Barstow - The Neighbor Lady

Emily and Jackson just returned home from their day on the job. Both tired and a little distracted, they barely nod at Steve and Cyan as they pass through the kitchen on the way to their room to change out of their work clothes. Emily glances into the other bedroom.

"SHRIEK! Steven! There's a naked woman on your bed!"

"There had better be! Why is that a problem now?"

"Steven?" a different voice breaks in. "You didn't tell her about me? You fuck everybody. Why is she surprised?"

An embarrassed "Oops..." can be heard from the kitchen.

Chased into the back of the house by Cyan's laughter, Steve admits, "Glo? I was thinking you'd have gone home before they got here."

"Not before you give me another orgasm, Steven," the woman deadpans.

Em and Jax start to laugh at this scene. Jax shakes his head for his usual retort in these circumstances, "Steve, you can be such a cad sometimes." Jax sticks his head into the room, "Hi. I'm Jackson. This is Emily. You are?"

"Gloria. Gloria Appelbaum. From three doors down."

Still chuckling, Emily confronts her main man, "You never told us you were doing neighbors, Stevie. But she's right! You do fuck everybody. All the women, at least."

Steve sighs. "You two get your clothes off and come back here, and we'll chat, okay?"

They duck into their room.

Gloria asks Steve, "How come you hadn't told 'em?"

"Didn't think I needed to. You and I haven't done this for nearly two years. Not like either of us don't want to, it just never came up."

"You are going to tell 'em now, right? And everything that goes with it?"

"Yep. I'll read them in."

Jax and Em step back into the bedroom and flop down on the big bed. "'Read us in' about what, Stevie?" Emily sort of complains.

"Well first, this is all on the QT. You know I don't mess with married women if their husbands aren't along for the ride, right?"

"Right. Why's this different?"

"I dunno. It just is. How long we been doin' it, Glo?"

"Eleven or twelve years, I guess."

Cyan walks in to join the conversation, "More like fifteen or sixteen, Glo. But it's been very infrequent. Last time was two years ago. Hmm. Maybe three. Months before you guys got here."

"Why not her husband?" Em inquires.

Gloria is quick to respond, "Very traditional ideas about marriage and the woman's place in the relationship. 'Barefoot and pregnant' stuff. Problem was I couldn't get pregnant, and his interest in sex waned since we couldn't have kids. He was, 'What's the point?'"

"No divorce?"

"Nope. We have a good life together, just no sex. Besides, too much time had elapsed and it was impossible to restart my career. Everybody wanted a college degree by that point. Wasn't going to happen."

"Spousal support?"

"Nuh uh. We're of modest means. He could never handle two households. We still love each other, anyway."

"So Stevie here fills the void. How'd you connect that way?"

Cyan answers, "Block party. Steve and I were already hearing wisps of rumors that we held sex parties, which of course was true, but at this normal gathering the drinks were flowing and Glo took me aside."

"Yeah!" Gloria chuckles. "My tongue was maybe a little loose. 'Any chance I can borrow that hunk of a man you have?' is what I recall asking. I really wasn't that drunk. The truth was barely skin deep, so it didn't take much. The funny thing..."

"... is I said 'yes, of course.'"

"I was flabbergasted not expecting that at all. But we arranged for a visit, a 'cup of sugar' thing. So here we are. We've been keeping this a secret from Roger the entire time."

"And the rest of the neighborhood," Steve breaks in. "We need to be really careful, guys. When we make a date, she comes in and goes out the back."

"Nice to meet you two, by the way. Steve and Cy have always been a little different to the rest of us, but those of us who have had a chance to get to know them appreciate their alternate approach to life and love, even though it runs counter to everything we've been brought up to believe. Steve? Orgasm? Please?"

Everybody chuckles.

"Guys? This is just for Glo and me. She's not a swinger and certainly isn't looking for an audience."

"Understood," as Emily rolls over to give Steve a kiss. "We'll help Cy work on dinner."

"Thanks."

=====

Gloria is leaning on an elbow for her pillow talk with Steven. He is propped up on the headboard, relaxing in their afterglow.

"They're nice kids, Steve. That whole desert story is pretty amazing, actually."

"Kismet. Divine intervention. The stars aligned. Something like that. We were deeply in love before we even got to Kingman that evening."

"But you and Cy were experienced swingers and knew not to let things happen that way."

"This was completely different. The logical me tried really hard to push back against Emily's obvious pull towards me, but there was something magical there. I love Cy, always have and always will, but Em and I were puzzle pieces looking for our mates, apparently. And of course there was the energy 'tween Cy and Jax."

"You said they couldn't keep their hands off each other."

"For the four days driving home, the times they weren't fucking could have been measured in minutes."

Glo chuckles.

"Hey, Steve. You know I see you just for the sex and don't expect anything else, but..."

"'But' what, Gloria?"

"I'm thinking about branching out a little here given the circumstances."

"Okay..."

"Since they know and know why, and share in our need for discretion..."

"What are you getting at?"

"I'd like to have Jackson, that's what. I just saw him naked, and he appeals to me."

"You could have asked that four questions ago." Sitting up and shouting out the door,

"Jackson?"

Footsteps can be heard in the hallway, followed by a growly, "You rang?"

"Very funny, Jax. Glo here wants to fuck you. You okay with that?"

"Sure! Did he?" asking Gloria.

"He did."

"Shower first, if you don't mind."

Steve chuckles, "Sloppy seconds. In the beginning I kept doing it to him with Cy and Em."

"Sloppy seconds?"

"Sticking it in right after another guy has cum in you."

Gloria laughs, "You said you four are married to each other. Sure sounds like it. Jax? You can assist."

"My pleasure."

"I'll leave you two to it." Steve excuses himself from the bed and bedroom.

=====

Steve grabs a sitting towel and settles into his place at the kitchen table. He's amused in having caught the tail end of an incriminating chat between Cyan and Emily.

"So evidently Cy has been telling tales of my exploits with other women in the neighborhood."

Emily giggles, "She sure has!"

Cyan laughs.

"Has she got to the big one yet?"

"You mean you and Davenport?"

"So she has."

"Uh huh. That it explains why she's constantly on our case about the parties."

"And that she was in love with me?"

"That, too."

"Cy, did you bother to mention that Gary Davenport walked in on me in bed with Rosalyn? She was on top, by the way, grinding on me in cowgirl. Gawd that woman could fuck."

"Didn't get to that little detail, Steven. Just told 'er you were responsible for their divorce.

Emily snickers, "I thought you didn't mess with marrieds."

"I sure didn't after that. He pulled a gun out of the nightstand. Thankfully it wasn't loaded, and while he was looking for the clip, he broke down sobbing in the realization that it was over between them, anyway."

"Close call."

"Not really. Gary was a nice, well-meaning guy. There was no way he had the mettle to pull the trigger. Roz could be a bit of a shrew, which is one reason I broke it off with her after that. I especially didn't want to be around and in an ongoing relationship with her during the divorce proceedings. Nate read me the riot act about letting it get that far. He was on the bench at the time and lectured me, 'You're too smart for that shit!' were his exact words."

"And she didn't take it well, kicking her husband out and then not getting you in the bargain."

"Duh."

"Don't know what to think, Stevie. That sure isn't the Steven I know."

"Jax is right when he ribs me about being 'a cad'. You know I love the ladies, and the letting them love me back sure carried risks."

"What's funny -- interesting funny -- is that Cyan stuck with you the entire way."

Cyan starts laughing so hard she had to grab the counter.

"What did I say?"

"Oh, she was a busy girl herself back then. You've seen how she can get."

"Oh? In what way?"

"You're walking in her footsteps, sweetheart. Your hotel bar adventures, for instance. Doesn't it make you think it's weird that I rarely get upset when you go out for the notch count?"

"A little. But I know where the unconditional love is, Steven. And the mind-blowing sex, too, not to mention my best friend and partner in crime. And I'm still really, really sorry that it got out of hand with Nick. I still hurt from your hurt."

"Thank you, sweetie. I love you, too. We recovered pretty well, I think, and made some really good friends in the end. Anyway, Cyan was unstoppable when she was your age. I would figure on at least two nights a week when she wouldn't be home until the middle of the next day."

"Emily? I was scoring three or four men when I went out like that."

"And Steve had no problem with this because he would be entertaining another woman at home."

He answers, "Yep. Sometimes two. Cy had her fun, I had mine, and on the weekends we'd play together with lifestyle friends."

"Still crazy after all these years."

"Yup."

"OMYGAWD Jackson! Oh! Oh! OH! Do that again!" breaks their little confessional.

"Hmm," Steve sarcastically ponders. "Sounds like Jax made a new friend."

Em and Cy crack-up.

"Doesn't Glo have to go home to her husband for dinner or somethin'?" Emily asks.

"Not tonight. Roger is in Minneapolis for his job. She'll need to be home by 10:00 for their usual phone call when he's away, but other than that, she's good for the evening here."

"Are we expecting any of the guys over? Do any of them know about Gloria?"

"Ellie does. No, nobody said anything about tonight. I wouldn't mind seeing them, though, and even if they showed-up I would fully trust their understanding the circumstances."

"Have to ask, Stevie. I take it she's straight."

"She is. Not really the exploring type. Her requesting Jackson sort of surprised me, for that matter. Good for her."

"Steve?" Cyan muses, "She's at that age. It is possible that she is softening her menopause with HRT. Some women go bonkers with it, you know."

"Maybe so."

Ding!

"Crap. Text message. Could you grab my phone there, please?"

Cy plucks Steve's phone off the charging pad and hands it to him.

"Oh, this is interesting. It's Ashley asking if she could come over."

He texts back, "Sure. You okay?"

"Mostly. Need to talk"

"We'll be here. May have a guest lingering"

"They gonna be okay with my being there?"

"Should be. A neighbor who knows us well"

"Okay to be nude?"

"Yes. Why?"

"We're gonna fuck too"

"Okay"

"10 minutes"

Steve shows the messaging to Emily and Cyan.

"Oh, boy," Emily grimaces. "This sounds to me like a blowup with Marcus."

Steve scrunches his face. "Yeah. Car and I talked about possible incompatibilities, that matchmaking those two was a risk."

Gloria steps into the kitchen, fully dressed, with Jax close behind, not dressed, and revealingly flaccid and glossy. Glo's face is quite flushed, however. The guys at the table are trying not to break out in laughter.

"I gotta go," Gloria tells them. "Steve, kiss me goodnight."

Steve obliges. "I have a hunch it won't be two years before we see you again."

"Oh, yeah! Jackson here is great. Bye, guys!"

Jax sees her out the patio door and walks her to the gate. Glo interrupts his opening it for her so she can fondle his cock. "I like this. I want more," she says before disappearing into the darkness of the back lot.

Jackson returns to the kitchen to all three demanding, "Well?"

"I hit her G-spot just right, she said."

Steve confirms, "You do have that slight curve, Jax. I hope she can stay disciplined about not coming down here when Roger is home. Could blow it for her. Oh. Ashley's on her way. Something's up."

=====

No sooner said than they hear the front door open and close. Ashley has door privileges now, especially considering that she's virtually family to them. Steve stands to greet her.

"Hi, lover." She reaches to him drawing a supportive hug and kiss. "Let me lose my clothes and we'll meet in the tub, okay?"

"Sounds serious. Just us?"

"It is. Maybe for a little bit."

"See you there."

There is concern all over everyones' faces. Steve is a good counselor, especially in situations of love and sex, so it is natural that Ashley would seek him as a sounding board. It doesn't hurt that she loves him, either.

He goes outside and turns on the spa pump, but not the blower since it is too noisy for serious conversation. He steps down into the tub and takes a seat as the beautiful Ashley slides the door open. He stands again to help her down the tub steps.

"What's going on? You and Marcus doing okay?"

"Oh, we're fine. We fuck a little, but aren't particularly crazy with each other. I think both of us are okay with just being swinging partners and my showing him the ropes."

"You have us concerned, you know."

"Something happened at work."

"Uh oh. You still have a job?"

"Oh, not that kind of thing. A client problem."

"Let me guess. Your day ran over on a repair, the man of the house came home while you were still there, and he put the moves on you."

"Gawd, Steve. How do you know?"

"I'm a good study of human nature. How bad?"

"I had just replaced the filter assembly, and he saw me working. It was an atrium, so it was steamy in there, and that shit is heavy. I had taken off my work jacket, and was still sweating like a pig. My camisole was soaked so my nips were showing through big time."

"Gawd, Ash. And he took it as an invitation."

"Yep. Disappeared into the house and came back out nude and hard. He was absolutely not somebody I would consider fuck material, but he came at me and tried to unfasten my pants."

"Did he say anything?"

"Yeah. And I quote, 'For what I pay you guys, I expect special attention. The guy you had before was doin' my wife as part of the deal, so you're going to fuck me, right? Of course you are.'"

"Shit."

"'Shit' is right. I broke loose and told him that wasn't the deal in any way, shape, or form, and if he didn't back off I had 911 on one-button speed dial and would report an attempted rape."

"He backed off with that?"

"Yeah, he did, thank goodness. I quickly buttoned everything up, threw my tools in the box, and got my ass out of there."

"You tell Alex?"

"I did. All she said was that it's a risk in the pool business and I did what I could."

"The 'pool boy' trope has consequences."

"It does. That Logan was reinforcing that bullshit all the time did not help. Stevie? You know I'm a big girl and certainly know my way around aggressive sexual situations, but could you..."

"Offer some loving comfort? Of course. What is your wish?"

"Cuddle fuck here in the water. I know this sounds really weird, but I want a loving penis in me attached to somebody who truly cares. You have the lube handy?"

"Right here."

Steve reclines for Ashley settle into him as she reaches down to direct his cock into her pussy. She melts into their comforting intercourse and he hugs from behind, alternately fondling a breast and gently fingering her clit. It's what experienced lovers do.

"You don't have to cum for me, Stevie."

"Can't just yet, anyway."

"Oh! Emily?"

"Nope. That neighbor I mentioned."

"You rascal!" she chuckles.

"She and I have been doing it for a decade. Not often, though. Tonight was the first time in over two years."

"Oh? That's odd."

"Sexless marriage, and he doesn't know."

"Risky."

"Doin' okay so far. Up until tonight, only she, I, and Cyan knew. Oh. Ellie, too."

"So Jax and Em are in on the secret now."

Steve softly laughs. "She requested Jackson after doing me, and came with him better than she ever did with me. She's his problem from here out."

Ashley laughs! "You can be so evil, Steven!"

"Occupational hazard."

On hearing the laughter, the rest of the fourple have taken that as a cue the tense part of Ash and Steve's meeting has passed. They file out the door, ready to join them in the roiling water.

"Go ahead and turn on the blower, Em," Steve requests.

"You guys doin' good?" Jax inquires.

"We are," Ashley confirms. She sighs, "Stevie sure knows how to soothe a girl. Mmmm. So nice."

Steve expounds on that a little. "Ash had a bit of trouble at work today. Client came on to her, and not in a good way."

"Guy or gal?" Cyan teases.

Ash chuckles back, "I like the way you think, but no, a guy. A pretty grody one. Yuck."

"Whatcha going to do?"

"Just make sure I'm not there when he might be. It was only a problem because an earlier call took too long and I was there past normal hours."

"You tell Alex?"

"I did. She's not much help since her obvious priority is keeping the client. So I'm on my own with it. I'll manage. I've dealt with worse at swinger bashes. Stevie?"

"Ash?"

"I'm going to get my rocks off with you if you don't mind, and after I recover, Cy and Em and I are going to shower and then find the big bed."

He shakes his head and chuckles, "Be my guest."

The girls are smiling and softly chuckling, thoroughly amused by "the offer". They glide to the copulating couple to lay hands to assist in her pleasuring. Ashley moans and purrs into the three-on-one. Experience matters.

=====

"11 o'clock is a little late for coffee, Jax," Steve muses. Jackson has brewed a pot for everyone, and they're gathered around the kitchen table.

"Beats smoking!" Ashley snickers. "You guys were monsters!"

"You started it!" Emily laughs. "How many?"

"Lost count!" Ash reaches under the table to Steven sitting next to her and yanks hard on his cock.

"Hey! You're gonna want to use that again!"

Emily urges, "Go for his balls!"

"OOOF! Crap, you guys!"

Ashley sits there with a Cheshire-cat grin while the others get a good laugh at Stevie's expense.

He sighs after catching his breath, "You going to stay over?"

"I dunno. Need some incentive here. You able to get it up again? How 'bout you, Jackson?"

"Yes!" Steve sticks his tongue out at her.

"And yes!" Jackson does the same.

The women giggle and chuckle.

Calming down, Ash sighs, "Yes. I wanna spend the night if that's okay. I love you guys. You're all nuts, in a good way. I never got that close to the fourples in the Santa Barbara group, so I didn't get a sense of how they lived. But I'll say one thing -- they sure didn't have the zany loving and sex and everything you guys have."

Steve muses, "Thanks, sweetie. Group cuddle sleep is part of the deal, too. You do that much?"

"Never thought about it. It was sort of a given when Connor and I had threesomes with another girl, but not a lot beyond that. The SB group was mostly into party fucking and then stumbling home. Maybe at some hotel takeovers, but there was too much bed-hopping interrupting things for that kind of deep intimacy. It was a rowdy bunch."

"Just watch out for 'im at 2:30," Emily snickers. "He always wants a fuck then. You can set a clock by it. I swear he's doing it in his sleep."

Steve grimaces, Cy and Jax look at each other, nodding their heads in confirmation.

"Results?" Ash asks, wearing a sly sneer.

"Sometimes. But you know what?" Em lovingly glances to Steve. "He stays mostly hard and it's a natural sensation to keep him in me and let it soak. Feels good. I know I usually don't have to worry about rolling over a wet spot 'cuz he's fallen out."

"Sort of changing the subject slightly, Ashley," Steve ponders, "you've only mentioned boy-girl-girl threesomes. You and Connor ever do MFM?"

"Rarely. I told you about the guy with the huge cock the women would fight over? Every so often Connor would get in a mood to watch me fuck that thing, and we'd have him over for a screw session."

"You met Rick, right?"

"Yep. Did 'im a couple of times at the last party."

"Well?"

"Rick's long, but this guy was longer and fatter."

"Yikes!" Emily reels. "I don't even really take Rick any more. Just too much!"

"Know the feeling!"

Cyan suggests, "Bed after we're done here? You guys all had exhausting days even before we got into it."

"Good idea," Jackson confirms. "I'll potty the dogs and meet you there. Rinse off first, however?"

"I'm with that," Steve allows. "Ash? Em?"

Ashley chuckles, "After you!"

=====

The sleepover with Ashley was fun and comforting. Steve did his 2:30 sleepfucking thing with Ash just as predicted, but it was dry given the three ejaculations yesterday evening with Gloria, Ashley, and Emily, respectively.

Ash is able to linger over coffee for a few minutes after Jackson and Emily took off for work, but it won't be for too long since she also has to report to her job at 8:30. Fortunately she came prepared and had her uniform with her. Her drive to the pool store is all of two minutes if she hits both traffic lights just right.

Steve asks Ashley, "How are your folks handling the sleepovers like this?"

"They're okay. Actually more than okay since they're under the impression I'm dating now."

"They meet Marcus?"

"No, and they're not going to. Don't want to get their hopes up too much, and certainly don't want to traumatize Marcus with a 'meet the folks.'"

Steve chuckles at that.

"Besides, too many questions from especially Dad might make him stumble into the truth. They knew nothing about what I was doing in California beyond mentioning Connor a couple of times."

"Ah. You do know you have a place to stay if it comes down to that."

"I'm not concerned. They're happy I'm here to help Mom deal with Dad."

"How bad is he?"

"Really bad. We're not at diapers yet, but it's in the near future."

"How old is he?"

"That's the really horrible part of this -- only 62. His liver is in terrible shape from his drinking, and we're on pins and needles that his lung issues aren't about to turn cancerous again. He lost half a lung a year ago. Helping Mom with his recovery is basically what brought me home."

"I'm so sorry, Ashley. That's a lot to take on when you're at the point in your life when you should be looking to build your own family."

"I think I already have."

"Huh?"

"You guys."

"I know you're not kidding, but you've got to be kidding."

"I'm not. The support, the love, the trust, the understanding the real me. Not going to find that anywhere else."

"Well, okay. Is that a proposal to marry into the polycule, Ashley?"

"I never thought about it that way, but maybe it is. I dunno. Too soon, really."

"Okay. Back burner for the time being. Cyan? You have any thoughts?"

"She's one of us, Steven. We concluded that the day we met. She has my vote if that's what she decides. The fourple will obviously discuss the possibility, and we'll want to run it by Ellie quietly, though I suspect she'll be all over the idea."

Ash responds, "Guys, I'm touched. Oh gosh -- look at the clock. I gotta get to work."

"You doing anything for dinner?" Steve asks.

"Nope."

"Straight here after work?"

"I can do that."

"The four of us is it for tonight, so we'll set a place for you, okay?"

"Very! Kiss me goodbye!"

Kisses are passed around, and Ashley darts out the front door.

"Steve?" Cyan prompts.

"Yes?"

"She's in love with you without a doubt. Are you in love with her?"

"Hard not to be."

"I hate to ask this, but do you think she might displace Emily in the grand scheme?"

"No! Not at all! Ash is smart and beautiful and incredibly sexy, and great to have around, but Emily? No. Emily and I are totally fixtures in each others' lives. We lean on each other, really hard. Ashley is dependent on nobody."

"Where do I fit in, Steven?"

"You, my dear, are my queen. Together we reign over an impossible kingdom of lovers."

"I guess I'm okay with that, Your Highness. More coffee?"

Steve gives her "the tongue". She laughs, grabs the pot to refresh his cup, and musses his hair for good measure while she pours.

=====

"Steve? Cyan? Where are you guys?"

Ellie has let herself in, and after checking the kitchen she's stepped down the hallway to check the bedrooms. No sign of anybody. She goes back through the kitchen to check the garage. Okay, it's empty. They must've taken Cyan's car instead of Steve's SUV.

The dogs are in Steve's office, whining to be acknowledged if not let out. She knows better than to do that alone, as Sky and Solomon have each knocked her down in their excitement on a couple of occasions.

She retrieves her phone from her purse.

"I'm at the house," she texts to Steve. She grabs a beer from the kitchen fridge and sits down at the table to take a load off.

A couple of minutes pass. "Running errands close by. 10-15 minutes," is the reply.

"Okay"

Given the house is so quiet, El hears somebody punching in the combination for the front door. It opens. "Hello?" Ellie inquires.

"Ellie? I saw your car out front." It's Catherine. "Where is everybody?"

"Errands, Steve said. They'll be back in a few minutes. What brings you by?"

"Wanted to cry on Stevie's shoulder a little."

"Oh? What's going on?"

"Keri and I had a fight."

"Over something in particular?"

"Yeah. It needs to wait for Steve."

"You sure I can't help?"

"It's about Steven. At least we think it is."

"Shit. You, or her?"

"Her."

"When did she find out?"

"This morning. She did a pee stick, and was late to work."

"So the fight is over whether she should keep it."

"Yeah. Wow. How'd you figure it out so quick?"

"Been there more than once. Okay, let's think this through. Timing is right for one of the parties."

"It is."

"You two were fucking all the guys like kids in a candy store. You take a 'Plan B' the next morning?"

"I did, she said she was going to, but forgot."

"Hell of a thing to forget. She needs to fix it. That's one of the responsibilities in the swinger world. You party hearty without protection... oh, gawd... I don't really think you two fully understand the consequences. It gets really, really messy, for a lot of people."

"I sorta knew that, but she keeps saying things like, "If it's Stevie's, I want to keep it!"

"But she doesn't know if it's Steve's. In fact, if it's the parties I think it was, it's not. Friday night was apparently all about Zoë, and recharging for Ashley's train. Saturday was mostly playing host when not clinging to me and Emily, eventually shooting his wad in me. I hear the garage door. They're back."

Steve and Cyan appear through the door from the garage.

"Hi, guys! Saw your cars out front. You started a party without us?" Steve jokes.

"Steve?" Cyan asides. "I'll take care of the dogs."

"Thanks, dear. You guys plan this?"

"No," Ellie answers. "Coincidence. We need to retreat to the conference room."

"Oh, boy. Sounds serious. Okay. I'll meet you out there. You two drop your clothes in Em and Jax's room."

Steve stands by at the patio door for the girls to reappear, shows them through, starts the tub pumps and helps both down into the hot tub.

"Ellie, we're certainly used to your coming and going unannounced, but Cat? Something's up."

"It is, Stevie. I don't know how to say this, but..."

"That's okay, Cat, I'll take it," El interrupts. "Steven, Keri's pregnant."

Steven is not startled, and looks to Cat. "I sort of felt there was going to be that risk with both of you. You played fairly hard before meeting us, but probably weren't thinking that much about the over-the-top sex associated with the hardcore parties. When did she find out? What's the timing?"

Cat answers, "This morning. Ellie thinks she knows from which party, and says it's not you."

"That doesn't matter. I guess by your being here you and Keri have differing opinions about what to do."

"She's leaning hard toward keeping it."

"Bad idea. Especially seeing that we don't know who the father is. Finding that out drags a whole bunch of people through a knothole, and disrupts numerous lives. The responsible thing to do is terminate. Good thing we live in Illinois."

"I tried telling her that, and Ellie here said the same thing."

"Okay. Does she have anything going on after work tonight?"

"Not that I know of."

"I will text her after we dry off and request she come here after work. You think she'll ghost me?"

"Hard to tell. We couldn't talk much. She dropped the news on me at shift change and had to go to work right away."

"I gotta do this now. You two try to relax."

Steve climbs out of the tub over the edge, skipping the steps, and grabs a towel off the pile. He heads into the kitchen and picks-up his phone.

"Keri's pregnant," he informs Cyan. "Probably not me."

"Oh, boy, Steven. Then who?"

"Don't know. Ellie says the timing is right to be from a couple parties ago."

"And those two were screwing everybody."

"Uh huh. I'm texting her now."

He taps her contact entry and brings up the text app. "Cat told me"

Doesn't take long. "Fuck her"

"We need to talk. Get yourself over here after work"

"No"

"You're over your head with this. Seriously"

"Still no"

"Sweetie, there are reasons you love me. Maturity is one. Please trust me on this

"Okay. I don't want Cat there"

"Fine. I'll send her home. Don't bother changing. Straight here

"Whatever"

Steve sighs a big sigh, sets the phone down on the charging pad, and turns to Cyan.

"She's being obstinate about this. It's going to be a real pain talking her down. I told her to come straight here after work."

"That's about 7:30, right?"

"Uh huh."

"What do you want to do about Ashley?"

"You and the guys can entertain her while I have the talk with Keri. This one will have to be in my office. I gotta go deal with Cat."

Steve shuffles to the patio and steps back down into the tub. He catches some of the exchange between Ellie and Catherine that seems to indicate that Cat "gets it" and Keri does not.

"Cat? Keri requested you not be here if I'm going to have the talk with her."

"That's fine, Stevie. She and I are not in a good place at the moment."

"Do you know what's driving her on this?"

"Her belief that it's yours. In her mind you are 'the perfect man', especially after the cop incident. She wants a baby by you. Do you recall what she said then?"

"I do. You realize the implications, don't you?"

"That even if you get her to do the right thing getting an abortion, you won't be able to trust her again."

"Yeah. That hurts me to think that, you know. I love you guys, but she and I will never be able to have sex from here on out. I wouldn't even be able to trust her with a condom if that's her thinking."

"I get that. Stevie, you're special."

"Thank you, Catherine. So are you. You know, you've really surprised me."

"How's that?"

"That you're the grown-up. Between your come-on at that breakfast with Nick and Karen and wanting to get into so much trouble when the four of us overnighted at the hotel, I had to wonder if you had what it took for the serious side of what we do."

Cat chuckles, "I never did that before. The panties thing. You have that whole goofball stuff bubbling under the surface all the time. I love that, and want to play just as hard with it. You inspire me."

"Thank you, sweetie. We have about an hour before Jax and Em get here, plus another guest for dinner. You want to spend some bed time with Ellie and me? It seems we need that comfort right now."

"I'd welcome that, Stevie. You're so cool. I love you."

"I love you, too, Catherine. Let's do this."

=====

Emily sticks her head into the big bedroom. "It looks like you guys had an interesting afternoon. Hi, El. Hi, Cat."

"Hi, sweetheart. Yeah. We're cooling down from some bad news Cat brought home."

"Oh? What's that?"

"Keri's pregnant, and wants to keep it."

"Well that's an 'Oh, Shit!' You?"

"She thinks so, apparently, but no. Timing is right for one of the parties. Ellie figured it out, and it's everybody but me."

"Well that's a bummer. I mean..."

"I know what you mean. Remember last year when you were corresponding with your L. A. friends?"

"Yeah. That's what's in the back of my mind."

"Cat? You going to stay for dinner? It'll be cutting it close."

"I'd better not, Steven. Knowing you guys, you're all going to be dumping on Keri pretty hard. I need to not be in the chorus."

"I think you're right. Let's get dressed and get you out of here."

Exchanging parting pleasantries, Steve shows Cat to the door just in time for Ashley to be walking up the sidewalk.

Ash shakes her head and snickers, "You're a mess, Stevie. Hi, Cat. You know, I think you're really cute."

Cat chuckles back, "And you're gorgeous, Ashley. I wish I could be a California girl!"

"That's me! You guys have a good time?"

"Not really. It was a serious visit, although we took some time to comfort each other. I was the bearer of bad news. Steve will fill you in, no doubt."

"Steve?"

"Probably an area you have some expertise in."

"Okay."

"Cat? Be careful driving home. Wish us luck."

Catherine reaches to Steve for a hug and lingering kiss. "Bye, Stevie. Good luck."

Steve escorts Ashley into the house, and she asks him, "What's going on?"

"Keri is pregnant, and she wants it to be by me. It isn't."

"Who?"

"We don't know. Timing puts it at that double party three weeks ago. Could be any of a nearly a dozen guys. You deal with this out there?"

"Yup. A couple of times, including me."

"I figured you'd know something about it. Although that's not what we planned for the evening, I am really glad you're here. Keri is supposed to be coming here right after work, provided she doesn't blow me off. She gets off at seven."

"Hi, Ashley," Ellie greets.

"Surprised you're here. Short day?"

"Yeah. I'll be joining you guys for dinner."

Steve takes a big sighing breath, "Serious conversation for dinner, serious conversation after dinner. Clothes serious."

"Will the house collapse in on us, Stevie?" Ashley kids.

"I'm not happy about it, either. But y'all know me well enough that there are times it isn't all fun and games. Let's take this into the kitchen."

With everybody at the table and filling their plates, Steve gets right into what the six of them need to discuss.

Addressing Emily, Jackson, and Ellie, "Ashley slept here last night. There was an important revelation about where she wanted to go with her life."

"Was it over coffee after we left this morning?" Em asks. "Ash? That's when a lot of our really serious discussions take place. You know, after we've slept on it."

Jax mumbles, "And fucked on it."

They laugh.

"Seriously, gang. Ashley came to the realization of what we already sort of knew, that we've become her second family."

"In an awfully short amount of time," Cyan notes. With a sly grin, "You guys know nothing about that, do you?"

Jax almost chokes on his dinner. Emily grins.

Ashley frowns. "There's apparently a story here."

Cyan fills her in, "We declared a life together barely a day after meeting each other."

"Two days, dear. We were in Amarillo."

"Everything was a blur by then. Glad you could remember it."

"Anyway, while there is no rush, Ashley has come to the conclusion, and made the proposal, that she might want to join the polycule. Ellie, she is so strongly connected to the four of us, that our lives have been so similar up to this point, that it made sense to Cy and me we'd want to consider her joining us in our unholy matrimony. What do y'all think?"

Jackson jumps right on it. "Mygawd. Aye."

"Yeah. Really makes sense. Obvious, even," Emily concurs.

"Oh, sweetie!" Ellie leans into Ashley for a big hug, and stretches up to her for a big kiss.

Ashley bursts into tears. Steve reaches to hold her hand. "I never expected this. It was just an idea. Wishful thinking. A total shattering of 'Rule #2'. Oh, Stevie. You guys!"

Steve asks Ellie, "How do you think the others are going to take it?"

"Toby will be fine and maybe even a little excited. Debbie, too. My first thought was Caroline might have reservations, but come to think of it, she even offered her side guy to you as a play partner, so she's clearly on board with you being one of us. Only one to go, Sarah, who you have not met."

"When will that happen?" Ash inquires.

Steve answers, "This weekend. This is poly time. No parties. Just us. We do it because Sarah lives so far away."

Emily suggests, "You won't want to surprise her with it, Steven."

"I won't. I'll call her tomorrow."

"Not tonight?"

"No. Keri will be here in about a half-hour. I hope. Guys, this is really serious business with her. It's going to be a full-court press to get her to do what's right."

Ashley is daubing her tears, but replies, "What's your angle?"

"Well, for starters, we're relatively certain it's not mine. Cat has the impression that she wants to keep it because it might be."

"Right," Ellie agrees. "It can't be. Em, you and I were keeping Steve busy the night we think she was impregnated. Did you even do 'er that night, Stevie?"

"I don't recall. If at all, maybe a quick in-and-out before handing her off to someone else."

"What else you think will help? Ashley asks.

"You, for one. Your experience with it."

"Ahem, Steven," Emily interrupts. "You and I never talked about it, but me, too. Girls? I gather that every one of us here has terminated a pregnancy resulting from a party. Do I have that right?"

The ladies all glance to each other. There is no dissent.

"Ellie?" Steve asks, "Do you want to take the lead?"

"I can."

"Thank you. It would be best if this was girl talk. Since the four of you have faced similar circumstances, that seems to be best. This is where being 'a guy' and especially the assumed father would work against us. Even better that it's you since you two have shared intimacy."

"I think we have a plan. Steve? I think I might be able to save your relationship with her."

"How's that?"

"Talk to her about the trust part of it. All four of us love you to the ends of the earth and if it were in the cards would certainly like to experience what raising your progeny would be like. But we know, and she needs to learn, that jumping off that particular cliff would change your life and ruin everything that makes you you. If she's as smart as I think she is, she'll see that."

"Fingers crossed, then."

"Hoping for the best."

They hear the front door open and close.

"Here we go," Steve grimaces.

"I'll greet 'er," Ellie offers. "You just offer hugs, okay?"

"You're the boss."

=====

The girls -- all of them -- are in the spa tub having a heated discussion, and it's not on account of the water. It's evident by the raised voices that Keri is not one bit happy. Steve and Jax are doing their best to make themselves scarce... until Steve's phone rings. It's Gloria's number. He purses his lips and shakes his head at this new situation before picking up.

"Hi, hot stuff. My guess is you're requesting time with Jackson."

"Gawd yes, Steve. I suppose I should thank my stars that you are straight and to the point when it comes to sex."

"Why dither when you could be screwing? Saves time."

Gloria laughs. "Can I?"

"You talk to him. Be warned we have a couple of guests over and it's not a pleasant situation at the moment. Here he is."

"Hi, Glo. You said last night you wanted more. Roger not home yet?"

"Nope. I pick him up at the airport tomorrow."

"Okay. So there's no risk of him showing up unannounced since you have the car."

"Right."

"Okay. I'm going to open the garage door for you. We can't let you in the back because the guests and their problems are in the hot tub."

"That's alright. I'll leave in back of the Whittens' place and come through the access to the front."

"That'll work."

Gloria hangs up and Jackson steps out to the garage to open the door.

"Pretty good for a beginner, Jackson!" Steve goads him.

"Oh gosh, Steven. I know the drill with married women looking for side fucks. This is nothing new for me."

"Hmm. Was Emily letting you cruise cougar bars, Jackson?"

"You could say that."

"Gawd. No wonder we're married. And you call me a cad!"

Jax laughs!

"Knock knock." Gloria cracks the inside door from the garage to announce herself.

"Come on in," Steve acknowledges. "Something to drink? You still like scotch, neat?"

"Sure."

Jackson ducks out to the bar area to fix her drink.

"Have a seat. Ignore the raised voices from the patio."

"You told me. This doesn't sound good. Crap! Did I just hear somebody say 'abortion', Steven?"

"Yeah, you did. Party accident. She's a beginner in the lifestyle."

"Should be an easy decision."

"Unfortunately it's complicated."

"In what way?"

"She's in love with the guy who she thinks is the father and wants to keep it."

Jackson is back with Glo's drink and rolls his eyes on hearing Steve say what he did and the way he said it.

"Oh. But it was at a party?"

"Yeah. Emily and Ellie were there and are 99% sure it can't be who she thinks it is. That's the core of the argument."

"And proving or disproving paternity would be a big mess."

"Exactly."

"Good luck. Jax? Grab yourself something and let's go."

=====

Steve has been left alone with his thoughts. He takes his beer into the office to maybe sit and surf, but especially, to commune with the puppies. They appreciate that, especially in their sensing the tension surrounding them. Dalmatians are like that. Sky rests his muzzle on Daddy's leg and Steve mindlessly pets his head and ears to soothe his concerns.

He has earbuds on, listening to something interesting he found online, so doesn't hear the office door open and then latch behind him. Feeling a warm presence behind, he pulls the earbuds out and glances back to discover a naked cutie about to reach for a from-behind gentle shoulder hug. She's been crying.

"Hi," he offers.

"Hi," she manages. "I'm sorry, Stevie."

"Your head in a better place now?"

"I think so. I didn't realize this was sort of a rite of passage for women in the lifestyle. All of them."

"Mostly. Too many have to learn the hard way."

"Cat was right."

"She is. Why didn't you follow her advice about 'Plan B' when you had the chance?"

"Invulnerable. Cy, Em, El, and Ashley sure hammered that in. In quadruplicate."

"And now..."

"I know. Trust. Wow. I sure screwed-up."

"You did. What do you want me to do?"

"I want you to trust me again, Steven. As much as my love for you tells me I dearly want to bear your child you wonderful man, the girls made no bones that it would ruin everything for everybody. And while you would be honorable about fatherhood, you would never be able to legally marry me. Not without a lot of hurt and resentment."

"What's your plan?"

"See my gyno."

"Okay. You know you'll be offline for a couple of months, don't you?"

"The girls told me. And it would means condoms for everyone until I could start The Pill after my periods are regular. Can we?"

"'Can we' what?"

"Fuck tonight. A good fuck. It would be the last chance to do it bareback for a while. I can't get any more pregnant than I already am."

Steve mildly chuckles at that. "You're right. The girls okay with that?"

"They were the ones who suggested it, that make-up sex was wonderful. Em said if we made it an all-nighter I could get you to jack in me two or three times."

"I accept the challenge. What do you want to do right this minute?"

"Get something to eat. I haven't felt up to it since this morning."

"Morning sickness?"

"No. Too soon for that."

"Leftover lasagna in the fridge."

"Sounds about right."

"Let's do it."

"You need to get naked first. The rest of us are."

Steve laughs, and stands for the big hug.

=====

"Now that's more like it!"

Emily snickers at Keri leaning into Steve, both seated at the kitchen table while she takes hunger-driven bites of the warmed-up lasagna. He lingers over a bowl of ice cream mostly to keep Keri company while she sates her growling tummy.

Em steps over to the office door and laughs at Steve's clothes strewn around his desk.

"Make-up sex already?" she chuckles.

"Maybe," Steve deadpans.

"Uh huhmm," Keri mumbles through a mouthful.

Ellie leans into the doorframe from the dining room. "Well this is lookin' pretty good!"

Steve smiles to her. "Thanks for taking the lead on this, El. Experience makes for a good teacher."

"Well everybody helped, you know."

"Yeah, maybe. But you were the one letting it all hang out for years before we piled on you to get your tubes tied. Relating that risky background changed the tone of the talk, I surmise."

Mouth full, Keri nods her head vigorously.

"Now that we're settled, what are our bed plans? You and the others going to assist with my and Keri's all-nighter?"

"Yep. In shifts. We'll be keeping Jax busy, too. You going to do the yellow pill?"

"Yep. Speaking of, any of you heard from Jackson and Gloria?

"Uh huh. They passed by and said 'Hi! and 'Bye!' when he was escorting her to the back gate. But you know what?"

"Oh?"

"Both were naked and she was visibly trembling when they came through, and neither were carrying any clothes for her. Steven? Really! She was totally nude when he showed her out and locked the gate behind her."

Steve laughs. "Gawd, El. Didn't see that coming. Jax is obviously encouraging a wild side we didn't know about."

"You aren't concerned she'll be caught?"

"Not at all. Her house is only three doors down, they have their own backyard gate, the overgrowth on the old rail line is heavy between here and there, and it's dark, anyway. She won't be seen."

Jackson sticks his head around the corner, behind Ellie.

"She told you," he says.

"Did you dare her?" Steve asks.

"Not in so many words. She brought it up."

"Okay? Now that's a surprise."

"It was. She intimated impulses to 'take a midnight walk', but only made it as far as their backyard before getting scared and dashing back inside. Fully prepared each time, even shaving it to show-off her pussy."

"And you said...?"

"'What's keeping you from it now?' I told her the brambles back there block any view from the houses directly behind us."

"Right call, Jax. Now this brings up something else."

"That she's interested in more."

"Yeah."

"Told you!" Cyan interrupts with a chuckle.

"What's that?" Steve counters.

"HRT!"

Ellie responds, "Oh my. I've heard of that being a side effect."

"Huh? HRT?" puzzles Keri, setting her fork down. She all but licked her plate clean and is eyeing Steve's ice cream, poised to grab the spoon out of his hand.

El continues, "Hormone replacement therapy. It's being used to calm the effects of natural menopause in otherwise healthy women having issues with 'the change'."

"And what does that have to do with Gloria?"

"She's of that age. Frequent side effect of the sudden restoration of female hormones is a big libido bump. Since her husband signed-off from their sex life years ago, she's craving it. Lots of it. Steve?"

"Well when you mentioned the possibility it certainly explains the booty call last night after two years off, and then doing Jax after me. Plus tonight."

Emily laughs, "Sounds like a whole bunch of pent-up horny. So she's asking to be invited to a party?"

"She is," Jax confirms.

Steve interjects, "I'll need to talk to her first. She's only slightly familiar with our setup. When do you think we'll see her again?"

"Couple of weeks. Roger has a full week scheduled in Orlando and won't be back until the following Monday.

"When the cat's away..."

"Yeah. We made a date for the Sunday evening after she drops him off at the airport."

"Welcome to the neighborhood, Jackson," Steve snickers.

"A bit late for a housewarming party."

Everyone laughs.

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