I led Mary into the bedroom and shut the door behind us. I sat in a straight chair, but didn't tell Mary what to do. She pushed my knees apart and knelt there. She looked happy and ready to begin.
"I'm going to ask you some questions. Answer them honestly."
"All right," she said.
"Do you really want this agreement, Mary? I don't mean what the group wants, but what you want down deep in your gut?"
"Yes, Jack."
"Will you be faithful?"
"I'm not sure what faithful means, but I'll do anything you want."
"And obedient?"
"You know I will."
"You know I'll have each of you any time I want?"
"Yes, Jack."
"I'll want you to have sex with Becky and Monica."
She wrinkled her nose and grinned. "I don't mind, Jack. Really. I just don't get turned on by it like they do."
"You don't orgasm from it?"
"Oh, I orgasm, but not all orgasms are the same."
"I'll punish you if I think you need it."
"Oh, Jack, you're a marshmallow," she said. She flushed and covered her mouth. "Oops. That popped right out."
"All right. I'm easy going, but I'm tough, too. I can enforce the rules, and if you cheat on me, either I'm gone or you're gone."
"I'll never cheat so don't worry about that. As for punishment, well, if I need it, go ahead."
"Whose idea was it to ask me to move in with all of you?"
"Becky's. She's afraid of losing Monica and me to men. You know, breaking up the old trio and leaving her alone. Del and Monica married first. Del tried to subdue Becky like he had Monica, but Becky hated him and she never gave in. When I married Jim, he understood Becky would live with us, but Becky didn't like him either. She thought he was too wishy-washy. It was difficult and, believe me, none of us want to go through all that again."
"Go ahead."
"About two months after Jim left, Becky suggested that all of us live with one man. The idea never appealed to me because we'd have to find a man who turned on all three of us. When I met you, I knew you'd be perfect." She stopped and peered out the window to think for a few moments before looking at me again. "Jack, you need to understand women."
"I never claimed to do that," I joked, but I don't think she heard me because she was focused on her thoughts.
"We're bonded like glue. We love each other, but not like we love men or even our kids. It's complex. Maybe like sisters, but closer really. It's hard to explain, but they're a part of me and we've been through a lot together. I know this. We'll all be happier if we're together. Something else. Becky and I both want a big family. With three baby makers, we could be a big family, Jack."
"If I said I didn't want to do this, but I wanted you to come live with me, would you do it?"
"Yes, Jack. If I'm not already in love with you, I'm falling fast."
"Anything you want to tell me? Anything I need to know?"
"Becky told me she told you to discipline Monica and you didn't."
"That's right."
"Do you want her?"
"Yes, I do."
"You really need to discipline her, Jack. Look. I love you. Oops. I said it." She giggled and flushed pink. She sighed. "I may as well tell you the whole truth, Jack. I do love you. I mean deeply and desperately. I'd marry you or become your mistress or your little playtoy, whatever you want as long as I'm near you." She could tell from my expression that pleased me, and she was pleased that I was pleased. "Becky loves you, too. That frightens her because the other men she loved were cruel to her. But Monica's different than we are. She's crazy about you and wants you to take her, but she can't give herself. She has to be taken."
"Why are you telling me this? Don't you know that means you'll share me with other women?"
"Jack, you told me you'd never be faithful and I believe you. I'd rather share you with Becky and Monica than some woman I don't know. And the three of us really are pieces of the same puzzle. I don't want us to split up."
"I might still have other women," I said.
"Oh, Jack, if you live with three sex-crazed sluts, you won't have time for other women." She gave me that delightful grin. "But if you want to, go ahead. I'll be waiting at home with my legs spread and my mouth open."
"I want children," I said. "Will you. . . ."
She launched herself into me, squealing and burying me in kisses. "I'll have as many as you want," she sighed.
Monica was next. Again I sat in the straight chair, and I didn't tell Monica what to do. She entered the room and sat on the edge of the bed. I didn't say anything. She stood, took one step toward me, and waited. When I still didn't say anything, she sighed loudly and knelt, but not as Mary had, which was between my legs with her legs spread. Monica knelt by me with hers together.
I asked Monica the same questions. Yes, she wanted the arrangement, and, yes, she'd be faithful and obedient. Yes, she'd have sex with Mary and Becky, and she admitted she and Becky had sex once or twice a week anyway. Yes, she knew I'd punish her and she'd accept it. And, yes, she'd have my child.
But there was a big question mark hanging over the entire discussion. A question evidenced by her eyes, her coolness and her tone of voice, and by the way she studied me as we talked. I decided to meet it head on.
"Monica, I know you like a forceful man and I know you want to be taken."
Her eyes flared their challenge. "I don't know what you're talking about," she said haughtily. She stood and stepped away.
"So we'll do it your way," I said.
She twitched to the door, hesitated, and looked back at me. She strutted back, threw herself against me, and kissed me with all the heat a man could want. "Take me if you can," she hissed. She turned on her heel and swayed out the door.
It was Becky's turn. For the third time, I sat in the chair to see where the woman would sit. Becky sat on the bed. To my first two questions - do you want this arrangement and will you be faithful - Becky emphatically answered yes. But when I asked if she'd be obedient, she replied, "Within reason," and my antennae went up.
"What does that mean?" I asked.
"It means yes, but it gives me an out in case I'm not obedient." I gave her a dirty look. "I expect you to be reasonable, Jack, but people are unreasonable sometimes. I'll be obedient if you're reasonable."
I sat back and stared at her. She wasn't challenging. She was frightened. "You've always been the independent and dominant one. Giving that up scares you, doesn't it?" I said.
"Yes," she gasped.
"I don't blame you, but you'll have to give it up," I said.
"I know," she replied. "But that's easier said than done."
As she wiped away a few tears, I said softly, "I won't hurt you, Becky."
"I know you won't, Jack. It's not that."
"When you've been hurt badly, it takes a long time to heal," I said.
"Yes, it does, and it makes you afraid even when a new relationship feels right." She smiled like a sad little girl. "This does feel right, Jack. You feel right." She gave me a shy half-smile. "You've felt right since the minute I saw you, but brains and hearts don't always see eye-to-eye."
"I sure know that. Do you want to take a break?"
"No, thanks."
When I asked if she'd come live with me if the others did not, she said, "I don't know, Jack. I truly don't know. This whole thing was about keeping the three of us together. I know them, Jack. Mary would fall to the first man who excited her. Monica would fall to the first man who excited and dominated her. I want to keep us together, for me and for them. I told you I love them, but it's more than that. Women need other women and we three have been together a long time. Having one man - sharing one husband, if you will - is the best way to keep us together. That Wednesday you came into our lives, I knew if we were to stay together, you were the man."
"Why?"
Becky laughed. "You should've seen Mary. She stared out the kitchen window with her mouth hanging open. 'Look at that hunk,' she said reverently. She trotted out to talk to you. When she returned, she went into the bedroom and masturbated. When she came out, she was dressed to seduce you."
"It worked," I said with a grin.
"Who seduced who?" she asked. Slowly that delightful, passive twinkle reappeared in her eyes. "You're a good man, Jack. Believe me, I want to do this, but it'll take time for me to give in all the way. Please be patient with me."
I didn't ask Becky if she'd have sex with Mary and Monica, but I did ask if she'd have my child and she agreed. Then she asked me a question.
"Are you going to do it, Jack?"
"My brain and heart are having the same battle yours are."
"It could be great for all of us, Jack. I'll help you get through it if you'll help me." Her eyes twinkled and that Mona Lisa smile appeared. She sat across my legs and put her arms around my neck. "What do you say, Jack? A home and kids. Warmth and coziness. Three women to love you, wait on you, warm your bed."
"Three women to have headaches and PMS," I quipped.
"I know it's going to be rough at times. I'll help you keep Mary and Monica in line."
"And who keeps you in line?"
"I'm the easy one because I want this to work more than anyone." She kissed me lovingly. "Please do it, Jack," she said.
***** I told Becky to join the others. After she left the room, I retrieved three pieces of stout nylon rope and stuck them in my rear pockets. They were sitting on the floor Indian style and whispering to each other when I rejoined them.
"So far, so good," I said. "But I want to ask this question one more time. Do each of you want this?"
"Yes, I do," Mary said firmly.
"Most definitely, Jack," Becky said.