watching january (24 page)

“Teddy isn’t a bad guy.  You should have treated him better,” Mel said to me over the roar of the boat’s motor.

“I didn’t treat him badly, unless not letting him fuck me is considered bad treatment.  Is that what you think?”

“Ah… no… it’s not like that.  I just like to make him happy, and he would’ve been very happy to… you know…”

“But that makes it sound like my happiness… and yours… doesn’t matter.”

She continued apologizing for Teddy’s behavior yet my mind was on Roger instead.  How could I criticize Mel’s sacrifice when in effect Roger was doing the same thing?  He wanted me to be happy, even if that meant sleeping with Griffin.  Nonetheless, I doubted Mel had the same motive in stepping aside today on the island as my husband’s.   It took time for me to recognize his guts in proposing that first hook-up at the Langmans’ house, with so many unknowns facing us.  Roger is a man, and a man would still feel something like jealousy regardless of intentions when he sees his wife happy with another man, even if he encouraged them. 

Roger was right that fateful morning.  I would have succumbed to the boredom, the rut we found ourselves in and didn’t seem to have the energy to climb from.  I would have left him.  Maybe for someone a whole lot less of a man than Griffin—or Roger.

When we closed on the marina and the dock, I pulled Griffin to me, kissed him and told him how much I loved him.  The words felt right on my lips.

Pleasantries were exchanged as we thanked Teddy for the cruise.  Nothing more was said about the sexual aspects, which was okay by me.  When Griffin pulled up to my house I told him that I enjoyed the entire day.  I used the word special a few times and it was, from the fabulous brunch to the art museum and then the boat excursion.  “As corny as it sounds I loved our Adam and Eve lovemaking fantasy on the island,” I said.  “We’ll have to figure out a way to duplicate that again.”

“Without Teddy lusting after you, I take it?”  We laughed and then kissed for the longest time before I stepped out of the car.  His parting words were “Thank Roger for me.”

Those words could have been said snidely but his voice only betrayed sincerity—and love.  I answered with, “You can thank him yourself.  He told me he was going to your office tomorrow to speak with you.”

“About us?”

“Would there be any other reason?”

I blew him a kiss and walked toward my house, and my husband.  He’ll want to know all the details of my day.  I know he will.  “How do I look?” I asked Roger as I walked in to see him watching a ballgame on television.

At first he was perplexed by the question, but then he said, “You look like you’ve had the best day of your life.”

I was probably grinning like a village idiot as I said, “You read my mind.”

“Tell me all about it.”

“After a shower,” I told him.

I luxuriated under the shower head as my memory replayed the day.  Thoughts of Griffin, especially our lovemaking in the island grass had my hand go to my suddenly alert clit.  The feisty little appendage was hungry so I took care of that with several feverish strokes of my fingertips.  I think I was loud enough for Roger to hear me, and basically that’s what I hoped for.  After drying off, I pulled on my favorite silk bathrobe and rejoined my darling husband.

Chapter 32

Roger

A perceptive man will always recognize the glow.  My wife had the glow, that glow telling the world her body has been sexually satisfied.  I watched her coming down the stairs, her robe unbelted and therefore open for my eyes to appreciate once more how gorgeous she was—all-over gorgeous.

I invited her to sit next to me as I turned off the TV.  She deserved my undivided attention.

She narrated the story of her day, from extravagant brunch to sex (not quite on) the beach.  We reminisced about our honeymoon and how I’d penetrated her from behind on an Aruban beach with people all around us.  “We didn’t care if they saw anything, did we?” she said.

“Was this Teddy character really as obnoxious as you make him sound?”

“I guess not,” she said.  “He’s like a lot of men.  They’ve had power over women their whole lives in one way or another, so they feel entitled.  Because of their usual charisma most women would willingly drop their panties at the snapping of fingers.”

“But not you.”

She laughed and then said, “Don’t fit me for a halo yet.  It’s not like he was a fat slob or anything like that.  The man is in great shape for his age, and according to Griff and the girlfriend he can fuck like a stallion and last for ages.”

It was my turn to laugh.  “I won’t ask how Griffin knows of his pal’s sexual prowess, but the man does seem right up your alley, my horny bride.”

“Yeah, but I only wanted Griff and nobody else, especially after that brunch at DeSantori’s.”

“Nobody else?  Not even me?”

“Well…” she said but I stopped her from incriminating herself.

“You don’t have to say it.  In many ways I’m pleased that you only wanted Griffin.  That means you love him.”

“Yes I do.  I hope that doesn’t hurt you, but I love him more than I would’ve ever thought I could, even back when it was simple flirting.  Yes, the infatuation has blossomed into love.”

“All I ask is that you leave a little room for me in your heart.” 

I saw the tear and with my fingertip brushed it off her cheek.  With a hitch in her voice she said, “I always will, Roger.  I always will.”

Now it was my turn to tell her about my day.  I didn’t go into sexy details but she’s smart enough to read between the lines.  That was confirmed when she said, “I’m happy for you.”  When we went to bed she delicately rejected my sexual advances.  “I’ve had a busy day, I’m tired, but most of all I want to savor my day with Griffin for a little while longer.  I hope you understand.”  I had asked her for a small piece of her heart, and I suppose that meant a small timeshare of her vagina too.  I would live.

Sleeping next to her made it a long night.

In the morning I reminded Jan that I’d be visiting Griffin’s office to speak with him.  With a sly grin she reminded me to check out Mary-Clair while there.  With a chuckle I promised I would.  I teased, “Should I give Erik your regards?”

“That’s not necessary, my dear husband who’s not supposed to be jealous of a man who fucked his wife with a foot long cock.”

“Okay, but you could’ve left it at ‘not necessary’.”

“What fun is that?” she said with a wink.

I couldn’t explain my interest in a woman I hadn’t met yet.  Perhaps like Heather, an older lover has its appeal to me.  From what Jan had said about Mary-Clair, I’d painted a mental image and it was turning me on.  This morning I’d see if reality matched my imagination.  Since Mary-Clair was the first person I saw at the law office I could get right down to flirting mode if I wanted to.

“How may we help you?” she said.  The smile was as much in her eyes as on her lips.  Sincerity.  I liked the “we” instead of the customary I.  After I introduced myself and announced I was there to see Griffin, she asked if I was Jan’s husband.  When I acknowledged I was, she laughed and said, “You’re not going to kill him are you?  We really like him as a boss.”

I laughed too.  “Nope, I’m not here to kill him.  On the contrary, we’ll be discussing future arrangements.”

“I like that,” she said with the sparkle in her eyes.  “Do you think there are any future arrangements for me?  I figure I need some.”

“My wife said I’d like you, and she was right,” I said, and winked.

“Let me see if Mr. Langman is free.”

I supposed she could’ve used the phone or an intercom so I assumed the walk to his office was for my benefit.  She was wearing a mid-thigh length belted dress that showed no panty lines as she wiggled her ass.  That was no sixty-plus ass I was staring at.  Her legs were thin but shapely, and the hose didn’t look like those heavy support kind old women with varicose veins wear.  Yes, I was intrigued.  She came back to get me and took me to Griffin’s office. 

Along the way she asked me if I had by any chance met Erik Adare.  I held my hands about twelve inches apart and said, “You mean…?”

She laughed and conspiratorially whispered, “That’s the one.  Did you hear about him from your wife?”

I chided her, “Now, now, don’t you know it’s not polite to gossip?”  However, I was sure my grin gave me away.  “My wife was very descriptive though hardly complimentary. Does he know how to use that thing, Mary-Clair?”

She stopped me, but it wasn’t out of anger or embarrassment.  “Young man, I have a hunch that you know exactly how to use yours.  Is it up to the task?”

“Is that a proposition?”

“Only if you want it to be.”

“Then we’ll have to speak before I leave this morning, okay?”

“Of course,” she said with that twinkly-eyed smile.

Griffin welcomed me into his office but I still had to have one more look at Mary-Clair’s unbelievable backside.  “She’s amazing, isn’t she?” Griffin asked me after closing his office door and offering me a seat.

I didn’t waste his or my time.  “January loves you, Griffin.  I hope you love her just as much.”

“Maybe more, Roger… maybe more,” he said almost like an extended sigh.

“You might think the resolution is out of your control,” I said.  “It’s not.”

“How so?”

“Would you marry her if you and she weren’t already married to others?”

“In a heartbeat.”

“So, let me ask the next question…”

He interrupted, “Would Jan marry me?  Is that your question?”

“There’s a more important question needing an answer first.  We’re in a state that allows it, so would Nadine marry Carolyn if she was divorced from you?”  He though it over in silence before admitting that his wife probably would marry her lover if she could.  “Would you stand in the way?”

Griffin said, “No, I probably wouldn’t, as long as I had Jan.”  Then he added, “Would
YOU
stand in the way?”

“Why would I stand in your way?  Basically that’s why I wanted to speak with you this morning.  I’m envisioning no divorces.  Your house is way big enough to hold more people, so what would happen if Carolyn relinquished her apartment and Jan and I sold our house?  Sleeping arrangements can be however we want them, mostly your wife and Carolyn, and you and Jan.”

“What about you?  Are you thinking you and Heather?”

“No, that’s not for me to decide anyway.  Besides she’s going to be in school and I don’t want anything to mess that up.”  I then laughed and added, “Carly and I do seem to get along, and she’s unattached.”

“All under my roof?” he said, incredulity sneaking into his voice.  “Do you really think that would work?”

“We’re all adults, and frankly none of us are hurting financially.  We’ll be one, big, happy family with no more secrets.  And if everything works out the way I think it will we can slog through all the long-term financials later.”  He was speechless, so I jumped back in with, “You’re a lawyer.  I know we can write up some kind of legal document that will protect each of us in the meantime, though frankly I can’t see anything like that ever happening.  If jealousies haven’t bitten us yet then they never will.”

“I take it you feel the next move is for me to speak to Nadine about it?”

“I guess.  Float the idea of her with Carolyn more than just casually.  Jan and I already spoke about possibilities though not in any detail.”

“I’ll ask again: you really think all of us living together will work?”

I told him I did, and then I mentioned a party at Vibe.  “We could all be together in a setting your wife and Carolyn are comfortable with, and with me too, I can say.”

“This coming weekend?” he asked.

“Saturday night at the Vibe Club!” I declared, like I was agreeing for him.

Mary-Clair caught my eye on the way out.  The twinkle was in hers.  “Leaving so soon?”

I took my chance.  “I’ve already had my opportunity to watch that splendid backside walk away from me, so I’ve exhausted all the sightseeing possibilities.”

“It sounds like you’re sexually harassing me, though I have to say there are more sightseeing possibilities available if one were to ask the right question.”

“Would a date on Saturday night preclude me from a charge of sexual harassment or would it put me in deeper trouble?”

“A night out sounds like it may mitigate your troubles, although a man who can, shall we say handle ‘deeper trouble’ would be welcome, if you catch my drift.”

I explained the proposed group excursion to Vibe the following Saturday, including Griffin and Jan’s participation.  I asked her to accompany me, and even if the group thing didn’t take place I said we would still go out.

“Vibe… that’s the lesbian joint isn’t it?  You don’t think I’m…?”

“Oh no.  I think you’re a hot blooded young lady who loves to party.  It’s a party nightclub.  It doesn’t faze me that it’s frequented by lesbians.”

“Cut the ‘young lady’ bullshit, though I do appreciate the sentiment.”

“Then we’re on!”

She glanced around to see if anyone was looking before she grabbed my ass, gave it a squeeze and said, “I hope you’re up for it.”

I’m always up for it
I wanted to say but held my tongue. She’d find out Saturday.

I believed the week would be an interesting one.

Chapter 33

Jan

I wasn’t sure if my husband was being coy or if he was simply anxious about explaining the conversation he had with Griffin earlier.  I kept asking about it and he kept avoiding the subject.  Finally I cornered him and demanded the truth.

“All of us living together?” I said in amazement when he told me of his proposal.

“We’re not hiding anything from each other now, are we?” he said.  “So why can’t Carolyn, Nadine, Heather, you, me and Griffin coexist under one roof?”

“For one thing I can do the math.  You named six people.  Does that mean you already know you’ll be sleeping with Heather?”

“Actually, no.  Heather and I have no such arrangement.  Besides, she’s got enough to worry about with her college studies.”