and sexy. I’d sleep with any one of the guys.”
“So, my dear, would I. However….” She stuffed a large platter into the dishwasher. “Okay, okay,” she said, catching Jessica’s look. “Steve and Nan only moved here about a year ago and they were trying desperately to get pregnant. We discussed our lifestyle with them, and they were tempted. Isn’t he the most gorgeous thing? Makes me sweat just to think about those arms around me. Anyway, they didn’t want to confuse things. I hope, after the baby’s born….”
“You’re right about him. He’s got the greatest body.”
“That’s my Jessica talking. I think Jessie’s long buried.”
Jessica sighed. “You may be right. What about the others? Who did and who didn’t?”
“Pete and Gloria discussed it and decided that they didn’t want to risk the jealousy that they were both afraid would surface. They tried swapping once, many years ago, and Pete particularly found it very hard to deal with the thought of someone else making love to his wife. They go to most of the parties but they stay together.”
“So you’ve been with Chuck and Marcy.”
Steph just grinned as Brian walked up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist. “The four of us,” Brian said, “spent a weekend in the Adirondacks together last January. Get Steph to tell you about it sometime. It was incredible.” He nibbled his wife’s neck. “Just incredible.”
“Certainly was,” Steph agreed. “And, by the way, I also spent a creative evening with Gary about six months ago. I was sorry he couldn’t come tonight. He’s the sexiest man I know, with the exception of Brian, of course.”
“Is he very handsome?”
Steph thought about it. “Actually, not at all. He sort of reminds me of Ichabod Crane. He’s about six foot two or three and probably doesn’t weigh one fifty. Long legs, long arms, sort of like a stork. He wears mismatched clothes that hang on him. He always looks like he’s just lost fifty pounds and his wardrobe hasn’t caught up.”
“But you said….
“I said sexy and attractive, not handsome. There’s a big difference.”
“Like…?”
“He listens when you talk and concentrates like you’re the only one in the world who matters at that moment. He touches you, accidentally on purpose, if you know what I mean. A hand on your shoulder as you sit down, or a palm in the small of your back to guide you through a doorway. And he looks at you like he wants to make long slow love to you all the time.”
“Where was Brian all this time, while you were out with Gary?”
“I was here,” Brian said, walking through the large sliding glass door. “It doesn’t have to be a couples thing with us. I’ve had my…adventures too. Solo. It’s really okay with us.”
“And what did you think of Eric?” When Jessica blushed, Steph continued, “Did he ask you out?”
“We’re having dinner on Friday,” Jessica said softly.
“That’s great,” Brian said. “He’s one of the nicest people I know and you two should get along well.”
“I liked him a lot. He’s bright and so open about things.”
“Well,” Steph said, “I’m beat.” She closed the dishwasher and turned it on.
Jessica glanced at the clock on the microwave. “Holy cow. Is it really after one?”
“Yup,” Steph said. “Time sure rushes by when you’re having fun.”
Brian grabbed Steph by the arm and dragged her toward the sliding glass door. “Let’s go out by the pool so I can ravish you before bed.”
Steph giggled. “Weallll suh,” she laid on a thick southern accent. “What kahnd of a girl do you tahke me foah?”
“I know what kind of girl you are,” Brian said, still tugging. “That’s why I want to take you out to the pool.”
“Nighty night, Jessica,” Steph said as Brian dragged her out the door.
“Good night, folks,” Jessica said. “I love you both.”
Brian blew her a kiss and he and Steph disappeared into the darkness.
Upstairs, Jessica pulled off her bathing suit, took a quick shower, and collapsed onto her bed. Despite the late hour, she couldn’t sleep. Images of the people she’d met that evening and an image of herself so different from anything she could have imagined a few weeks before crowded her brain. Finally, she dropped into an exhausted slumber.
In her dream she rode on a merry-go-round. The calliope played random notes that didn’t combine into anything she recognized, but surrounded her and filled her head with erotic music. Multicolored lights winked and flashed in a primitive rhythm.
She was gloriously naked. The snow-white horse rose and fell between her thighs, cool against her heated flesh. She leaned forward and pressed the cool metal bar against the valley between her breasts, against her flaming forehead.
As the merry-go-round turned, Jessica closed her eyes and let the wind blow her hair until it flew behind her like the tail of the horse she rode. Up and down the horse moved, carrying her with it.
Suddenly, there was a man seated on the horse with her, the fronts of his thighs against the backs of hers. She felt the prickle of the coarse hairs on his legs against her delicate skin. Just ignore him, she told herself. But she couldn’t. When she started to turn to look at him, he placed his hands gently on the sides of her head, effectively preventing her from seeing who he was. When he lowered his hands to her waist, she didn’t try to turn again. Around and around they rode, his hands on her waist and his thighs against her legs.
Gradually, he leaned forward until the length of his chest pressed against her back. Hands splayed on her belly, he used the tip of his tongue to tickle the hollow just behind her right ear. Holding her against him, he bit the tip of her earlobe, then sucked it into his mouth.
As the erotic power of his mouth held her against him, he slid his hands up to cup her aching breasts. He filled his hands with them, weighed and massaged them. Jessica looked down and admired the contrast between his dark fingers and her white skin. She watched in fascination as the hands kneaded her soft fullness and moved ever closer to her fully erect nipples. Squeeze me, she whispered to herself. Pinch me. Make me feel you.
“I will,” the man’s voice breathed into her ear. “I will give you everything you want. But at my pace.” He caressed her breasts lightly. “Just ride the horse. Feel the wind in your face. Close your eyes. Feel.” His fingers reached her nipples and he held the left between his finger and thumb. “Feel.” He pinched and pulled, causing a sensation that was almost pain.
Erotic heat knifed through her body, stabbing deep into her secret spaces. Don’t stop, she thought. Oh God, don’t stop. She wanted to tell him, say it out loud, but she couldn’t. The words echoed in her head.
“You don’t have to say it,” he whispered. “I won’t stop.”
