Leave Me in St. Louis

Recently, one reviewer observed I seemed to have gotten a bit lazy and one dimensional. Could be. I do it as a hobby, not as a trained professional. But I took the words to heart and tried to write something slightly more thoughtful. You will have to be the judge of my success or failure. I'm moderately pleased with the story.

Also, I'm intensely private so I won't ever ask for an editor. I know that drives some crazy, and you will find mistakes in this one also, but so be it. If you've dropped me a line offering to help, thank you, but I must decline. Finally, as always, this story is fictitious, and any fictitious sex is between fictitious consenting adults.

"Comparison is a thug that robs your joy. But it's even more than that - Comparison makes you a thug who beats down somebody." Anne Voskamp

Ben Travis and Holly Davidson met their sophomore year of high school, the fall of 2012. They were assigned seats next to each other in Mr. Jassik's third hour math class. Ben was smitten by her gorgeous Carolina blue eyes and her feisty personality. Holly pretended not to notice Ben at first, but he had a kind heart and a sense of humor that few could match.

The second day of class he walked in wearing a white lab coat, with a small bag. He unloaded a Bunsen burner, a small pouch of white power, kitty litter and ammonia. Mr. Jassik looked perturbed.

"Alright Mr. Travis, I'll bite. What is all this about?"

Ben looked around nervously and then said with all sincerity, "Oh... math lab! I'm sorry Mr. Jassik, I misunderstood what you said yesterday. This is a MATH lab." The class broke into raucous laughter and cheers. Even Mr. Jassik, who never smiled chuckled, but quickly recovered.

"Put your toys back in the bag and give them to me Ben. That is unless you want me to report you to the ATF and your parents! You can collect your toys after school lets out."

And that was how Holly Davidson began to fall for Ben Travis. He wasn't completely sure of himself around the opposite sex so Holly would tease him mercilessly. She was never mean spirited about it, just mischievous. She took to calling him "Meth" but wouldn't let anyone else join in. "It's my name for Ben and nobody else's," she would often say.

By junior year they were pretty serious. By senior year they were close to inseparable. The only hiccup came when the head cheerleader Sue Jansen asked Ben to the Sadie Hawkins dance. She had no interest in Ben, she just didn't like Holly who was becoming a very attractive young woman but wasn't girlie in the least. Holly ran track and played field hockey as did all her friends. She had no time for, or patience with, what she considered the prissy cheerleaders.

Holly's combination of good looks and disdain for Sue irked the head cheerleader to no end. Ben had the unfortunate luck of being the guy in the middle. He walked into the commons area ten minutes before first bell looking for Holly. It would have been better if he hadn't found her.

"So, Benjamin, I understand you are going to the dance with Sue 'the slut' Jensen."

Ben may not have been the sharpest pencil in the box, but he knew when his mom called his dad Michael Joseph instead of Mick, his dad was in deep shit. He figured he was too. Unfortunately for Ben he didn't have his dad there to warn him about the mind field in which he was standing, so Benjamin plowed right ahead.

"What are you talking about? Of course, I'm not going with Sue, why would I?"

"Because she asked you and she's hot."

"Well, she may be hot, but I don't want to go with her. I want to go with you, but you haven't asked me yet."

"Oh, so you think she's hot? I guess she's better looking than me. Why didn't you tell me she asked you?"

"No, that's not what I mean. She's a different kind of hot, not better, different. Why would I tell you she asked me? I told her no."

"What kind of hot, and what other secrets are you keeping from me?"

Ben was clearly out of his depth. Nobody could save him now.

"I don't know what kind of hot, normal hot I guess. The only secrets I'm keeping have to do with what I'm getting you for Christmas. Damn Holly, what has gotten into you?"

If Ben hadn't been dead in the water already, he was now. Holly burst into tears and ran off while all her friends, but Connie Pearson rushed after her to console her.

Connie look at Ben with venom. "Fuck you Ben. Holly is an amazing girl and you just treated her like shit. I hope she dumps your ass." As she turned to leave she glanced at her boyfriend Matt Chandler. "What?" she asked, daring him to respond.

"Not a damn thing babe," was his correct response. Matt liked Ben, but there was no way in hell he was going to die on that hill for anyone.

It took a few days and a good bit of groveling on Ben's part, but in the end they got it worked out and even had an amazing time at the dance. Holly enjoyed taunting Sue all night.

Graduation rolled around and then college. Living in Nashville meant they had their pick of great schools around the southeast. There was never a question of them going to separate schools. They naturally planned to go tother. In the end they settled on Kentucky. Lexington was only three hours from Nashville so getting home occasionally was easy.

Holley studied secondary education and Ben earned a dule degree in finance and economics. Ben was neither greedy nor obsessed with obtaining wealth, but he was enthralled with how the free-market economy worked. He had a good mind for numbers and finished in the top two percent of his class. Several investment firms sought him out in the spring of his senior year.

Holly loved her studies and only wanted to be with Ben and teach high school. She also finished very high in her class, so it seemed natural for Ben to figure out where he was headed and then she'd begin applying at school districts wherever they landed. Much like their college choice, there was never a question of them going separate ways.

Ben landed on a smaller sized firm in St. Louis, Missouri. They specialized in capital funding of medium start up businesses. St. Louis also held several other plusses. It was only five hours from Nashville, and it was a great town to raise a family. Ben already had his marriage proposal plans worked out and he assumed they'd start a family within five or six years of getting married.

St. Louis was also a decent sports city. The Cardinals and the Blues had been around a long time, but the city had just added an MLS team and St. Louis University offered a passable college basketball team to watch. On top of this biking, running, and walking trails abounded. The fresh produce farmer's market scene was strong. The Fox Theater and the Muny Opera in Forest Park provided plenty of musicals, comedians, and plays. It seemed like a solid choice.

Holly easily landed a job in the U-City school district. University City was immediately west of St. Louis proper and was an odd mix of wealth and poverty. It was also home to the famous "Loop" which had a solid music vibe. In the 20th century music icons like Chuck Berry, Miles Davis and Tina Turner had grown up honing their music skill on Delmar Avenue.

Being fresh out of college Ben and Holly rented a house in Maplewood. It was a perfect spot for a young couple starting out. Lots of night life and restaurants along with parks and easy highway access made it ideal. Many evenings they'd stroll down to Schlafly Bottle Works for a beer and a burger. They began to meet friends and establish a social network.

Their home was also about equal commutes to work. Ben drove his 2014 Honda Accord into Clayton everyday while Holly went slightly further to U-City High in her 2019 Nissan Pathfinder. Both newlyweds usually home by 6:30 or 7 at the latest. Ben traveled about six times a year, so they had plenty of time to learn how to enjoy and navigate being husband and wife.

Neither Ben nor Holly had been players in college. Since they met and dated in high school they didn't spend their college years fucking around at every Frat and Sorority party. Each had strayed slightly once or twice when having too much to drink, but those were nothing serious. Not even full sex. Holly's sophomore year she'd given a Pi Kappa Alpha a blow job during a drunken dare but the guy was seriously afraid Ben would find out and kick his ass so he kept his mouth shut which was more than he could say for Holly.

Likewise, Ben had made out with a young teacher's assistant his senior year when Holly was on spring break, and he was stuck at school finishing his senior project for finance. He was pissed, missing his girl, and had a few in him when the cute TA offered to keep him company. Fortunately for him, they both passed out before it got beyond each being naked from the waist up. Ben vaguely remembered she had awesome tits, but otherwise it was an innocent encounter.

Sex between them however was healthy and robust as is normal with two young people in love. They learned on the fly and had the occasional misstep. Ben could go too hard to fast and for her part Holly could be overly critical of her abilities. There were a few bumps along the way, but when the wedding night hit, they already had some idea of how to please their partner.

The wedding was in June and the honeymoon was in Paris. Both sets of parents had done well, and both chipped in for the trip. They stayed on the Isle of St. Louis in the heart of the city. Within walking distance of Notre-Dame and the Louvre, they found a small apartment to rent for two weeks. It was on the third floor which allowed them to slip away from the noise of the busy streets below.

Their days were filled with wonderful food and wine, sex, long walks with lots of picture taking, sex, watching the sunset from the Eiffel Tower, sex, shopping, sex and well, you get the picture.

When they returned Ben launched right into his job. Holly had six weeks before the start of school, so she began exploring her new town. She learned about the grocery stores, Forest Park, (at 5200 acres it is the biggest urban park in the continental USA, 500 acres bigger than Central Park in NYC.) and a host of other local spots.

The one with the most baring on this tale was Soulard Farmer's Market on the southside of St. Louis close to Lafyette Square and the brewery. The largest market of its kind in StL, Soulard boasted two long rows of fruits, vegetables, meats (live and butchered) flowers, rugs, t-shirts, and local novelties. On a weekend morning one could spend an hour or two meandering amongst the vendors looking for just the right ingredients. Holly loved doing just that.

And so, the first four years of their marriage went about as seamlessly as could be hoped for. Holly settled in at U-City and enjoyed the challenge of teaching many students who came from impoverished homes. She seemed to thrive on the challenge and even some of the tougher kids had to admit she was the real deal. She had a few scares with hallway fights and some blatant disrespect, but she was learning the ropes and finding her stride as an educator. She even talked to Ben about applying to St. Louis U or Washington U for a master's in teaching.

Ben was also doing well. He had his first promotion early in year three and was in line for another at the five-year mark. His income was solid, and his supervisor agreed he was a very quick learner. He easily adapted and changed when necessary and had a way of bringing others along with new ideas even when they were reluctant. His boss was torn between pushing into a management route or keeping him in finance proper. In the end, she'd explain both options to Ben and see what direction felt good to him.

Then there was the sex. Like almost all newlyweds the sex didn't slow down after the honeymoon. Ben was applying himself to learning what Holly liked or didn't. He was sensitive and caring while at the same time occasionally pushing her out of her box. The first night they made love on their back patio Ben had Holly naked except for panties around her ankles and a U of K t-shirt loosely hanging around her neck. He also had her bent over the table and was riding her hard. For her part she was loving it, but also worried a neighbor might spy them. She was trying to keep her moans and squeals down when Ben did something he'd never done before. He began spanking her ass.

He had read in Cosmo that many women enjoyed playful spanking during sex. He had no idea if Holly would or not. Had Ben been married for 10-15 years he would have simply asked her, but he was still young, so he decided just to give it a go. Fortunately for Ben, Holly discovered that night she enjoyed being a bit submissive and the feeling she got from her man taking control. Once he started smacking her rump Holly felt the most intense orgasm of her life hit. She stopped worrying about being quiet.

Smack! "Oh, fuck Ben, yes, fuck me!"

"I'll fuck you alright" Smack, Smack!

"Oh, oh, oh, oh, yessssss Ben give it to me, spank my ass!"

Smack, Smack! "Yes, Holly, I love your tight little ass. I'm going to spank you and fuck you hard!"

"Yes, Ben, hard! Give it to your slutty wife hard you fucker!"

Smack, Smack, Smack, Ben continued until he erupted in orgasm and collapsed on top of his very satisfied wife.

Breathing heavily, he rested on top of her for a moment. "Damn Holly where did that come from? That was completely amazing!"

"I don't know but I LOVED the way you took me tonight Ben. That was so fucking hot!"

Ben pulled her up and turned her around embracing her. "I like knowing my handprints will be on my wife's gorgeous ass all day tomorrow." He kissed her deeply and she responded in kind. Ben backed them up and then dropped onto one of the overstuffed patio chairs, Holly straddling him while smothering him with kisses and a clenching embrace.

She held him tightly for a few minutes resting her head on his shoulder, then looked up with a nasty grin. "I want a ride cowboy," she whispered in his ear. "Can you try to buck me off?" Youthfulness has its benefits and hubby was immediately rock hard. "Do your worst bitch" he replied with an evil grin. The next day both were a bit sluggish at work.

Two years later, after the dust had settled from their marriage blowing up, Holly would opine she'd never gone looking for sex outside their marriage. It was a perfect storm that blew their world apart. I guess you'll have to be the judge of whether you believe her or not. In the end, I'm not sure it matters one way or another...

It was a cool spring Saturday morning a few weeks after their patio romp. Ben was on one of his rare out of town trips. Holley decided she would head to Soulard Market first thing and then get a workout in before lunch. Most vendors were up and running when she arrived around 7 AM. She spent about forty minutes picking out fruits and vegetables. She also left with a nice bouquet of flowers.

Holly was always careful about her surroundings. Working with high school students made her cautious about what was going on around her. A situation could go from peaceful to a five-alarm fire with young teenagers in the blink of an eye so paying attention was a good habit to form.

It was that instinct that caused her to notice four young men across the street hanging out close to her car. They weren't doing anything wrong, but they had a bad look about them. Holley moved carefully, not trying to draw attention to herself but also not crossing the street until she put her car between herself and the young bucks.

She didn't rush, she didn't want to appear nervous. She also didn't make eye contact, but she didn't look at the ground either. She didn't want to seem week or make an easy target if the young men had malicious intentions. She was almost to her car when things started to unravel. One of the young men began walking to her side of the car.

"Hey baby, what's up?"

"Just doing some shopping that's all. Going to meet my husband." Obviously Ben was out of town, but she'd read this kind of personal information could keep someone from doing something stupid. Her new admirer didn't bite.

"How about you let hubby wait and bring that fine ass over here and hang with us for a while sugar?"

"Thanks, but I've got to run." Holly's voice now sounded nervous. She knew that was a bad give away but if she could just get to the car...

He was now next to her almost between her and the car and another of the group was coming around the other side. In two seconds, they'd have her blocked in.

"Nah, bitch, you too fine to ignore studs like us. Come on, my crib is right around the corner. Come party with us." She could now feel his breath on her neck.

Holly began to panic, "Please, I just need to go home. Please."

"Oh, you be sayin please quite a bit in a few minutes slut. But don't worry we always take care of our bitches who beg us nicely, don't we bro?"

There was virtually nobody else on the street that time of morning. Holly now regretted parking at the entrance of an alleyway. She hesitated and the hunters swarmed their prey. One man put his hand over Holly's mouth and roughly grabbed her, while another pulled her bags from her. A third took Holly's free arm and pinned it to her side as the fourth came around and lifted her legs off the ground so she couldn't run away or defend herself by kicking.

They were laughing at about halfway down the alley when a large shadow appeared out of seemingly nowhere. He'd come up behind them blocking their exit out of the narrow passage between the buildings. When Holly turned her head she saw a huge man, with a very dark skin tone, probably 6'4" very muscular with a very calm but menacing look on his face.

"Tyson," he said in a low baritone voice. "How many times to I have to tell you to take your shit punk ass elsewhere and leave the people in my neighborhood alone?"

"This ain't no concern of yours Carl" the young man shot back while releasing his had from Holly's mouth.

"Tyson, this is my hood, not yours and unless you want another ass beating you and your bitches better let this lovely young woman go and move on."

"Who you calling bitches?" One of her other assailants growled trying to appear tough and unafraid.

Carl didn't hesitate, he walked directly to him picked him up with one hand and flung him into a pile of garbage bags. "I know you're not talking to me with that tone Silas. Now get the fuck out of here before I get seriously upset."

There was no longer any hesitation. The four young men fled calling curses over their shoulders as they beat a hasty retreat down the sidewalk. Carl walked over to Holly and helped her to her feet.

"I'm sorry about that miss, those boys are mostly harmless but every once and a while they get too big for their britches and need a quick yank to put them back in line. I'm Carl."

Holly was still trying to process what happened. She looked at him blankly and said, "I'm Holly, thank you." And then she fell into his arms sobbing, releasing the pent-up fear and emotions of the last three minutes.

Carl held her knowing folks unfamiliar with life in the city could have an intense reaction to such a frightening experience. He let her cry until she slowed and then he released her, sat her on the curb and began picking up her spilled packages. Carl also reached in his pocket and handed Holly a hand kerchief so she could wipe her eyes and blow her nose.

When she looked up Holly was able to focus on the ruggedly handsome man for the first time. He was older, mid 40's, strongly built, calm but full of self-confidence. He had large hands, no wedding ring. Carl had an easy smile.

"I'm so sorry, I must look a mess," Holly said, wiping her nose again. "My name is Holly Travis, and I can't thank you enough for saving me."

"Well like I said miss, the youngsters are more smoke than fire. My guess is they would have gotten scared and let you go, but I wasn't going to take that chance. Don't let those punks fuck with folks, I'm sorry, excuse me, mess with folks in my neighborhood."