Golden Hour

*All characters in this story are older than 18*

My first priority when I got home was to use the restroom. It was a long commute that afternoon. I immediately noticed the new countertop. Ours was this tan, faux-marbled look, or it had been when I left that morning. The sink wasn't draining properly, so I put in a maintenance request. Evidently, they'd fixed it and then some. This new number was sleek and white, obviously newer. The apartment complex actually decided to give us an upgrade. How about that?

I glanced down the hallway when I was finished, and that's when I saw the two of them. My wife, Kayla, and our girlfriend, both nude, pressed in close together in a sensual, romantic kiss. There's a phrase in photography, "Golden Hour." Just after sunrise or before sunset, when the sun is closest to the horizon and it casts a warm, diffuse sort of light. You can get some amazing photographs this time of day.

Well, the scene across the hall from me was purely picturesque, more gorgeous than any artistic masterpiece I could imagine. Our girlfriend is a little shorter than Kayla, her blonde hair is lighter, but in the same spectrum. The sunlight coming in from the window made it shine like gold. The rays of light framed them so perfectly, and they were so very beautiful.

The embrace they shared left their bare breasts pressed together, though from my perspective mostly covered by their arms, intertwined so they could caress one another's faces. I couldn't hear anything they whispered to each other, but I could see the bright smiles in the brief moments their lips parted. I saw both sets of beautiful eyes filled with love and adoration.

There was such joy between these incredible women. It was a true privilege to behold, like seeing something sacred and undeniably precious. I watched them with reverence, keeping completely still. I worried that if I moved or made a noise, I'd disturb this intimate moment. Of course, I knew they'd likely heard me when I came in, so it wasn't as if my presence would surprise them. Still, I wanted this moment of loving connection to last as long as it could for them.

I imagined they'd just made love before this romantic exchange. It made my heart soar to know that two women I loved so dearly could share their pleasure together.

After a few more moments of kisses and tight nude hugs in the warm sunlight, the two of them separated. Kayla walked around the bed to the side closest to me, her side, and she climbed in under the comforter while the other woman got in on my side.

I finished in the restroom as they settled in, and I walked over to the bed. "Hello, Gorgeous Ladies."

"Hi Handsome," Kayla answered with that wonderfully happy smile.

"I'm happy to see you both. Do you like the new counter?"

"It's nice. I'll get used to it, I think."

"So... I was thinking I'd take you two out to dinner tonight. Do you think if you have a nap for a few hours, you'll feel up for that?"

"Sounds wonderful, Love. Any place in particular in mind?"

"I was thinking pasta. Mama Cozza's?" It was Kayla's favorite restaurant.

The suggestion made both women giggle. "Sounds like a great plan, Love."

"Okay. I'll be back in a few hours." I caressed my wife's forehead, then her cheek and gazed down into those enchanting eyes. "Sleep well." I leaned in for a kiss on those sweet, soft lips.

Then, I walked around the bed and stood by the sunset window, where the two had been together mere moments before. I shared a very similar gesture with our girlfriend, and I thought as I stroked her skin of how incredible she looked there on my pillow with my soft blanket wrapped around her naked body. The kiss she and I shared was perfectly delicious. "Rest well, Sweetheart." The delighted sounds she let out were as lovely as any sound I'd ever heard.

I took a moment to enjoy the sight of them together in our bed before I left the apartment. I decided to go paddleboarding while they napped. I was standing on my board, gliding along the surface of the water, and I had the distinct thought that I'd never had such an easy time navigating before this. The whole thing was effortless and I was having a blast... Right up until I heard the synthesizer intro to Van Halen's JUMP.

As my eyes opened and I looked around the dark bedroom, it took only a second or so to realize I'd been dreaming. The song was the alarm on my phone, which I silenced with a swipe of my thumb.

When you're in a dream, your mind has a way of accepting things that you otherwise would question and poke holes in. Now that I was fully awake, the logic gaps quickly became clear and the things I'd ignored were at the front of my attention. Things like the wonky timing- sunset in the apartment, then daylight over the water and literally zero transition between those two. Also, the layout of our apartment doesn't allow me to see the bedroom window from the restroom in the hallway.

I could explain most of the elements from my dream and trace their origin in my recent thoughts. The most obvious divergence between dream and reality is that Kayla and I do not have a girlfriend. We have explored non-monogamy in our marriage and we've approached it in a healthy way, communicating at every point, being sure we understood and protected each other's feelings. I had a girlfriend for a short time, and Kayla knew her, but there was nothing romantic between the two of them. Kayla had not yet dated anyone, though I often suspected that if a woman were to show her some romantic attention, she'd quickly melt like butter.

We were both open to the idea of someone else, but neither of us was actively searching. We'd explore the opportunity when it came, but we had no desire to force a dynamic to happen just because we'd imagined it. We were content together.

That, of course, explained why Kayla was so much clearer than the other woman in my dream. I know my wife well. I can easily imagine a conversation we'd have at the end of the day. We had those sorts of intimate and mundane interactions all the time.

The dream woman had been more ethereal. I'd seen the light blonde hair and the smile, but her features were vague, indistinct. Even moments after being awake, I couldn't conjure the image of the face on my pillow, the face I'd just caressed and kissed. My dream hadn't even allowed her to talk because she was little more than an idea to me.

I got up and used the restroom. Our counter was still the tan color and I wasn't too surprised when the water did not drain in the sink. I had actually put in a maintenance order for it that morning, and it was clear that they hadn't gotten to it, and they certainly weren't about to upgrade us. I'm still a bit amused my brain came up with that detail.

Kayla was in the kitchen. She'd brought home pizza for dinner, because... my wife is awesome! I work overnight, so our sleeping schedule is opposite each other most days. She chuckled as I relayed to her the events of the dream. I told her that the paddleboard was the only part I had no explanation for. I've never tried the sport before, but she was happy for me when I said it was a good feeling in the moment to recognize how easily I was moving through the water.

We shared a tight embrace and a brief kiss before we went our separate ways- her to our bedroom and me to my car.

Of course that dream was all that I could think of as I drove to work.

When I was in high school, I wrote a short story about kissing a girl only to realize I'd been dreaming and she was really just my pillow. It was one of those writing clichés I'd seen on countless movies and television shows. I think I'm safe in saying my writing now, 20 years later, is more original than that. But, cliché or not, this is what I experienced tonight.

The surprising part is how proud the dream made me feel. In those moments I watched that kiss, I really did believe my wife was sharing something intimate with another woman. I had no thought whatsoever of inserting myself into their experience. I didn't try to take any pleasure for myself. I was happy for them both, and protective, ready to do anything in my power so they could share as much joy as possible.

On the occasions I've been able to talk to someone about non-monogamy, I've always said that I'm not jealous at all and I would never want to keep my wife from experiencing romance, connection, intimacy or pleasure with anyone she wants to. I just want to celebrate her feeling good.

In a small way, tonight, I proved that true. I had no jealous or selfish impulse at all, and even if it was only a dream... I rather like that about myself.