Kinky Confessions

Chapter 22

Christy and I decided to fly home a day early. We called the airline first and then Brooke.

“She’s fine with it,” Christy said as she hung up. “She has finals the rest of the week anyway. She’s still depressed about Fletcher, but…”

“It takes time,” I finished.

“Yeah.” Christy turned thoughtful and then said, “I was over Simon long before I broke off the engagement. It still feels weird to say that, though.

‘Engagement.’ I mean, I was barely eighteen when I met him. I thought I loved him, and maybe I did, but…” She shrugged. “To thine own self be true, right?”

“Easier said than done.”

“You can say that again. No, don’t. Anyway, I was over him, duh. But Brooke was still in love. At least, she thought she was. I’m not so sure, but who knows? She’s always been weird about her feelings. Even weirder about guys. She really came out of her shell with you, though. And now I think I understand why women throw themselves at you, like that flight attendant.”

“Women don’t throw themselves at me,” I said, “but… yeah, I know what you mean. I treat them like equals. I try to, at least. I still have stupid chauvinist moments, but I’m doing better.”

“At least you realize it. Most guys don’t.”

“No. I’ve been like that since Susan set me straight. Well, Susan and several other women. I’ve been lucky.”

“Mmm hmm. But only with the major ones, the ones who weren’t just notches on your bedpost. Oh, and for the record, I noticed that little comment.

You slipped it in when we were talking to Brooke yesterday.”

“You notice everything,” I parroted, “especially where I’m concerned.”

“And don’t you forget it, mister. But some of the others,” she continued without a pause, “the ones who were just notches…? Ugh! I don’t even know about half of them, but you have some real mistakes in your past.”

“Maybe. I let the little head make too many decisions. But I’m not the only one with mistakes in my past.”

“I had one! Vaughn. The others were nice guys. Not husband material, but still nice guys.”

“So I’m ‘husband material’?” I teased.

“You know you are. All my friends say so. Even my dad agrees. Rich is still on the fence, but he’s always been stubborn. Mom and I’ll bring him around, don’t worry.”

“Speaking of which,” I said, “we need to let your mom know we’re leaving early.”

“I think she’ll be fine with it. She’s been… weird… all weekend.”

Christy blushed and lowered her eyes. “I think she knows. What we were up to, I mean.”

I barked a laugh.

“What’s so funny?”

“Oh, she knows. We… um… ‘talked’ about it.”

Christy’s eyebrows hit the stratosphere.

“Not in so many words,” I added quickly, “but… we talked around it.”

“I should’ve known,” she said once she recovered. “She’s like me. Or I’m like her. Whichever. She sees everything and figures stuff out.”

“Mmm hmm. Which is why she went to early Mass yesterday and stayed late at her charity dinner. She could’ve come home earlier, I’m sure.”

“Yeah, you’re probably right,” Christy admitted. “Still, it feels weird to know she knows.”

“Oh, I know. I flip out whenever my mom mentions things I didn’t think she knew.”

“Yeah, but your mom’s different. Ha! I can say that again!” After a moment she shook her head and mused, “Never in a million years…”

“And you’re okay with… um… ‘things’?”

“That’s still a major understatement, but yes, I am. I told you, I won’t let anyone come between us. Not Rich, not that flight attendant, not even your mother.”

We shared a smile before I looked at my watch.

“Time to go?” she said.

“Yeah. We need to tell your mom and then start packing. I know how long you take. And remember, I have to check in at the gate an hour early.”

“Oh, that’s right! I forgot. Can’t we just buy you a regular ticket? Then we can get there whenever.”

“No,” I said firmly. “Last-minute tickets cost a fortune. Remember Thanksgiving?”

“Ugh, don’t remind me.”

“Right. So come on, Little Bit, we have a plane to catch. And then two whole days…”

“Two whole days,” she echoed dreamily.

“We can do anything we want and not have to worry about getting caught.” I let that sink in before I added, “But not if we miss our flight. Our schedule’s tight enough as it is. So, chop-chop.”

“Yes, sir, captain, sir!”

We made it to Atlanta without a problem, which was nice for a change. But our flight landed a little before midnight, and I wasn’t looking forward to a three-hour drive to Knoxville. I’d done it before, but I had a better idea instead.

“Hey,” I said as we walked out to the car, “I’ve been thinking…”

“Should I be nervous?” Christy joked.

“No. Although… maybe, yeah.”

“Then I think it’s a great idea!”

“You haven’t even heard it yet.”

“Whither thou goest, I will go.”

“I was thinking of spending the night here instead of driving home.

Besides, I… um… I’m pretty sure you have a kidnap or rape fantasy in that sexy imagination of yours.”

She stopped in her tracks and simply stared at me.

“Uh-huh, thought so.” I gestured for her to keep walking. “It’s more common than you’d think.”

“Still,” she muttered, “I didn’t expect you to just… guess.”

“I wasn’t guessing. Besides, that was an easy one.” I unlocked the Cruiser and tossed our bags in the back. I opened the front passenger door and stood in the opening after Christy climbed into the seat. “I thought we’d check into a hotel— No, a motel, someplace a real kidnapper would choose. I’ll abduct you from the parking lot and take you back to the room. Then I’ll have my way with you. Repeatedly.”

She swallowed hard.

“But that’s the kind of thing we need to talk about before we do it. So, I wanted to make sure you’re okay with it.”

“I… I think so. You have to promise me something, though.”

“Oh? What?”

“You won’t come inside me. We can’t mess around with that. Yesterday was our last safe day. Today’s danger week.” She sensed my reluctance and continued, “We can still do it, but you have to pull out. Come in my mouth or on my stomach or… anywhere but inside me.”

“I can stop and get some condoms—”

“No! I want to feel you, the real you.”

I felt my frustration building, so I clamped down on my emotions.

Christy noticed anyway. “I know you think I’m being silly. Brooke gave me a lecture too. So please don’t start. This is my way, the Catholic way. And it’s the only way I can do it if we want to… have sex.” She folded her hands in her lap and stared at them. “We don’t have to if you don’t want to. We can go back to before, to just blowjobs.”

“Do you want that?”

“No. I want to feel you inside me. But you can’t come. You have to promise.”

I inhaled through my nose and exhaled slowly.

“We can still do it, as often as we like!” She lowered her eyes again.

“Only… we have to be careful.”

“You realize that ‘careful sex’ is difficult at best, impossible at worst?”

“It doesn’t have to be,” she said in a small voice. When I didn’t respond after a moment, she continued in a rush, “Please, Paul, I’m really trying to make it work.”

“Yeah, I know,” I said at last. “I’m just frustrated.”

“I can tell.”

“I’m not good at hiding it, am I?”

“No. But I’d still know.”

“Probably,” I admitted. I took another deep breath and tried to find an island of calm.

“I love you,” she said after a moment.

“I love you too.”

“And you know I’ll do anything for you. Anything. Just… not this.”

“I know. I’m not ready for kids yet either.”

“Oh my gosh, no!”

“So, I guess we’ll have to be… careful.” I even managed to say the word without a sneer.

“Thank you. I wish I would just take the pill or use a diaphragm or even get an IUD.” She gave me a sheepish look. “Brooke and I had a long discussion last week, before you got there.”

“Brooke’s smart. You should listen to her.”

“She is. But she isn’t Catholic.”

“No.”

“So we have to do this the Catholic way. And that means you have to pull out.” She ducked her head to look up at me hopefully. “You can come in my mouth. I’ll be your own personal sperm bank.”

“You already are.” I took another deep breath and forced an attitude adjustment.

“Only, do you think we can have a normal night?” she asked. “Stay at a regular hotel, maybe even a nice one, and you can make love to me? I swear, you can kidnap me some other time. Tonight I just want to feel you inside me and know you still love me.”

“I do love you. Sometimes you drive me crazy—”

“Sometimes I drive myself crazy.”

“—but I’ll survive. So, yeah, we can have a normal night.”

“I’ll make it worth your while. I promise.” She ventured a smile. “And since we didn’t get to fool around this morning, I know you have plenty of pressure built up. I’d better relieve you before we do anything else.”

“Oh? You have something in mind?”

“Maybe a repeat of the last time we were here? And I should probably take my dress off. I don’t want semen stains on it. Not that I plan to let any escape, mind you.”

“My own personal sperm bank, huh? And then next week all of you will be, ahem, ‘open for deposits’?”

“Oh, yes, sir! Open for deposits, bent over for deposits, tied up for

deposits, whatever you like. Morning, noon, and night. Five, six, seven deposits a day! And the best interest rate in town.” She grinned coyly. “I’m always interested.”

“Ha! Good one.”

“Are you ready to make your first deposit, Mr. Sperm Donor?” She leaned forward and kissed me. “You know you can’t stay mad at me.”

“I can’t.”

“I thought you’d see it my way.”

“Did I have a choice?”

“Of course! But not anymore. Now you’re stuck with me.”

“I can think of worse things.”

“Worse than a girlfriend who insists on Catholic birth control?”

“Much worse. Besides, it’s only one week a month.”

“I know. I don’t like it either, but…”

“It beats the alternative.”

“It does. Now, if you’ll please get in the car. You owe me a deposit.”

We made it to Knoxville with a minimum of fuss. The weather was beautiful, so we drove with the windows down and the radio blasting. We stopped at the grocery store on the way into town and then opened all the windows in the house to let in the fresh spring air.

We had the place to ourselves for at least another day and a half, so we didn’t have to worry about sneaking around or getting caught. We had sex whenever and wherever we wanted, and my only complaint was that I couldn’t come inside her. Even so, it was more of a challenge than it should’ve been. Christy enjoyed sex almost as much as giving head, and her pussy felt so good that pulling out was usually the last thing I wanted to do.

I was tempted to give her an ultimatum—take the pill or we stop having sex—but that would only start an argument. Her mother was right, she was the most stubborn one in the family. Her father had a pragmatic streak that she clearly hadn’t inherited. I suspected that Rich was the same, but he wasn’t in bed with me at the moment.

Christy looked up in alarm when I shuddered. “What?”

“Nothing,” I lied. “Random thought.”

I silently cursed my imagination and focused on the birth control dilemma. Some part of me wanted to start an argument, to try one more time to get her to see reason. Unfortunately, reason had nothing to do with it, so I couldn’t change her mind with logic. I directed my energy at something positive instead.

“Are you ready for a snack? And then maybe a long soak in the tub with a glass of whiskey?”

“Oh my gosh, you read my mind,” she said, although she wasn’t completely oblivious to my frustration. “But first… thank you.”

“For what?”

“Putting up with me and my nonsense.”

“All part of the package,” I said lightly.

She wasn’t ready to let herself off the hook that easily. “Brooke says I’m being selfish. Wren will too, probably. Not that it’s any of her business either.”

“No. It’s yours and mine. And—”

The phone rang.

“We can talk later,” she said. “Better see who it is.”

I stretched toward the nightstand and snatched the receiver. “Hello?”

“Hey!” Trip said. “Dude, you’re a hard guy to find.”

I mouthed his name to Christy and then said aloud, “Oh?”

“Yeah. I tried calling Christy’s house and left a message. Then I called your parents’, but your mom said you’d left on Saturday. So I tried this number, just in case.”

“Well, you found us,” I said. “We got home yesterday afternoon.”

“Ah, cool. Anyway, why I’m calling… Wren and I are back in Atlanta, at her house. We’re gonna spend the night here. We’ll be home tomorrow night.

Not sure when, but probably late. Wanted to let you know, so you don’t wait up for us.”

“Everything okay?”

“Yeah. I’m just not sure if I’m s’posed to tell you or not. Wren’s in one of her ‘prove she can do it without you’ moods.”

My eyebrows rose with amusement.

“So,” he said into the silence, “we’re gonna hang out with Mark and Leah tonight, and probably Erin.”

“Ah, one of those parties.”

“Right. But you didn’t hear it from me.” In a louder voice he said, “We’re

going to stay here and then come home tomorrow night. Just wanted to let you know.”

I grinned. “Wren just walked in, didn’t she?”

“Yeah. We had a great time, very relaxing,” he added for her benefit.

Then, “Hold on, Wren wants to talk to you.”

“Hey,” she said. “I don’t believe for a minute that he didn’t tell you what’s going on. I have a bone to pick with you, though.”

“Me? What’d I do?”

“Why didn’t you tell us Erin and Leah were in Destin? They were a mile down the beach from us the whole time. We only found out tonight.”

“Sorry,” I said and meant it. “It didn’t even occur to me. I… um… was busy with my mom in Atlanta.”

Christy rolled her eyes. It was a whopper, all right.

“Then I was a little preoccupied once I got to San Diego,” I continued.

“Well, did you do it?” Wren asked bluntly.

“You’re such a romantic.”

“I don’t know what’s wrong with you. She wants you to—”

“Wren! Stop. Think about it. Where are we? Right now, I mean.”

“Who? You and Christy? At home. Why?”

“Well, we’re all alone, without family or roommates or anyone else to distract us.”

“Distract you from what, though?”

“Playing Scrabble. Duh.”

Wren huffed in frustration. “I don’t know why I put up with you.”

“Be nice,” Christy said, quiet but intense. “Go ahead and tell her. She’ll find out anyway.”

“Sorry,” I said to Wren. “I couldn’t resist. We haven’t been playing Scrabble.”

“Oh? Monopoly, then?”

“Ha! No, Horizontal Hula.” I grinned at the silence from the other end of the line. “Hello?”

“I’m sorry. Did you say—?”

“Horizontal Hula,” I repeated, “the latest dance craze sweeping the nation.”

“Why did I ever like you?” she asked dryly. “Let me talk to Christy.”

“Chill out, Wren. I’m just messing with you.”

“I know. That’s—”

“And I’d let you talk to Christy, but she’s a little preoccupied at the moment. We’re in bed, and she wants to have sex again.”

“Now I know you’re messing with me,” Wren said after a pause. “Let me talk to her.”

“No, I’m serious.”

She hesitated. “For real?”

Christy rolled her eyes. She gestured for the phone, so I handed it to her.

“Hello? Hi! Yes, he’s serious. Uh-huh.” She listened and grinned.

“Sunday morning. And then again, like, four times Sunday night.” She held the phone away from her ear as Wren screamed.

“I know, right?” she said when she could talk again. “We stayed at a hotel Monday night. You can imagine. Then yesterday afternoon and all day today.

Uh-huh.” She listened. “No. I’m a little sore, but that’s all.” She shot me a guilty look and said, “Yeah, I know. But I’ll tell you everything when you get home. Uh-huh. I swear. Thanks, me too. Okay. I love you too. Bye.”

She pushed the button to hang up, and I replaced the phone in its cradle.

“Sorry about that,” she said. “She wanted details. Duh. I told her I’d tell her later.”

“I heard. But… are you really sore?”

“Yeah. I didn’t want to tell you, though.”

“You should’ve.”

“But it’s a good sore, like after a long day skiing.”

“This is different. I don’t want to hurt you.”

“But what if I want you to?”

“Then we’ll compromise.”

She shook her head. “This is one of those times you just have to trust me.

Okay? I’m still getting used to you, your size. But it feels good. I swear. I wouldn’t keep doing it if it didn’t.”

“Are you sure? I’ve been trying to go easy, but… sometimes I get carried away.”

“I like it when you do.” She grinned. “When you ram your big cock into me. Oh, oh, please give it to me!”

“You’ve been watching too much porn.”

“I have not!” she squawked. “Well, not since last week.”

“Are you serious?”

“Of course. Brooke’s parents have a bunch of movies. Some really good ones, too. Speaking of which, do you think we can get a VCR and TV here?

Brooke knows how to copy tapes. And I’d like to watch them with you.” She shifted gears and said, “In the meantime, you promised me another round.”

“Huh? What?”

“When you were talking to Wren. You said I wanted to have sex again.

Well, I do.”

“You’re going to kill me. You know that, right? You’re insatiable.”

“Mmm, I am. And this time I’ll try to do better about paying attention.”

She reached between us and began massaging my dick back to life. “I want to suck you anyway. I’ve missed having you in my mouth.”

“Yeah,” I said, more to myself than anything, “why did I ever think you were a goody-goody?”

“I don’t know, but I’m glad you came to your senses.”

“Me too.”

“Now, if you’ll roll over, I’ll suck you properly. Then I can ride you until you’re ready to come in my mouth.”

“Who could possibly refuse an offer like that?”

“Who indeed? Now, on your back, mister!”

Trip and Wren returned late the next evening. They were tired from their trip but happy to be home and happy to see us. Wren clearly wanted to talk to Christy and hear details about spring break, but Trip was ready for bed. I thought she’d argue or tell him to go up by himself, but she said goodnight to Christy and promised to talk to her later. Then she gave me a friendly hug and kiss on the cheek.

“About time,” she whispered. “Good job.”

“You are so single-minded,” I chuckled.

“I am when I want something. What’s wrong with that? Especially when it’s your happiness?”

“Fair enough,” I agreed. “Glad you’re home safe. We’ll see you in the morning.”

They said goodnight and headed upstairs.

“She drives me crazy sometimes,” Christy said once they’d gone, “but other times she’s the nicest, most considerate person I know.”

“Peel an onion,” I said. “There’s lots of layers.”

“You can say that again. But now you made me think of food.”

“Midnight snack?”

“You know me so well.”

“And then afterward, maybe a bedtime story?”

“Oh? What do you have in mind?”

“The Princess and the Penis?”

“Oh, boy.”

“Goldilocks and the Three Boners?”

“Here we go.”

“Snow White and the Seven Dicks?”

“Oh my gosh, stop!” She rolled her eyes. “And for the record, I only need one dick, yours.”

“Yeah, but seven times.”

“Of course. But feed me first. Then you can dick me as many times as you like.”

The next morning we left the house after breakfast and headed to campus.

We’d missed the upperclass-only registration, so we had to contend with everyone. We split into couples and headed off to our separate ordeals.

Christy and I finished a little after lunchtime, but Trip and Wren didn’t return to the house until much later. She was too frazzled to cook, so Christy and I made a pizza run.

Over dinner, Wren told us about her day. She’d tried to submit her application to graduate only to learn that she didn’t qualify. She needed three more credit-hours. And since she already had a full course load for the quarter, she had to get both her advisor’s and the dean’s permission to add another class. Any general elective would do, as long as it met for three hours a week. She’d spent the entire afternoon filling out forms and chasing down signatures.

“What did you end up with?” I asked.

“Don’t laugh,” she said. “Dance Appreciation.”

“Why would I laugh? It sounds like a no-brainer.”

“Yeah, well… my brain’s already gonna be mush, so I wanted something I don’t have to think about. I tried to take Swimming, but it’s only a two-hour

class. All the sports classes are. Two hours! That’s it!”

“The Big Orange Screw,” Trip said.

Wren huffed in disgust. “I’m sick of it. I don’t care anymore. I just wanna graduate.”

“Dance Appreciation will be fun,” Christy said. “When does it meet?”

Something about her tone made me worry about my own schedule.

“Monday-Wednesday-Friday,” Wren said. “Late afternoon. That’s one of the reasons I picked it. It works with the rest of my schedule. I won’t have time for anything else, but I’ll be able to graduate in June.”

“We could take it too,” Christy said to me.

“Oh, no!” I said immediately. “I’m already taking seventeen hours, and six of those are Joska’s design class. You have a full load yourself.”

“Siobhan would approve the extra hours for me. And you’re Professor Joska’s favorite. I’m sure he’ll approve. We could do it together, all four of us.”

“Are you kidding?” Trip blurted. “I’m taking twenty hours already, and I had to argue with Joska to get him to approve it.”

“So? Drop a class and take dance with us instead.”

“Is she serious?” he asked me.

“Sounds like it,” I said. “And it’s no use fighting, dude.”

“Says you! She isn’t my girlfriend.”

“Yeah, but your girlfriend has to take the class, and since misery loves company…”

“When’re we gonna have time?” he snapped. “On top of school and everything else, we have to keep an eye on the boarding house. Yeah, it’ll be finished soon, but then we have to do the planning and prep for Susan’s renovation. That’s a lot of extra work. Besides—”

“Dude, chill out,” I said calmly. “Extra work’s never bothered you.

Aren’t you the one who wanted to work through the Fourth of July last year.”

“That was different!”

“How?” Wren asked.

Her voice was deceptively mild, but Trip wasn’t so upset that he missed it. He surveyed us and realized he was going to lose, one way or another. To his credit, he decided to do it gracefully.

“Yeah, all right,” he said. “I’ll talk to Joska on Monday.” He shot me a glare. “But you’re coming with me. Christy’s right, you’re his favorite.”

“Coulda fooled me,” I snorted.

“You are,” Christy insisted. “And if he won’t approve it, I’ll ask him. No one can resist me. I’m too cute.”

“Yeah, you are,” Wren said. She smiled at Trip and wearily rested her head on his shoulder. His glare didn’t soften, but he automatically put his arm around her.

Sorry, I told him with a look. I owe you.

He nodded and eventually relaxed his jaw.

“So it’s settled?” Christy said. “We’re all taking Dance.”

“That was a really mean thing you did to Trip.”

Christy and I were in the privacy of our bedroom, but I still kept my voice down. She looked up from her nightly routine.

“So? He deserved it,” she said. “He expects Wren to make all the sacrifices, while he gets to do whatever he wants.”

“He makes sacrifices. Trust me. You know what she’s like, how she has to be in charge. Besides, it’s their relationship, not yours.”

“But she’s my girlfriend. Everyone said so.”

I decided to change tacks. “Choose your battles. I was easy to convince.

Besides, I already knew you wanted to start taking dance lessons.”

“I wasn’t sure you remembered,” she said.

“I remember everything where you’re concerned.”

“What is it you say? Touché?”

“Mmm hmm. So I don’t mind taking the class with you, especially if we can do it with Wren. But Trip’s different. He’s pretty focused—”

“And the rest of us aren’t? Why’s he so special?”

“He isn’t,” I conceded. “But he’s trying to get an Architecture degree and a Business minor. That’s a pretty big deal, and he has to argue with Joska every quarter to get permission.”

“So Wren’s just supposed to give up what she wants because Trip has a plan? What about her plans? She’s trying to graduate and get a job. That’s more than the rest of us.”

“Yeah, you’re right,” I said. “So… why’re we fighting?”

“How should I know? You started it.”

“I felt guilty for making Trip change his schedule.”

“And… um… maybe I was annoyed,” she admitted. “At Trip, I mean.

Now that you and I’ve gone all the way, he acts like he gets to sleep with me, no questions asked.”

My eyes widened in surprise.

“Yeah. You probably can’t tell, but I can.”

“Ah, now I get it,” I said. “Wren wants us to become swingers—”

“And Trip thinks we will—”

“But you aren’t sure—”

“No,” she said, almost too soft to hear. “And I don’t like it when—”

“He treats you like a sure thing, an easy lay.”

“For the record, I’m not an easy lay, thank you very much!”

“Ha! You can say that again.”

“I’m not an easy lay.”

“I deserved that.” I gathered her in my arms and kissed her forehead.

“Now I understand what you were doing tonight. You were pushing back, showing Trip you’re still in control.”

“I don’t know what I was doing,” she admitted. “I just know that he annoyed me.”

“Note to self, don’t annoy Birdy.” I pulled back and looked down at her.

“Your mother called you that. This weekend. When I was talking to her after you and Brooke went off to talk about us.”

“She does that sometimes,” Christy said. “She’s normally very proper, like my nana. She calls us by our full names too.”

“Your Boston nana? Your mom’s mom?”

“Uh-huh. But every once in a while Mom or Nana will call me Birdy, usually when I’ve done something really silly.”

“I don’t know what made me think of it,” I mused. “Just… sometimes you seem like Birdy. Or Bunny or Little Bit or Sunshine.” I chuckled. “I have more nicknames for you than all my other girlfriends combined.”

“All your past girlfriends,” she corrected.

“Ha! And I’m supposed to be good with words?”

“You’re good with them most of the time.” She hugged me tight and pressed her face to my chest. “Thank you for understanding about Trip. I never gave him permission to control me.”

“Can anyone control you? I mean, for real?”

“You can.” She looked up and met my eyes. “I’m serious. You can do anything you want.”

“So… if I told you to have sex with Trip?”

“I’d do it. But I know you won’t. You respect me. That’s why I let you control me.”

“A relationship is like a building,” I said. “If you lay the foundation right, it’ll last forever.”

“Well, you certainly laid me right. And I’m hoping you’ll do it again.

Over and over.”

“I plan to. So let’s talk about that…” I thought for a moment. “Why don’t you wear your bodystocking tonight?”

“Ooh, I like that one. It makes me feel all sleek and sexy. And you like it

’cause it’s crotchless.”

“I like it ’cause you’re in it. Now, finish your lotions and potions. I’ll be waiting in bed.”

“I’m ready,” Christy said from behind the half-open closet door. She’d gone in there so I wouldn’t see her wriggle into the bodystocking.

I set my book aside and scooted to the center of the bed. “Me too.”

She stepped into view and turned off the closet light. The bodystocking was a second skin, so she didn’t need the backlight to show off her figure.

Instead, she wanted the light from the bedside lamp, which highlighted her nipples through the sheer black fabric and cast a shadow along her bare slit.

A distracted part of me marveled at how she used light and shadow without even thinking about it.

“Wow,” I said, “that’s sexy.”

“Thank you. You’re pretty sexy yourself, especially in your birthday suit.” She climbed onto the bed and crawled toward me. Then she nudged my legs apart and settled on her stomach between them. “Hello, Mr. Penis. I missed you today, but we had to do our school stuff. You understand. I’ll make it up to you, though.”

“He was hoping you would. As a matter of fact,” I added, “he wants to talk about something.”

“Oh?”

“Yeah. He’s hoping you’ll learn how to deep throat.”

“Ooh, that’ll be fun!” She shifted her attention from him to me. “Only, I

don’t know how. I mean, duh, the ‘deep’ part is obvious. The ‘throat’ part gets a little scary, though. Don’t get me wrong, I’m willing to try, but…

please don’t be upset if I can’t do it.”

“I think you can. It just takes practice.”

“Do you know anyone who gives lessons?” she asked flippantly. “Maybe I can join a team or something?”

“Sure, Team Hughes.”

“Team Hughes? Like—?” Her eyes flew wide. “Oh my gosh! Do you mean what I think you do?”

“That depends,” I said coyly. “What do you think I mean?”

“That Erin— and your mother! Oh— my— gosh! Paul, are you serious?”

“Mmm hmm. I’m sure they’d be happy to give you some pointers.”

“No. Absolutely not. Never in a million years. I can’t ask your mother for advice on how to deep throat her own son.”

“Then ask Erin. She’s pretty good at it.”

Christy buried her face in her hands. “Why do you do this to me?”

“Do what?”

“Feed my imagination. I don’t need help, you know! And I shouldn’t get this worked up about asking Erin for advice. But she’ll ask why, and I’ll tell her. She’ll offer to demonstrate, and I’ll want to watch. I’m serious, Paul. I think of a new fantasy every time you mention her. It’s starting to drive me crazy!”

I chuckled.

She lifted her head and faux-glared. “Laugh all you like. This is easy for you. But I wasn’t raised like you.”

“I know. But you aren’t the same innocent girl you were six months ago, either.”

“I wasn’t so innocent,” she said darkly, “even back then. I was still thinking about this stuff. I just didn’t realize you were too.” She exhaled slowly and stared into space. “Sometimes it feels weird to share my fantasies.

It isn’t real if it stays in my head. You know? Like my art. And, like my art,”

she continued, “I feel like people are going to judge me if I make things real, if I talk about my fantasies. Does that make sense?”

I didn’t even have to work through the Christy-logic that time. “Yeah, it does. But you actually share your art with the world. Our sex life and fantasies are private, just between us.”

“Not really. We sort of have a private collection. With certain people, I

mean.”

“True. Not of art,” I said, “but sex.”

“Mmm hmm. Brooke knows. Erin will know. Wren knows. Some of it, at least. The vanilla stuff like swinging. Trip, Leah, Mark… the list goes on!”

“Okay, so we have a small circle of friends who know more than the general public. But they won’t judge us ’cause they’re like us.”

“I don’t think anyone’s like us,” she said. “Not like you and me, I mean.”

“No, probably not. That’s why we fit so well together.”

“Yeah, we do. Even with things that aren’t sex, like our real art. I’m drawing more since we started dating. Did you know that? Mostly sketches of you, but still. I started a new book. It’s full of ideas for things I want to sculpt.

“The same in bed,” she added. “I have all these fantasies and kinky things I want to try with you. I’ve never felt that way before. I’ve always had to keep things inside, to hide who I really was. But I don’t have to do that with you. And I guess it kind of scares me. Where do we draw the line? Is anything too weird?”

“I don’t know,” I said honestly. “Before we started dating, I’d’ve said incest was. Yeah, I fooled around with Mom and Erin, but I never did anything—”

Christy laughed and shook her head. “You’re so frustrating sometimes.

You tell me that blowjobs are sex too, but then you say things like that.”

“Like what?”

“That you never ‘did’ anything with your mom or Erin. What do you think blowjobs are? Duh!”

“Yeah, all right, you got me. But you know what I mean. I never went all the way with them.”

“I know. I’m just teasing. Only, I’m not.”

“I guess I have my own double standards.”

“You do. But you’re really cute when you realize it.”

“Thanks. I think.”

She smiled at me fondly and then sighed with contentment.

“Come up here,” I said.

“Hmm?”

“Yeah, we can get to the deep throat practice later. Right now I just want to feel you next to me.”

She crawled up and settled along my side, a tight little package in her

bodystocking.

“I like this,” I said as I put my arm around her. “And I was wondering…

where’d you get it? I mean, I can’t imagine a Girls & Young Misses department with crotchless lingerie.”

“Funny, ha ha. Go ahead, make fun of me for being small. Everyone else does. But if you must know—”

“I must, I must.”

“—Brooke and I got them from a store down by the zoo. In San Diego.

Duh. They sell lingerie and vibrators and movies and all kinds of stuff.”

“So Brooke has one of these too?”

“Of course. You didn’t think I’d go into the store alone? Oh my gosh, no!”

I chuckled.

“Besides, we have similar taste.” She glanced up to judge my reaction.

“In guys, too. She thought you were really cute. I was kind of hoping she’d get to meet Mr. Big, but… oh, well. She knows what he looks like. In all his glory, I mean.”

“All his glory? You mean hard? Hold on—?”

“I showed her sketches.”

“Of Mr. Big?”

“No! The whole you. I hope you don’t mind. I didn’t think you would, but I didn’t ask, so I’m sorry if you’re upset. She wanted to know what you looked like. I have pictures in my wallet, but I showed her my sketchbook too. And… um… I might have a few drawings where you’re playing with him. Mr. Big, I mean.”

“For real?”

“I don’t show those to just anyone,” she said quickly. “Only Brooke. I wouldn’t even show Wren. Not that it matters with her; she already knows what you look like. But I was telling Brooke how hot you are—your body, I mean—and she was curious. So… I showed her. Are you upset?”

“No, not really. More amused than anything.”

“Oh, thank goodness. And if it makes you feel any better, she said I could show you sketches of her. She likes posing for me, so I have some really good ones.”

“Nudes?”

“Of course. But regular ones too, little sketches where she didn’t know I was watching. She’s so beautiful, Paul, so natural. But she doesn’t realize it.”

I’d noticed that about her too—she didn’t primp or preen like some attractive people did.

“She liked looking at you, though,” Christy continued. “That’s why she was so flirty that time you called when we’d been drinking.”

“Which time was that?” I teased. “You’d been drinking pretty much every time I called.”

“So sue me. Or us. Whatever. You didn’t seem to mind when we were there in person.”

“What? You drinking? No.”

“Brooke’s like me, a lot more flirty when she’s had a few. But more than that, she just needed to relax. And for a guy to be nice to her. Fletcher really screwed her over. Not only because he cheated, but also the way he made her feel about herself. I mean, I’m not exactly a model of self-confidence, but I’m practically you compared to her these days.”

“I have plenty of doubts and fears—”

“Coulda fooled me.”

“—but you’re right, I’m pretty confident in general.”

“I wish Brooke was. She used to be. Well, more than she is now. She’s always been a little insecure about some things. She thinks her boobs are too big—”

“They aren’t.”

“—and she doesn’t like her freckles—”

“They’re beautiful.”

“—but you know what I mean. Everyone’s a little self-conscious about something. I see it all the time when I sketch people, the little things they try to hide. It’s funny. Those’re usually their most interesting features, the things that set them apart from others. Like me and my size, or you and yours.”

I waved my semi-hard penis at her. “You mean this?”

“No, your weight. You’re really self-conscious about it.”

“Oh. Yeah. That.” I sighed and said, “I don’t ever wanna be pudgy again.”

“Well, I don’t care how much you weigh. Neither does anyone else. But where was I? Oh, right, Brooke. I wish she’d get some confidence back.

That’s one of the reasons I wanted you to meet her. You’re really good at making people feel special without sounding fake. Laurence did that. I know I told you.

“But listen to me,” she finished, “I’m chattering again. I don’t know why.

I’m not nervous or anything. I’m really happy.” She squeezed me tight and then breathed a deep sigh. “So happy I could burst.” After a moment she began stroking my cock back to life. “Mmm, speaking of bursting…”

“Wow, you’re all over the place tonight.”

“I can’t help it. Sometimes I have a million thoughts when I’m with you.

You don’t expect me to keep them to myself, do you?”

“No,” I chuckled. “It’s just… sometimes your mind is like your metabolism. They’re both going twice as fast as normal people’s.”

“What if they are? My libido is too, and you don’t complain about that.”

“I’m not complaining about the other. I think it’s cute. You’re cute.”

“Oh. Okay. When you put it that way… thank you.”

“You’re welcome. Now, about your libido…”

“It’s very high. And I’ve been thinking about what you asked me.” She squeezed my dick and stroked it back to life. “About learning to deep throat.

Are you looking for my clitoris or something?”

I frowned in confusion. “In your throat? Not unless it’s moved.”

“It hasn’t,” Christy said brightly. “I just— Hold on! You don’t know what I’m talking about, do you?”

“Of course, deep throat.”

“No, the part about my clitoris being in my throat.”

“Okay, you got me,” I said after a moment. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

She sat up and looked at me in amazement. “Seriously? I know something you don’t? About sex?”

“Probably lots of things.”

“But this particular thing…”

“Your clit being in your throat? Yeah… no.”

“So you haven’t actually seen the movie?”

“What movie?”

“Oh my gosh! I thought you had. I thought everyone—”

“What movie?” I repeated testily.

Christy immediately calmed down. “Sorry, Deep Throat. I thought you’d seen it. You’re a guy. That’s what guys do, watch porn. It’s in the Handbook.”

“Ah, right. So… now’s probably a good time to admit that I haven’t actually seen many pornos.”

“Seriously? You talk like you have. I just thought… you know.”

I shook my head.

“Wow. I know more about something than you do. I’m in shock. Good shock, but still… Now I can teach you something. Okay, so… Deep Throat.

It’s about this woman who can’t have an orgasm. Then her doctor discovers that her clitoris is actually in her throat. That’s why she has to deep throat.”

“Ah, okay. I get it,” I said. “Except the part about her clit. That can’t really happen.”

Christy gave me a flat stare. “You read books about hobbits and elves.”

“Don’t use logic against me.”

She grinned and continued, “Anyway, the woman in the movie has to deep throat guys until she finds one she wants to marry. I already found mine, but I still want to deep throat him. If I can, I mean. And now I wanna watch the movie with you.”

“Does Brooke have it?”

“Of course. Now we definitely need a TV and VCR here.”

I felt a surge of annoyance at Christy’s cavalier attitude about money, but the little head pointed out that watching porn was basically foreplay.

Besides, he added, it’s only money. It doesn’t do me any good. So the least you can do is make her happy with it. She’ll take care of the rest. And by

“the rest,” of course, I mean me.

The world doesn’t revolve around you, I thought back at him.

Now you’re just talking nonsense.

Christy grinned. “What’d he say?”

“That we need to watch porn together. But in the meantime, let’s talk about this clitoris you have in your throat.”

“You’re so weird sometimes. My clitoris is right where it’s supposed to be, Sir Licks-a-Lot.”

“Good one,” I chuckled. “But maybe you have an extra one in your throat. We should probably check, just to be sure.”

“Oh we should, should we?” She grinned. “You’ll say anything to get lucky.”

“Can you blame me?”

“No, not really. Now, if you don’t mind…” She lowered her head and hummed a tune as she kissed and licked my hard-on. She stopped humming when she started sucking for real, but I wasn’t about to complain. I didn’t know the song anyway. And besides, I had better things to think about, like the back of her throat.

I called my parents’ house on Sunday morning while Christy went to Mass.

No one answered, so I left a message. Then I dialed Sara’s number. It was a bit early in San Francisco, but I crossed my fingers. She answered on the fifth ring.

“Yello?”

“Hey, it’s Paul,” I said. “Is it too early?”

“Whaddyou think, jagoff?” Crash!

I stared at the phone and chuckled. Her Pittsburgh accent came out when she wasn’t paying attention. I hung up and hoped she could get back to sleep, but the phone rang less than a minute later.

“Hello?”

“Hey,” Sara’s sleepy voice said. “’S everything all right?”

“Yeah, sorry. I know it’s early there. I should’ve waited.”

“You’re a real asshole. I was sound asleep until you scared the shit out of me. I thought someone was in the hospital or something. Are you sure you’re all right? Is Christy?”

“We’re all fine. You wanna go back to sleep and call me later?”

“I’m already awake. Fuck. What time is it?”

I glanced at my watch and subtracted. “A little before seven, your time.”

“D’you know what day it is?”

“Do you?” I laughed.

“Sunday. Asshole.”

“Okay,” I said evenly.

“So, whaddya want? Hold on. I’m’a start coffee.” She set the phone down and returned about a minute later. “D’you know what time it is?”

“Yeah, okay, I get it,” I said. “It’s too early.”

“Especially for a Sunday. And I’ll cut your balls off if you scare me like that again. Now, what’s so urgent that it couldn’t wait till a decent hour?”

“Eh, not much. I just wanted to hear your voice.”

“Aren’t you a saint. But I don’t believe you.”

“Okay, you’re right. I really wanted to call and complain.”

“’Bout what? Princess problems?”

“Sort of,” I said. “Although… more like Catholic birth control problems.”

Sara chuckled, dark and completely devoid of sympathy. “I’m glad I don’t have to worry about that anymore.”

“If you don’t mind me asking, what’d you do when you did? The pill?”

“Jesus, no. I got an IUD. No muss, no fuss. And no daily reminder that I was gonna get fucked, by life or just some random asshole.”

“Yeah, right. Sorry.”

“Why? You never fucked me. You never fucked me over, either, which is a minor miracle. Anyway,” she continued, “if you don’t mind me asking, did you and the little princess finally get down to business? Sounds like you did, if you’re worried about birth control.”

“We did,” I agreed. “And her idea of ‘birth control’ is the rhythm method.”

“Natural Family Planning,” Sara said. “That’s what they call it in the Church. It’s more than just the rhythm method, but I don’t know how, exactly. The priests gave these pamphlets to couples who were getting married. I was too young to care and had bigger problems anyway.” Her pause was as good as a shrug. “Is that what you wanna complain about?”

“Yeah. I’m not happy with it, whatever it’s called.”

“Don’t like schedules and having to pull out?” she chuckled.

“No, but it’s more than that. It’s mental as much as physical. I mean, I worry about what happens if I ‘forget’ to pull out. And what if she gets her dates wrong? She has a little calendar she uses, but I don’t know if her math is right in the first place. What if she added wrong or forgot to subtract or something? I worry about this crap every time we have sex. Okay, not every time, but before and after. The rest of the time, too. It’s exhausting!”

“I don’t know what to tell you,” Sara said after a long pause. “Have you talked to her about it?”

“Till I’m blue in the face. Her girlfriend did too, and she’s an actual scientist.”

“Hold on… Wren? I thought she was some kind of PR person.”

“Her other girlfriend, in San Diego.”

Sara laughed. “How many girlfriends does she have?”

“As many as she wants.”

“My kind of woman. And… it sounds like she’s a swinger already.”

“She sort of is. More about that later. Right now I’m complaining about her birth control.”

“Sorry.” Her sarcasm came through loud and clear. “I almost forgot.”

“I’m sure you think this is funny,” I griped, “but it’s really starting to bug me. It’s all I think about sometimes, and we’ve only been sleeping together a

week. She doesn’t want kids yet—”

“And you believe her?”

“Yeah, I do. She can’t lie to me. But still… if she doesn’t want kids yet, why won’t she get on the pill?”

“Catholic guilt.”

“Seriously? It can’t be that bad.”

“I don’t think you understand what it’s like. For girls, especially. They tell you to obey the Church. Obey your parents. Don’t ask questions. Do what you’re told. And they make you feel like it’s your fault if you aren’t pure and innocent. Everything’s a sin and you should feel guilty about it. Nothing you do is good enough.

“But they don’t really care. It’s all about appearances,” she added bitterly.

“They ignore cuts and bruises as long as you’re wearing a pretty dress. And they blame you for all the bad shit that happens to you. Never mind that your father’s a piece-of-shit drunk. But hey, he’s a man, the head of the house.

You’re supposed to honor and obey, and feel guilty if you don’t.

“The priests are the worst, though. They do some awful shit, while the Church covers it up and pretends nothing ever happened. No one does a thing, about any of it, even when it’s staring them in the face. They’re all fucking hypocrites!”

I didn’t know what to say.

Sara drew a ragged breath and slowly composed herself. “Sorry,” she said into the awkward silence. “I didn’t mean to go off like that. It’s just… I hate those people.”

“I can imagine.”

“No, you can’t. So fuck you!”

I knew she wasn’t angry at me, so I bore it in silence.

“Sorry,” she repeated after a moment. She sniffed and cleared her throat.

“Maybe I should call you back.”

“No! I mean… no. Take your time.”

“Okay, then hold on.” She set the phone down and blew her nose. She returned after nearly a minute. “Coffee. Should help,” she said. “Anyway, yeah, Catholic guilt. It fucks you up. It’s worse when you think that maybe you actually did something to deserve all that shit.”

“You didn’t.”

“You think I don’t know that, asshole?” She took a breath and tried to calm down. “Aw, fuck it. I don’t know why I’m yelling at you.”

“Sometimes it helps to vent. Like now. Besides, I know you aren’t angry at me.”

“I am for scaring me earlier.”

“Yeah,” I chuckled. “Sorry ’bout that.”

“It’s okay. Just don’t do it again. And don’t get annoyed at Christy because she won’t do things your way. She’s probably a lot more fucked-up in the head than you are.”

“I… hadn’t thought of that.”

“Well, you should’ve.”

“You’re right. Still—”

“Look, I know this isn’t what you want to hear,” Sara said, “but she’s sleeping with you, right? And you aren’t married. So she’s already disobeying the Church. Her parents, too. And she isn’t like me—she still believes this shit. Hell, she’s probably convinced herself that you’re married, at least in her head. And the birth control is her way to do it and still obey the Church. It might not seem like a big thing to you, but it’s important to her.”

I struggled to process what she’d just said. Oh, I understood it. I just didn’t like it. “Yeah, you’re right,” I said eventually, “that isn’t what I want to hear.”

“Too bad.”

“I know. Sex is a big deal for her, and sometimes I forget how much it goes against her upbringing.” Not to mention all the other things she does that aren’t on the list of Church-approved marital activities.

“Mmm hmm,” Sara said, faux-sweet. “Now, was there anything else you wanted to talk about?”

“Tempting, but… I think I’ve had enough fun for one day.” After a suitable pause I said, “So, how’re you? I know that sounds glib, but I really mean it.”

“I’m fucked-up in the head,” she laughed. “Worse now that you got me thinking about the past and shit I can’t control.”

“Sorry about that.”

“I know. It isn’t your fault. But I’m not really in the mood to talk anymore. No offense.”

“None taken.”

“What time is it? Jesus, it isn’t even seven thirty! Okay, I’m’a get dressed and take my camera out for a while. I need to be alone.”

“I understand.”

“Call me sometime this week. I’m working till Wednesday, but catch me any time after that.”

“Will do. And, Sara…?”

“Yeah?”

“I’m glad you survived. The world’s a better place with you in it.”

“Thanks,” she said softly. “You too.”

Christy flew up the stairs and into the bedroom, where I was sitting on the bed with my sketchbook. I wasn’t actually drawing anything, though.

Instead, it was an excuse to tell myself I was doing something when I was really just brooding about what Sara had said.

“Hello, Mr. Wonderful,” Christy chirped. “It’s a beautiful day. Come see!” She threw open the curtains and bent to open the window.

I stayed right where I was and admired the view of her slim backside. She was wearing a knee-length floral-print dress, frilly white ankle socks, and pink low-top Chuck Taylors. Her legs were toned and tan, and I didn’t need much imagination to picture her without the dress. She struggled with the window, so I set my sketchbook aside and went to help.

“It sticks unless you do it just right.” I wiggled the sash until it opened.

Christy nibbled the tip of her thumb and gave me a suggestive look. “You can do the same to me if you’d like.” She tugged my hand. “Come away from the window.” She glanced back as she neared the closet door. “I was thinking about you all the way home.”

“Good thoughts, I hope.”

“Very good. Very naughty.” She tilted her face up for a kiss and then ran her fingers through my hair as our lips met.

I picked her up. She squeaked but didn’t stop kissing me, so I pinned her against the closet door. She automatically wrapped her legs around my waist.

We kissed with growing heat for a couple of minutes before I set her on her feet again.

“Take off your panties.”

“Yes, sir.”

I untied the drawstring on my shorts and kicked them off. I wasn’t wearing boxers, and my erection sprang up. Christy reached under her dress

and lowered pink cotton panties. She watched as I took off my shirt and tossed it aside as well. I picked her up again and she crossed her ankles behind me.

“So, you were thinking naughty thoughts on the way home? About what?”

“This and that,” she said coyly. “You know, me and my imagination.”

“Was I fucking you against the wall in your imagination?”

“No, but you were doing other things.”

“Like what?”

“Are you really going to make me say it?”

“What do you think?”

She rolled her eyes. “You’re such a pervert. And I’m such a nympho.”

“Mmm hmm.” I reached under her and slid her dress out of the way. Her smooth pussy was hot and slippery, and she moaned as my fingers teased her open. “Tell me,” I said, “what were you thinking?”

“About sucking your cock. And riding you.”

“Those’re vanilla fantasies. They don’t get you this worked up. So…

what were you really thinking?”

“About being kidnapped.” She panted as I fingered her clit. “Brooke—

likes— the same— thing. Unh!”

“And…?” I prompted. “She wants…?”

“To be forced. Held down. Fucked hard.”

“You told her I was into that?”

“Unh, yes! I told her… everything.” She buried her face in my chest and begged, “Oh my gosh, Paul. Please, please put it in.”

I grinned. “Put what in?”

“Your cock… in my pussy… please. You’re teasing me.”

“Hold on.” I shifted her weight and steadied her against the closet door.

Then I moved my hands to the insides of her thighs and spread them all the way. She gasped when she felt the tip of my cock at her opening. “Beg for it.”

“Put it in. Oh, please, please, Paul. Put your cock in me.”

I lowered her onto my erection, and she groaned as it spread her open.

She clung to my neck and gasped when I began thrusting. The closet door thumped against the frame each time my hips met hers.

After several minutes I shifted her weight and began bouncing her up and down. Her pussy felt even tighter than before, and I had to concentrate hard

not to come too soon.

“I wanna taste you,” she begged. “Come in my mouth.”

I bounced her a few more times and then lifted her off my cock. She immediately sank to her knees.

“I love the taste of me on you.” She swirled her tongue around the tip and then planted open-mouthed kisses down the shaft.

I put a hand on the back of her head. She took the hint and started sucking. I didn’t last long, and she moaned as spurts of salty come gushed over her tongue. Once I finished shooting, she swallowed and sucked me deeper.

“Oh my gosh,” she said at last, “that was a lot. More than usual.”

“You got me worked up, talking about Brooke.”

“I told her I’m willing to share.” She laughed and squeezed my cock.

“Someone approves.”

“Someone always approves. Hold on, stand up.” I helped her to her feet.

She grinned and gripped my cock underhand. Then she stretched upward and offered her lips. She stroked me gently as we kissed.

“I love talking to you when you’re hard,” she said. “And not just because of the Hughes Lie Detector. I love knowing that I do this to you.” She smiled.

“You’re very good for my self-confidence.”

“I’m glad. But you changed the subject.”

“Sorry. Where were we? Oh, right! Brooke. So, I told her I’m willing to share, but only if I can watch.”

My eyebrows did their thing.

“We’ve… um… talked about it,” she admitted. “Sharing, I mean. It was only girl-talk before. But now…?” She grew serious and stroked me as she thought about what she wanted to say next. “And I’ve been thinking… I don’t want our first time to be with Wren. Your first time, I mean, when I watch you with another woman.”

“Oh? Seriously? Why not?”

“Don’t get me wrong, I trust Wren, but… not entirely. She gets carried away sometimes. I don’t know if I can handle it, watching you with someone like her. Brooke’s… I dunno… less aggressive. And I know she won’t take things too far.”

“Makes sense,” I said.

“Also, Brooke’s sort of submissive—nothing like me—but a lot more than Wren.”

“No kidding. Wren’s as dominant as a man sometimes.” I silently cringed at my unconscious bias, that only men could be dominant.

Christy didn’t catch it. She agreed about Wren instead. “You can say that again. So, I was thinking… maybe you and I can get together with Brooke sometime. I don’t know when, but…” She shrugged and left the rest up to me.

“You sure don’t believe in free time, do you?” I joked. “Dance class, weekends in West Virginia, a trip to see Brooke…”

“Sorry. Only, I’m not. Besides, this is what you want, isn’t it? A swinger girlfriend, I mean. A swinger wife, eventually.”

“I do.”

She smiled at my deliberate wording. “I like hearing you say that.”

“That’s why I do it.”

“Mmm, I know. And… d’you mind if we go back to bed? I’m feeling very affectionate right now.”

“Fine by me.” I squeezed her nipple through her dress and bra. “You’re a little overdressed for it, though.”

She rolled her eyes and gently shoved me toward the bed. “Go. Watch. I like when you do. You get this look in your eye…”

“What can I say?”

“I can’t do a striptease or anything, but you don’t really care, do you?”

“Nope.” I propped pillows against the headboard and leaned against them. Christy unzipped her dress, stepped out of it, and carefully replaced it on a hangar in the closet. Then she unhooked her bra and tossed it after her panties.

“Very nice,” I said. “The perfect little package.”

“Mmm, and she wants to say hello to Mr. Big. Maybe we can—?”

The phone rang.

“Oh, crap,” I said. “It’s probably my mom. I called and left a message earlier.”

“Go ahead and answer,” Christy said.

“Sorry. Hold on.” I grabbed the phone. “Hello?”

“Hi,” Mom said. “You called?”

“Yeah. I was just checking in.” I waited for Christy to take off her shoes.

Then I gestured for her to join me on the bed. She hesitated but clearly felt awkward where she was. I gestured again, and she crawled up and settled beside me.

“Ah, okay,” Mom said. “Sorry I missed you earlier. I was out working in the yard.”

“Nude gardening?”

“No, the regular kind. I’m the only one here.”

I moved Christy’s hand to my cock. She reacted predictably—I was talking to my mother, after all—but then she relented and started playing with me.

“Your dad went to the airport to work on the new plane,” Mom continued, “and Erin spent the night at Leah’s.”

“Ah, so no one’s there to enjoy the view.”

“The view? Of what?”

“You. Nude gardening.”

“No, I told you—” She hesitated and then said, “Is there a reason you brought that up? Twice?”

“Sort of. But I can’t tell you.”

“Right,” she said flatly. “That’s okay. I think I know. So, you’re okay with… ‘things’? Between us?”

I laughed. “That’s a major understatement.”

Christy looked up in surprise. She couldn’t hear the other side of the conversation, but she probably had a good idea.

“What is?” Mom asked.

“Calling it ‘things,’” I said, for her benefit as well as Christy’s. “But yes, I’m okay with it.”

“And I can read between the lines, so Christy must be okay with it too.”

“Yeah. I told her. I don’t want to keep things from her.”

“I see. And… she’s with you now? That’s why you’re speaking in code?”

“Right again,” I said. Then I grinned. “I get my intuition from you.”

“No, you’re a lot like your father. And, like him, you aren’t as clever as you think you are. I know exactly what you’re up to. And if Christy’s there with you, she probably does too.”

“Probably,” I agreed. “She’s a lot more observant than I give her credit for. I shouldn’t have to remind myself, though.”

“No, you shouldn’t,” Mom said.

Christy agreed with a sigh.

“So,” Mom said after a moment, “is there a reason you brought this up?

With both of us?”

I chuckled at her matter-of-fact delivery, but it also gave me time to think.

I didn’t know what I was doing or why.

“Maybe you’re right,” I said eventually. “I’m not as clever as I think I am.”

Christy searched my expression for a clue to what I meant.

“Mmm hmm. Good that you realize it,” Mom said. “Sooner rather than later, although Christy probably figured it out a while ago. And if you told her about us and she’s fine with it, you’d better hold on to her. She sounds like a keeper.”

“She is.” I looked into her eyes and said, “I think she’s The One.”

“I’m glad to hear. And I’m very happy for you,” Mom said. Then she turned businesslike and added, “But you made your point: Christy and I can coexist in your life.”

“To be honest,” I said, “I don’t know what point I was trying to make.”

“Maybe not consciously, but you’re a bit like me after all. You have a feel for these things. Now, if that’s all you wanted to talk about…?” She paused just long enough to make me think she was waiting for an answer.

“I’ll let you get back to Christy. I need to finish in the yard and then repot some houseplants. For real this time.”

“Oh. Okay. Then I’ll let you go. I love you, Mom.”

“I love you too. Tell Christy the same.”

“I will. Bye.”

“Goodbye.”

I replaced the phone in its cradle and then stared out the window. After a moment I said, “That was the weirdest phone call I think I’ve ever had.”

“You can say that again,” Christy said softly. Then she looked up. “What did she say?”

“That she loves us.”

“Us?” she repeated.

“Yeah. And… I don’t know how to describe the rest. It was like she was passing the torch.”

“Passing the—? What’re you talking about?”

I thought about it for a long time before I answered. When I did, it wasn’t what Christy was expecting.

“I’ve had a lot of women in my life…,” I began hesitantly. I felt her start to react, but she controlled it and waited for me to continue. “And I’m not talking about notches on the bedpost,” I added, “but you realized that. I’m talking about important women, ones who’ve shaped who I am. You know

most of them.”

She nodded.

“But my mom’s the most important. Duh. She’s my mom, right? Well, she just passed the torch.”

“To me,” Christy said, a statement instead of a question.

“Yeah. That’s why I’m sort of in shock.”

“Does it bother you?” she asked quietly.

“No. Only, I didn’t think it would happen in a phone call. I thought it’d be on our wedding day or something.” I snorted a soft laugh, more to myself than anything. “Life isn’t how we imagine it.”

“No.”

I took a deep breath and replayed the conversation in my head. Eventually I said, “I guess she was telling me what I already knew.”

“That I’m the most important woman in your life now?”

“Yeah.”

“Well, it’s only fair. You’re the most important man in my life.”

“Kinda scary, isn’t it?”

“You read my mind.”

“Did you ever think this would happen?” I asked. “I mean, back on…?”

“September 3rd, 1981.”

“Right. But… that was a long time ago. Did you ever think we’d get to this point? Where we’re seriously talking about getting married and spending the rest of our lives together?”

“Honestly?”

I nodded.

“On that day? Yes.”

“For real?”

“Mmm hmm. I never believed in love at first sight till then.” She chuckled, low and rueful. “But don’t ask me about all the days after that.”

“What?” I teased. “You weren’t in love with me every day since then?”

“You were there. What do you think?”

“I think… I’m glad I came to my senses. And I’m glad you came to my bed.”

“Our bed.”

“Right. Our bed. But you know what I mean.”

“Yeah.”

“So I’m glad you’re here.”

“Mmm, me too. And not just for the obvious reasons.”

“Oh?”

“It’s a nice enough bed,” she said, “and I love the man in it, but… it’s more than that.”

“More?”

“Oh my gosh, yes! All that extra closet space.”

My eyes flew open with disbelief.

“Hey, a girl has needs.” She laughed. “You’re so cute when you’re speechless.”

“I’ll show you speechless!” I threw her onto her back and rolled on top of her. Then I spread her legs with my own and pinned her arms above her head.

“I can still talk,” she taunted.

“Not for long.” I kissed her.

She pretended to squirm and fight, but her lips never left mine. My dick swelled with arousal until it nudged her thigh. She moved her hips, and the tip slid into her channel. I eased forward and slowly buried my shaft. When my hips finally met hers, I released her hands and pushed myself up.

“Well? Anything to say?”

She considered it but then shook her head.

“Are you sure?” I waited, and she eventually nodded. “In that case, I’ll give you what you want.”

She nodded again, emphatically. Then she ran her hands along my triceps. I began thrusting, and she gazed up at me with a steady intensity that slowly changed to unfocused pleasure. After several minutes a flush crept up her chest and neck. Her cheeks turned pink as well, and her nostrils flared with her ragged breathing. I kept going until she arched her back and dug her fingers into my arms.

She came with a silent scream that left her holding her breath. I held still above her, although a certain part of me wanted to keep thrusting until I came inside her. She eventually went limp and started breathing again. Her skin shone with perspiration as her chest rose and fell. She opened her eyes and looked up at me calmly.

“I don’t know how you do that,” she said.

“Do what?”

“Make me come so hard.”

“Practice.”

“Mmm, I like your practice.” She smiled languidly. “Your penis too.”

“He likes you. A lot.”

“I can tell. He feels good inside me.” Her eyelids drooped but then snapped open. “You didn’t—?”

“No.”

“Oh, thank goodness.” She winced guiltily and added, “Sometimes I can’t tell.”

“That’s okay.”

She caressed my face. “One more day. Then you can come inside me all you want. Till then, I’ll swallow everything you give me. Only… I need a few minutes to recover. I’m still all tingly and weak.”

“Take your time. I’m not going anywhere.”

“Mmm, I know. You’re mine now.”

I rose early the next morning and went for a run. Christy was awake when I returned, and I knew exactly what she’d been doing from her semi-guilty expression.

“Couldn’t wait?” I teased as I stripped off my shirt and shorts.

“I only came once, and it was just a little one.”

“I don’t know who’s hornier, you or me.”

“I am. But I hide it better. You get all hard and insistent.” Her eyes flashed. “Like now.”

“So you like?”

“Mmm, penis. Yes, please.”

Unfortunately, we both had early classes, so we had to keep an eye on the clock. Still, a quickie was better than nothing at all. Afterward, we took a shower together and then grabbed breakfast on the way out the door. She beamed up at me and bounced happily as we joined the flow of other students heading to campus.

We chatted about everyday things until we reached the A&A building, where we parted with a kiss and a wave. She headed down to Siobhan’s studio, while I made my way up to the third floor. I found my classroom and almost ran into Gracie, who was coming from the other direction. She apologized and then looked up.

“Oh, it’s you.”

“Yeah. Hi.”

“Hi,” she said cautiously.

We stood in awkward silence until I decided to break the ice.

“Did you have a good break?”

She shrugged. “Not bad. You?”

“Pretty good.”

“That’s nice.” She hesitated and then said, “Thanks. For what you said.

Before. About my building. And to Joska.”

“You’re welcome. I stick up for my friends.”

Hope flickered in her eyes and then slowly faded when I didn’t return it. I didn’t mean to be cruel, but rejection was a bitter pill, no matter how I tried to sugarcoat it. She closed down and fled into the classroom, where she took a seat and stared straight ahead.

I heaved a sigh and stood outside the door. A couple of friends slid past me and into the room. Freddie DeFeo eventually snapped me out of it.

“Ay, paisan!” he called from the stairs. He and Rosemary waved. They joined me, and Freddie gave me a back-slapping hug. “So, Joska let you stay?”

“Had to. I’m like a bad penny. I keep coming back.”

“Fuggedaboutit. Are you in this class? Structural and Mechanical?”

“Yeah. You?”

“Both of us,” he said.

Rosemary blushed and smiled shyly.

“Good for you,” I said.

He thought I was talking about the class, but she understood.

“Come on,” I added. “Let’s find seats in the front before they fill up.” I glanced at Gracie as we walked past. She ignored me and looked the other way.

Freddie and Rosemary slid into desks and started chatting with friends behind us. I leaned forward and looked down the row to where Gracie sat.

Part of me wanted to be done with her, to say that I’d tried. But the better part of me wouldn’t let it go. We’d never be close again—and definitely not with Christy in my life—but I owed her more than a halfhearted attempt at friendship.

I had another class immediately afterward and then I met up with Trip. We went to Joska’s office to get his permission to add the dance class. He wasn’t in the mood to be persuaded.

“This will take time away from your regular work, your important work.”

I felt a surge of annoyance. “But, Professor, it’s all important.”

“Business classes I could understand,” he said with a gesture at Trip. “But not this… dance.”

“We want to be well-rounded.”

“At the expense of competence in your chosen field?”

“Life is our ‘chosen field,’” I said tersely.

He did a better job holding his temper. “I fail to see your point.”

“Then let me make it clear: we’re taking this dance class. One way or another. We’re only talking to you because we don’t want to drop an architecture class to do it.”

He puffed up with outrage, so I reined in my screw-you attitude.

“Our girlfriends are taking the class,” I said in a calmer tone. “They asked us to join them. And instead of dropping a class, we’re giving up our free time, to keep everyone happy.”

That gave him the opening he needed to back down. “Is this correct?” he asked Trip.

“Yes, sir.”

He gave me a piercing look. “Very well,” he said after a moment, “your request is approved.” He uncapped his fountain pen and signed the Course Overload forms. But he cautioned us as he handed them back. “You must not let your avocation interfere with your vocation, Mr. Hughes. Nor you, Mr.

Whitman.”

“We won’t.” “No, sir.”

“Now, if there is nothing else…? I will see you tomorrow, Mr. Hughes.”

“Yes, sir. I’m looking forward to it.”

“Just so.”

Trip lasted until we were out of earshot. “Dude! One day you’re going to push him too far.”

“Maybe,” I said with more confidence than I felt, “but today isn’t that day.”

“Yeah, but… man!” He shook it off and shot me a grudging grin. “Warn me next time.”

“Sorry, I didn’t know I was going to do it. He annoyed me, so I pushed

back.”

“Yeah, whatever,” he said. “Let’s get out of here. The dean’s secretary knows me. She can sign for him.”

Dance Appreciation wasn’t exactly what I was expecting. We arrived early, since three of us needed the professor’s signature to add the class. The building itself was an engineering hall built before the turn of the century, complete with wrought-iron balconies and railings. We made an entire circuit of both floors before we realized that the “room” we were looking for was actually the old basketball gym in the center of the building.

Our professor wasn’t what I was expecting either. I’d imagined a grande dame in an old-fashioned dress who spoke like Miss Havisham from Great Expectations. Instead, she was a petite twenty-something graduate student in a wraparound dress. She shattered the rest of my preconceptions when she spoke in a plain California accent.

“Hi, come on in,” she said. “I’m Terri.”

She was a brown-eyed brunette, part-Asian and about Christy’s size. She had a dancer’s body from the waist down, but her chest belonged to a Playmate. Christy faltered as soon as she saw her, so I suppressed a chuckle and took the lead.

“Hi, I’m Paul,” I said. “Nice to meet you. We’re hoping to add the class. I know it’s full, but…” I gave her my best encouraging smile.

“I can handle a few more,” Terri said brightly. She found a ballpoint pen.

“Do I need to sign your slips?”

I gave her my own small form and gently prodded Christy. “This is my girlfriend, Christy.”

“I think I know you,” Terri said as she signed. “From aerobics in the Bubble, right?” She smiled. “You don’t see many women our size, do you?”

“Um… no.”

“Wren’s already enrolled,” I added, “but her boyfriend, Trip, needs your signature too.”

He stepped forward and nodded politely as he extended his paper.

“I’ve seen you at the Bubble too,” Terri said.

I heaved a sigh. Trip was taller, handsomer, and more noticeable than me

in practically every way. Not for the first time, I wondered why I hung around better-looking people.

“Probably,” he said noncommittally.

“He and I work out together,” I said, “usually while the girls are doing aerobics.”

“Ah, of course!” Terri grinned and asked me, “Do you do everything together?”

“Some things. We live together too, so…,” I finished with a shrug and left the rest up to her imagination. “We’re taking the class together for the fun of it,” I continued. “And for moral support. Wren needs it to graduate this quarter.”

Terri’s brow creased. “You need this specific class?” she asked her. “Are you a Phys Ed major? I haven’t seen you…”

“No, Public Relations,” Wren said. “I just need another elective. This fit my schedule and seemed like the least stress, so here I am.” She glanced at the rest of us. “Well, here we are.”

“Oh, okay,” Terri said, although she seemed disappointed.

“We’re going to sign up for the ballroom dance team too,” Christy said out of the blue.

“For real? Awesome! We always need more people.”

“So you teach it?” I said.

“I’m one of the coaches. There are several of us. Have you done it before?”

“No, I have two left feet. But Christy’s been dancing since she was four.”

“Mostly ballet,” she said.

Terri brightened immediately. “Ballet? Me too!”

Christy swallowed hard, and I had to bite my lip to keep from smiling.

“What about you?” Terri asked Trip and Wren. “Are you going to join the team?”

“Not us,” he said. “Sorry. We’re both slammed with work and other classes.”

“Aw, too bad. Are you sure you won’t give it a try?”

“No, sorry. Paul and Christy can represent us.”

Other students had started filtering into the room, so Terri gave us another warm smile. “Take a seat wherever and we’ll get started in a few minutes. I’ll talk to you after class about the ballroom team.”

“Sounds good,” I said. “We can’t wait.”

The “classroom,” such as it was, occupied one end of the court. A movie projector sat on a small table, with a portable screen behind it. The desks were arranged in a semicircle around the table. We chose a block of four and slid into them. Wren looked resigned and Trip slightly annoyed, but Christy’s eyes never left Terri.

I leaned close and whispered, “Relax.”

Christy glanced at me in surprise but then nodded and inhaled slowly.

“She’s cute,” I added with a grin. “And very… exotic.”

“Oh my gosh, is it that obvious?”

“Probably not to anyone else. But still… chill out.”

She nodded and smoothed imaginary wrinkles from her jeans. “I knew I should’ve worn a skirt,” she said in a low voice. “Or a dress! And heels.

Remind me next time.”

“No problem. Your legs look awesome in a skirt and heels. Your cute little butt too.”

The start of class returned to familiar territory as Terri handed out the syllabus, schedule, and a list of viewing assignments. She mentioned the ballroom dance team and invited everyone to an informal practice after class.

She also added a plug for a modern dance group. Christy looked hopeful, but I shook my head. Our schedule was already full.

Please, she begged with her eyes.

We’ll see.

I’ll make it worth your while. Please, please, please!

We’ll. See.

Her expression fell. Yes, sir.

The rest of the class was a fairly straightforward introduction to dance and a review of our assignments and exam schedule. Wren slowly lost the will to go on as the work piled up.

Trip put a hand on her arm. “We’ll get through this, okay? We’ll do whatever it takes.”

She gave him a grateful smile and nodded. Terri wrapped up a few minutes later, and Trip shouldered Wren’s backpack in addition to his own.

“I don’t know how long we’ll be,” I told them, “so go ahead and eat dinner without us.”

Wren nodded. “I’ll keep something warm for you. It probably won’t be anything special, though.”

“I kinda figured. You’re going to be super-busy this quarter, so gourmet

meals aren’t a priority.”

“Thanks. I knew you’d understand.”

“We do,” Christy said. She impulsively kissed her cheek. “We love you,”

she said quietly. “We’ll help as much as we can.”

“Thanks. I love you too.” She included me with a tired smile. Then she added, “I had great plans for us. Now I think I’ll be lucky to survive.”

“You will,” I assured her. “We’ll make sure of it.”

“We will, babe. Now c’mon,” Trip said. “Let’s get home. I have the perfect mix tape to help you relax.”

“Don’t forget the wine,” Christy added.

“Thanks, y’all,” Wren said.

“I hope she’ll be okay,” Christy said as she watched them leave the gym.

“And I know this sounds horrible, but I’m sorta glad she’s going to be so busy for the next few months.”

“I know what you mean,” I said. “It’ll give us time to figure out if you’re ready for you-know-what.”

“I am in my head. Although… not really. Ugh! Why am I like this? It’s all so easy when I think about it, but then I get scared. What is it you say?

‘Life isn’t how we imagine it’?”

“No,” I chuckled.

She slid into my arms. “Thanks for doing this. Dance class, I mean. And the ballroom dance team and modern dance and everything else.”

“Who said I’d agreed to modern dance?”

“You will. You just don’t know it yet.” She propped her chin on my sternum as she gazed up at me. “I’ll make it worth your while.”

“Oh? Bargaining for sex?”

“Bargaining with sex.”

“Who’s the word expert now?” I teased.

“You are. I just know what I want. And… what I’m willing to do to get it.” Her bright blue eyes twinkled. “You’ll see.”

“Come on,” I said noncommittally. “Let’s go see about this ballroom dance team.”

“And the modern dance group?”

I sighed and surrendered to the inevitable. Then I adjusted my attitude and told myself that it was only free time. Why have it if I couldn’t spend it with someone I loved?

“And the modern dance group,” I agreed.

We spent the next two hours whirling around the basketball court with about twenty other couples, mostly students and grad students. The team had a pair of faculty advisors who’d both been professional dancers. They also had two spry emeritus coaches, husband and wife professors who’d retired about the time I’d been in kindergarten.

All the other students had been part of the team for months or years, so Christy and I had a lot of ground to make up. Terri and another graduate student named Roberto taught us the basic waltz. Christy picked up the steps and timing right away. I was a bit surprised when he asked her to dance, since I thought we’d dance together, but then Terri drew me onto the dance floor.

“You don’t have two left feet,” she said. “You’re good, especially for a beginner.” We started dancing, and she glanced over her shoulder at Christy and her partner. “You don’t mind…?”

“No. We have a pretty solid relationship. Besides, I’m not the jealous type.”

“Is she?”

I decided to flirt a little, so I grinned. “Why’re you asking?”

“No reason,” she said, but her eyes betrayed her interest. “Just curious.

So, how long’ve you been together?”

“Friends for years, but only four months as a couple. How about you? Are you and Roberto…?”

“No. He’s married and has a baby. Besides, he isn’t my type.”

He was tall and tan and sported a mustache, like a younger Tom Selleck.

In other words, nothing like yours truly.

“Ah, okay,” I said. “So, anyone special in your life? Boyfriend?” Or girlfriend? I silently added, for Christy’s benefit.

Terri pursed her lips with a grin of her own. “Why’re you asking?”

“Just being polite.” I smiled to show my own interest. “And getting to know my dance partner.”

She studied me. “No one special,” she said eventually. “I’m too busy for a relationship.”

“Translation: I haven’t found a man who can keep up with me.”

“Maybe,” she laughed. Her eyes lit up when the next song began. “Ooh, a tango. Here, I’ll teach you.” She showed me how to hold my arms and then guided me through the steps. “Ready to give it a try?”

“Sure. Let’s do it.”

She arched an eyebrow at my choice of words.

I played it cool and nodded toward the dance floor. “Walk, walk, tango close? Right?”

“Mmm hmm.”

“Ready when you are,” I said, and we joined the swirl of dancers.

The basic tango was fairly simple, and Terri made it seem effortless. She felt good in my arms, too, a petite package of sex appeal. I chuckled to myself when I realized that the tango was basically foreplay if both dancers were interested, and we definitely were.

She must’ve been thinking the same thing, because she glanced up at me with a question. I took a cue from some of the other dancers and started into a cross-step dip. Terri followed my lead.

“Oh, you’re good,” she laughed when I pulled it off. “You learn quickly.”

“Thanks. You should meet my teacher. She’s amazing.”

We finished the first tango and started another. Then we danced through two waltzes. Christy was having fun with Roberto, and Terri didn’t seem inclined to switch partners either. She taught me the basic foxtrot and we danced through several songs. We kept our flirting to a minimum, but I still felt a spark of attraction between us.

At that point we had to sit out several dances, Viennese waltzes, because they were a bit beyond my level. Terri’s leg touched mine as we sat, although neither of us said anything about it. We watched the dancers instead. The steps were simple enough, she explained, but the tempo was twice the speed of a normal waltz.

Christy had changed partners to one of the other students, a guy our age who’d clearly been dancing for most of his life. She followed his lead and waltzed around the room like she’d been born to Austrian nobility.

“She’s good,” Terri said as we watched. “Why didn’t she continue ballet?”

“Other interests. She was a competitive diver, although her real talent is as an artist.”

“Oh?”

“Yeah. She’s officially a sculptor, but she’s an amazing painter too.”

“What about you?”

“An artist, but with buildings.”

Her brows knitted.

“I’m studying to be an architect.”

“Ah, okay. I’m getting my PhD in Physical Education. I don’t know what I’m going to do with it, though. Teach, I guess.”

I nodded, and we made small talk until the professor at the record player started a regular waltz. Terri and I danced through it and one more song before the evening finished with a couple of foxtrots.

“Well,” she said when the last song ended, “what do you think?”

I studied her for a moment and decided how to answer. Her explicit question was easy. “I like it,” I said. “And I know what I’ll be doing every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday evening for the next ten weeks.”

Her implicit question was trickier, so I let my eyes linger on hers. I like you, too, but… it’s complicated.

I’d need more than a single look to explain that my girlfriend was also attracted to her, much less that we might be interested in a threesome. And I certainly didn’t know her well enough to come right out and tell her. She caught the gist of my second reply, though. She wanted to say something else but didn’t know how, so she fell back on formality.

“It was nice to meet you,” she said. “And you’re a really good dancer. I think you’ll enjoy the team.”

“Me too, thanks. You’re a good teacher.”

“I didn’t do anything special. Besides, I…” She fell silent as Christy joined us.

“Oh my gosh, that was amazing!” She slid under my arm and beamed up at me. “Thank you. And thank you,” she added to Terri. “I felt so bad when I abandoned him, but then I saw he was with you and knew he’d be all right.”

She looked up at me. “Did you have fun?”

“Of course. Terri’s an amazing dancer. So good that she made me look good.”

“Don’t be silly,” Christy said. “I knew you’d be good at it.”

“She’s right,” Terri said. “You’re a natural.”

“See? I told you,” Christy said.

I wondered if she consciously realized what she was doing, which was staking her claim and making sure Terri understood whose boyfriend I was. It might’ve been instinctual, but I couldn’t tell with her sometimes. Whatever the case, all three of us knew who I was going home with.

We talked for a few more minutes, about dance competitions and the modern dance group. It was much smaller than the ballroom group, and it

practiced on Thursday evenings. Then Terri said she needed to talk to the other coaches before she left, so we said goodbye and gathered our things.

Christy was full of energy as we walked across campus. She waltzed ahead, did a couple of turns, and then settled down to walk backward in front of me.

“Thank you,” she said again. “I know you think our schedule’s full already, but… I’ve wanted to do this for a while. I told you, I’ve never had a boyfriend I could dance with.”

“I’m glad you’re happy.”

“Oh my gosh! I’m happier than I’ve ever been.” She danced back to my side and fell into step. After a moment she grinned up at me. “And for the record, you were totally cute tonight.”

“Oh?”

“Mmm hmm. Don’t think I didn’t notice.”

“Notice what?”

“You. Flirting with Terri.”

I glanced at her sideways. “So… it didn’t bother you.”

“No. Not like it did with that flight attendant, whatever her name was.”

I pursed my lips and suppressed a grin. Christy’s memory was better than mine for many things, and I was pretty sure she remembered Pam’s name, even though she pretended not to.

“I’m glad,” I said. “Besides, you weren’t interested in her, the flight attendant.”

She scrunched her nose and shook her head.

“You’re definitely interested in Terri, though.”

“Sometimes I hate that you can read me so easily. But sometimes I really like it.”

“Like now?”

“Like now,” she agreed. “I’d love to sleep with her. She’s so exotic and beautiful. She’s even my size. Except… wow! What an amazing body.

Nothing like mine.”

“It’s exactly like yours. Well, except up top.”

“That’s what I’m talking about. Hers are huge!”

“They aren’t huge,” I chuckled. “They’re Cs, maybe Ds.”

“On someone our size, that’s huge. But you have a warped perspective, Mr. Hugh G. Rection.”

I snorted a laugh and drew her close.

“And speaking of huge erections…,” she added. “I believe I promised yours some attention.” She grinned up at me. “No more danger week.”

“Oh? I thought it was tomorrow.”

“Tomorrow, tonight, close enough.”

I wanted to scream but clenched my jaw instead.

She completely missed it in her excitement, and I slowly calmed down as she chattered the rest of the way home. She talked about Terri and Brooke and West Virginia and Penthouse and anything else that flitted through her imagination.

“Oh my gosh, listen to me,” she said as we climbed the steps to the house.

“I’ve been chattering the whole way home.”

“You’re excited.”

“I’m also starving. But I think I need a creamy snack before dinner. What do you say, Mr. Big?” She glanced at my crotch and the bulge there. “Are you in the mood?”

“He’s always in the mood as far as you’re concerned.”

“Mmm, I know. And then maybe after dinner, we can…?” She waited and then rolled her eyes. “Seriously? You’re going to make me say it? Fine.

Whatever,” she said without heat. “After dinner, will you please take me upstairs, hold me down, and fill me with semen?”

“I’d love to.”

She bounced insistently. “You created a monster. Now you have to vanquish me. Over and over and over.”

Tuesday was Wren’s day from hell. Trip’s schedule was fairly full as well, and they both left the house before eight o’clock. Christy and I didn’t have class until later, so we spent the morning in bed and celebrated the end of danger week.

“Oh my gosh,” she gasped when we finally rolled apart. “I’m going to be tingly all day.”

“Are you bragging or complaining?”

“Funny, ha ha. But I’m serious. I don’t know if I’ll be able to concentrate.” She massaged her breast. “I don’t know if I’ll be able to wear a bra, either. Don’t get me wrong, I love it when you abuse my nipples, but they’re always tender for a while after.”

“I know what you mean,” I chuckled. “I’m seriously thinking about fur-lined boxers or something. My poor dick isn’t raw, but he’s definitely worn out.”

“Whose fault is that?” Christy shot back. “You’re the one who kept getting hard.”

“I can’t help it. You’re such a sexy little thing that I get all these wild ideas.”

“Mmm, I know.” She propped her chin on her fist and studied me.

“You’re sketching me in your head, aren’t you?”

“Of course. I’ll put it in my book later, but I want to remember you like this.” She closed her eyes and flopped to her back. “And on top of me, spreading my legs. Under me, pinching my nipples. From behind, holding me down.” She paused and then rolled toward me. Her hand found my limp manhood. “That was my favorite, by the way, when I was on my stomach. I must’ve had a million little orgasms.”

“A million?” I teased.

“At least. Maybe two million.” She kissed her way down my chest and began sucking me back to life.

“Seriously?” I said. “The first three weren’t enough?”

“Muh-uh,” she said without taking her mouth off me. “I meed more.”

I snuck a glance at the clock as my dick reacted. We had an hour before we needed to shower and leave. A distracted part of me wondered if I could actually buy a pair of fur-lined boxers. I was going to need them, evidently.

The rest of my day was just as draining but a lot less enjoyable. My first class was Joska’s design lecture. Gracie was still giving me the cold shoulder, but Freddie and Rosemary made up for it with genuine warmth.

Joska began the class with handouts and a short lecture about how “God is in the details,” a phrase I hadn’t heard him use in a while. The quote made sense when he outlined our project for the quarter.

We had to develop one of our previous designs in detail, including structural, mechanical, and electrical drawings. In a real architecture and engineering company, those would’ve been done by specialists in each field, but we had to do the work ourselves. We also had to create scale models of structural elements and their relationship to the overall building design.

It was a mountain of work, and the entire class sat in stunned silence when he finished. Freddie found his voice first and spoke for all of us.

“Get da fuck outta here.”

We all waited for Joska to explode, but he simply nodded. “Yes, Mr.

DeFeo, I believe that’s the professional expression.”

The room erupted with a chorus of questions and complaints.

“Enough,” Joska said forcefully. He waited for the hubbub to die down.

“Architecture is a serious business for serious people. You know this. And serious people must work hard. You know this too. You would not be here otherwise.”

“But some of us have lives,” I said. “Outside of class, I mean.”

“Do you expect to waltz into a degree, Mr. Hughes?”

I chuckled ruefully and inclined my head to acknowledge his point. For everyone else’s benefit, I added a respectful, “No, sir.”

“I thought not. Now, everyone, please turn to chapter nine of your textbook, where you will find…”

He finished an hour later and dismissed us. I caught Gracie’s eye before she could leave.

“I know you probably don’t care,” I said, “but I hope you do your Brutalist castle design. That was really clever, what you did with the metal sheets and the façade.”

She didn’t know what to say, so she gave me her default frown.

“Anyway,” I added, “think about it. And… I hope you get to build it for real one day. I’d like to see it.”

She blinked in surprise but responded with an automatic, “Thank you.”

I nodded and joined Freddie and Rosemary in the hall.

“We’re going to lunch,” he said. “Wanna come with?”

“Sure.”

“After that we have Research Methods with Lauer.”

“Yeah, me too.”

“Cool,” he said. “I thought you might. And then Rose was sayin’ maybe I could ask you for some pointers. You know, since you have a knack for

knowin’ what Joska wants.”

“Sure, Freddie. I’ll be happy to help.”

Gracie passed us and turned the other direction. I watched her silently and felt sorry for her. She wasn’t comfortable in social situations. She was smart and talented and worked hard, but she just didn’t understand people. She couldn’t put them into neat little boxes like she did with buildings.

Freddie interrupted my musing. “I been meanin’ to ask,” he said.

“Somethin’ happen with you an’ her? She’s been a real ice queen bitch to you all year.”

Rosemary bristled. “Freddie!”

“What?” he protested. “You don’t like her either!”

“But that doesn’t mean you can say hateful things about her.”

“She’s right, Freddie,” I said. “Gracie’s still a person. Do unto others…

you know?”

“Whatever,” he said. “Fuggedaboutit.”

Rosemary and I shared a resigned look.

“Keep working on him,” I told her.

“Who, me?” he said.

“Yes, you, Freddie. You’d better listen to Rosemary.”

“Ay, you don’t have to tell me.”

On Thursday Christy and I showed up for the modern dance group. We brought the total to sixteen students, plus a couple of faculty advisors, although not the same ones as the ballroom team. The coach-advisors helped with music and choreography but didn’t perform with the team. I felt like a fish out of water, since everyone had at least some background in dance.

Roberto offered to show Christy their main routine, while Terri took me aside to work on basics. Part of me wondered if he was putting the moves on Christy or if Terri was doing the same to me. I was more curious than worried, though.

“It was my idea,” Terri said when I asked. “I hope you don’t mind.

Christy’s a lot more advanced, and we thought she could join the main group right away. No offense, but you still have a lot to learn before you’re ready to perform. You’re really athletic, though. And you know how to move.”

“I took up boxing last summer. I was surprised by how much of it was footwork.”

“Yeah, it is. I’ve worked with boxers.”

“And I wrestled in high school, before I started doing judo.”

“So you’re a fighter, not a lover?” she joked.

“Well, I’m a pretty good lover too.”

She blinked as if she hadn’t heard me clearly.

I let her off the hook with a polite lie. “I’m kidding,” I said. “But I am ready to learn the Electric Slide. So, where do we start?”

Wren and Trip were both so busy with school that neither of them had time to plan anything for his birthday. Christy and I weren’t about to let it pass without doing something, so on Saturday we organized a last-minute surprise party. We bought a cake and hung streamers in the living room and invited over a small group of friends for food and drinks.

Trip was speechless, and Wren had to blink back tears, but everyone had a good time and we didn’t make too much of a mess. At the end of the evening, Trip gave me a long hug and told me a dozen times how much he loved me (he was pretty drunk by that point). I said I loved him too and sent him upstairs to bed.

The next day I waited till well after noon before I called Sara. We chatted for a few minutes before she had to leave to meet Tasha. In a nutshell, her life was good, my life was good, the world was good.

“I really like her,” Christy said when I hung up. “She doesn’t let you get away with anything.”

“Neither do you.”

“What?” she squawked. “I let you get away with everything. You know I can’t say no to you.”

“Yeah? Then take off your clothes.”

She rolled her eyes but unfolded her legs and stood. She closed the bedroom door, kicked off her shoes, and reached back to unzip her dress. I waited to see how far she’d go and soon had my answer: all the way. She crossed her arms under her breasts and shot me a challenging look.

“Well, Mr. Nudist?”

I hastily slid my shorts under my butt. My T-shirt joined them on the floor a moment later.

“Come sit on my lap,” I said. “We’ll talk about the first thing that comes up.”

“I still don’t know why I fall for that line,” she said as she straddled my hips.

She began massaging my cock, which was already semi-hard. I squeezed and twisted her nipples. Her eyelids drooped shut and her nostrils flared with her quickened breathing.

The phone interrupted us.

Christy straightened in annoyance at first. Then she had an idea. She took a firmer grip on my hard-on and silently dared me to answer.

I grabbed the receiver. “Hello?”

“Oh, hey, Paul. It’s Brooke.”

“Brooke? Hi! How’re you?”

“I’m good. You?”

“Fine. Just enjoying a lazy Sunday afternoon with Christy. Her hands’re full at the moment, though.”

Christy herself rolled her eyes.

“So, I hope you don’t mind talking to me instead.”

“Uh, no, I guess not.”

We chatted about her exams and the start of classes for us. I told her about the dance groups and then touched on the weather before I asked what she was up to at the moment.

“Nothing much,” she said. “I was just laying out and started thinking about Chris, so I decided to call.”

I pictured her in a bikini and then immediately imagined her without it.

Christy’s eyebrows rose as my cock swelled in her hands. She reached for the phone but I waved her away.

“I’ve been a bit lonely without her,” Brooke added. “I don’t really have anyone here who… you know.”

“Yeah, I understand. She’s your girlfriend.”

“It still sounds strange to hear you say that.”

“Eh, you’ll get used to it. Besides, I don’t say it to just anyone.”

“I know, but still…” She sighed and changed the subject. “So, what’re you up to?”

“Honestly?”

“I guess.”

“We’re in bed. Christy’s playing with me. That’s why her hands’re full.”

I could’ve heard a pin drop on the other end of the line before Christy snatched the phone away.

“Hello?” she said into it. “Hello? Brooke? It’s me!” After a moment she relaxed and said, “Oh thank goodness! I thought you’d hung up.” She glared at me. “No. He was just kidding.”

I raised my voice. “I was not! She was playing with my dick.”

Christy immediately covered the phone and glared. “Be nice.” After a moment she cautiously returned it to her ear.

I toyed with her nipples. She tried to shove me away but I persisted. Then I switched to her pussy and began rubbing her slit. She surrendered to it and closed her eyes. She did her best to hold up her end of the conversation, but her answers grew shorter and more distracted. Finally she put her hand on mine and opened her eyes.

“Hey, hold on,” she said to Brooke. Then she held the phone to her shoulder to cover the mouthpiece. “We’re almost done,” she told me. “I promise I’ll do anything you want if you just let me finish.”

“Anything?”

She rolled her eyes. “When have I not done anything you wanted?”

“Fair enough.”

“Two minutes. Okay? I promise. Then you can have your way with me.”

I nodded, and she gently extracted my finger from her pussy. “I can barely think straight as it is.” She inhaled a deep, steadying breath. Then she returned the phone to her ear.

“Sorry about that,” she said to Brooke. “Paul was making it impossible to talk.” She listened for a moment. “I know, but I can’t do it all the time.” She laughed. “I know, right? Anyway, where were we? Oh, right. Easter. Uh-huh.” She listened intently and nodded several times. “I think so, but I’ll have to ask Paul.” She glanced at me and her eyebrows rose at something Brooke said. “For real? Are you sure? Yes, of course. I’m sure he’d love to.”

My own eyebrows went up.

“I still need to ask him,” she continued. “And I’ll have to check my calendar, if you know what I mean.” She shot me a quick glance to see if I understood. “It doesn’t make sense if one of us is… um… indisposed. But…

you’re sure?”

Brooke said something else.

“Okay, I’ll check and talk to Paul and let you know,” Christy said. “I know, I miss you too. Yeah, I hope so. Uh-huh. And even if we don’t, it’ll be nice to see you.” She smiled affectionately. “I love you too. Talk to you soon.

Bye.”

“Was that what I think it was?” I asked when she pushed the button to hang up.

“That depends,” she teased. She replaced the phone in its cradle and then used both hands to stroke my erection. “Brooke’s father has a conference in Paris. Her mother’s taking vacation to go with him. It’s the week before Easter, but they’re going to stay and do some sightseeing.”

“And you want us to fly to San Diego?”

“No,” she said with a sly little grin, “Brooke wants us to.”

“Us? As in you and me?”

“Mmm hmm, especially you… and someone special.” She glanced at my straining hard-on, just in case I was particularly slow on the uptake.

“For real?”

“That’s what she said. She’s been lonely. She wants a guy. And she’s been thinking about what we talked about. You know, sharing.” Christy lowered her eyes. “I… um… might’ve told her you’re a swinger. I hope that’s all right.”

I burst out laughing.

“What?”

“You,” I said fondly. “Six months ago I never would’ve imagined we’d be having this conversation.”

“Why? It’s what you want, isn’t it?” She stuck out her chin. “It’s what I want too! What’s wrong with that?”

“Nothing.” I drew her in for a kiss, and she relaxed as we lingered over it.

“Oh, okay,” she said quietly. “Only, I thought you were upset.”

“Does it feel like I’m upset?”

“No. It feels like you’re ready to… you know… do it.”

“Is that what you want?” I teased.

She rolled her eyes but then turned serious. “You just want to hear me say it, don’t you?”

“Of course.”

“Fine. Are you ready?”

I nodded.

“Please, sir, will you fuck me till I can’t stand it?” To my surprise, she sat

up and positioned herself over my erection. Then she sank onto it with a soft groan. After a moment she opened her eyes and gave me a smoldering look.

“And the same for Brooke? Fuck her till she begs you to stop? Please, sir, will you do that for us?”

Her eyes widened with alarm as my own registered surprise. I groaned and shot a geyser of come inside her. Then I closed my eyes and held her hips as the eruption continued. She rode it out with her hands braced on my arms.

“I’ll take that as a yes,” she said at last.