"Tell me again, why are we going there?" John was clipping his seatbelt, rolling
his eyes and avoiding the subject of my erratic driving. Sweet John. Even though I scared the living shit out of him every time I got behind the wheel, he never said a word. His knuckles were always white, but his mouth was shut. I told him, my style of driving comes from years of being on the road in construction-laden Pittsburgh. Sales and this town will do that to a person, you know.

"Why?" I teased. "Why? How can you ask such a question?"

He chuckled and braced his huge fist against the dashboard as I merged into traffic. "It's a legitimate question. I mean, we are both a little big for amusement parks, don't you think?"

"One could never call Kennywood just an amusement park, John. It's a treasure, an historic landmark. You are going to love it."

"But . . ." His other hand braced the ceiling. That was my fault; I was taking a moment to enjoy his beautiful profile and almost drove us into the trunk of a Land Rover.

"Sorry."

He actually shot a glare my way. I slowed down and watched the traffic more carefully. I really should have let him drive, but I was afraid he'd just take us somewhere else. "I really want to go to Kennywood."

"I can see that. Maybe the roller coasters are less frightening than . . ." His mouth slammed tight.

Finally, an almost comment about driver etiquette. I burst out laughing, something I seem to do a lot these days. I pulled onto the berm and walked around the car, jingling the keys. As he reached for them I pulled them back and leaned in at him. "John Biebe," I said. "I'll let you drive if you'll just indulge me in this one silly day of amusement park fun, I'll never ask you again. I promise. But you have to promise to take me to Kennywood." I paused, batted my eyes then added sweetly. "Please."

He snatched the keys from my hand then planted a welcomed, deep kiss on my smile. "Move, woman." I stepped back to let him out of the car. "And if you=re not a good girl, well turn around and go right back home."

"Yay!" I slid into his warm seat.

***

We walked and talked, arm in arm, avoiding baby strollers and kids and old people hobbling with canes. I pointed out the details that made the park so special, the ancient wooden roller coasters, the "Old Mill" tunnel of love, now called something "Garfield" and boasting scary scenes. I marveled. Everything changes, but some things stay the same. Look at my life, so suddenly fruitful and joyous. Now there's something to write home about. But I'm in Perve World, and can't pen that letter easily. At least Kennywood was the same. And at best, John was with me. At the absolute, very best. I smiled up at him, my big bear of a wonderful man.

It had been only two short weeks. A remarkably short time to find so much comfort, so much instant acceptance and love. John was a bafflement to me. He was perfect in every way, permitting me to be imperfect. At times I'd catch myself watching him, just looking, trying to find the seam. Where was the opening to what was really beneath the honorable sheriff, tucked deep under the big, loving grizzly exterior?

Don't get me wrong, at this point in my life, and especially my new life in this world, nothing was more pleasurable than to be with a gorgeous man who adores me. After all, what am I? Nuts? Yes, I know all the Brothers adore all the Sisters, but I'm so new at this. I had little clue how very special my Number One relationship was. And it wasn't that I suspected John of hiding anything, I just suspected him of being too careful. And I wondered, was he always like that?

Just last night, I re-read every 'Biebe' diary I could locate. Yup, this was the same man. Attentive. Kind. Supportive. Fun. Loving, always loving. But there was more to him, I just knew it. Of course, this new Little Sister was clearly aware of the need to tread careful in relatively undiscovered territory. After all, the Brothers were each formidable men, and they reacted to any given event in their own way. Take Max, or Jack or Terry. Consider even sweet Lachlan, my dearest friend among the Brothers. And ask them all the same question. POW! Fireworks. No two reactions would be alike. And as steady and easy as John was I couldn't help but wonder.

I gazed up at him his huge hand squeezed my hip affectionately. I knew damn well he didn't want to be at an amusement park. But he was. For me.

"I guess this is a tradition for you." He leaned down and tugged me close.

"Yup. Every summer of my life. Every school picnic, every community day. I have so many wonderful memories here."

"Well Riles, let's get into the fun of it. What do you want to ride first?"

I pointed to the century-old carousel. "Come on!" I dragged the reluctant bear who just shook his head and grumbled. But he helped me up onto an elegantly painted pony and stood protectively at my side, one of those huge hands warm on my waist and the other on the horse's polished rump. Leave it to John to turn a child's ride into something romantic. We went around and around and I went up and down, and John managed to catch my lips in his every time my face neared. An old couple sitting on the shaded bench smiled at us. Damn, I thought. I am so lucky! But then I saw something cross his eyes, like a memory, a mist that passed quickly. And that is the exact moment when I chose that day to pursue John's inner self. The man beneath the good sheriff we all know and love. Now mind you, I wasn't out to expose him as a fraud and I doubted that would even be possible. But I just wanted to understand him, as a man. My man. So I chose my timing carefully.

We traversed the park. We rode all my old favorites. The Kangaroo, the Parachutes, the Tilt-a-Whirl, even the Turtle. Then we stopped at a concession stand for refreshments. John chose fresh squeezed lemonade and pink cotton candy. I, of course went for coffee and a funnel cake. It was getting dark and the park was lit up, a veritable festival of everything wonderful in my childhood, sparkle, the squeal of roller coaster wheels, shouts of parents for their children. We found a quiet bench and sat. John pulled a wad of cotton candy and shoved it into his mouth. I laughed at his expression as he simultaneously enjoyed the quick melt of sugar and growled at the sticky pink clinging to his beard. I turned on the bench, tucking a foot under my knee, careful to secure the hem of my short sundress.

"Gotta problem there, baby?" His eyes twinkled as he tilted his head, hoping for a view I'd successfully blocked.

"No problem."

A brass band of Elvis impersonators um-pah-pah-ed past us and John laughed a good hearty chuckle that warmed my heart. It was my moment, and I knew it.

***

"Soooo," I started smoothly, but was obviously giving away my hand.

He straightened and raised an eyebrow. "What?"

I leaned in. Even though we were alone on the bench and no one was paying the least bit of attention, I wanted it to be a private conversation. John too leaned closer. "Tell me, John. What's the worst thing you've ever done in your whole life?"

Not a beat was missed. "You first."

Damn. There was no way I was telling a sheriff what I did. I drew in a sigh. Back up and punt. "Okay, let's try something else. Did you like growing up in Alaska?"

John blinked, another wisp of a cloud drifted over those beautiful baby blues and I started to rethink the whole thing. He chewed his lip and watched me carefully, considering, forming words, then gave a small grin that lit his face, and shook his head slowly.

"Baby. You have no idea what draws me so securely to you, do you?"

I shook my head and smoothed my skirt.

John shifted, pulled a knee up on to the bench and faced me. "Riley. I grew up in Charlesbourg, near Quebec."

I blinked. "I didn't know that. You're Canadian?"

"I was. Got my American citizenship about fifteen years ago, when I took the Sheriff's post in Mystery." He pulled cotton candy, wadded it and tucked it carefully in his mouth.

I blinked, realizing that I really knew nothing about John Biebe.

"In fact," he said, shoving a wisp of pink into my mouth. "I skied before I ever put on an ice skate. Was pretty good at it, too, ay."

I laughed. "I love to ski!"

"I know. But don't be expecting much this winter. I'm a little rusty."

"Tell me more. Tell me about your childhood." I was enthralled.

His smile was small, but it took my heart. "I have two brothers and a sister." He shrugged then tossed the rest of the cotton candy into a nearby trash can. "They're all much older than me."

"So you're the baby."

John nodded. "The surprise, change of life baby. Must have cracked my dad's balls to have to deal with that. Hell, Michael was already in college when I was born."

He reached over and took my fingers, twisting them comfortably in his own. "My mom died when I was thirteen. Cancer. It was fast, and I took it pretty hard. You know, I was just a kid, still my mother's son. Not nearly ready to be my father's son."

"I'm so sorry. What was she like?"

His eyes lit up. "You. Well, sort of. I used to have this photo of her. I was twelve, and skating our pond every fucking chance I could find. I was getting pretty good. I love the speed, the motion of riding the ice." His other paw covered my hand. "My brother Jacques was visiting and he instigated a game between Michael and me. Dad played ref and Jacques just laughed and snapped his camera. It was something, Riley. I was so fast. I mean, I was small, just a skinny kid, but I was really developing a skill for it, you know. And I won."

He released my hand and leaned back in the bench. "At that moment, he snapped the most amazing picture of mom. She was laughing, her eyes twinkling. It's how I'll always remember her, that moment when I did her proud. Now dad, he wasn't so happy, but he did shake my hand, and Jacques chucked me over his head and tossed me into a snow bank. But mom," John sighed. "Mom was laughing and I was loving it."

He looked into my eyes. "I can hear her sometimes when you laugh."

God, my heart couldn't take much more of this. I leaned in to a kiss that should be illegal at Kennywood.

"See, Riley. I have memories like you do." He glanced around at the crowd. "You remember family and best friends here. All the fun you had. Hell, you probably got your first kiss here. Right?"

Damn, how could he know that? "Tell me more."

"I don't know, baby." He was ending my voyage into his soul and I didn't want that.

"Why?"

He sipped lemonade and stared straight ahead. "I'm not sure you, or anybody really wants to know that much."

Heh?

"Since I got here, I . . . well, just do what's expected of me. Be the way the Sisters and Brothers think I should be." He turned to me. "I just keep playing this role, you know. The good, honorable sheriff. It's what they all expect. I like it here, and I don't want to fucking rock the boat, so . . ."

"So you play the part."

He nodded. "But," again he turned on the bench, then ran a hand through his hair and shook it back. "I know Crowe put everything he could into me. He just didn't have the whole story or the time to develop it. Think about it, Riley. From that film, you only know about exactly six weeks of my entire life. You know nothing about what got me to that point. And . . ."

"And what?"

"I can't be sure anyone wants to know. It's nothing terrible, God sakes. It's just that, well baby, I'm afraid that if I ever am who I really am, I'll lose everything."

"John, you'll lose nothing. Besides, I'm fucking head over heels in love with you, and I need to know. Please."

He stood and took my hand. We walked around to the picnic groves, climbed up and sat on a table. There was no one around; the sounds of amusement park hysteria were now a distant mumble. I watched John struggle, his hands deep in his pockets, eyes far away.

"Riley, no one has ever asked me this shit before. But I knew you would." He turned blue eyes on mine. "What do you want to know?"

"Everything."

He chuckled. "Well, there's no fucking way I'll tell you everything, but I'll give you a fair outline. First off," he hopped off the table and stood in front of me. "Did you know I was married before Donna?"

I shook my head, trying to keep my mouth from dropping open. "What was her name?"

He hissed a deep sigh, one that told me there were both good and bad memories. "Meredith." He shook his head and ran a big hand down his chest, stopping at his big heart. "Ah, Meredith. She was a wild one. Daughter of misguided hippies and the most beautiful thing I'd ever seen in my whole fucking life. I was nineteen. She was twenty four. Man. Meredith." He chuckled and rolled his eyes.

"Mere was remarkable, Riley. A free spirit who took life and twisted it into whatever she wanted it to be. I was in college on a hockey scholarship. We dated for, I don't know, six months before I got hurt." His eyes caught mine and I thought he was going to cry. "That was it, you know. There was no fucking way I'd be picked up for professional play after that. Fucked up my knee. Bad.

"Mere was great, she nursed my body and my soul, and finally got me to face the fact that it really didn't matter. That there was more to my life that playing hockey. I couldn't believe she said yes when I asked her to marry me. Still can't. I was sort of joking. But she said yes."

"How long did it last?"

"Eighteen months." He joined me on the table. "Amazing it lasted that long. But Meredith taught me so much. She taught me how to play the game. Life. How to feel it and respond to it, how to experience it every way I could."

"Sexually?"

His eyebrows rose, and he nodded. "Every way, but especially sexually. She taught me how to identify the moment. That precious . . . moment . . ."

"What moment?"

He drew in a deep breath then let it out slowly. "The moment . . . between the idea . . . and the possibility . . ." he leaned close to my ear, "and the raging hard-on."

I laughed and he squeezed me close. "Sex was insane with her. Wild and unpredictable. Just amazing."

"What happened to your marriage?"

John shrugged and released me. "Shit happens, people get in the way. You know."

"Tell me more," I leaned over and ran my lips over his cheek.

"Alright. After we split, I finished college. Then I studied law enforcement and went to Mystery. I wanted to skate. And I knew I could do it there."

"Then, Donna." I said softly, unsure if I wanted to go this far.

"Yeah. Donna." He turned to face me, his brows curled. "You know, so much happened right before that film started. Donna and I were pretty good together most of the time. I was doing everything I could to make it good. Forgetting all the lessons Mere had taught me in the process. That's why I filled my life with so many other things, Riley. Playing hockey, friends, working, my boys. I reached for my moments anywhere I could get them. And I don't mean to give you impression that I didn't feel that with Donna. I loved her. I just was, well, sort of the way I am here. Playing a part, the perfect husband, the best man, the good father. All important, mind you. But I was, and am, sort of . . . empty.

"Three months before the film starts, Donna and I had separated for a while. It wasn't anyone's fault, and I wasn't sure what the hell I was supposed to do. We talked and worked things out the best we could. It didn't help that her fucking ex-boyfriend was writing that fucking story."

He fell silent and I ran a hand down his back.

"I understand how Crowe must feel, baby. I mean, trapped in a part. He did the best he could, I know that. But fuck. If I don't follow his lead, I'm going to piss off a whole lot of people. And I like it here. I really do."

"Do you miss her?" Why the hell was I asking that?

He shrugged. "Yes and no. Does that make me sound like a total fucking prick?"

"No."

"I think about this all the time, Riley. See, I think my real life just plain stopped the moment I crossed the portal. I have history, but no future there. And I don't really want to go back." He turned to me. "See I think I don't miss Donna, because she really doesn't exist." He chuckled. "Now, I know that sounded like a total fucking prick."

I ran a hand down my chin, wondering. "No, John. Actually it doesn't. I've been thinking the same kind of things myself."

We sat silent, deep in our own thoughts and misery, until I decided to stop it. "Tell me more about the sex." I tickled his ribs.

"What a tart you are." He tickled back, his hand finding its way under my hem.

"Hey, this is Kennywood, you don't do this kind of stuff here."

"Really?" He kissed my neck then whispered into my ear. "Pity."

"Yes, isn't it?" I moaned.

"So what do you want to know about the sex?" John slid an arm's length away and twisted his mouth. "Tart."

"What kind of wild sex did you have?" I was more than curious, I was fascinated.

He drew deep and blew out in a long stream. "Wow. Ah, the kind of sex you only read about. The kind I never even thought about . . . then. It was spontaneous." He lowered a gaze my way. "Public. Even freaky sometimes. We got ourselves into so many fucking tight situations; I can't even believe we got out of them." He chuckled. "And it was passionate. Even tender sometimes.

"I remember feeling like I was on a wave, totally riding high and completely out of control. It was amazing."

"Why don't you do that sort of thing now?"

He laughed aloud. "Oh, sure. The good sheriff, fucking a Sister on an elevator; that should go over real well. God sakes, Riley."

"An elevator?" This was good stuff!

He nodded solemnly. "But keep in mind, Riles. It's a very short ride."

I laughed.

"Why don't you do that sort of thing with me?"

He turned fully to me. "You'd be game? I mean, you could accept -- "

"I accept whoever you are, John. I love you."

"Soooo," he ran a big hand thoughtfully through his hair. "You're saying you're game for this kind of stuff."

I straightened and blinked. "You mean here? Now?"

"Ahh, that's not how it works, baby. It happens at that moment. That moment between the idea," he kissed me deeply, "and the possibility." Another kiss.

"And the raging hard-on," we said together and laughed like lunatics.

I wiped joyful tears from my eyes and looked over at John. His eyes were on me, taking me in with so much love my chest ached. "See, baby. That's why I'm so securely drawn to you. Why we belong together. You and me. Riley, we are both in a place of opening, discovering.

"You've gone through so much with a terrible marriage. And now in this world, you have no idea who you are or what you're supposed to be. I'm in the same place, baby. Only you can help me, and I'd like to think I'm the one who can help you. The minute I laid eyes on you, I knew you'd be my salvation. I knew you'd want to know me, really know John Biebe."

He took my shoulders in his big hands and lowered his eyes to mine. "There's more than the sex shit, you know."

I nodded, pretty sure what was coming next.

"You will never drive that fucking car again unless you prove to me you can do it safely. Hear me?"

"Uh-huh." Oh well, I had that coming.

"And you will learn to like hockey."

"You'll learn to like baseball."

He rolled his eyes. "Fair enough. And . . . I'm gonna tell you when you piss me off."

"Good."

"And I expect you to do the same, Riley. Let's do this right. Let's be open and honest."

I blinked.

"Baby, I know you don't need another man yelling at you. I don't ever want you to be afraid of me. I'll never hurt you, but . . ."

"John, listen to me. I don't need a man hitting me, but argument is healthy, and I want us to grow together."

He pulled me close in a desperate hug that nearly squeezed the breath out of me. "God sakes, Riley. I love you so fucking much!"

***

So there I was, in the arms of the man I love, and on the verge of discovering everything inside of him. He was hugging me so tight, I knew, just really knew, that this was right and good. I knew that the Sisters and Brothers and even the Crowe would like who John Biebe really was.

"What do you say, Riley? Let's go ride some of the big kid rides before this park closes, ay?"

"I'll race you to the Thunderbolt!" I ran around the bend and he was right on my heels, catching my hand and running right beside me. He kissed my hand then let go and charged ahead, fast as hell, like he must be on the ice.

We waited in lines and rode every roller coaster in the park except my favorite. The rickety old Jack Rabbit.

"And now, for the absolute best roller coaster in the world!" I announced as we fell breathlessly into line along a wooden fence.

"Yeah? We'll see," John teased, as he stood on his toes and looked over the fence. "We'll just see."

We got into the last car and strapped in. "There's a double dip, John. Hold on tight."

"No, Riley." He took my hand and planted it in his lap, wrapping my fingers over his hard cock, straining against the denim and zipper there. "You hold on tight, and don't let go!" We were off. The ride is fast and unpredictable and when we reached the double dip, John pressed one hand on mine to assure my continued contact. I flipped around and hopped in the seat, squealing and yelling. The fucking Jack Rabbit is the best roller coaster of all times, perfect in its antiquity, simplicity and speed. We got off and raced back into line.

The line was getting shorter, Kennywood nearly closing for the night. We rode again, and I held my handle again as requested, then we ran to the line once more.

"You know, someone might suspect that you like amusement parks, John."

He leaned down and kissed my cheek. "I like them with you, baby."

Then suddenly, he grabbed my hand and pulled me back. "What the fuck?"

His eyes were blazing, wild with something I'd never seen there before and it was extraordinarily exciting. He looked around then pulled me behind the wooden fence. He scooped me up and kissed me furiously. "It's a moment, baby." His breath was heavy and hot against my face. "That moment."

My heart was pounding. Oh God. I did ask for this, didn't I? An announcement blared. The final announcement. Kennywood was closing, and it was the last call. He looked around again, then whispered, in a husky voice that made me soaking wet. "Take off those panties, woman."

I did, and he helped, tucking them in his shirt pocket and turning my back to him. His hot hands slid my dress hem up over my hips then quickly undid his button and fly. His fingers slid into my pussy and finding it drenched with desire, pushed deep. He pressed against my shoulders, bending me over and opening me fully to him then he poised his fiery cock at the door and waited. There was the squeal of wheels above our heads, then the rumble of the train hurtling down, pausing at the second dip then hurtling again. At the precise moment the coaster passed over us, John slammed inside of me. I screamed in delight and ecstasy. He pumped and pumped, holding my bare hips and grinding against me. It was amazing and the most exciting thing I'd ever felt. A man totally out of control, needing and wanting and having all at once, and tears of joy came to my eyes. He was still pumping, holding off until well after the ride had ended, and the patrons were streaming past the fence, off to the parking lot.

I was silent, holding back groans of delight. His rhythm was wonderful, even, smooth. I was amazed at his stamina, his growing control. Then the lights began to go out. He was still thrusting evenly, deeply as we overheard park guards chatting on the other side of the fence. They strolled off, oblivious to us.

And he was still pumping as darkness completely enveloped us. Kennywood was closed, but I was open to whatever John wanted. Finally he reached that point of no return, losing his control and rammed hard and deep until he moaned quietly and filled me to the brim with everything he'd been holding for so long. My knees were weak and he pulled me up to him, reaching his face around and sucking a marvelous kiss. I turned and embraced him fully, thanking him.

"No, baby. Thank you," he said softly.

"Now, how the hell are we going to get out of here?"

He chuckled and handed me his clean handkerchief. I carefully wiped myself, expecting him to offer my panties next. "Oh we're not going anywhere just yet."

"Huh?"

"There's lots of Kennywood I still want to explore, Riley." He glanced over the fence then shook his head at me with a wicked grin. Damn, I really like this John!

We slithered around the fence then skirted the dark pathways, stifling our giggles and searching for landmarks. "AHH," he whispered. "The merry-go-round, my way!"

I wasn't wondering what he had in mind. I really didn't care. John was on a roll and I was riding that wave, high and wild right along with him. We tripped over the edge of the carousel in the darkness, giggled quietly then scrambled up to one of the sweetheart benches. There, John pushed me down onto the seat and knelt at my feet. "Fuck, Riley. I love you so much for this," he said as he lifted my knees over his shoulders.

I saw the spear of a flashlight beam and I reached down to John's head. "Shit! I think we're busted," I whispered.

He raised a mischievous grin at me then lowered his face deep into my pussy. I stayed still as death, even though John's tongue was whipping my nerves into a frenzy. The flashlights moved away and I relaxed, feeling him completely. John is a remarkable lover under normal circumstances, but this had released a powerful, exciting animal I never expected. He slid a finger deep into me, and another deep into my anus. I gasped and whimpered as quietly as I could, but I was already too far gone. He catapulted me into orgasm, licking and sucking every drop of come that flowed from my body. Then his head simply lay, calm and quiet on my lap.

I ran my hands through his beautiful hair, allowing tears to fall down my cheeks. "Jesus, John. I never knew it could be like this."

He rose up and kissed my mouth, taking each lip in turn, loving it, caressing it. I couldn't help myself. I pushed tenderly against him, until he lay flat on his back. I open his jeans then tugged at them. John raised his hips, I could hear him pant with excitement and it drove me further and further to my task. John, completely exposed and beautiful in the darkness, reached a hand to my head, guiding it. I open my mouth and tasted, amazed as always at the excruciating sweetness of him. I felt driven, like a crazed woman starving for all of him sucked hard, pulling his cock deep into my mouth.

I heard him groan and then his hips rose smoothly, pressing into my throat. I relaxed muscles to permit him entry. There was nothing I'd deny him, and this was small sacrifice for a man so giving. A man who held all of my heart in his own. Averting a threatening gag, I began to move, sliding his swollen shaft out and then deep again and again until it was evident that John was ready.

I braced myself, holding his hips in my hands and pumped deep and hard until his explosive climax shot right down my throat. John gasped and shuddered.

And that's the moment three flashlights aimed directly at us.

***

John was duly respectful and I was appropriately embarrassed. We were taken to the police station and fingerprinted, booked for trespassing and indecent exposure, then placed in two separate jail cells, thankfully right next to each other. John handed me my panties through the bars with an apologetic grin. I smiled at him like a lunatic, then reached through and gripped his collar, pulling him into a kiss that could barely be contained by the metal bars.

"Jesus fucking Christ! Haven't you two had enough?"

"God bless us, it's Officer White to the rescue," John chuckled.

Bud was silent, his mouth tight, eyeing us suspiciously as the policeman unlocked the doors. In the car, Bud finally broke into uncontrollable laughter. "Fuck, John! You're the fucking last person I ever expected this from."

John shot a worried glance my way.

"Well, expect anything from now on, Bud." I said, smiling at John who immediately relaxed and pulled me close. I knew I'd be opening a door by calling Darcy for bail and a ride. And I knew that the door, now gaping wide with the truth, would welcome a new John Biebe to the family.

"What the fuck were you thinking?" Bud asked between rumbling chuckles.

John never took his eyes from mine. "Well, I was thinking . . . it was a moment to treasure and I wasn't letting it pass."

Bud became silent then cleared his throat. "I know exactly what you mean, John." He parked in front of my house and nodded a farewell to me, then looked up at John with a smile. "I know exactly what you mean."