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\fs24\lang1033\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp1033 {\insrsid5062812 Friends and Benefits}{\insrsid13918637
}{\insrsid5062812 Chapter Seven
by be287m
}{\insrsid13914923 Sherri leaned back against the arm of the couch and pulled her feet up onto the seat, tucking them under herself. Her skirt slipped up above the knee, accentuating her legs clad in dark hose.
\'93So you really liked Sharon modeling the garter belt outfit for you?\'94 she asked.
\'93Oh, absolutely.\'94
\'93I\rquote m wearing a garter belt, Joe.\'94
\'93Really?\'94
\'93Really.\'94 I noticed that Sherri\rquote s hands were staying safely away from the edge of her skirt.
\'93Any particular reason?\'94 I asked.
Sherri let out a low chuckle and }{\insrsid4210498 brushed her hair back as she smiled at me}{\insrsid13914923 .
\'93I\rquote m a working girl, Joe. We don\rquote t wear pantyhose. Unle}{\insrsid9241741 ss it\rquote s for a client\rquote s fetish, of}{\insrsid13914923 }{\insrsid9241741 course}{\insrsid13914923 .\'94
\'93What? There\rquote s a pantyhose fetish?\'94
\'93There\rquote s a fetish for just about everything,\'94 Sherri answered. \'93You name it, there\rquote s probably a guy somewhere sexually obsessed with it.\'94
\'93That\rquote s kind of scary,\'94 I said, }{\insrsid4210498 as }{\insrsid13914923 some of the more disgusting }{\insrsid4210498 things I could think of floated}{\insrsid13914923 through my mind.
\'93That\rquote s life,\'94 Sherri stated. \'93Though I feel sad for the people with really unusual fetishes. At least the guys with common ones can find people to explore them with.\'94
\'93They can explore them with }{\insrsid4210498 girls like }{\insrsid13914923 you, or at least some of them,\'94 I pointed out.
\'93That\rquote s assuming they have the guts to call the agency in the first place. And the luck to get the right girl, of course.\'94
\'93What do you mean?\'94
\'93Escorts can be just as close-minded as anyone else, Joe. Each of us has things we won\rquote t do, and getting paid doesn\rquote t change that.\'94
\'93What won\rquote t you do?\'94 I asked, then looked away, embarrassed at having been so blunt.
\'93It\rquote s okay, Joe,\'94 Sherri said. \'93I don\rquote t mind you asking politely. I\rquote ll even answer you. I don\rquote t do incest fantasies. If a client wants me to pretend I\rquote m his mother or his sister,
I tell him to call someone else.\'94
\'93That\rquote s happened? Guys have asked for that?\'94
\'93It has.\'94
I didn\rquote t know what to say. I had a dozen questions, but no words.
\'93Beyond that,\'94 Sherri continued, \'93it depends a lot on the circumstances. I might be willing to do something one evening with one client, but refuse to do it later because something small is different.\'94
\'93Like what?\'94
\'93}{\insrsid6227846 Hygiene\rquote s a biggie. You\rquote d be surprised how }{\insrsid2583713 many times}{\insrsid7961898 a session starts with me suggesting the client join me for a shower. }{\insrsid16394181 And I\rquote m not the one that}{
\insrsid7961898 need}{\insrsid16394181 s}{\insrsid7961898 one.\'94}{\insrsid6227846
}{\insrsid16394181
I chuckled.
}{\insrsid13914923 Comfort, usually}{\insrsid16394181 , too,\'94 she continued}{\insrsid13914923 . }{\insrsid16394181 \'93}{\insrsid13914923 If a client is being particularly obnoxious or pushy, I\rquote m more likely to say \lquote no.\rquote }{
\insrsid6227846 I\rquote m not going to put myself in a position where I have to worry about him taking things too far.}{\insrsid13914923
}{\insrsid16394181
I nodded. \'93I know how easy it can be to take it a little too far.\'94
\'93}{\insrsid1322552 Really? I\rquote d like to hear about that.\'94}{\insrsid16394181
}{\insrsid1322552
\'93Well, I\rquote d rather ask you more questions.\'94
\'93But we\rquote re here to talk about you,\'94 Sherri replied.
}{\insrsid16394181
\'93}{\insrsid1322552 Okay,\'94 I said. \'93I}{\insrsid16394181 t was New Year\rquote s Eve. Sharon had suggested I go with her to }{\insrsid12456306 Kim}{\insrsid16394181 \rquote s party . . .\'94
}\pard \qc \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid16394181 {\insrsid16394181 * * *
}\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid5062812 {\insrsid16394181 Sharon smiled when she opened her door on the thirty-first. I smiled when I saw she was wearing the same blouse and skirt that she\rquote
d worn during our photo shoot.}{\insrsid5062812
}{\insrsid16394181
\'93C\rquote mon in, Joe! I got the photos developed.\'94
I followed Sharon over to her kitchen table. Like the last time, she\rquote d sorted them into three groups. I was heartened to see fewer in the \lquote bad\rquote pile than }{\insrsid337935 before. We spent several minutes going through them all.}{
\insrsid16394181
}{\insrsid4816276 I\rquote d done better this time. The }{\insrsid9241741 bad ones were more subtly bad. A}{\insrsid4816276
s I feared, getting her arms posed right was the biggest problem. The mediocre pile had most of the same flaws as before, but the good pile . . . wow.
Several of the shots with Sharon flashing her stocking tops had made the good pile. We\rquote d managed a good balance of coy and naughty in her poses. I was also pleased with a similar mix in one of the teddy bear shots.
The truly hot pair, though, were of her back. In both, she was glancing over her should
er with a lustful gaze. In the first, that gaze almost screamed for what was coming next, as her hands were on her bra strap. The second picture almost perfectly mimicked the first except her bra was gone. She\rquote
d twisted just enough to make it look like she was starting to turn to face the camera.
\'93These are really hot,\'94 I said.
\'93Yeah, I like them.\'94
\'93It looks like you\rquote re about to turn around, stride up to the camera, throw it aside, and pull the photographer to the floor.\'94
Sharon laughed. \'93I might have to do that some day. If I find the right photographer, of course.\'94
\'93I\rquote d volunteer,\'94 I offered. Sharon\rquote s responding chuckle was good-natured. I smiled back.
\'93We should get going,\'94 I said.
\'93I still need to fix my hair,\'94 she replied. My brown furrowed as I looked at her. I didn\rquote t see anything wrong with her hair. But what did I know? I was a guy.
\'93Okay,\'94 I said. \'93I\rquote ll wait here.\'94
\'93Great. I shouldn\rquote t be more than a few minutes.\'94
Well, it turned out that Sharon\rquote s definition of \lquote a few minutes\rquote di
ffered rather significantly from mine. I stood for a while and then finally slumped into one of the chairs. I could hear a blow dryer in the other room. I started flipping through the pictures in front of me again. I kept coming back to the best pair.
As I studied them, I realized how well they also showed off Sharon\rquote s ass. Her panties were pulled tighter across the cheeks than I\rquote
d remembered and the garter belt formed a perfect frame. The only thing that would make it better would be if it was just
the garter belt without the panties. A similar shot from the front might be pretty good too. Particularly if she turned and started walking toward the camera. Toward the photographer like she was going to\emdash
I forced myself to stop that line of thinking. I\rquote d started to get an erection and this was not the time or place. I could masturbate later. I took a deep breath and opened my eyes.
Sharon was standing in front of me, looking at me quizzically.
\'93Uh, ready to go?\'94 I asked.
\'93Yeah . . .\'94
\'93Let\rquote s go then,\'94 I said, standing up rapidly and grabbing my coat. Sharon just nodded and we were on our way.
}\pard \ql \li360\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin360\itap0\pararsid1451659 {\insrsid1451659
}\pard \qc \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid1451659 {\insrsid1451659 * * *
}\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid1451659 {\insrsid1451659 \'93So what\rquote s wrong with getting an erection?\'94 Sherri asked.
}{\insrsid14961281 \'93Nothing, in hindsight,\'94 I replied. }{\insrsid4210498 \'93}{\insrsid14961281 At the time I was worried that Sharon would notice, but later I realized that she\rquote
d had plenty of times to look at my crotch while I was behind the camera. She\rquote d never said anything then, so she probably wouldn\rquote t have s}{\insrsid4210498 aid anything if she\rquote d noticed I had one}{\insrsid14961281
when I was just looking at the pictures.\'94
\'93She either didn\rquote t look or didn\rquote t care,\'94 Sherri said. \'93Which is why I don\rquote t understand why you got so hung up on masturbating to them.\'94
\'93}{\insrsid2573412 Well . . . I think she didn\rquote t look.\'94}{\insrsid14961281
}{\insrsid2573412
\'93So you think she would have cared? And not approved?\'94
\'93Let me tell you about }{\insrsid3872707 what happened at the New Year\rquote s party and after,\'94 I said. \'93That\rquote ll explain some.\'94
\'93I\rquote m all ears.\'94}{\insrsid2573412
}\pard \qc \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid1451659 {\insrsid3872707
}{\insrsid1451659 * * *
}\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid5062812 {\insrsid16153879
}{\insrsid12456306 Kim\rquote s party turned out to be rather sedate. There were only about twenty people there, mostly couples. A cooler of bottled beer replaced the keg
of last summer and somehow Kim had wrestled up a large screen TV that silently flickered in one corner of her living room.
Sharon wandered over to talk to Kim\rquote s roommate and her new boyfriend while I }{\insrsid1322552 went to get}{\insrsid12456306 a drink. Kim was preparing snack trays in the kitchen when I entered}{\insrsid12913959 and }{\insrsid1322552 helped}{
\insrsid12913959 myself }{\insrsid1322552 to }{\insrsid12913959 some wine}{\insrsid12456306 .
\'93Not as big as last summer,\'94 I commented. Kim grimaced.
\'93That got a little out of hand. I didn\rquote t want cops showing up this time.\'94
\'93Cops?\'94
\'93It was late. You must have left by then. The neighbors called them because of the noise. Though if }{\insrsid8726214 Mike}{\insrsid12456306 and }{\insrsid203058 Jeff}{\insrsid12456306 had kept at it, I would have called them myself.
\'93Were those the guys I saw almost get in a fight because one spilled a beer on the other guy}{\insrsid1322552 \rquote }{\insrsid12456306 s girlfriend?\'94
\'93Yeah. Trish is }{\insrsid203058 Jeff}{\insrsid12456306 \rquote s girlfriend. But that was just the beginning. They }{\insrsid1322552 kept}{\insrsid12456306 making snide comments to each other all night. Then when }{\insrsid203058 Jeff}{
\insrsid12456306 was out of the room, }{\insrsid8726214 Mike}{\insrsid12456306 propositioned Tri}{\insrsid8670271 sh. He s}{\insrsid8726214 aid she should forget }{\insrsid203058 Jeff}{\insrsid12456306
and let a guy who had a cock bigger than three inches show her a good time. She}{\insrsid8670271 of course}{\insrsid12456306 told }{\insrsid203058 Jeff}{\insrsid8726214 , who went for }{\insrsid4210498 Mike}{\insrsid8726214 ,}{\insrsid12456306
and if }{\insrsid8726214 Allen}{\insrsid12456306 hadn\rquote t gotten between them, there would have been a fight!\'94
I shuddered and was glad we\rquote d left.
\'93So tonight\rquote s quiet as a result,\'94 I observed.
\'93Yeah.\'94
\'93Mostly couples instead of singles this time,\'94 I noted.
\'93I did invite }{\insrsid8726214 Michelle}{\insrsid12456306 ,\'94 she said. \'93I thought you two might hit it off, but she\rquote s been talking to }{\insrsid8726214 Rich}{\insrsid12456306
most of the night. You and Sharon should have gotten here sooner.\'94
\'93That\rquote s okay,\'94 I said. I let out a small relieved breath that Kim didn\rquote t notice. While Tina and I had only had two da}{\insrsid8726214 tes, I wasn\rquote
t sure I wanted the complication of getting involved with a second woman at the same time.}{\insrsid12456306
}{\insrsid1451659
Except I was, wasn\rquote t I?
}{\insrsid12456306
}{\insrsid14244651 I thought back to the pictures and then all the stories that I\rquote d downloaded and sent Sharon throughout the fall. I thought of all }{\insrsid4210498 the conversations}{\insrsid14244651
and her jokes and her emphasis on how much she\rquote d appreciated our friendship. Sure, she\rquote d said she wouldn\rquote t date me, but wasn\rquote t that a case of \'93she doth protest too much}{\insrsid1322552 \'94}{\insrsid14244651 ? She
\rquote d certainly been more vehement than necessary.
Kim hadn\rquote t noticed my distractedness and had been chatting away. I managed to keep up the nods and the encouraging noises, but her words didn\rquote t register as they floated through. I started edging toward the
door back to the living room and fortunately someone else came in to ask Kim a question. I said I\rquote d talk with her later and escaped to the other room, but not before }{\insrsid12913959 refilling my glass of wine}{\insrsid14244651 .
}{\insrsid12913959
Sharon was talking to a couple that must have been Trish and Jeff. They were laughing together. I slid just enough forward to be out of the doorway and then leaned against the wall, watching.
Sharon\rquote s hair cascaded past her shoulder}{\insrsid1322552 s}{\insrsid12913959 }{\insrsid11283443 and looked great. Maybe that extra prep had been worth it. I suspected she\rquote d done simila}{\insrsid9241741 r prep before the dinners that h}{
\insrsid11283443 ad led to the photo sessions. She\rquote d certainly made herself look nice for an evening with just a \lquote friend.\rquote And we\rquote d had a great time, both times}{\insrsid9241741 , laughing and talking. Could sh}{
\insrsid11283443 e have been subtly flirting }{\insrsid9241741 with me }{\insrsid1322552 then }{\insrsid11283443 as well? I just stood alone, lost in the memories.
Sharon glanced over and saw me. She smiled and waved me over. I raised a finger, indicating that I\rquote d be a minute, and slipped back into the kitchen. I tried to check my appearance in the reflection from the microwave glass, but it wasn\rquote
t clear enough. I grabbed a fresh glass of wine and headed out to join Sharon.
}{\insrsid7757222
\'93Hey, Joe, do you know Trish and Jeff?\'94 Sharon asked as I slid next to her.
\'93No, I don\rquote t think we\rquote ve met,\'94 I replied. We shook han
ds and started the usual round of introductions. Jeff was in law school and Trish had just started at an accounting firm that fall. The conversation quickly slid into discussing college life and}{\insrsid9241741 ,}{\insrsid7757222
after a while, Sharon slipped away to get herself a new drink.
\'93I must say, you two look good together,\'94 Trish mentioned once Sharon was out of earshot.
\'93}{\insrsid2583713 Err}{\insrsid7757222 , we\rquote re not together. We\rquote re just friends.\'94 Trish\rquote s eyebrows went up in surprise.
\'93Oh, I\rquote m sorry,\'94 she said.
\'93Tha}{\insrsid3352687 t\rquote s okay. We\rquote re really close.\'94}{\insrsid7757222
}{\insrsid3352687
\'93Oh.\'94 Trish looked unsure what to say next}{\insrsid9241741 ,}{\insrsid3352687 so I let her off the hook.
\'93It\rquote s okay,\'94 I said. }{\insrsid15999894 \'93I just got over a bad breakup. Sharon\rquote s been my best friend through it all.\'94}{\insrsid3352687
}{\insrsid15999894
\'93Trish is my best friend,\'94 Jeff chimed in, squeezing her hand and smiling at her. She made mushy eyes at him in return. I took a big swig of wine, trying to look elsewhere. He turned to me.
\'93We were just friends when we first met because she was engaged to her high school boyfriend,\'94 Jeff said. Trish muttered something }{\insrsid2583713 derogatory}{\insrsid15999894 under her breath that I didn\rquote t catch. \'93
We started dating about six months after she ended the engagement.\'94
\'93And how long have you been together?\'94 I asked.
\'93Two years in February,\'94 Trish answered.}{\insrsid14777824 She beamed at Jeff and I was starting to plot my escape when Sharon returned.}{\insrsid15999894
}{\insrsid14777824
}{\insrsid1322552 \'93Kim suggested we play some Trivial P}{\insrsid14777824 ursuit,\'94 Sharon said. \'93You guys interested in being on a team?\'94 We all agreed and headed over to where a table was being cleared and the game set up.
Twenty people divided into six teams around one board made for tight quarters. Several of the couples ended up with the woman in the guy\rquote
s lap. On our team, Trish grabbed a chair and Jeff knelt next to her. Sharon and I stood behind them, close enough to brush sides and thighs from time to time. Smal
l jolts of electricity seemed to shoot up me whenever we did. She was wearing the same skirt. Was that pantyhose or stockings underneath}{\insrsid9241741 ?}{\insrsid14777824 I wondered if I\rquote d be able to feel the difference through our clothes.
}{\insrsid14244651
}{\insrsid6977427 The Trivial Pursuit game lasted a lot longe}{\insrsid1322552 r than I\rquote d expected. Despite my}{\insrsid6977427 nailing most of the }{\insrsid12008076 science and nature }{\insrsid6977427 questions and Jeff snagging the }{
\insrsid12008076 history}{\insrsid6977427 questions, we continually got bad draws on the sports questions. Each of the other teams seemed to have a similar problem and struggled with one category they couldn\rquote
t seem to get. Finally, our team managed a series of lucky rolls and hit a sports question I actually knew\emdash }{\insrsid12008076 a hockey question. }{\insrsid8801515 Another lucky roll and we\rquote d won the game.}{\insrsid6977427
}{\insrsid8801515
\'93All right!\'94 Sharon called out, throwing her arms around me for a celebratory hug. I hugged her back tightly, and she smiled up at me before pulling away.
I refreshed our drinks as the crowd broke up. I was definitely feeling no pain and the }{\insrsid9241741 touch}{\insrsid8801515 of Sharon\rquote s body pressed }{\insrsid9241741 into}{\insrsid8801515 mine lingered. I spotted Trish and Je
ff holding hands and smiled. Who knew where friendships could end up?
I brought Sharon\rquote s drink back and we ended up talking to Kim\rquote s roommate and her boyfriend for a while. Then Kim began pulling champagne bottles out of the kitchen. I checked my watch
. Eleven fifty five. Other people began noticing and the general conversation died.
}\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 {\insrsid8801515
}{\insrsid203058 \'93Almost time!\'94 Trish called out}{\insrsid8801515 when there were two minutes to go}{\insrsid203058 . Jeff undid his watch and propped it on the table in front of him. \'93Synchronized to the atomic clock,\'94
he said to the room, though no one was really listening.}{\insrsid5062812
}{\insrsid203058
I wandered up to Sharon\rquote s side as someone turned the volume on the TV up. It was focused on the ball at Times Square, of course. Champagne glasses were hastily passed around and people started c
rowding in front of the television. Sharon pressed back into me to avoid someone and being unable to back up, I put my hand on her hip to steady us. She didn\rquote t seem to mind and kept looking ahead.
Then the countdown began and like well trained performing seals, we barked the numbers as prompted. The ball dropped, we called out \'93Happy New Year!\'94 and people all around us began kissing.
They were established couples, of course, but with the wine I\rquote d had, that didn\rquote t register immediately. Instead, feeling Sharon still pressed close, I caught the buzz and leaned in.
But Sharon . . . Sharon must have felt my breath on her neck because her head snapped around before my lips had even begun to shape a kiss. }{\insrsid9241741 She appeared startled and then s}{\insrsid203058 he shot me a look of
pure fury. Then she yanked away and stormed out of the room. In the general revelry, no one else seemed to notice. I let out a deep sigh and followed.
}{\insrsid4396276
I caught up to Sharon at the front door. She\rquote d opened it and was staring at the light snow that had begun falling. Our coats were still in Kim\rquote s bedroom. She turned at my footsteps.
\'93How dare you!\'94 she hissed.
\'93What?\'94 I tried to look innocent.
\'93How dare you try to kiss me!\'94
}{\insrsid8729623 \'93I just leaned in and\emdash \'94}{\insrsid4396276
\'93Bullshit!\'94 Sharon\rquote s eyes were wild and she\rquote d balled her hands into fists.
\'93Bullshit, Joe!\'94
\'93Okay, I\rquote m sorry,\'94 I said. \'93I\rquote ve had a little }{\insrsid2583713 too}{\insrsid4396276 much to drink and I got caught up in the moment.\'94
\'93}{\insrsid1322552 Well don\rquote t fucking do it again!}{\insrsid4396276 Don\rquote t fucking do it again, Joe! Particularly on New Year\rquote s!\'94
\'93Okay! I won\rquote t. Promise! I\rquote m sorry.\'94
\'93Don\rquote t fucking do it again!\'94 Sharon was visibly trembling.
\'93I won\rquote t do it again,\'94 I repeated. Sharon took a deep breath and then nodded. I took that as an acceptance of my apology.
}{\insrsid15425297
\'93Not on New Year\rquote s,\'94 she said more quietly. She was staring ahead, seeing something besides me.
\'93What\rquote s special about New Year\rquote s?\'94 I asked. She shook her head but kept staring forward.
I turned on my heels and retrieved our coats.
\'93Let\rquote s walk and talk,\'94 I said. That snapped Sharon out of whatever she was remembering and she vehemently shook her head.
\'93I don\rquote t have boots. Let\rquote s go say goodnight and talk back at my place.\'94
}{\insrsid13125177
Kim was a little surprised that we were leaving so early, but I murmured that I wasn\rquote t feeling well and she gave an appraising nod. We rode back to Sharon\rquote s apartment in silence.
}{\insrsid12137180
}{\insrsid8729771 Sharon dashed for the bathroom as soon as we got in the door. I wasn\rquote t sure where to sit\emdash the living room couch or the kitchen table. Then I spotted the pictures, still scattered about. I ca
refully gathered them up and moved them to the counter before dropping into one of the chairs at the table. When Sharon returned, she sank into the chair across from me.
She looked at me, almost studying my face. I tried not to fidget. Then Sharon took a breat}{\insrsid4590788 h}{\insrsid8729771 .
\'93I told you I lost my virginity at }{\insrsid16002689 fourteen}{\insrsid8729771 ,\'94 she began. \'93And that I had }{\insrsid8729771\charrsid5637199 f}{\insrsid16002689 ive}{\insrsid8729771 guys really quickly. Well, both o}{\insrsid4396288 f}{
\insrsid8729771 those happened on the same night. }{\insrsid16002689 Well, four of the guys}{\insrsid4849833 , anyway. }{\insrsid8729771 New Year\rquote s Eve.\'94
My mouth dropped open.
\'93So what happened?\'94 I asked. Sharon looked away for a while. She started speaking without looking back.
}{\insrsid4849833 \'93I didn\rquote t have many friends in junior high. I spent seventh grade pretty lonely. In eighth grade, this girl Kathy noticed me and invited me to start hanging out with h
er and her friends. Kathy and her friend Janie had started having sex that fall.\'94
\'93At fourteen?\'94
\'93At fourteen. They were sleeping with some high school boys.\'94
\'93Wow.\'94
\'93Yeah, well they kept talking about how great it was, in graphic detail.\'94
}\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid4849833 {\insrsid4849833 \'93How graphic?\'94 I asked.
\'93Very. Kathy would tell us about how she\rquote d suck her boyfriend\rquote s cock and then demonstrate for us on an ice cream cone. Or she\rquote d whip her top up and show us the hickeys on her breasts.\'94
\'93Okay . . .\'94 I said. I wasn\rquote t sure what to think of teenage girls doing such things.
\'93Worse, Kathy and Janie would try to top each other with stories of what they\rquote d done. They\rquote d compare how }{\insrsid12276164 long their guys could last}{\insrsid4849833 . Whose cock was bigger.\'94
Sharon paused, biting her lip for a moment.
\'93Do you know what it\rquote s like,\'94 she asked, \'93to be fascinated by something but know you\rquote re not ready to actually do it?\'94
I nodded. \'93You weren\rquote t ready for sex?\'94 Sharon shook her head.
\'93I\rquote d listen to Kathy and Janie\rquote s stories and I just couldn\rquote t break away. But when I walked home later, I\rquote d start to wonder. Wasn\rquote t sex supposed to be about love? What about saving myself for \lquote the right guy}{
\insrsid1322552 ,}{\insrsid4849833 \rquote if not for marriage}{\insrsid1322552 ,}{\insrsid4849833 like I knew my grandmother wanted?\'94
\'93Your grandmother?\'94
\'93She used to say to me\emdash repeatedly\emdash \lquote why buy the cow i}{\insrsid1322552 f you can get the milk for free}{\insrsid4849833 ?}{\insrsid1322552 \rquote }{\insrsid4849833 \'94
\'93Ah.\'94
}\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 {\insrsid4849833
}\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid4849833 {\insrsid4849833 Sharon looked at me for a while and then nodded. Then she looked away, staring into the distance.
\'93Kathy called right after Christmas and invited me to a New Year\rquote s Eve party slumber party. It was supposed to be
just her, Janie, Tracy and me. But her parents were out at some all night party of their own. An hour after I arrived, the boys showed up.\'94}{\insrsid6053515
}{\insrsid4849833
}{\insrsid12276164 Sharon looked back at me.
\'93I had a crush on one of the guys, }{\insrsid1396820 Mark}{\insrsid12276164 , from when he\rquote d hung around Kathy before. I wasn\rquote t sure he\rquote
d noticed me, but he started flirting with me almost immediately. The guys had some vodka and rum they\rquote d gotten somewhere.}{\insrsid1322552 We mixed the vodka with Kool-aid and had rum and C}{\insrsid12276164
okes. The guys made sure our glasses were never empty.\'94
\'93They got you drunk,\'94 I interjected. Sharon nodded before continuing.
}\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid12995566 {\insrsid12276164 \'93At midnight, }{\insrsid1396820 Mark}{\insrsid12276164 kissed me.}{\insrsid12995566 It }{\insrsid2583713 wasn\rquote t my}{
\insrsid12995566 first kiss from a boy, but I started kissing him back just as passionately and soon we were making out. Noises from the rest of the room hinted that everyone else was making out too. After a while, }{\insrsid1396820 Mark}{
\insrsid12995566 started kissing down my neck and along my collar bone, working his way lower. I was still flushed and giddy and drunk we he started kissing the top of my cleavage. I }{\insrsid1322552 looked}{\insrsid12995566 around to see what the ot
hers were doing.
\'93My eyes were instantly riveted on Kathy. She was sitting on the couch, nude below the waist, her blouse open and bra askew. She was stroking the back of Janie\rquote s boyfriend\rquote s head as he knelt between her thighs, licking her. Kathy
\rquote s eyes were closed and she was letting out little whimpers as he continued to work on her.\'94
}\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid4849833 {\insrsid12276164
}{\insrsid12995566 Sharon paused, looking away again. Her lower lip began to tremble.}{\insrsid12276164
}{\insrsid12995566
\'93I never said no, Joe. I just kept watching Kathy get eaten and then fucked as }{\insrsid1396820 Mark}{\insrsid12995566 tugged my clothes off and moved me onto my back. At least he went down on me for a few minutes before he fucked me.\'94
I reached out for Sharon\rquote s hand. She let me take it and squeezed hard. She didn\rquote t look back at me.
\'93}{\insrsid1396820 Mark}{\insrsid12995566 shot off in me after only a few dozen strokes. He pulled out, mumbling apologies. I just . . . I just stared at him, not knowing what to say.\'94
Sharon\rquote s grip tightened and her voice got rough.
\'93Then Kathy was standing over me with her boyfriend. She said to switch. I . . . I might have nodded, I don\rquote t know. The next thing I knew, }{\insrsid1396820 Mark}{\insrsid12995566 was gone and Kathy\rquote
s boyfriend was on top of me. Then inside me. After him . . . they, . . . they all fucked me that night.
Sharon turned and met my eyes. Tears were leaking down her cheeks.
\'93Hell of a way to ring in the New Year, huh?\'94
\'93It sucks,\'94 I said. Sharon was beginning the ragged breaths that I knew preceded a good}{\insrsid7284818 sob.}{\insrsid12995566
\'93Let\rquote s move to the couch,\'94 I said. Sharon nodded and we got up. At the couch she curled into my arms. I held her tight.
}{\insrsid7284818
Sharon didn\rquote t cry as hard as I\rquote d expected, nor as hard as I had in her arms a few months before. I just held her, stroking her back, until she\rquote d paused.
\'93Did you tell anyone?\'94 I asked.
\'93I told Allen.\'94
\'93Tell anyone at the time,\'94 I clarified. Sharon shook her head.
\'93What would I have said? That I was drunk and stupid? That I\rquote d risked getting pregnant by any one of four guys?\'94
\'93No birth control?\'94
Sharon shook her head again. \'93My period arrived on time, thank God.\'94
\'93Did you get tested}{\insrsid13381713 for STD\rquote s}{\insrsid7284818 ?\'94
\'93Not until much later. Yeah, I know, stupid. I knew I couldn\rquote t tell my doctor because he\rquote d tell my mom, and I didn\rquote t have the guts to go to Planned Parenthood.\'94
\'93But you did get tested,\'94 I probed.
\'93Yeah.\'94
I let out a deep breath. My mind was still reeling, playing back parts of Sharon\rquote
s story, finding gaps and holes I wanted to ask more questions about. But she was tense in my arms. Had been, since I asked my first question. I decided to just rub her back some more.
}{\insrsid12008076
Slowly, Sharon\rquote s body began to soften in my arms. I kept holding her as her breathing returned to a steadier, slower rate. Sharon sniffled and pulled back. She found a Kleenex and blew her nose and wiped her eyes before meeting my gaze.
\'93I have trouble trusting guys,\'94 she said. \'93I need to be able to trust you, Joe.\'94
I nodded. \'93Sure. You got it.\'94
\'93I mean it. You\rquote re my best friend these days and I don\rquote t want to lose that.\'94
\'93We won\rquote t lose the friendship,\'94 I reassured her.
\'93Good,\'94 Sharon replied before sliding into my arms again.
}{\insrsid6170062
This time, the hug turned into more of a gentle cuddle. Almost paternal, as she nestled half in and half out of my lap.
}{\insrsid6237581
\'93You\rquote re the only person I can really talk to,\'94 Sharon said. \'93That I can tell everything to. My worries, my feelings, my fantasies.\'94
\'93Yeah,\'94 I said. \'93Me too.\'94 Sharon responded by giving me a squeeze.
}{\insrsid5440042
We continued to cuddle on the couch. Eventually Sharon shifted her legs up onto the couch and put her head in my lap. I used the shift to look at my watch. It was past one. Sharon caught me checking.
\'93Can you stay?\'94 she asked.
\'93I suppose,\'94 I answered. \'93I could sleep on the couch again.\'94
Sharon shook her head.
\'93This is nice,\'94 she said, with a nod of her head toward where I was holding her. \'93If you promise not to try anything, you can have half of the bed.\'94
\'93I promise,\'94 I said, surprised at the offer.
\'93\rquote Kay.\'94
We stayed on the couch for a while longer, and then Sharon got up and led me into the bedroom. She rummaged in a drawer and pulled out a pair of boxers and a T-shirt and head
ed for the bathroom. Not quite knowing what to do, I stripped down to my underwear. Sharon only gave me a quick glance when she returned, having changed.}{\insrsid10176336
We climbed into bed and I spooned her, one arm nestled under her neck and the other firmly clasped by her own. Given the hour and the amount of alcohol I\rquote d drunk, it wasn\rquote t hard to fall asleep.}{\insrsid5440042
}\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 {\insrsid12137180
}\pard \qc \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid14233895 {\insrsid12137180 * * *
}\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 {\insrsid12137180
\'93Speaking of which, Joe, we need to get some sleep ourselves.\'94 As Sherri spoke, I }{\insrsid465579 became aware of }{\insrsid12137180 my own weariness}{\insrsid465579 . I nodded.}{\insrsid12137180
}{\insrsid465579
\'93Well, this is a sleeper sofa, so one of us can sleep here and the other in the bedroom.\'94
\'93No. We both sleep here, together. You need the touch.\'94
\'93Oh? Okay. I suppose I\rquote ve got a t-shirt and some boxers you can wear.\'94
\'93I sleep naked,\'94 Sherri said, a hint of a leer appearing in the corners of her mouth.
\'93Uh, okay.\'94 My mind was racing ahead and my pulse wasn\rquote t far behind. I no longer felt fatigued at all. \'93I may need some help getting the sheets on the bed.\'94
\'93Not a problem,\'94 Sherri replied.
We both got off the couch,
removed the cushions, and unfolded the mattress. When I returned from fetching sheets, Sherri had pulled a hanger from the coat closet and was placing her dress on it. She was indeed wearing a garter belt. I paused, just watching and admiring, until sh
e\rquote d finished her task and turned to me.
\'93Got the sheets?\'94 she asked, very nonchalant. I nodded and tossed her one end of the bottom sheet. Together, we got the bed made, though I could barely keep my eyes from her curves.
\'93Now what?\'94 she asked.
\'93I, uh, suppose we get undresse}{\insrsid4674797 d and go to bed,}{\insrsid465579 \'94}{\insrsid4674797 I answered.}{\insrsid465579 Sherri looked at me smiling, expecting something. I didn\rquote
t know what to add, so I just sat on the edge of the bed and began removing my shoes and socks. When I glanced over, Sherri was unhooking her stockings and rolling them down.}{\insrsid7474415
She was watching me, an amused glint in her eyes. I brought my eyes back to my own lap as I unbuttoned my shirt. Why was I so nervous? I\rquote d been with attractive naked women before. And Sherri was indeed naked. My next
glance turned into a stare. }{\insrsid6170062 I\rquote d had hints of how tight and toned Sherri\rquote s body was when she was clothed. Naked\emdash
she was spectacular. My gaze quickly dropped to her ass and lingered. She began turning so I took in her breasts, first at the bottom curves, then the nipples, and then the top of her cleavage.}{\insrsid465579
}{\insrsid7474415
When my eyes reached her face, I saw her grin turn impish. Before I could blush, she winked at me. That made me chuckle.
Sherri slid off the bed and stood. With an exaggerated yawn, she stretched he
r arms above her head and slowly pirouetted in a circle. I drank in every curve and stretch of skin, from the curve where her breast met her side to the tightness of her calf. When she faced me square, Sherri put her hands on her hips and narrowed her e
yes.
\'93Your turn, Joe.\'94
\'93Uh, there\rquote s a small problem,\'94 I said, with a nod toward my crotch.
\'93That\rquote s not a problem, Joe,\'94 she said. \'93In fact, I\rquote d be disappointed if you weren\rquote t hard.\'94
\'93Well, alright,\'94 I said. I took a deep breath, stood up, shucked my pants, and stepped out of them.
\'93Ni-ice,\'94 Sherri called, staring at my erection.
\'93Uh, thanks.\'94
\'93So, what would you like now, Joe?\'94 Sherri asked, meeting my eyes.
\'93Uh . . . well, you had said we said we should get some sleep.\'94
Sherri chuckled and slowly shook her head.
\'93Is that what you really want, Joe?\'94 she asked, suddenly very quite and firm. I didn\rquote t say anything.
\'93What do you want, Joe?\'94 Sherri repeated.
\'93I don\rquote t know,\'94 I admitted. My erection was starting to wilt, to my mixed relief.
\'93Last night you called the agency because you wanted sex,\'94 Sherri said. \'93But you couldn\rquote t do it. Tonight you\rquote re capable of it, but you\rquote re not asking for it. Why?\'94
I struggled, not coming up with words. I looked at Sherri, silently pleading. Her face was firm.
\'93Why, Joe?\'94
\'93Well,\'94 I began, \'93we\rquote ve spent too much time together for me to think of you as just an escort. But you\rquote re not . . .\'94 }{\insrsid2583713 I trailed}{\insrsid7474415 off, trying to think of a way not to insult her.
\'93Girlfriend material?\'94 Sherri interjected, reading my thoughts.
\'93Yeah,\'94 I sheepishly admitted.
}{\insrsid14181749 \'93That\rquote s okay, Joe,\'94 Sherri said, stepping forward and putting her hand on my upper arm. Her touch was reassuring. \'93You\rquote re not my type either.\'94}{\insrsid7474415
}{\insrsid14181749
I nodded, relieved.
\'93But you do need me,\'94 Sherri continued. \'93And sometimes you\rquote re going to have to ask for what you need.\'94 I nodded automatically, which seemed to satisfy her.
\'93I think I need some sleep,\'94 I said.
\'93Okay.\'94
Sherri crawled under the covers while I turned the lights off. After I\rquote d slid in, she cuddled into my
side, hooking one leg across me and putting her head on my shoulder. With her free hand, Sherri began caressing my chest lightly. Soothingly. I wondered if Sherri\rquote
s insistence on touch had been as much for her as for me. I fell asleep without ever deciding.
--fin--
\'a9 2005. All rights reserved. May not be distributed or reposted without explicit permission of the author.
}