Mark replied to Jamie's question about a threesome. "Not a threesome but I swapped partners once."
"Really. Would you care to share that with me?" said Jamie.
Mark searched his mind for the details of his junior year in college to answer Jamie's question. It was nearly ten years since the events in question had occurred. He thought of the episodes surrounding that year less and less as time passed. Since meeting Jamie he had not thought of them at all. As in a movie flashback the reality around Mark became a fog. Then in his mind he was on campus once more.
It had been the first week of college and a number of students were getting together at the Student Center to renew acquaintances. Mark had an apartment of his own for the first time. It was small but he no longer had to deal with roommates. Across from him a small group of girls had been talking. Mark was just about to see if he could start a conversation with them when this lithesome dark haired girl walked up to them. Mark watched as she talked to the girls for a few minutes. The dark haired girl then started to walk over to Mark and introduced herself. As she walked she took out a slip of paper and wrote her phone number on it.
"Hi I'm Colette."
As he was about to introduce himself, she said, "You're Mark. The girls over there were talking about you."
"I hope some of it was good."
"No. You have a terrible reputation." She said with a laugh. She handed Mark the slip of paper. "Here is my phone number. Call me tomorrow and we can plan a time to go out together." Then she turned and started to walk away. She looked back and emphasized "Call me".
Mark had never met anyone so direct. He was stunned, but interested. No games just right to the point. As she requested, Mark called the next day as much out of curiosity about what she was like as the fact that he thought she was very attractive. Mark had heard her name mentioned before but their classes never intersected. They made plans...nothing special, just get something to eat together and then attend a function on campus. By the time they finished eating Mark felt very comfortable with Colette. There was no pretense with her. She was just who she was. By mutual agreement they skipped the function and decided to just take a walk. Colette and Mark continued to talk about themselves. Mark explained that he did not have time for a serious relationship. He had so many plans for the future. Mark knew many of his friends were planning to get married as soon as they graduated...some before. He didn't understand it. They had not experienced any of life yet. Colette said that every time she found someone she liked they would want to possess her. So she would leave them. They decided that they were very much alike. Mark decided to take a chance and ask Colette if she wanted to come back to his apartment. He had some beer and they could watch TV together. Colette accepted. When they got to Mark's apartment he opened two beers. Before the bottles were half finished they were undressed and on their way to the bedroom. From then on they started going out together a couple times a week.
A few weeks later they were going to see another couple Connor and Marci. Connor was dating Marci but everyone knew that Marci was just using Connor. As Mark and Colette got to the apartment Colette took Mark aside and told him that they were going to swap partners that night. She asked if he would be ok with it and made it clear it was not her idea. Mark went along with it but had his reservations. He wasn't that fond of Marci and thought Connor was getting the better of the deal. Mark and Colette went inside. After some talk and drink Marci and Colette changed positions. It was clear to Mark that Connor was not aware of what was going to happen but when Marci started kissing Mark he figured it out. Mark kissed Marci back...she opened her blouse and put his hand inside...she was not wearing a bra. He asked her if she was wearing panties, and she told him to take her pants off and find out. Well, she was wearing them but not for long. Eventually they all finished having sex and sat around talking for a while. Connor was very quiet and sullen. It was clear that he was irritated by the events. Mark assumed that he was jealous. Colette asked Mark to walk her home. They dressed and left Marci and Connor to fight about the events of the evening."
He and Colette had been walking along Main Street. Colette had been silent but finally spoke. "I made a bet with Marci and lost. I tried to talk her out of it but couldn't. I'm sorry."
As Mark turned onto South Street toward Colette's apartment, he realized that she was no longer beside him. He turned to look at Colette a few steps behind.
"Can I spend the night at your place?" she said.
"Sure".
As they entered Mark's apartment Colette asked "Mind if I take a shower?"
"Not at all. I'll get some beers."
After retrieving the beers Mark decided that he would join her in the shower. He undressed and stepped in.
"Room Service" Mark handed Colette a beer.
She laughed and made like she was trying to find a pocket. "I don't have any money for a tip right now."
They both laughed. They both sipped their beers. Mark's eyes never left hers. Then Mark put his bottle down outside the tub and approached her. He took her bottle, put it next to his and kissed her. Mark took the soap in his hands and rubbed it all over her body. He started rubbing her breasts. He liked the feel of them. They were not large but they fit her overall shape. For Mark they were just the right size. He turned her around and rubbed her back. Colette was not involved in sports but her body was muscular. It was as if Mark was feeling her body for the first time. When he turned her around again he dropped to one knee and as he lowered himself to the floor of the tub he kissed her body on the way down. Mark used his thumb to manipulate her clitoris and at the same time inserted two of his fingers into her. Gently moving his fingers he looked up to see her face. With time Colette started making little sounds. Then she grew quiet. Then she made a loud groan as she came. When Colette could no longer stand Mark's manipulation she pushed her hands against his. The orgasm seemed to continue for an eternity but in reality it was only a short time. As Colette's orgasm ended she was catching her breath. Mark rose and moved to the back of the tub. He sat on the side of the tub with one leg in the tub, one leg on the floor and his back against the wall. Colette moved to Mark and straddled him. She rocked back and forth with him in her...first slowly...then faster. Soon she was cumming again. Now Colette decided it was Mark's turn. Colette continued her rocking and studied Mark's face. When she knew he was close she moved faster. After his orgasm Mark pulled her tight against him and the two of them embraced and kissed. Colette decided to get up and dry off. Mark realized the shower was still running and shut it off...then dried off. They decided to wear nothing to bed that night. As the two of them got under the covers Mark cuddled with Colette. He was enjoying the feel of her skin against his. Although they had sex before, Mark was more aware of everything this time. For Mark that night was different than any other with Colette. The sex was more like making love than fucking.
The next morning was Saturday so neither of them had classes. Mark got up, dressed and let Colette sleep. He started making breakfast. As he cooked he thought of the night before. Mark never wanted Colette to make love to another man again. He was starting to think of asking Colette to make their relationship exclusive. Mark knew however that asking her that would be the "kiss of death" to the relationship. Colette never wanted to feel as though she was a possession.
Colette came out to the kitchen completely naked. After a couple of minutes Mark said "If you don't put something on I'm going to burn breakfast. There are some of my shirts in the closet."
When Colette returned she had on his shirt. "Wow! None of my other boyfriends ever made breakfast for me. Did you learn to cook from your mom? "
"No. My uncle. I worked in my uncle's diner for a number of summers and learned from him."
"What are you making?"
"A frittata. It's kind of an Italian version of an omelet. My uncle used to make these at the diner".
They sat to eat breakfast. Mark silently began to question his goals. Although he was glad to not have roommates this was different. He wanted Colette around always. Mark brushed away these thoughts. "I need to run some errands but you can make yourself at home. Just close the door on the way out. I'll call you later and we can make some plans to do something tomorrow...if you want."
When he came back later that afternoon he saw Colette sitting on his stoop. She was reading a textbook and making notes. Behind her was a grocery bag.
"Did you forget something?"
"The girls were ordering pizza again and I figured I know this really good chef who might turn these ingredients into a nice meal."
Mark picked up the groceries and unlocked the door.
"I used up a lot of this month's allowance so I couldn't afford steak, only chicken"
"That works."
"Do you want to help me or just watch?" Mark asked.
"I'll help if you show me what to do."
They had fun cooking together. Mark had Colette pound the chicken breasts into cutlets and dredge them. She also bought a small package of mushrooms. Mark had some Madeira wine that someone had left. Within a short time they had made Chicken Madeira together. Colette was very proud of herself and happy that she learned something new from Mark.
After dinner they did dishes and Colette asked again to stay. As time went on, Colette stayed over more and more. One day Mark had another key to his apartment made and offered it to Colette. She looked a little apprehensive so he told her it was going to be getting cold outside and he figured she might be more comfortable waiting inside. Then he told her he would put the key on the table and if she decided she wanted it, she could take it. The next morning Colette left for class before him and when Mark looked at the table the key was gone.
Occasionally, Colette would not show up. But he never asked her about it. One day she said that some days she just wanted to be with the girls. There had not been any other men. By default the relationship had become exclusive. Mark was happy about that.
Eventually they were an item. The guys thought that Mark had tamed Colette's demons and the girls thought Colette had tamed his. The fact was they both had the same demons and neither of them tamed anything. They just understood each other.
The end of the year came and they both had to return home. Mark asked Colette if she was returning next year. She said she was and he said he would look her up. They embraced and kissed. They exchanged addresses and promised to write during the summer. Then Colette left. As Mark looked around the apartment he decided it seemed empty and not the happy place it was with Colette there. So he picked up his bags and left for home.
During the summer Mark had written letters several times and received replies to each. At the end of summer he wrote but never received a reply. He figured that she was busy and he would see her at school. School started and he looked her up but nobody had seen her. Eventually Mark wrote a letter to her parents. After about a week he received a letter back. In it was an envelope addressed to him and in the envelope a letter.
Now the fog that was Mark's reality cleared and his focus returned to the present, as Jamie asked "What did the letter say?"
"The letter said that she loved me...no... she was in love with me. On several occasions she found herself thinking of our future together. She was afraid that if she returned to school and we continued as last year we would give up our ambitions and our goals. We would start talking about marriage and the future. She wasn't so concerned about herself but she thought I had a brilliant future and didn't want to ruin it. She had decided not to return. Someday after she had the chance to experience life a little she would look me up, and if I was not already taken maybe we could start again."
Jamie said "So Colette was the girl that broke your heart. What did you do?"
"I think I cried a little and then I pouted for a while. Real macho, huh."
"Why didn't you tell me this before?"
"I don't usually talk about old girlfriends to you. Especially one I was really in love with."
"Did you love her more than me?"
