Copyright© 2008 RipCurrent all rights reserved
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After collecting all the keycards, Susan shook the bag vigorously and opened it to her husband. Scott's hand disappeared into the bag and retrieved keycard 320. Without pausing to consider who her husband would sleep with, Susan presented the bag to me. With my mind a boiling cauldron of mixed emotion, I pondered the possibility of choosing 321, but I didn't. I pulled 318.
Daniel gave me a hard appraising stare. I estimated him at forty-five, the oldest of us. He was telegenic with short dark hair graying at the temples and a deep tan. His appearance and cool reserve shouted authority. I wondered what kind of woman married a man like Daniel. Who waited for me in room 318?
The bag went to Vincent who pulled 316. Susan smiled warmly and winked at him. His hawkish face split into a lustful grin as his gaze roved her body wantonly. Blushing, Susan stared desire at him and suggestively bit her lower lip. Scott watched these antics with amused equanimity.
The bag went to Caleb, who reached in and won the jackpot by pulling Rachel. A volcano erupted in my chest and spewed hot blood into my head. My face tingled; I stopped breathing as I urgently scrutinized Caleb.
Caleb the youngest of us, perhaps thirty-one, was built like me, athletic, but slighter, and maybe an inch or so taller. He had wavy, professionally styled dark hair with hair gel or mousse in it.
Conversely, Rachel pushed a loudly humming electric razor with a number 4 attachment through my hair in our kitchen. I loved to watch her care for me. Her brow knit, she frowned and dimpled the corner of her mouth while examining her work. I much preferred Rachel to any professional.
Caleb wore an easy smile on his ruddy handsome clean-shaven face. Dark eyes gazed out in amusement and I could see he'd be popular with the ladies. He noticed my intense scrutiny and his eyebrows rose in surprise.
Honestly, I immediately liked the guy. He seemed calm and good natured, definitely not the misogynistic type, nevertheless, I stared aggressively; willing him to know in his bones any misdeed would be severely punished.
I warned, "Go easy, Caleb." I spat out his name as if I had bitten into a piece of rotting flesh.
"What's your problem? You brought her here." Caleb replied his face flushed in anger.
"Easy fellahs!" Scott said moving between us. "Chance, Caleb's a good guy don't worry. He's been screened and unanimously voted on by the rest of the group just like you. I've been to a number of these with him, and we had no problems."
"Yeah, what were we thinking voting him in?" Caleb asked Scott sarcastically indicating me.
"Take it easy, it's his first time." Scott said soothingly.
"Boys!" Susan exclaimed in exasperation. "Let's finish with the cards." Susan finished handing out the last two keycards and said, "Okay, You fellahs wait here for ten minutes then come up and claim us." She blew Vincent a kiss and did a runway strut from our presence. Hoots and whistles followed her ribald exit.
The husbands rode the elevator together. Caleb marched out, strode down the hall, boldly slipped his keycard into the reader and invaded Rachel's room. I watched Rachel's closed door while the husbands entered the rest of the wives rooms, save one.
I stood alone in the hall dazedly staring at my keycard in front of Room 318. I fed the card reader. A green L.E.D. flashed, followed by a snick. I turned the handle and entered on a deep breath.
The room featured a bathroom immediately to the right, and a small wood slatted closet door following the bathroom. With a deep breath, I strode into the room proper. She sat on a king sized bed staring wide-eyed at me with hands clutched in her lap. The air-conditioner hummed noisily in front of a large curtained window.
She opposed Rachel in demeanor. Where Rachel radiated warmth and welcome, she concealed with chilly timidity. The disappointment must have shown on my face for she blurted, "It's my husband's idea to come to these things, I don't much care for them anyway." She stood in seeming confusion.
I dropped my bag and walked to her. I placed my hands on her arms and said, "Please stay." She was an attractive, slender, forty year old. Her ash blond hair stylishly cupped her pretty face, but she had a severe thin-lipped quality.
I felt like a heel for hurting her, I should have prepared myself, but I worried over Rachel and hadn't truly considered who my partner would be. Her remarkable blue eyes reminded me of Rachel's, so I started there. I stared deeply and tried to perceive the woman with which I would be intimate.
To my shock, I discovered a lack of sexual desire for her though I thought her very attractive. When she stood her curves revealed themselves in a slip dress much like Rachel's. She flattered the dress with full breasts, slender waist flaring nicely to womanly hips.
"We shouldn't force the issue." She glared out from her cold stony face.
"Please, it's my first time and I didn't know what to expect." I reasoned.
"You had the worst luck and picked me. I'm so sorry for you." She said sarcastically. I imagined it would be painful to say, but none of it showed on her face.
"You're a beautiful woman, I'm just preoccupied." I backpedaled.
"Too preoccupied to treat a woman who offers herself with a modicum of consideration?" She asked indignantly. I felt like two waves converged, doubled in size and overwhelmed me. The contrary actions of worrying Rachel and trying to mollify this woman combined to capsize me. I needed a moment to collect my thoughts.
"Please, just wait here. I'm going to get some ice and put my head on straight. When I return, let's start again and this time, I'll do right by you."
"Why should you be any different?" She asked spitefully.
"What do you mean, did someone do something at one of these meetings?" I asked concerned.
Her face softened slightly as she studied me for a moment, "No, it's not like that."
"What is it like?" I said, still on alert.
With a sardonic smile she said, "I'm just venting on men in general. Pay no heed."
I searched her eyes and believed, though her mask of concealment remained. I nodded agreement and said, "Promise me you'll stay here until I return. Wait! What's your name?"
"Allison." She replied neutrally.
"Allison," I said slowly savoring it on my lips. "I love that name." I smiled warmly, but she seemed unmoved. "Allison, you'll be here when I return?"
"I don't have anywhere to go; my husband is a busy man." She said without emotion.
I almost barked out a laugh, but caught myself. Instead, my face twisted into a lopsided grin, "Ah, I see. I'll be right back."
I left the room, ice bucket in hand. I walked by room 321 and listened, but silence prevailed. So I moved on and found a dark haired beauty standing in front of the ice machine in a sexy blue silk kimono reaching mid thigh. She rose slowly on her toes, bunching her calves into tight knots and slowly relaxing them on the way down. Rachel exercised this way while she waited.
