Author's Note: I know I say this frequently, but it bears repeating and can't be said enough, I really appreciate the insight and feedback I get. You are really astute readers, who understand the characters and see things that sometimes I don't. I really enjoy that and take it to heart. It makes the characters richer. Thanks.
* * *
"I want to come with you," Kat said.
"I'd love that," I responded.
"These are the kind of games I like to play," Kat said. She kissed me one more time before getting up from bed. "Crystal is finding her true self. We are going to unlock every ounce of potential."
"She mentioned leaving her husband when I talked to her the other day," I said.
"She's already left him mentally," Kat said. "She only has to take care of the physical formalities."
"You know, if you're with me today," I said, "you could show her your nipple rings. I want Crystal to get hers pierced next. I bet you could convince her."
"Do you want to do it today?" Kat asked, pulling on a pair of yoga pants and a sports bra.
"Why not?" I said.
We went to the patio to smoke a morning bowl from the hookah. Jess and Rita played tennis on the court out back. Rita had made a point to play a game with Jess almost every day.
"You look so sexy when you smoke," I told Kat as she put aside the hose and exhaled her first hit in a long, thin stream.
"I love you," Kat said seriously. "I really love you. The real you."
"I love you, too," I said.
"I mean it, John," she said. "I let jealousy get the best of me. Maybe your judgment wasn't the best. But it's a turn on when you play. I like how you're just like me. You get lost in the moment. You can let lust take you over completely, and you act on it, and it's so fucking sexy. But I've learned that, for me, it's sexier when I know and when I can watch or participate or at least visualize what's happening. I know you know what I'm saying."
"I do," I said, nodding vigorously. "We've come to the same place. We are like carbon copies, Kitty Kat. I'm not going to do anything you don't know about."
"I trust you completely to do anything you want," Kat said, "literally anything. As long as it's not a secret from me. Secrets just aren't okay. And you know how much I love them."
"I know, Kitty Kat," I said. "No secrets. It's more fun if we do it together. We can have secrets. As long as they're our secrets."
We had created quite a plume of acrid marijuana smoke around us when Jess and Rita walked over from the tennis court.
"Good game, girls," I said approvingly.
"I don't know about that," Jess said, pulling the sweat band off her head. "I'm still learning. And I think I may still prefer the post-game shower with Rita more than the game itself."
"Well, I'm still a novice at eating pussy, so I'll take that as a compliment," Rita said with a laugh.
"You're fantastic," Jess said and gave Rita a lingering kiss. "But why don't we go practice some more. I'm so gross in this humidity."
"Kat and I were going to see Crystal at the Hooker House in a few," I said. "I'm thinking today could be nipple piercing day."
"I was going to show her mine," Kat said. "Do you want us to wait so you both can come with us?"
Jess pawed at Rita's tits and said, "I think we're going to be a while. You can go ahead. Let me know how it goes."
Jess and Rita gave Kat and me kisses before disappearing inside. Kat and I smoked another bowl before Crystal texted me to say she was on her way to the Hooker House. But then I got an idea.
"Come to my place," I texted back. "We can all go to the Hooker House together."
"What's your idea?" Kat asked when I told her.
"If we're riding together, it's easier to take her where we want after," I said. "And if she's not driving, we can get her more fucked up. Don't you think it would be fun if Crystal spent the night here?"
"Oh, that's a good plan," Kat said. "You can really drive that wedge between her and her husband if she's staying out all night."
"Exactly," I said with a grin.
Crystal arrived twenty minutes later. She rang the doorbell and stood at the front door chewing gum and smiling at nothing in particular. Her dimples looked as cute as ever, and her dirty blonde hair was tied into a simple braid. She looked delectable in a green-and-white summer dress. Kat answered the door and greeted Crystal with a hug and smile.
"You look amazing!" she gushed.
"Really? You think so?" Crystal said innocently.
"Absolutely amazing," I agreed, giving her a hello kiss.
"Are we ready to go?" Kat said.
"Is Jess coming?" Crystal asked.
"She's actually busy with Rita right now, sweetie," Kat said.
Crystal's eyes grew wide.
"Like, busy? Are you serious?" Crystal said.
Kat laughed. "Yes, sweetie," she said. "That kind of busy."
"That's really hot," she said.
Kat and I glanced at each other with knowing smiles. That was not the response we expected. Crystal really was developing into something special.
"Do you want a line before we go?" Kat said. "John and I actually just smoked some weed."
"I actually just had a couple bumps before I came inside," Crystal said.
She reached in her purse and proudly held up her personalized coke bullet. Kat and I smiled at each other again. This day was shaping up beautifully.
We piled into the G-Wagon and arrived at the Hooker House ten minutes later. It was quiet inside, which wasn't entirely surprising for ten o'clock on a Saturday morning in August. Alix and Nicole sat on the patio, sharing a morning joint.
"Wake and bake, girls," I said jokingly.
Alix smiled and blew a hit toward me.
"Hey, stud," she said. "Hi Kat, hi Crystal."
Kat walked toward Alix and gave her a hug from behind, then did the same to Nicole.
"Do you want a hit?" Nicole asked, offering Kat the joint.
"We just smoked before we came over," Kat said. "I was thinking it was time for a line."
"I'll try it," Crystal volunteered. "I've never smoked pot before."
"Here," Alix said, "sit by me. I'll show you. It's just like smoking a cigarette."
Crystal sat down as Alix mentored her for another new thing.
"A line sounds so good," Nicole said. "Do you mind if I join you?"
"Be my guest," Kat said.
I held open the door for the girls and followed them inside. Crystal coughed behind us on her first toke.
"Daddy, you should go first," Kat said to me. "You should give Crystal one of your good, hard coke fucks today."
She took charge of the coke setup and swiftly cut six moderate lines. I realized that Nicole also wore yoga pants and a sports bra. She and Kat looked really good standing together. I stepped up to the tray and snorted two lines. I saw Crystal laughing with Alix outside, already holding the joint like a pro. She saw me looking at her through the window and smiled.