Pinochle

Three years ago, my wife, Jessie, and I moved into a fifty-five plus retirement community. We leased a nice, two-bedroom, single-floor unit separate from the other buildings. The community called it a bungalow. The lease wasn't cheap but included two meals every day, weekly cleaning services and utilities including telephone and cable TV. The community billed itself as a continuous care facility. There was an onsite medical facility staffed by a registered nurse, an assisted living facility where folks could live and get daily help for their needs and a nursing home for those unable to help themselves.

Jessie jumped into the social environment almost immediately. She made new friends, most of them women, and dragged me to meet most of them.

There was an onsite deli and coffee shop by day that became a lounge by night and a clubhouse. The community's clubhouse offered many opportunities for recreation. There was an exercise room with lots of the latest equipment, a pool with lounge chairs and cabanas, an extensive library and a number of game tables. Playing cards seemed to be the most popular game but you could play pool, table tennis, or just work on a jigsaw puzzle that was always on a table near one wall. The activities director, a young woman with outrageous energy, was always encouraging us to walk the extensive paths through the gardens and woodlands nearby as well as organizing exercise groups and live entertainment for most weekends.

Within weeks of our arrival, Jessie was drafted into a group that played pinochle several times a week. The eight ladies, including Jessie, occupied two of the game tables in the clubhouse for the entire afternoon when they were playing. The nature of the game and the raucous, and sometimes bawdy, nature of the participants attracted attention whenever the game was in progress. Eventually, after many attempts to get them to quiet down, they were asked to find another venue for their games.

The game moved to one of the larger independent living units belonging to one of the women. Willi's home had two bedrooms, a great room living area and a large den with an attached sunroom. Willi's husband had died several years ago and she actually enjoyed having the card players over to play even though they were loud and messy. It wasn't a real problem since they all helped to clean up when the game broke up.

Six months ago, Jessie went to the doctor with abdominal pain. Three days of testing revealed advanced pancreatic cancer and five weeks later she was gone.

I was devastated. Jessie was the best thing that ever happened to me. We had been married for thirty-seven years. We had never had children and now I was alone.

After the funeral, I became a hermit. I didn't leave the house. I refused the weekly cleaning staff. I didn't even go to the dining room for meals. Two weeks later someone knocked on my door. I tried to ignore it but they were persistent. I thought that they wouldn't stop knocking until I answered the door.

When I opened the door, Willi was standing there with the other six members of the pinochle club behind her.

"You look like shit," she said as she came into the house. The others followed. I should have been angry at her intrusion but she was right. I did look like shit. I hadn't shaved or showered since the funeral. I had lost weight. I probably smelled as well. The house didn't look much better.

Willi looked at me and said, "Zack, I know exactly how you feel. When I lost my George, I thought I just wanted to die. If it weren't for my friends here, I would have crawled into a corner and wasted away. But they gave me good advice, 'Never forget but don't forget to live.' They wouldn't let me give up. They forced me out of the house and it made losing George less painful. We're here to do the same for you. So, get off your ass and get in the bathroom, take a shower and get dressed."

When I hesitated, Willi added, "Either you go by yourself or I'm going the drag you into the shower with me and I'm going to clean you up myself. What's it going to be?"

I went reluctantly. I took a long hot shower and was standing in front of the sink, shaving, when Willi came in. "What's taking so long?" she asked. The fact that I was naked didn't seem to faze her. She took a long look and said, "As good as that looks, I think it's too soon to play games. Come out when you're ready. We're waiting for you. Sooner is better than later."

I finished shaving, combed my hair, got dressed and was in the living room within five minutes. The women had cleaned up my mess, straightened out the house and opened some windows. The place looked and smelled pretty good. I guess I did too.

Willi sat me down on the sofa and sat beside me. The others were in chairs around the room. Willi began to lecture me. "Don't give up. Jessie wouldn't have wanted that. She knew it would be difficult for you without her. She would be sad to see you withdraw from life. She loved you and she wanted you to be happy after she left. She made us promise to take care of you and we intend to do just that. You're going to eat dinner in the dining room tonight and every night after this one. You're going to talk to the people around you and you're going to accept their condolences and well wishes. When you come home you can remember Jessie and thank her for the life she gave you and the future she wanted for you. Remember her every chance you have but don't feel sorry for her or yourself. Meanwhile, start to create the life she wanted for you. You'll never forget her but the pain of losing her will ease with time. Trust me. I know."

I sat at our usual table for dinner that night. Willi sat next to me rather than at her regular table. I think she didn't want me to focus on Jessie's empty chair if she wasn't there. Some of the people I spoke with were cautious in their manner as they offered their regrets but most were smiling while shaking my hand or hugging me. Many of them told me they missed Jessie as well and some of them shared joyful moments they had with her. Willi was right. While I didn't feel good, I did feel better.

Over the next three weeks I began to feel normal. Nights without Jessie were still hard but the days were getting better. It also became obvious that some of the women residents were beginning to see me as something more than just an acquaintance. The female to male resident ratio in the community was on the order of five or six to one. Some of those unattached women were spending more time with me than they had previously. Willi noticed as well. She approached me one evening after dinner. "Looks like some of the more adventurous women are after your body," she told me.

"I don't think so," I responded.

"Pay attention," she said, "some of them are sitting closer to you and touching you more. I think they're horny and you're available."

"That makes me sound like some piece of meat," I said in response. "I think they're just friendly."

"I give you that some are 'just friendly' but to the rest you are a piece of meat and they'd love to gobble you up. I can run interference for you if you like."

"I'll take your word for it and, yes, I would like that."

"Okay. First you have to join the pinochle club."

"Huh?"

Willi continued, "The club will provide some protection for you. Some of your admirers will lose interest if you're spending time with us and we've been playing with just seven and we could use an eighth player. We play again at my house, Thursday, noon. We normally bring something to share for lunch but you get a pass this time."

On Thursday, I walked to Willi's house, deliberately ten minutes late since I didn't want to be hanging around, making small talk, while waiting for others to arrive. I brought two bottles of white wine that were in the house since Jessie died and for which I no longer had much use. I was the last to arrive. When Willi opened the door, I was greeted by the seven women.

"Look. Zack brought wine. I think he's planning to get us all drunk and take advantage of us."

That last was from Maggie. Maggie was the instigator in the group and frequently offered unusual suggestions for the group's card playing. Willi apologized for Maggie's outburst and took the bottles of wine from me with a quiet "Thank you."

I need to comment on the seven ladies waiting for me in Willi's house. They were all quite attractive, at least for my age group. With the exception of Mae, who was painfully slim, they all had ample breasts and just a little padding in all the right places. Of the seven, four were single, widowed or divorced. Mae had never been married. The remaining two were married. Jackie's husband was physically challenged and rarely left their assisted living apartment. Mable's husband was in the nursing home. She saw him every day but she had little expectation he would survive much longer. His condition continued to deteriorate and they were awaiting his admission to hospice.

Willi set out the salads and cold cuts the women had brought for lunch along with my wine and some nice glasses. Maggie was the only one who had wine with her turkey sandwich and pasta salad. After lunch Willi had each of us draw for seats at the two card tables set up in her den. I was partnered with Sue and our opponents were Peggy and Maggie. I was a little rusty and Peggy and Maggie cleaned our clock.

For the second game, we drew for seats again. I began to remember strategies for playing and Willi and I managed to hold off Mae and Sue for a close game. Both teams broke 1,000 points but Mae and Sue won by default since they made the last bid.

By the end of the afternoon, I had lost six games without a win. I hung around with Willi when the others left to go home. I picked up the glasses and dishes and carried them into the kitchen for her. She objected when I put the wine in her refrigerator. She suggested I take it home with me. I suggested we finish the bottle Maggie had opened and she keep the other for another time.

I carried two glasses and the bottle into the sunroom and poured two large portions for each of us. We sat on a wicker sofa and sipped the wine. An hour later, we were still sitting and the bottle was empty. We had talked quietly and laughed together covering everything from the other women in the club to the general state of the news. By the time we finished the wine, Willi had become very comfortable. Her skirt had ridden up her legs and I could see her thighs just shy of her panties. I was unsure of the situation and I suspected she was deliberately showing me her legs. I, however, was not ready to push the envelope or the hem of her skirt.

We played again on Tuesday and Thursday. Tuesday and Thursday games became the norm and also my hanging around later and talking with Willi.

Five weeks after I began playing with them, Maggie offered one of her suggestions. She had been drinking wine from a bottle she had brought herself and I suspect she was less inhibited than usual.

"Ladies, and you too Zack," she said, "we play the same thing every week and it's getting boring. I think we need to add some interest to the games. Up the ante so to speak. Especially since Zack is a member of the group."

"What are you suggesting," asked Peggy.

"Oh, I don't know. Something interesting. How about strip pinochle?"

"Whoa," exclaimed Jackie. "Mable and I are married. I don't think that's a good idea."

"I understand your reluctance," said Peggy, "but I'd like to hear more. How would that work?"

"I have no idea," responded Maggie. "I just threw it out because you asked."

"Mable" asked Willi, "you and Jackie are the only married members. I think I know how Jackie feels about it. How about you?"

Mable thought for a minute. "John is very ill and I haven't had any excitement in my life for a long time. I suspect I've not had sex for longer than any of you single ladies and Maggie's not suggesting sex, just the possibility of a little visual stimulation. I think I'd consider it if everyone else thought it was a good idea."

Jackie had her hand over her mouth while Mable was talking. "I can't believe you'd be in favor. I haven't had sex either. Probably longer than you but I'm still married and that means something to me." She followed up with a non-sequitur, "Anyway how would it work?"

"Mable's right," said Willi. "Maggie's not suggesting sex, just a little titillation. Zack may be her immediate object but I've never seen any of you in the nude and it might be fun and a little uncomfortable as well. The games would actually have some meaning. Zack, since you're the odd man out, pun intended, do you want to weigh in?"

"I think I'll keep my opinion to myself. Anything I say could be interpreted as self-serving and they'd probably be right."

"Okay," giggled Willi. "Jackie has a good point. Just how would it work? Unless anyone objects, I think someone should take the time to flesh it out. Things like how we would identify winners and losers and what the stakes would be. Since it was Maggie's idea, Willi nominated her to work up the details and present them to us in a week. Meanwhile, let's draw for seats and play some pinochle."

After the games, I hung around with Willi again. We sat in the sunroom and shared the sofa. I noticed that Willi sat closer than usual and the hem of her skirt was starting higher than usual. I wondered if the earlier discussion about strip pinochle was on her mind.

It was. Her conversation skirted around the issue for a while and, eventually, she wanted my opinion on Maggie's suggestion. She even seemed a little nervous talking about it. While she talked, she touched me regularly, most frequently on my leg. After a short while, I returned the favor, leaving my hand on her bare leg. When she squeezed my leg, I began to slide my hand up and down her thigh, under her skirt on the up slide. She changed her position, facing me more directly and placing her right leg on the sofa with her foot under her left leg. That left her legs separated and facing me where I could easily see her white panties under her skirt.

I continued to rub her thigh and feasted on the view. Willi had become unusually quiet. When I forced myself to look up, Willi's eyes were closed and her breathing slow and deep.

"Willi," I said. "What are we doing?"

"Nothing consenting adults shouldn't do." She moved closer to me, putting her legs over mine and resting her head on my shoulder with my left arm around her shoulders. I lifted my right hand and used it on her chin to turn her face to mine. I kissed her gently. She kissed me back, took my hand, and put it back on her leg, closer to her panties. She kissed me again, this time with her mouth open and her tongue seeking mine. Simultaneously, she shifted her hips toward me until my hand was in contact with her panties. Her panties were damp and I began to rub the slit formed when I pushed my hand tighter to her.

"Shit," she panted. "That feels wonderful. It's been a long time."

"Willi," I said. "I need to think about this. I don't know if I'm ready."

"I understand. Just one more favor. Please."

She took my hand from her crotch, placed it firmly on her left breast and held it there. When I didn't immediately squeeze her breast, she unbuttoned the top of her dress, pulled her bra up over her breast and placed my hand inside on her naked boob. I squeezed her breast and rubbed her nipple with my fingers. I couldn't help it. Willi was right. It felt wonderful.

"Willi, could I have a rain check? I need to think. I don't think I could do you justice otherwise."

"Okay, but only if you promise and don't take too long. And if you kiss my tit before you leave."

We left it that way. I was so engrossed in thinking about Willi and her willing body that I walked past my house and had to backtrack. More than once, I smelled my fingers and tasted Willi on them. I was reluctant to wash my hands before dinner.

During dinner, every time I looked at Willi, she was looking at me. I was uneasy and pleased at the same time. I had dodged a bullet that afternoon and I was angry with myself for ducking. I should have stayed and taken it like a man. That night, I satisfied myself for the first time since the funeral.

The next morning, Willi found me in the library. She approached me and whispered, "I'm sorry."

"For what?" I asked.

"For yesterday afternoon. I was acting like an immature schoolgirl. I think it was Maggie's suggestion that set me off."

"No apology needed. I wasn't exactly adult myself."

"But you managed to get it all together before we went too far."

"Not exactly my best moment," I opined.

Willi looked at me with questions all over her expression. Then she smiled, kissed me quickly on the cheek and walked lightly out of the room.

Willi canceled the Tuesday pinochle game without explanation. She invited me to come to lunch instead. I knew what she wanted and I was sure I was up to the challenge.

When Willi opened the door, her hair was down, hanging almost to her shoulders. She was wearing a one-piece dress with a high neckline, a hemline to just above her knees, and a zipper down the back. She looked very comfortable and happy with her bare feet.

Willi drew me into the room and closed the door. She put her arms around my neck and kissed me on my mouth with her tongue pressing on my lips.

"What's that all about?" I asked.

"I'm just really happy to see you. I wanted you to come over today and if you did I'd know you'd decided; the one I wanted you to make."

"Am I that transparent?"

"No. You telegraphed what you were thinking Friday morning in the library. I've thought about little else but this moment since that morning."

"Oh, and I thought you invited my over for lunch. You do have something to eat?"

"I do," Willi replied and kissed me again.

This time I responded with enthusiasm. I put my arms around her waist and drew her to me. I could feel her breasts against my chest and concluded she was not wearing a bra. Curiosity got the better of me and I took hold of the zipper on Willi's dress and moved it halfway down her back. Willi shifted her body away from me, leaned forward a little to let the top of her dress fall off her arms and hang from her waist.

I saw her breasts totally bare for the first time as she pressed her body back against me and resumed kissing me. I hugged her close to me and began to run my hands down her bare back and over her dress to her tush. I rubbed and pulled her hips tightly up against me. I could feel my erection pressing against her abdomen. Without breaking her kiss, Willi reached behind her back and pulled the zipper of her dress all the way down. She shifted her hips against my pull and away from my body. The rest of her dress fell away and pooled around her bare feet.

Willi broke the kiss and moved back two steps. I could see the fullness of her pubic hair on her naked body. It had grayed with the years and thinned a little but it was still full and obviously not manicured or trimmed. I couldn't complain. She was old. I was old. My pubic hair was gray too and thinner than hers. She did a little pirouette. When she was facing me again and looking directly into my eyes, she asked, "Like what you see?"

"Like is not strong enough," I replied as Willi reached forward, took my hands and placed them on her breasts and then cupped my erection through my trousers. I bounced her breasts and she stroked my cock.

"I feel what you mean," she said. She took my hand as she stepped out of her dress. "I've had little sleep since Friday and I could use a little bed time. Come with me," she said as she led me through the living room, down a short hall, to the master bedroom.

She stood in front of me by the side of the bed. "You have an unfair advantage," she said as she began to unbutton my shirt. I kicked off my shoes as she finished with my shirt and threw it aside. She quickly unbuckled my belt and opened my pants. She shoved my trousers and fruit-of-the-looms down below my knees in one swoop and pushed me back on the bed so she could pull the entire bundle of clothing off my legs at one time. Somehow, she managed to get my socks off at the same time.

"That's better. Now we're even. Would you like something to eat now or would you rather wait and start with dessert instead?" she asked.

"Your house. Your plan. Your menu. Let your appetite be your guide," I said.

"Change of plans," she said as she knelt of the floor between my legs. "I think I'll start with an appetizer and serve you the main course later." She held my erection in both hands and kissed, then swallowed my cock with her mouth. She was very good. She knew exactly when to puff out her cheeks to pressure my cock and then when to suck hard enough to produce maximum feeling. If she had been looking into my eyes she would have seen them roll back in my head. I lay back on the bed with my eyes closed and savored every movement. I hadn't experienced oral sex for decades. I was surprised at how well I was responding. My erection wasn't as large as I remembered but it seemed large enough for Willi.

Soon, I was nearing a massive explosion. "Willi," I said between breaths, "if you keep that up much longer, I'm going to cum. I don't want to waste the rest of the afternoon."

"Not to worry," she said as she took a short break. It's early and dinner isn't until six o'clock. We'll have plenty of time for you to recover. Maybe even more than once," she said as she returned her attention to my cock with greater enthusiasm.

I was right. I came, first into her mouth and then all over her face, chest and tits. The intensity and amount surprised me. I hoped she was right as well.

Willi crawled up my body, kissing and spreading semen as she went, as my cock limped between my legs. When she was at my lips, she kissed me with her mouth wide open and I felt, and tasted, some of the semen she brought with her. I was too far gone to object and I kissed her back and swirled my tongue inside her mouth and over her teeth and lips.

I rolled over and took her body with me. She lay alongside me and I began to kiss down her body, repeating her actions only in reverse. I kissed her neck, shoulders and chest. I spent considerable time with her breasts before continuing down to her navel and below. When I reached her pubic hair, her legs were spread wide anticipating my next move.

I kissed and nibbled her clitoris and then her labia. With her legs up in the air, I was able to reach her anus with my tongue and lick from there all the way to her clit without pausing. The way she gripped the bedcovers and moaned told me I was doing the right thing so I repeated it six or seven more times. For someone her age, she was remarkably flexible. By the time I completed touring her pubis with my tongue; she had maneuvered her legs behind her shoulders and was holding them there with her arms.

I had an unobstructed view of her entire bottom. I took advantage and began to tongue her rectum in earnest. I was able to penetrate her anus slightly with my tongue. I moved to her vagina. The outer labia were swollen and distended. The inner labia were bright pink and begging for attention which I provided. My tongue and then my fingers slipped into her repeatedly as she writhed on the bed. With three of my fingers busy with her vagina, I used my lips and teeth to tease her clitoris. She stiffened and flexed her back repeatedly. I assumed she was having multiple small orgasms. The big one came when I moved one of my fingers to her ass and slipped it in. She squirted liquid everywhere as she convulsed on the bed.

I slowed my efforts and she settled down. I couldn't believe how quickly I had recovered. It had barely been forty-five minutes. Willi had been right, at least once. I climbed slowly up her body until I could place the head of my new erection at the entrance of her sex. I supported myself on my arms as I slowly slipped inside her. Her reaction was immediate. I could feel the muscles of her vagina rhythmically squeezing my cock as I rode her. She was having small orgasms again. I slowed my efforts to give her some recovery time and she lowered her legs until they were spread on the bed beside my legs. I kissed her on the mouth. She opened her eyes and laughed when she saw the mess she had made on my face. She used her fingers and tongue to clean me up somewhat while she continued to giggle and return my kiss.

I began to stroke inside her. I lasted much longer than I could believe. I pushed as deeply inside her as I could and she pushed back. We moved together, first slowly and then more rapidly. We were pounding each other as if the world might end tomorrow before I began to feel my orgasm coming. Her orgasms were building as mine approached. I pushed as deep into her as I could as I came. She stiffened and her body shook uncontrollably as she climaxed with me and spewed liquid over us once again.

I finished and could feel my cock relaxing inside her. The remnants of her orgasm lasted longer. I could feel the pressure of her vaginal muscles holding me inside her long after I delivered my sperm. I rolled off and lay alongside her. I had my head on her shoulder and my hand on her breast as I felt her relax and my cock slip out of her.

I don't know how long we lay together. Neither of us spoke. I think we both dozed off for a while. When I awoke, Willi had her head on my shoulder and was slowly stroking my limp penis. I looked at her and she smiled back.

"Now that was something to remember," she said.

"You can say that again," I agreed.

"Now that was something to remember," she said again.

She kissed me as we laughed. "Really," she said, "I'm an old lady and, although I didn't know it until right now, I've been waiting all my life for that to happen."

I started to say something but she placed a finger on my lips. I took the hint and kept quiet.

"I've had orgasms, maybe one or two at a time, but never like that. Once they started they never stopped. I thought at one point I might die and I didn't care. I didn't think I could take any more and I prayed for them to stop and then for them to never end. I had the two largest orgasms of my life. One clitorally and the second vaginally. I'd never squirted before. I thought it was a myth and now I've got two on my highlight reel. I don't want you to say anything but thank you."

"You're welcome."

"I thought I told you not to say anything," she laughed. "By the way, where did you learn that thing with your finger in my ass? No one's ever done that to me before."

"I've never done it before. I hope you weren't too upset."

"Upset. Never upset. I loved it. I think you noticed. Let's do it again sometime. Maybe soon. Maybe I'll return the favor."

"Ouch," I winced as Willi laughed uncontrollably.

"What a baby," she said as she continued laughing.

We lay in bed for some time. Willi tried to revive my tired penis both with her hands and her mouth but it appeared that recess was going to last a while longer. I had to pee so I got up and went into the adjoining bathroom. When I got back Willi was just returning from the living room. "I closed all the blinds in the house so we don't need to get dressed if you're okay with that."

"Fine," I said. "I'd like that as long as I have nudity with benefits."

"You've earned whatever benefits you want," she laughed.

Willi looked at the bed. "Look at this mess," she exclaimed as she began to strip off the bedcovers. "Fortunately, it didn't seep through to the sheets." Then she looked at us. We needed as much attending to as the bedcovers. She led me back into the bathroom and turned on the shower. It was a little tight but we both managed to fit inside. We cleaned each other and Willi did the honors on my penis. It surprised both of us as it began to respond. She kneeled down and used her mouth to complete its resurrection. She bent over in front of me and I slipped inside her from behind for a quick encore. It was just for the fun of it and neither of us came.

"How's that for a benefit?" she quipped.

After the shower we went into the kitchen looking for something to eat. Willi put together a couple of BLT's and beers. We sat at the kitchen table eating and looking at each other like a couple teenagers who had just fogged up the car windows.

I rather liked walking around naked. It was comfortable and freeing and I got to watch Willi's boobs bounce as she walked around. At one point she threatened, "Cut that out or I'm going to put on a robe."

"I'll just have to take it off. Actually, that seems like fun."

She gave up and we remained naked. Willi even bounced her tits with her hands a couple of times when she knew I was watching.

Willi spread a large towel on the sofa and we settled in to watch an old movie on TV. We spent more time focused on each other than on the movie and before the movie ended Willi was bouncing around on my personal record, fourth, erection of the afternoon.

I left around five and went home to get ready for dinner. Willi wasn't at her usual table and I didn't see her anywhere. My telephone calls to her went unanswered.

Willi dropped by my place Wednesday afternoon. "What happened to you yesterday?" I asked. "I was worried. You weren't at dinner and I couldn't get you by phone."

"I couldn't walk straight and I didn't think going to dinner was a good idea. I fell asleep soon after you left and didn't wake up until late this morning. I came over since I thought you might be concerned."

"I was and I'm glad you're okay. How about something to drink?" I asked.

"Isn't that what started this?" she asked.

Willi followed me into the kitchen and, as I bent over to grab a couple of beers from the fridge, she began to play with my junk between my legs from behind.

"I thought you couldn't walk straight," I said.

"Maybe not, but I can still screw," she responded.

We had a very pleasant afternoon after I closed all the blinds and we took off each other's clothing.

Thursday afternoon was pinochle at Willi's. Everyone came to hear how Maggie planned to structure a risqué game of cards. Willi whispered to me when I arrived, "I've been airing the place out for two days. Does it smell okay?" she asked.

"Its fine," I assured her.

Maggie took the lead. "I've thought about strip pinochle for the last week and I think it's pretty simple. We play four handed, partnership, so I think, after each game, the losers take off something. Since we change partners, and opponents, after each game, the losing should be distributed equally among all of us."

Sue spoke up. "That might work and it's easy to do. I've been thinking too and I considered just what Maggie suggested. However, let's do the math. We play two tables and maybe five games in an afternoon. That means there will be four losers each game, two from each table, and twenty losers in all. If we all start with the same number of articles of clothing, we need to talk about that, say five, then, on average, we'll each lose two to three items each. We might get to see the color of a bra or two, or maybe the style of someone's panties. While that seems like fun, it's not as exciting, or as stimulating as someone, or more, going the full Monty. What do you think?"

"I agree," spoke up Jackie. I think the stakes should be higher. It would also be a hell of a lot more fun. I for one, can't wait to ogle any one of you and I'm a little wet, and nervous, at the thought of prancing naked in front of you all."

Mabel spoke up next. "Wait a minute. I think I missed the vote. You guys are all talking like it's a done deal and we're going to do this. Don't misunderstand me. I love the thrill of it and under different circumstances I'd be the first to deal the cards. But I'm married and, as sick as John is, I still love him and my vows to him still mean something to me. I can't do this now. With your permission I'd like to suspend my membership. If you guys decide not to move forward let me know. Until then I don't think I can honestly remain here."

Mabel got up and, with a smile and a small wave, started for the door. Without a sound, Mae got up and followed her out.

When they were gone, Maggie looked at Jackie and said, "Jackie, you're the only other married one here. Would you like to suspend your membership too?"

"Honestly, my relationship with Butch is very different since he got sick, especially sexually. I know he feels bad about his inability to perform. He's told me so. He's gone so far as to suggest that I look around for some satisfaction. I've refused, but I think he'd approve of a little titillating card playing. I'll stay if you're comfortable with a married woman in your midst."

Maggie said, "Okay. What do we do now? I mean, won't somebody notice that Mabel and Mae are no longer playing with us and ask questions?"

Willi offered, "I don't think so. Mabel's situation with John is well known and I think most folks will assume she's just spending more time with him. As for Mae, she's always been an odd duck. I don't think she talks to anyone or anyone talks to her. I don't think her absence will even be noticed."

"Okay," said Maggie. "Where do we go from here?"

"There's only six of us now," stated Sue. "I think we play cutthroat, three person games. There'd still be two losers each game. The math changes. We can expect to lose over three items of clothing each session."

"That still doesn't guarantee anyone will end up in the buff, unless they are incredibly unlucky," Jackie offered.

"I think we can up the ante," suggested Willi. "We can make the number of clothing items lost proportional to the size of the loss."

"Interesting," said Jackie. "Say more."

"If we play 1000-point games," Willi said, "then if someone loses by more than, say, 250 points, they have to remove two items."

"And three if they lose by 500 points and four if by 750 points," observed Jackie.

Sue added, "Since negative scores are possible, some could lose their entire kit in one game. I think we use 500-point increments or just add one item if the loser has a negative score. That way we delay the inevitable without eliminating the possibility. Also, early losers will have to play in partial clothing, raising the anticipation of everyone."

Willi jumped in. "I like that. What do you say we go with losers giving up one item of clothing for the first 500-point difference in scores and another item for each additional 500 points? We play by those rules today and revise them in the future based on our experience."

"Nobody with over 1000 points can lose and we start with five items of clothing each," added Jackie.

Everybody agreed and they broke for a quick lunch. While we were eating and setting up the tables, everyone except Willi took a minute to approach me and offer a word of encouragement. As the only guy in the room, I kept my opinions to myself although, secretly, I looked forward to seeing every one of them naked.

During the first game, everyone was playing conservatively and most bids were forced on the dealer for 150 points, which most times was easily made. At the end of the game, I managed a close win at my table and Willi had been the victor at the other table. We had four losers of only one item each. Maggie made them stand in the middle of the room and made a big deal as they took off their shoes.

At the end of the session, we were about as even as we could be. However, Jackie and Maggie finished topless, which seemed appropriate, and the rest of us had two items of clothing each. Jackie had gone topless during the third round and made a big show of losing her bra. She bounced her boobs with her hands as she let her bra drop and the rest of the afternoon she shook her body or tweaked a nipple every time she caught me looking at her. Distracted, I lost the next game before I recovered my composure and won the last game.

After everyone had dressed and left, Willi and I cleaned up. I was still in my trousers and underwear while Willi graced my presence in her bra and panties.

"I think Jackie wants to get in your pants," said Willi.

"Why do you say that," I answered.

"Come on. Everyone saw the way she played with her tits every time she looked at you. I think she was hoping you'd finish naked so she could proposition you."

"Maybe next time."

Two minutes later, I had both hands inside the back of her panties as we kissed in the kitchen. I rubbed her rear end as she swirled her tongue inside my mouth and rubbed her breasts against my chest. I reached up with one hand and unhooked her bra. She let it slide off her arms onto the floor and pressed her naked breasts against me again. That felt much better than the rough material of her bra and my cock responded. We had sex, first with her laying on her back on the kitchen table and then with her bent over it as I entered her from behind. In that position, Willi had a small orgasm as I pressed my thumb against her anus. When I withdrew and pressed the head of my erection against her anus she demurred. "Maybe later, with some lubrication," she promised. "Right now, I have to get ready for dinner."

I went home, showered and changed for dinner. When I got to the dining room, Willi was already seated at my table. I greeted her as I would any other resident and managed to keep my conversation distributed among the rest of those seated there as well.

Afterward, Willi and I took a walk in the garden. "What was that all about?" I asked.

"What?" she responded.

"Sitting at my table. Aren't you concerned people are going to talk?"

"I don't care if they do. We're not doing anything wrong. Actually, it feels extremely right. If they gossip about us, so what? If they're jealous, to paraphrase Marie-Antoinette, "'let then eat cake' while you eat me." I walked her home, looking forward to dessert the whole way.

The second round of strip pinochle was more arousing than the first. At the end, two of the women were naked as was I. Jackie was the first to lose her bra again, and, after Peggy followed suit, Jackie quickly lost her thong. I was beginning to think she enjoyed the attention and was losing on purpose. When Jackie and I lost the last hand, I was forced to stand in the circle of women and take off my tighty-whities.

Jackie looked at the group and asked, "What do I do? I'm already naked."

When nobody offered any suggestions, she added, "I think I get to do anything I want with Zach."

I instinctively covered my junk. Willi covered her mouth in mock surprise. No one objected as Jackie walked over to me, kneeled on the carpet and removed my hands from in front of my now stiff cock. With still no objections, she took my cock in one hand, put her mouth over the head and pushed down until she had almost all of it her mouth.

I looked over at Willi. I expected her to be staring daggers at Jackie. Instead, she was laughing.

After a few seconds of Jackie sliding her mouth up and down my erection, I said, "Okay. That's enough."

Jackie relented and said, "For today," as she stood up and gathered her clothing.

When everyone had left, I asked Willi, "What were you laughing at?"

"Jackie was so transparent, I couldn't help myself. She's married but she carries on like that. She's not getting any attention at home. I think she was trying to get me to say or do something and I wasn't going to give her the satisfaction.

"I'm sorry I let her do that."

"No need. We're not exclusive and what we have isn't love, although I'm not interested in anyone else and I'd like to keep you drained so you don't want, or need, to stray."

That was the last strip pinochle game. We went back to playing straight pinochle, but only on Tuesday afternoons. Mabel rejoined the group but Mae did not. Willi found a new resident to become the eighth player.

Thursday afternoon became Willi's and my 'everything goes and everybody cums' time together. We explored each other and experimented with the many ways we could have sex without hurting each other. Willi enjoyed me using her ass to hide my fingers and, with a lot of help from some lubricant she found at the pharmacy, asked me to fuck her there. The experience sent her to the 'moon and back' and it became a regular feature of our sessions as were our trips to the pharmacist. We met almost daily for oral sex and quick screws but Thursday afternoons were reserved for more adventurous, and exhausting, undertakings. The size of my erection and the time required to recover both seemed to improve with time and use. Neither of us was disappointed with the changes.

Over time, each of the other four charter members of the strip pinochle club propositioned me and offered to "rock my world." Willi laughed it off. In her opinion, they weren't really serious or they would have gone further.

I tended to agree with her, until, one Thursday afternoon, I arrived at Willi's house to find Jackie and her, on the sofa, totally naked, kissing and fondling each other.

"Don't just stand there," ordered Willi. "Come over here and welcome Jackie properly.

Jackie slid back and spread her legs wide as I approached the sofa. I spent the next half-hour cataloging the similarities and differences between Jackie's and Willi's anatomy. Jackie especially liked my tongue's treatment of her clitoris. She expressed her approval when she pushed me back on the floor, pulled my pants down to my knees and mounted me. Five minutes later, we were both sweaty and she was collapsed on top of me on the floor. The rest of the afternoon was spent with Willi teaching me some things that Jackie did better than me and teaching Jackie how to get the most from me.

When Jackie went home, I asked Willi, "How did that happen?"

"It just did," she said. "I'd been thinking about the other women propositioning you, so I spoke to Jackie about it. She confirmed your interpretation but she honored our relationship and backed off. I offered to discuss it further with her. She came over this morning and things just happened. Truthfully, after I saw her naked I wondered how she would feel in my arms and in my bed. We discovered we really liked each other as well as you. We waited hours for you to arrive. I hope you weren't too upset."

"I'm not upset, just surprised that my 'friend with benefits' also has a 'friend with benefits' and it happens to be a woman. Jackie no less. Since you've selected truth, I have to tell you having Jackie's lips around my cock that afternoon felt really wonderful."

Jackie became an occasional invitee to our Thursday sessions but Willi remained my primary partner. In time, Willi approached each of the other three strip pinochle participants. Eventually, each of them joined us in our Thursday afternoon debauchery. Willi invited them in ones, twos and other combinations. One afternoon all six of us were present and all six of us missed dinner. I was amazed at how much my stamina and capability improved over time. While I couldn't keep up with all of them, I did hold up my end.

Everyone understands Willi's and my relationship and our activities outside of Thursday. Jackie took the initiative and showed up at my place one Monday evening when Willi was involved in one of her charitable commitments. We fucked our brains out and Jackie staggered home. Eventually, everyone got in on the act. It was a rare afternoon, evening, even some mornings, when I didn't have a liaison with one of the ladies. Overnight visits, except for Jackie, became common. I found out later that Willi was keeping an appointment calendar and keeping everything in order. I suggested, almost demanded, that she find some other men to help keep the women satisfied.

This has been going on for almost two years. There are two other men involved, although we never get together and Willi hasn't told me who they are. Things have been really fun. I didn't have this much sex in college, in a coed dorm no less. However, I'm feeling the strain and I don't know how much longer I can keep up the pace. Willi has suggested that we take a vacation together. Maybe a cruise or a couple of weeks at an everything's included resort. I told her I thought it was a wonderful idea but I didn't see how I would get much rest. She countered that the change of scenery alone would be relaxing.

Willi made the arrangements and we flew to a Caribbean island for two weeks of rest, relaxation and sex. When we checked in, I discovered Jackie was in the suite next to ours, with a connecting door.

These women are going to kill me but at least I'll die happy.