Jen started to squirm against me the way she does when she's starting to wake up. I squeezed her just a bit harder and rubbed my bristles against her back making her squeak and squirm the harder, but changing to a purr when I offered to get up and make us some coffee. By the time I got back she was sitting up and looking at the day that was unfolding outside the window.
"It's a beautiful day out there."
"It is indeed. And don't we have a lot of coffee - entire pots that we don't even drink."
She looked quizzical for a second and then the penny dropped. "Oh that. Yes, well, poor Serge was having a problem fitting into his pants and so I had to undo the fly to relieve the pressure, and then his cock was looking so lost in a cold harsh world that I had to take it into my mouth to keep it warm."
"He certainly looked pretty warm by the time we got there."
"I'm very hospitable."
I laughed and kissed her, handing over her cup. "You certainly are, love; you're looking after two men with style and aplomb."
"I am, aren't I?" She grew thoughtful for a while and said "It must be this place, maybe it's something in the water but it feels so natural and easy - like it's something that we're just flowing into. I mean, I can't believe that we are lying in bed talking about me having sex with another man."
"Hmmm, not quite that easy. Serge and I were talking last night after you two crashed and he's feeling a bit conflicted. He was basically saying that his wife of ten years is suddenly not the woman he thought she was - certainly the woman he knew wouldn't have actually kissed me, messing around yes but not the real thing, you know? And he's got a point, it had me tossing and turning last night; we are all being changed by this and change can be a frightening thing."
"That's true. She watched the world outside for a time, slowly sipping her coffee and said "but that's always true, isn't it? People change and grow throughout their lives ... otherwise things would be pretty grim - you would have 50 year old men behaving like 21 year old bozos and mothers who just want to party and forget looking after their kids. I think the problem is that when you're in a relationship, any change upsets the status quo and that can be threatening."
"Like when one partner decides to get fit and gives up the wine and cheese every night?"
She looked at me through slitted eyes. "Just like that."
"Well, this is certainly something we are doing together, even though I can't figure out if we are changing or else this is something that we have secretly always wanted to do."
"Meaning you're wondering if I've always had this as a secret desire?"
"Now that you're asking."
"Well ... of course there are men out there that I've drooled over since we've been together, but they're just idle fantasies. You know we've both been 'round the block, and you know how those shiny glossy people all have some not so shiny and pretty damn smelly problems just under the surface, so I'm not tempted by some handsome face in a suit. And the thought of some sort of casual thing ... been there, done that; I'll pass on the T shirt, thank you. But this is different, isn't it? I wasn't expecting this and I definitely wasn't planning it either. Were you?"
"No way."
"No indeed. I think that for me it's not that different from some of the friends we already have. I mean, we are already very intimate with Brett and Angela - Angela is my best friend after all - it's just that we're not sexual with them."
"You mean we friend zoned our friends?"
She snorted "Yep, 'fraid so."
"So are you saying that this is a step in our evolution?"
"Maybe it is; personal growth times two." She turned and looked at me, her eyes soft. "But I need you to know that our sex life is steaming and the love we share just fills me with joy and wonder. And I'm not going anywhere unless you are with me."
"Me too. I love you, babe."
"Don't call me babe, babe."
"Sorry, babe."
Lunch that day was at a restaurant on a wharf with stunning views over the harbour, but poor Serge was looking decidedly wilted and worst for wear. Jen looked over at him sagging into his seafood and put her hand to his cheek. "Are you OK there sweetheart? If you sag any more, I think those little octopi will win the bout."
Serge grunted and kissed her palm as he chased one particularly active food item around his plate. "You snore. And you're really mean about the doona. And it's hard to coordinate three people in the bed ... why did I have to sleep in the middle?"
We observed our customary moment of silence for our fallen comrade and the hardships that he was constantly forced to endure. Jen kissed him sweetly and rubbed his earlobes and temples. "My poor darling. Don't fret, you just finish up your lunch like a good boy and I will take you up to our room for a nap; it's warm enough now that you won't even need a doona and I will try very hard not to snore too much ... well, maybe just a little so you know I'm there. What do you think, sound good?"
"Sounds wonderful, that's very kind of you."
"Not that kind. It's hard work keeping you up all night, a girl needs her beauty sleep."
"You don't, you're too beautiful already."
Jen's eyes whirled like kaleidoscopes. "Why thank you, last of the true gentlemen."
"The pleasure's mine, sweetheart."
We chatted and basked in the warm breeze as we finished lunch and, true to her word, Jen took Serge by the hand and led him off with a smile and a kiss goodbye to Mary and I. Mary looked at me over the rim of her coffee and raised an eyebrow. "Did you imagine this as you were planning the holiday?"
"Funny you should say that, Serge and I had this conversation last night."
"Thought you might. He was pretty quiet this morning and I figured that he wasn't pondering the commodity price of oranges. Can I ask what you talked about?"