"You made that look simple." Said Jeff, my personal trainer.
"Not really, but I've been working the same routine for a few weeks now and I'm finally beginning to feel as though I don't need to call 911 when I'm through." I managed to answer without the aid of oxygen.
"You know, Kate, all your hard work is really paying off. You're really looking great."
"Thanks, I feel really good and there's no way I would have gotten where I am without your help. I really appreciate it. I know I'm not the best pupil most of the time."
"You're welcome and you're a great pupil. Oh, there's my next client. I'll see you in 2 days. Don't forget your water!!"
I stood there watching him and his six-pack abs walk over to a beautiful 30 something blonde. "Ugh, easy for her" I mumbled to myself as I picked up my towel and headed for the locker room.
My day flew by with one project after another. I was late leaving the office and had several stops to make on the way home. It was getting late when I finally arrived home and Ron had salmon on the grill and corn already husked and ready to go on. Ron doesn't cook otherwise, but he's a master on the grill. I appreciate it and make sure he knows. A bottle of shiraz was already open and I headed to our bedroom to change into something comfortable before joining him on the deck.
Even though I got home later than I would have liked, it was a very relaxing evening. When it got dark, I cleaned up the kitchen and put away the leftovers. I was surprised when Ron said he was going upstairs to watch the ballgame. I finished a few things I needed to and took some meat out of the freezer for the next night's dinner. I poured myself another glass of wine, turned out the lights and headed upstairs with a book in my hand. Ron was sitting up in bed watching the Phillies get trounced and drinking his wine.
A little while later I climbed into bed, leaned back on the headboard and started to read. We were both absorbed in our respective interests for awhile when Ron announced he was turning off the game -- couldn't stand watching any longer -- and suggested we could find something far more entertaining to do with ourselves than watch the Phillies and read a book. I looked up at him, trying to judge his sincerity, and determined he was indeed serious. I closed the book after carefully marking my place and set it on the nightstand, along with my glass of wine.
Ron reached over and pulled me into his embrace. He lightly kissed my forehead, my nose and then our lips met and his tongue danced with mine. I slid down onto the bed as his hand reached inside my babydoll pajamas pulling one breast out and teasing the nipple with his thumb. I had thought I was tired, but suddenly I was very energized. It doesn't take much to get me wet and needy for him; but, while I have loved Ron for years, he has never been a particularly attentive lover. I had limited experience before I met Ron, but I know there's more that Ron could do to satisfy me and I honestly don't know even after all these years if he isn't interested in doing more or if he just doesn't know and never bothered to inquire or learn.
Anyway, it was over nearly as quickly as it began and Ron was quietly lying along side me. I always feel as if I've only just begun; but I would never want to hurt his feelings by suggesting that he wasn't the perfect lover.
"Beth, what are you thinking?" he asked as he pulled me against him and put his arm around me.
"Nothing" I replied and closed my eyes enjoying the feel of his skin touching mine, his heat, being held.
"No, Beth, you're not going to get away with that this time. You have such a serious look I want to know what you're thinking about. Did I do something you don't like or did I not do enough for you?" he asked in the softest voice.
"Well, actually I was just thinking about something I heard today at the gym. Some of the younger women were talking and they said that Jeff and his wife have an open marriage. He actually has permission to, well, to; well I guess they both have sex with other people outside their marriage. They even said sometimes they have other couples over and they swap and watch each other. I was just wondering how a couple could do that. Actually, I don't mean how, I mean more like -- doesn't it seem strange?"
"I've certainly heard of open marriages, but I can't say I know anyone or that I'm aware of knowing anyone who has that kind of arrangement in their marriage. I'm not sure what I think of it. What do you think -- would you want to have sex with another man and still stay married?"
"Oh, Ron, I don't know. I never thought about it before today, but I have to admit that the more I think about it, the more it sort of sounds like fun -- I mean, I love you and I would never do anything behind your back; but I can see, I think, how it could be fun and enlightening."
"I don't know."
Ron got up and went in the bathroom. I finished my wine and fell asleep even before he got back in bed. When I woke in the morning, I had forgotten entirely about the conversation of the night before.
It was late and the week had been a long one. It had been very hot and humid and I was cranky and knew it. Ron wasn't home yet, so I got changed into a pair of shorts and a tank top and began getting dinner ready. After I had everything prepared and in the oven, I went out on the deck and read the new More magazine that had come that day. Ron finally got home, but dinner was still a few minutes from being ready. He grabbed a glass of white wine and came out on the deck.
After years of marriage, I could tell that he had something he wanted to discuss. I waited -- it never did me any good to prod him. He would bring up whatever was bothering him when he was ready. I went in and checked on the chicken in the oven, turned the oven off and went out to tell him that dinner would be ready shortly. With that, he reached out and took my hand and pulled me over to sit on his lap.
"Whoa there, am I to put dinner on hold or am I misreading your intentions?" I asked playfully while planting a light kiss on his cheek.
"Actually, I want to ask if you've thought any more about what we discussed the other night." he asked.
"What did we discuss? I'm not sure what discussion you mean." I said only slightly serious.
"The one about having an open marriage. Is that what you want? Would you be willing to have sex with another man?"
"To be honest, I've been wondering about that myself. I don't know. It probably all depends on how you feel about it. As I said, I'd never do anything behind your back; but there's an adventurous side of me I didn't know was there and that wonders if it wouldn't be kind of, ummm, I guess I just wonder what it would be like."
"Well, I've been thinking about it a lot and I say you go for it. The only rules I have are that you tell me in advance when and with whom and that when you come home afterwards, you tell me all the details."
"All the details?" I asked incredulously. "You can't be serious. You want me to have sex with another man, while we're still married and you want to know the details. How much of the details?"
"All the details, exactly what you both do, how he makes you feel, everything. Do you know yet who you're going to have sex with?"