Page 44 of Hotwife
“They’re hanging around late this year,” my father remarked, noticing my listening to the bugs. “We haven’t had our first frost yet.”
My sister and I nodded, taking sips of iced tea.
“I hope you know that I love you girls. I’ve only ever tried to do what’s best for you both. There’s been times I know I’ve been too stern and pushed each of you too hard. But I never want to you to be afraid of coming here. This is your home, forever.” My father put a hand over his rugged Bible.
My sister and I passed an astonished look between us. “We love you too, Dad,” my sister and I replied.
Standing tall and hulking, my father took his dish to the sink. “Now, I’m turning in for my nightly prayers.”
Odette and I nodded, still in no hurry to leave. I guessed we’d stay over and crash in our old room.
My father walked toward his bedroom and stopped in the doorway, glancing over his shoulder. “And Dolly?”
“Yeah Dad?”
After my father spoke, he walked towards his room like he hadn’t just left my jaw on the floor.
“Your husband and another… rougher fella are waiting outside for you.”
fourteen
My sister’s chair fell over with a bang as she rushed to the kitchen window.
“Well, I’ll be damned,” she said, smiling. “Sis, I believe there're some gentlemen here to call on you,” she said with a flourish.
I gripped the table to keep myself steady. “Both of them? Why are they here?” I asked in shock.
Odette put a hand on her hip. “Why do you think, genius?”
Standing, it relieved me to find I didn’t have the urge to run away. That had to be a good sign, right? I quickly combed my fingers through my curls and smoothed my blouse. “How do I look?”
“Like the older, less-smart version of me,” my sister said, grinning like a maniac. “Now, go get your boys.”
Rolling my eyes, I pinched her arm on my way to the door, her giggle following me. “Don’t watch, it’s creepy,” I said, closing the door.
When I turned, my heart nearly exploded with emotion. Cedric leaned against the side of a Ford Mustang, while Desmond leaned against the hood, arms crossed. They both straightened when they saw me. I crossed my arms, walking through the dry grass. “What-”
Cedric put up his hands to silence me. “Let us go first, okay?”
I nodded, coming to a stop in front of the car. Though every bone in my body screamed at me to throw myself into their arms.
“Dot, I knew hotwifing was a shitty solution. I could see it wasn’t making you happy. So when Desmond emailed to say he’d be in town, I proposed he court you. Believe it or not, I hated the idea of you with strange men. I thought if I arranged for a decent, non-committal guy to take care of you in the ways I couldn’t, that would be enough to make you happy.”
“And I thought, what the hell? I’ve been asked to do worse by less deserving men,” Desmond quipped, and I had to fight to hide a smile. They were so cute together, side by side.
Cedric cleared his throat, taking a step towards me. “My fear of losing you, of not being able to please you, pushed me into a corner I couldn’t get out of. And then Desmond telling me of your outings had me really fucking jealous… but…”
“But?” I asked, raising an eyebrow in intrigue.
Cedric gave a deep exhale. “I wish I had a cigarette,” he muttered and Des gave a hearty chuckle. “It also turned me on. That’s when we made love on the bathroom floor. It’s when I discovered that I do still have drive. Imagining you two together… It helps.”
My eyes met Desmond’s in surprise and then back to my husband. “So you think me having sex with Des made you want to have sex with me again?”
Cedric nodded. “It at least told me I could.”
Desmond stepped forward, reaching out to hold my elbow, and my heart rate picked up. I sent a nervous glance towards Cedric, but he only watched on, unbothered. “I can’t live without you, Queen. I’m in love with you, and the things I told you in the bay are still all things I want to do with you. Except, I don’t want you to have to choose.”
“What?” I asked, confusion setting in. “What are you guys saying?”