Kelsey woke early Monday morning. It was the first day of her new job, and she wanted to have plenty of time to get ready. She was looking forward to the new challenge, working with her father at his advertising company. Bobby's friend Albert was his partner at the small firm, but they had more work than they could handle and Kelsey's commercial art degree made her the perfect person to hire.
She and Sharron converged on the coffee maker at the same time, eager for their morning fix. Sharon filled it with water while Kelsey scooped in the aromatic ground beans.
"I love how easy you fit in around here," Kelsey said, admiring Sharron's nakidity.
"It wasn't hard," Sharron said. "I've always been pretty good at going with the flow. I gotta admit, going without clothes is kind of awesome."
"I know, right?" Kelsey said.
She split a bagel and put it in the toaster. Sharron scooped some fresh cut fruit into a bowl. She tucked into it at the table while they waited for the coffee.
"I called Happy last night," Sharron said, smiling as she forked a piece of melon into her mouth.
Kelsey smiled. "Was it good," she asked, looking like she already knew.
"We talked for an hour and a half," Sharron said, smiling some more. "I'm not gonna get carried away, though. I'm still married, for another couple months or so, but it'll be nice to have a male friend."
"A friend with benefits," Kelsey said. "They're awesome."
"Yeah," Sharron said. "I didn't think I was young enough for that kind of thing, but it's kinda great."
"Nice," Kelsey said, nodding. "I knew you guys'd be good together."
Kay and Bobby wandered in just as the coffee was ready. For the first time, Sharron didn't even glance at the cock swaying between Bobby's legs. She'd gotten thoroughly used to it.
"Sharron's got a boy-frieeend," Kelsey teased, the way little girls do.
"I know, Honey, isn't it nice?" Kay said.
"What did I miss?" Bobby asked.
"Sharron, Honey. She's got a date with Happy," Kay said.
"Oh, great!" Bobby said. "I don't wanna be a downer or anything, but you might want to keep it private until the divorce goes through."
"Yeah, we already talked about that," Sharron said. "I'm going to his place."
"Perfect," Bobby said. "He seems like a great guy."
"What do you think about Koop and Barbara?" Kelsey asked. "Do you think he's her type?"
"Did you decide to be a matchmaker now, Honey?" Kay asked.
"No, it's just a thought," Kelsey said.
A few minutes later, Kelsey was at the counter refilling her mug. "Tell me about the hooks and stuff in the blue room," she said.
"What do you want to know, Honey?" Kay said.
"Was that for you guys, or other people?"
"Well, there was a couple who used to come around, way back before you were watching us. They got some of us to try a little bit of bondage. There was some interest, so your father and Albert installed the hangers and we bought a few things. That couple drifted away from us and we've all sort of lost interest I guess. Do you enjoy that kind of thing, Honey?"
"Not especially. I did that one tied-up scene at Tucker's, but that's it so far. I know somebody that might like it."
"Oh. Well, it's all there," Kay said. "The hooks are good and strong. We've got cuffs and leather lashings and some buckle-on strappy things. There's some whips and things too, and of course the big swing. I'd have to dig it all out."
"Have you used that stuff?" Kelsey asked.
"We did, back in those days. It's been years. I liked it some. You father liked it. I think a lot men like to tie up their women and fuck 'em silly."
Kelsey giggled.
"It goes both ways," Bobby said. "There's women who like to be tied up, and there's men who like to be tied up."
Both he and Kay were curious about which of Kelsey's friends might be into all that, but they didn't ask. Kay didn't tell about the time she was hung by her wrists and ankles on the swing and gang-banged by six men and five women. It was one of her most cherished memories, but she wasn't sure if Kelsey and Sharron were ready to hear about it.
—
"Hi Barbara!" Kelsey said.
"Oh, hi Kelsey. Didn't Austin text you? His shift got changed. He's on 'till nine."
"Oh, shoot! Oh well. Tell him I stopped, will you?"
"Sure. How did your first day go? Would you like a glass of wine or something?" Sharron asked.
"Sure, that'd be awesome!"
Kelsey stepped into the living room of the small house, taking in some more details that she missed the previous time.
"So? How was it?"
"Oh! It was so good! Daddy and Uncle...I mean, Albert, were so nice. They got me started on a project, doing a digital painting of ballet dancers. It's gonna be so cool. For the side of a bus, you know?"
"That sounds fun!" Barbara said. She walked Kelsey into the kitchen, took two glasses from the cupboard and poured some wine. "I was never creative. I envy people with that gene."
Back in the living room, Kelsey went right to the bookshelf with the family pictures. She picked up the one she'd seen the other day of Austin, bare chested, with the fish in his hands.
"Austin told me about your vacations. I was always jealous of my friends who did that kind of thing. New Hampshire, was it?"
"Yes. Near Wolfeboro. We went for quite a few years."
"I think it's so cool that Austin lost his virginity there. It's like something somebody'd write in a fantasy."
Kelsey was well aware that Barbara might not be comfortable with the subject. She liked pushing the envelope, and thought it might be a good way to get Barbara to loosen up and talk about sex a little.
"He told you?" Barbara asked, sounding surprised.
"Yeah. Mrs...Leblanc, was it? What was she like?"
Barbara fumed inside when she heard the name, but she didn't want Kelsey to think she was prudish so she tried to act civil.
"She was...very nice. We were sort of best friends for those two weeks each year."
"Was she your age?"
"Yes." Barbara fumed again. She wasn't sure if she could keep up the act much longer.
