Sara was giddy. Between the wine and the sexually charged banter of her hot-tub companions, she was feeling like a schoolgirl about to be kissed for the first time.
She felt like her sixth-grade self, playing spin the bottle. What if the bottle pointed to her? Would she have the nerve? What if it pointed to Billy Jones? Would he kiss her? When the bottle did stop on Billy, she sucked in her breath and held it. The moment of truth. When his eyes fell on hers, her heart thumped in her chest, stirring the butterflies in her stomach into a frenzy. He moved toward her and she froze in place, her eyelids falling shut, her lips puckering foolishly to meet his. The thrill was brief but indelibly memorable. She remembered the moment clearly now as her anxiety over the very adult game they were playing grew.
Carl had always been a flirt. That didn't bother her. She knew he loved her and would not betray her. She recognized in him the same need she felt—the need that was momentarily satisfied every time she caught a man gazing at her, every time a man did a double take as she passed him on the street. Carl needed the same reassurance; he was just more aggressive about getting it. She was accustomed to his antics.
But this was different. Jenny was becoming highly suggestive, and her husband, Martin, seemed not the least bothered. He actually appeared to enjoy it when Jenny touched Carl affectionately. Sara drank more wine, and Martin refilled her glass yet again.
"Your husband's a doll, Sara," Jenny declared, not looking in Sara's direction. She batted her eyes at Carl instead, and he grinned back at her, delighted at the flattery and the suggestion of sexual interest in him. She caressed his thigh under the water and drew herself closer—nearly sitting in his lap! She looked over at Martin to ascertain his opinion of her behavior and he raised his glass in approval before redirecting his gaze toward the lovely Sara. Jenny turned toward Sara too. "My husband thinks you're pretty sweet as well," she declared. "I think he's getting ideas about you!" And that's when Sara's giddiness started.
Sara looked at Martin, who seemed to be admiring her, though he said, reassuringly, "Pay no attention to her." Then he followed playfully: "She's had too much wine." As he spoke, he leaned toward Sara, as if speaking confidentially, but he did not rise back to his former position when he was done talking. Instead, he continued to lean toward her, and admired her pretty face. "You are definitely a babe, though, Sara. I have to be honest about that," he said, raising his glass in a toast, then drinking alone as the others studied him.
Sara was taken aback, but Jenny was not dismayed in the least by either his admonition or his flirtation. She pushed further. "Have you guys ever swung?" she asked abruptly. Sara choked on her wine a bit, and covered her mouth prettily with her fingers then wiped a drip from her lower lip with her pinky.
"
We
haven't," Jenny continued peremptorily, as if correcting herself. "But Martin is
always
bringing it up. He thinks he'd like to see me in action," she declared boldly, her eyes now fixed on Carl. "I think he'd be jealous if I actually indulged his wishes," she said, smiling at Carl fondly.
"Like with Carl here," she went on, taking Carl's arm and pulling herself right up against him, pressing one of her breasts against his ribs, looking up into his sparkling eyes. "He's cute enough. Handsome, really." She turned toward Martin, "Would you like me to seduce Carl, dear?" she taunted. Martin just watched her silently, a vague smile his only expression.
"You want to make love to Sara? Is that it? She is pretty hot, isn't she?" Jenny goaded.
Sara was quite flustered by now, but drunk enough to be as much intrigued as terrified. Martin was handsome, in a rugged, outdoorsy way. He was about her age and fit, and she could envision herself with him were she not already married. She caught herself gazing at his face, his full and moist lips, contemplating the pleasure kissing him might hold. Everybody noticed. She wondered whether it would be like that first time—with Billy. She was feeling like her 12-year-old self, contemplating that first kiss. She reached to pick up the wine bottle, which drew her toward Martin who stared unabashedly at the cleavage her skimpy bikini top revealed. After filling both their glasses, and allowing him a good, long stare, she sat back against the wall of the tub again, leaving not more than a foot between her and him.
Carl and Jenny gazed at them across the tub. Jenny seemed to be toying with Carl's thigh under the water. Her eyes were intense as she studied Sara's face. She pushed harder: "Martin wants you to do him, Sara. I'm sure of it. He wants you."
Sara saw no dismay or concern in Jenny's eyes—just intense interest in the situation. She turned toward Martin, expecting more reassurance. He raised his glass in a toast to her and sipped, a wry smile now gracing those full, utterly kissable lips.
Sara felt giddier and giddier with each provocation from the others. Martin raised his arm from the water and rested it on the edge of the tub, his hand just above Sara's shoulder. Sara began to feel almost inexorably drawn toward him, despite her unease. She looked at Carl and then settled back against the tub under Martin's strong arm. He casually lowered his arm to caress her shoulder, then the back of her neck, massaging gently. Then he cupped her far shoulder with his hand and pulled her gently toward him. After only brief resistance she assented and sidled over, closing the space between them. Her heart was racing, and her thoughts were a muddle of desire and uncertainty.
Carl watched her closely, his eyes twinkling as if supremely amused. His steady gaze seemed intended to encourage her to play along. Sara now realized that, in fact, she wanted to play this intriguing game—just a little more, she told herself—and she scrunched up against Martin and touched his cheek tentatively with her fingers.