They certainly didn't intend to have an affair. Neither of them was really looking for it. But they had always gotten along so well together that none of their friends, or even their spouses, should have been too surprised.
Both Gwen and Ross had been married for quite a while, just not too each other. Gwen had married Dave, her high school boyfriend, and Ross married Gwen's college roommate and good friend Kate. After graduating, the two women had remained close over the years, and the couples went on "double dates" regularly. They occasionally took vacations together, and Gwen and Dave were always included in the annual ski trip at Ross and Kate's cottage over Super Bowl weekend.
It was Gwen who first started joking about how the two couples had gotten crossed, noting that she and Ross drank vodka, loved chocolate, went to bed early and always got up before sunrise, while Kate and Dave both drank scotch, never touched dessert, preferred staying out partying late at night and getting up around noon.
Ross and Gwen shared other personality traits - both were analytical - he was an engineer and she was an accountant, and very introspective, bordering on introverted. On the other hand, Kate and Dave were more people-oriented, outgoing and effusive personalities in line with their occupations - a teacher and a salesman. The fact that Ross was married to Kate and Gwen was married to Dave seemed to be validation of the old adage: "opposites attract".
But differences like these can cause friction in marriages over the years, and the four would all admit that they were not immune. Conflicts had never grown to the point where either couple had talked about divorce, but neither marriage was the fairy-tale relationship that they had hoped for.
Ross and Gwen could spend hours talking to each other about anything, to the point where Kate asked why he couldn't carry on that level of communication with his own wife. Ross countered that when he Kate talked, they invariably were trying to solve a problem, usually between themselves, and the give and take involved in finding a solution agreeable to both spouses can be inherently difficult. On the other hand, when talking with Gwen, all he had to do was listen and offer some form of solace.
He didn't think that there was any super emotional bond being developed between him and Gwen, but he had to admit to himself that he enjoyed talking to her. There was no down side. He also had to admit to himself that his marriage had probably gotten to the point that he avoided deep conversations with his own wife. He hated conflict, and that's where most of their conversations seemed to end up.
The couples liked to go up north on Super Bowl weekend because nobody else did, most people preferring to stay home to watch the game. But from experience, the two couples knew that on Sunday, you could clean up the cabin, get in a good day of skiing and still be home before kickoff.
To call the place a "cabin" was really a misnomer - it was more like a very nice house on a beautiful lake in northern Michigan. It had four bedrooms, plus a guesthouse, a great room with a big stone fireplace and picture windows facing the lake, and a huge, rambling deck with a hot tub situated right off the master bedroom.
Kate and Ross had driven up a day early to get the driveway cleared, the house prepped and allow Ross an extra day of skiing at a resort nearby. By the time Gwen and Dave had arrived in the late afternoon, Kate was preparing a big lasagna dinner and Ross was just getting back from his day on the slopes.
At dinner, more than a couple bottles of wine were consumed, and afterwards, the couples retired to the great room for after-dinner drinks. The conversation and music were mellow, and even before 10pm, his day of skiing was catching up with him and Ross was yawning. After skiing, his standard routine called for getting in the hot tub just before bed. When he announced his plans, Gwen said she wasn't long for the world either, but Dave and Kate were obviously ready to party on.
Ross went into the master bedroom, stripped off his clothes, wrapped a towel around his waist and went back to the kitchen to mix himself one last vodka and tonic, or as he put it: "hydration therapy for the hot tub." Gwen walked into the kitchen and knowing full well that the answer was "no", she asked him what if he had on his bathing suit under his towel.
As he walked away with his drink, Ross chuckled and said, "What do you think?"
She surprised him by saying "well, let's find out". Ripping his towel off of him, she playfully ran back into the great room, proudly waving her trophy.
Nudity never really bothered Ross, so he chased Gwen, being careful not to spill his drink. He caught her in front of the fireplace, grabbed his towel, and bent down, catching her at the waist and throwing her over his shoulder. She hung upside down, spanking him on his bare butt, laughing and saying, "put me down, put me down. Somebody help me! I'm being carried away by a naked man!" Kate dutifully recorded the moment, taking a picture with her cell phone as Ross carried Gwen into the master bedroom before putting her down gently on his bed.
"Careful who you play with. I could let out the caveman in me and have my way with you, right here and now" he said. She lay back, propped up on her elbows, grinning mischievously at him. He noted how her eyes darted up and down his body, pausing just a bit while she looked at his penis. She continued to smile as he threw the towel his towel by the door and walked out to the hot tub.
She thought to herself "he's got a real nice, tight ass."
Gwen went back by the fire and said she was going in the hot tub too. Kate had no intention of going along; Dave thought about it, but it was too much work, it was too cold outside, and besides, he was enjoying the fire.
