The Newlyweds
Adam's job in the employment agency was going well. After a year or so, at the age of 26, he had been promoted to lead the section dealing with engineers, architects and other technical disciplines. His team had made a lot of placements, and the boss was very happy with him.
In a few months, he was to marry Monique, and they were actively hunting for a house. Both were living with their parents, which allowed them to save for a deposit. Monique was a pharmacist, working locally. They attended church regularly, and had a wide range of friends, not all of them fellow Christians.
One morning in the office, Adam finished a phone call and looked up to see Saskia, who worked in another section dealing with nurses and other medical professionals, standing in front of his desk, smiling at him. They had a pleasant relationship, without being close friends, sometimes talking briefly at work functions or farewells. At one of these, they had discovered they had been born on the same day, in different hospitals in the same city.
While Saskia's family was wealthy, and she had attended an exclusive private girl's school before university, Adam's background was strictly working class, and Uni had only been possible through an academic scholarship.
She was tall and slender, like Monique, but while his fiancée was honey blonde, Saskia was dark, her hair in a pixie cut that accentuated her big dark eyes and lightly freckled nose.
Adam had met her husband, Phillipe, on a couple of occasions, and knew that he was a psychologist in a private practice. They were always affectionate in public, and seemed a perfect couple.
After the usual pleasantries, Saskia asked if she and Adam could go to lunch together. It was unusual for Saskia to approach him in this way, and he was intrigued. The time before lunch passed slowly, and finally they took the lift to the ground floor together.
Adam looked around and said "Where would you like to go? Perhaps one of the cafes along here?"
Saskia pointed behind him "Could we just go across to the park? I have some food to share, and I hoped we could just talk for a while."
"Certainly, that sounds lovely."
They found a vacant bench, away from traffic noise, overlooking the War Memorial, and chatted for a while about their work, and some of their more interesting colleagues. Finally, there was a lull in their conversation and they watched the birds in the remembrance pool before them. Saskia said, "Actually, there was something I wanted to talk with you about."
"Please, go on."
"This is a little difficult for me, but I have a question for you."
"Mmm."
She hesitated, thinking carefully, "You see, Phillipe and I decided some time ago to open up our marriage. Specifically, we agreed that we would like to have sex with other people. Phillipe has had a couple of close lady friends so far, but I have not yet found someone to whom I am sufficiently attracted...until you."
Adam needed some time to take this in, "I see" was the best he could muster.
"So Adam, what I am trying to say to you in possibly a fairly clumsy way, is that I would like to have sex with you. I'm not thinking of an affair, or a romantic attachment. I just think you're very attractive, and I would like to sleep with you."
Adam sat back in the seat and watched the pool for a while, his mind racing. Finally he said, "Saskia, I am really flattered, but I'm getting married in nine weeks time, and I just can't imagine doing this right now. It's not you, I think you're whip-smart and funny, and gorgeous. If I were to have an affair, you would be up the top of my list of women I'd like to be with, but now is just not the right time."
Saskia stared ahead, and finally rose to leave, saying "I see. Well, nice to chat, I might go back to work."
"Sas, please, don't be angry. I'm incredibly surprised and pleased that you would choose me, but the time just isn't right. Getting ready for the wedding, and looking for somewhere to live, all that stuff is consuming me. Plus, Monique and I are Christians, and even though we're not married yet, it just isn't something I think we could do. I would hate to deceive her."
Saskia's shoulders slumped a little, and she sat back, "You're right, deceiving her would be poisonous, which is why Phillipe and I decided to put everything out in the open and tell each other most everything about our 'friends'.
"He knows about my feelings for you, and was very encouraging. He'd like to see me enjoying myself as much as he has over the last few months, but recognises I'm pretty choosy."
Adam smiled, "Yeah, I guess one of the things about our work and the hours we put in is that we don't get a chance to get around much, so meeting other people is a challenge. Monique and I have our church, but even there, once a couple has paired up, they're kind of 'off market', and other potential partners keep their distance. I haven't had a lot of experience, and Monique has vowed to stay a virgin until our wedding night, so..."
Saskia turned to him and touched his hand, "I understand. It's wonderful that you have that, and that you have so much to look forward to. I hope we can be better friends, and that I haven't messed up the chance of that. I'd hate for this to make Monique hate me, so please forget this conversation ever happened."
At their church wedding, most of the guests were from the congregation, many of them school friends dating back to kindergarten. Saskia and Phillipe were among a few work friends invited, and enjoyed the reception, the live band and dancing that followed.
About nine months later, Adam again looked up to find Saskia in front of his desk, "Wow, how do you do that? It's like you just appear..."
"Yeah, it's one of my dark arts."
"What can I do for you, Sas?"
"I heard you're a pretty schmick photographer."
"That's kind of you, but yeah, that's my dark art."
"And you have a high quality photo printer and other studio stuff, no?"
"Yes again."
"Well, Phil and I were wondering if you would do some studio portraits of us. We'd pay you, of course."
"I'd be happy to do it. Don't worry about cost, it's my pleasure. Now, when will we do it?"
Later, in bed that evening, Adam told Monique about the conversation, and while initially she was happy, after a while she became concerned. "You know, I think Saskia and Phillipe are lovely, but I think they might be a little..Bohemian. Is it possible what they really want is for you to do some nude shots?"
"It's possible I guess. They're both pretty liberal about their sexuality and their bodies. For example, Saskia seldom wears a bra in the off.."
"Whoa up a little there. You're not really meant to be noticing stuff like that. Eyes above the neckline, Sunshine."
Adam was unfazed, "You've got to admit, Saskia's are kinda cute."
"Mm, yep, they are. They're probably not going to sag like mine will eventually. Will you still love me when my titties get a little droopy, darling?."
"Of course I will, my precious. Wherever they end up."
"Right answer. Now, all this talk of bodies has made me a little, shall we say, romantic. Perhaps you might like to have your wicked way with me."
After a vigorous lovemaking session, they relaxed together, exhausted. Finally Monique said, "So when is this photographic session with Sas & Phil?"
"Saturday morning worked for us all."
"OK, now will you promise me one thing?"
"OK Monique, I think I know what's bothering you. I won't do any nudies with them. I won't even mention it as a possibility, and if they suggest it, I'll tell them I don't feel comfortable with it."
"Thank you. I hate to be a prude, but the thought just makes me anxious."
"Not a problem. I'll show you what I get."
The following Saturday, Adam rang the doorbell, loaded up with cameras, tripod, screens and lights. Saskia opened the door in a sheer white chiffon gown, yawning and stretching. "I'm sorry Adam, I guess we slept in. We had a few friends over last night, and were late to bed. A couple of them are still here."
"I'm sorry, Sas. I probably should've called ahead to confirm. I can come back later if you want."
"No, no, please. Come on in. I really appreciate you doing this. Lovely to see you out of the office."
As Adam moved to pass her, she flung her arms around his neck and held him tight, planting a soft kiss on his lips. Acutely aware that the woman he was holding was almost naked, Adam felt his penis start to stir as the kiss went on a little longer than usual.
Adam was startled when Phillipe appeared in the hall, saying "Pay no attention to my lovely wife, Adam, she loves to ravage people who come to the door - visitors, mailmen, couriers, meter readers..."
He was followed by another couple. Phillipe introduced them as Anneke and Remco, and they were Nederlanders on a flying visit. Anneke was very tall, blonde and fit, and her saggy t-shirt covered only some of her spectacular breasts. She did not seem to be wearing pants.
Remco likewise was dressed only in a tie-dyed t-shirt, and held an overnight bag.
"Are you sure you can't stay for breakfast?" said Phillipe.
"We would love to, but we need to check out and get to the airport. Uber's here. Can we catch up in Utrecht?" said Anneke, kissing everyone on three cheeks as she passed.
All three watched as they climbed into the waiting SUV and drove off. "Wow, what a night that was," said Phillipe before offering them both coffee and heading off to the kitchen.
"Where would you like to set up?," Saskia said as she led Adam through the house, "The bedroom's a bit messy, but I could tidy it quickly."
