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{\title Friends and Benefits}{\author eknight}{\operator eknight}{\creatim\yr2005\mo6\dy14\hr8\min14}{\revtim\yr2005\mo10\dy19\hr22\min38}{\printim\yr2005\mo5\dy5\hr19\min54}{\version4}{\edmins1}{\nofpages14}{\nofwords3966}{\nofchars22612}
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Chapter Three
by be287m
}\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 {\insrsid13918637
}\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid7018360 {\insrsid7018360 \'93Do you still have the photos?\'94 Sherri asked, our menus having been collected by the waiter. I nodded.
\'93Shoebox in my closet. With the others.\'94
\'93Other pictures?\'94
}{\insrsid13304017 \'93I\rquote ll get to those,}{\insrsid7018360 \'94}{\insrsid13304017 I replied.}{\insrsid7018360 Sherri\rquote s eyes flashed in response. Devilish and almost feral.
\'93Do you like taking sexy photos of women?\'94 she asked, her words slow and measured.
\'93Absolutely.\'94
\'93Good. I\rquote ll keep that in mind,\'94 she drawled. She brushed a few black strands of hair away from her face. Then she slowly licked her lips.
I felt my cock stiffen in response. }{\insrsid13304017 I slowly let out my breath.}{\insrsid7018360
}{\insrsid13304017
\'93Allen was right, you know,\'94 Sherri commented, much more seriously. \'93You can\rquote t erase old memories, but you can write over them with newer, better ones.\'94
\'93I know,\'94 I admitted. \'93That\rquote s why I called the agency. I thought getting laid would help and in my drunken state, that\rquote s all I could think of. While the dinner with Sharon }{\i\insrsid13304017\charrsid13304017 was}{
\insrsid13304017 a lot of fun, and what happened aft}{\insrsid9334638 erward with the photos was }{\insrsid10256045 mind-blowing}{\insrsid13304017 , it wasn\rquote t enough.\'94
\'93It wasn\rquote t?\'94
\'93No. But I suppose I should explain . . .\'94
}\pard \qc \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid13304017 {\insrsid13304017 * * *
}\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid7018360 {\insrsid13304017
}{\insrsid7867725 The next time we got together, neither Sharon nor I said anything about the pictures. I was scared she\rquote d declare }{\insrsid11945575 that they\rquote d been a mistake. Instead, s}{\insrsid7867725
he seemed nonchalant and as relaxed as she\rquote d been before our night out. We had a casual dinner and caught an ultimately forgettable movie. She had to work at her part}{\insrsid6243888 -}{\insrsid7867725 time job the next morning, so I didn
\rquote t stay to talk.}{\insrsid13304017
}{\insrsid4130803
A few days later, she called and suggested I come over and hang out that evening. When I showed up}{\insrsid8593246 just before dinnertime}{\insrsid4130803 , she ushered me in and headed to the kitchen. The photos were spread out all over the table.
}{\insrsid3940023 \'93Wow,\'94 I}{\insrsid1048744 said, looking at the montage.}{\insrsid3940023
}{\insrsid4130803 \'93Those are your copies,\'94 she said, pointing to a stack in one corner.
}{\insrsid10055983
\'93These,\'94 she said, pointing to a grouping on the left side of the table, \'93are pretty good. These,\'94 this was a group in the middle, \'93are okay, but could be better. This last set . . . well, you need some practice, Joe.\'94
I grimaced. The bulk of the photos were in the middle and the ones on the right outnumbered the ones on the left. I\rquote d thought I was a better photographer than that.
\'93So s}{\insrsid8593246 how me what you mean,\'94 I asked.
\'93Sure,\'94 she said. Sharon then pointed to one of the pictures on the right.
\'93My eyes are closed in this one,\'94 she said. \'93And in this one, the way my hair is hanging over my shoulder looks weird.\'94 I sig}{\insrsid6243888 h}{\insrsid8593246 ed and nodded.
I continued to nod as Sharon walked through each picture on the right side and then each one in the \lquote okay but could be better\rquote
middle. Then she turned to the pictures on the left--a mere seven prints. The first four were of her in the dress in various poses, looking elegant and }{\insrsid3278563 sexy}{\insrsid8593246 in all of them.}{\insrsid10055983
}{\insrsid8593246
\'93Now this is a really good picture,\'94 she said}{\insrsid11945575 , pointing to the fifth one}{\insrsid8593246 . It was the one of her looking over her shoulder as she leaned into the wall while wearing the teddy.
\'93You have a great sultry expression on your face,\'94 I commented.
\'93And it makes my ass look great.\'94
\'93You have a great ass,\'94 I said.
\'93Thanks!\'94 Sharon gave me a smile with that and picked up the next picture.
\'93I wasn\rquote t sure that posing behind the chair }{\insrsid3278563 would work, but this one\rquote s really good}{\insrsid8593246 .\'94 In the photo, Sharon\rquote
s head was turned and she had a warm, almost innocent smile. That sense of innocence was offset by the deep view down her cleavage. The teddy had gaped open just enough for me to strain to see if her nipple was visible. It wasn\rquote
t, but it was close.
\'93And this final one\rquote s just plain hot,\'94 Sharon}{\insrsid11945575 said. It was the last shot I\rquote }{\insrsid8593246 d taken, with one hand on her thigh and the other cupped below her breast. She looked wanton and aroused.
\'93It looks like you\rquote re about to touch yourself,\'94 I commented.
\'93Yeah,\'94 she admitted, grinning.
\'93Did you?\'94 }{\insrsid10256045 I impulsively}{\insrsid8593246 asked.
\'93Did I what?\'94
\'93Touch yourself,\'94 I clarified. \'93After I left.\'94
\'93Well. . .\'94 Sharon\rquote s eyes twinkled, teasing.
\'93How about if I cash in one of the forfeits from our game a while back?\'94
\'93Okay!\'94 Sharon replied. \'93Yes, I did. I fantasized that you\rquote d shown the picture to Allen and he\rquote d called because he wanted some of his own. I said he\rquote d have to take them himself and he agreed and . . . well, it was a }{
\i\insrsid8593246\charrsid8593246 very}{\insrsid8593246 good fantasy.\'94
I chuckled and shook my head. At the same time, my gut twinged. I hadn\rquote t gone home fantasizing about an ex. I\rquote d gone home fantasizing about Sharon.
\'93So,\'94 I said, gesturing at the pictures, \'93are you going to give me a chance to practice?\'94
\'93Maybe,\'94 Sharon replied. \'93But not tonight. I\rquote m hungry. How do you fe}{\insrsid6243888 e}{\insrsid8593246 l about Mexican?\'94
}{\insrsid14513122 \'93Sounds good. La Estre}{\insrsid8593246 llita?\'94
\'93Sure.\'94 Sharon swept her copies of the pictures into a pile and then grabbed her purse. I snagged my copies and stuck them in my jacket pocket.
}{\insrsid3940023
}\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 {\insrsid11945575
We parked about a block away from the restaurant and on the walk up my gut started to churn. It had been a mistake suggesting La Estrellita, I realized. That had been \lquote our\rquote
restaurant when Alicia and I were dating. The food was good and cheap and we\rquote d ended up dining there about once a week. In fact, we\rquote d gotten to be such regulars that Alicia would just say \lquote the usual\rquote
and the waitress would put in an order for chicken soft tacos with beans and rice. Walking up with Sharon, I kept expecting to see Alicia in the doorway or at one of the tables. It would be too easy to run into her here.}{\insrsid7018360
}{\insrsid11945575
We didn\rquote t. Alicia was}{\insrsid3278563 no}{\insrsid11945575 t sitting at any of the tables up front or any of the booths to the left. A quick glance into the bar showed just a couple of students and no
familiar faces. Even the waitress was new. Letting out a deep breath, I picked up a menu and forced myself to relax.}{\insrsid13776820 Sharon didn\rquote
t seem to notice as she chatted about something that had happened at her job that week. I did my best to fake paying attention as my mind drifted to thoughts of Alicia.
Alicia had been my first true love. Not in }{\ul\insrsid6243888\charrsid6243888 T}{\ul\insrsid13776820\charrsid6243888 he Princess Bride}{\insrsid13776820
sense, where love transcended and triumphed over all, but in a deeper than puppy-love way. More than the mutual crushes of early high school. Or my high school girlfriend. While we\rquote d used the L word, I don\rquote t think either }{
\insrsid1865720 my high school sweetheart or I}{\insrsid13776820 had expected it to last, given how young we were. With Alicia, I had.}{\insrsid9334638 We\rquote d been together long enough by the time I\rquote d graduated with my bachelor\rquote
s that I was sure we\rquote d make it.}{\insrsid13776820
}{\insrsid1865720
And now instead of sitting across the table from Alicia, I was sitting across the table from Sharon. Who had been fantasizing about Allen when she\rquote d been posing for me.
Sharon was in a chatty mood and at first didn\rquote t notice as I sunk more and more into quiet despair. She seemed to catch on that she was carrying the whole conversation just about the time the food arrived.
}{\insrsid9334638
}{\insrsid1865720 \'93What\rquote s wrong, Joe?\'94 She asked.}{\insrsid9334638
\'93}{\insrsid1865720 Nothing,\'94 I grumbled}{\insrsid9334638 .
\'93You were thinking about Alicia again, weren\rquote t you?\'94
\'93Yeah.\'94
\'93I know it\rquote s hard to let go,\'94 she said.
\'93Yeah, and I know I should.\'94
\'93Be gentle on yourself,\'94 she said. \'93It\rquote s okay that it takes some time. How many months did you let me cry on your shoulder? Six? }{\insrsid7630037 And how many late nights did I call you because I was lonely or depressed?\'94}{
\insrsid9334638
}{\insrsid7630037
\'93I didn\rquote t count.\'94
\'93I know. And I\rquote m not going to count for you.}{\insrsid5975876 You need me, I\rquote ll be there.\'94 Sharon\rquote s expression was deeply sincere. I nodded and }{\insrsid1865720 dug into my food. With my mouth full, I obviously couldn
\rquote t reply.}{\insrsid5975876
}{\insrsid2580093
\'93That\rquote s what true friends are for,\'94 Sharon continued. \'93We\rquote re there for each other when things are difficult and we support each other. Then we celebrate together when things are good.\'94
\'93Whenever that is,\'94 I groused.
\'93You had a good time at Strings,\'94 Sharon countered.
\'93Yeah,\'94 I admitted.
\'93So maybe we should}{\insrsid4000479 do something else like that.\'94}{\insrsid2580093
}{\insrsid4000479
\'93What did you have in mind?\'94 I asked.
\'93How about the Colorado Shakespeare Festival? Before you head back to Arizona.\'94}{\insrsid6243888
}\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\pnrdate0\pnrnot1\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 {\insrsid12585299 I shrugged.}{\insrsid6243888 }{\insrsid12585299 \'93Why not?\'94
}\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 {\insrsid12585299
\'93Great! We can do the picnic on the lawn beforehand and the whole works.\'94
}{\insrsid1074167
\'93The whole works?\'94 I asked, trying to keep any note of hope for what that might include out of my voice.
\'93Sure! I\rquote ll take care of everything.\'94
\'93You\rquote re on!\'94 I replied.
\'93Great. So how long do we have? When are you headed back to Tucson}{\insrsid4408556 ?}{\insrsid6243888 \'94}{\insrsid1074167 I told her and that turned the conversation to the drive through New Mexico. Sharon had relatives in }{\insrsid4408556
Albuquerque that she visited often.
Gradually the conversation drifted through family stories, then to stories from our childhoods. I knew Sharon, but I didn\rquote
t know her so well for her past to be old hat. That seemed to be mutual as she asked questions about my own stories throughout the conversation. She even laughed at some of my tales about youthful antics.}{\insrsid1074167
}{\insrsid4408556
My tenseness returned when we finished the meal. My eyes kept darting around, looking for Alicia, but of course she was nowhere in sight when we walked back outside.
\'93Let\rquote s go for a walk,\'94 Sharon suggested. It was still warm and light and the Pearl Street Mall was full of people outside enjoying the weather.}{\insrsid15603975
We wandered past street musicians and teens playing hackey-sack and peered in the various stores. Sharon pulled me into the Arts Coo
perative, but none of the various displays interested me much. I retaliated by pulling her into the Kite Shop. She indulged me as I poked through the boomerangs but was a step ahead of me leaving the store.}{\insrsid4408556
}{\insrsid15603975
That\rquote s when she stopped. I pulled up short to avoid running into her. Looking past her shoulder, I then understood why.
Outside}{\insrsid2124248 , in the crowd}{\insrsid15603975 walking by, was Alicia. Holding hands with a guy I\rquote d never seen.
}{\insrsid3278563 G}{\insrsid15603975 e}{\insrsid3278563 t}{\insrsid15603975 t}{\insrsid3278563 ing}{\insrsid15603975 kicked in the gut }{\insrsid3278563 doesn\rquote t hurt as much }{\insrsid15603975 when you\rquote ve been expecting it all evening.
Maybe that\rquote s why we }{\insrsid3278563 spend so much energy expecting the worst}{\insrsid15603975 . The anticipation sp}{\insrsid2124248 reads the pain forward a little.}{\insrsid15603975 }{\insrsid2124248 S}{\insrsid15603975 o it\rquote
s not so raw when the moment actually arrives.
}{\insrsid2124248
Alicia didn\rquote t see us. In a moment, s}{\insrsid15891351 he and her new guy had passed}{\insrsid2124248 . Only then did Sharon shift, unblocking the doorway and letting some other customers by. She turned and looked at me. My face gave }{
\insrsid1048744 her all the answers she sought.}{\insrsid15891351
}{\insrsid2124248 Sharon turned and headed out the door, turning the opposite way from where Alicia had gone. I followed, and soon we were back at the car.}{\insrsid15891351 Moments later we were back at her apartment.}{\insrsid15803855
Sharon didn\rquote t get me a drink this time. Maybe it was because I looked too shell-shocked. }{\insrsid6623959 Instead she sat down on the couch and motioned for me join her. Then she put her arms around me and held me.}{\insrsid15803855
}{\insrsid6623959
She held me for a long time. I didn\rquote t notice how long. I didn\rquote t really notice the time passing at all. We didn\rquote t talk. I didn\rquote
t even think much. I just felt the finality of my relationship with Alicia flood my body and soul.
}\pard \qc \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid6623959 {\insrsid6623959 * * *
}\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 {\insrsid6623959
I hadn\rquote t been looking at Sherri for a while. Just speaking, lost in my memories. Now I did. Her eyes we}{\insrsid1134524 re}{\insrsid6623959 wide, and }{\insrsid11815091 almost sad. Shared sadness, I}{\insrsid6623959 guessed.
\'93I have a client,\'94 she said softly, \'93who pays me to hold him. We never have sex. He pa
ys for the entire night. I go over around eleven, and after listening to him talk about his life since my last visit, we strip off our clothes and climb under the sheets. He cuddles into my arms and eventually falls asleep. Sometimes he nuzzles my brea
sts, but it\rquote s more a gesture of comfort than arousal. He always}{\insrsid12333413 feels awkward in the morning, but a few weeks later, he\rquote ll call again.\'94}{\insrsid6623959
}{\insrsid12333413
I nodded. The guy might be awkward, but he was no fool.
\'93Do you have a lot of clients like him, like me?\'94 I asked. \'93Who aren\rquote t hiring you for the sex?\'94
}{\insrsid1134524
\'93I get hired for time and companionship. You know that, Joe,\'94 Sherri }{\insrsid3278563 said, a hint of tease in her voice}{\insrsid1134524 . }{\insrsid12333413 \'93But }{\insrsid1134524 yes, I do have some clients who aren\rquote
t interested in sex. And }{\insrsid12333413 even the ones that are often need ministering for something. If all they wanted was a quick orgasm, street hookers are cheaper.\'94
\'93So are some of the other agencies,\'94 I commented, }{\insrsid10256045 remembering the}{\insrsid12333413 prices in some of the ads I\rquote d looked at the previous night. I\rquote d picked Sherri\rquote s agency because the ad had been classier }{
\insrsid10256045 than the}{\insrsid12333413 others}{\insrsid3278563 , and hadn\rquote t been}{\insrsid4815165 claiming great prices}{\insrsid12333413 . I }{\insrsid4815165 had }{\insrsid12333413 certainly needed something more than a qui}{
\insrsid1048744 ck orgasm. Wait a minute . . .}{\insrsid12333413
\'93Ministering?\'94 I asked. \'93What do you mean by \lquote ministering\rquote ?\'94}{\insrsid11815091
\'93That\rquote s part of my story,\'94 she said. \'93Right now, we\rquote re listening to yours.\'94}{\insrsid15993275
}{\insrsid4815165
}{\insrsid1134524 \'93Will you share your story}{\insrsid4815165 ?\'94 I asked.
\'93Maybe,\'94 she answered. \'93}{\insrsid1134524 After you\rquote re done}{\insrsid4815165 .\'94
}{\insrsid15993275
I nodded and took a deep breath . . . }{\insrsid6243888 .}{\insrsid15993275
}\pard \qc \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid15993275 {\insrsid15993275 * * *}{\insrsid12333413
}\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 {\insrsid4408556
}{\insrsid15993275 Eventually I went home. If back to my parents\rquote house could be considered home. I didn\rquote
t get much yard work done the following week. Instead, I stayed up late every night watching movies and slept the day away. My parents didn\rquote t complain. I don\rquote t think they knew quite what to say.}{\insrsid4408556
}{\insrsid11415080
Sharon did. She took one look at me when I showed up for Shakespeare and scowled.
\'93Dammit, Joe. You\rquote ve got to get over her!\'94
\'93I was going to marry her,\'94 I mo}{\insrsid7299278 an}{\insrsid11415080 ed. \'93I even bought the ring.\'94
\'93Have you taken it back yet?\'94
\'93No,\'94 I admitted.
\'93First thing tomorrow, you take it back, okay? Stop carrying around the hope that Alicia will change her mind.\'94
}{\insrsid13857886 \'93Yes, ma\rquote am,\'94 I drawled. }{\insrsid11415080 Sharon}{\insrsid13857886 \rquote s eyes flared}{\insrsid11415080 with my comment, but she didn\rquote t respond directly to it.
\'93Take the ring back, Joe.}{\insrsid6243888 Do it tomorrow and the come over to my place.}{\insrsid11415080 \'94
}{\insrsid13857886
\'93Okay.}{\insrsid6243888 \'94}{\insrsid13857886
\'93Okay,\'94 she replied.
Sharon grabbed a packed picnic basket sitting on the counter and pointed me toward a large blanket draped over the back of a chair. I grabbed it and we headed to campus.
We were seeing }{\ul\insrsid13857886\charrsid5642416 Comedy of Errors}{\insrsid13857886 at the outdoor Mary }{\insrsid13857886\charrsid13306090 Rippon Theatre.}{\insrsid13857886 Fortunately, the only errors were }{\insrsid8803716 the intentional ones }
{\insrsid13857886 on stage. We had no problem finding a good spot on the lawn in from of the Hellems building where the box office and entrance was. Sharon had packe
d fruit, cheese, good bread, some fine sliced deli meats, small tubs of condiments and a couple of cupcakes. She also had a }{\insrsid10253073 light pinot noir, which we drank }{\insrsid664367\charrsid664367 su}{\insrsid10253073\charrsid664367 r}{
\insrsid664367\charrsid664367 r}{\insrsid10253073\charrsid664367 epti}{\insrsid664367\charrsid664367 ti}{\insrsid10253073\charrsid664367 ously}{\insrsid10253073 so as to not}{\insrsid13857886 }{\insrsid10253073
draw the attention of any busybodies who wanted to enforce Colorado\rquote s
no open container law. We had a good conversation about theatre and Shakespeare and I told her tales from my class a few years earlier. The founder of the Colorado Shakespeare Festival had retired from the university to teach. }{\insrsid8803716
No more committee meetings, no more bureaucracy. Just one class a semester. I\rquote d been fortunate to get him twice.}{\insrsid13857886
}{\insrsid10253073
}{\insrsid8803716 \'93You really should try to get Professor Crouch,\'94 I told Sharon. \'93The man is incredible in the classroom. He walked in on the first day and said we weren\rquote t going to debate who wrote Shakespeare because he didn\rquote
t care. What we were going to do was study the plays as plays. It was a literature class, but it almost felt like a drama class as often as we were reading scenes and figuring out the likely staging. Shakespeare really came alive.\'94}{
\insrsid10253073
}{\insrsid8803716
\'93No wonder you love it,\'94 Sharon mused. \'93I sometimes wondered how an astronomer got obsessed with the Bard.\'94
\'93Maybe ex-astronomer,\'94 I replied. \'93I don\rquote t know what I\rquote m doing }{\insrsid7407664 in school anymore}{\insrsid8803716 .\'94
}{\insrsid9268350
\'93You\rquote ll figure it out,\'94 she reassured. \'93You\rquote re smart enough to do just about anything.\'94
\'93I d}{\insrsid7407664 on\rquote t know about that,\'94 I said.}{\insrsid9268350
}{\insrsid7407664
\'93Sure you are! You\rquote re one of the smartest guys I know!\'94 I smiled but didn\rquote t reply. That qualification was all-important. Sharon didn\rquote t know some of my classmates in Arizona. Hell, she didn\rquote t know Professor Crouch.
And Professor Crouch would have been proud of the night\rquote s production. The actors had their timing down perfect. Sharon and I both laughed repeatedly, sometimes so hard I was almost out of
breath. We were on our feet immediately after the final lines, cheering and applauding.}{\insrsid6162236 We talked about the play all the way back to Sharon\rquote s apartment.
\'93Ready for some dessert?\'94 Sharon asked at the door. There was a tease to her voice.
\'93Sure!\'94
\'93Then give me a minute,\'94 she said, heading toward the bedroom while I dawdled in the living room. \'93I want to change clothes.\'94
Change clothes? The adrenalin was in full force with those words. So was my growing erection. What would she change into? The teddy? A robe? Something new?
Sharon came back in wearing a t-shirt and jeans. I tried to keep any look of disappointment off my face but she noticed.
\'93What?\'94 she asked. I decided to make a joke of it.
\'93Well,\'94 I began, \'93when you said you were going to change into something more comfortable . . .}{\insrsid6243888 .}{\insrsid6162236 \'94
Sharon laughed.
}{\insrsid13447361
\'93I didn\rquote t use those words, Joe.\'94
\'93A guy can always hope,\'94 I }{\insrsid10256045 replied. Sharon}{\insrsid13447361 laughed again. She moved into the kitchen and began getting out bowls and }{\insrsid14574068 spoons}{\insrsid13447361 .
\'93You\rquote ve seen the teddy, Joe. I don\rquote t have much else.\'94
\'93If you\rquote ll model it, I\rquote ll buy it,\'94 I quipped}{\insrsid5642416 without thinking}{\insrsid13447361 . Sharon paused and looked up at me.}{\insrsid5642416 This time, the disdain was missing.}{\insrsid13447361
\'93You serious?\'94 she asked.
}{\insrsid5642416
\'93Sure,\'94 I answered.
\'93Hmmm,\'94 Sharon said. She opened a cabinet and got down two small glasses and a bottle. Port. Oh, this was a treat.
\'93I saw a camisole/tap pant combination last week,\'94 Sharon said, \'93that I really liked. I may take you up on it.\'94
\'93Send me the bill,\'94 I said. Sharon just nodded.}{\insrsid14574068 She handed me the bowls and I headed to the table. Sharon shuttled the port over and then grabbed some ice cream out of the freezer and some toppings out of the fridge.}{
\insrsid5642416
}{\insrsid14574068
\'93Chocolate sauce }{\i\insrsid14574068\charrsid14574068 and}{\insrsid14574068 caramel,\'94 I commented. \'93Mmmmm.\'94
\'93Gotta have the chocolate sauce,\'94 Sharon replied.
\'93Absolutely. Chocolate sauce is good for }{\i\insrsid14574068\charrsid14574068 so}{\insrsid14574068 many things,\'94 I joked. Sharon chuckled.
}{\insrsid10828162 \'93Tell me about it. One night when you were out, Allen and I got a bottle of chocolate sauce and . . . }{\insrsid10256045 mmmm .}{\insrsid10828162 . . let\rquote s just say that boy knows how to use his tongue!\'94 I laughed.
}{\insrsid5642416
}{\insrsid10828162 \'93Alicia and I used whipped cream,\'94 I commented.}{\insrsid5642416
}{\insrsid10828162
\'93Oh, we tried that too. The chocolate sauce was better. Particularly when Allen was licking it off my tits.\'94
\'93Did you lick it off of him?\'94 I asked. Sharon\rquote s grin turned into a leer.
\'93Of course. I love sucking cock. I love chocolate. You think I was going to pass up the two of them together?\'94
\'93Point made,\'94 I conceded.
}{\insrsid1325900
\'93I used to sit across from him,\'94 Sharon said, \'93when we went out for ice cream, }{\insrsid3278563 and tried to see}{\insrsid1325900 how sexy I could eat it for him.\'94 }{\insrsid12201273
She proceeded to demonstrate by sliding the spoonful of ice cream slowly into her mouth, twirling her tongue around it. Almost caressing it between her lips.}{\insrsid1325900
}{\insrsid12201273
\'93Works better with a cone though,\'94 she said between bites.
\'93I imagine so,\'94 I replied.}{\insrsid9259450 It was working fine for me as it was, though. I couldn\rquote t keep my mind off the thought of Sharon\rquote
s lips wrapped around a cock, giving it the blowjob of a lifetime. My pulse went up a notch.}{\insrsid13306090 Two notches, actually.}{\insrsid12201273
}{\insrsid13306090
\'93So what else have you tried?\'94 I asked.
}{\insrsid1134524 \'93U}{\insrsid13306090 m,\'94 Sharon mused. \'93We thought about honey once, but never got around to it. }{\insrsid3278563 W}{\insrsid6243888 e}{\insrsid3278563 did beer}{\insrsid13306090 , but that was unintentional.\'94
\'93Unintentional?\'94
Sharon grinned a little.
}{\insrsid10443810 \'93I spilled a beer on}{\insrsid13306090 myself one night when I was wearing a t-shirt and no bra. So my breasts were soaked. Allen pulled the t-shirt off and \lquote cleaned up\rquote the beer.\'94
\'93Sounds like a good way to clean things up!\'94
\'93Oh, you bet! Not as good as taking a shower together.\'94
I laughed and shook my head.
\'93Yeah, you said late at night was the best time to take a shower}{\insrsid10256045 in the dorms}{\insrsid13306090 ,\'94 I said.
\'93Oh yeah,\'94 Sharon agreed. \'93We\rquote d wait until the floor was quiet. Sometimes that meant three or four in the morning. Allen would make sure the coast was clear while I stripped down to a robe in your room.\'94
\'93Our room? Where was I?\'94
}{\insrsid3278563 \'93You didn\rquote t wake up!}{\insrsid13306090 \'94}{\insrsid1924555 Sharon answered, l}{\insrsid3278563 aughing}{\insrsid1924555 . \'93You\rquote }{\insrsid1134524 re a really sound sleeper, Joe. A}{\insrsid1924555 s long as I didn
\rquote t turn on the light}{\insrsid1134524 , you wouldn\rquote t move}{\insrsid1924555 .\'94}{\insrsid13306090
}{\insrsid1924555
\'93Apparently }{\insrsid1134524 I\rquote m }{\insrsid1924555 too sound}{\insrsid1134524 a sleeper}{\insrsid1924555 ,\'94 I groused.}{\insrsid13380464 Sharon chuckled.}{\insrsid1924555
\'93I didn\rquote }{\insrsid13380464 t mind,\'94 she said. \'93By the time Allen was back, I was ready to go. He\rquote d strip and put on his robe and we\rquote d head down to the shower. He\rquote
d hang his robe over mine, so as long as we were quiet, we wouldn\rquote t get caught.\'94
\'93I can\rquote t imagine you being quiet during sex.\'94
\'93I do tend to make a lot of noise,\'94 Sharon admitted. \'93But we }{\insrsid6243888 figured that the noise from the shower would cover some of the sound. We also thought }{\insrsid13380464 we\rquote
d hear anyone opening the door to the bathroom and that\rquote d give us a chance to freeze until they left. Since those shower curtains almost go all the way to the ground, no one would notice unless they got close.\'94
\'93Did you ever get caught?\'94 I asked.
\'93Nope! Though someone did come in once. I was down on my knees, sucking Allen, when the door opened. Allen just got quiet and after a while, the guy left.\'94
\'93And the whole time you were blowing Allen.\'94
\'93You bet. Allen came as soon as the guy left.\'94}{\insrsid1457410 Her satisfied smile caused me to laugh.}{\insrsid13380464
}{\insrsid1457410
\'93So,\'94 I asked, getting a little daring, \'93do you spit or swallow?\'94
}{\insrsid12526824
\'93Swallow}{\insrsid7299278 ,}{\insrsid12526824 of course,\'94 Sharon answered. \'93Why would any woman be rude enough to spit?\'94 I just shrugged my shoulders.
\'93Besides,\'94 Sharon continued. \'93I like}{\insrsid12255464 d}{\insrsid12526824 feeling Allen }{\insrsid163478 come}{\insrsid12526824 . }{\insrsid12255464 And I like giving blowjobs.\'94}{\insrsid12526824
}{\insrsid12255464
\'93I\rquote ll bet you\rquote re good at it,\'94 I commented.
\'93Absolutely.}{\insrsid919812 \'94}{\insrsid12255464
}{\insrsid919812
A pause settled, but I was buzzing. I hadn\rquote t had sex in months, and now an attractive woman was openly talking about giving blowjobs with me. I didn\rquote t care that the woman was a friend. I wanted her to continue.
}{\insrsid13447361
}{\insrsid11289663 \'93So what makes you good at it?\'94 I asked.
\'93Enthusiasm, mostly. Also, Allen was willing to let me practice a lot.\'94
\'93Must have been oh so rough to let you,\'94 I commented, a bit of droll}{\insrsid7299278 ness}{\insrsid11289663 in my tone.
\'93Yeah. Pretty much every time we got together, I went down on him. Either as foreplay or the main event.\'94
\'93Did he return the favor?\'94
\'93Sometimes. But I don\rquote t enjoy receiving that much.\'94
\'93Why?\'94
\'93I tend to . . . jerk is probably the best word. I tend to jerk quite a bit when I }{\insrsid163478 come}{\insrsid11289663 . I was constantly worried I\rquote ve smash Allen\rquote s nose. Worrying kind of takes away from the experience.\'94
\'93I imagine so.\'94 I paused for a moment before continuing.
\'93Maybe he should have held your hips down,\'94 I said. \'93You know, with his hands.\'94
\'93Oh he did that. I still buck quite a bit,\'94 Sharon said. \'93Besides, I liked it better when he used his fingers as well as his tongue.\'94
\'93That would make it hard to hold your hips,\'94 I stated.
}{\insrsid1320229 \'93No kidding,\'94 Sharon shot back. \'93Besides, what Allen could do with his fingers. Mmm, mmm! I\rquote ve tried to }{\insrsid1777397 touch myself the same way he used to do, but it\rquote
s never quite the same. The man is a magician.\'94}{\insrsid1320229
}{\insrsid1777397
\'93Or musician,\'94 I said. \'93Allen and his skin flute.\'94
Sharon groaned and rolled her eyes.
\'93It\rquote s too late for bad puns,\'94 she said. She was right. It was getting late.
}{\insrsid13060218
\'93I need to get going,\'94 I said. Sharon nodded in agreement. I helped her clear the dishes to the kitchen sink and then we walked to the door.
\'93You need to return the ring tomorrow, Joe.\'94
\'93Well, yeah, I know I should. But I really haven\rquote t wanted to think about that ring. It\rquote s been nice simply to forget that it\rquote s in the back of my sock drawer.\'94
\'93You need to. You won\rquote t be past Alicia until you do.\'94
\'93It\rquote s just so . . . so . . . final. It makes me feel alone.\'94
\'93Return the ring,\'94 Sharon ordered. \'93Then drive on up. I\rquote m not working tomorrow. I\rquote ll be here and you won\rquote t have to be alone.\'94}{\insrsid11289663
}{\insrsid13060218
\'93Okay,\'94 I agreed. We exchanged goodnight hugs and I drove home, vaguely restless and on edge. I didn\rquote t sleep well that night.
}{\insrsid4750140
}{\insrsid13060218 I did return}{\insrsid4750140 the ring in the morning. It actually wasn\rquote t hard driving down to the store. Getting out of the car . . . lead weights made their appearance. I trudged in and up to the counter. I didn\rquote
t fumble much putting the box on the counter. I couldn\rquote t look at it once it was out. I just stared across the store at nothing until a clerk finally came over to help me.
Since it was within ninety days of purchase, they just refunded my money and didn\rquote t ask any questions. I was glad they didn\rquote t. }{\insrsid11429698
I just tucked the transaction receipt in my pocket and got back in the car. I was in a daze until I got to Sharon\rquote s.}{\insrsid4750140
}{\insrsid11429698
Sharon didn\rquote t ask any questions either. At least not serious ones. She led me over to the couch and once again, just sat and held me. I didn\rquote t cry, and I didn\rquote t speak. Sharon held me throughout.
Eventually, we did talk. About all the little nothings that make up a day and a week and sometimes a life. Sharon fed me lunch and gave me a glass of wine, but just one. After lunch, she threw }{\ul\insrsid11429698\charrsid7299278 The Blues Brothers}{
\insrsid11429698 on the VCR and by the end, I was mostly laughing. }{\insrsid2447347 Too soon, it was over and it was time to go home.}{\insrsid11429698
}{\insrsid2447347
Sharon walked me to the door. She gave me a long hug, which I greedily returned. Then Sharon kissed me on the cheek. Tenderly.
\'93Call me when you get to Tucson, okay?\'94 she said.
\'93Okay,\'94 I agreed.
I drove home and had dinner with my parents. I packed my stuff and bright and early the next morning I was on the road back into the desert.
}\pard \qc \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid2447347 {\insrsid2447347 * * *
}\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 {\insrsid2447347
}{\insrsid1320229 \'93I\rquote m glad you returned the ring, Joe,\'94 Sherri said. \'93I\rquote m also glad Sharon was there for you.\'94}{\insrsid7431974
}{\insrsid1320229
\'93Oh, she\rquote s good at that,\'94 I commented. \'93She\rquote s incredibly loyal to her friends.\'94
\'93That\rquote s a great quality.\'94
\'93Yeah,\'94 I admitted. My mouth was dry. I didn\rquote t feel like praising Sharon these days. The waiter showed up and cleared our now-empty plates. }{\insrsid7431974 I glanced at my watch.
\'93It looks like our time\rquote s up,\'94 I commented.
\'93You\rquote re not done,\'94 Sherri stated.
\'93No, but I\rquote m out of money,\'94 I replied. Sherri stared at me, unflinching. Then she slowly nodded.
\'93Excuse me for a moment?\'94 she asked. I nodded. Sherri then got up and found our waiter who pointed her toward one end of the foyer. I knew the bathrooms were in that di
rection, so I settled back and drank more of my wine. Several minutes later, I watched Sherri walk back toward me. She was as spectacular from the front as she was from behind. She slid back into her seat and smiled at me.
\'93I called the agency,\'94 she began, \'93and told them I wasn\rquote t going to take any more dates tonight.\'94
\'93And they agreed?\'94 I asked, surprised.
\'93}{\insrsid7299278 Why wouldn\rquote t they? I\rquote m an \lquote independent contractor,\rquote not an employee}{\insrsid7431974 ,\'94 she answered.
}{\insrsid5899980 \'93What??\'94}{\insrsid7431974
}{\insrsid5899980
}{\insrsid2245363 \'93}{\insrsid7299278 It makes me responsible for my own taxes and legal concerns, not them. But t}{\insrsid2245363 he agency is my problem, Joe. Don\rquote t worry about them.\'94
\'93Okay. But . . . why?\'94
}{\insrsid5899980 \'93You need to keep talking,\'94 Sherri said. }{\insrsid2245363 \'93Like I said, Allen was right. You need to write over the old memo}{\insrsid1343377 ries with something better. That}{\insrsid4535103 will be easier to do }{
\insrsid2245363 once you\rquote ve replayed them}{\insrsid1343377 .\'94}{\insrsid5899980
}{\insrsid1343377
\'93That didn\rquote t answer my question\emdash why are }{\i\insrsid1343377\charrsid1343377 you}{\insrsid1343377 doing this?\'94
\'93Because I can.\'94
}{\insrsid13060218
\'93That\rquote s it?\'94 I exclaimed.
\'93That\rquote s enough,\'94 Sherri answered. \'93At least for me.}{\insrsid4535103 \'94}{\insrsid13060218
}{\insrsid10759433
I just stared at Sherri, meeting her eyes. She didn\rquote t blink. After a while, she smiled. Her eyes softened when she did, but there was still iron behind them. I slowly nodded, conceding.
}\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid10759433 {\insrsid10759433 --End Chapter Three--
}\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 {\insrsid10759433 \'a9 2005 All rights reserved. May not be archived or distributed other than for personal use without expli}{\insrsid10256045
cit permission from the author.}{\insrsid10759433
}