Author's note: I write primarily for fun, but to also practice and improve my writing. Feedback is greatly appreciated.
Rob was excited to finally get to introduce his wife Alice to his best friend Jack. It was their first real vacation since they got married and Rob insisted on visiting Hawaii where Jack recently moved to. Rob and Jack used to do a ton of extreme outdoor activities together when they were roommates back in California. Alice was also active but leaned more into sports like beach volleyball and tennis. Rob figured they'd have a lot in common.
Rob and Alice arrived at Jack's house just before sunset. The house was a little aways from the major towns in the area and it was walking distance from the beach. He parked on Jack's driveway. When they got out of the car, Jack came out of the front door with a huge smile and waved. "Hey! Long time no see."
Rob grinned, "Yeah, man. It's great to see you!"
Jack turned to Alice and stared for a few seconds before introducing himself.. "You must be Alice! How did Rob land such a looker?"
Alice, ignoring the flattering question, replied, "Yes, I'm Alice. Rob has told me all of your crazy stories together when you guys were in California and now I get to match the name to the face." And body, too, she thought to herself.
"I hope he didn't tell you all of them," Jack laughed, "Let's get everything settled inside and I'll fire up the grill."
They all went in and put away the bags. Jack and Rob started setting up the pull out bed in the living room and Alice took the opportunity to use the bathroom, Jack pulled Rob aside and said, "Seriously dude, you lucked out massively."
Rob smiled, "You aren't doing so bad yourself. This is a nice place. Your living room is huge. I'm sure millionaires would be happy to retire in a place like this, surfing the days away."
"Ha! I still have to go to work, gotta teach dumb tourists how to not kill themselves on a surfboard. This place is kind of dumpy, no millionaire would want to live here. Heck, I can't even find a girl to settle down with me here," Jack sighed.
Rob rolled his eyes, "Yeah, right. Back in California, you had no end of women throwing themselves at you. You just love the single life."
They heard the bathroom door open. Jack said, "OK, Alice's ready. Let's go eat!".
Jack quickly grilled up some thick steaks and they settled down on a table outside to eat. As they enjoyed the meal, Rob and Jack started to reminisce about the "good 'ol days".
Alice enjoyed the conversation, but really wanted to ask Jack's point of view on some of the stories Rob told her. She said, "Hey Jack, I've been meaning to ask, what really happened on that Half Dome trip you went with Rob?"
Rob spoke up and said, "I already told you that one, he saved my life."
Jack shook his head, "No, it wasn't that dramatic. We were on the final stretch of the trail going up those cables on the steep part of the hike. There were tons of other people around causing a traffic jam. Since we were young and stupid and thought we were hotshots, we went on the outside of the two cables and tried to bypass all the slowpokes."
Jack continued, "And all that happened was that Rob accidentally pulled out one of the poles holding the cables out and slipped, but recovered himself by hugging the rock along the slope."
Rob interjected, "Dude, I slipped, but I didn't recover myself. You literally took your hands off the cable, hugged the rock and grabbed my wrist. You fucking saved my ass there, I would have fallen 1,000 feet down that cliff."
Jack put his hands up. "Come on, you grabbed the rock yourself and would have been fine without me. I helped you after you settled down. It was nothing you wouldn't have done for me, or anyone else for that matter."
Jack quickly changed the topic to complain about his surfing instructor job and they continued on from there. As the evening wound down, Jack's phone rang. He looked at it and said "Shit, one of my students is calling, probably to reschedule... again. I have to take this."
Jack went inside and closed the sliding door. Rob and Alice were now alone for the first time since they arrived.
Rob looked at Alice and smirked, "Jack has absolutely no shame. He was undressing you with his eyes the second you stepped out of the car."
Alice held up her hands and sighed, "Whatever." She then leaned forward to take a hard look at Rob. "So that Half Dome thing, that was pretty serious, wasn't it?"
"Yeah, if it wasn't for Jack, I wouldn't be here. He was completely downplaying it, trying to be humble for some strange reason."
Alice leaned back in her chair. "Wow. How could you ever thank someone enough for doing something like that? He saved your life."
Rob looked uneasy. "Yeah, I never properly thanked him, because I never thought of anything I could do or say would hold a candle to what he did for me."
Alice thought very carefully before saying the next few words. "How about a gift?"
"A gift?" Rob laughed. He then grinned and waggled his eyebrows, "What? Are you offering?"
Alice turned bright red and looked away.
Rob sat up straight. "Wait... Are you serious? You would do that?"
Rob and Alice had a very healthy sex life which occasionally involved fantasy roleplay of including other partners. They both were of the understanding it was just fantasy and pure make-believe and they'd never actually do anything that crazy. Until now, that is.
Alice was unable to meet Rob's eyes and looked down at his feet. "Only if you are okay with it." She then looked up. "I'm willing to be your gift."
Rob leaned back and his head spun. Part of him was fiercely possessive and another part was strangely aroused. He was always proud of the fact that he was able to put a ring on Alice. She was not only stunningly beautiful, but she was intelligent and they connected really well. They were so compatible and comfortable with each other that he didn't even worry about potentially losing her to any other guy.
Rob made up his mind. "I'm okay with it as long as it doesn't affect our relationship. And I want you to have full control and back out whenever you don't feel comfortable".
Alice looked down again. "Okay."
Rob got up and peered into the house, Jack was sitting down on a sofa chair still on the phone.
Rob said, "Are you ready? It looks like Jack is finishing up."
Alice all of a sudden had cold feet. "Wait. Are we doing this now?"
Rob smiled and got up. "We might as well. Before we lose our nerve." He reached his hand down to help her up. She needed it since as she got up, her head started to spin. He looked deep into her eyes and caressed her shoulder. "Are you sure you want to do this?"
Alice looked down, paused for a second and said "Yes." She raised her eyes back up to Rob. "And again, are you okay with... Jack having me?"
Rob smiled, "Absolutely."
Rob walked into the living room as Jack finished up his call. Jack let out a sigh and complained, "Customers, they always call and reschedule all the time."
Rob decided to not beat around the bush. "Jack, I've never properly thanked you for saving my life back then."
"Oh, come on, we've gone through this. You would have done the same for me."
"No, it really means a lot to me," Rob said. "This time, I brought you a gift to show my appreciation."
Jack raised his hands and shook his head. "Really, you don't have to do this."
"No. I do," spoke Rob firmly, "Alice, can you bring the gift over here?"
Alice upon hearing Rob, swallowed hard and slowly walked into the center of the living room, looking straight at Jack.