This is not a stroke story, by any means. In fact, it goes to some very dark places before it gets to the finale which happened a few years ago. It's taken me that long to be able to put my head back in that place again and write it all down.
Many thanks to my volunteer editor, Alys21, whose considerable investment of time made this a much better story.
[All characters engaging in sexual activity, past or present, are eighteen or older.]
* * *
PART ONE: From the Beginning, but First...
I'd been having an affair with Elaine Danielson for six months. More accurately, she was having an affair with me. She would call me every month or so and ask if I was busy and would I like to "hang out." She never admitted it was an affair which was odd.
Predictably, she was only available on weeknights. I'd pick her up at her apartment, we'd go out for dinner; and then we'd usually see a movie, hear some music, or go dancing. If she was particularly horny, she'd say something like "I'm too tired to go dancing" or "I'm not in the mood for a movie." Her code for "let's go home and fuck."
I met Elaine through my in-laws who lived back home in another state. As far as they knew, Elaine and I were just casual friends.
What puzzled me was she never had any restrictions about where we went or what we did. Surely there would have been places where her paramour or his friends would see us? The one time in the past when I was sneaking around like this on someone, I had very strict no-go zones where it would have been too risky to show my face with another woman. Elaine never had the slightest hesitation about any of our choices--all part of the charade apparently.
That night we had been dancing at a steamy little nightclub in the Silver Lake district of Los Angeles. As soon as we got back to her place, she announced she needed to take a shower first. Elaine was very fastidious about her grooming and hygiene.
"Yuck! I'm so sweaty!"
She crossed her arms and grabbed the hem of her mini dress and whipped it over her head in one clean motion.
I admired her tall, lean body--like a dancer's: well proportioned, shapely arms and legs, minimal bust, and sleek muscle tone. A testament to the positive effects of yoga and exercise. She wore her dark brown hair in bangs, letting the rest hang down to her chest. At least that's the way she had it that night.
I never saw her wear a bra. She liked to have her prominent nipples accenting whatever top or dress she wore; it was part of her look. And she definitely got looked at. I think it was her way of compensating for her "don't really need one" physique.
She kicked off her shoes next to the colorful print dress slumped on the floor. I was
so glad
she had gotten over her hang-up of needing lengthy amounts of clothes-on foreplay before having sex.
I should explain that last comment, but I'd be getting way ahead of the story. Let's start at the beginning.
* * *
Elaine and I had a history that went back many years. I met her through my younger brother's wife, Stacy. She was the older sister of Stacy's best friend Lisa Gentry, but I'd never seen Elaine before at any family events. I didn't even know Lisa had an older sister. Even though Elaine and I had both come to Los Angeles from the same city and the same circle of relatives and friends, we had never met until I was home for the holidays one year.
I was at a New Year's Eve party. Elaine was the only unattached female and was doing an exemplary job of leading on every one of the dateless guys there--and then complaining to her sister Lisa that they wouldn't stop hitting on her.
When Elaine and I were introduced, Lisa and Stacy both gave us the silly "I can't believe you both live in L.A. and don't know each other" comments.
I was at the party with Mary Mendoza, an old girlfriend whom I often got together with when I came back home. She shot a disapproving look at Elaine. "So who's the tall, skinny
morena
dressed like a hooker?"
I explained that was the look favored by fashion-forward young women in L.A. that season.
"I should have known. She's looks like a real piece of work. Do you know her from out there?"
"No, just met her. You know my brother's wife Stacy. And you've met her friend Lisa. She's Lisa's older sister. This is the first I've heard about a sibling. I think she's around my age."
"Well, I think she's coming on to you."
"She's coming on to every guy here, attached or not."
"You're right, she is. I guess I'd be offended if she had skipped over you," she laughed. "That would be a reflection on me."
Elaine collared me later and supplied me with more info about herself, bragging that she worked for a record producer in L.A. I'd heard of him; but even if most people at the party wouldn't know who he was, they'd certainly recognize the artists and their hits he had worked on.
"If you like music, I can get you on the guest list at the clubs and the large concert venues."
It just so happened I spent an inordinate amount of time and money seeing live music, so I gave her my contact information.
"I'll give you a call when I get back and tell you what shows are coming up. I can put you down as a 'plus one'. Lots of free CDs, too, if you want. Here's my card."
I breathed a little easier when she assumed I would be going to these shows with a date. I thanked her and said I'd be awaiting her call. I was still a bit leery of accepting favors from Elaine in case she was expecting something in return. I wasn't so sure I wanted to get mixed up with her, just based on her demeanor and personality.
As Elaine flitted away, I glanced at her business card:
Elaine Danielson
Executive Assistant
Patration Records
I wondered why her last name wasn't Gentry, like Lisa's. Maybe a stepsister. Or she's divorced. Who cares? I probably wouldn't hear from her anyway, and I surely wasn't going to call her. I quickly stuffed the card in my pocket as Mary headed my way with a seductive look on her face. I didn't need much convincing to leave the party, even before midnight.