All characters are over 18. All characters events and places are fictional. This is a work of fiction.
Christmas Gifts
As our tradition had evolved, this Christmas found us, my love Niki and I, Rik, resting on the couches in Mal and Susan's living room. Our simple tradition was to gather and share a dinner together, usually the weekend before Christmas. It had become more and more something we must do as time had moved on. We had shared most of our lives together, camping, boating, vacations and more. I had known Malin nearly all my life. Our wives had become fast friends and when we met Patrick or Pat as we called him and Calista or Cali, it was like we had known them forever too. This year marked our seventh year we had done everything together and the eighth anniversary that the tree couples had met for our Christmas feast.
Dinner was over. Everything was cleaned up. The wine was poured. The fire was bright and warm in the fireplace lighting the room. The multi colored lights on the tree and other decorations added festive accents to the otherwise flickering romantic atmosphere. Three cozy couples sipped wine in silence. It was Pat who finally broke that silence.
"This is practically perfect!" He said.
"I have to agree with Pat." Niki cuddled in a little closer. "This is practically perfect!"
I concurred.
We all watched the fire dance for a moment until Mal almost in a whisper said, "Well, almost perfect..."
He seemed to trail off in his thoughts as he sipped his wine. Susan sat a little straighter reaching for her glass and smiled a winked at him. I could not let the "Well, almost" comment pass unnoticed.
"What do you mean, well almost, Mal? There's a warm fire, snow falling at the window, a few candles and lights are off. It's romantic. We are here with our beautiful wives and among our closest friends. What could make this more perfect?"
"Well..." Mal started but Susan's eyes caught his gaze. They shared a long look until Susan took another long sip of her wine, Mal continued. "If it were perfect, I would have already removed Susan's clothes."
Susan closed her eyes and slowly shook her head.
"Well, I would have." Mal looked at her matter of factly.
"I know." Susan blushed and buried her head in his shoulder.
"I think that sounds even more perfect, romantic and so wonderful!" Cali said dreamily. She was looking back and forth between Susan and Niki.
"I'd join you." Almost in a whisper Niki added her head still on my shoulder.
"Really?!" Susan looked directly at Niki. And again she said, "Really..."
"Well, I'm just saying..." Niki raised her head but was cut off by Cali.
"I'd join you too, Suz." Cali had perked up as she joined in.
The other two men were probably thinking what I was, that things really could get better! But like me, were afraid to say a word. Wisely we let the women take the conversation. This would be their idea. But our smiles were giving us away and Niki noticed.
"They must think it is a good idea. Look at those smiles!" Niki looked at each of us and led the gaze of the other woman to do the same. I started to say something but Niki gave me a soft "shhhh".
"I'd be too, well shy, embarrassed." Susan had cuddled in closer to Mal, his arm wrapped around her.
"You have nothing to be embarrassed of, your gorgeous girl!" Cali was serious and she was right. These three women were beautiful and looked amazing all the time.
"I don't know, it's, it's ... Susan hesitated.
"Really, I'd join you." Niki didn't hesitate and neither did Cali.
"Suz, were all friends, it seems somehow right. I can't explain it, so yes I'd join you too, really!" Cali had also sat up but took a long sip of her wine as she peered out at us over her class.
Again Susan started with, "It's, well, things like this can ruin friendships and I would never do anything to hurt or make any of you jealous or even the least bit uncomfortable. I just wouldn't."
"No jealousy here Susan. It seems natural to cuddle with our hubbies here and I think we are all perfectly comfortable with each other." I felt Niki's poke as she finished, my cue to say something.
I was the first man in the group to speak, "No jealousy here, just good friends becoming closer, sharing beauty. If Niki is comfortable and this stays with us, I am ok with it too, no jealousy."
Cali rose and filled our glasses as she went from person to person we all agreed there was no jealousy and we're all comfortable and even a little excited. She filled Susan's glass last.