was too comfortable to move, or do anything. "So... How are you feeling? Nothing hurts?" Jolene asked. "Roll onto your stomach please."

"M'alright..." Beverly did as she was told and spoke into the mattress. "My buttcheeks are a bit sore..."

"Alright... I will rub some ointment... It will feel cold. Is that ok?"

Tears pricked at Beverly's eyes again. She had a hard time responding, so she just nodded. The gel felt cool and Jolene's hand felt warm. She rubbed it into Beverly's stinging cheeks gently, careful to avoid her anus. It felt like heaven. Beverly's throat closed up.

"You really were amazing... My God..." Jolene hummed as she sat beside Beverly and gently massaged her back. "I loved it when you got all bratty and I had to discipline you... Was that ok? Writing lines?"

She was a God damned Carpenter, she could speak for herself! "Y-yes. G-good." She managed to choke out.

"Hey, take your time..." Jolene leaned down and kissed the top of Beverly's head. "You're fine..."

Another nod into the sheets. Beverly turned her head away from Jolene, not certain why.

"I'll leave you alone for a minute if you-"

"N-no. Talk."

Jolene hummed, then laid beside her, her hand still tracing a path on Beverly's back. "Was the slapping too much? I know we talked about it online, but... Now I worry it was too much. I did not give you much of a warning for that first one..."

God, the slapping... Her cheeks still stung so wonderfully. "I liked it," Beverly said very quietly.

"That's good... Oh, which reminds me, I have an ointment for that too..." The woman said before getting herself off the bed. Beverly missed her presence acutely.

"Can't have those beautiful cheeks hurt! Either ones!" Jolene laughed as she rummaged again. "Here it is! I will need you to sit up for this one... If you're up for it right now."

Beverly chuckled weakly as she got herself up. The idea of facing the woman, letting her see her face was terrifying for some reason. She looked down onto her hands twisted into the white sheets as Jolene knelt before her and began rubbing something cool and minty into her face. The tenderness of her fingers made Beverly want to hide.

"So... Your name is Beverly? Just checking if I understood correctly."

She nodded. "Sorry, I-"

"Don't worry about it."

In a few short moments Beverly's cheeks have been thoroughly rubbed free of the sting. Was this aftercare? Beverly was not sure what she thought about it. There was a part of her that felt sickened at the weakness on display but a large part could not help but smile like an idiot.

How would it feel if Stella treated her like this? The question hurt like hell, but for once she did not cower away from the pain. She had no hope of keeping the tears from rolling down her cheeks, hot dribbles of wax digging through the coolness.

She felt so pathetically weak, she could hardly stand it. Jolene's hands rested on her shoulders, and all Beverly could think of is how much she wanted the woman to hug her. What a sad little woman she became, the Real Beverly whispered from the pit she now lived in.

Beverly sneered at her. You don't exist anymore! It's just me up in here! And I want a fucking hug! Beverly forced herself to speak before she lost the nerve. "Can- Can I- Can I get another hug?"

"Of course. Come here!" Jolene said, with a tender smile and spread her arms.

The woman was burning hot and impossibly soft at the same time. Their naked bodies fit together perfectly. As Jolene's arms wrapped around Beverly, enveloping her completely another sob escaped her.

"There... It's alright..." Jolene cooed in her ear.

So, she did. In Jolene's arms Beverly turned into an ugly, undignified thing, heaving and rocking, wailing like a child, spreading snot and tears everywhere. But the woman did not care. She whispered sweetness into her ears, as she rocked her like a baby.

Beverly cried for what felt like hours. She did not know how long.

Somewhere along the way she fell asleep without realising it.

---

She awoke from a pleasant nothingness, wrapped up in warm sheets that smelled like fresh laundry.

Light seeped into the cabin through a crack in the- whatever a cover on the windshield of an eighteen wheeler was called. Beverly did not know. She panicked for a moment, not knowing what time it was, before she remembered she had nowhere to be anyway.

Her life was empty.

She nestled back in the sheets and assessed her situation. She was in Jolene's truck, and the woman was not there. Memories of last night hit her like a baseball bat wrapped in barbed wire. She cried in the woman's arms, like a fucking child!

The covers made for a good cocoon. Maybe she could transform into another creature, one less exhausting to be than the one she was. She imagined her insides melting into goo, her metamorphosis beginning as she heard the doors opening. Now what? The ever so wonderful 'what are you still doing in my truck you gay mess?'

"Good morning sunshine!" Jolene said, sounding entirely too chipper.

Beverly dared to peek out of the walls of her cocoon. The woman was standing at the foot of the bed, dressed up and holding- Oh my God, she had a tray of pancakes. Beverly's stomach threatened to flip itself inside out at the outrage of them not already being in her mouth.

"Good morning Jolene..." She said, trying to sound like a respectable human being. "Please tell me those are for me..."

Jolene sat on the bed and pulled out a tray on wheels from the wall like it was a magic trick. "For us! I figured you'd wake up hungry..."

"You are a brilliant woman..." Beverly said as she scooted up to sit beside Jolene, trying very hard not to think of the state of her hair and makeup.

The pancakes were the best she'd ever eaten. Perhaps that's how the restaurant stayed in business. It certainly was not the decor or location. Beverly was quiet as she ate, Jolene talked enough for both of them. About the truck, about her recent trip to Ohio, about her youngest son's recent marriage (she had four children, dear Lord.), everything and nothing at the same time.

Beverly was afraid the woman would ask her to share about her own life, but Jolene did not. Perhaps she could sense that Beverly would rather throw herself into the oncoming traffic.

After they've finished, Beverly washed up in the truck's inexplicably big bathroom. After a valiant effort of trying to restore her hair and makeup (it was a mess, she was right), she felt almost like a person. In fact, she found that she felt almost... Good. Embarrassed that she cried so much, yes, but... Good.

A thought nearly floored her. She could have sex with a woman and not feel like shit about it afterwards. Who knew.

Well, there was that one night with Stella, when Beverly stayed over but- The bathroom wall felt cool on her forehead. She was tired of thinking about Stella. Or of not thinking about her. Or of almost thinking about her and then trying not to.

Beverly dreaded the morning sun, but found it warm and refreshing. They stood outside of the truck, which seemed even larger in the light of day, and enjoyed it in silence. The air was cold, and the view was beautiful. The restaurant was surrounded on all sides by the forest. Beverly could almost smell the pines from where they stood.

"So... Are you going to be staying in town for long?" Beverly asked, dearly hoping for a yes.

Jolene groaned. "No... I've got some stuff to do in the city today, but I am picking up another load tomorrow morning... Won't be back this way for months."

Beverly's stomach dropped... It was just her luck. Jolene laughed beside her. "But I did have a good time! I will be back around these parts around May..." She let the words hang in the air.

Beverly pretended to smile. "Please... You don't have to lie on my account. It was a disaster... I am really sorry for-"

"I had fun." Jolene cut her off. "You're not the first woman... Or man, I've had crying in my arms mid way through a spanking... It brings something out of people... Can't slap asses without expecting tears once in a while!"

Beverly let herself relax a little. She did not ruin it. Good... But still, May? That was like an eternity away.

Jolene nodded to herself then readjusted her cap. "So, unless you fancy being my co-pilot that's it for now... It was really good meeting you Beverly."

Beverly laughed at her joke, even though she did not feel it. It was one of the things people said to break the bad news. She knew it meant nothing. But still... Beverly had once been very good at making herself believe whatever she wanted to.

"What would that entail? Being a co-pilot?" She asked as if the offer was genuine.

Jolene stuttered for a moment, before laughing again. "Hours in the truck, every day, eating at shit-ass drive-ins, sleeping in a too small bed. You know, the usual luxuries. I would not recommend it."

Beverly thought about her empty apartment. About a woman, nearly forty years old with nowhere to go. No one to be.

"Alright." Beverly said, feeling equal parts pathetic and bold. "I'm in. Just give me a couple of hours to settle some business."

Jolene blinked hard, then looked at Beverly again, something new in her eyes. Beverly had seen that look before, on women in her church when they realised that she was ready and willing to destroy them with a word if they displeased her.

Jolene just realised that Beverly was kind of crazy.

She chose her words carefully. "Beverly... We had a good time- a really damn good time, and I do want to keep in touch but... It would not be like that on the road, you know? You would be sick of me after a day."

Over the last four months Beverly had learned a lot about herself. That she was strong enough to walk away from her family fortune, that it hurt like hell to have your friends call you a pervert, that you can cry so hard you give yourself a headache.

But one thing she had learned the most is that the truth was powerful. More powerful than pretty lies.

"Jolene... I told you last night that my life right now isn't... Going too well... I don't have anything keeping me here, beside my daughter..." Beverly said. "I know it's sudden, and a lot but... I... I honestly could use a road trip... If we get sick of each other, I'll just rent a car to drive myself home."

Jolene took off her trucker hat and scratched the back of her head, looking at Beverly like she suddenly became a problem, rather than a new friend. Beverly could tell that she was about to say no, so she decided to play dirty.

"What if... What if I promised to be obedient for as long as you'll have me?" Beverly asked, before biting her lip in a way she practiced for hours back in high school. The way that made her look like she would be willing to do anything, if asked politely.

When she saw Jolene's throat working, she knew that she had her.

"Jesus Christ woman, I can tell that you're trouble..." The woman said, then put her hat back on. "Oh what the hell... I am not passing you up." Then she pointed a finger at Beverly's chest. "But if you try to steal my truck or- or some shit I will beat your ass so hard you'll be eating through a straw for the rest of your life. Do we understand each other?"

Beverly nodded. "Of course... But... I hope that I will not have to go that far to get you to... Do things to my behind."

Jolene flushed before throwing her head back and raising her hands up to the heavens. "Lord! Give me strength! I am about to make a mistake!" Then she laughed and shook her head. "Alright, I really got to go... I will be back here around six p. m... If you're here I'll pick you up."

"I will be here."

---

There were not many affairs to settle. Beverly drove back to her apartment and turned off all the knobs that she was supposed to turn off. Then, she stood in front of her terrarium and beheld her turtles.

Were there turtle sitting services? There must be, but... She would never trust strangers with her babies.

Victoria would take them, but the girl had enough on her plate... And she did not want to tell her daughter that she was leaving town with a woman she just met. Victoria would tell her that it was a bad idea.

No, she needed somebody who she could trust to not judge her. There was only one option.

Haylee picked up the phone on the third ring. "Heeey, Bevs. You still crazy?"

They have not spoken since that terrible night of Beverly's forceful outing. Beverly hardly knew the woman back then, most of their interactions were either sex, or Beverly insulting Haylee for no reason... And yet Haylee stayed with her all through that night. She kept people away from Beverly, and even sat by her when her parents forced their way into her room to demand she come back out there and do damage control. To say that she was 'admitting herself into a program'...

No, Haylee was not quite a friend... But she was somebody Beverly trusted, despite herself.

"Have you ever kept turtles?" Beverly asked the woman.

"Ah... Still crazy I see."

"Have you? Or not?"

"No! Nobody fucking keeps turtles! What sort of question is that?"

"A simple one... Would you care to learn?"

Haylee paused, then continued more carefully. "Are you asking me out? I am not falling on that grenade, no thank you."

Beverly laughed, and found with surprise that it was genuine.

"No, I am going on a road trip... And I need somebody to feed my turtles when I am gone... And, I suppose, to check up on my apartment."

"Oh... I guess..." Haylee said nothing for a time, then added. "Yeah, I guess I can do that, but... Are you ok? Beverly?"

The question somehow both did and did not surprise Beverly. This woman was... Warm. Like Jolene was. She cared. Suddenly Beverly wanted to thank her for every time she tried to look out for her, but now was not the time.

"Beverly? Are you alright?" Haylee asked again, more forcefully.

"Yeah. I think I am getting there," she found herself saying.

With surprise, she realised that she told the truth.

Four months after the worst day of her life, she was still a mess. She was sadder than she had ever been, more lonely and lost. A small, sore creature that was just now, halfway through her life, learning how to walk on her own two feet.

She had a long way to go... But she was getting there.