'Men are naturally, irredeemably unfaithful creatures.' It was a frequent boast of Paddi's to her friends and colleagues, and one never challenged.
Until Emma. 'That's hardly fair.'
'It's not meant to be fair.' Steam from the prior users had beaded the pink-tiled walls and floors of the ladies' showers and changing alcove, but Paddi and Emma had the place to themselves. 'Or do you think your Will's different?'
Her tone suggested the answer; Emma's reply confirmed it. 'Of course. We have a special relationship.'
Paddi snorted. 'Will wants me, too.'
Emma tied up her chestnut hair after removing her T-shirt. 'You two may have been an item once, but we've been married for two years now.'
'That makes it harder for him, then.' Paddi grinned cheekily at her own innuendo as she removed her own T-shirt; like her friend, she'd stopped wearing bras on her holidays. 'We never shagged when we were dating, and no man can know any woman without wondering, at least once, what the sex would be like. And after two years with the same woman...'
Her voice trailed off, practically begging for a response from Emma. And she wasn't disappointed, either, watching the other woman as she hung up her remaining clothes and grabbed her gel and shower token. 'Are you implying I'm a boring lover?' She padded off into the shower room without waiting for an answer.
'Of course not,' Paddi called after her, casting aside the last of her own clothing. She paused to admire her reflection in the half-fogged mirror opposite: burr of honey-blonde hair over bright blue eyes, firm breasts, smooth thighs. She lifted her own token and took the place beside Emma; the water splashing off of her friend's body felt lovely and warm. 'But even sirloin tastes dull if a man eats it every night.'
'Really.' Emma sounded unconvinced.
'Believe it.' Paddi inserted her own token into the shower machine, immediately jumping back with a squeal at the icy blast which struck her body.
Emma looked suitably innocent. 'Sorry; I should have warned you it starts out cold.'
Paddi scowled and stuck out a defiant tongue, holding out her hand until the water reached an acceptable temperature, before returning to Emma's side, confiscating some of her gel. 'You're just bitchy because you know I'm right about Will.'
'Care to bet on it?'
'Aye, right.'
'I mean it.'
Paddi guffawed, until she saw the serious look in her friend's eyes, that unmistakable no-nonsense gaze; she did mean it. Still, Paddi tried to laugh it off. 'Well, it's not likely he'd get the opportunity anyway-'
'But he will - tonight. I'll give you two time alone this evening, say an hour or so. You'll have that long to prove your point, before I "catch you both at it".'
'You're joking,' Paddi insisted.
'You think so?'
Paddi was gobsmacked; the palmful of lavender gel she'd patted onto her shoulder, now ignored, slid down her smooth, wet skin in long, slim fingers to cup her left breast. She'd known Emma almost as long as Will, and until today considered her much too staid, too conventional to make such a suggestion. And as confident as she was in men's innate unfaithfulness, and in her own personal abilities to prove it, Paddi had never been so boldly challenged to demonstrate her claims, especially by another woman, a friend, with her friend's husband, no less! She wouldn't want to jeopardise their marriage-
She was rudely pulled from her thoughts by a hard slap on her ass. She twisted in place to face Emma, standing there as if challenging her to a fight. 'Well, girl, do you accept? Or maybe you're afraid he'd be too much for you? He likes a bit of rough.'
Then again, Paddi thought, maybe Emma should learn not to make bets she couldn't afford to lose. 'What'll I get for winning?'
'You know that new silk blouse of mine? The one you fancied?'
Paddi smacked her lips automatically; Emma knew her all too well. That was something worth working for... and it would hardly be work, now would it? Will was handsome, and the idea was enticing. 'Okay, girl, you've got a bet. But what if I lose?'
'Do you think you might?'
'No.' She was bound to win.
'Then don't worry about it.' Emma's gaze dropped. 'Looks like you're looking forward to it already.'
Paddi's eyes followed Emma's down to her own breasts, to her nipples, now hardened into dark, excited buds. 'Must be the cold water.'
When Paddi first met Will, she'd found him handsome - squarely-built and broad-faced, eagle-featured and gimlet-eyed, with short swept back raven hair, and a distinctive voice, husky yet lilting - but a little too quiet and reserved for her tastes. But marriage seemed to have changed him, and Paddi had to admit, if only to herself, that she should have given him another chance, beforehand.
Now...
The moment came. The sun had already set over the tall pines surrounding the campsite, and the sky was a fiery red. The midges had returned with a vengeance, but stayed away from Paddi, Will and Emma, thanks to the smoking repellent ring set up in the grass between their chairs.