Note: So, we're all a bit more secluded lately given the global situation. Seemed reasonable to maybe crank out a few stories to lighten the burden. I'll probably do more standalones than chaptered bits. And maybe just for a brief while. But, quarantine gives you time to fantasize I suppose. Two things, everyone is of course over 18 and also I will try to keep an eye on things but if I want to do these faster that might mean a few editorial goofs. Enjoy but wash your hands -- more than usual.
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"Yeah, I just have to finish this. I'm on deadline."
"I get it, but I just need to know -- coming tonight or not? If yes, great. If no, then I'm making other arrangements and the longer I hold off on that the less fair it is to anyone I might want to invite to join."
"Yeah, I know. I... fine... can't promise I'll be done. Grab alternate arrangements. If I finish in time, I'll just miss the show with a minimum of grousing about it."
"Good going, sweetie. That was almost mature. Now get back to work."
We'd been married for a few years now. You'd think we were better at this. But, really, if you think about it, no one is. I'd known early on that Meg was better at her job than she was at seeing how long any particular task would take. She was quick to take on jobs and good at following through. She was less good at seeing that she couldn't do absolutely everything she wanted to sign up for. When that meant that she couldn't do the "fun" stuff it annoyed her because it didn't seem, somehow, fair. So, she said yes to everything and resisted cancelling or rescheduling until the very last minute. She was late to everything and sometimes never showed. Our friends knew this and I had just budgeted it in ages ago. A commitment to do a thing like go to a show was always an intention. But don't tell her that. Meg will take your head off if you imply that she will run out of time for all her commitments. That's just insulting somehow. So, we do this dance. I pretend she's going to do all the things she's agreed to, and she cancels at the last minute while feeling very aggrieved.
In recent months, I've started taking a new approach. No one gets upset, but keep the pretense to a minimum. I figure if I give her time to realize she's not going to make it, but also cover the situation with alternate options then I get to do fun stuff and she gets to not feel guilty because I'm obviously not upset.
I mean, sure, it would be nice if we did all the social stuff together, but it's also true that my honey is a big fan of productive work. It's far more satisfying to her to work until she's exhausted than it is to go out if the work isn't done yet. Yes, she'd like to go to the show, but not as much as she'd like to get this project off her plate.
"Call Dar first, though. She'll want to see it and you haven't taken her out in a while."
"My mother is a grown up, but sure. She is always up for theater."
I walked over to the kitchen nook where my phone was charging and rang Darlene. I know, I know, but she's my mother -- she still answers phone calls. She doesn't always respond to a text, but she will pick up if I call. A regular barbarian.
"Darling," she answered on the second ring. "You never write, you never call."
"Except, of course, now," I reminded her.
"True."
"And the day before yesterday," I pointed out.
"That hardly counts."
"And there was the texting this morning," I mentioned.
"Well, that's not really calling... but fine... I kid a bit and you pull out the accounting. We raised you to be annoying apparently. I blame your father."
"That's about right. I'm sure he was the one who leaned into the sarcasm. It couldn't possibly be my angelic mother."
"Seems right," she unironically agreed.
"Look, Meg and I have tickets to that new thing at the Fox, but she's on deadline and can't make it. We thought maybe-"
"Yes! What time? Do I have time to get ready? I really want to see the show. Did you read the review in the Current? It looks fantastic and so avant garde and I didn't get tickets before it sold out and-"
"Hey, hold up there, Tex. I'm glad you're excited. I don't know much about it, but Meg seemed to think it would be fun. So, it's tonight, but not until 8. So, you've got plenty of time. How about I pick you up at 7. Traffic will determine if we have time to grab a drink before, but we'll be there in plenty of time."
"Oh, this is so great. 7PM don't be late. You've got your key so come on in. I will be working like hell to make myself presentable. It might go down to the wire."
"No need to fish Darlene, you're a handsome woman," I poked at her.
"Bastard. Now I'll really have to work at it. Handsome? I totally blame your dearly departed bastard of a father."
"Again... seems, fair. See you at 7."
I ended the call and told Meg the news.
"She seemed really into the idea," I said. "I didn't read the reviews but she seemed to think it was cool."
"I knew she would," Meg replied without looking up from her laptop. She and my mom were close. I think they would have still been big friends if I weren't around. I don't know if that's comforting or disturbing. She added, "It's a sort of post-modern Drama-Dance reinvention of classic theater... whatever that means. Mostly, I think folks are excited about it because it's sort of edgy and has adult themes."
"Like Rent?"
"Nah, more classic theater stuff. Dance but fewer songs. Oh, who knows, really? You'll have to tell me."
"Will do. I'm going to hit the shower. I should probably not smell bad for my date with The Other Woman," I joked.
"Yeah, you might get lucky so wash your balls dude," she grinned but kept right on typing. Meg can have a bit of a twist to her sense of humor.
Get lucky. Right. I mean, hopefully afterwards when I get home. That would be nice. But, Meg had been working on this project for days. I couldn't swear that SHE'd showered in the last 72 hours. Still, maybe I could lather her up and repair the damage. That would be fun.
When you've been married for a bit sex tends to slow down. Sometimes showering too. Probably in direct correlation. But, you know, we were in a good place. There were weeks when we were just bunnies. Others where one or the other of us were busy. Those weeks were less good kind of sweaty and more sweatpants sweaty. All good and all in love, but comfortable. Sure things were slower now, but doesn't that happen to all married couples?
I stripped off my clothes and headed into the shower. Meg and I weren't overly modest around one another. We'd noticed that some of our friends really were. There were folks in our friend group that I was fairly sure only had a theoretical understanding of their partner's naked body. They could imagine it but didn't really have a first-hand account so to speak. Bobby had let on that Joanie insisted on lights out for any sort of sexy time. She didn't even let him in the bathroom when she was showering. The irony was, of course, that Joanie was hands down the most physically fit of all of us. She lived in athleisure wear and worked out like a maniac. But, that must have sprung from something deeply insecure. Whereas, our friend Chris was just Naked Guy at all of our college parties. Like, at some point someone always said, "Whose that Naked Guy?" We just rotely responded, "That's Chris, he's harmless, introduce yourself."
One Halloween it wasn't Chris but Derrick. Derrick didn't get invited back. Not because he was naked. He was just so Derrick.
Besides, Meg and I had even done a nude beach a time or two. It was kind of fun. Not as sexy as you might think, but fun. I'm no Adonis, but I figure I know who I'm going home with and she likes me pretty well. No need to get hung up on body image stuff.
Once I'd scrubbed all the important bits and shut the water off I realized that I'd been joined in the bathroom. Meg had apparently stopped in for a quick pee.
"Hey," I said rather uninspirationally.
"I'd whistle but I don't want you to get a big head," she said with her trousers around her ankles. As one does.
"Well, you never know. I can get a big head over a lot of things."
"True. So, at least let me know what it's for... C'mere."
I chuckled and walked toward her drying as I shuffled.
"What?"
"Well, I want to give you a reason to come home to me and not run off with The Other Woman," she grinned.
"Huh?"
Meg reached out and latched onto my balls. I mean, not too firmly. Just a bit of a surprise.
"Hey, there... I thought-"
"Yeah, I'm busy. I'm just taking a pee break and I thought I'd get you all spiced up for your super sexytime date. Think of me as the theater fluffer."
"Look, you don't-"
She had drawn me in close and just ran her tongue around the tip of my cock while cradling my balls. I had not expected that.
"Damn. That's unexpected. And-"
I could hear that Meg had started to pee.
"apparently also multitasking."
"Don't make me dialog with you naked guy," she said pulling back from me. "Or I'll just go back to my original purpose."
"No criticism. Just more of that."
Meg did have amazing technique, I have to say. I mean, I've not had like a representative sample of all women or anything. I don't get around that much. But, she was-- ahem- hands down the most orally adept partner I'd ever been with. And in at least one other case that was a high bar. Still, she's a treat. And very considerate. Because I had just written off sex until this project was done. Breaktime sex was plenty fine with me. Besides, this was kinda kinky sexy, which sure didn't hurt. I grew into the experience and she took me in bits and pieces before swallowing me whole.
"Ummm, this is awesome, but, you know, we could move to the bedroom and- uhn- uh, give this a little more attention," I ran my fingers through her hair and around the collar of her shirt, tugging lightly at her top. "Unless, you'd like to just continue what you're doing in the shower?"
Meg sat back and grinned, "Oh, you'd like that wouldn't you, you kinky little piss freak?"
"Yes, yes I would."
