Unfortunately, the same was not the case with Laura. While I had always felt that our sex life was exceptional, and something I truly treasured, Laura tearfully confessed to me one night how she had never been able to achieve orgasm during normal intercourse, and had, in all the time I had known her, merely feigned pleasure purely for my benefit. Although she always vehemently maintained that her inability to orgasm was a product of her own physical infirmity and, in no way reflected on my abilities as a lovemaker, I could sense an inner longing in her that somewhat belied her words.
Wanting very much to please her during intercourse though, we began to experiment sexually, trying out a wide variety of positions to see if we might hit upon one in particular that would work to her orgasmic benefit, but to no avail. Nothing seemed to work and all my failed efforts on her behalf only seemed to augment her frustration.
As time wore on, Laura began to feel more and more trapped by the monogamy of marriage. As she was several years younger than I, she had not had the time to experience as much of life as I had. We often had long talks where she expressed her misgivings and, after much debate on the subject, I reluctantly allowed her to lead me down the path of attempting to have an "open" marriage, where "open marriage" translated into both of us occasionally sleeping around if the spirit so moved us to do so. It did not take exceptional intellect on my part to connect the dots and reason out how, through other sex partners, Laura was searching for the perfect lover, with whom she would not have to pretend pleasure.
Though I tried, I had difficulty moving my spirit in that direction. I had been with so many women over the years, many of whom I had never even known by name, that I was actually loathed to return to that lifestyle. I certainly had ample opportunities, the groupies hung around my band like flies on dog shit, but it just seemed so shallow and unrewarding that I cheerfully passed on each and every opportunity. I actually discovered the joys and fulfillment of masturbation, which I practiced almost religiously while the band was on the road.
Of course, I realized full well that Laura was living out her libidinous fantasies while I was out of town, I had accepted that and, while it disappointed me, I resigned myself to our new relationship. We never regularly discussed our lives outside the marriage, but occasionally, after several glasses of wine, Laura would ask me about my extramarital love life. When I finally admitted to having no dalliances, her demeanor changed dramatically. I'm sure she felt more than a little guilty, the open relationship had, after all, been HER idea. And, while I accepted it, it displeased her greatly to know I was not every bit as sexually involved outside our marriage as she.
As time wore on, my faithfulness to her seemed to drive a wedge even deeper between us. She came to resent my lack of participation in the whole open marriage thing and she seemed to pull farther and farther away from me emotionally. She took her vacations without me in various exotic locations, most often Hawaii, and usually with her girlfriend Dana whom she had known for many years. Once again, it didn't take a rocket scientist to realize that her vacations were little more than an excuse to let herself go sexually and explore whatever fantasies she was entertaining at the time. Sadly, she was almost a regular customer at the local clinic for venereal disease and was frequently self-quarantining herself from me while undergoing a cure for a variety of illnesses like syphilis, gonorrhea, chlamydia, and on two separate occasions, crab lice. All of which spoke volumes as to the character of the lovers she had taken.
For my part, I continued to research the physical aspects of the female orgasm to try to understand, and possibly even circumvent, whatever physical or emotional limitations she must be having. Laura could easily masturbate to orgasm, so it wasn't achieving orgasm that was the problem, it was physically achieving orgasm during sexual intercourse. To that end, I very much enjoyed giving her oral sex, especially when I knew that doing so would give her the pleasure that she couldn't seem to get through sex. So, it had become a ritual during foreplay that I would make love to her with my tongue until she reached an orgasm, often more than once, and then I would mount her physically to use her body for my own gratification as she lay basking in the afterglow.
One day, while waiting for a dental appointment and perusing the ubiquitous magazines in the waiting room, I discovered a rather interesting article in a Woman's Health magazine regarding sexual positions and orgasm. A specific position was outlined in the article and, thinking it might be interesting, I memorized the details. It was basically a variation of the missionary position and was highly touted by many sex therapists as a means to bring direct contact to a woman's clitoris by the shaft of the man's penis.
Following the directions, Laura and I tried it out that very night. It seemed simple enough. Basically, with her on her back and her legs parted with her knees raised, I entered her and then moved my body forward until her head is at the level of my chest and my penis was almost pointing straight down. In this position, deep penetration was unable to attain, with only the tip of my erection inside her. But, in that position, the shaft of my erection was pressing directly against her clitoris.
With this position assumed, I parted my legs and then Laura lowered her legs onto mine. Almost immediately we both felt a sense of pleasurable intensity between us. If either of us moved it directly stimulated the other. To my complete astonishment, it worked beautifully, albeit with only a modicum of success. I equate the word success with the fact that, while Laura did indeed manage to achieve a rather pleasant orgasm in that position, she found the position somewhat disagreeable physically and said she much preferred to orgasm through oral sex. So, for me, it was back to the drawing board.
It was about this time in our lives when we decided to save as much money as we could in order to put money aside for an eventual down payment on a house. In that regard, we moved out of the apartment. My band was, by nature, a traveling band, and road trips of up to nine months at a time were not uncommon occurrences. Laura moved back into her parent's house, and they were thrilled to have her. I would stay at her parent's house as well whenever I was in town, usually only for a month or two at most, and would always chip in for room and board as well as help out around the house with household chores whenever I was in residence.
The living relationship actually worked out rather well for all involved. Laura and I rapidly began to build up our savings account and, as Ken's sales position necessitated that he must travel almost two weeks out of every month, I was available to be the man around the house for those chores and heavy lifting while he was away.
It goes without saying that during those times when I was in town, Audrey and I had time to become much better acquainted. I became very fond of her and enjoyed her company very much. I endeavored to help out around the house as much as I could and actually enjoyed helping her in the kitchen, preparing meals and cleaning up afterward.
On those occasions when Ken was out of town and Laura working, Audrey and I would have dinner together and spend much of the day and evening just talking and getting to know one another better. As we became better acquainted, I came to realize what a wonderful woman she really was and grew even closer to her.
When together, we seemed to enjoy one another's company very much, laughing and joking amiably as we prepared dinners or cleaned up afterward, washing and drying the dishes. Later, we would often play games, gin rummy or canasta, occasionally even chess. To my mind, she became more of a friend and confidante, and less and less a Mother figure. I very much enjoyed the time I spent with her, her intelligence and sense of humor seemed to compliment my own and we never seemed to be at a loss for words or, in any way, uncomfortable together.
Spending as much time with Audrey as I did, it is little wonder that, as my friendship and affection for her grew, so too did my physical attraction. I suppose it goes without saying that my growing relationship with her was greatly enhanced by the fact that she was, indeed, an extremely attractive woman with a tremendously appealing physical presence, and I began to take notice of and appreciate, more and more, her rather voluptuous femininity and grace. I would watch her surreptitiously and smile appreciatively to see the graceful swing of her wide hips or the way her heavy bosom would sway provocatively as she walked. And, many was the time when, while playing chess or cards, I would shade my eyes as if to study my next move but, all the while gazing with acute admiration at her sensually crossed and very shapely legs.
I adored the way Audrey dressed. To me, she was the veritable essence of femininity. Her wardrobe was predominately feminine, skirts or dresses with soft, flowing fabrics that always appeared to enhance her voluptuous, full-figure and highlighting the femininity of her every curve. And yet, doing so in a way that was always age-appropriate and never improper or immodest. I was especially fond of her exceptionally shapely legs, always displayed in glistening, nylon perfection below the hemlines of her skirts and dresses, which almost always fell just an inch or two above her knees and would ride up appealingly whenever she sat down and crossed her legs.
