The following events continue from the story Four Hand Bliss. It can be read as a stand alone story.
Tom and Diane were manifesting the best that life could offer. They were in their late twenties surrounded by a satisfying community in Pittsburgh. Enhancing their successful careers they lived together with all the rewards of marriage without actually being married. Physically they were attractive as they ate well and exercised with vigor.
While not true for every hot couple, these two had a steamy sex life. Over the years since becoming a couple, they both learned new sexual skills. There had been a gap in their relationship early on when both were educated by more experienced partners. Those months of exploration gave each of them new knowledge of what good sex felt like, what they could expect for themselves, and what they could offer each other. And their sexual growth didn't cease once they brought these experiences together.
One of their hometown friends, Kevin, moved into their chosen community. Very quickly Kevin became an essential part of their relationship. The three of them became quite a committed trio. It didn't inhibit their overall circle of friends but had become nearly a household unto itself. Kevin was less gregarious in social standing leaving most of his outings alongside either or both Tom and Diane. Since all three lived in their own houses, the closeness never caused much gossip. In fact, any gossip that existed probably assumed Kevin was gay or asexual since he hadn't publicly dated any women since moving to Pittsburgh.
Kevin, being more shy, was fully satisfied with his social needs being met by these two. Tom trusted Kevin more than anyone else and relied on his presence when work got tough. Diane also appreciated the extra male companionship during those times of Tom's work conflicts. She enjoyed her free evenings for herself, which were frequent with Tom's work schedule, but also enjoyed the different intimacy offered by Kevin.
The closeness of a trio wasn't without risk. On at least one occasion Kevin's presence crossed the traditional friend boundary. The three started sharing friendly massages when they spent evenings together. Diane got Tom aroused during these massages, which was freely shared in front of Kevin. After several weeks of regular touching, and the sexual results of the touching being front and center, the two men gave Diane a full body sensual massage. Four hands explored every surface of her skin. It hadn't been arranged as much as it was unconsciously inevitable. It happened with Tom's full blessing as he was the one accelerating it by placing a blindfold on Diane.
Once blindfolded the two men remained silent not giving any clues to Diane about who touched what. Tom escalated it when he pulled her shirt off while Kevin soon after pulled off her shorts. Once Diane was laid bare in only her panties, it was quite clear this massage was going to be taken to a natural conclusion. Diane kept telling the guys that she wasn't going to be setting the limits as a challenge for the guys. With each challenge she only received silence and more touching,
By the time her panties were removed and she turned over exposing her completely naked body, the hands were well beyond massage and deep into sexual pleasure. Her nipples being licked by two men, both of whom were finger fucking her into ecstasy. No dicks were involved yet the orgasms flowed through her very soul. It was nothing short of an amazing sexual experience naturally embedded into their friendships.
They talked about that experience openly without any shame or resistance. The massage sessions were replaced with other safer experiences thereafter. Not that they explicitly were against it happening again, but each simply didn't want to ruin the otherwise perfect memory. Tom and Diane returned to their monogamous behaviour while Kevin's existence continued growing closer even without that level of sensuality.
Other friends didn't detect any changes because there weren't any apparent. In reality, Kevin's physical boundaries became greyer. When the three would sit on the couch, Diane could cuddle with either while draping her legs across the other's lap. When alone, Kevin and Diane would hold arms or hands naturally. Together Tom and Diane's sex life kept maturing; with oral pleasure being their default act of love. Both enjoyed giving and receiving dynamic oral sensations.
Phase 5, new opportunities
The thing about continuous improvement is that even aspects considered perfection will get better. Tom enjoyed his job curating and hosting exhibits but it had plateaued a bit in satisfaction. He had recruited as many good artists as he could in his market. Looking to expand his skills he selected a graduate program in Philadelphia. Diane's career in Pittsburgh was still on the upswing and she had no interest in leaving at this time. Without an actual marriage they felt free to seek geographic diverse options.
Tom's program was a concise 24 months. He decided to sell his house and rent in Philly as a student. The class schedule allowed him to take Amtrak each Monday morning and return to Pittsburgh Friday evening. Both Tom and Diane wanted to continue their tight relationship but also did not want the restrictions from formally living together. Tom ultimately only needed a place to live part of a week in Pittsburgh. They were normally together for several nights each week anyway so their actual experience wouldn't change significantly. They agreed Tom would live at Diane's house while he was in Pittsburgh.
A separate change for Kevin was more sad but with an equally positive opportunity. Kevin's mom had dementia and it was deteriorating. His sister had been taking care of her but with her own family obligations she couldn't take on the increased time. Kevin made arrangements with his sister that he would take care of their mother each weekend. Kevin didn't want to leave his work and friends in Pittsburgh so this support was a reasonable balance. It was only a two hour drive and would be valuable time to spend with his mother who probably wouldn't live but a couple of years.
After Kevin shared his decision with the other two, they had a chance to reflect on the bigger picture. Diane understood the nuances of grad school, and while the time would be demanding, there would surely be social connections made. She also knew Tom was socially outgoing with a very informal line between friends and dating. She couldn't imagine that he wouldn't form close connections with other women. Negating his repeated assurances that he could stay monogamous, Diane was more practical.
"I'm not saying we aren't still committed. It's not about your will power. I just wonder why you should be monogamous." Diane had a knack for breaking through misguided convictions. "I will savor every weekend and look forward to maximizing those days we have together. But think about your schedule the past three years. We basically have been living with this same schedule even while we both lived in the same city."
"Are you saying we should take a break like we did before? That was five years ago, I don't think we need that now." Kevin was relating this to their brief but valuable prior separation.
Diane deeply wanted their relationship to continue growing and tried to explain the difference. Ultimately she understood long distance dating as fundamentally different than their current lives. They will now be sharing her house, more like living together than they had planned. She didn't want to disrupt what had been working. Yet she was a pragmatist. If the potential of others would come up in the future, and she was certain it would, then she just wanted that to be part of the plan up front.
Tom wanted to understand the difference. Diane expanded her thinking. The schedule won't feel that different but the distance will. They could talk every day as they do now. Yet even when we aren't together we often sneak in lunches or overlap friend nights. With Tom in a different city and the expected long study hours, the days apart will be different.
"Surely you know I love you and expect us to die old together. And I don't have the jealous gene. I think you can enjoy dating your new study friends and not hinder us. Don't you agree?" Diane completed her vision.
Kevin really pushed for clarification. "So you are serious that you expect me to date while in Philly"
"Yes"
"And you understand dating to include sex? With others."
"Yes"
"And you want the same freedom I assume?"