Our sex life had become bland and virtually non-existent. I pondered this as I ambled home after a rare night out at the pub.
I had been making myself scarce due to the arrival of Caroline, my wife's best friend for a weekend stay. At least we had hived the kids off with their friends.
Caroline, Vanessa and I went back quite a few years. Her and her husband, Bob, lived in the house next to us. Bob left her, shortly before we moved away, leaving her to bring up two kids alone. All that was about fifteen years ago. Caroline was now into her forties and her kids had all but flown the nest, in fact that is what brought Caroline up for her visit, her youngest son's graduation.
Caroline had let herself go somewhat in the intervening years and could probably be best described as a plumper. She is below average height, around five feet four inches tall, with shoulder length, greasy and wavy dark hair. She wears rather out of fashion glasses, has a rather pallid complexion and wears a less than flattering mixture of baggy clothes to hide her shape. Needless to say she had remained single since Bob's departure.
Vanessa was quite the reverse, tall and thin. With short and straight fair hair she dresses more conservatively than Caroline, cardigans and tweed skirts, promoting an air of primness and propriety. This was reflected in our sex life. I was lucky if she laid back and spread her legs once a month. Even before the kids arrived we were not all that active in that department, mostly being content in one another's company. We have, however, been together for nearly twenty years. We married young and for both of us, each was our only lover.
For her sex was little more than a duty, Vanessa never took more than a passive role, almost never came and only once or twice a year would even entertain my cock being in her mouth. I would not go as far to say she would give me a blow job rather she simply took my end into her mouth momentarily, hoping that I wouldn't come and force her to spit it out.
For my part I was less than the perfect lover, taking my pleasure only when allowed and even then lacking any kind of control due to the limited opportunity. Normally after saving my frustration for weeks on end, after a few strokes, I would come, be pushed off, roll over and go to sleep. In short our sex life was less than perfect.
I rolled in, around half past eleven, less than sober but not rolling drunk. I didn't tiptoe but didn't advertise my presence either. I wandered through the dark and empty kitchen into the hallway. I hung my coat up on the pegs under the stairs and paused by the living room door as I overheard voices coming from within. Moving closer I could make out the conversation. Caroline was sat on the sofa, her back to me, Vanessa sat to her left side on my favourite chair directly opposite the television.
They had both been at the wine, I had walked past at least one empty bottle on the kitchen table. The conversation had become quite forthright.
"Sex is a real chore for me." Vanessa admitted, "I bet John wants it tonight, he usually wants it when he's been out to the pub."
True I thought as I leant further forward to catch Caroline's reply.
"You are lucky to have a man. I really miss having one, or rather, I miss the sex. If I had a man I would keep him well satisfied in that department."
"I can't say I am that bothered by it all." Vanessa replied.
"If it wasn't for my vibrator I think I would have lost my mind. Do you realise that I haven't had any kind of sex with anyone else for..." She paused, nodding whilst mentally counting. "For ten years for God's sake. Even then I had to beg Bob to give me a birthday shag. It wasn't that good either, I'm better off dong it by myself."
"Why Caroline, I am shocked," Vanessa replied.
"About what? The length of time or the vibro?"
"Both, I think. Only with Bob?" Vanessa probed.
"Yes, but that was the last time. He is still a complete bastard. Now I'm married to my rabbit!"
"Rabbit?" I am sure Vanessa knew what one was and was playing dumb.
"Yes the poor thing is nearly worn out! This one is my third, I am rather rough on them, you might say demanding!"
"Where did you get them from?" Vanessa sounded genuinely interested.
"Haven't you got one then?"
"No, I am not normally that interested." Vanessa said backing off.
