Sheila guides Paula and invites her to join her club. The fourth in this series about Paula's Discoveries.
As the weeks of early spring in the Midwest turned toward summer, the new neighbors had developed into solid friends. Spontaneous dinners, "Happy Hour" and help with mutual projects, both couples settled into a comfortable friendship.
For the guys, the shared interest in classic cars made a natural connection and the constant maintenance and tinkering, as well as work on Hunter's "'57" put them together for many happy hours. Weekend works sessions targeted the upcoming car show season and both guys appreciated having a friend to share with. The ladies had dutifully gone along for years but the promise of an interested accomplice was welcome to the guys and the ladies were happy to be relieved of this tedious duty.
Paula and Sheila enjoyed their time together. Paula had set aside her interests for career and raising her two kids but could now look forward to time to re-ignite her passion for gardening. She was enjoying making her plans for the growing season as soon as the weather turned just a bit warmer.
Sheila was an accomplished photographer and seemed to enjoy portrait and what she called "figure" photography the most. She had shared some of her work and Paula knew right away that she was very good at her hobby and could have easily become a professional. When asked, Sheila said she would rather have it as something she could do when inspired, not when she had to. She followed that with an interesting comment that she also liked to choose her subjects rather than having them choose her.
Paula enjoyed Sheila's zest and seemingly carefree attitude; a welcome change from the intensity of her legal career. Paula found herself looking for excuses to "go next door" until Sheila pointed out that she didn't need an excuse. Sheila was ready at a moment's notice with a glass of wine and endless chat.
The wine may have been the catalyst for the girl talk that began to become more prevalent in their time alone and Paula enjoyed Sheila's uninhibited attitude. This was the first time since her college days that she could share intimate stories and now laugh with the experiences that mature women have accumulated.
And Sheila seemed to have accumulated her fair share....
During one multiple glass session Paula found herself sharing a little about their trip earlier in the year (just the part about the admirers on the beach). Sheila listened intently and surprised Paula with some of her questions. Sheila laughed with Paula but was not shocked and seemed most interested in asking Paula how she felt during and after the encounters. By having to answer these types of questions Paula found herself feeling validated and empowered and it helped open up further.
Sheila had her own stories but Paula got the sense that she only shared details that were in line with Paula's experiences and there was maybe much more. Paula began to turn the conversation to the subject more often in hopes that Sheila would tell her more.
Paula didn't realize it but she was embracing a new awakening in her sensuality.
Sheila had shared details of her relationship with Hunter and considered him a good lover. After a particularly open conversation, Sheila mentioned that Hunter was well-endowed and although (as Sheila admitted) she had had larger, she was still pleased with Hunter's size and capability. Paula surprised herself by describing Tom's shape and size and his prowess, particular his oral skills which seemed to pique Sheila's interest. Sheila mentioned that Hunter was not "orally inclined"...at least not with giving. After that Paula found herself stealing glances at Hunter and looked forward to the summer when their pools would be open and available.
Paula noticed that Sheila had an almost endless supply of racy stories about her girlfriends in Chicago and as time went on Sheila shared enough stories and pictures that Paula almost felt like they were her friends too.
There was Jane, Sheila's college roommate who was tall, slender and bookish but had managed some interesting sexual exploits with both men and women. She was unmarried and lived in a high-rise on the lake. A sought-after interior decorator.
There was Marge, a few years younger than Sheila, in commercial real estate and married to an airline pilot who travelled often internationally. Sheila described a few of the techniques she had used to close some high profile deals combining a natural business sense with a winning smile, short skirts and as Sheila described...no gag reflex.
Anne was in her early-sixties and owned several clothing boutiques. The effort began as a way for her investment banker husband to occupy her during his long hours after their kids were out of the house but her flair for fashion and business sense surprised everyone except her as the shops took off. Anne's new-found success carried over to all aspects of her life and she was almost fearless in business and extra-marital relations.
The most interesting character was Penny. Penny joined the group as a regular customer to Anne's shops. She was in her early-sixties at the time but maintained her figure and good looks through exercise and diet. Penny said she self-identified as a 35 year old and was not afraid to dress like one. Unlike many women her age she could pull it off without notice except for her very generous bust. Anne was always on the look-out for outfits she knew Penny would enjoy....and fit into. In almost every story, Penny was the instigator, prime suspect, facilitator or any combination thereof. Now in her early 70's she kept up easily with her young friends and although madly in love with her older, wealthy husband, his health kept him at home and she went out to her adventures with his complete knowledge and blessing.
There were others who joined in and played bit parts in Sheila's stories. Usually because of some misadventure on their part but the core group seemed to stay together regularly. Over time Sheila began to simply refer to the group as "The Club."
Paula enjoyed seeing Sheila's photographic work. She had a natural "eye" and the subjects varied from family memories to beautiful close-ups of nature's beauty. Over time Sheila also shared some of her portraits. She enjoyed doing "boudoir" sets for her girlfriends and she offered more than once to do a set for Paula. She mentioned that guys love it as a gift.
There were also some sittings of nude younger men. Paula was a little surprised at first but Sheila explained that she took a course in Chicago and that the instructors arranged for good-looking models, usually in their twenties, aspiring models, actors or just college students looking for some extra money.
After one leisurely Saturday afternoon, Sheila pulled up a new file on her laptop of one young man. Paula guessed perhaps mid-twenties and very good-looking. Classic, almost Greek statue physique, not the overdone weight-lifter bodies that some women found appealing. After enjoying several subtle, back and over the shoulder poses which Paula enjoyed immensely due to the chiseled butt of the young man, Sheila explained that her subject, Shane, was actually a young associate at the real estate firm she worked with in Chicago. He commented several times on some of the photos Sheila displayed on her office wall and Sheila offered to take some shots for him. Not surprising, Marge got into the mix and soon offered the use of her home for the shoot, obviously she would need to be there.
