I spent the first few days of the week following my introduction to sex with Leah having mixed emotions. I had no regrets at all about hooking up with her, other than being acutely aware of the time that had been wasted all those years. A little more flexibility on my part would likely have resulted in us getting together a lot sooner. On the other hand, maybe the delay was going to work out for the best. Both of us were a lot more mature than we were when our paths first crossed.
Most of my thinking time was devoted to Barbara and my agreement with Kyle, her husband, Marine Gunnery Sergeant, and lifelong best friend. Within the next few days, I expected a call from her invoking the provisions of that agreement. Bizarre as it might sound, Kyle had asked that I take care of Barbara whenever she craved sex while he was deployed to Japan for nine months. He told me that she has an uncontrollable need for sex about once each month and had for years resorted to rolling the dice in bars to find a partner for an hour or so.
It started with Kyle's first deployment to the Middle East long ago and she confessed her transgressions when he came home. It turned out that Kyle's behavior was no better, having screwed his share of nurses, female ambulance drivers, and anyone else who was available while in Iraq. With everything out in the open, they reached an accommodation; their behavior would be allowed to continue whenever Kyle was deployed with no regrets on either side. None, at least, until Barbara's encounter with a stranger who wanted more from her and wouldn't take no for an answer.
Leah, Barbara's best friend and occasional lover, was complicit in each occurrence. Her job was to help screen the candidates. Barbara provided the same service for Leah so, more often than not, they both got laid on the same nights. Their track record was perfect until that night when Leah failed to pick up any bad vibes from the asshole who began to stalk Barbara. Leah still felt guilty about it two years later. Fortunately, Kyle returned from deployment in time to discuss the matter with the guy, who spent two days in the hospital and then disappeared.
Kyle was stationed stateside for the next two years so their extramarital activities were put on hold. When Kyle's assignment was ending and he received orders to Japan, he took me aside to explain everything. Needless to say, I was stunned. I was best man at their wedding years before and had detected no hint of what had been going on right under my nose whenever Kyle was gone. Each time Kyle deployed I stayed in close contact with Barbara to make sure she was okay in his absence. And I was clueless.
During the conversation with Kyle that day, I was told that my own stubbornness was the reason I was not included in the inner circle; a circle that included occasional sexual three-ways with Kyle, Barbara, and Leah. I didn't like Leah very much back in those days, so I had consistently deflected every attempt by Barbara to hook me up with her, so I was left in the dark.
Only Kyle's upcoming deployment, and his concern for Barbara's safety, caused him to pull me into the fold and con me into fucking his wife whenever she needed sex. I objected strenuously, but arguing with him proved futile. Barbara, I was informed, had readily agreed with the idea. In the end, I had little choice even though the agreement made me very uncomfortable.
Unbeknownst to me, Leah had also been told about the new arrangement and decided to push the envelope a little. Insisting that I take her out for drinks and dinner shortly after Kyle's departure, we ended up spending the weekend at her apartment fucking ourselves into a coma.
Sex with Leah was a revelation. I had never been with a woman as responsive or as sexually aggressive. The sex was so good for both of us that we agreed to an exclusive, heterosexually speaking, relationship with the understanding that it would only be about fucking, not romance. Leah would be free to continue having sex with Barbara, and I would be expected to honor my commitment to Kyle. With the exception of those two caveats, Leah and I would only be having sex with each other for the foreseeable future.
Leah reported, apparently in some detail, to Barbara about our sexual activities over that weekend, giving me a B-minus grade for my efforts on her behalf. Good naturedly I objected, thinking I had performed admirably for the most part. Leah's reasoning was that Barbara would be pleasantly surprised when I was eventually called upon to keep my part of the bargain.
All of that explains my anxiety while waiting for Barbara's inevitable call. In one respect, I didn't want her to call at all. In another, I was anxious for her to do so because Leah had informed me that she and I would not have sex again until after I had serviced Barbara for the first time.
While I waited, I kept reviewing my relationship with Barbara over the years. I had never seen her wear anything other than sixties era hippie-like outfits. Not even at the beach. Other than her face, neck, hands, and ankles, I had never seen her skin and her long, voluminous dresses hid whatever figure might be hiding beneath.
Over time, we had become very fond of each other, often meeting for lunch when Kyle was overseas, and very much enjoying each other's company. She was witty, intelligent, and fun to be around. When Kyle was home, the three of us frequently hung out together.
She and Leah were much alike in their manner of dress. Both were artists who did graphic work for a couple of firms in San Diego. I spent years avoiding Leah only to be astonished when we went out to dinner and I found her personality to be much like Barbara's. I was also surprised when I picked Leah up for our date and found that she had abandoned her hippie costume in favor of a tasteful outfit that complimented her red hair and exposed a surprisingly good figure with great legs. Later that night I would discover just how beautiful the rest of her was.
My exposure to Leah's body inevitably caused me to wonder anew what might be hidden under Barbara's flowing garments, which then caused me more discomfort for even thinking such a thing. But I needed to think. Leah had told me I was in for a treat when it was time to have sex with Kyle's wife, so I assumed she would be sexy and responsive to my touch. Or maybe not. Barbara and I had a long history. A long asexual history. Leah and I did not.
By Wednesday I was a wreck. Serious doubts about our upcoming liaison began to weigh me down. Maybe I wouldn't be able to get an erection. Maybe Barbara would be completely turned off by me for some reason. The only physical contact we had ever shared were the casual hugs typical of friends. Maybe the sex would be so unsatisfying for her that she would be compelled to return to her previous method of finding a partner.
Maybe I should just go ahead and hang myself, I thought at the time.
****
Before I could find a suitable rope, it was Friday and my cell phone began its version of 'Wild Thing," my chosen ringtone. Barbara's number was revealed on the screen. Ok fuck!
"Hey Barb," I answered, hoping she wouldn't detect the strain in my voice.
"Hey yourself," came the response. "Can you come over tomorrow about noon? I'll fix us a light lunch, we can have some wine, and then talk for a bit."
"Sure," I responded with an overwhelming feeling of relief. All she wanted to do was talk. "I'll bring the wine."
"No need," she countered. I have a dozen bottles of red in the rack and several bottles of white in the fridge. Just bring yourself."
"Noon it is then," I said. "Call me if you change your mind and I can bring something."
"Will do. See tomorrow afternoon," Barbara said and ended the call.
"Thank God!" I yelled at my ceiling. Apparently I was off the hook. Clearly, Barbara had decided to suppress her sexual needs until Kyle's return. My reprieve couldn't have come at a better time. Leah and I hadn't had sex in nearly a week. With my obligation to Barbara released, perhaps Leah and I could spend the night together. So I called her cell.
"No way." was Leah's immediate response when I told her of my conversation with Barbara and my hopes for the evening.
"Why not?"
"Because you completely misunderstood what she was saying."
"How could I misunderstand? The conversation was clear as a bell."
"Barb and Kyle were right, you are naïve. What did you expect her to say? Hey Jake, why don't you come over and fuck me tomorrow afternoon?"
