"Have you ever made love to a woman while her husband watched?"
Kenny almost choked on his wine. It was all he could do to avoid spewing it all over the table. Carson was looking at him with an embarrassed smile as he struggled to get control. Only the waiter noticed his problem, but Kenny waived him away.
"What the hell kind of question is that?" he stuttered. In the four years he had worked with Carson they had talked about almost everything: business, art, music, travel. But never about women or sex, except when admiring a passing beauty or when Carson had announced his marriage to Melissa.
Kenny had enjoyed the attention and mentoring of his boss/friend/mentor since joining the firm four years ago. When Carson had announced his engagement, Kenny had taken it upon himself to check out Melissa's background. It hadn't taken much effort to discover that she was widowed and sexy as hell, twenty years younger than Carson, a State Department veteran and almost as wealthy as Kenny's boss. Top Secret security clearance, well traveled, generous to a fault. Kenny had visited in their home several times since their marriage and she was always gracious and friendly, cheerful and never indiscreet or inappropriate. She was a perfect match for Carson and a power in her own right. He wondered where Carson was going with this question.
"An impassioned question from a friend who needs help," Carson answered. They were at an out of the way table in Ruth's Chris and the crowd was small at this time of day. Seeing the question in Kenny's eyes, he looked up and waited while the waiter brought their steaks.
When the waiter had retreated, Carson cut a bite from his steak, but he left it on his plate. "Let me paint a picture."
It was Carson's favorite way of presenting a problem or challenge and Kenny waited him out.
"Suppose there was a very wealthy man with a beautiful wife who wanted something from their marriage that they hadn't been able to achieve," he played with the bit of steak. "Not children." He smiled. "They're both beyond that stage. But suppose the fellow has an appetite that requires special help to satisfy."
"What kind of appetite might that be?"
"Well, it seems that he wants to watch his wife have intercourse with another man."
Kenny studied his plate. "That's not all that unusual, from what I understand."
"That's true. But satisfying the appetite is much more complicated for someone in this couple's situation. They're both high profile figures and they're both wealthy. They can't go to just anyone for help."
"Given that, where do I fit in?"
"Well, it seems you've been suggested, almost insisted on as the third party, so to speak."
The waiter saw that their steaks were forgotten and stepped over to ask if there was a problem. They both waived him away with assurances that the food was very satisfactory and Carson put his small bite in his mouth.
"The matter might never have come to a head," Carson picked up, "but it seems the man has developed prostrate problems and his sexual performance may be in jeopardy. So, you see, time may be of the essence."
Kenny was instantly concerned. "How severe is his problem? What does the doctor recommend?"
"Well, as I understand it, the situation is certainly not life threatening. Or even debilitating in any way, except that men sometimes lose their virility as a result of the kind of problem he faces." He smiled at Kenny's obvious relief. "In any case, the man and his wife have discussed his appetite, and the situation, and she is understanding and experienced enough to be open to the idea, given the right partner."
"And how did I come to be the candidate of choice?"
"I've asked myself the same question. But, apparently, the woman has put out discrete feelers, so to speak, and your name has been suggested." He paused. "More than once." And a big smile touched with envy crossed his face.
Kenny looked around the dining room. No one was paying them any attention except the waiter who maintained a discrete distance. "And what you're asking me to consider is helping this man realize his fantasy while he's still able to follow up, so to speak?"
"To put it in a nutshell." Carson studied his plate. "It would be an unforgettable favor. For the man and for me."
"Well, to answer your first question, 'No, I haven't made love to a woman while her husband watched,' though, to be completely honest, I have made love to some married women whose husbands are, or were, indifferent to their needs and fantasies."
"That behavior has apparently been reported through certain circles. With rave reviews, I might add."
Kenny couldn't help wondering who had tattled. "How do you suggest we move forward with this?"
"I thought you might have some suggestions?"
"Well, if I'm to be involved, I need to visit with the wife."
"Is that really necessary?"
"If the man wants it be something more than just a sordid little affair. A wham, bam, thank you m'am." He paused. "And that's not very fair to her."
"No, I suppose not. Let me see if they agree."
Kenny was still high on the events of the day and his appetite suddenly returned. He dug into the steak with little notice that it had gotten cool. He couldn't help wondering if Carson's announcement that he was making Kenny a partner in the firm was somehow connected with this unusual request. And he wondered if he'd jumped to a wrong conclusion about the identity of the man and woman in the picture Carson painted.
ccc
Kenny was waiting for his plane to board the next day when his phone rang. "Hello."
"Kenny?"
"Yes."
"Hi, this is Melissa Monroe."
"Oh, hi, Melissa, how are you?"
"Very well, thanks. Do you have a minute?"
"Of course. How can I help you?"
"Well, first let me congratulate you on your promotion. It's something Carson has wanted to do for some time."
"Thank you. I'm still a little overwhelmed, but very appreciative."
"Well, I'm confident Carson made a wise decision." She paused and Kenny waited her out. "But that's not what I called about. As you know, Carson's birthday is coming up and I'd like to plan something special for him. I thought we might conspire about it and see what we can come up with."
"What do you suggest?"
"Well I thought we might have lunch one day soon."
Kenny checked his day-timer. "I'll be free on Tuesday and we can have lunch any day that's good for you."
They set a date for Wednesday and he thought she was finished. But she cleared her throat and said, "I thought I might bring my friend and let her discuss the other picture Carson painted for you."
"Wonderful," he beamed. "I look forward to meeting her and discussing how we can satisfy her husband's appetite."
There it was. His guess had been on the money.
He boarded his plane with a big smile on his face.
Kenny had managed to resist lusting after Melissa because of his relationship with Carson. Certainly she was one of the most beautiful women he had met since Vicki took him under her wing. He relaxed on the plane and let his thoughts turn to Melissa's beautiful figure, full breasts, slender hips, saucy blonde hair-do and winning smile. That vision, and the attentions of the sparkling stewardess, were enough to stimulate an erection that was barely concealed by the magazine in his lap. It was a pleasant surprise that the stew managed to slip him a card as he was ready to deplane. And he smiled when he saw that she had noted her phone number and e-mail address. But his attention still turned to Melissa and where that situation might be taking him.
ccc
He had to work hard to focus on the business in Boston, especially since Tricia, one of the principals of the start-up company, was very sexy and very available. He and the attorneys were already in the conference room when she came breezing in. Her figure wasn't Rubenesque, but it was more full-bodied than many of the almost anorexic types he saw on the streets of Boston. The bright red dress showed just enough cleavage to excite him and the other men in the room, and she played it to the hilt. Her own excitement was too great to conceal. But she was very businesslike during the final negotiations for the transfer of venture capital to help her expand her business. As the lawyers agreed on paragraph after paragraph of the contract she glanced at Kenny a couple of times and gave him a radiant and somewhat hesitant smile. Kenny admired her mind enough to have sold her plan to Carson, but he couldn't pretend that her personality and her full-busted figure didn't make him think of bedding her.
When the papers were signed and the lawyers and other partners had departed, her reserve relaxed. The business on her mind now was obviously not money or contracts.
"Thank goodness that's over," she sighed. "I don't know how to thank you."
"Well, Tricia, you don't need to thank me. The investors' committee saw the beauty of your proposal and bought it with high expectations. The best way to thank them is to make your idea pay off generously for everyone concerned."
"Nevertheless, I know you and Carson sold it to the committee. I'd really like to buy you a drink at least." Her smile was too beautiful to resist.
"You're on. Only two conditions," Kenny smiled.
"And those are?" Her look was bright with expectation.
"That we not talk business. and, second, that we go someplace where we're not surrounded by boys and girls on the make."
"I shouldn't think you spend much time in places like that," she almost laughed. "You've got it. Just let me call the others and let them know we're in growth mode and that I'm taking the rest of the day off." She dug in her purse for a cell phone and turned away to make her call. Kenny admired the animation in her report to her partners, the sway of her breasts as she gestured her satisfaction with the arrangements, the lovely flow of her long, black hair as she almost bounced with delight, and the rich curve of her firm bottom. When she turned, she was beaming and Kenny noticed the top button of her blouse had come undone. "That takes care of that. Now, we'll have a drink and I know just the place. It's just around the corner." He offered his arm and she took it with a firm hug.
They were led to a corner booth in the Caf‚ d'jour, an out-of-the-way bistro near Copley Square. She slid onto the bench seat and Kenny studied her.
"Is something wrong?"
