Author's Note: This is an edited version with corrected grammar, etc. The story is unchanged.
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Elliot Richards walked to the bar across the street from his office at the end of his day. It was his routine to try and wash away the depression hovering over him with a beer, or something stronger, before heading home. It was a small solace in his life.
"Hey, Elliot! How yah doin?" Rich called out.
Rich was a sometimes drink pal at the bar.
"The Usual?"
"Thanks Harry." Elliot said to the bartender.
"So, where you been Rich?"
"Business trip. Just got back this morning."
"You're looking chipper. Good Trip?"
"Yeah. But also, just getting home."
"How So?"
"Well," Rich leaned in, "Hadn't seen my wife in two weeks." He looked around, "I was in need of a good fuck."
"Good fuck..." Elliot said half-heartedly.
"Man, did I marry a woman with talent."
"A good fuck is hard to find, eh?"
They both laughed.
"How about your wife?"
Elliot looked at his just arrived beer and paused. "Well Rich, some of us aren't into kiss and tell." he wink.
"Yeah, yeah, I talk too much. Maybe I brag too much. But she is something. She's quite open to things."
Elliot just listened. He liked to just listen.
Rich leaned in again "We recently connected with a swingers group."
"Really." Elliot replied with an arched eyebrow.
"Really, she was all in. I get some extra pussy and she gets some extra cock. A fair deal." Rich laughed.
Elliot looked at his beer.
"Hey Elliot, you're good looking, they like good looking people. Is your wife good looking?"
Elliot just looked at him.
"Okay bad question. But if you two are interested I should be able to get you in."
"Well, I don't know how that would go over."
"I understand. But if you are interested just text me. Hell, you just need to bring someone, you know." Rich winked.
"Thanks Rich. I'll think about it."
Elliot downed his beer and headed home. As Elliot headed to his car he thought about the conversation.
"Bring your wife he says." Elliot thought to himself. "Janet and I haven't had sex in two fucking years. Ha!"
The gloom just settled further.
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Elliot arrived and walked into the den. There, his daughter Deborah on summer break from college, sitting in the Lazy boy reading a paper back. She took an internship after high school and is bad home, having just finished her freshman year at college.
"Where's mom?"
"Called to say to say she would be late. Said there's some leftovers in the fridge."
"Ah, So what are you reading there? Quite a cover." as he plopped in the sofa.
"Pulp romance." She looked at the cover, "Yeah that's the come on. But there are some steamy scenes." she smirked.
"Speaking of romance, how was your social life at school?"
Deb looked at him. Elliot encouraged frankness with her. He was never judgmental which brought her closer to him than her mother.
"Just thought I'd ask."
Deb mumbled a noncommittal answer.
Elliot looked at her, "You are 20 now. I suspect you're not a virgin anymore."
"Dad!"
Elliot just smiled, "I shouldn't pry."
His ways had a way of opening her up. A trust of a lifetime together.
"Well, a few." She replied, "Quite a few. Damn, sex is great! You wouldn't believe the opportunities! So many guys."
He just looked at his daughter with his reassuring smile.
She felt emboldened, "Damn, I even got invited to a frat house party. It was an orgy. An orgy! Fuck it was great. At one point I had one guy in my mouth and another in me from behind."
"Woh, woh, I don't need the details." he laughed.
"Look Honey, I don't care about the details. I care about you. I know sex is great and I want you to enjoy it. I want you to be happy. But be careful. Guys can hurt you. And not just physically, in the heart too. Understand?"
Deb got up and went to him. She kissed him on the head and gave him a hug. "Oh, dad, how can I be so lucky to have a dad like you. A lot on the girls I know, their fathers think they're saints. But you understand."
"I was young once too you know."
She sat next to him. "How about you and Mom? I never hear about your sex life."
His face went blank, and he looked at the floor.
"Dad?"
"Look honey..." he trailed off.
"Dad. you've always asked me to be honest with you, right?"
He looked at her. His parenting now coming back to bite him.
"Dad?"
He paused, looked away, then "Look honey... Look, your mom and I... well we haven't had sex in years."
The revelation surprised her, "But why."
"I don't know really; she doesn't seem interested. I've tried everything. But in the end, I realized she just needed the space." He looked down.
"How about you? Do you still have, you know, needs?"
"Needs? oh yeah, but..."
"But it doesn't seem fair."
"Honey, life isn't fair. I still love your mother. If for no other reason, we brought you into the world."
She just looked at him.
Now he needed to express himself, "I remember the night we conceived you. She was never passionate, but THAT night... there was a passion I'd never seen in her before or since. I think that came from the desire to bring a baby into the world, to bring YOU into the world. I think it was the greatest night of my life."
Deborah's eyes began to mist.
"Now don't you get teary-eyed over your dad. This is my problem, not yours." He held her hand. "But I thank you for encouraging me to get it off my chest. It has helped, you have helped."
"But Dad, I can't imagine being in your situation. Maybe have an affair." She said half serious.
"God! how would I start? hang around in bars like some sleaze hitting up woman? I could never."
He slumped back in his chair looking dejected again.
They both went quiet, Deb in agony over her father's plight.
"Funny, just today Rich my drinking buddy invited me to a swinger's party. Ha! the catch? Bring you wife, or at least a date."
Deb fell deep in though. A way forward appeared.
"Dad, you know I'm getting nothing since I've come home either. Maybe we can solve both our problems. Why can't I be your date?"
"What!"