Chapter 23: Circle Tattoos. Police Presence

Dave laughed when he went online and went to the Circle’s website. Erin Steckler maintained the site for everybody in the Circle as part of her service duties. The work blended nicely with her freelance reporting for the Sarasota Herald and a couple of other papers. The password for the site was ‘Circle’ – not creative, not really secure, but easy to remember.

The opening page consisted of the near pornographic photographs of about twenty Circle tattoos – each very close to each woman’s pussy slit. The sizes varied slightly, but all were colorful and perfect circles, showing the commitment and affiliation. The women’s names were by each photograph. He noted that Millie, Kellie, and Nikky were included.

Dave wondered whether any of the men would do something like that. Dev already had many tattoos, including an awesome dragon that covered part of his upper body and back. JR had a sleeve of tats on her left arm that she sometimes hid depending on the nature of business being conducted that day.

Of course, Alice had three – and now four – tats. As they were loosening up, Dori had lured her into the tattoo parlor where she met and almost had abandoned sex with Owen for the first time. She’d met him while flashing the night before and then the two of them had masturbated each other standing in a darkened hallway of a nightclub. At the tattoo parlor they’d done about everything but fuck.

Dave studied the photo of Alice’s tattoo, even blowing up the jpeg photo that revealed her pussy. She’d matched the size and location symmetrically with the flowery heart with his name in it. This would require further investigation. Dave was surprised that Scarlett had many tattoos of various sizes. Several were to honor her daughter Rose. The tattoo of the Circle just added to her collection.

Further into the weekly newsletter he learned that Scarlett was about to depart for Ireland for some additional filming for the movie she had been filming in South America two weeks earlier. He reminded himself to ask her what her passport looked like and how many countries she’d been in.

Another couple of news articles were short interviews with three of the pledges to the Circle: Helen Ursinger, Al Berker, and Zach Bright. He liked what Erin had done to help integrate the pledges into the Circle by having people know them better. The week before she’d reported on three other pledges: Kellie Sawyer, Ma Su, and Jace Golden. He also recalled a longer piece about Millie taking the job as the Circle Concierge and Handyperson.

Erin also reported on the construction progress complete with a few more photographs. Dave noted that despite it being a Sunday there were several work crews of electricians and plumbers busy in the remodeled kitchen installing the various appliances. The countertops had arrived two days earlier as well as several sets of stainless-steel shelving.

Per Erin’s article the Circle kitchen might open as early as Tuesday or Wednesday evening. He noted that Jack Anders had remained on top of the whole construction process after the explosion had wiped out the facility.

Even the cabana at the far end of the pool looked like it was nearing completion. A completely different contractor had been engaged to reconstruct that building. They, too, had a crew working inside the building that afternoon.

Steve Reagan came up to Dave. “I think we’ll have both buildings back online before the end of the week.” He was excited.

Dave nodded. “Erin stated Wednesday for the kitchen. I look forward to dining with everybody again.”

Steve chuckled, “You just like the way we dine because you can pick up dates for the rest of the night at dinner.”

“Oh, there is that, too. I also miss Bobbie’s food.”

“Are you aware that she and Maddy just found a new friend?”

“From the way you say that, I assume you mean somebody of the lesbian persuasion?”

“I do. She’s very nice, but I’m not sure she likes men in ‘that’ way, if you know what I mean. She’s another teacher that Maddy met at Southside School when she was in there with Samantha ensuring that we were meeting the educational criteria for our home schooling classes.”

“What’s her name?”

“Meredith, but apparently she goes by Merry, as in Merry Christmas. You’ll laugh but her last name is Noel. From what I heard they were trying to talk her into moving in with them this coming weekend. I have not met her. What I know is based on thirty seconds with Maddy.”

“Well, I look forward to meeting Merry Noel. That’s kind of cute, don’t you think? How old is she?”

“On the young side – maybe even a couple of years younger than Maddy. How they got into the rest of the stuff when they were talking curriculum escapes me. Maybe one of them can tell you.”

“Do they plan on bringing her around here to socialize?”

“I’m sure they do.”

The grand opening of the new kitchen was a well-celebrated feast headed by Bobbie and the two sous chefs – Ted and Ari, along with a revitalized group of kitchen volunteers. The meal consisted of a five-course meal with the centerpiece being miniature Beef Wellingtons with cuts of beef that almost melted in your mouth they were so tender. Even midway through the meal everyone rose and applauded the chefs.

Two of Dave’s dinner partners were Mandy Grafton and Jim Hotch. Dev, Wendy, Dale, and Susan were also at the table, along with Bridget – Dave’s niece and also a wife. He heard the other men talking about how they had done some subcontract work for the sheriff’s department, engaging in undercover work and ‘special’ projects.

Dev and Dale had somewhat mysterious backgrounds, partly military Dave was sure, but there might have also been some mercenary work, especially by Dev. He’d been known to slip in and out of a country for a week or two on special assignments from some unmentionable government agency. As they talked, Dave got the impression that Lieutenant Jim Hotch had a similar background before leaving the military and joining the sheriff’s department. He also had SWAT and negotiator training.

Bridget proudly showed off her Circle tattoo to everybody. She’d just finished her first week with it and now no longer needed to rub antibacterial cream into it several times a day. The men all got lecherous looks as she’d hiked up her short skirt, revealing her pussy and the tat at the same time. Bridget didn’t have a shy bone in her body, plus she loved to tease the older men, even when it meant she became the object of great lust a little later.

Dev one-upped her by stripping off his shirt and showing off his dragon and left arm. He also flexed his pecs, making them bulge and dance for her benefit. Bridget rolled her eyes and then kissed the dangerous man. Everybody hissed at Dev but he got a laugh from them, too.

Mandy was especially cordial with Dave and made a point to sit with him for the meal and conversations. Everyone seemed to remain seated for the entire meal and even into the after-meal coffee and tea.

In an aside that Mandy heard, Jim said to Dave, “Just so you know, I have encouraged Mandy to become a full participant in the Circle activities, especially those I understand that take place after meals and especially on weekend evenings.”

Dave answered, “I’m glad you didn’t use the ‘P’ word.”

“‘P’ word?”

“Permission. I’ve often heard from the spouse in many of our pledge couples that they give ‘permission’ for their mate to have sex with other people.”

“And that’s not good, is it?” Jim guessed based on the tone of Dave’s voice.

“No, because what does ‘permission’ imply?”

Jim thought for a second and said, “Control and ownership.”

“Right.”

Jim smiled, “I don’t own Mandy, and perhaps you’ve already figured out that she’s quite headstrong in her own way. I wouldn’t presume to imply ownership or control, even if we were married. I’m into individual responsibility for one’s actions. That said, I can encourage somebody to take a course of action as I did in this case.”

Dave said, “And you won’t be too disappointed if Mandy doesn’t leap into the sexual activities in the Circle with both feet?”

“To be honest, that is more my personal penchant and hope, but I don’t want to force myself on anybody. I’m just starting to meet some of the people in the Circle. I might be a little slower because sometimes I have to work in the evenings and that seems to be when a lot of the initial socializing goes on.”

Bridget leaned across the table and said, “Jim, I like you already and can see that we’ll end up building a nice relationship together over time. If you’d like to make love now, I’d be honored to be your first Circle lover.”

Jim sized up the ultra-hot young woman who sat opposite him wearing only a micro skirt. She had gorgeous breasts, one with an inviting beauty mark, and was the very definition of sex-on-a-stick. He slowly said, “I will want to accept your invitation very soon ... but I want to pace myself with Mandy. I don’t want to leave her behind as we become intimate friends with everyone.”

Mandy turned more into the discussion Jim and Dave were having. She said, “Then I think you should accept Bridget’s offer tonight – right now ... otherwise you’re about to be left behind.”

Jim gave her a questioning look.

Mandy explained, “I’ve given a lot of thought to the Circle and especially to the sexual component. I also reevaluated my own life again, and I re-read Cricket’s book from cover to cover the past few nights.

“I realized that I’ve been holding myself back not only in my approach to the Circle and building relationships here, but also with you, Jim. I need to apologize for holding you off for so long before we became intimate. I have a lot of old ‘tapes’ playing in my head about the timing of sex in a budding relationship. I’ve come to realize those mindsets belong in my past and not in my future.

“I want to be as free to offer myself to someone I like as Bridget just appeared to be. I thought she was so sweet to offer to become your first in the Circle. In light of your remarks a moment ago, I ‘encourage’ you to accept her offer.” She turned to Dave and smiled, “Just so you know, I am making Dave a similar offer right now to what Bridget said.”

Dave reached next to him and held her hand. “I accept and I am honored. I promise to love you well and to help ease your journey into Circle membership. As I told you a week or two ago, please set your own pace and your own limits. This may appear to be a swingers’ group, but we have other values and priorities as you learned in Cricket’s book. I am prepared to honor those with you as I’m sure Jim is based on what I know about him. He is a man of honor and will fit in well around here.”

The arm around Dave’s neck that pulled him into a sinfully hot kiss signaled to him just what Mandy thought of all that! She wanted him, and as their tongues dueled, he had the feeling that he shouldn’t delay too long either otherwise he might have a very disappointed lady on his hands.

By the time Dave and Mandy parted from several kisses, Bridget had moved around the table to Jim’s lap. They were also wrapped up in kisses with each other as Bridget guided one of Jim’s strong hands so he could caress her naked breasts.

Mandy smiled, “If I had a body like that I might never get out of bed. I’d just have sex from dawn until midnight.”

Bridget squirmed in Jim’s lap. She smiled at Mandy, “What makes you think that I don’t? I love to fuck. I am one mass of hormones that demand lots of sex sitting here wishing your boyfriend’s cock was deep inside me.”