Baumgartner Generations: Janie

CHAPTER SEVEN

“You going out with Josh tonight?” Ronnie sat on the edge of the tub, drawing a bath. I was just out of the shower, getting ready.

“Not tonight.”

Josh had called to tell me we’d have to postpone because he had to take the red-eye to Boston. I’ll be back Monday, he’d promised. But today was Saturday and Monday felt like a million years away. I didn’t want to admit how much I missed him, how much I wanted to see him. Not just now, but all the time.

“Trouble in paradise?” Ronnie raised her eyebrows. I glanced over at her as she shed her robe and stepped into the tub. It was one of those corner ones with jets and everything. She had candles lit all around it-she liked to soak and read or just relax.

She could stay in there for hours.

I studied her as she leaned against the sloped back of the tub, her breasts and belly peeking out of the water. Her tummy was really rounded now, her belly-button nearly flattened. Her areola was a darker shade of pink, almost red-her nipples, too.

She was beautiful, and I admired her, smiling to myself. She’d been like a cross between a mother and a lover to me, a strangely exciting combination.

“Ronnie, how did you know TJ was the one?” I asked.

She looked up at me, her eyes widening slightly, and then she smiled. “Wow. Are things that serious?”

I swallowed and shrugged, wrapping my towel more tightly around me.

“Come here.” She held out a hand and I went to sit on the edge of the tub. She slipped a wet hand over my knee, rubbing tenderly. “When I met TJ, I was dating someone else. I was dating him, but I wasn’t in love with him. There was just no… I don’t know… no real connection.”

I nodded. I’d had a few of those sorts of boyfriends in my life.

“But when I met TJ, I felt…” She closed her eyes, taking a deep breath, and I knew she must have been remembering. She looked at me and then laughed. “I felt like I got hit with a Mack truck. Honestly, it was almost painful, the attraction I felt toward him. I thought I was going crazy. I’d never fallen so hard for anyone before.” I blinked back tears, feeling stupid for being so emotional, but it was just how I felt about Josh. It had all gone so fast, but it was like a ride I’d been strapped into and couldn’t get out of. Not that I wanted to. Even if it was a little scary.

“You’re in love with him, aren’t you?” She smiled sympathetically.

I shook my head, but then I burst into tears. “I didn’t mean for it to happen.”

“Oh sweetie, Janie, it’s okay,” she crooned to me, reaching her arms out, and I went to her, tossing my towel on the floor and letting her cuddle me in the warm water as we rocked, making little waves.

“I’m sorry,” I gulped, resting my cheek against her breast.

She kissed my forehead, stroking my wet hair. “You don’t need to apologize, sweetheart. Did you really think we didn’t expect you to fall in love some day?” I gave a shuddering sigh, clinging to her more tightly. “I just love you guys so much.”

“We love you, too.” She tilted my chin up so she could look into my eyes. “But we don’t own you. You need a man of your own. It’s the way it should be.”

“It’s all so complicated,” I complained.

“It doesn’t have to be,” Ronnie insisted. “Your mom taught me that.” I startled. We didn’t talk much about that time in Key West. I knew what had happened. I knew my parents lived an open lifestyle, like TJ and Ronnie and I did, and that it all started back then, when Ronnie was our babysitter. My parents had sort of adopted Ronnie the way she and TJ had adopted me.

“But I’ll be honest with you, Janie.” Ronnie’s arms tightened around me. “As much as I love Carrie and Doc, I knew I couldn’t stay in that type of relationship, not as the ‘third.’”

“I feel that way sometimes. I see the way TJ looks at you and my heart just aches…”

She gave me a quizzical look. “How does he look at me?”

“Like you’re the only woman in the world.”

She flushed with pleasure at my words, and I didn’t blame her. “And you want someone to look at you like that?” She went on before I could respond. “Well why not?

You deserve that. You should have it.”

“But what if…” I sighed. “What if Josh won’t accept you and TJ and…us?” She was quiet for a moment. “Then you’ll have to choose.”

“I can’t do that.” I buried my face against her breast, my heart breaking at the thought. How could I give this up-this woman who loved me, her husband who had taken me into his life, his arms, his bed? And I didn’t even want to contemplate not seeing little Bethie every day. That was too much.

“Listen to me.” Ronnie tilted my chin up, forcing me to look at her with tearful eyes. “I love you. And I love you enough to let you go, if I have to. If it’s what will make you happy, I’m okay with that. Whatever you decide.”

“He isn’t going to want me to be with you,” I wailed, sniffling.

She rocked me gently, kissing my cheek. “But doesn’t he have an open marriage with his wife?”

I gave a short, little laugh. “She wants a divorce.”

“What?” Ronnie exclaimed.

I sighed. “When she found out he was seeing me, she said she wanted a divorce.”

“But… why?”

I shrugged. “Mostly because I think she realized she was a lesbian.”

“Oh…” Ronnie blinked. “Well I suppose that’s a pretty good reason.”

“But I have a feeling Josh isn’t going to want to do it again,” I said. “You know, the whole open relationship thing.”

“You’re probably right.” Her look, so sad, broke my heart. I couldn’t do this. I just couldn’t. “When are you going to tell him?”

“I don’t know.” I looked at my wrist, pretending to glance at a fake watch.

“Quarter after never?”

“You have to tell him, sweetie,” she reasoned.

My lip quivered and I shook my head. “I’m so afraid of losing him. Or losing you.”

“You’re more likely to lose him by keeping it from him than you are by being honest.” It was great advice. But…

“That’s easy to say…” I shrugged. “Not so easy to do.”

“If he loves you as much as TJ loves me, then he’ll understand,” she assured me.

“You may have to make some sort of compromise…but you won’t lose him.”

“I hope you’re right.” I turned my face up to hers and she kissed me, her lips soft and warm and wet from the bath. “Because I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

“You’re so sweet.” She kissed me again, deeper this time, her tongue fluttering against mine, making my senses come alive. I wrapped my arms around her neck, our bodies wet and slippery as we rocked together in the water.

“Would you lick me before you go?” Ronnie whispered, glancing toward the door.

I knew it was locked. Looking down, I saw her hand moving under the water between her thighs. “I can’t seem to get enough lately.”

I smiled, sliding down between her legs, the water making it easy to lift her hips in my hands. She grabbed onto the sides of the tub, her belly rising out of the water as she floated, buoyed by me, and I leaned in to lick her. Her pussy was clean-tasting, sweet, as I began to suck on her clit.

“Oh sweetie,” she murmured, arching her hips up. “That’s so good.” God, she was so smooth, so soft, my tongue slipping easily between the slick folds of her flesh, my hands gripping her rocking hips. Her clit felt hard under my flickering tongue, and every sigh and moan she gave made my own pussy ache.

“Oh Janie!” she gasped, her whole body quivering, one hand going to my hair to press my mouth against her cunt. “Make me come! Yes! Yes!” It was that quick. Her hips rolled in my hands, her body shifting in the water, and I focused right at the center of her pleasure, my mouth closed over her mound, making her thighs tremble. I could see the muscles there flexing as she began to climax, drawing her knees up and back and giving her pussy to me entirely.

“Oh god, oh god,” she whimpered, sinking into the bath as she gave into her orgasm, and I had no choice but to follow her, closing my eyes and holding my breath, still sucking at her clit until she stopped shivering.

I came up with a gasp and she laughed, grabbing me and kissing me hard. “You are such a good girl,” she whispered, sliding her hand down to cup my aching mound.

“Want me to return the favor?”

“Let’s turn on the jets,” I suggested, grinning, and she reached over and hit the button, her eyes bright. She’d taught me this trick, and it was hard to resist availing myself of the pleasures of the hard, pulsing water against my pussy any time I was in this tub.

“Wanna go for a ride with me?” She swung her legs over the side and positioned her pussy against one of the jets. I couldn’t believe she was ready to go again so quickly, but I shouldn’t have been surprised-pregnancy hadn’t just expanded her body, it had swollen her libido as well.

“Let’s race,” I teased, swinging both my legs over, too, moaning softly as the hard, pulsing spray opened my pussy lips under the water. I rolled my hips, focusing the throbbing heat on my clit.

“On your mark,” Ronnie murmured, her head going back, her dark hair floating in the water. “Get set…”

“Ohhhh!” I gasped when she reached over and hit the button again, making the jets pulse even faster, harder.

“Go!” she cried, rolling her hips and riding the spray. The water in the tub, already high, splashed over the edge, but neither of us cared.

I spread my thighs wide, gripping the edge of the tub and rocking fast, faster, the water pounding against my pussy, making my belly and ass clench in sweet anticipation. It was going to be a very short race-the finish line wasn’t far away at all.

Ronnie glanced over at me, her eyes only half-open, as she moaned, “So close, baby…”

Just seeing her, face flushed with heat, legs spread, belly rising up from the water, her breasts trembling with her impending orgasm, pushed me over the edge.

“Closer!” I gasped, slapping my whole pussy against the side of the tub, again and again, the hot thrill of the water making me shudder as I came, feeling Ronnie’s hand clasped over mine, hearing her cries as she surged over the finish line just after me.

I collapsed into the tub and she did, too, as we clung to each other, still trembling.

“I won,” I said with a grin. “Losers get to clean up.”

“Brat!” She groaned, looking over at the mess of water we’d sloshed out of the tub. “Wanna go best two out of three?”

“Can’t.” I laughed, standing up and getting out. “I’ve got a date with a dance floor tonight.”

“Too bad it isn’t with Josh, hmm?” she teased, and I glanced over as got a new towel—the other was a wet mess on the floor now-and wrapped it around myself, seeing her hand moving lazily between her thighs, again-insatiable! “He’s quite a hottie.”

“Don’t remind me,” I pouted.

“Well hurry back, we can have some more fun tonight when TJ gets home,” she purred.

“Gotta go get ready.” I shut the door behind me, hearing the unmistakable sounds of her touching herself. I smiled when the jets went on again and headed downstairs to my room.

“Going out with your new man?” Gretchen asked as I came into the kitchen.

Ronnie was sitting at the table eating a bagel spread with red pepper paste and peanut butter. She’d had the weirdest food cravings since she got pregnant.

“Heading over to 1 Oak with Lil.” I opened the fridge to get a bottled water.

Gretchen put her container of yogurt in the garbage and her spoon in the sink, returning to the table. “And what are you and TJ doing tonight?” Ronnie licked red peanut butter off her finger. “We just got Avatar from Netflix.”

“Wow. Domestic bliss.” Gretchen made a face, turning to look at me. “Mind if I come with you?”

“Hey, we’re not that boring!” Ronnie protested, washing her peanut butter concoction down with milk.

Gretchen grinned and winked. “Don’t hate me because I walk on the wild side.”

“Go then!” Ronnie laughed, waving her away. “I’ll have a quiet night at home with my husband for a change.”

“You can come if you want.” I didn’t really care. I was only going because I knew I’d been horribly neglectful of my friendship with Lil. What I really wanted to be doing was anything-and everything-with Josh.

“Gimme five minutes.” Gretchen hopped up and headed upstairs to the guest bedroom, the one across from Ronnie and TJ’s. She was wearing shorts and a t-shirt-

the weather had become summer-warm lately, and both Ronnie and Beth were out of school now. Granted, Gretchen’s long, tanned legs looked good in Daisy Duke shorts, but it definitely wasn’t 1 Oak attire.

I took the chair she had vacated across from Ronnie. “How’s the apartment hunt coming?”

She glanced over at me, speculative. “You don’t like having Gretchen here?”

“It’s not that.” I shrugged, although a part of me really didn’t like knowing she was sleeping upstairs, right across the hall from them. “I just wondered.”

“She’s still looking. I went to see a few places with her yesterday.” Ronnie took a gulp of milk. “Don’t be too late, okay? Beth’s sleeping at Isabella’s tonight, but I’d like to go to the park tomorrow.”

“Okay.” I could easily make that promise, knowing I wouldn’t be going home with anyone else tonight. My phone vibrated and I took it out of my purse. Lil texting me. Of course.

Great. Now I was going to have to entertain Gretchen all night and be the third wheel to Lil and Alek. They were, according to Lil, officially a “thing” now. This night couldn’t get any better.

FAB! I texted her back, glad my phone couldn’t convey sarcasm.

“Okay, let’s get this show on the road.” I looked up and blinked as Gretchen appeared in the doorway, all long tawny limbs and white-blond hair. The silver skirt she was wearing rode high on her thighs, making her legs look even longer. Of course, the four inch black heels on her feet didn’t hurt either. She was wearing a black halter-like top that tied at the neck, putting her cleavage on display.

“Ready?” I asked.

“I was born ready, sweetie.” She winked at Ronnie as we headed out the door.

Once we were in 1 Oak—which proved to be even easier when Gretchen was with us—it wasn’t as bad as I’d anticipated. Lil hugged me hard, and I was genuinely glad to see her, even if Alek was tagging along behind. He was an okay dancer, but he mostly liked to watch from the bar, so Gretchen joined Lil and me on the floor and we rocked the night away. The DJ was good, every song better than the last, and it was at least an hour before I even thought about leaving the floor.

“Alek will buy us drinks,” Lil panted as she grabbed my hand, finally dragging me off. Gretchen followed, piling her hair up on her head with one hand to cool her neck.

Mine was already up—I knew how hot it got out there. I dug into my purse and pulled out a ponytail holder.

“Here,” I said, offering it to her. She smiled a thanks-it was really too loud to do much more-and proceeded to whip her hair up into a complicated knot on her head, securing it with the band.

“Sex on the beach,” Lil announced, handing me one, Gretchen another.

Gretchen took that, too, sipping gratefully, and then grinned. She leaned in to yell, “I wish!”

I smiled, sipping my own. They were so light on the alcohol here, which sucked for twenty dollar drinks, but it really helped quench my thirst. It also helped take the edge off just a little, because now that I wasn’t dancing, and Alek and Lil were kissing at the bar, I was thinking about and missing Josh.

“Bathroom!” Gretchen announced, putting her empty glass on the bar. “And we’re doing shots when I get back!”

Inwardly, I groaned. Waking up with a hangover when we had a playdate the next day wasn’t on my agenda.

“You shouldn’t go alone!” I yelled over the music.

“I’ll go.” Lil slipped off the bar stool, giving Alek another kiss before taking Gretchen’s hand and going with her downstairs.

I sipped my drink, watching the people dancing. Alek turned back to the bar, putting in another order and slapping a hundred-dollar bill down. We had an understanding when Lil wasn’t around-we ignored each other.

I stiffened as arms slipped around my waist, and a soft feminine voice whispered the words into my ear. “Oh sweetie, you look good enough to eat tonight.” Catherine. I swallowed, feeling her move against me to the beat of the music, her mouth next to my ear. “So, I hear you’re dating my husband.” I shrugged, not wanting to yell to be heard, my face filling with heat and I was glad I was flushed from dancing already.

“I just want to know one thing,” she murmured, her mouth close to my ear. “Why Josh and not me?”

“Oh, Cat,” I whispered, knowing she couldn’t hear me. I sighed, turning around in the circle of her arms-she had long limbs and an incredible reach. Her eyes were sad, hurt, but she was trying to hide it, smiling anyway as she looked down at me. I put my arms around her neck, my mouth to her ear. “I can’t help it.” Her arms tightened around me for a moment and she murmured, “I know,” before she let me go.

“I’m sorry.” I said it loud so she’d hear me. This was so not the place to talk about this.

“He’s an amazing man.” She gave me a genuine smile now that reached her eyes. “And as the lesbian who married him, I’m more than qualified to say that!” We looked at each other and burst out laughing.

“What’s so funny?” Lil asked, joining Alek back at the bar, Gretchen following.

I waved her question away, still smiling. “Lil, you know Catherine?” They nodded at each other. I didn’t even bother to introduce Alek, but Catherine leaned in to ask me,

“Who’s your other friend?”

“Gretchen,” I called. Her back was to us as she downed a clear shot of something that Alek had set on the bar for her before she turned fully to face us. “This is my friend, Catherine.”

They looked at each other for a minute, and even I felt it, like a wave of heat, passing between them.

“Hi Cat.” Gretchen grinned.”Nice to see you again.”

I startled. “You know each other?”

“Gretchen!” Catherine squealed, sliding over and slipping an arm around Gretchen’s waist to give her a long, open-mouthed kiss. I stood there, gaping at the two women, and I wasn’t the only one. They were quite a sight, the leggy redhead and the tall blonde French-kissing at the bar.

Gretchen saw me staring when they broke their kiss and winked, answering the question I’d almost forgotten I’d asked. “I’m a fashion photographer. She’s a model.

’Nuff said.”

“Let’s dance,” Catherine purred, leading Gretchen onto the dance floor

“Come on, Alek,” Lil begged, tugging on his hand. “Dance with me!” He relented, following her, and there I was, left sitting at the bar with two shots—Gretchen was the only one who’d taken hers-watching Gretchen and Cat grind on the dance floor while Lil did some Dirty Dancing routine with Alek.

And I’d thought the night couldn’t get any worse.

“Fuck it,” I muttered. I downed both shots and ordered two more, even though Alek wasn’t around to pay for it.

I’d already done both of those when my phone buzzed in my purse. I dug it out and looked at the number.

Josh.

“Hello?” I yelled, already heading for the door. There was no way we could have a conversation in here.

“Janie?” Yep, it was Josh. My stomach clenched in excitement, just hearing his voice. “I can hardly hear you!”

I pushed past the bouncer at the door onto the street, the heat and pounding music of the club behind me now, the warm summer night air filling my lungs.

“Better?” I walked a little ways away, leaning against the wall.

“Much.” I could hear his smile. “Where are you?”

“1 Oak with Lil,” I said, feeling guilty, knowing he was in some hotel in Boston.

“I’ve been neglecting her.”

“I trust you won’t be going home with anyone tonight?” he teased.

I blushed, thinking of Catherine. I couldn’t tell him what I’d just seen his soon-to-be ex-wife doing.

“I miss you,” I confessed.

“I miss you, too.” He sighed. “Here you are, out having a good time, and I’m all alone in my hotel room wondering what you’re wearing.”

“You’re bad.” I laughed. “Remember that red dress?”

“How could I forget it?” He groaned. “Panties?”

“Red. Silk.”

He groaned again. “Don’t tease me.”

“Well then stop asking…”

His voice sounded strained. “I can’t stop thinking about you.”

“Josh…” I looked around at the people coming and going, in cars and on foot, getting in line for judgment at 1 Oak, most turned away in shame. “You know, I’m standing right outside of the club…”

“And I’m in bed stroking my cock, thinking about you in the damned dress…” My whole body felt electrified. “Oh god… Josh…”

“You have the sweetest little mouth, you know that?” I could imagine him, his hand shuttling up and down the length of his dick, and the thought made my knees shaky. Of course, the four shots of JD with no chaser hadn’t helped. I was pretty drunk.

“My pussy’s even sweeter…” I turned toward the wall, hoping no one passing was paying attention or could hear me.

“Jeez, girl, you’re gonna kill me…” He took a long, shuddering breath. “I should let you get back to Lil.”

“And leave you all alone?” I teased.

“I am all alone, I’m afraid.”

“What if I was there?”

“I’d be the happiest man in the world.”

I lowered my voice, holding the phone close. “Would you fuck me?”

“Every possible way I could think of,” he assured me. “And then I’d do it again.” I gasped and whispered, “You’re making me wet.”

“I’m so hard, baby, I could pole vault on this thing,” he confessed.

I waited for a couple to pass me before asking, “Will you stroke it for me?”

“I am,” he growled, and I could imagine him. Oh god. I leaned my forehead against the wall, feeling faint.

“Will you come for me?” I closed my eyes, the picture of him in my head so clear I could almost climb into bed with him.

“It’s always for you, Janie,” he whispered, and I could tell by his breath he was doing it for me, tugging on his dick, wishing it was my hand, or my mouth, or my pussy…

“Tell me…” I urged, hearing people pass by but keeping my eyes closed, turned toward the wall. “Tell me what you’re imagining.”

“You in that red dress. Sitting in my lap. Jesus I wanted to fuck you right there.” His breath caught and I heard him moan softly.

“What else?” I urged.

“Your mouth on my cock,” he said, panting now.

“Mmmm. Did you like it?”

“Fucking loved it,” he grunted. “I thought I was gonna come right there when you grabbed my hand and put it between your legs.”

I sighed softly at the memory, squeezing my thighs together. My panties were sopping. “That was sooo good.”

“I can’t stop thinking about your wet little pussy,” he admitted, his voice even lower. He was getting lost in his fantasy and I was going along for the ride. “God, I want to lick you.”

“Oh yes…” I swallowed, my pussy clenching at the thought.

“So fucking sweet…” he breathed. “I want to bury my face in your cunt…” I smiled, opening my eyes to see a group of people walking by. They had no idea what I was doing, standing there listening to Josh jerk off on the phone. “That’s not all you want to bury there, I hope.”

“Not by a long shot… ahhhh god, Janie, I’m so hard for you…” He gasped and I closed my eyes again, biting my lip. “You want this cock, baby?”

“You have no idea,” I whispered.

“Are you wet?”

“Oh my god yes.”

“Can you touch yourself?”

“Not here…” I glanced around. Far too many people. “Are you doing it…for me?”

“Yes,” he whispered. “I wish you were right here in my lap.” I smiled and purred, “I wanna go for a ride.”

He groaned, his breath coming so fast.

“A long…hard…fast ride.”

“Janie…” he begged. “Oh god, Janie…”

“Yes, Josh,” I urged. “Do it for me.”

“It’s all for you, baby,” he cried. “Oh! Ohhhh!”

“Oh god, Josh, yes!” I cradled the phone, keeping my voice low. “Please. Please.”

“Ahhh fuck!” He growled and snarled and I knew this was it. I closed my eyes and waited for it, imagining him, cock in hand, stroking fast and furious for me. “I’m gonna come for you!”

He groaned loudly and I pressed the phone hard against my ear, hoping no one could hear the sound of his pleasure. It vibrated all through me.

“Oh,” I breathed. “Wow.”

“Christ, Janie,” he panted. “You make me crazy.”

“Ditto.” I swallowed hard, my head swimming. “I’m the nutty one standing outside of 1 Oak.”

He chuckled. “Did you give anyone a show?”

“There you are!” I recognized the voice behind me and cringed.

“Hang on,” I said to Josh as I covered the mouth piece with my hand.

“I couldn’t find you inside!” Gretchen glanced at my cell as she came over to me.

I saw Catherine standing at the curb, waiting for her driver to open the limo door. “I’m going home with Catherine,” Gretchen explained. “Will you tell TJ and Ronnie I won’t be home tonight?”

“Sure.” Catherine blew me a kiss before getting into the car. “Have fun,” I said, watching Gretchen as she walked back to the limo and got inside.

“Okay, I’m back.” I put the phone to my ear.

“What was that?” he asked, sounding curious.

“A long story.” I sighed. “Josh, can I call you in half an hour?”

“Sure.”

“Stay right where you are…” I purred. “And definitely keep doing what you’re doing…”

“Mmmm.” I heard him smiling. “Yes ma’am! Half an hour?”

“Be ready.”

“I will be,” he promised as I hung up the phone.

I texted Lil that I was going home-I knew she wouldn’t care if Alek was out there dancing with her-and when I got there, I told Ronnie and TJ that Gretchen probably wouldn’t be home all night.

I also declined their offer to go to bed with them, probably for the first time ever.

Instead, I went to my room to call Josh back.

“Are you ready?” I was already stripped naked and in bed.

“And waiting,” he agreed, his voice barely above a whisper.

We were off to the races.