Week 15: Late August

Sunday

It had taken a lot of persuasion to get Elisabeth to come to Greg's house for the big occasion. She had met only Ted and Greg, and felt quite uncomfortable. To make it worse, she would not be able to show herself until Ted and Kathy were dancing. Still, she had developed a real affection for Ted, and wanted to share in the happy conclusion of his whirlwind education. They had crammed fifteen lessons into less than three weeks, and it would have been more if Elisabeth had not insisted they both needed days off.

She remembered the breakthrough day, late in the second week. Ted was doing all the steps surprisingly well. He was working hard on the dramatics, and doing everything she told him. Still, his gestures and positions did not seem spontaneous and natural. They were doing a Latin routine that ended with him spinning her in a complete circle then dropping to one knee with one arm upraised. When the spin came, he did it with such force she nearly became dizzy, and for his final pose, it was as if he was miming a professional dancer.

"Yes, Ted, that is what you should do! That was dramatic! That was flair!"

"But I was goofing around. Just pretending!"

"Then pretend all the time! Go into a fantasy world. Do that finish again." They repeated the finish, and Ted was even more dramatic this time. He beamed at her. "That was like hitting a home run, wasn't it?" she asked.

"It was! I didn't understand what you meant until I cut loose and pretended. This is all pretending, isn't it?"

"You have learned the hardest lesson of all. Now, let's REALLY dance."

Dancing had been her life, her joy. Teaching was a job, but once in a while, the two came together. It was like that with Ted. He was always determined - he needed to dance. Now, all at once, he loved to dance. His progress over the final week was like nothing she had ever seen. He literally danced her into the ground. She wondered how he ever showed up for work during the day.

Now, everything that so many had been working toward was to be tested. The happiness of a family hung on the success of the little melodrama that had been set up. Gerald had been invited to spend Sunday afternoon with the entire Randolph clan gathered together. Both Gerald and Elisabeth had been working with their students on a tango routine that was fairly short, but very dramatic, and very, very sensuous. So sensuous, in fact, that practices had embarrassed both students.

Greg had come out to meet Elisabeth and Ted, and brought Caroline with him. After mother and son shared a fierce hug, Caroline introduced herself, and took Elisabeth in tow. Greg checked that Kathy was not around, hustled them all into the study and closed the door. He would be standing by the study and signal when Ted should come out.

Lunch was finished, and Caitlin went to the piano and started playing the tango number her mother had been practicing. Jordan, acting on signal, shouted out, "Mom, Gerald, show us that dance. It is so cool!" Both Jordan and Caitlin had been present for all the classes. They soon discovered that Greg's fancy piano could record and play back numbers, so Caitlin did not have to play all the time. The two girls even began dancing along with the instruction, careful to stay out of the way. Upon Jordan's request, everyone else present began encouraging Kathy, gathering round the foyer and clapping rhythmically. Reluctant to put on such a sensuous display for the whole group, Kathy at first declined, but Gerald grabbed her hand and pulled her into position. Jordan had fetched her dancing pumps, and handed them to her. Giving in to the pressure, Kathy put on her shoes to enthusiastic applause, and took up position for the opening move.

Greg had signaled and Ted had come out of the study. Just as Caitlin played the introductory flourish, he exchanged places with Gerald. Everyone had been coached not to react when Ted appeared, but there were a few stifled gasps at his outfit. He was dressed in a complete flamenco outfit: tight black flared pants; shiny, medium heeled boots; puffy sleeved, open front silk shirt; black toreador hat. It was even harder for the onlookers to maintain composure as the earnest, reserved Ted assumed the extremely stylized opening position.

As Ted left the study, Caroline and Elisabeth stepped out into the hall. Elisabeth's first sight of Kathy was unsettling because of her nudity. However, the younger woman was very striking. Her dark hair and matching pubic patch, along with her black pumps made a beautiful contrast with her pale skin. Her legs, frozen in the opening position, looked long and trim and very shapely. Elisabeth felt happy for Ted that such a lovely creature could be his companion.

Kathy extended her hand to Gerald for the opening spin, and TED took it. Ted!!? How? What? She was totally frozen in place. Caitlin, prepared for this possibility, bridged gracefully and replayed the opening flourish.

"Ted? What are..."

"Shhh, Kathy. Dance!"

"But, you don't..."

"Dance with me, Kathy. Please!"

By this time, Caitlin had started the flourish for the third time. By guiding her with his hand and by sheer force of will, Ted got Kathy moving into the opening spin. She was unsteady, but he used his strength to carry her through it. In the pause before the next pattern of steps, Kathy seemed to realize that they were really going to dance. Amazement still showed on her face, but she came totally alive and began to dance with everything in her. Onlookers were reduced to awed silence as the two of them began prancing, spinning, and insinuating their bodies into seductive contact. Their eyes were riveted on each other, Ted's flashing triumph, Kathy's still wide with disbelief. On they danced, energy seeming to spew from their bodies as they spun, separated, embraced, and posed. The music built toward the final spin. When it came, Kathy's hair and arms flew out behind from the centrifugal force of the spin Ted put her through. As the music ended, he was on one knee, she lying exposed on her back, bent across his raised knee. He had one arm supporting her under her shoulders, and the other raised high over his head.

There was absolute silence for at least ten seconds as the couple continued to stare at each other. Kathy suddenly leaped to her feet, losing a shoe in the process. She hastily kicked off the other, grabbed Ted's hand, and began dragging him toward the hall. He was still on one knee and nearly fell over before gaining minimal balance and stumbling after her. In any other context, the scene would have provoked side-splitting laughter. Here, there was still complete silence until everyone heard the sound of the bedroom door slamming shut. Then the room erupted. Everyone seemed to grab whoever was closest and began hugging and jumping around. There were equal parts laughter and tears, and the two were not always distinguishable.

Despite her elation, Caroline eventually dragged herself away from the bedlam, pulled Caitlin away from hugging her sister, and whispered in her ear. Caitlin went to the piano and started the opening flourish again, while Caroline started up a chant of 'Teachers, Teachers.' Quickly catching on, others went to Elisabeth and Gerald and propelled them to the middle of the floor. They both resisted and tried to move away, but the mob was not to be denied. Giving in, they started the dance.

This time, every move was greeted with applause, yells, and an occasional whistle. Rhythmic clapping accompanied many of the dancing sections. While lacking the emotional overtones of Ted & Kathy's performance, the two dancers were so accomplished and so in tune with each other, the dance was a true work of art. At the conclusion, there was a hubbub of applause and all converged on the dancers, congratulating them and thanking them for helping their loved ones. The celebration went on for many minutes.

As things began to quiet down, Caroline pulled Gerald aside and asked him "Gerald, you are a wonderful man, but why are you wasting so much time?"

"What? Wasting?"

"You know what I mean. You and Elisabeth should be down the hall in the other bedroom right now!"

"Is it that obvious? I love Elisabeth, but I've felt like I would be unfaithful to Marilyn if I was with her. You see, I have always loved her. I loved Marilyn deeply and I was faithful to her, but the love and lust for Elisabeth have always been there."

"Did Marilyn and Elisabeth know each?"

"They were lifelong best friends. I had to choose between them. I have never doubted my choice, but the feelings for Elisabeth have always been there."

"I never knew your Marilyn, but let me tell you this. If I died, I would want Jim to find another woman to love, and find her fast. If I knew there was a woman we both loved left pining while he mourned, I would be so angry I would come down and haunt him mercilessly."

Gerald eyes grew wide. "You mean that, don't you?"

"We women do not joke about affairs of the heart. Right now that lovely woman is in agony. She is good at hiding it from many years' practice. But the emotions of the day have made it even worse. You go to her right now and ask her to marry you. Go!"

"But, I don't have a ring, and I should make it more romantic."

"Do you think she cares about a ring? And haven't you noticed the romance almost dripping from the walls after those two dances? Now quit arguing and go!"

"Caroline, you're right. Thank you for kicking me upside the head!"

As Gerald squared his shoulders and walked off toward where Elisabeth was standing quietly by herself, Caroline scurried around, telling everyone what was about to happen but urging them not to let on they knew. Alex went quickly to the study and made a hurried phone call. Gerald took Elisabeth's hand and led her out onto the patio.

"Gerald, is something wrong?"

"Yes, Elisabeth. What's wrong is that I'm an idiot."

"Why? What do you mean?"

"Elisabeth Rutherford, will you marry me?"

Composure, aplomb, self-control: all were attributes Elisabeth had taken pride in her whole life. They all failed her now. How do you handle the fulfillment of a forty year dream for which you have given up hope. She was able to stammer out "Yes, Gerald! Yes! Oh, Yes!" Then she collapsed sobbing into his arms. She shook and moaned and hugged herself to him. He hugged her and caressed her back and her hair, rocking her gently as he did so. He whispered over and over how he loved her - how he had always loved her. She was unable to reply and just hugged him more fiercely at each declaration. They stood together in the meager shade of a patio umbrella for minute after minute, ignoring the fierce heat.

When her sobbing finally subsided into just sniffles, he told her "Darling, I'm sorry I didn't come prepared for this. I don't have a ring, but we can pick one out tomorrow."

"Do you think that matters to me? I just can't believe it's really happened. Why did you ask me now? Here? Today?"

"A wise and loving woman hammered some sense into my thick head. There is so much love in this house today, I just had to do it."

"You must mean Caroline. Yes, they are quite a family, aren't they? Oh, Gerald, you can't imagine how happy you have made me."

"I'm only getting started, Darling."

At that moment, the patio doors burst open and everyone piled out to deliver congratulations, hugs, and kisses. Everyone knew Gerald, but for Elisabeth, the congratulations came with introductions. They were all still milling about when Alex let out a piercing whistle from the patio door.

"I have violated Greg's dry house without even asking him. I have both alcoholic and non-alcoholic champagne in here. There's even enough to toast Ted and Kathy when they come out. Make that IF they come out". Everyone roared. "Come on into the cool and let's toast our newlyweds to be."

Kathy slammed the door behind her, threw her arms around Ted's neck and kissed him hungrily. He responded in kind, then, thinking of the carefully rehearsed little speech he was going to give, pulled back and started to speak. "Kathy, Darling, I..."

"Fuck me!" She reached down and started unfastening his pants.

"Kathy, what..."

"Fuck me, Ted. I know that word. I am so horny, my pussy is dripping down my legs. I need that beautiful cock inside me right now!" He was so dazed he was unable to help as she tried to pull off the skin-tight pants. She only got them down below his crotch. In frustration, she pushed him onto the bed and sent him sprawling onto his back. She grabbed hold of his underwear and ripped them in pieces, exposing his rigid cock. Climbing on top of him, she straddled him, held his cock with her hand, and sat right down onto it.

She had barely taken him in completely when she screamed and shuddered into an orgasm. He was still too shocked to move until she steadied herself and began moving up and down. He began to thrust, and it was not very many strokes before he emptied into her. Somewhere in his mind he wondered about pregnancy, but could not grab hold of the thought enough to make any sense of it. He was able to keep thrusting despite the tenderness after ejaculation, and she came once more before collapsing on top of him. It had been barely two minutes since they entered the room. They lay there panting, each with years' worth of questions whirling through their minds, but neither with the will or the strength to vocalize them.

Before long they began to cool down and realize the mess they lay in. "Ted, Honey, I have never, ever taken a shower with my hunky husband. I think this would be a perfect time, don't you. Let's get these fancy dancin' duds off you."

Trying to regain control, Ted started to speak again. "Kathy, Darling, I..."

Once more, she cut him off. "Ted, we have many hours of talking we need to do. But for now, can we please just touch and feel and enjoy each other. I have so much to catch up on, and so have you. Come on over to the shower." This bedroom did not have an attached bath, and they had to cross and go a short way down the hall to the common bathroom. Kathy, unconcerned, went right out the door, towing a nervous Ted with her. He felt a little better when he saw someone had laid a chair on its side across the entrance to the hallway.

Once in the shower, Kathy knelt in front of him and fondled him, hefting and kneading his balls, and moving his shaft back and forth. "That day at the pool, Julia asked me what your package was like. I didn't know what she meant at first, and then I realized I couldn't describe it very well. I'm memorizing every little detail so I can go back and tell her all about how magnificent it is." He was about to tell her Julia already had a very good idea, but decided that was too much information for so soon. "I've never felt it when you come. I'm going feel it and watch it right now."

"Kathy, it's too soon, I... Oh God!" She had put him in her mouth and was swirling her tongue around the head. It had been only minutes, but he felt himself stiffening quickly. Once he was completely hard, she took him out of her mouth and started working on him with both hands, one on the shaft, and one holding his balls. He thought the hot water might run out before he could come again, but his emotions were running so high, it was only a few minutes before the familiar tensions started taking over his body. "Kathy, I'm getting close!"

"I know! I can feel them tightening up and they're squirming all over. It's like they're alive in there. And you're getting even bigger and the head is getting so dark, and..." As she kept up her stroking, she talked non-stop, her words adding to his already heightened arousal. When he grunted and came, she exclaimed, "Oooohhhh! That's wonderful. Shoot it all over me!" She wrung him completely dry with her hands until he had to pull them away because of the tenderness.

He slumped down beside her in exhaustion and pulled her onto his lap. "Kathy, we're going to run out of hot water. Let's wash up, then it's my turn to explore." They washed each other lovingly, getting in some quick exploration. They found towels and dried, then hurried back to the bedroom. When they reached the door, there was a large sign taped to it saying 'This room is closed. Use the Master.' Kathy tugged Ted to Greg's room and squealed in glee when she saw the massage table set up in the open bath area, oils and towels on the counter beside it.

"I have been getting massages from everybody for weeks, and every time, I wanted it to be you. Now I get my wish. Explore away, Lover. Ted had neither training nor practice in massage, but since working muscles was not the point, it was the best Kathy ever had. He had barely started rubbing oil into her when she was already humming and moaning softly. He took his time on her backside, stroking over and over every curve. He lingered long over her buttocks, stroking, kneading, spanking lightly. He worked oil liberally down into her crack, teasing her anus and causing squirms and jerks. When he rolled her over to her back, he oiled her neck, shoulders, and arms. When he moved to her breasts, he caressed, kneaded, and rolled them over and over, tears now streaming down his face. Feeling the drops on her stomach, Kathy opened her eyes and said, "I'm so terribly sorry, Ted."

He quickly replied, "No sorries today, Darling," and kissed her lovingly. When he finished her belly, he moved to her feet, slowly working each toe, then moving up her legs. As he reached her hips, he oiled all around her pussy without touching it. By now, she was trying to thrust her pussy under his touch.

He moved to the foot of the table, lifted his wife's legs, and pulled her gently toward him until her calves hung over the end of the table. Forcing her legs slightly apart, he bent over and began licking her pussy from top to bottom.

"Oh, no, Ted, you shouldn't! That's... that's... Ohhhh, that's wonderful! Yes! Yes! Yes! Do it to me! Please! Make me come with your mouth!"

Even earlier in their marriage, oral sex was not even talked about. There was so much he wanted to find out, so many things he wanted to try. He loved the silky feel of her smooth labia. He licked, he sucked, he nibbled, and he pulled. Running his tongue inside the outer lips, he explored the delicate inner folds. He briefly plunged his tongue into her vagina, but replaced it with a finger, then with two. He began stroking in and out rhythmically as he continued licking with his tongue. Kathy's whimpering broke up into rasping grunts and he knew she was close. He moved his mouth to her clit and began circling his tongue round and round it. When she began bouncing up and down off the table, he sucked on it directly and lashed it with his tongue.

Kathy bucked and heaved and screamed as the convulsions hit. Ted withdrew his fingers and held frantically to her hips, trying to keep contact with her clit. He stopped flailing at it and fell back to licking the whole area with long strokes of his tongue. When she finally subsided into random shivers and jerks, he got up, put his hand over her whole mound, and kept up a gentle rolling motion. He leaned over her face to kiss her, but her lips were totally inert. He licked them with his tongue and nibbled at them gently. Eventually, she opened her eyes, got a strangle-hold on his neck and kissed him back, hard. Momentarily, a strange, questioning look crossed over her eyes, then she started licking all around his mouth.

Ted left her briefly to turn on the water in the jacuzzi tub, then went back to kissing her as he stroked all over her body. He picked her up in his arms and stepped into the tub, setting her between his legs with her back against him. They sat like that cuddling as the tub filled. They had just turned off the water when a girlish voice called out "Room Service." It was Kathy who called back "Come on in, Sweetie."

Caitlin set a tray filled with cold cuts, cheeses, fruit, candies, mineral water and champagne on the rim of the tub. When she stood up and looked down at her parents, she lost it and unleashed a flood of tears. Ted asked, "What's wrong, Sweetie?"

"Oh, Daddy," Caitlin stammered out between sobs. "You should know happy tears by now. This is all just too wonderful to believe. And did you know that Gerald proposed to Elisabeth today, too. It is all just so romantic."

"Are they still here?"

"Oh, yes. I think they would like to get away, but no one wants them to leave. Elisabeth is such a neat lady."

"Ask them if they will stay for at least another half hour. We want to congratulate them and say goodbye. Sweetie, would you get me some shorts and a T-shirt from Uncle Greg. And see if you can find a robe for your Mom."

"No, Ted. I'm not done being naked just yet. I can congratulate them the way they are used to seeing me."

"Aren't you going to get dressed and come home, now, Darling?"

"Don't be angry, Ted, but I want to stick it out for my full six weeks. Shannon has done so much for me, and I want to stay and be with her until she reaches her goals. For the first time, I feel like I have a sister, and I want to get to know her. Will you come and sleep with me every night?"

"Anything you want, just so I can be with you."

Much later, Elisabeth and Gerald had left, everyone was once again naked, and the adults had gathered in the hot tub. Conversation was minimal as everyone seemed to bask in the air of contentment that hovered over the house. Ted and Kathy were exhausted and left first, walking hand in hand to Kathy's room. They had just turned out the light, when the girls entered the room. "Mom, Dad, we don't want to interrupt if you want to, you know, but it would be the biggest celebration of all if we could all sleep together naked tonight. Could we do that, please."

Kathy answered back without hesitation, "Of course, Honey, we'd love to have us all together. If your Dad and I happen to get a little frisky sometime in the night, though, just ignore us, OK?"

"As if!" They all laughed as the girls dove into the bed and each plastered herself on a parent. Ted and Kathy shared a warm laugh early the next morning when they discovered a different girl clinging to each of them.

Monday

It was just breaking dawn, and they gently untangled themselves from their darlings, used the bathroom, and padded through the morning chill to the hot tub. There, Kathy sat on Ted's lap and brought him into her. They just sat and hugged for a long, sweet time, before they started talking. They were still there, talking, when Greg returned from his run. They heard him close the patio door after checking on them, and simultaneously started thrusting and plunging, rushing to the long delayed climax.

Ted was loathe to leave Kathy here, naked, but he rather understood her desire, and anyway, he was not about to start a disagreement over anything. He, Jim, and Alex headed out for work about the same time.

Friday

The sense of deja vu had just hit him moments before he heard the sound of bare feet padding across the deck behind him. Julia had to leave for the evening, and Shannon and Kathy and their men had retired early, almost as if by signal, now that he thought about it. This time, Yvonne sat right beside him in the hot tub. She didn't say a word, but took his hand in both of hers and just held it. Reluctant to break the silence, he finally had to speak.

"Yvonne, let's promise each other this time won't end up like last time, OK."

"I don't want it to end up that way, either. I want this time to end up in bed."

Right back to where things fell apart before! Could he handle it right this time? He slid down to a lower level of the tub floor and pulled her down to sit across his lap, putting his arms around her to pull her close. This was far more contact than they had ever had before. She stiffened and he thought she might pull away, but she relaxed and draped her arm over his neck.

"Here I tell I want you to take me to bed, and I get frightened just being in your lap. Maybe I'm a hopeless case."

"You're not a case, Yvonne, you're a wonderful woman with some fears. And sitting on my lap naked is more than just casual contact, you know. Do you understand why I didn't just hurry you off to bed before?"

"I talked to Julia about this, and she said you only wanted to sleep with the woman you were in love with. You slept with her, though, and she said you guys weren't in love, just very good friends. Am I a good enough friend for you to sleep with me?"

"You are a very good friend. With Julia, though, we knew it was just temporary. With you, a big part of me wants it to be forever."

"I know, and I feel bad I can't say I'm in love with you. Greg, I don't even know what love is! A while ago, I didn't even know what friendship was. You, and Julia, taught me so much about friends. Now, I'm asking you to teach me about love. Before, when I asked you to teach me about sex, I was wrong. I know you can't have sex with someone you don't love. I just don't know about any of it. Part of me wants to say I will be with you forever, but I need to know what that means, first."

His heart ached for her. It was hard to imagine what her life was like before their friendship. He would be taking a huge risk trying to teach her about love, a risk to himself. Julia had challenged him to help her as he had helped Shannon and Kathy. This was different. He was laying part of his soul on the line. Physically, he wanted her - wanted her badly. He had to remember that it was for her. If he could teach her about love, his reward would be great. He might not have her forever, but he now knew the satisfaction of seeing a friend made whole. Whatever else happened, it would be enough.

"I take it Julia isn't coming back tonight, is she?"

"No, she said you would understand. Her time with you is over. It's my turn now, if you will have me."

"I'm yours, Luscious. I'll teach you whatever I can."

When he said that, she started to quiver, as if cold. He just tightened his hold around her and spoke comforting words.

"I want this so badly, Greg, but now that I can have it, I am so frightened!"

"Shhhh. Shhhh. Don't be frightened. We don't have to do anything on any schedule. How about if tonight, we just sleep together. Period. I would love to feel you against me, but not if it frightens you. Would you like that?"

"You would do that, wouldn't you? Oh, Greg, I feel so ashamed for all the times I doubted you and tested you."

"Well, I was pretty hard-assed and testy with you, so it's not all your fault. Let's go to bed, shall we?" They each dried themselves off. He did not want to push any kind of contact. As they walked toward the darkened house, he asked her, "Where did you leave your clothes? Do you want to keep them with you?"

"No, I don't. I'm going to leave them in the study so you can see me naked in the morning. I owe you that."

"Yvonne, you don't owe me anything. Seeing your body in the daylight would be a wonderful gift. But if you aren't ready to give it, I would feel I was taking something from you. Tell you what, I will leave a large T-shirt by your side of the bed. Put it on if you are not ready."

"Greg, you make me feel so safe and so special. Thank you."

"Luscious, that's part of what love is."

They went to his room without turning on any lights. At the door, he had an inspiration. "Uh, why don't I just wait here until you finish in the bathroom." She said nothing, and he could not see her expression, but she went right into the room and closed the door. When she came and opened it, he went about his own business without worrying about her. When he got to the bed, she was well over on one side with the sheet pulled up to her neck. He got in and was deciding how to say goodnight to her when suddenly she was lying on top of him.

"I'm not going to be a wimp! I want to know what sex is like, and I'm not going to drag it out like a schoolgirl. Thank you for being so gentle, but please, take me know!"

The contact with her body was thrilling, and his libido wanted to do just what she asked. Fortunately, his big head was able to keep control. "Yvonne, Honey, are you lubricated? Are you nice and wet down there?"

"Um, no. I... I don't think so. I'm pretty nervous, I guess."

"Do you know what might happen if I try to enter you now? Besides the stretching, which we can't avoid the first time, there will be too much friction, and it may even cause you some pain. When we are done, you might very well decide you don't ever want to do it again."

"But I want to know! I want to feel it! I've gone too long without knowing."

"I know, I know. And I want you to feel it. But most of all, I want it to feel good. So good you will want to do it again and again and again. With me. Is that selfish of me?"

"No. I want it to be good, too. I don't want it to hurt. I hear about how wonderful and earth-shattering it's supposed to be, and I want it to be that way for me."

"Then let me get you aroused. Let me get your body as ready as your mind. Can we do that?"

"S... sure. What do you want me to do?"