Note: You probaby can pick up the narrative here and not lose anything, but if you want to start at the top, then read "Enter the Temple" first.
What was so extraordinary about the week that followed my experiences with Jane, George and Adele in their household shrine was just how ordinary it was. I spent the next couple of nights at George and Adele's house along with Jane. We had some brief conversations about the Temple of Ulthara but nothing in depth. For the most part, we all went back to work or school and resumed our normal routines. It occurred to me that what had been hugely significant for me may not have been as significant for everyone in their household.
That doesn't mean I thought nothing about what had happened. I had sex with Jane and her parents individually. It wasn't incest but it was weird. Sometimes I even experienced a mild panic attack or two. What I didn't know about this 'sex cult' or religion was the source of most of that anxiety. What it all might mean for my relationship with Jane was another.
It probably shouldn't have been. It had been significant for her. If anything, Jane seemed more in love with me than ever. Wednesday, I went back to my apartment to feed our cat and study for a test. At about 8 p.m., I was done with that and ready to eat. Jane came over to my apartment with a pizza, a cold six pack and her overnight bag. That made me smile.
I was halfway through my second piece and my first beer when Jane started 'The Conversation.' That's one of those landmark dialogues couples have β you know THE CONVERSATION.
"So, 'Rad, you have to have a ton of questions. I could tell you've been ..."
"Pondering?"
"Yeah, I know that had to have been a weird experience for you, and you want to know what it all means."
"Yep." She smiled a little nervously. It was cute as hell.
"I want to know what you've been thinking about it and us," she said, laying it all out there very directly.
I held up a finger for her to give me a minute to gather my thoughts --- and also to finish chewing and to take a sip.
"What does this 'betrothal' mean exactly?" I asked.
"Well, it's not binding. It means a period of testing each other, of finding out if we're compatible. Sometimes it's just a few months. With us it will be a year. You'll also learn all about the temple. That's because you'll not just be my husband, if we get married, but you'll be a leader in the temple. It's a package deal," she answered with a smile.
"Is that OK?"
"Yeah, you know I love you, but I wasn't ready to settle down yet."
"After the betrothal period, you'll take some vows, but we won't marry in the Temple for at least another year after that. We can get a civil marriage earlier though, if we decide to."
"What about sex with us? Is it going to always be like this weekend?"
She laughed.
"No, we will have vanilla sex by ourselves, too, if we want to, and I want to. Sex always will be initiated by me though, Conrad, and I'll decide what we do. But, I love you and I want to do things you want to do. I'll still listen to you and your needs, too. I'll be the decisionmaker, and once I decide, it's final."
I nodded and looked at the wall. She had said that with more steel in her voice than I had heard in days. Frankly, it made my dick twitch and start to grow erect.
"OK, I'm willing to keep exploring things then."
She beamed at me.
"I can't tell you how happy I am that you're so much more open minded about things than we anticipated. You can be so reserved and ..."
"Conservative?"
"Yeah, that I forget it's just your ... book cover ... and how cool you can be about things sometimes, how adventurous. I can't tell you how many friends, and my parents even, have said to me, 'Wow, he's really a cool guy when you get to know him.' I am SO proud of you."
Now it was her turn to look hesitant and apprehensive.
"One more thing," she said, looking down at her pizza. "I hope you're cool with this. You'll be having sex with other members of the Temple, too."
"Really? Do I have a choice?" I asked, a little taken aback.
"Of course, again, there's no pressure. Always remember that you have a choice and can say 'no.' It's part of the betrothal, the testing."
"Really?" I asked with some surprise. "Can you explain that? Sleeping around is expected?"
Jane was quiet for a few seconds, as if organizing her thoughts.
"Well, the Temple's followers are polyamorous, so it's a test to see if we can handle that. If our bond is more sexual than spiritual, it's believed you will drift away from me in the group. It also means I might, too. That's the downside. If after a year of 'free love,' we love each other as much or more than when we started the betrothal, then we'll be bonded, engaged."
It took me a little bit to mull that over. It actually seemed like a good idea. I wondered if I would get jealous or if Jane would of me.
"OK," I finally said. Jane beamed at me again.
What followed that part of the conversation was a wide-ranging discussion of what role sex has in the Temple and with its followers, what I liked about my 'initiation' and what I didn't β surprisingly not much. Jane talked about her feelings too, and even a little about her future and our future.
After almost a half hour of discussion, she playfully said and with a smile, "Shut up. It's time to serve me. All this talk has got me hot."
She took my hand and pulled me toward the bedroom. Jane sat on the end of the bed and told me to strip while she watched.
I didn't do a dance. I'm a horrible dancer and it would have broken the mood, but I did do a sort of low-key version-- slowly disrobing and dramatically draping my clothing over the arm of my bedroom chair.
Soon, I was standing before her completely naked and erect.
"Kneel right here," Jane said, pointing to a spot between her feet.