right,” Nan said, holding up her hands. “Take pity on the pregnant lady, will you? The show was about sexual fantasies and it got me thinking. They had couples dressed up as their favorite fantasy. One was a pirate and his captive, one was an Arabian guy with his harem girl, you know. The nice thing was no one had a Barbie and Ken shape or anything. They were just regular people and very free with their conversation.”
“Sounds kinky,” Chuck said with a leer. “Like Gary’s party. Remember?”
“Who could forget that night?” Marcy said. “But that was before you guys moved here,” she said to the Albrights.
“We’ve heard about Gary’s parties,” Steve said, patting his wife’s belly. “We’re not up to that yet.”
When Jessica looked particularly puzzled, Steph winked at her and said, “It’s a long story. I’ll tell you at length sometime.”
“Actually, Sally Jessie was interesting. God I hate to hear me saying that. Talk shows and interesting in the same sentence. Ugh. But anyway, some of the people discussed how difficult it had been in the beginning to tell their wife or husband about their fantasy.”
“It must be for some people,” Steph said seriously.
“These days I fantasize a lot,” Nan continued. “I think it’s lack of good sex that does it. And I know it would be hard for me to share the details with Steve. I was just wondering whether any of you have fantasies and whether you tell each other.”
“You know,” Marcy said, “now that you’ve admitted to having fantasies that you haven’t shared, Steve will force all that sexy information out of you.” She twirled a nonexistent moustache. “Force you to tell all the yummy details, all those sexy four-letter words.”
Steve and Nan looked at each other, their look saying, ‘We’ll talk later.’ “I guess he will,” Nan said. “But now I’m curious. Do you have fantasies and have you shared them?”
As Brian poured another round of fruity drinks, he said, “I’ve shared most of mine with Steph, but I’ve kept one or two secret.”
Steph jumped in, “You have?”
“Yes. Telling a fantasy and acting it out, as we have, is delicious. And yes, we’ve acted a few out so you guys can all eat your hearts out. But it also takes the erotic edge off of it somehow.”
“What’s your favorite fantasy?” Nan asked Steph and Brian.
Steph answered, “He likes to pretend that he’s kidnapped me and taken me to a cabin deep in the woods. That way he can have his way with me in private.”
“Oooo, yummy,” Gloria said, winking at her husband.
“Would you like me to abduct you?” Pete asked. “I could have my way with you and you couldn’t object.”
“Why do you suppose so many fantasies revolve around being made love to forcibly?” Nan asked. “I’ve always thought it was evil somehow.”
“Rape fantasies aren’t about rape,” Brian said. “They’re about power. I love to have Steph under my control. That way I feel free to do some of the things I might not otherwise. I can demand. But I also know that Steph will let me know if I’ve gone too far.”
“And I enjoy being under Brian’s control,” Steph said, sipping her drink and enjoying the buzz she had developed. “I don’t have to worry about my reactions, what I’m supposed to be doing. I can lay back and enjoy things.”
Jessica sat there enthralled. She had never heard people admit to having sexual fantasies before, much less discuss the plot. “You sure do speak your minds,” she said softly.
“I’m so sorry, Jessica. Are we embarrassing you?” Nan said quickly. “You fit in so well with us that I forgot that you’re new to this little group. We’re pretty open-minded.”
“And openmouthed,” Steve added.
“I’m not really embarrassed.” Jessica paused then added, “Yes I am, but it’s a fun embarrassment. And I’m fascinated by the way you all talk about this stuff so freely.”
“Didn’t you and your ex talk about sex?”
“Rob? Not a chance. I think his only fantasy was to have a larger dental office. Sex for him was a routine. Releasing his precious bodily fluids. He wasn’t the creative type.”
“That’s sad,” Eric said. “How can you understand what you like and don’t like unless you try different things?”
His look lingered on Jessica’s face a bit longer than was necessary. She could feel the tingle deep in her body. “I never really thought about it. I guess we were pretty ‘missionary position’ and totally noncreative.”
“My ex and I had a dynamite life in bed,” Eric said. “It was out of bed that we ought like cats and dogs.”
“How about you guys,” Nan asked, turning to Chuck and Marcy. “Any sexual fun and games you’d like to share?”
“Actually,” Marcy said, “Chuck has the greatest hands. He gives the most interesting massages.” Chuck blushed and silently munched on a cracker and brie. “I guess,” Marcy continued, “that we’d show up on Sally with me dressed in a towel and Chuck in a white uniform.”
“Pete and I have a fantasy too,” Gloria admitted. “We haven’t acted it out, but we like to turn out all the lights and….”
“Hey, babe,” Pete said. “Aren’t we going to have any secrets left?”
“Not a one. We’re among friends. We tell a story in the dark. He’s a doctor and I’m his unsuspecting patient.”
“Babe…” Pete warned.
“Okay, okay. I’ll say no more.”
“Have you ever actually acted it out?” Nan asked.
“So far, no,” Gloria said. “But now that you mention it….”
“This conversation is making me very hot,” Pete said. “Anyone for a swim?”
“Not me,” Nan said, rubbing her belly, “but I’ll sit by the pool.”
“I turned the heater on just before you folks got here,” Brian said. He turned to Jessica. “Suits are optional. Some wear them, some don’t. Dealer’s choice.”
“I think I’ll put a suit on,” Jessica said, “if that’s okay. I’m not that liberated yet.”
“You won’t be upset if I don’t, will you?” Brian asked.
“I don’t think so. If I am, I’ll look the other way.”
In her room, Jessica pulled her three bathing suits from the drawer. The one she had brought from Ottawa, a one-piece floral print, held her in in all the right places. Too conservative and definitely Jessie. She held up the bikini that she and Steph had bought on their recent shopping trip. It barely covered any
