. 11

Standard disclaimers.

First, a big thank you to riverboy for some sage and timely advice. The man can write; check out his stuff if you haven't already.

This is a story about sexual exploration and, open relationships. Open relationships can and do happily exist; but they are not for everyone. If you do not believe it is at all possible for open relationships to exist without damage to any and all involved parties, please do yourself a favor and don't waste your time reading this.

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Also, this story takes place in a world where STDs don't exist and only babies planned for and wanted do—in other words, a fantasy world. Any resemblance to real-life people is purely coincidental.

*****

Gwen tried to put her finger on the atmosphere around the breakfast table the next morning, nervous casual, maybe? She and Cricket were dressed the way they had been before the activities of the previous evening, a loose robe and short nightgown respectively. Only Tim was fully dressed, in jeans and a t-shirt and on his way up to the lake to help Bob find and repair an electrical short on his boat. She would have liked to be going with him to "supervise", as the Lady put it, given what she now knew about the couple after her conversation with Yvette that night in the restaurant parking lot. He's a big boy and you're a hypocrite, the Slut admonished. He'll be good while he's there even if you're not.

Cricket watched the couple from over the top of her coffee cup as he made his way out the door, sharing a kiss that was passionate rather than perfunctory. "It makes me feel good to see that," she said quietly as her friend rejoined her at the table.

Gwen looked up. "See what?"

"How much you two appreciate each other. It's sweet."

"It probably didn't look that way last night."

Cricket smiled down into her coffee. "Maybe more intense, but still sweet in its own interesting way," she allowed. "To tell you the truth, at first I thought he was a little angry when you went back to bed after you—well, after you were in my room."

Gwen smiled at the memory. Tim had definitely taken her aggressively the second time; a side of the normally mild-mannered man she especially liked to see come out. "I guess you heard, then."

"Heard and saw. Sorry, I couldn't help myself. You left your door open, and, well..." the young woman shrugged. "He wasn't angry, right? Just, umm, excited? I really don't want to be the cause of any trouble."

"You don't need to apologize—I could have shut the door. And no, he wasn't angry. You didn't cause any trouble, but, well, you might have been at least part of the reason for his, umm, enthusiasm after I went to bed."

"You mean, him wanting to see you and me...together?"

She nodded. "I guess you heard that, too. Sorry, that probably made you more than a little uncomfortable. He's got a very active imagination, but I'm sure it's just bedroom talk."

Cricket continued to look down into her cup. "I'll do it if you want," she finally offered.

Gwen looked up from her toast. "Do what?"

"You know...if he wants to see—us—I'm okay with that, but only if you are," she added hurriedly, the words spilling out. "I mean, I guess I owe him, you know, if I can watch you and him, then he should be able to watch you and me. Even though I haven't even really seen everything yet."

"You don't owe him! That's not the kind of thing you owe somebody. And what do you mean 'everything'? You've pretty much seen all we've got."

"Not all," Cricket replied with a weak smile, a deep blush developing, "I haven't seen his, umm," she lowered her voice, "erection."

"Oh." The older woman smiled. "I would have thought you had gotten pretty good look by now. So I guess that means you'd like to?"

"Sorry, I know it's weird, but well, yes...I've seen it, uhh, not erect, and I was wondering if it looks different the other way."

Gwen's smile remained. "Oh, it looks different, alright," she mused. "Almost cute and cuddly one minute, then all puffed up and dangerous looking the next." Her cellphone rang, and she rose to answer it in the living room. "That was Ali," she said when she returned a few moments later. "She's coming over to ride today, but won't be here for a couple of hours yet. I know you wanted to get an early start; if you want to head out on your own, I can wait for her here."

"No, I can wait," Cricket replied. "It's more fun riding with you—and Ali. I learn so much just watching you." What is it this week with the equestrian adulation, the Lady harrumphed, warning of the dangers of a swollen ego. "You relax, I'll do the barn chores while we wait," the young woman continued, rising from the table. "I'll go get dressed."

"I'll be out in a bit. I'm going back to bed for a little while..."

Cricket turned, a concerned look on her face. "Everything okay? Do you feel alright? Or do you just need some more sleep?"

It was Gwen's turn to flash a weak smile. "Umm, just something I want to take care of." Her satisfying of the young woman's need and then her husband's lust the night before had stirred her own desires despite her earlier orgasm. Her dreams, indistinct now in the light of day but no doubt very decadent in nature, had fanned her arousal. She had hoped Tim might ravish her again before they got out of bed this morning, but her signals had evidently been too subtle.

The young woman's confusion cleared. "Oh—ohhh," she replied. "I'll get out of your way so you can have some privacy, then." She hesitated. "I'd be glad to help you, if you want. But if you'd rather just be alone, I understand."

"I didn't want to impose," Gwen replied softly, "but if you don't mind helping, I'd really like that."

Cricket smiled broadly. "I'd love to!" She took the initiative and the older woman's hand, leading her down the hallway. "Your room?" she asked, looking over her shoulder.

"Bigger bed..."

"It is," Cricket quickly agreed. She turned and reached for the sash of her friend's robe as soon as they had passed through the door.

Gwen waited until the soft terrycloth had been pushed off her shoulders before reaching for the young woman's shirt and pulling it over her head. "I can understand why Tim wants a better look," she said, passing a hand down over the side of her breast to the turn of her hip. "You really are beautiful."

"He didn't say he wanted to see me," Cricket replied, averting her eyes. "He said he wanted to see us. How did he put it? Maybe learn some secret girl tricks? He'll probably be disappointed when he finds out I don't have any, but I know I've learned a lot from you so far, maybe you can show both of us some others he might like."

Gwen hugged her. "You don't have tricks, you have qualities," she told the naked women in her arms. "You're open-minded, and trusting, and very brave, qualities I wish I had had at your age."

Cricket hands found to her friend's bottom, hugging her tighter. "I was never any of those before I met you, and I know where I learned them. I can't wait to see what I learn next."

Gwen smiled. "Let's lie down. I've learned that's a good way to get comfortable."

The young woman giggled. "Me too. I used to think it was just for sleeping. Lay back. Let me take care of you for once." She gently nuzzled her friend's neck and ears, brushing her lips with her tongue before continuing on down, kissing her way down her neck. Gwen sighed distractedly, stroking the young woman's shoulder blade, her skin electrified by the light caresses making their way towards her breasts.

Cricket took her time, finally capturing one nipple, then the other, between her lips to gently swirl and flick them with her tongue. Her hands were busy as well, preparing the way for her kisses by smoothing and caressing the older woman's stomach, circling down towards the vee of the legs that had opened in invitation. Cricket brushed the soft thatch on her mons, delicately tracing lines in it, tickling, creeping ever closer to the folds beneath while lips and tongue followed behind.

So wet, the young woman thought as her finger collected the dew on her friend's outer lips. Her next pass pushed deeper between the slick folds. Kisses followed, leaving a trail from belly button to the top of her slit. Her tongue dipped to collect and taste what her finger had been spreading.

When she was younger, Cricket had overheard two young male stable hands cleaning out the stall next to hers talking in very graphic terms about their recent conquests, unaware she was right next to them. "My Momma always tole' me girls are made of sugar and spice, but the best part of that girl I fucked last night tasted like fish," one snickered to the other, getting a knowing laugh in return. She thought the remark incredibly crude, but just assumed it to be based in truth even if her own tentative self-explorations hadn't revealed anything out of the ordinary. She guessed maybe she had just become immune to it, and Daniel's absolute refusal to go anywhere near her sex with anything other his stubby penis had only strengthened her belief. Cricket had feared the worst when Gwen had first kissed her down there, surprised that her friend had not recoiled in disgust, and steeled herself to do the same no matter what her friend's was like.

To her surprise, the smell and taste of Gwen's sex had been very mild, that of a woman's, certainly, but exciting rather than offensive, not at all unlike her own. It had been that way every time since, warm, gently fragrant, and incredibly arousing. Gwen still smelled and tasted wonderful today, but something was just a little different—something undefinable in her scent, perhaps a trace of saltiness in the wetness her tongue withdrew. Her pulse quickened even more with the idea that perhaps just as Tim had caught a whiff of her very feminine perfume the night before, he had left his masculine musk for her to sample this morning.

"So nice," Gwen sighed. "Bring your legs up here. I want to kiss you, too." The two women lay together, each with a leg bent at the knee to open themselves, using their fingers, tongues and hands for the other's pleasure. The older woman finally rolled on to her back and reached for the nightstand drawer. "I think I'm ready for something filling." She pulled out the first dildo her hand found and passed it to the young woman. "Would you mind?" Gwen asked, spreading her legs further. Cricket smiled and gently lodged the bulbous head against her friend's engorged lips. The older woman applied the buzzing vibrator she held to her clit as the rubber cock split her open.

Her eventual orgasm was not explosive, just welcome and comforting and exactly what she needed. Her own lust satiated, she turned her attention to Cricket and helped her to climax soon after. They were dressed and in the barn with plenty of time to spare.

"I'll be ready to go in just a minute," Ali announced after arriving, giving them each a hug. "Just need to use the bathroom." She hurried down to the house while her mother and Cricket finished saddling the three horses.

Ali looked down the hallway past the open doorway of her parents' room and smiled at the state of their bed. It had been made this morning, as it always was, but the bodies that had laid on it after had disturbed her mother's always-meticulous work. Stepping closer, she could see the nightstand drawer had been only partially closed, the flared head of a dildo sticking out enough to prevent it from being shut all the way. Either Daddy got a show, she guessed with a smile, or Mom took matters into her own hands after he left. Either way, good for her! Doing it with a guest in the house, leaving a poorly made bed and carelessly stored sex toys, Gwendolyn Nelson was becoming a wild woman! Better late than never...

The trio rode a long ways in the heat that had returned after the spell of cool weather, stopping several times to rest the horses or eat the lunches they had packed. All were looking forward to a good cooldown when they returned, the humans taking care of their mounts before tending to their own needs.

"Swim?" Alison asked the others as she hoisted her saddle on to a sawhorse.

"I think that would be a good idea," Gwen replied, pulling her sweat-soaked shirt away from her skin.

"When's Daddy going to be home?"

"Probably not until dinner. I can't imagine him giving up any time on the lake." Or extracurricular activities, the Lady added with malevolence.

"We'll need some towels and some drinks," Alison said, a mischievous smile spreading across her face. "Do we need suits?"

"I'm guessing you think we don't?" Alison just shrugged and continued to grin. "Cricket, don't feel pressured—if you'd rather wear one, you're more than welcome to," Gwen said softly.

Her young friend blushed crimson. "Well, I'm not if you're not,...just us girls, right? Besides, I didn't bring one anyways."

The women collected the necessary items and headed up to the pool before shedding clothes, Gwen just a bit slower than her daughter, Cricket hanging back until the others were stripped to the waist.

Cricket couldn't resist a look after Alison stood up from where she had sat to kick off her boots and jeans. Just a shade taller than her mother, slightly bigger breasts capped with look-alike nipples, fuller hips and waist giving her a figure just a bit more curvy. A bare cleft protruded proudly from between her legs, smooth lips beginning just below an equally bare mons.

"Interesting hairstyle," Gwen deadpanned, pulling her leg out of her riding breeches. Alison had been sporting neatly trimmed pubic hair that first time she had chosen to omit a bathing suit in her mother's presence. Of course, her daughter had been clean-shaven in many the pictures she had seen on her computer...

It took Alison a second to understand her mother was not referring to her loosely-tied ponytail. "Oh—yeah. Thought I'd try something different. Sorry," she mumbled, cheeks flaming as she turned sideways to minimize the view.

"You don't have to apologize," Gwen said with a gentle laugh. "You've been picking your own hairstyles since you were twelve. Remember that time when you were six and tried to cut your own hair?"

"Well, yeah, but this is different..."

Gwen rose and took a sip of her drink. "It's your pussy," she said looking over her shoulder at the shocked young woman. "It's your choice what you do with it. Well, yours and Jason's, I suppose."

Oh my God! Alison screamed to herself. My mother is talking about my pussy! Not only talking about it, she actually straight out called it a pussy!

"Does he like it?"

The young woman shook from her stupor. "Huh?"

"Jason. Your husband? Does he, umm, approve of your hairstyle?"

"Oh, yeah. He likes it, at least he acts like he likes it," Alison babbled. She was on the defensive, taken off guard by her own mother, struggling to regain her mental balance. "You look like you trimmed yours, too?"

Gwen set down her drink and walked to the edge of the pool. "I neaten it up from time to time."

"And does Daddy approve?"

Her mother didn't look back. "He acts like he likes it," she said, then knifed into the sparkling water.

Cricket listened to the back in forth with a mixture of amusement and disbelief. Mother and daughter talking about their pubic hair with the casualness of discussing perms versus bobs. She sobered a bit wondering if Alison would be so casual if she knew other fingers and lips had been in that neatly trimmed thatch just a short time ago.

**

Cricket had already left when Tim returned home, his wife and daughter at the kitchen table when he came through the door. They sat and shared a light dinner together, Alison finally departing near dusk.

"Did you have a good time up at the lake?" Gwen asked quietly as she finished cleaning up.

"Yeah," Tim replied. "Took us a while to find the short, but finally did. Spent part of the afternoon tooling around the lake making sure that it stayed fixed."

"Just you and Bob?"

"Nah, Yvette hopped on when she heard us fire it up. She says hi."

Gwen couldn't resist. "Did you stop at the beach?"

Tim laughed nervously. "Nope. Wouldn't have been the same without you. Yvette did spend a little time topless while we cruised around, though," he admitted truthfully.

"And Bob?"

"He was topless too. But he kept his shorts on, and she kept her bottoms on," he quickly assured her. What little there was.

Gwen arched her eyebrows. "And you?"

"Jeans and t-shirt, I swear. Scouts honor."

"You must have been hot."

"A little bit, yeah."

"You could have taken off your shirt, you know," she said, the Slut strong-arming her into a gracious and understanding reply. "And your jeans too, if you had wanted. You were wearing underwear, right?" She smiled at him.

"Oh yeah, absolutely. See?" He turned and pulled on the waistband of his boxers, bringing them above his belt enough to give himself a mini-wedgie.

"I don't think a little underwear would have offended Yvette, especially since she's already seen all of you. Bob didn't mind that you saw her like that?"

Bob definitely didn't mind, Tim thought to himself. The man certainly had no problem with his wife being on display. They had been in the cockpit of the craft while Yvette lay on the foredeck sunning herself, naked save for the thong that barely concealed her labial lips. "Man I could stare at that all day," Bob said conspiratorially, nodding at the nearly-naked woman forward while leaning over to be heard. "You a breast guy, Tim?"

"I'm a guy, so yeah."

"They're nice, huh?" Bob elaborated upon Tim's confused look. "Yvette's?"

Tim took a swig of beer. "Yeah, they really are," he agreed, unsure where this was going.

"Rest of her is nice, too, Plus she's smart and funny and puts up with me...I married outta my league with her. If you don't mind me sayin' so, Gwen's a real looker, too. She's got a nice pair," the man at the wheel continued. "Pert as all hell, even after two kids, cute little nipples... must be fun to play with."

This was a first—Charlie used to try and get more details about the body hiding under Gwen's modest clothes, but Tim had never thought it wise to talk about his wife that way, and to be honest, he hadn't seen enough to consider himself an expert back then. Things change, he thought, and found himself agreeing with the boat's owner. "They are. Not as big as Yvette's but still..."

"Size ain't everything," Bob mused. "Just getting a look is a big part of the thrill for me."

"No, I think he was good with it," he told Gwen, cutting short is daydreaming. "I just wasn't sure how you'd feel about it."

"Like I said, she's seen you before," Gwen said with the casualness the Slut thought she should exhibit if not actually feel given her own perverse behavior over the past year. Their conversation switched to more mundane matters as they relaxed in front of the TV before bed.

"Do you think Bob wanted you to see Yvette topless?" Gwen asked as she lay tucked under his arm in the gloom of the darkened bedroom later.

"Yeah, I guess, probably," he answered slowly. Long years of experience advised caution.

"Did you like looking at her?"

"No guy will ever turn down a chance to look at a woman's boobs," Tim adroitly deflected. Honesty with restraint was the correct path here. "We're just wired that way."

"I'm sure, but did you like hers? They're bigger than mine..."

"Size ain't everything," he said with a chuckle, parroting Bob's words. "Yours fit you perfectly, and besides, I get to do this every once in a while," he added, playfully squeezing a mound. "Why are you asking? Ain't I showin' yours enough love and admiration?"

"I know you like mine, it's just that guys seem to like them bigger, and hers are bigger" she continued. "You know, Yvette told me that she, uhh, did that for Bob on the beach that day because he likes to show off a little, and that people go to that beach to do that. Do you think he makes show her off, too? That he made her show off for you?"