It had been said. It was out in the open and on the table and we had both shown our cards. It was the time to as, I think it was Harry Truman first said, pee or get off the pot. Momentarily it went through my mind as to were we grown up and sophisticated enough to handle such a situation and indeed did I want to? I had a wonderful life with Paul. We were happily married, financially secure, had great holidays and a fantastic social life. Unlike many couples in their forties, or so I had read, we had a good sex life and we were both faithful to each other; I certainly did not yearn for other men. But now, I realised, I was yearning for another woman. Why? I was straight. I was not a dyke, a lesbian or bisexual. Or was I? I had found things in Sarah that attracted me. I thought she did the same. Certainly, for me and I felt her too the attraction was not just personality and emotional, strong though they were, but also there was the physical appeal.
She was beautiful in an Elizabeth Taylor or Joan Collins way with a big, dark almost black, wavy hairstyle tumbling down onto her shoulders that when bare as they were at the gym and sometimes at tennis was, I found very erotic. Again, like those old film stars, she was very much a 'tits an ass' woman with a rounded, curvy body that I and now I knew my husband and the young guys in tele-sales loved. More and more as we became closer I began to see her full, probably D or double D cup breasts as being so gorgeous and desirable. More significantly in some ways, if there can be anything more significant than one's sexuality changing, I wanted to be with her, us to be together and although until recently it had not been that sexual I wanted to be held by her, to kiss her and to see her nudity.
"Yes Sarah, that is I think what I want, but not without Paul being involved. Do you know what I mean?"
"Yes my darling, I do understand," she said turning towards me and taking me in her arms. "I understand completely. Now let's get on with the dinner shall we?"
It was odd saying hello to my husband when he arrived home an hour or so later. After Sarah and I had agreed that we would like to make love, but not without Paul's agreement and maybe involvement we had stopped kissing and embracing each other for that seemed wrong. Giving him a peck on the cheek as the woman I loved maybe as much as I loved him looked on was surreal and made me feel rather flustered. We had worked together preparing the beef stroganoff, the sauce and the rice, although to be truthful Sarah had done most of the work; she really was a good cook and I muttered.
"You will make someone a great wife Sarah," as she accepted a peck on the cheek from Paul.
"Chance would be a fine thing?" she smiled back their hands lingering slightly on each other.
"I am sure there must a be queue," Paul retorted moving away from her but continuing to look at her.
"Actually, I am not sure I could do it again."
"What marry?" I asked.
"More than that," she said looking at me. "I mean have a deep relationship with a man."
"Wine Paul or something else?" I asked changing the subject a little.
"Well you two seem suitably relaxed so I'll have what you are drinking."
As I opened another bottle of Pinot Grigio thanking whoever it was for inventing screw caps I quipped. "Well remember we have been on it since five or so."
"Not pissed again are you Chrissy?"
"Not yet, no we have been chatting and then cooking, well Sarah has the cooking, not me, for as you know darling that's not really my forte is it?"
"No my love, but you have many other attributes doesn't she Sarah?" He asked finishing his wine and holding the glass out for a refill that I provided.
"Yes Paul she certainly does."
"Well thanks to the pair of you."
"Talk about anything interesting like that letch of a boss."
"Actually yes I had a run in with him just before we left."
"He seems a real shit," Paul offered.
"He is believe me."
"How long until dinner?" Paul asked.
"Five or ten minutes," Sarah told him stirring the diced fillets of beef.
"Just time for me to change then, I'll hurry," he said as he left the room and went upstairs.
"What do you think?" I asked.
"About what?"
"Tonight."
"How do you mean?"
Plucking up my courage as I stared at her said quietly. "Us Sar, us together?"
"With Paul?"
"Yes," I gulped.
"Have you ever been watched as you make love?"
"No have you?"
"Yes once David, and I had sex in a room with another couple a short while after we married. It was in Greece on holiday."
"So now would you?"
"Yes, yes of course I would with you."
"So what have you two been plotting," Paul said as he sat down at the kitchen table. He was dressed in blue denim jeans and a white Polo shirt that he wore outside the waist. He looked good and smelt lovely."
As Sarah dished up the rice, beef and sauce and Paul poured each of us a glass of red wine I felt bold and blurted out. "You remember what we talked about the other night?"
"We talked about lots of things most nights."
"Don't be obtuse I mean about Sarah and me," I said glancing at her and seeing a look of surprise almost panic on her face.
"Yes I remember."
"So what we have been plotting Paul is how to seduce you haven't we Sarah?"
Almost dropping the serving dish Sarah mumbled. "I wouldn't actually put it quite like that Chrissy."
"No, how would you put it then Sarah?"
"Er good question."
"And a good question deserves a good answer."
"But unfortunately Paul, I don't have one."
"I see."
"I am not sure you do darling," I chipped in putting my hand on his bare wrist.
"What then?" he asked glancing from me to Sarah and back again.
I looked at Sarah as, after taking a deep breath, I said quietly.
"I meant seducing you into letting Sarah and I do what we want."
"And that is?"
"With your permission, agreement and involvement, making love."
In the calm and measured way in which he handles most discussions, Paul held my hand and said. "Is that what you want as well Sarah?"
"Yes Paul, yes it is."
"Ok just tell me one thing, what have you done so far?"
I felt it was my responsibility to confront that query and reaching across the table with my other hand I gripped Sarah's wrist.
"We kissed earlier this evening darling when we admitted how we both felt."
Paul reached out with is other hand and took Sarah's in his and said.
"Then ladies yes you have my blessing," as somewhat ceremoniously he pressed our hands together that we held over the serving dish. "But ladies, let's not waste the beautiful food that you have prepared."
We went quiet for a while as we started eating and the significance of what had just happened hit us and sank in.
"You are both sure of this?" Paul asked scooping up the last of his rice and beef. "And by the way Sarah, that was absolutely delicious, where did you learn to cook like that? Paul had long been interested in cooking and at weekends for many years he had been our household's main chef.
"I have always been interested and went on a few courses."
"Well you must have taken it all in well done. So are you both?"
I took over. "We think so Paul. We both feel there is a lot more than just friendship between us."
"And what do you think it is Sarah?"
"It's a little embarrassing Paul."
"I am sure it is, but if this is to work we have to be very open with each other and remember it can be quite embarrassing for me as well."
"Yes, I am sure and I am sorry for that."
"Ok don't worry so...?" he asked letting his question hang in the air.
Sarah sipped her red wine and looking from me to Paul she said quietly. "I think that I am in love with Christina."
"I see," again he paused in the way that can be infuriating, but which I have come to understand over the years is his way of arguing and negotiating. "And you Christina?"
"I feel the same."
"Yes, you as good as told me that the other night." Another pause, but longer this time. "So, ladies where do I fit into all this?"
"Where would you like to fit into it darling?" I asked wondering what his reaction would be.
"So, are you both suggesting a mΓ©nage a trois?"
"We have not thought it through Paul have we Sarah?"
"No, we only admitted to each other an hour or so ago."
"But I do fit into it?"
"Yes, yes of course you do," I said standing up and walking to beside him. I took his head in my hands and kissed him. "I love you Paul. You must know that?"
"Yes, Chris I do, but this will take some getting used to."
"Would you rather I leave?" Sarah asked diplomatically."