Peter Jenkins - The reluctant neighbor

Hans smiled, then turned sideways and put his arm across her. "You will not mind when your husband is with another woman. You will see. We will use my beautiful wife to seduce your husband into pleasure. I do not mind that. No." He kissed her gently on the mouth.

It was too much for Marily to fathom. She could visualize Fred's reaction if he should discover her there, with Peter and Hans. He'd never recover from the shock. Nor, she told herself, would she. She gently moved Hans' arm and got off the bed and went into the bathroom. Suddenly she felt like a shower, wanted and needed one. She automatically started to undress, then giggled remembering that she was nude and had been for sometime, then stepped into the shower. She lathered her whole body, touched her breasts gingerly, smoothed her hands over them, then rinsed off the soap and stepped out from under the steaming water. Marily dried herself carefully, powdered her body and used some risque perfume that she had not dared to use before, then draped a towel around her, over her breasts and around her curvaceous buttocks, then re-entered the bedroom. Hans and Peter sat on the bed, sipping their drinks. They both looked up, whistled, and patted the bed for her to sit down. She walked toward them, then stopped just at the edge of the bed. Peter reached out, yanked the towel with his hand, and laughingly tossed it to Hans.

Hans took the towel, said, standing and bowing, "If I may be permitted?"

Marily nodded her approval and Hans slipped into the bathroom. She laughed and Peter grabbed her and pulled her to him on the bed, propped her against him, and put a glass in her hand.

"We'll go back over to the house very soon. I might like to freshen up a little if Hans doesn't drown himself in there." He kissed her. "My but you are clean and fresh," He said, biting into her soft flesh.

"And you're vulgar and dirty," she laughed, kissing his mouth.

"Peter," she asked seriously, "How can I face Vivian again? I would hate any woman who came into my house and took my husband away, especially if he were you. And don't laugh at me, please. I'm serious. I just don't think that I can face her."

"You innocent lamb," Peter said, moving his hand up and down her arm. "Vivian started this 'neighborhood club' herself. Don't worry about her. She likes you. She really does. And, she likes Fred, too. Just don't worry about it."

"May I ask you something, Peter?" Marily inquired, hesitantly.

"Shoot," he told her.

"Well… is Vivian older than you? I know that's a kind of bitchy question, but I'm serious."

"Yes, she is. Seven years older. Why?" He seemed puzzled.

"No reason. I thought so tonight, seeing the two of you together for the first time and I thought that it just might be the witch in me thinking such things about her just because she's your wife and I was afraid to ask you but…" Marily hurried on, fearing that she was hurting his feelings.

Peter stopped her with a kiss. "I love her, Marily. Very much. She worked hard and put me through law school and she is a perfect wife. Sure, she talks all the time and I don't know half the time what's she said or even what's she saying, but that doesn't bother me. She's very tolerant and she returns my love and she respects me. So." He pushed himself up and indicated that he was going into the bathroom.

Hans pushed through the door, no towel wrapped around him, and tossed the towel to Peter. "Get Marily a drink, you German bum," Peter joked, then closed the door to the bathroom quickly. Hans shrugged his shoulders, then went to the kitchen for drinks. He returned shortly and handed a full glass to Marily. They sat, quietly, looking into the mirror at the foot of the bed, and drank.

Peter bounded through the door of the bathroom, shiningly clean, yelled, "Up! Up! Dress! Dress! We have to go back to my house and get in on the drawing. Quick!" he ordered, popping the towel at them.

Marily marveled at her unconcern in dressing before the two men, each of them watching her, Peter taking her brassiere and panties and smiling and tossing them aside and telling her that she didn't need them, wouldn't need them the rest of the week-end. She felt strangely satisfied, somehow calm and peaceful. She wanted to draw the whole world to herself and embrace it, hold it in her arms and stand and caress it.

She meekly let herself be led out of her own home by Peter and Hans and across the patio to the next patio and into his house. She thought at first that the party had somehow broken up, that most of the people had gone home. There were only four people in the living room, each of which Peter and Hans greeted profusely and spoke in front of her of her accomplishments and beautiful body. She blushed deeply.

Roy, a middle-aged but still handsome man said, "Peter, fix the drawing so that I can be with Marily." He laughed, slapping Peter on the back. Marily was horrified. The idea of a drawing in which she was the prize did not set well with her. She turned her back on them and started for the kitchen. Peter was just behind, took her in his arms and apologized for Roy's 'crudeness'. "He must have forgotten that you are here for the first time, Marily. I'm sorry." He held her in his arms and kissed her lightly, then, "Come on, let's make drinks for everyone. We'll have everyone in the living room in…" he looked at his watch, "exactly seven minutes."

It took just about seven minutes to make the drinks. Marily was aware of the increased noise and conversation in the other room, the one she had left shortly before. She hoped that she wouldn't be timid about facing them, prayed that what Peter had told her about Vivian not minding would be true. She knew that that would be her who was married to Peter.

Peter kissed her on the nose, then put a tray of drinks in her hands, said, "O.K.?" and then they went back to the living room. Marily heard Vivian's voice above everyone's and hesitated, then took a deep breath and walked into their midsts.

"Oh, what a lovely creature and all the time for nearly two months living and being next door and all kinds of doubts assailed me about asking her over and Peter, you sly dog you, and we're all ready and the second and last evens are made up and we'll all drink and then we'll draw and it is a good idea which is Peter's that we re-assemble and hope and speculate before the next one so here's to all and one."

Vivian stopped talking long enough to swallow a small amount from the glass that Marily had served her. Everyone joined in the toast, all of them drank deeply.

The concoction was delicious, Marily decided, drinking hers hesitantly at first, then taking more each time, enjoying the faint burning and soothing sensation that it gave her. She wondered what was in the drink that she had never tasted before, but then she decided that she didn't care. She held out her glass for a re-fill when Hans passed among the guests and replenished their glasses. She smiled warmly and secretly to Anna. It made her feel good.

Suddenly Anna, Hans' wife, started toward her. Marily had almost forgotten about her. She had the impulse to turn and flee, but she couldn't. She stood still and the nerves that controlled her to move suddenly froze. She tried to return the smile that Anna gave her, but it was impossible.

"Well, Marily, welcome to the club. Was Hans a devil with you?" Her green eyes were fastened on Marily; her smile was genuine and sincere.

"I… no… I don't…" Marily stuttered, suddenly angry with herself for her own stupidity. She had never been so embarrassed in her life.

"I understand, Marily. There is a first time for everything. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to be so blunt. Let's sit down." She took Marily's arm and guided her to a chair in the dining room. "Look," she said, sitting her beautiful self onto a straight-backed chair, "I understand that I'm to be instrumental in helping your husband to join. Tell me what he's like."