\lang1033\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp1033 \snext0 Normal;}{*\cs10 \additive \ssemihidden Default Paragraph Font;}{*
\ts11\tsrowd\trftsWidthB3\trpaddl108\trpaddr108\trpaddfl3\trpaddft3\trpaddfb3\trpaddfr3\trcbpat1\trcfpat1\tscellwidthfts0\tsvertalt\tsbrdrt\tsbrdrl\tsbrdrb\tsbrdrr\tsbrdrdgl\tsbrdrdgr\tsbrdrh\tsbrdrv
\ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 \fs20\lang1024\langfe1024\cgrid\langnp1024\langfenp1024 \snext11 \ssemihidden Normal Table;}{\s15\ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0
\f35\fs16\lang1033\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp1033 \sbasedon0 \snext15 \ssemihidden \styrsid2240803 Balloon Text;}}{*\listtable{\list\listtemplateid-478760048\listhybrid{\listlevel\levelnfc23\levelnfcn23\leveljc0\leveljcn0\levelfollow0
\levelstartat0\levelspace0\levelindent0{\leveltext\leveltemplateid67698689\'01\u-3913 ?;}{\levelnumbers;}\loch\af3\hich\af3\dbch\af0\fbias0 \fi-360\li720\jclisttab\tx720\lin720 }{\listlevel\levelnfc23\levelnfcn23\leveljc0\leveljcn0\levelfollow0
\levelstartat1\levelspace0\levelindent0{\leveltext\leveltemplateid67698691\'01o;}{\levelnumbers;}\f2\fbias0 \fi-360\li1440\jclisttab\tx1440\lin1440 }{\listlevel\levelnfc23\levelnfcn23\leveljc0\leveljcn0\levelfollow0\levelstartat1\levelspace0\levelindent0
{\leveltext\leveltemplateid67698693\'01\u-3929 ?;}{\levelnumbers;}\f10\fbias0 \fi-360\li2160\jclisttab\tx2160\lin2160 }{\listlevel\levelnfc23\levelnfcn23\leveljc0\leveljcn0\levelfollow0\levelstartat1\levelspace0\levelindent0{\leveltext
\leveltemplateid67698689\'01\u-3913 ?;}{\levelnumbers;}\f3\fbias0 \fi-360\li2880\jclisttab\tx2880\lin2880 }{\listlevel\levelnfc23\levelnfcn23\leveljc0\leveljcn0\levelfollow0\levelstartat1\levelspace0\levelindent0{\leveltext\leveltemplateid67698691
\'01o;}{\levelnumbers;}\f2\fbias0 \fi-360\li3600\jclisttab\tx3600\lin3600 }{\listlevel\levelnfc23\levelnfcn23\leveljc0\leveljcn0\levelfollow0\levelstartat1\levelspace0\levelindent0{\leveltext\leveltemplateid67698693\'01\u-3929 ?;}{\levelnumbers;}
\f10\fbias0 \fi-360\li4320\jclisttab\tx4320\lin4320 }{\listlevel\levelnfc23\levelnfcn23\leveljc0\leveljcn0\levelfollow0\levelstartat1\levelspace0\levelindent0{\leveltext\leveltemplateid67698689\'01\u-3913 ?;}{\levelnumbers;}\f3\fbias0 \fi-360\li5040
\jclisttab\tx5040\lin5040 }{\listlevel\levelnfc23\levelnfcn23\leveljc0\leveljcn0\levelfollow0\levelstartat1\levelspace0\levelindent0{\leveltext\leveltemplateid67698691\'01o;}{\levelnumbers;}\f2\fbias0 \fi-360\li5760\jclisttab\tx5760\lin5760 }{\listlevel
\levelnfc23\levelnfcn23\leveljc0\leveljcn0\levelfollow0\levelstartat1\levelspace0\levelindent0{\leveltext\leveltemplateid67698693\'01\u-3929 ?;}{\levelnumbers;}\f10\fbias0 \fi-360\li6480\jclisttab\tx6480\lin6480 }{\listname ;}\listid344943154}}
{*\listoverridetable{\listoverride\listid344943154\listoverridecount0\ls1}}{*\revtbl {Unknown;}{eknight;}}{*\rsidtbl \rsid228326\rsid423819\rsid484415\rsid591898\rsid602896\rsid612438\rsid1010812\rsid1076595\rsid1903036\rsid1997038\rsid2033681\rsid2240803\rsid2322757\rsid2762341
\rsid3104620\rsid3174914\rsid3539552\rsid3693155\rsid3698494\rsid4417837\rsid4719984\rsid5178643\rsid5258414\rsid5397333\rsid5533253\rsid5638416\rsid5862015\rsid5912277\rsid6039208\rsid6101627\rsid6118790\rsid6379764\rsid6433835\rsid6712574\rsid6894409
\rsid7632662\rsid7762117\rsid8065721\rsid8075165\rsid8155720\rsid8408416\rsid8787027\rsid8929539\rsid9007667\rsid9308327\rsid9788509\rsid9992047\rsid10185227\rsid10488550\rsid10558105\rsid10752474\rsid10815481\rsid10894283\rsid10962525\rsid11352518
\rsid11365935\rsid11609371\rsid11689343\rsid11804572\rsid12012662\rsid12067293\rsid12342958\rsid12401966\rsid12459946\rsid12529473\rsid12592128\rsid13131998\rsid13192532\rsid13196833\rsid13448842\rsid13456021\rsid13531003\rsid13699705\rsid13902423
\rsid13918637\rsid14166576\rsid14438320\rsid14580040\rsid14776395\rsid14812685\rsid15103100\rsid15144884\rsid15146598\rsid15212762\rsid15219677\rsid15226518\rsid15288844\rsid15293890\rsid15414398\rsid15543440\rsid15755739\rsid15956539\rsid15998902
\rsid16019347\rsid16329275\rsid16456993\rsid16729343}{*\generator Microsoft Word 10.0.2627;}{\info{\title Friends and Benefits}{\author eknight}{\operator eknight}{\creatim\yr2005\mo5\dy8\hr21\min54}{\revtim\yr2005\mo10\dy19\hr22\min37}
{\printim\yr2005\mo5\dy5\hr19\min31}{\version3}{\edmins14}{\nofpages16}{\nofwords4204}{\nofchars23964}{*\company 287 Mafia}{\nofcharsws28112}{\vern16437}}
\widowctrl\ftnbj\aenddoc\revisions\noxlattoyen\expshrtn\noultrlspc\dntblnsbdb\nospaceforul\hyphcaps0\formshade\horzdoc\dgmargin\dghspace180\dgvspace180\dghorigin1800\dgvorigin1440\dghshow1\dgvshow1
\jexpand\viewkind1\viewscale100\pgbrdrhead\pgbrdrfoot\splytwnine\ftnlytwnine\htmautsp\nolnhtadjtbl\useltbaln\alntblind\lytcalctblwd\lyttblrtgr\lnbrkrule\nobrkwrptbl\snaptogridincell\allowfieldendsel\wrppunct\asianbrkrule\rsidroot12592128 \fet0\sectd
\linex0\endnhere\sectlinegrid360\sectdefaultcl\sftnbj {*\pnseclvl1\pnucrm\pnstart1\pnindent720\pnhang {\pntxta .}}{*\pnseclvl2\pnucltr\pnstart1\pnindent720\pnhang {\pntxta .}}{*\pnseclvl3\pndec\pnstart1\pnindent720\pnhang {\pntxta .}}{*\pnseclvl4
\pnlcltr\pnstart1\pnindent720\pnhang {\pntxta )}}{*\pnseclvl5\pndec\pnstart1\pnindent720\pnhang {\pntxtb (}{\pntxta )}}{*\pnseclvl6\pnlcltr\pnstart1\pnindent720\pnhang {\pntxtb (}{\pntxta )}}{*\pnseclvl7\pnlcrm\pnstart1\pnindent720\pnhang {\pntxtb (}
{\pntxta )}}{*\pnseclvl8\pnlcltr\pnstart1\pnindent720\pnhang {\pntxtb (}{\pntxta )}}{*\pnseclvl9\pnlcrm\pnstart1\pnindent720\pnhang {\pntxtb (}{\pntxta )}}\pard\plain \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0
\fs24\lang1033\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp1033 {\insrsid10815481 Friends and Benefits
Chapter One
by be287m
}{\insrsid13531003 \'93This is a huge mistake!\'94}{\insrsid13918637
}{\insrsid13531003
She just smiled at my outburst. A very pretty smile. Of course it was. She was beautiful.}{\insrsid8075165 She had long black hair that}{\insrsid16729343 cascaded to her mid-back and eyes to match. I could get lost in those eyes.}{\insrsid13531003
\'93Well, you\rquote ve already paid me for the hour,\'94 she replied. \'93Why not make the best of it?\'94
\'93I don\rquote t think I can,\'94 I moped. She raised an eyebrow, questioning. \'93Too much alcohol.\'94
\'93The great equivocator,\'94 she commented. I nodded.
}{\insrsid13531003\charrsid15956539 \'93It }{\insrsid15956539\charrsid15956539 provokes}{\insrsid13531003\charrsid15956539 the desire}{\insrsid15956539\charrsid15956539 ,}{\insrsid13531003\charrsid15956539 }{\insrsid15956539\charrsid15956539 but}{
\insrsid15956539 it takes away the performance}{\insrsid13531003 ,\'94 I recited automatically. }{\insrsid5258414 \'93I should have stopped drinking when I called the agency and made the appointment for you to come over. Since then I\rquote
ve had way too much . . . .\'94 }{\insrsid13531003 Then what she\rquote d said sunk in. I whipped my head up to look her in the face.
\'93You know Shakespeare?\'94 I challenged. I shouldn\rquote t have moved my head so fast. It hurt.
\'93I }{\i\insrsid13531003\charrsid12459946 am}{\insrsid13531003 a college graduate,\'94 she said.
}{\insrsid10815481
\'93Really?\'94 I asked.
}{\insrsid11352518 \'93Really.\'94
\'93No. Really?\'94 I asked again. She sighed.
\'93Bachelor\rquote s in psychology, working on my master\rquote s}{\insrsid591898 at Maryland}{\insrsid11352518 .\'94
\'93So why are you escorting?\'94
She frowned at the question, but didn\rquote t seem offended. Good, I didn\rquote t want to offend her. I need to pull myself together. I pushed the bottle on the table away from me. As far }{\insrsid12459946 away }{\insrsid11352518 as I could.
\'93This isn\rquote t about me,\'94 she firmly stated. \'93It\rquote s about you. What do you want, Joe?\'94
I stared at her. I couldn\rquote t remember her name, I realized. In one ear and out the other.
\'93Why did you call the agency?\'94 she prompted.
\'93Seemed like a good idea at the time,\'94 I drawled. I tried to crack a country boy smile but she apparently didn\rquote t like the joke. She got up and walked over to
the sink. Why were we sitting in my kitchen instead of the bedroom? She found a glass in the cabinet and filled it at the tap and then placed it in front of me.}{\insrsid10815481
}{\insrsid11352518
\'93Drink,\'94 she ordered. I automatically took a swig. She waited, looking at me with just a hint of disdain. Like Sharon used to look at me. I shifted and improved my posture.
\'93So what\rquote s going on, Joe?\'94 she asked softly. A tenderness had showed up in her voice.
\'93My life sucks,\'94 I replied.
\'93Why?\'94
\'93I lost both my best friend and}{\insrsid15144884 probably the only woman who c}{\insrsid11352518 ould ever love me,\'94 I answered. \'93So I got drunk and made a phone call.\'94
\'93Do you want to talk about it?\'94
I gave an exaggerated shrug. She sat quietly, waiting.
\'93It\rquote s a long, complicated story,\'94 I finally said, \'93about friends with benefits. Or without benefits. Or . . . oh, I don\rquote t know. Friends and benefits.\'94
\'93So tell me about it,\'94 she suggested.
\'93You really want to hear about it?\'94 I asked.
\'93You did pay for the hour, Joe. I\rquote m happy to listen, unless you\rquote d rather . . .\'94 Her eyes flicked to my crotch and back up. I grimaced. Nothing was stirring down there.
\'93I don\rquote t know where to start,\'94 I admitted.
\'93So start at the beginning.}{\insrsid10558105 \'94
\'93In the beginning, the world was void and without form,\'94 I intoned. }{\insrsid5258414 My companion }{\insrsid10558105 cleared her throat}{\insrsid2322757 and I shrugged.}{\insrsid10558105
}{\insrsid2322757
\'93I guess things with Sharon began the day I failed to propose to my college girlfriend, Alicia. Well, ex-girlfriend, technically. We\rquote d been together two and a half years before I left for grad school}{\insrsid12459946
at the University of Arizona}{\insrsid2322757 . }{\insrsid7762117 That was the fall of 1990. }{\insrsid2322757 My first spring semester in Tucson, the distance took its toll. We broke up but agreed to remain \lquote friends.\rquote
In reality, the only thing that changed was }{\insrsid15956539 that }{\insrsid2322757 the fights stopped. We still talk}{\insrsid15956539 ed on the phone as often as we}{\insrsid2322757 had when we were }{\insrsid11352518 a couple}{\insrsid7762117
and }{\insrsid14812685 we }{\insrsid2322757 made plans to get together at the end of the semester. My last class ended and I hopped in my car and drove for fourteen hours back to Boulder. I only made one stop. Long enough to get a ring. I\rquote
d had enough of Tucson and enough of time away from Alicia.\'94
I paused. I hated remembering this next part. I really hated having to talk about it. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath.
\'93It . }{\insrsid15998902 . . didn\rquote t go well. We started off with a hug and a pleasant conversation. I asked her how her life was and . . . and . . . and an hour later I was calling Sharon.\'94}{\insrsid2322757
}{\insrsid15998902
I looked up at }{\insrsid12459946 my companion}{\insrsid15998902 . She gave a comforting smile and reached over and took my hand.
\'93Now tell me the story.\'94
I nodded, and let my mind slide back to that day . . .
}{\insrsid10558105
}\pard \qc \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid15998902 {\insrsid15998902 * * *}{\insrsid10558105
}\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 {\insrsid15998902
}{\insrsid10558105 \'93Sharon, it\rquote s Joe.\'94
\'93Joe? How did it go?\'94 The concern in her voice told me she\rquote d picked up the pain in mine.
\'93Not well. I . . I didn\rquote t even have a chance to ask her. Before I could, she was telling me about her new boyfriend.\'94
\'93Oh, Joe!\'94
\'93It gets worse. She told me what a great kisser he is.\'94
\'93What???\'94
\'93It just happened, Sharon. She said she was glad we\rquote d been able to be friends since we broke up and I agreed}{\insrsid7762117 . T}{\insrsid10558105 hen she started talking about this guy and I was just too stunn
ed to tell her to shut up. By the time I recovered . . . well, let\rquote s just say I was lucky I recovered before she told me about anything but kissing. Like how }{\insrsid15956539 well he could quote Shakespeare}{\insrsid10558105 .\'94
Sharon chuckled. We }{\insrsid12459946 shared}{\insrsid15956539 way too many inside jokes.}{\insrsid10558105
}{\insrsid15956539
\'93I sincerely doubt there are any two-backed beasts yet, at least with Alicia,\'94 she said.
\'93}{\insrsid1903036 You\rquote re probably right}{\insrsid15956539 , but does it matter?\'94
}{\insrsid1903036 \'93Of course not,}{\insrsid15956539 \'94}{\insrsid1903036 Sharon replied.}{\insrsid15956539 I let out a long sigh. Sharon kept silent.
\'93Can I come over?\'94 I asked.
}{\insrsid1903036 \'93Sure,\'94 she said. \'93I\rquote ll break open}{\insrsid5178643 the wine.\'94}{\insrsid15956539
}{\insrsid6712574
Sharon greeted me at her apartment door with a big hug}{\insrsid8787027 . She didn\rquote t let go right away. Neither did}{\insrsid12459946 I. I wanted to collapse or }{\insrsid8787027 die, but she held me up.
Eventually we made it inside and over to her couch. As I sagged into the cushions, she handed me a tall plastic glass of red liquid.}{\insrsid15144884 I looked askance at the cup}{\insrsid9788509 .}{\insrsid8787027
\'93You need to drink it faster than you will out of a wine glass,\'94 she said. \'93You should actually be drinking something harder tonight.\'94
\'93Harder stuff tastes like crap,\'94 I retorted.}{\insrsid9788509 Sharon shrugged and didn\rquote t push me. I took a sip of }{\insrsid14812685 the wine. It tasted like }{\insrsid9788509 crap too. I took a gulp.}{\insrsid612438
Sharon sat on the couch next to me and put an arm around me.}{\insrsid6712574
}{\insrsid9788509
\'93}{\insrsid612438 I thought Alicia lov}{\insrsid12459946 ed me,\'94 I moaned. \'93I loved her!}{\insrsid612438 \'94 I took another gulp of wine.}{\insrsid9788509
}{\insrsid612438
\'93I know,\'94 Sharon said soothingly.
\'93I was willing to quit grad school for her!\'94 I wailed. \'93And she\rquote s already fucking }{\insrsid12459946 someone else. God, this hurts.}{\insrsid612438 \'94
\'93I know,\'94 Sharon said again. \'93It\rquote s just like me and Allen.\'94}{\insrsid6118790 I }{\insrsid15144884 nodded}{\insrsid6118790 .
}{\insrsid612438 Sharon and I had }{\insrsid11352518 become friends}{\insrsid612438 when she was dating my roommate Allen. They met at the beginning of her freshman year. When the school year ended}{\insrsid6118790
, they had a very passionate sendoff that required me to spend the night at Alicia\rquote s}{\insrsid12459946 so they could have the room}{\insrsid6118790 . It was supposed to tide them over for the summer}{\insrsid11352518 }{\insrsid7762117 break }{
\insrsid11352518 while he was in California}{\insrsid6118790 . A month later }{\insrsid7762117 the break}{\insrsid6118790 turned out to be }{\insrsid11352518 for good}{\insrsid6118790 . Allen }{\insrsid612438 sent }{\insrsid6118790 Sharon}{
\insrsid612438 a letter dumping her.}{\insrsid6118790 }{\insrsid612438
}{\insrsid6118790
I spent the next year being Sharon\rquote s shoulder to cry on. Now it was my turn.
I did cry that night, leaving tear stains on the shoulder of Sharon}{\insrsid15144884 \rquote s t}{\insrsid6118790 -shirt. She listened to me whine and bawl and bitch about Alicia. I also drank enough to }{\insrsid4719984
be very sick the next morning. I didn\rquote t lose my cookies, but the hangover was fierce.}{\insrsid5638416 It took me a very long time to sit up on Sharon\rquote s couch, where she\rquote d let me sleep the night before.}{\insrsid6118790
}{\insrsid13456021
\'93Why }{\insrsid5638416 did you get me drunk?\'94 I moaned, when she walked in}{\insrsid7762117 to the }{\insrsid12459946 room}{\insrsid5638416 .}{\insrsid13456021
\'93It\rquote s what you did for me when Allen dumped me,\'94 Sharon answered.
}{\insrsid5638416
\'93That may have been a bad idea,\'94 I muttered. Sharon just shrugged her shoulders.
}{\insrsid3104620
\'93How are you feeling?\'94 she asked. I glared at her.
\'93Like shit.\'94
Sharon just nodded. My head continued to pound and the wooziness was intense. I eventually }{\insrsid12459946 made it}{\insrsid3104620 to my feet and toddered toward the bathroom. When I returned, Sharon had started coffee.}{\insrsid12459946
I decided against sitting in a }{\insrsid3104620 chair and eased myself back onto the couch. It wasn\rquote t too painful to l}{\insrsid5258414 ie}{\insrsid3104620 on my side and I figured I deserved that reward after my courageous journey to
pee. I closed my eyes and tried to will the pounding away. }{\insrsid12459946 I didn\rquote t succeed}{\insrsid3104620 .
Something nudged my ribs}{\insrsid14812685 . }{\insrsid3104620 I opened }{\insrsid14812685 my eyes}{\insrsid3104620 to see Sharon holding coffee and aspirin. She pulled an end table around and set them within reach.
\'93You are a goddess}{\insrsid1076595 ,}{\insrsid3104620 \'94}{\insrsid1076595 I muttered. Sharon grinned and }{\insrsid7762117 made a flourish with her arm}{\insrsid1076595
. I would have rolled my eyes but it hurt too much. Instead, I swallowed the aspirin and took a sip of the coffee. Then I closed my eyes and went back to trying to shove the hammers out of my skull.}{\insrsid3104620
}{\insrsid1076595
There is something about pain that changes the nature of time. There is no past and barely a future. There is just this painful breath and }{\insrsid5862015 then }{\insrsid1076595 this nauseous }{\insrsid1997038
whirl and maybe the odd thought that is little more than \'93God, make it stop.\'94 }{\insrsid12459946 Really}{\insrsid1997038 good hangovers }{\insrsid12459946 leave few atheists.}{\insrsid1076595
}{\insrsid3104620
}{\insrsid1997038 My prayers were answered about two in the afternoon. I may have slept, but I didn\rquote t feel particularly rested. What I did feel was thirsty. I opened my eyes and managed to sit up without wanting to immediately collaps
e back. This was good. I made a quick apology to God for all the promises I was sure I\rquote d made }{\insrsid12459946 but now}{\insrsid1997038 couldn\rquote
t remember. I noted that the coffee was gone and glanced around. Sharon was reading at her kitchen table with a glass of something that looked cold. She looked up and watched me. I pulled myself up and slowly, very slowly, made my way to the table.
\'93Water?\'94 I asked. Sharon nodded and had a glass in front of me by the time I sank into the chair.
}{\insrsid3104620
}{\insrsid5862015 \'93Still feeling like shit?\'94 she asked.
\'93Yes. But not as bad.}{\insrsid15103100 A shower and some food and I might even make it to human.\'94}{\insrsid5862015
}{\insrsid15103100
}{\insrsid12459946 \'93A shower and food}{\insrsid15103100 we can do.\'94
Sharon waited until I\rquote d }{\insrsid14812685 emptied my glass}{\insrsid15103100 and then stood, extended a hand, and helped me to my feet. }{\insrsid13196833 She led me to bathroom and turned on the water
in the tub. She started adjusting the knobs while I stripped off my shirt and sagged against the counter, waiting.
\'93Go ahead and get in,\'94 she said, once she was satisfied with the water temperature. \'93I\rquote ll go get you some clean towels.\'94 I nodded, and once Sharon had left the bathroom, shucked my pants and climbed under the spray.
It was glorious. I could almost feel the stink slough away. The steam seemed to open}{\insrsid9992047 my veins and give me a fresh shot of invigorating oxygen. I stood, just soaking the warmth in.}{\insrsid13196833
}{\insrsid9992047
}{\insrsid12459946 \'93Got your towel}{\insrsid9992047 !\'94 Sharon called from the other side of the shower curtain a while later.
\'93You are a true goddess!\'94 I called back.
\'93Thanks!\'94 I could hear the amusement in her voice.
\'93You got the water temperature exactly right,\'94 I added.
\'93Well, you and Allen once joked that you were the only guys on the floor that liked it a half turn back from boiling. So I set it to the same temperature that we used when we showered together in the dorms.\'94
\'93Uh, Sharon, the showers in the dorm weren\rquote t coed.\'94 }{\insrsid7762117
}{\insrsid9992047 She laughed.}{\insrsid7762117 }{\insrsid12459946 \'93I know that, Joe. }{\insrsid9992047 Allen and I would go there to have sex in the early morning hours when no one else was awake.\'94
I was taken aback, but didn\rquote t want to let on.
\'93Sounds hot,\'94 I replied.
\'93Oh, it was! Both the water and the sex!\'94 I gave the obligatory groan at the pun and Sharon laughed.
\'93You really should try it, Joe. There\rquote s something about warm water pouring over your body while you}{\insrsid5258414 \rquote }{\insrsid9992047 r}{\insrsid5258414 e}{\insrsid9992047 }{\insrsid5258414 doing it}{\insrsid9992047 --it\rquote
s incredibly erotic.\'94
\'93I\rquote ll believe it. }{\insrsid5258414 If the water\rquote s hot enough, of course}{\insrsid9992047 .\'94}{\insrsid9308327 Sharon chuckled again.
\'93You\rquote d enjoy it, Joe. I certainly did. It\rquote s one of the things I miss}{\insrsid7762117 about Allen}{\insrsid9308327 .\'94
\'93So find someone else,\'94 I suggested. I was nearly done washing and }{\insrsid12459946 was }{\insrsid9308327 mostly continuing the shower for the pure pleasure of standing under the water.
\'93It\rquote s not so easy. Most of the guys who ask me out are clearly players, and I\rquote m not going to put up with that.\'94
\'93So ask a shy guy out.\'94
\'93Yuck. If he\rquote s too shy to ask me out, then why would I want to go out with him? Besides, I\rquote d probably have to be the teacher in bed, and I\rquote m not interested in doing that.\'94 I snorted in response.}{\insrsid5912277
\'93So what are you looking for?\'94}{\insrsid12459946 I asked.}{\insrsid5912277
\'93In a guy?\'94
\'93Yeah.\'94 I heard her sigh on the other side of the curtain.
\'93Someone who can be patient. A guy who can be a great friend, as well as being good in bed.\'94
\'93Heh. By the time you find out he\rquote s good in bed, you\rquote re already dating him.\'94
\'93Not necessarily.\'94
\'93Not necessarily?\'94
\'93We could always be }{\insrsid7762117 \lquote }{\insrsid5912277 friends with benefits}{\insrsid7762117 \rquote }{\insrsid5912277 first.\'94
Suddenly I was very very sober. I was also acutely aware that I was stark naked and only separated by a few feet and a thin plastic curtain from an attractive woman. Who also had a high libido, if I believed Allen\rquote s stories. I did one slow fin
al turn under the water and shut the faucet off.
\'93You\rquote re okay with \lquote friends with benefits\rquote ?\'94}{\insrsid9992047
}{\insrsid5912277
\'93Well, it\rquote s not what I really want . . .}{\insrsid12459946 but yeah.}{\insrsid5912277 \'94
I cracked the curtain and extended an arm. Sharon placed a towel in my hand and I pulled it back and began drying off.
\'93You accepting volunteers?\'94 I asked, keeping my voice playful.}{\insrsid5912277\charrsid5912277 }{\insrsid5912277 \'93Where do I sign up?\'94
\'93Hah! Good one, Joe!\'94
}{\insrsid6039208
I wrapped the towel around myself and opened the shower curtain. Sharon\rquote s eyes were twinkling.
\'93I\rquote m not going to sleep with you, Joe.\'94
\'93Oh, darn!\'94 I said, snapping my fingers with a broad motion of my arm. It got the sought-after laugh and Sharon just shook her head.
\'93Get dressed and we\rquote ll go ge}{\insrsid12459946 t you some breakfast,\'94 she said, \'93or lunch as the case may be.\'94}{\insrsid6039208
\'93Yes, ma\rquote am,\'94 I replied.
}{\insrsid12459946
Sharon gave me privacy to dress and I spent the time wondering about her comments. I\rquote d always thought she was in the \'93had to be in love to have sex\'94 camp. At least she\rquote d insisted on waiting to sleep with Allen until they\rquote
d been going out a couple of months. Their first time had ended up being a Christmas present. She bought a deep blue teddy and invited him to unwrap his gift. They\rquote d been happy then.
Like Alicia and I had been. }{\insrsid7762117 That started me wallowing in my own self-pity. }{\insrsid12459946 I spent the rest of the day, including the meal with Sharon, }{\insrsid7762117 in a funk.}{\insrsid12459946
I spent the rest of the summer doing much of the same}{\insrsid14812685 wallowing}{\insrsid12459946 . There was no point in going back to the heat of Tucson }{\insrsid7762117 until the fall semester started}{\insrsid14812685 , s}{\insrsid12459946
o I moped around my parents}{\insrsid5258414 \rquote }{\insrsid12459946 house, did a couple of major yard}{\insrsid7762117 }{\insrsid12459946 work projects for them, and saw my friends when I could.
Sharon wasn\rquote t the only one I hung out with, of course. She did have }{\insrsid7762117 more free time than some of }{\insrsid484415 my }{\insrsid7762117 other }{\insrsid484415 friends}{\insrsid12459946 , though. She also didn\rquote
t seem to mind me whining about Alicia as much as the others. We\rquote d go out to a movie or hit a club and }{\insrsid10962525 end up sitting in her living room late at night, telling stories.}{\insrsid12459946
}{\insrsid3174914
I also tried to stay friends with Alicia. That was a mistake. We got together a couple of times for coffee a
nd pretended not to notice the unbearable tenseness we both carried. The tone was polite, but it was death by a thousand cuts, one casual remark at a time. Maybe things would have been different if I\rquote
d let myself get angry at her, instead of clinging to my idealistic views about how to }{\insrsid7762117 be with someone after breaking}{\insrsid3174914 up. I don\rquote t know.
}{\insrsid15414398
I do know that Sharon wasn\rquote t so idealistic. She proved it one day }{\insrsid7762117 when }{\insrsid15414398 we went to a matinee movie.}{\insrsid591898 We\rquote d been sitting in the near-}{\insrsid15414398
deserted theatre, talking about nothing, waiting for it to start, when Alicia and her roommate showed up and sat down }{\insrsid15146598 a few}{\insrsid15414398 row}{\insrsid15146598 s}{\insrsid15414398 behind us.
\'93Hey! What are you doing with my }{\insrsid4417837 guy}{\insrsid15414398 ?\'94 Alicia teased.
\'93He\rquote s not your }{\insrsid4417837 guy}{\insrsid15414398 ,\'94 Sharon called back}{\insrsid15146598 without turning around}{\insrsid15414398 .
\'93Oh? You dating him?\'94 Alicia shot back. Sharon responded by reaching over and grasping my hand and then lifting }{\insrsid15146598 it}{\insrsid15414398 into Alicia\rquote }{\insrsid15146598 s view. }{\insrsid15414398 }{\insrsid15146598
We held hands that way for a while and then lowered them back to the armrest between us.}{\insrsid15414398
}{\insrsid15146598
\'93He\rquote s also a great kisser!\'94 Sharon said, while never letting go of my hand. There was no reply from behind us.
The movie started and I tried to keep my mind on the screen. Eventually Sharon released her grip and we returned to just sitting side by side, looking ahead. We stayed that way until the end of the credi
ts. When the house lights came up, Sharon glanced around and then smirked. We were alone in the theatre.
\'93}{\insrsid8065721 Sharon one, Alicia zero,\'94 she drawled.}{\insrsid15146598
}{\insrsid8408416
\'93I didn\rquote t know there was a contest,\'94 I remarked.
\'93When they rip your heart out, it\rquote s always a contest. Not who can hurt the other one the most, but who can walk away with the most dignity.\'94
}{\insrsid14812685 \'93You\rquote re kidding,}{\insrsid8408416 \'94}{\insrsid14812685 I said.}{\insrsid8408416 Sharon just shrugged her shoulders.
\'93Besides,\'94 I continued, \'93if that were true, the contest would be between Alicia and me. How do you score points?\'94
\'93Oh, I\rquote m on your side,\'94 Sharon said with a smirk. I raised my eyebrows.
\'93Anything for you, my friend,\'94 she said.
\'93Anything?\'94 I opened my eyes wide in mock surprise at the offer. Sharon gave me a playful punch on the arm.
\'93Geez, Joe! You definitely have a one}{\insrsid5258414 -}{\insrsid8408416 track mind!\'94 I shrugged.
\'93What can I say? The sex is one of the things I miss.\'94
\'93Tell me about it,\'94 she muttered.
\'93I will if you want me to,\'94 I said. Sharon got a wicked gleam in her eye.
\'93Maybe when we get back to my apartment.\'94
\'93Sure!\'94
We talked about other things on our way out of the theatre and on the drive to Sharon\rquote s place. After getting some drinks, we settled into her living room, me on the couch, her on a chair across from me.
\'93So what do you want to know?\'94 I asked.
\'93Oh, I don\rquote t know. I\rquote m mostly curious about what you\rquote ll tell me.\'94
\'93Depends on what you ask.\'94
\'93You want me to ask questions?\'94 she mused. In that moment, I had an inspiration.
\'93Let\rquote s play twenty questions,\'94 I suggested. \'93We take turns asking each other questions and the other person has to either answer honestly or take a forfeit.\'94
\'93Mmm. I don\rquote t know. What did you have in mind for forfeits?}{\insrsid13192532 \'94
\'93We can deal with that afterwards,\'94 I said, backpedaling. \'93Forfeiting person\rquote s choice.\'94 Sharon slowly nodded.
\'93Okay, but let\rquote s make it ten questions instead of twenty. I do have plans this evening.\'94
\'93Agreed.\'94 She\rquote d told me about the plans earlier, so it sounded like a good idea.}{\insrsid591898 We sat for a moment, and it go}{\insrsid13192532 t a little awkward.
\'93You want to go first?\'94 I asked.
\'93Sure. What do you miss most sexually?\'94 }{\insrsid591898 She asked. }{\insrsid13192532 I chuckled.
\'93Not starting small, are we?\'94}{\insrsid591898 I replied.}{\insrsid13192532 Sharon shook her head.
\'93Well . . . I miss the orgasms, of course. But the most . . I\rquote d have to say going down on her. I loved watching her climax as I ate her.\'94
\'93Mmmm. Allen was pretty good at that, but it\rquote s not what I miss the most.\'94
\'93What do you miss the most?\'94
\'93Is that your first question?\'94
\'93Sure,\'94 I agreed.
\'93I miss having his cock inside me. Allen\rquote s pretty thick and his cock felt }{\i\insrsid13192532\charrsid13192532 wonderful}{\insrsid14812685 .}{\insrsid13192532 \'94
I laughed.
\'93So size matters!\'94
\'93To this woman it does!\'94
\'93Was he the biggest you\rquote ve had?\'94
\'93Is that your second question?\'94 Sharon teased.
\'93Sure. We don\rquote t have to be strict about alternating.\'94
\'93Yes, he was,\'94 she answered. \'93My turn.\'94 She paused in thought for a while.
\'93What is the best sex you ever had?\'94
\'93With Alicia or overall?\'94
\'93Both.\'94
\'93That counts as two questions then,\'94 I stated. Sharon nodded in agreement.}{\insrsid6101627
\'93With Alicia . . . when she few down to Tucson to visit me over her spring break, about a month before we broke up. We spent the day making love in every room in the house. That wasn\rquote
t tough because there were only three, counting the bathroom. We ended in the living room, lying in a patch of sun streaming through the big window there. Alicia was on top. I\rquote d }{
\deleted\revauthdel1\revdttmdel1721408933\insrsid6101627\delrsid16456993 cum}{\cf0\revised\revauth1\revdttm1721408933\insrsid16456993 come}{\insrsid6101627 , but was still inside her. Instea}{\insrsid14812685 d of pulling off of me, she lay}{
\insrsid6101627 forward, flat against my chest. We basked there, skin to skin, my cock softening but staying inside her, until the sun finally disappeared and the room started to cool.\'94}{\insrsid13192532
}{\insrsid6101627
\'93Sounds really nice,\'94 Sharon said. She was lightly running her fingertips over her arms, almost caressing herself. I smiled and continued.
\'93Overall? That would have to be the priva
te striptease my high school girlfriend performed for me. She invited me over on a night when her parents were going to be out late. After talking and making out for a while, she told me to sit on the couch because she had a surprise for me. She left f
or a while and came back wearing a long coat, a hat, and carrying a cassette tape. The music was Joe Cocker\rquote s }{\insrsid5258414 \'93}{\insrsid6101627\charrsid5258414 You Can Leave Your Hat On}{\insrsid5258414 .\'94}{\insrsid6101627 \'94
\'93}{\ul\insrsid6101627\charrsid6101627 Nine and a }{\ul\insrsid16329275 H}{\ul\insrsid6101627\charrsid6101627 alf }{\ul\insrsid16329275 W}{\ul\insrsid6101627\charrsid6101627 eeks}{\insrsid6101627 ,\'94 Sharon interjected.
\'93That\rquote s right. It had just come out and she\rquote d been inspired.\'94
\'93So what happened?\'94
\'93She did a slow strip tease, following the lyrics of the song,\'94 I said. \'93She was wearing white lingerie underneath, including a garter belt and stockings. I got so excited that I stripped off all my own clothes while she danced. She
ended her tease by straddling my lap and fucking me hard.\'94
\'93So that\rquote s when your lingerie fetish started,\'94}{\insrsid8155720 Sharon mused.
\'93Well, yeah. Though if a woman had bought a blue teddy and told me to unwrap my Christmas present, I\rquote d have probably ended up with just as strong of an interest in lingerie.\'94 That drew a laugh from Sharon.
\'93So my next question,\'94 I began, not letting a pause develop, \'93what\rquote s the sexiest lingerie you own?\'94
\'93The blue teddy,\'94 she admitted. \'93I\rquote m a poor starving college student, remember?\'94
}{\insrsid4417837 \'93I\rquote ll buy new lingerie}{\insrsid8155720 for you if you\rquote ll model it for me.\'94
Sharon gave me a look with just a hint of disdain. I shrunk back under her gaze. She didn\rquote t dignify my comment with a response.
}{\insrsid2033681
\'93Next question,\'94 she said. \'93Do you have any other fetishes besides lingerie?\'94
\'93I th}{\insrsid15226518 ink I\rquote ll take a forfeit on that,}{\insrsid2033681 \'94}{\insrsid15226518 I answered.}{\insrsid2033681 Sharon chuckled and shook her head.
\'93My turn. Do you have any fetishes?\'94
\'93Forfeit,\'94 Sharon shot back. That intrigued me, as I\rquote d expected a \lquote no}{\insrsid5258414 .}{\insrsid2033681 \rquote
We both paused for a while and I didn\rquote t know if I should wait for her next question or ask one of my own. As the silence lengthened, I decided to ask.
\'93So,\'94 I began. \'93you said that Allen had the biggest cock of the guys you\rquote ve been with. How many guys is that?\'94 Sharon let o}{\insrsid2762341 ut a deep sigh. She hesitated, looking a little apprehensive for a moment.
\'93Nine,\'94 she admitted. \'93I\rquote m not proud of it, but I had a pretty busy start. You?\'94}{\insrsid2033681
}{\insrsid2762341
\'93No guys,\'94 I responded. Sharon rolled her eyes. \'93Alicia was the third woman, though.\'94
\'93Only three at age 23? When did you start?\'94
\'93I lost my virginity at 18,\'94 I answered. \'93And that was your sixth question.\'94 Sharon nodded in agreement.
\'93When did you lose your virginity?\'94 I asked.
\'93Fourteen,\'94 she answered.
\'93That\rquote s not too bad,\'94 I commented. \'93Nine guys in seven years?\'94
\'93Five of them were in the first year,\'94 she said. I snorted in surprise.
\'93Really? What did you do?\'94
\'93Forfeit. And that was your seventh question.\'94
}{\insrsid10488550 \'93Okay. What\rquote s your next one?\'94}{\insrsid2762341
}{\insrsid10488550
Sharon didn\rquote t say anything right away. She was scowling and staring into space. Not at me. I wasn\rquote t the cause. Maybe I could bring her out of it.
\'93If you don\rquote t have a question ready, I\rquote ve got an easy one.\'94 That got Sharon\rquote s attention.
\'93Shoot.\'94
\'93If Allen were here right now and things were good with him, what would you do?\'94
\'93Rip off his pants and suck his cock. Then have him fuck me until I couldn\rquote t take it any more. Then fill the tub and take a bath together.\'94
\'93Why a bath?\'94
\'93Because it\rquote s more relaxing than a shower, and these days that\rquote s where I usually am when I\rquote m fantasizing about Allen.\'94
\'93Really?\'94 Are you masturbating then?\'94 I got instantly embarrassed at my question. Sharon stared at me, and then slowly grinned.
\'93That was your last question,\'94 she said. \'93The answer\rquote s yes. I masturbate in the tub just ab}{\insrsid8929539 out every time I take a bath.\'94}{\insrsid10488550
The image intrigued me but I couldn\rquote t ask any follow ups. I bit my tongue and Sharon chuckled at my frustration.
\'93Where do you masturbate?\'94 Sharon asked.
\'93My bed,\'94 I answered. \'93Sometimes sitting at the computer.\'94
\'93The computer? Why?\'94
\'93The university gave me a computer account on one of their mainframes and I can dial into it with my modem. It turns out there are these things called newsgroups. Some of them are for sex stories and some of the stories are pretty hot.\'94
\'93The university lets you read porn?\'94
\'93I don\rquote t think the university officials have any idea }{\insrsid9007667 that }{\insrsid10488550 the newsgroups exist. Remember, a lot of people outside of computer science think of computers as just stand}{\insrsid5258414 -}{\insrsid10488550
alone machines.\'94
\'93True.\'94
\'93So, like I said, sometimes the stories are pretty hot. I\rquote m turned on, I\rquote m at home, I\rquote m alone . . . why not?\'94 Sharon laughed}{\insrsid10894283 in reply}{\insrsid10488550 .
\'93So what type of stories to do like?\'94 she asked.
\'93All types. Well, all types where the sex is consensual. Rape stories make me ill.\'94
\'93I\rquote m glad to hear that!\'94 Sharon said with a snort.
\'93Past that, there are all types available. It just depends on what my fantasy of the moment is.\'94
\'93Really?\'94 Sharon got a devilish twinkle in her eye. \'93Last question, then. Other than Alicia, what fantasies do you masturbate to?\'94
I gulped. }{\insrsid5258414 W}{\insrsid10488550 ould Sharon think I was a pervert if I answered that?
\'93Forfeit.\'94
\'93Awww.\'94
\'93Maybe some other time,\'94 I replied.
\'93Maybe,\'94 she agreed. \'93This has been fun.\'94 Sharon looked at her watch. \'93But speaking of time, }{\insrsid13699705 I have to get ready for Trish\rquote s birthday party.\'94}{\insrsid10488550
}{\insrsid13699705
I nodded and stood up. Sharon walked me to the door and gave me a long hug good}{\insrsid5258414 -}{\insrsid13699705 bye.
I headed back to my parents\rquote house and discovered they were gone for the evening. Still a little aroused by the afternoon\rquote s conversation,}{\insrsid4417837 I retreated to my room and lay}{\insrsid13699705
down on the bed. One thought led to another and soon . . .
. . . that was}{\insrsid14812685 the first time I had an orgasm}{\insrsid13699705 while fantasizing about Sharon.
}{\insrsid10488550
}\pard \qc \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid602896 {\insrsid602896 * * *}{\insrsid13192532
}\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid602896 {\insrsid602896
The brunette squeezed my hand, bringing me back to the present.
\'93This was 1991?\'94 she asked. I slowly nodded.
\'93You said to begin at the beginning. That was the beginning, }{\insrsid15226518 three}{\insrsid602896 years ago.\'94
\'93Sounds like there\rquote s a lot more to this story then,\'94 she said. I just nodded.
}{\insrsid10185227 \'93More than I\rquote ll be able to tell in an hour,\'94 I said, feeling dour. \'93Maybe I shouldn\rquote t have drunk so much.\'94 Her eyes followed my glance down to my crotch, which didn\rquote
t feel so disconnected as it had, but still wasn\rquote t }{\insrsid14812685 functional}{\insrsid10185227 .}{\insrsid602896
}{\insrsid10185227
\'93You needed}{\insrsid10752474 --}{\insrsid10185227 need, the conversation more than you need the sex,\'94 she said. I tilted my head and stared at her.
\'93The sex w}{\insrsid6433835 ould help me forget.}{\insrsid10185227 \'94
\'93As well as the booze?}{\insrsid13131998 Or should I say as poorly?}{\insrsid10185227 \'94
She had me there.
\'93You are an incredibly smart lady,\'94 I said. That drew a smile, and for a moment I thought I saw something in her eyes, but her control was back in place too fast for me to be sure.
\'93Must be a change of pace,\'94 I said. \'93Sitting here just listening.\'94
\'93I actually like it,\'94 she replied. \'93The reason I went into psychology is because I find people fascinating.\'94
\'93Even drunk whiners?\'94
She chuckled.
\'93I doubt you\rquote re a drunk whiner all the time, Joe. In fact, you\rquote re probably a lot of fun in the right circumstances.\'94
\'93Damn straight!\'94
She just smiled. I smiled back. Then she glanced at her watch.
\'93Our hour\rquote s almost up. Unless you\rquote d like to extend . . .}{\insrsid5258414 .}{\insrsid10185227 \'94
\'93}{\insrsid14812685 What\rquote s the point? I\rquote m too out of it to be much good,}{\insrsid10185227 \'94 I stated. She nodded.
}{\insrsid13448842 \'93I understand. If you want to talk again, though, feel free to call the agency. They offer a much lower rate for purely social companionship.\'94 I raised my eyebrows.}{\insrsid10185227
}{\insrsid13448842
\'93It has to be somewhere clearly public where nothing . . . intimate is going to happen. It also has to be for longer blocks of time than an hour.\'94
I nodded.
\'93So who do I ask for? I\rquote m sorry, but I don\rquote t remember your name.\'94
\'93That\rquote s okay. I\rquote m not surprised. My name is Sherri.\'94 She pulled a card out of her purse and wrote it down, then passed me the card.}{\insrsid15293890 I stared at it for a moment, then stared at her. She stood and so I did}{
\insrsid4417837 ,}{\insrsid15293890 and then I walked her to the door.}{\insrsid6894409 She turned and faced me, and then stepped in close, looking into my eyes.
\'93It may feel like the end of the world}{\insrsid8929539 , Joe, but it\rquote s not.\'94}{\insrsid6894409
Then Sherri grabbed my head and pulled my lips to hers. She kissed me hard, thrusting her tongue into my mouth. Then just as suddenly, she released me and pulled back, a feral smile on her face.
\'93It\rquote s not the end of the world at all.\'94
With that, she turned and disappeared down the stairs.
}\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 {\insrsid14580040 I closed the door and wandered back into the kitchen. Sherri had been drinking water while I\rquote
d been talking. I cleared the glasses and headed to bed. }{\insrsid12012662 I looked at the bottle and shook my head ruefully. I hadn\rquote t drunk as much as I\rquote d}{\insrsid14812685 originally set out to}{\insrsid12012662 and I was cert
ainly feeling better. Then I realized it wasn\rquote t just being less drunk than in the past. Maybe making that phone call}{\insrsid14580040 had}{\insrsid12012662 n\rquote t}{\insrsid14580040 }{\insrsid8929539 been a huge mistake after all.}{
\insrsid8408416
}{\insrsid8929539
}{\insrsid13902423 -}{\insrsid15288844 -}{\insrsid13902423 E}{\insrsid8929539 nd Chapter One--
\'a9 2005 All rights reserved. May not be archived or distributed other than for person}{\insrsid14438320 al}{\insrsid8929539 use without explicit permission from the author.
}