Unspoken Pleasure

"I suppose," I said, "It's a nice thought."

"Right?" Brian gave me a hearty slap on the shoulder. It felt like getting shoved by a gorilla. "We get married and we get locked into who we are. Who we think that's how it should be. But the truth is, you can have everything you want. Trust me, Kate's feeling the same thing. Even if she isn't willing to say it. You just have to be willing to take risks. Are you willing to do that, Andy? Take a risk to get what you truly want?"

"I'm not sure I understand what you mean," I said, cagey.

"I'm talking about a party, man!" Brian said, and he threw back his head and laughed. "Going out, having a good time, the whole thing. Vanessa and I both think you two would have an amazing time. It would mean a lot to us if you showed." I knew my answer was 'no.' But I couldn't form the word in front of Brian. I was weirdly anxious about disappointing him. So, instead, I deftly deflected. I told him that I had to talk to Kate first, knowing that my wife would decline for me. Problem solved.

*

That night, as we ate takeout Chinese over the kitchen table, I told Kate about Brian's invitation. I relayed what he had told me -- how he liked us both and wanted us to come to their place. I stayed mum about the other things he'd said about marriage and change. I guess because I still wasn't sure I understood what he meant.

I expected Kate to flat out refuse, but instead, she put down her chopsticks and paused, lost in thought.

"I do like them," Kate said, finally, "Vanessa's so glamorous and amazing. And Brian's so good... I mean, such a good guy."

"So, you want to go?" I asked, my mind scrambling with surprise.

"Do you?"

"I don't know," I said, "I do like them, and I guess it could be fun."

Another long pause while Kate twiddled with her lo mein. She let out a deep sigh, then said, "I don't think we should." I felt myself relax as my universe reordered itself to its normal disposition. "Not unless we can bring Tara, too."

And just like that, everything was upside down again. Tara? What did Kate's younger sister have to do with any of this?

"She's been dragging since that whole thing with Jesse," Kate said, "I think a night out might help her feel better about stuff."

"Maybe see that there are other possibilities out there?" I asked, "Be inspired by what's going on around her?"

"Something like that," Kate said, blushing slightly. It wasn't like her to be so sneaky and I kind of liked seeing it in her. "I think Tara would have a good time."

"So wait, are we actually considering going to this?" I asked.NôvelDrama.Org copyrighted © content.

"I think so?" Kate said. She seemed to be rolling the idea around in her mind. Seeing how it bounced and settled. "See what Brian says about Tara."

Like me, I think Kate was just pushing the ball forward, hoping that someone else would block the way. But it didn't happen. When I texted Brian about bringing one more, he wrote back a simple, "Can't wait to see you there!" and an address.

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And so, somehow, we'd agreed to go to a party that weekend. I spent the rest of the week feeling like something was growing in my stomach. I told myself it was anticipation. Excitement. But looking back I know exactly what I was feeling. It was fear.

*

Saturday evening, as we got ready for the party, we both started to feel the jitters. Kate showered and put on a very cute red and white polka dot dress that showed off her figure. It wasn't tight, but it flared nicely at her chest and hips, accentuating her perfect, figure-eight figure.

She did a little spin and caught me staring from where I was sitting on the bed. "What?" she asked, smoothing her dress back down like she'd been doing something naughty. "You just look good, that's all," I said.

Kate looked down at herself, dubious. "I'm not all that," she said.

"Are you kidding? You're gorgeous. Every guy at that party is going to be jealous of me, having you on my arm. You're so beautiful. And your body. I mean, you're amazing." "That's sweet of you to say, honey," Kate said, "But it seems to me that all the girls will be jealous of me with my tall, handsome husband by my side."

"Maybe we skip the party," I said, "Stay here." I was only half-joking. Staying in the bedroom was becoming more and more appealing.

As you reach the final pages, remember that 000005s.org is your destination for the complete story. Share the joy of reading with others and spread the word. The next chapter is just a visit away! Kate rolled her eyes at me. "My sister is coming," she said, as if that that answered everything.

Kate swished past me to do her makeup in the bathroom while I got dressed. I kept it simple -- a light, navy sweater and a pair of khakis. I ran a hand through my light brown hair, checking myself in the mirror. Trying to see the man that my wife had been gushing over a moment before.

My lips were too thin, and my eyes were a pale, listless green. I could see the beginnings of a widow's peak on my forehead. At least I kept myself in pretty good shape. I'd been a long-distance runner in high school, and I'd kept the knack of it as I got older.

As I was pulling my shoes on (brown loafers) the doorbell rang. Kate went downstairs to get it. I heard Tara's voice echo up the stairs as she came inside. There were the usual ecstatic hellos and high-pitched giggles. But then, oddly, there was a strange sort of silence. As if they had suddenly both left the house. Sensing something was up, I quickly finished tying my shoes and hurried out of the bedroom.

As soon as I came down the stairs, I understood what had happened. Tara, Kate's sister, was standing in our living room as expected. But behind her was someone I didn't anticipate: her husband Jesse, looking morose as always. I looked over at Kate, standing off to the side. My wife shrugged, as if she'd already resigned herself to the situation.

As soon as she saw me, Tara ran over and wrapped me up in a hug. "Andy!" she cried out, like I was some celebrity she'd dreamed of meeting.

I'd always been attracted to my wife's younger sister, though I don't think either of them knew. Unlike Kate, who took after her dad with darker coloring and a fuller body, Tara looked a lot like their mother. She was a slim, slip of a woman with poker-straight red hair that went down to her shoulders. She had thin, pink lips and bright, emerald eyes, with a dusting of freckles across the bridge of her nose.

From description alone, I'm sure it's hard to understand why I was into Tara. Kate had the sexier body, no doubt. But something about Tara was straight up hot. Her bubbly personality, the way she moved, her lascivious little grins. It's nothing I can quantify, but she got to me at an animal, instinctual level. As if I could feel her pheromones crawling up my skin whenever she was in the room. I knew nothing would ever happen, but I couldn't help but hold Kate's redhead little sister in my fantasies.

I realized our hug had been going on for a while and so finally I stepped back. Tara sensed it too and gave me a shy smile, her cheeks flushing slightly.

"You look good," Tara said, eyeing me up.