My mind didn't settle as I went back home from visiting Eleanor. This explained why I was unsettled when I walked through the door.
"I wasn't expecting you for another couple of days. How was the visit?" Dean sounded far more friendly than when I left. Distance makes the heart grow fonder? I gave a clipped reply and headed to the bedroom. I was still upset and distraught over how I had succumbed giving such power over me to Eleanor and Peter.
"Look, can we talk about... the situation before you left?"
"Can't I even unpack?" I shot back.
"No, I think it important that we establish some firm ground rules from the off. I still feel a bit aggrieved at what you did to me."
"I thought you enjoyed most of what happened," I replied.
"That might be the case. But the last act of getting literally shafted by the Boiler Man ruined what could have been a fond memory. Not to mention what it did to myself esteem as a man." I giggled. "Look," he continued, "I have no problems admitting Denise enjoyed the night thoroughly and would like to do so again." I smiled inside as a strategy started to form. "But you must understand that no one, no one ever again can know that it is me, your male husband, behind the faΓ§ade. I simply will not have that. I think that it is important that we talk about that."
He sounded so firm. "Okay. Take off your clothes."
He looked dumbfounded. He continued sounding firm as he replied: "That is an inappropriate request and not something I will countenance. We need to set the ground rules as equals. I'd never humiliate you like that and demand the same assurance from you."
I could tell he was faltering despite the language. Peter and Eleanor had taught me something. I decided to see if I could take advantage. "Take off the clothes or I go into my bedroom to unpack."
He looked torn. This was not a reply he had planned for. "Why can't you discuss such a serious issue as I am? We should be equals in this marriage. I am only asking to be treated as such."
I knew I was winning as his "demand" was now downgraded to "asking."
I picked up my suitcase. "Clothes off or we never talk about this again. I will treat Dean as an equal but never allow Denise in again."
"Please don't do that to me. That's not what I want! That's just not fair." A warm thrill went through me as I now had victory in hand. I was beginning to see why Eleanor was so happy to take advantage of our friendship to have control over me. I took two steps towards the bedroom. "Stop," he said dejectedly. I turned and could see him unbuttoning his shirt. My harrowing experience at Eleanor's was slipping from my mind as I watched with joy Dean's utter submission to me. He probably didn't realise this was happening but I had no doubt it was.
With a broad smile I stated: "I'm going to drop off my luggage and get into something more comfortable. Wait for me here till I get back."
"But...." My stern look silenced him. Oh what fun as I heard a shoe thrown against a seat.
I changed into something comfortable and returned to see him standing just as I wanted him. "So, what is it you wanted to talk about?"
"You're obviously having fun at my expense," he grumbled in the nude.
"But you obviously had fun providing a service to our last visitor."
"And you had fun with the service he provided you!"
"And why did I need him to provide that service?"
"That was no reason to humiliate me in front him!"
There was a pause. I looked at him. "Can you provide an equivalent service?"
Dean's dejected face told me NO. "But I can accept you .... needing others to provide the occasional service. I'm even happy to assist. But not exposing me so cruelly after the event..."
"There really isn't anything to talk about then. If you want Denise to make appearances while services are being provided to me, then Dean does as I say."
"I can cope with that as long as you don't make Denise expose her, her..."
"Ineffective parts?"
His voice softened, "ineffective parts. Please, please don't do that to me again." He was about in tears.
At this point, the doorbell rang. "I expect that to be Alice. She had texted that she wanted to stop by so I agreed on the way home. You can stay as you are or collect up your things." He gladly took the latter option.
I went to the door as Dean gathered his things and scooted to the bedroom.
As Alice and I walked into the living room, she bent over to pick up Dean's shorts. "I'm not interrupting something, am I?"
Normally I would've made some offhand remark. I would never have dreamed about saying anything sexual to someone I knew. But given everything that happened in Bristol, I felt more emboldened. "Actually you did." She looked at me intriguingly. "We were talking about (I took the shorts from her.) private matters." We both giggled.
"Oh, I see. Tell me more, tell more," Alice chuckled. "I trust Dean provides suitable satisfaction in your private matters?"
Alice was young enough to be my daughter. We had become friends and enjoyed having tea. She had in the past made sexual innuendos but I never picked up on the. As the song says, I was older then; I'm younger now. I didn't realise it at the time but I was following in Eleanor's shoe's. There was no hesitation in my voice. "Unfortunately not. That's why we were having to talk about it."
At this point, Dean returned. "Can I offer you anything to drink?" We both asked for tea and Dean went off to the kitchen.
"So, what's the issue?" I had thought the interruption would have changed the conversation but Alice was obviously quite taken by the subject. I explained Dean's deficiencies and resulting inability to perform his male duties. She encouraged me throughout which is why I revealed more than expected. I was also still wound up from the trip to Bristol.
"Surely, it can't be that bad. I mean after all, you're still together," she said in a soothing manner.
At this point, Dean returned with the tea. I didn't know what came over me at the time, though looking back on things I know exactly why. I asked Alice: "Do you want to know the details?"
"Absolutely," enthused Alice.
I looked at Dean. "Take off your clothes."