In every life there are special people. It might be a relative or a childhood friend. For me, that group includes two neighbors who until recently I'd only spoken to a few times.
I'd describe myself as a private person, not antisocial just someone who doesn't feel a need to share my life with the world. You won't find me on Facebook, Snapchat, or any of those social platforms. That's what makes my relationship with Brian and Kira so unusual. They're just the opposite, an outgoing couple who'd volunteer to help with something without being asked. I introduced myself when they moved into a house across the street, never expecting the kind of friendship that would develop. It started when they invited me to their house. The invitation even came with an offer to relax in their hot tub if I was interested.
Stop, I know what you're thinking but it really was just an offer to relax in their hot tub. There's a quote, "Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar." I'm not sure Sigmund Freud actually said it but it applies, Now, let me get back to what I started to say.
Most people wouldn't understand my world so I rarely talk about it. It actually works out well since most of the people I've met, especially the very successful ones, would rather talk about themselves anyway. Those people need no prompting to boast of the money they've made or the famous people they knew. As for the others, I try to keep conversations light, preferring to listen to them talk about their interests and hobbies rather than the land mines of politics and religion.
But during that visit, something Kira said struck a chord. She confessed that just like Anais Nin, she didn't want to live an ordinary life. I got the feeling Kira might actually understand my unusual life so I decided to trust my instincts and open a small window to it. I started talking about my writing. Some of my friends know I write short stories, but very few know that a number of them are erotic. When I was younger, and before I knew better, I mentioned it in casual conversations. Big mistake. Reactions were overwhelmingly negative. Some called it "not real writing." Others called erotic literature "trash" or something worse.
Not Brian and Kira. They wanted to read one of those stories. My problem was deciding which one to show them. When people read erotic lit, they pick stories in categories that excite them and I didn't know Brian and Kira well enough to be sure of my selection. After looking through the twenty or so I'd written, I eventually emailed them one I'd just completed. Within that story were some of my own sexual experiences and fantasies but if you knew what to look for and read it closely you'd also find hints that the two main characters had been written with them in mind. I'd need a psychiatrist to tell me why I chose that one.
It was during that same visit that the conversation took an unexpectedly serious tone. As I usually do, I asked about any hobbies or special interests they might have. Their response was that to make a good life for themselves, each worked very long hours. As a result they had very little time for each other and absolutely no time for anything else. While I understood, I told them of the disaster it could lead to. They're an attractive couple so in addition to the risk of burnout there is always the possibility that someone might see it as an opportunity to take advantage of the situation and provide emotionally or physically what either of them didn't. It wasn't my intention to be that person so I made it very clear, anything I said to one of them had to be told to their partner. Secrets ruin friendships. Please understand, I'm not talking about people you casually socialize with, I'm talking about people you feel a true connection to.
My phone chimed, indicating a call.
"Hello?"
"This is Kira. Brian is next to me and the phone is on speaker. We both loved the story you sent. It was about us wasn't it?"
"I wasn't sure you'd pick up on that, but yes it was."
"But the sex scenes seemed so real. How did you know what to write?"
"That's a question I hoped I'd never have to answer."
"Why?"
"Because the answer might upset the two of you."
"No secrets, remember?"
I took a deep breath before I continued.
"The truth is I just imagined what I wanted to happen if I was in Brian's place."
"That wasn't so difficult, was it?"
"Yes it was! How do you feel about what I just said?"
"I don't know, maybe a little surprised."
"Surprised that someone would look at you and see more than a friend?"
"No, surprised that you do."
"I may be older than you but I'm not blind. Probably the only thing that separates me from dozens of other guys who feel the same way is that I put my feelings on paper. And Brian, you're a good-looking guy. I'd be surprised if some women didn't have similar thoughts about you. That's why I gave the two of you that warning." After a pause I said, "Brian, say something."
"When you marry a beautiful woman you expect that from other guys. I just never expected anyone to tell me about it. Listen, we called to ask for a favor but now I'm not so sure it's a good idea."
"If it's possible, I'd like the three of us to remain friends but if not, I'll understand."
"How much of your stories is real and how much is fantasy?"
"I don't know, I guess about half and half."
"Then it seems you already have a very exciting life. I'd appreciate it if my wife remains in the fantasy half, okay?"
I simply replied, "Okay." Saying "no problem" or something similar might be taken as an insult by Kira.
There was a pause and the sound of muffled voices. Brian had taken the phone off speaker and was talking to Kira. I couldn't understand what they were saying but there were a lot of words before Brian returned to the call.
"I told you we had a request. Kira and I were discussing whether we should still make it. I have to admit I still have doubts but here it is. After we finished reading your story, both Kira and I wanted our sex life to be as exciting as what you wrote. Is there a way for you to help us and still keep your promise?"
"I won't know if I can help until we sit down and discuss it, but my promise hasn't changed."
"If Sunday at noon is a good time for you, Kira will prepare a light lunch."
"I'll see you Sunday."
Sunday arrived and for the first ten or fifteen minutes I tried to put Brian's mind at ease. I thought I made it clear the first time I came to their house that I'd never come between them but I repeated that message anyway. I was there to do whatever I could to help them enjoy their life together. As for that other stuff, I explained that fiction writers live in a fantasy world and get inspiration wherever they can.
Brian soon relaxed enough to explain the situation. It turned out that both he and Kira enjoyed sex but it had been admittedly vanilla. They were usually too tired to explore anything out of the ordinary. They weren't exactly sure what they wanted but my story had brought into the open what each had known for a long time, life should be more than just work with the same sex once or twice a week.
That afternoon, even though they answered all my questions, I sensed they were holding things back. For example, both confessed to watching porn, in fact they'd watched some together but nothing they'd watched together excited them. I could understand that. The acting in porn videos can be horribly bad and faked orgasms while glancing at the camera are anything but exciting, but the one thing they never mentioned was what they watched when they were alone. I knew what the problem was. Whether out of fear or embarrassment, they'd never shared their most intense sexual fantasies. They were afraid to admit what really excited them.
That was actually good news. I could think of other problems that would be much more difficult to deal with without breaking my promise. But if, and I'll admit it's a big if, if there's a way to remove some of their hesitation, their only problem would be finding the energy to go to work after sexual marathons.
Now, I knew a way to get the two of them to share their fantasies, but there were risks. If either one wasn't comfortable with their partner's fantasies, it might cause more harm than good. I learned that lesson from my first marriage.
Two days later I arranged to meet them after work at their home. At the dining room table I set the first part of my plan in motion.
"Before I tell you my idea I need to find out how comfortable each of you is with sex."
Kira asked, "And how exactly are you going to do that?"
I could already see Brian shaking his head, imagining that I was about to break my promise but all I did was hand each one a sheet of paper.
