Chapter 17

Theresa looked up at the two of them as they entered. She looked back to the French toast, and then suddenly jerked her gaze back to the two of them. Something was different. She looked long and hard trying to pin it down. Neither seemed to be paying any particular attention to the other. But there was some undefined... power between them. Theresa felt a wave of jealousy and a pang of loneliness at being left out of whatever it was.

John came over and kissed her tenderly on the neck ... too tenderly. His arms encircled her waist and pulled her back against him. He hugged her to him and moved off, kissing her once more as he pulled back. Next came Cindy who didn’t fool around about pulling her into a full body hug. Her lips descending upon hers tenderly ... too tenderly. Part of Theresa’s loneliness faded, but part of her psyche heard the scream of alarm bells. Whatever it was, they both seemed to be willing to share it with her. But neither seemed anxious to tell her what had transpired between them.

Cindy pulled back a bit and whispered: “I love you” in her ear. Theresa was startled.

They had each carelessly tossed “Luv ya’s” at each other in the past. But this was the first time Cindy had ever said it so clearly ... or so seriously.

The clanging of alarms got louder within Theresa. All she could do was nod and accept the lips that kissed her too tenderly before she could speak. Her body was quivering with desire and fright when Cindy finally moved off.

“So what’s for breakfast?” Cindy queried absently looking at the French toast.

Theresa stood there a moment dumbfounded.

“What the fuck happened to you two?” was all she could say.

John looked up from his coffee. “Why? What do you mean?”

Cindy just looked at her puzzled.

Theresa didn’t know whether to cry or scream. She stammered a bit and then calmed herself down.

Composing her thoughts she said: “Well, let’s see. about forty-five minutes ago I awoke alone in bed. You two were nowhere in sight. I found the two of you snuggled in the guest room. When I woke you the two of you seemed hell bent on sucking my blood. Now forty minutes later you both come out like two dweebed out zombies and touch me as softly as a piece of crystal that would break. That’s what I mean what the fuck happened to you two!”

“Oh ... Well, last night after you went to sleep I got to feeling frisky. Rather than disturb you we used the guest room.” Cindy said absently. Her eye’s flicking to John for support.

Theresa noted the eye movement and turned to John.

He shrugged and said: “And you told us not to enter the kitchen until you were safe. So Cindy and I made love in the shower. I thought that’s what you meant when you told us to rape each other.” he concluded wryly.

Theresa looked back and forth between them. Half knowing they were telling the truth ... and completely knowing that it wasn’t the whole truth. Finally she shrugged and turned back to the French toast.

Cindy poured herself a cup of coffee and began moving things to the table.

Theresa was half way to crying, but she didn’t understand why. All she knew was that something had transpired between John and Cindy. Something important. Something that didn’t include her.

There was an uneasy silence as they ate.

“I think I’ll see if the snow has cleared enough to roll back the solarium.” Cindy said absently.

“I think I’ll take a swim myself.” John said. “Wanna join me?” he asked Theresa.

She looked startled ... but dropped her eyes and nodded. Just what the hell was going on? she asked herself.

They all helped with the clean up and then Cindy moved off to the solarium.

John grabbed a carafe of coffee and a mug, queried Theresa with his eyes to see if she wanted a cup. She shook her head but tagged along behind him down to the pool.