Chapter 2

The girls were shocked beyond words when I refused. “No. Remember I said one time thing, and I meant it. It’ll hold. We need to focus on the logistics, instead. I DO NOT want to be in the same room where my wife is screwing someone not me. I don’t think I could get past the visual. And it can’t be anyone’s house; this has to be on neutral ground. There again, I don’t want to go to someone’s house and remember hearing the sounds of sex echoing in my head. There are a couple of more things I’ll need, and they are absolutely nonnegotiable. If you can’t live with it, I’ll wish you the best of luck and we’ll try to parts ways as nonpainfully as possible.”

Jules and Bonnie were staring at me. Bonnie looked a little panicked. “Damn, Grunt, you’re sucking all the fun out of it.”

“I don’t think it’s going to be all that much fun. I’m just trying to minimize the impact it will have on all of us. Just so you know, I discovered one consistency in my conversations with the rest of your little group. In almost every case, there is one partner who is much more into the idea than the other. A couple aren’t all warm and fuzzy with the idea at all. I predict at least two divorces in less than a year.”

“Why do you keep referring to your friends as ‘my group’?”

“Well, Bonnie, it wasn’t my group. I wasn’t privy to any of the discussions, the planning, the plotting and the manipulations that went on. You all conspired behind my back, and true friends would never have done that. I’m starting to wonder if I really knew them at all.”

I sighed. “Or you.”

There was no hot monkey sex that night, with anyone.

It took them three weeks before they came up with a workable plan. We socialized a little, but everyone was under strict orders to never mention it in my presence. I caught Will looking at me a few times, a smug grin on his face. I wished I could see if the grin was still there after he found out what I had planned.

We were going to a destination resort, someplace in a hot climate where the beaches were top-optional or nude. I suspect it was a plan by the girls to get us revved up for the night. We were going to be there for three nights. The first was couples only, the second would be the big event, and the third was recovery and reconnect time. I hoped.

We were leaving on Thursday. The Friday before, I gave Bonnie my final conditions. She didn’t know where we were going until we pulled into the parking lot. “Why are we here? Gerry got some business papers for us to sign?”

“Something like that.” Gerry greeted us, not sure what to think of what I required. I asked if they were ready and she handed me a stack of papers. Then she showed us into a small conference room and shut the door. Bonnie was looking very nervous.

“What are those?”

“Failsafes. They’re pretty simple. Read through them, think about it for a bit, and then tell me if you agree. If you don’t, well, then the whole thing is off and you are to never mention it again. I’ll give you a little privacy.”

I knew it would take her a while and I hadn’t had lunch, so I walked next door to the sub shop and got one of their famous Reubens. I was surprised at the fact that I could eat. Forty-five minutes later I walked back in. She started and slid her phone back into her purse. I grinned, thinking that might be some disappointed people right about now.

Her tone was accusing. “This sounds like you think we won’t make it. Don’t you have any faith in me?”

“Not as much as I did. When a man’s wife tells him she wants to fuck other men it kind of shakes your confidence. I don’t feel like I’m asking for anything unreasonable, basically I just put into writing what you promised. Gerry says it’s highly unusual, but entirely legal. Consider it a contract, because if you fail, it’s just that, entirely enforceable with no negotiations. If you honor what you say, it should be no big deal. Having second thoughts?”

The papers were a contract that included a postnuptial. We never had a prenuptial because we didn’t have anything to start with, and I never had reason to doubt her before. If you shoveled the legalese aside, all the papers said was that we both agreed to a one night with different sexual partners, never to be repeated, never to be discussed. At any time after the event and the agreement was signed, if one engaged in sex with anyone but their married partner the divorce would be immediate, the cheater getting 35% of the assets, the faithful one getting 65%. The divorce would not be contested, and if the losing partner chose to try anyway, they lost another 10%.

The last section was the one I absolutely insisted on. Bonnie could never, ever, have sexual relations with one Will Fortner. If she did, the papers would be served. It further stated he could not be present at the upcoming event. He was the one who was tearing my world apart and I could see no reason to let him benefit from the situation. I hoped it would be enough that the group would call the whole thing off.

“He’s gonna be beyond pissed. He’s the one who got the ball rolling and did most of the planning. The others won’t be too happy about this, I’m sure. Is it really necessary?”

“Bonnie, look me in the eye and tell me you want this marriage to continue. You’re getting your fantasy so I expect a little sweat-equity here. If you can’t, well, we’ll go on to Plan B.”

I hoped common sense would kick in, but apparently lust trumps sense most of the time. “I’ll agree, under protest.”

“Bonnie, in about five seconds I’m going to tear these papers up and proceed straight to the divorce. Gerry has a set already drawn up by a partner so we can sign now. We split everything 50/50 and go our separate ways. I don’t want you to agree under protest. I want you to agree because you love me and understand I’m trying to protect our marriage and future. Your call.”

I’d said the magic words and her eyes cleared. She still sighed. “I love you honey, and I am grateful for letting me have this. Will ... well, Will just has to understand. If the others want, they can get together later. Call Gerry in.”

We signed there, there, and there, oh, and there, too, and Gerry had it notarized. She gave us each a copy and said she would put another in a file. That was it and we were out.

She didn’t say a word all the way back to the office. I just sat in the parking lot, waiting for her to get out. “You’re not coming in?’

“You’re the office person honey, I’m the grunt, remember? The Parker project is really falling behind and I have to meet with Jason to do the final walk through of his studio. He’s like a kid at Christmas and the shiny new bike he wants is sitting under the tree. I’ll be out cracking the whip and stroking egos the rest of the day. Don’t cook tonight, have Jules pick something up on the way home. Anything but Chinese.”

She grinned. Jules would eat Chinese takeout seven days a week if left to her own devices. “Okay honey. I love you.”

I gave her a nice little kiss. “I love you, too. Now get out of my truck!”

She giggled and bounced into the office. My smile faded the minute she walked through the door. I was praying this episode would happen and we’d get back to normal. I was never a gambler or a betting man, but I would give odds that this was going to end badly.

Not in the best of moods, I ate up a few subcontractors who were dragging their feet, making them understand I wasn’t paying for delays and if they didn’t get off their asses I wouldn’t be using them again. It was kind of an empty threat because the economy was good and construction was booming. Guys would work for a while, get pissed at some real or imagined slight, leave, and be working another job before the hour was up. These guys would tighten up because I had used them for years and everybody remembered lean times when a job or two meant the difference between bankruptcy and solvency.

Jason did indeed act like a kid at Christmas. He loved his office, made even more special because Annette decorated it. She put the gold and platinum albums along the wall leading to it, as well as photos from his band days, photos with the artists he’d written songs for and produced. On a shelf behind his desk there were two AMA’s and a Grammy. In matching display cases stood Earl’s old Fender Precision and his vintage Les Paul. There were two amps set up and ready to go at the flip of a switch, along with a stack of electronic keyboards. I’d let him borrow the bass because Earl needed to be remembered, and it was doing no one any good lying in a case in a back bedroom. There were pictures of Earl, as well as some of me playing with Out Cold all those years ago. Jason was the guitarist I filled in for to give him a break and recover some from the food poisoning.

The project gave me constant headaches. The electrical subcontractor almost had a heart attack when he looked at the schematics and saw all the wires a recording studio required, and my boys had a hard time with soundproofing and installing custom-made Plexiglas divider walls. The computer guys were driving us all crazy with their demands, but we still made the deadline. We managed to come in under budget and two weeks early.

Jason and I stopped in front of the bass case, looking at the almost life size picture of Earl. “Wonder what Earl would say about our upcoming adventure?”

“Well, first he’d laugh his ass off. Then he’d tell us all not to do it.”

I looked at Jason in surprise. “Really?”

He shrugged. “Really. In the five years we played with Out Cold, the lead singer was married and divorced twice, the drummer four times, counting the period before we joined, and Sammy went through a divorce that was pretty ugly and then his girlfriend left him after two years because he couldn’t keep it in his pants. The rock-and-roll lifestyle is not kind to mono gamy. A couple of girlfriends tried to go along, but it got to be too much and they left.

“At least Earl was smart enough to watch and learn, and when he married Tammy he was pre-nupted out the ass. Good thing, too, because when he was on the road and she got lonely, she started having boyfriends. When Earl confronted her she just laughed and asked how many little groupies he banged on an average tour. The thing is, Earl really did watch and learn, and he avoided any situation that could put him in a compromising condition, a fact that bit her on the ass in the divorce. She had no proof he’d fucked around because he didn’t; he had audio and video on at least two guys and P.I. reports on two more. If the judge could have gotten away with giving her less than the agreement called for I believe he would have.

“Tammy knew she had fucked up big time and begged Earl for another chance, offering to sign another contract stating she would get absolutely nothing if she fucked around again. Earl just grinned, said ‘Great White’ and walked away, sending her a link to their song “Once Bitten Twice Shy.”

I had to think about that for a minute. “If all that’s true, why are you doing this?”

“Same as you. ‘Nette wants to do it and I wouldn’t mind one last hurrah before we get old. We damn near talked this thing to death and agreed on some basics. One, if we liked it, we would continue under strict guidelines. If one of us decides once is enough we’ll be done with it forever.”

I told him what I’d done and he laughed his ass off. “I’d loved to have seen Will’s face when he found out he’d done all that work just to get to Bonnie, only to have it blow up in his face.”

“This is what the whole thing is about? Him getting Bonnie?”

“Yeah. That and sticking it to you. I don’t know what happened in the past, but he really doesn’t like you. It wasn’t so much about Bonnie. It was more about fucking you over. Booger helped because he never got over you kicking him out of his job with the band.”

That caught me by surprise. I couldn’t recall one single incident that would make him hate me that much. “I didn’t kick Booger out. The band broke up. Hard to need a sound tech if you’re not playing, anymore. He wasn’t getting paid so it’s not like he lost any income. Jesus, that was 26 years ago. Will and I didn’t really like each other and I didn’t like the way he treated Annette or any of his other girl friends for that matter, but we got along. Why is he so pissed at me?”

Jason grinned. “That’s easy. You got the one who got away, the one he had the hots for all those years ago. Plus you made it. You’re a successful businessman with his own company and he’s just another middle management wage-slave. I hear he’s not a really gifted worker and his job may be on the line if he makes one more mistake.”

“Fucking Bonnie won’t change any of that.”

“No, but it’ll give his ego a tremendous boost, knowing he fucked your wife and she was more than willing. He is really going to hate you now. All that plotting he did, the manipulation to engineer this situation, and then you blow it up. Grace won’t be happy, either. I think she had plans to trade up if the opportunity arose, be there to catch you on the rebound. When this is over I’m going to tell them to stop coming round. They’re too destructive an element to keep. Everyone else feels the same way except for Booger. You doing this is the beginning of the end for them.”

While it didn’t make me feel any better about what was supposed to happen, it pleased me tremendously that we wouldn’t have to associate with that couple any longer.

We all met at the airport. I noticed for a group going on holiday, we didn’t look particularly excited. I scanned the area for sign of Will, not relaxing until we were airborne. Bonnie held my hand the whole way, chattering happily. Rhonda and Vickie were grinning and holding hands. Jason went to sleep, something that seemed to irk Annette. Booger and Jen sat a little apart and she looked tense. She did smile at me when I looked and I grinned at her. Jules and John didn’t even sit together and it didn’t seem to bother them any.

The resort was nice, the weather was perfect, the sands white as snow and the warm water a crystal blue. We were each in a private little bungalow strung in a half-moon along the small bay, and there was even a privacy chain we could stretch across the entrance to discourage visitors. The bungalows all faced the beach, with a nice veranda to sit under when it rained or got too hot. If it hadn’t been for what we were there for, I would have loved it.

We all retired to our rooms and the door wasn’t shut before Bonnie was all over me, more enthused than she had been in weeks. Never one to look a gift-horse in the mouth, I had a very enjoyable interlude, when I was able to keep the thought that this would probably be the last time I could revel in the fact that I was her one and only. Tomorrow she would become a woman of experience.

Later that afternoon, we set up to have a fire on the beach and grilled. After the preparations were over, the girls grinned at each other and dropped their covers. All were topless and all wore a tiny black thong. We were all mature so there was a little sag, a few wrinkles, the beginnings of spare tires on most of the guys, but over-all, we were all in decent shape.

We admired the girls, the sizes, shapes, even the slight color difference in Annette, with approval. Bonnie teased us that they were doing all the effort, and Booger immediately dropped his shorts to show his Speedo. Of all of us, he was the most out of shape and I personally thought he looked a little foolish. He smirked at us thinking he’d gotten an advantage, but his mouth dropped when Jason and I dropped our shorts, revealing nothing underneath. I had been in enough locker rooms to know I was a bit above average, but Jason was well above average. Well above. I thought I saw Vickie drooling.

John and Booger had no choice but to drop theirs, and I was pleased to see if I was above average, Booger was definitely smaller than average. John was just a bit smaller than me.

The girls, not to outdone, dropped their thongs, going from completely shaven to small strips, to Annete, who wasn’t shaven but closely-trimmed.

After we got done gawking at each other, we relaxed and had a good time. We swam, and I looked up to see Vickie floating by me, her massive mammary glands rising out of the water like small islands. I told her I admired her personal floatation devices. She giggled and said if you pulled on the buttons, they got even bigger, pointing to her already-hard nipples.

“Good to know in an emergency, Vic. I may test that theory tomorrow night.”

“I hope you do. Just remember they need a firm pull to inflate and the more and harder you pull the bigger they get.”

Rhonda had come up, heard us and giggled. “I need to test that out, honey.” She fondled and pulled firmly, hard enough she seemed to rise out of the water. Vickie was moaning when I swam away.

I spotted Jennifer off by herself looking lost and alone. I swam up behind, diving under and grabbing her, rising out of the water like Moby Dick, tossing her while she screamed in surprise. She came up sputtering and I hugged her. “Relax, Jen. What will happen will happen. Right up until it does, you have the right to say no. You remember that.”

Jen smiled for probably the first time since we got on the plane. “I still might. But, I may make an exception for you. Rhonda, Vickie, and I have decided to share you first, all three at once. Think you can handle that?”

“Not a snowball’s chance in hell. I’m willing to give it my best try, though.”

“In that case I call dibs. They’ve both already had you, even if it was over two decades ago. I was ten when that happened.”

“Good job of making me feel old, Jen.”

She surprised me by grabbing my cock, which jumped to full mast almost instantly. She stroked it a few times and then dunked me while I was distracted, laughing when it was my turn to rise up sputtering. “Tomorrow night. I’m first, promise me.”

I did and she swam off, her tight ass bobbing out of the water as stroked.

I was in a good mood until I saw Booger standing behind Bonnie. They were in water that reached the bottom of her breasts, and he was trying to pull her to him while she tried to pull away. I swam over and he saw my eyes, backing away instantly.

“Trying to start the festivities a little early?”

She had a full body blush going. “If it was up to Booger, we’d have started the minute we hit the beach. I told him no and he keep getting friskier. I was just about to slap the shit out of him when he swam off.”

“You realize you’re not obligated to sleep with every man here, right? Maybe just one will satisfy your urge.”

Bonnie wouldn’t look me in the eye when she agreed, telling me all I wanted to know. She was probably going fuck every man present if she could.

My good mood gone, I got out of the water and tended the huge grill that sat in a grove of trees just off the beach. There was a prep-table and half a dozen picnic tables sitting around. Jen and Annette came up, both gloriously naked. I took a moment to admire the contrast of size and color. They smirked and did little twirls. They got beers out of the cooler and sat at the closest picnic table.

“I’m a little pissed, Grunt. I understand little miss tight-ass here called dibs on being the first, tomorrow night. You better save a spot for me or I’ll be disappointed.”

I kissed Annette’s cheek and was surprised to see her blush. Remembering the old days, I hoped. “I’m going to sleep all day tomorrow to preserve my energy. It looks like I’m going to need it.”

“Take some vitamins. I want you in top form.”

Jules came up, along with John. I was reminded again how well she had aged. Then again, she had been single most of her adult life and couldn’t afford to let herself go.

She took everything in at a glance and grinned. “What were you guys talking about?”

Jen surprised me by piping up, a grin on her face. “Oh, this and that. Hard subjects sometimes, mostly we just talked about whatever popped up.”

She was staring at my junk. Already pleased with all the desirable females around him, he decided to rise to the occasion. It caused a good bit of merriment and Jules got a cup of ice water out of one of the coolers, pouring it right on my crotch. Gales of laughter erupted as they watched me dance and gasp.

“Tomorrow, baby, tomorrow.”

We grilled, and talked about mundane things; relaxing to the point we almost forgot we were naked. The meal over, the wine came out for the girls, I opted for one of the local beers, surprised at how good it was. It was also a lot more powerful than I was used to, so I was careful to pace myself There was a lot of giggling, and the girls put on some music and formed an impromptu hula-line. The moon was full and it rose over the island, giving them a surreal glow on the white sands. To this day I can see it plain as day, one of the most sensual and erotic things I’d ever seen.

The music changed and they started bumping and grinding into each other until they were a ball of writhing flesh. I heard a few gasps and saw Rhonda grin as she copped more than a few feels. I wondered if Bonnie ever thought about changing teams tomorrow, just for the experience. The way she and Vickie were rubbing their breasts together suggested she had given it some thought.

By now we were all sporting pretty good erections and the girls disengaged, coming to their partners and pulling them in different directions on the beach. “Come on, Jimmy,” Bonnie said as she tugged on my hand, “I’ve always wanted to make love on a moonlit beach.”

It must have been planned, because blankets were produced. We were separated, but still in sight of most of the couples. The full moon didn’t let you see much, but you could hear the sounds of passion echoing up and down the cove. Bonnie ended up riding me reverse cowgirl at the end, something she had never favored for a finish. I think she did it so she could watch the other couples.

I felt eyes and looked over to see Jen sitting cross-legged at the edge of the trees, fingers buried deep as she watched. Apparently Booger had a quick trigger and left her unsatisfied. She saw me looking and grinned as Bonnie wailed out her climax. I flipped over her to her hands and knees and slammed her like I’d never done before, looking right at Jen the whole time. When I grunted and exploded, Jen put her hand in her mouth to muffle the sound of her own climax. I remember thinking it odd. I don’t think anyone would have noticed, especially with Bonnie screaming. I fell back and she dropped on top of me, huffing like she’d run a marathon. When I calmed down, Jen had disappeared.

I never felt more connected to my wife as I did in that moment.

All the couples gradually untwined and drifted off, some softly calling out goodnights as they went. Bonnie took my hand and we walked into the warm water, letting the warm ocean water remove the juices generated from our lovemaking. We got into our bungalow and more or less collapsed on the bed.

I woke before daylight, tensing up immediately. Today was the day. After tonight, nothing would ever be the same. Bonnie was a little muted when she rose. I heard the shower running and thought about joining her when I discovered the door was locked. In all our years together I could not ever remember a door being locked in our house. It sent me a message. She didn’t want me touching her today. I think I shocked the shit out of her when I asked why the door was locked.

She was toweling off, one wrapped around her waist while she vigorously dried her hair. It made her boobs dance wildly. “It was locked? I don’t remember locking it.”

She said it while the towel obscured her face. I could tell she was lying, but there was no use pushing it. “We don’t have to do this, you know. We can just stay in our little hut and let the world pass us by.”

She just grunted, still hiding behind the towel. “We’ve already decided. Just one night honey, then I’ll be just yours forever.”

I had a thought to remind her that’s what she promised me at our wedding, and that wasn’t working out so good. “Bonnie. Bonnie! Look me in the eyes, damnit!”

Her head shot up, her eyes wide. “I want you to remember this moment years down the road, and remember I offered you an out and you refused to take it. You know as well as I our relationship will never be the same after tonight. Never. This will always be at the back of everything we do going forward. I agreed and I’ll honor my word, but you really need to consider what it will cost. That’s all I’m going to say.”

I walked out, going past the gate and up the road to the main part of the resort. I’d planned on making a nice breakfast, but you know what, fuck her! I found a nice little cafe and ordered the island special. Soon a large platter of locally grown fruit appeared, followed by eggs prepared with spices I’d never heard of and topped with two cheeses I’d never tasted, with sautéed mushrooms on the side. Despite my mental state, it was a very good breakfast.

I was almost done when Jen and Booger showed up, plopping down at the table. “Looking forward to tonight? I damn sure am.”

I looked at him, trying to keep the disgust off my face. “Actually I’m not, and I don’t want to talk about it.”

“Come on man, don’t be like that. Just think, while Bonnie is getting hers, you’ll be banging this hot little box. She’s got skills, man.”

Jen was crimson with embarrassment. I was already building to a rage and this wasn’t helping at all. “Know what, Reginald? You should kiss her ass every day because you were lucky enough to get her to marry you. You really think this is going to work out well? She’ll be with real men for a change. Experiencing that and then returning to you will have to be a pretty big come down. A normal man would be disgusted by all this, but when it’s over and you’re with her again, the thought of her with other men will consume you. Where will it stop? You don’t really expect this to be a one and done, do you?”

As much as he hated being called Booger, he hated being called Reginald even more. I took Jen’s hand across the table. “I’m sorry, Jen. I’ll bet every time he’s with you from now on all you’ll be able to think about is how a real man does it. You’re not just, as he puts it, a hot little box. You have a kind heart and a good wit that happens to be wrapped in a very attractive body. Be a little more careful in choosing hubby number two, and if you need anything at all when we get back, you come to me. Understand?”

Booger snapped. “Fuck you! I think I’m gonna do Bonnie’s ass, too. What do you think of that?”

I had to take a deep breath and let my vision clear from the red mist of rage. I’m proud of the control I had when I answered. “I think that what Bonnie does tonight is up to her. She’s never been inclined that way, but on the other hand I never thought she would have sex with idiots, either, so who can tell? One thing I promise you, when we get back, if I hear you’ve been bragging, I will destroy you. I don’t mean financially or personally, I mean becoming part of the foundation of one of my new construction projects. Look me in the eye and tell me you believe me.”

He went a little pale and Jen looked like she might faint before she recovered enough to speak. “What happens on the island will stay on the island. You have my word.”

“Thanks, Jen. I believe you. It’s the slimy sonofabitch you’re married to who concerns me. I hope he’s got a lot of insurance, honey. You might just need it.”

I was suddenly very tired of the whole situation. The more I thought about it the less it made sense. Bonnie had been happy with me for 26 years, and I couldn’t understand the change in attitude. Something just didn’t add up.

I left them and walked the local market, listening to the sounds, smiling at the children as they helped their parents in their stalls. One little girl was determined to sell me something, almost following me as I tried to leave. It was a jewelry booth, mostly necklaces made of different colors and types of shells. Some were dainty and elegant. some were big and bold. It struck me they were like me and were builders and craftspeople, Bonnie and me with houses and buildings and them with shells, just people trying to make a living and better their families. I bought one for both of my daughters and another for my daughter-in-law. There was another, delicately crafted so the shells formed a flower. I knew Bonnie would love it and I bought it, wondering if it would be the last gift I’d ever give her.

I walked back to our compound. Jen must have told them of our conversation and they were hesitant and overly polite in speaking to me. That just seemed to add fuel to my simmering anger. I spoke to them in curt tones and they soon left me alone, all except Jules.

“This will be the end for your marriage, won’t it?”

“In all likelihood. I need honest answers here, Jules. What the hell is going on? Why is she having a sudden attack of promiscuity, determined even if it ends us. What could possibly going through her head?”

Tears trickled down her cheek. “I don’t know, honey, I really don’t. I’ve asked and she’s refused to discuss it. She seems ... disconnected ... to anything. The only time I saw her truly smile was when she was holding the new baby and the night of the hot tub incident. For the first time ever, she doesn’t share with me.”