The memory of that evening, more than twenty years ago now, remains lodged in the deep recesses of my brain, probably permanently. In the immediate aftermath it completely took over my masturbation fantasies. I had only to close my eyes and picture Alice in all her lascivious openness and my cock would spring to life, demanding the attention of my hand. Of course, as other women came into my life, especially after my marriage to Selena, a sense of proportion ensued. Alice wasn't forgotten; the experience was still recalled just as fondly but at increasingly longer intervals. Until now. Now I have to make a decision and the only guide I have is the recollection of that night with Alice and her husband.
Perhaps I should start at the beginning.
I was a student in my third year at University. Having come from a family who had made enough sacrifices for my benefit, I took a part-time job at one of the city's major hotels. After a stint washing up in the kitchen, I was offered the chance to serve in the bar - pleasanter and more lucrative. The four-till-midnight shift on Saturday was hard work, but Sunday's eleven-till-seven was quite relaxing once the lunchtime crowd had departed.
Alice and her husband were Sunday regulars. I'm ashamed to say I've forgotten their surname - MacArthur, McAndrew maybe, I just can't remember. Everyone, including his wife, simply called him Mac. Mac was a building contractor, a self-made man who had built up a substantial business in the area. He could be a bit arrogant, noisy when he was buying a round for his Sunday circle, but I could stand that from a generous tipper. Alice, moving effortlessly towards attractive middle age, was quiet, always courteous on the few occasions that we spoke.
It was shortly after four o'clock one Sunday afternoon when Mac, having left a couple of hours earlier with Alice, returned alone. I was mildly surprised, never having seen him at this time on his own. He came and sat at the bar and ordered a large scotch and soda. When I put it in front of him, he clearly wanted to talk but first he looked round as though to see who else was present. The bar was empty.
Our conversation began conventionally, mere idle small talk. Then, after looking round again and lowering his voice, he asked me about myself. When I told him about my studies he asked if I would be interested in earning "a bit extra." Not being anxious to exchange a four-star hotel for a builder's office, I enquired what he had in mind.
Mac made another surreptitious survey of the bar, paused as though trying to decide how to proceed, then said, "My wife - Alice. You've seen her here with me?"
I said I had.
Mac gulped down the scotch and asked for another. Then he said, "Would you sleep with her?" As far as I can remember, I hadn't been able to frame a response before Mac went on to outline his proposal. It was Alice's fortieth birthday and he wanted something special as a present. I was to be the something special. Since they were married she had never had sex with anyone else but now he thought she was ready for it. If I was.
"Of course," he added, almost as an afterthought, "I'd make it worth your while. A hundred pounds, say?"
He seemed to take my bemused silence as a rejection. "A hundred and fifty?"
What was going on in my head while I stayed tongue-tied? Would I like to fuck an attractive forty-year-old? Why not? Would I like to be paid for it? Certainly. At last I came to my senses, realising that if I didn't say something soon he might assume I was offended and back away.
"I'd be pleased to see if I can help," I said. It sounded ludicrously formal but Mac seemed satisfied. In an instant he became his normal forthright self. "Good. We'll call it settled. What time do you finish here?"
"Just after seven."
"I'll be waiting for you outside." As he walked away I realised that he hadn't paid for his drinks. Rather than call him back, I put the money in the till myself. I figured I could take it out of my proposed night's earnings.
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Mac was standing at the staff door when I left. "Haven't changed your mind?" was his immediate greeting. I shook my head. "Good. I've left the car a bit away. We can have a chat while we're on the way."
"Sure. What can I tell you?"
"I take it you've had some experience?"
Not with women nearly twice my age, but I wasn't a virgin. Far from it. For a virile young man there were willing female undergraduates with urges of their own to satisfy. "Yes," I said, trying to sound assured. Then, feeling it was time I took the initiative, "Your wife - "
"Alice won't disappoint you. Anything you want - she'll do it. She's what they call a submissive." We walked on in silence for a moment. When I made no comment, he added, "Don't look down on her for that. If you met her out you'd never know. It's only when it comes to sex. It's the way she gets her - her pleasure. She likes being told what to do. Can you understand that?"
Although this was a whole new world to me, I said I thought I could.
"It's taken me a long time to understand everything she needs but we've got it worked out now. That's how I knew she would agree when I suggested getting someone else involved. I could have done it before but somehow forty seemed just the right age to take her a step further."
I could hardly believe that someone I knew only from serving him drinks across a bar should be so frank about his sex life. And, as far as my personal experience went, a pretty unconventional sex life at that. But there was one question nagging at the back of my mind. "When we - when Alice and I ..." I was floundering for an appropriate phrase. "Look", said Mac, coming to my rescue, "you can deal with her how you like. I promise you, she'll agree to whatever. If she seems a bit reluctant, that's all part of it. She'll do it. Anything you want. Only, don't rush it. This is a very special thing for both of us and - well, we both want to enjoy it."
This almost answered the question I hadn't asked but I put it to him anyway. "Does that mean you want to be involved as well?"