The 'Back to Basics' series of stories is my way of getting back to better quality by going back to where I started: Ashley, Becca and myself. Recently, I burned myself out trying to write stories for specific people and I think my quality suffered for it. I will continue to write other things, but for now, it's Back to Basics.
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I came home from work, only to find the house dark, even though I knew Ashley was home. Standing at the bottom of the stairs, I heard voices coming from the living room.
I moved that way, catching flickering lights through the doorway. I poked my head in and saw Ashley and her friends Mandy and Sarah. They were watching a movie and judging by the mood of the film, it was a mystery. They were all on the edge of their seats, so I waited for a break in the action to announce my presence.
"Girls night in, huh?" All three turned, Mandy jumping slightly. Ashley smiled and I leaned down and kissed her on the head. "What are you watching?"
Ashley hit pause on the DVD remote and leaned over and grabbed the box. "'Murder Most Fowle.' It's about a detective named Fowle and he's trying to solve a mystery that includes the death of a famous actress. They just introduced the last suspect. You want to watch with us?"
I shook my head. "No thanks. I can't stand being in the same room with this many beautiful women at once. Personally, I think these movies are a little too easy to figure out whodunit. Besides, I'm a little hungry, so I'm going to get something to eat. Anybody want anything?"
Mandy spoke up. "You mean aside from you, you big hunk of man?"
Everyone laughed, but Sarah laughed the hardest. It seemed to me to be nervous laughter on her part, while everyone else was natural. I mentally shrugged and headed for the kitchen.
I heard the girls talking about the movie and whom they think did it. I chuckled to myself and finished making my sandwich and a glass of orange juice and was preparing to head upstairs. When I turned, I found Ashley standing in the kitchen, a smile on her face. This did not look good.
"Okay, sport. You think you're so good at this movie thing, the girls and I have a proposition for you." That sparkle in her eye made me nervous.
"I'm listening but not agreeing to anything yet."
"Fair enough. Since you and your football buddies had a bet with Becca a couple of weeks ago and yes, she told me about it, we had something similar in mind."
"Okay. So far, you aren't telling me anything."
"Here's the bet and feel free to turn it down, since I wouldn't want you feeling like you have to do it. The bet is this: we all guess who killed the actress. If you lose, you have to perform oral sex on Mandy and Sarah."
I raised my eyebrow to my hairline. Other than Becca, Ashley had never been keen on me having any kind of sexual contact with another woman, let alone two friends of hers. I looked her in the eye, just to make sure she was serious. She was.
"Sure, baby. I mean, if you're okay with it, I'm okay with it too. You know I like doing that, but I have to say I'm surprised that you'd accept the bet."
She smirked. "I don't have anything on the line."
"Hold on. What do I get if I win?"
"Well," she said, running a finger over my collarbone, "If you win, then you get a double blowjob from Mandy and Sarah."
Again, I raised my eyebrow. "Hey. I won't argue with that. I'll be right there."
I grabbed my food and headed out for the living room, Ashley making room for me on the couch next to her. I put my stuff on the coffee table and looked at Ashley, who smiled.
"Okay, ladies," she said. "He's game. So, now we have to make our bets."
"Hold on," I interrupted. "Do I get a chance to see the setup?"
The girls held a conference and decided that in the interest of fair play, I would get to see the ten-minute setup but I would have to vote last.
They went to the other room and started watching while eating my sandwich. I was watching intently, stopping and reviewing to hear every line when from the other room I heard "But is he good at it?"
The answer was: "Are you kidding? He's fantastic!"
I felt myself blush slightly, but kept watching the movie. I called out to them when I was caught up and Ashley led them back in carrying slips of paper and a pencil. "Okay. We write down our guesses so that there's no lying, not that I think there will be. Everyone gets to see everyone else's guesses. Fair?"
Everyone agreed and Ashley got the paper and the pencil first. She tilted her head at me and smiled, scribbling down 'Maria Cortez - the understudy.' She handed Sarah the paper and pencil, a smirk on her pretty face.