Chapter 19
Kim and Helena dressed like Rob in stockings, suspender belts, then their nightgowns. Together they headed to the dining room.
"I'll get something for us to eat. Rob, can you open a bottle of wine? I have some in the kitchen." Kim gestured toward the door.
As soon as Rob had followed her into the kitchen, Kim turned to him. "I saw you look to Helena as we talked. Don't worry, she isn't offended by what I say. She and I have been lovers for a long time. Perhaps we always will be. You didn't complicate things; I have her permission to fuck you whenever you and I want. She only requires us to be open about it. We won't have any secrets."
Rob wasn't too surprised by her confession, but he felt a pang of sorrow. It was a bit like Jenny, his ex-wife. He'd known she was bisexual, but now her interest in women was connected, in his mind at least, to his awful experience at Marion's house. Now he had Helena and Kim confirming they were lovers. Helena had him believing he was the one and only to her, in this moment he learned he was just her only male lover. The sense that Jenny had betrayed him reappeared. Helena had given him no reason to think she had lesbian tendencies. What's more, Helena had listened for hours as he spoke of his relationship with Jenny.
Was he making the same mistake again? The only difference was Helena and Kim were being open with him, while Jenny had never mentioned her lovers. He realized this circle of theirs had included sexual activity.
Rob chose a light-bodied red wine and opened it. He gathered three wineglasses and the bottle, put them on a tray. Kim added to the tray a plate with some cheese and bread and a few knives. He carried everything into the living room. There, Helena had some candles burning. With the curtains closed and the central heating on, the atmosphere was warmly intimate.
Helena spoke to him in a quiet voice. "I heard what Kim said to you. It's the absolute truth. We are lovers, we have been for years; I imagine you'd already surmised as much. We're both bisexual, both of us hurt by men in the past. When we saw you, we both realized we still like men, but they must not be the usual manly men. You have proven to be what we need, many times over.
"Carmen and Olga have had the same sort of experience with men, Olga suffered the worst, her ex beat her horribly, she's still recovering. We were all surprised you could have brought her her to an orgasm. We thought she might not let you."
"And Carmen? Is she also a lesbian?"
"We're bisexual, Rob, there is a difference. Carmen has been seriously let down a few times. Even after an engagement. That changes a woman. She was wounded like you, mentally. In fact, all of us are wounded one way or another."
"What about you?" Rob didn't really want to know. The more he learned the more disappointment he felt. Why had Helena not told him she was in a serious, long-term relation with Kim?
"You know my parents left me money, that's all my boyfriends seemed to care about. The moment I told a suitor there would be a prenuptial agreement, they quickly faded away. You didn't realize how wealthy I was until you saw the house, even then you couldn't believe it. You care about me, you actually don't want to deal with my money." She sighed. "Just as I don't want to deal with my money. You actually expected to take care of me, refusing to give up your job. You showed me your love was real. Even though you too had been hurt so much, still you gave your heart to me. And I already had fallen in love before you knew me. I remember telling you I had a private detective make inquiries. I had photos of you. Not for you, for myself: I knew the party at Marion's would be intimate and I wanted to make sure no harm would come to me.
"Then I met you in person. I was completely lost. I saw your unselfish behavior, you were there to please your wife and friends, with no hesitation whatsoever. You had so much love in you and yet you also seemed fragile in your French maid uniform. I wanted to take you to my home, right then. I thought I was reading Jenny correctly and I know Marion, her warning signals were plain. I was certain you were on you way to being hurt. And that's exactly what happened."
"Why didn't you rescue me, give me a clearer warning?"
"Would you have believed me? You had to learn yourself. But now I have you: I'll give you anything, everything, just stay with me the rest of your life. I couldn't bear to live without you." Helena's soft voice was in contrast to the passion of the words.
Rob was convinced, he gave Helen a kiss. "I never knew a relationship could be like this. Still, I'm not your only love."
Helena's reply was circumspect. "No, you aren't, but you're the only man I can love. You are my soul mate and you shall be my husband."
He took her in his arms. Helena had been honest to him after all, the only thing that hadn't been clear was that her circle were also her lovers. He imagined she didn't wish to hurt his feelings.
Kim coughed. "Lovebirds, I'm here."
Rob turned to her. "And I can never forget what you have done for me."
"Rob, I've already asked Kim to come and live with us, just like Jenny and Marion were planning, but Kim thinks also three is a crowd."
Kim shook her head. "I have a business here, not just any business. This town depends on me, I'm their only doctor."
"So visit when it suits you. Helena, if you're in need of a real female lover, you and Kim just do what you want to do, I understand completely."
"No," Helena said, "You are my greatest love. I'd prefer Kim and I make love with you present. I won't do anything without you."
Kim completely agreed. "Rob, don't be so amenable. The truth is, I'd want you to participate with us. Once you can't perform anymore, if we want to go on, we can give you a show. But you must be there. But Rob, one condition, you always must be dressed for the occasion. I mean I want you to in sexy lingerie, just as Helena and I will be."
Rob decided to be provocative. "So when you and Helena fuck and I haven't any life left in my dick, I must wear sexy clothing. Ah, I get it, you and Helena want to be served by a maid, suitably dressed."
Helena took him at his word. "Yes, Rob, that would be very nice. You see, Kim, how lucky I am with him. A friend and lover, soul mate, but also a servant and a sex toy."
Kim made a face. "I was already jealous, now it's getting worse."
Helena saw the mixed emotions on her friends face. "Oh, my dear, we won't neglect you. Just come and visit us as often as your practice lets you. You know how special you are to me." She winked. "I would love to play some games with you."
Kim' face brightened. "What kind of games are you referring to?"
"If Rob was a naughty girl, she would deserve a spanking. You're naughty Kim, now I think of it, more consistently naught than Roberta. You are a slut and must know your place. Yes, next time when I give Rob a spanking, I'll invite you."
"Mmm, I'm getting wet again." Kim leered. "I can't wait to be spanked."
"Could it be that something is burning in the kitchen?" Rob said. He wanted to change the subject. He had heard quite enough of this conversation and hurried towards the kitchen. Kim followed, opened the oven and retrieved the pie she'd put in to warm. She put the pie, plates and utensils on a tray. Rob carried the tray into the living room and served a simple meal.
Chapter 20
As they ate, Rob raised a question. "Kim, earlier you said I'm a typical sub. What makes you say it?"
"What, isn't it obvious?"
"I can't see myself from outside very well. Why don't you humor me?"
Kim thought for a minute. It struck Rob she had casually stated her impression of him but now it took some effort to put together a basis behind her conclusion.
"Well, look at how much time you spend giving oral sex to women." She turned to Helena with a laugh then turned back to Rob. "In fact, on one memorable occasion a lot of time on each of several women."
"That makes me submissive? You've never read Freud's theory of development, heard about oral people?"
"Well, you crossdress and you're quite open about it."
"Only because you've seen me in very private settings. Most crossdressers are just plain heterosexuals, I expect you know that. Further, right in with the vast majority, I don't go out in public and I never will."
"Well, you go over the bench for a paddling pretty willingly."
"I'm submissive just because I help women get turned on by hitting me? I put up with the pain because right afterward I get hot, hot sex with a woman who has relaxed her inhibitions. The day that isn't true is the end of any games for me." He paused, reflecting. "You know, I think by the time that weekend at Marion's began I already knew it wasn't going to work out; she had already proposed I should be a live-in slave when I was only doing each event for the reward. For ten years with Jenny before we got involved with Marion, it was just one of a variety of things we did to get each other turned on. The odd thing is, Jenny may claim to be a lesbian, but the sex with her was great. Marion, on the other hand, wanted a boy-toy, a sex-slave. I was never going to be reduced to that."
Rob could see Helena was enjoying watching Kim's discomfort at having her preconceptions deconstructed. It struck him Helena didn't recognize he was saying all this for her benefit. It was time for her to face a similar question herself. "Helena, why did you promise to Kim she could have sex with me whenever she wanted?"