Sleepless

Now I knew the conversation had entered the twilight zone.

“How about your evening?” asked Jessie. “Did you and dad enjoy yourselves?”

“Do women always talk this way?” I asked myself.

“It was wonderful,” said mom. “Maybe not as wonderful as your evening but the Johnson’s are always good company.”

“Was that more non conversation?” I asked myself.

“Is dad okay?” asked Jessie.

“He is,” said mom. “He’s never disappointed when we visit the Johnsons.”

“About us?” Jessie asked indicating her and me.

“Of course,” said mom. “He’s been expecting it as long as I have. I think he’s happy that it’s finally happened and he doesn’t have to wonder when anymore. So, in case you’re wondering, you and James’ relationship is an open secret in this house. You don’t need to hide it but you shouldn’t flaunt it.”

“Thanks for that,” said Jessie. “We’ll be relaxed and respectful.”

“The best of both worlds,” commented mom. “Now, Jessie, if you can excuse us, I’d like a few words with James.”

Jessie got up. “Thanks again for understanding,” she said. “I’ll leave you two alone. James, come talk to me when you can.”

Jessie left me alone with mom. What does mom want to talk about? I tried to relax. I don’t think I was very successful.

“James, relax,” comforted mom. “I’m not going to bite your head off.”

With all the obscure references of the last few minutes, I wondered what she meant. I took a deep breath and exhaled.

“That’s better,” commented mom. “I just want to talk.”

“Can I ask a question first?” I asked.

“Sure,” mom said.

“I don’t know how to phrase this,” I said.

“Just ask,” said mom. “You can be direct with me.”

“Okay. Are you having sex with Mr. Johnson?”

“I am,” answered mom. “That was easy wasn’t it?”

“And dad?” I asked.

“He’s having sex with Mrs. Johnson,” mom confirmed.

“Why?” I asked.

“Because it works for all of us,” said mom. “It provides some needed variety and it fills in the gaps when one of us is unable or not interested.”

“You mean it’s not only when all four of you are together?” I asked.

“Sometimes,” said mom. “Don’t misunderstand,” she continued. “Everyone knows and it’s not cheating. We’re consenting adults. Friends with benefits. Everyone benefits. There are no losers.”

“I didn’t know,” I said.

“You didn’t have to know,” said mom. “You know now. Don’t over think it.”

“I’m good with it,” I said.

“Good. Now about us,” hinted mom.

“Us?”

“Yes, us. You’ve never thought about it?” asked mom.

“Not seriously,” I answered. “Did I just open the door to something?” I wondered.

“But you have thought about it?” asked mom.

“Mom, I’ve thought about sex with other guy’s moms,” I tried deflection.

“Why is this so difficult?” asked mom. “Have you thought about having sex with me at any time?”

“Mom!”

“James!”

“Shit. Okay. I have,” I said.

“Finally,” commented mom.

“Now what?” I asked.

“I want you to have what you’ve thought about,” said mom.

“For me or for you?” I asked.

“For both of us,” insisted mom.

“How about dad and Jessie?” I asked.

“Don’t forget about Brittany,” stated mom.

“Shit. I never thought about Britt,” I admitted. “Even with Jessie.”

“Brittany doesn’t have to know but she is part of the equation, at least as far as you’re concerned,” explained mom. “As far as dad and Jessie, they’ll know.”

“And that doesn’t create problems?” I asked.

“Not among us unless you make it one,” said mom.

“I need to think,” I said.

“That’s a good idea,” said mom. “Take the rest of the day and come talk to me after dinner.”

I walked out of the kitchen in a daze. My whole world had turned upside down in less than twelve hours. I wondered if I wanted it right side up again. I sat on my bed in my bedroom, unable to think clearly. Someone knocked on the bedroom door.

Jessie came into my room when I said, “Come in.” “Are you okay?” she asked.

“I hope so,” I said.

Jessie sat on the bed next to me. “What did mom want?” she asked.

“Why do I think you already know,” I confronted her.

“Why do you think that?” she asked.

“Because it seems you and mom talk a lot. About almost everything,” I said.

“But not everything,” asserted Jessie. “I admit she did help me plan last night but she hasn’t shared what she’s thinking next.”

“Mom knew about last night before it happened?” I asked.

“Neither of us knew for sure how it would develop. It depended on how you’d respond and neither of us was sure. I had a better feel than mom. I had the advantage of the events of the previous evenings that I hadn’t shared with mom,” Jessie explained.

“So, how did she know this morning?” I asked.

“Did you forget where you found your clothing this morning?” Jessie asked.

“Oh. Right,” I conceded.

“So, back to the reason I came in to talk to you,” insisted Jessie. “What did mom want to talk about?”

“She wants to have sex with me,” I stated.

“Oh. Wow. What did you tell her?” Jessie responded.

“I told her I’d have to think about it?” I told Jessie.

“What’s to think about?” asked Jessie. “Mom’s a beautiful woman. I bet she’s good in bed too.”

“She is and I won’t take that bet,” I said. “But there’s more to it than just having sex with her.”

“What more?” asked Jessie.

“There’s you,” I told her. “And Britt. I also can’t ignore dad. He’s married to her.”

“I think it’s a great idea and a fantastic opportunity for you,” said Jessie. “I can see how Britt could be an issue but she doesn’t have to know.”

“And dad?”

“I don’t see the problem with dad. I’m sure mom can handle whatever comes up with him,” insisted Jessie.

“What if he wants to have sex with you?” I asked.

“Ooouu. I’ve never considered that possibility,” admitted Jessie. “Neither of them has ever hinted at something like that. I don’t think he’s into something like that.”

“Don’t be so sure,” I cautioned.

“Do you know something that I don’t?” asked Jessie.

“Mom and dad are close to the Johnsons,” I told her.

“I know that,” she said. “They see each other often.”

“There’s seeing each other and ‘seeing’ each other,” I hinted.

“Wait. Are you telling me they’re involved in spouse swapping?” Jessie demanded.

“That and more,” I told her. “Apparently, they agree to special moments together at times other than the weekend.”

“Without all of them present?” Jessie concluded. “You know this, how?”

“Mom told me. She was trying to ease my thinking about sex with her by admitting she was already involved having sex with someone other than dad,” I explained.

“I think you should do it,” Jessie told me. “She’s an experienced and exciting lover.”

“How. Do. You. Know. That?” I asked.

“Mom made a similar suggestion to me when I was eighteen,” Jessie admitted.

“And you took it?”

“I did.”

“Without dad?”

“Without dad.”

“Do you want to tell me how that works?” I asked.

“Maybe if you accept mom’s offer, you can find out for yourself,” said Jessie with a grin.

“Fuck,” I said.

“I’m already imagining a threesome,” commented Jessie.

“I have to tell mom,” I agreed.

“When does she want an answer?” asked Jessie.

“After dinner,” I told her.

“Do you have time for me before dinner?” asked Jessie.

Before I could answer, she added, “Come and crawl up in bed with me.”

“You want to have sex with me now?” I asked.

“I want whatever will ease your conversation with mom after dinner,” Jessie said.

Time that day with Jessie was some of the best moments of my life. Jessie is easy to talk to and easy to love. We had sex. Beautiful, caring, satisfying sex. I had a conversation with mom after dinner that night. She was delighted that I accepted her offer and committed to making it happen “within the week.”

Jessie was equally happy and couldn’t wait for feedback on how I experienced it.

The opportunity arrived sooner than I expected. Mom’s birthday was coming up soon and Jessie offered to help dad find a gift. They agreed to go shopping on Sunday.

Jessie and I slept in the same bed Saturday night. Jessie suggested that we not have sex. She wanted me to save myself for mom the next day. We had breakfast with mom and dad on Sunday morning. The mall opened at eleven on Sunday. Dad and Jessie left just before eleven. They planned to have lunch out and Jessie told mom privately that she’d be sure to not get home before four in the afternoon.

Those first few moments alone in the house with mom were awkward. Neither of us knew where to start. We were sitting on opposite ends of the sofa in the living room, unable to make the first move. Mom attempted to break the impasse. “James,” she started. “I’ve never faced this exact situation before. Obviously, between dad and me the routine is well established and it’s similar with Dale, that’s Mr. Johnson to you. Every other time, things just developed naturally, not just being left alone with the expectation that we’ll have sex while they’re gone. How do you think we should proceed?”

I agreed with the unnatural environment and mom’s analysis. However, it had similarities with the situation between Jessie and me in the beginning. Jessie solved that potential discomfort when she sat in my lap and kissed me. I thought that a similar result might work here. I stood up, walked to mom’s end of the sofa, held out my hand and helped her up. I put my hands on her shoulders and looked into her eyes. She blinked twice and stared back at me. I took her cheeks in both hands, leaned in and kissed her. Her eyes shot wide open, she took a breath and kissed me back. The kiss quickly exploded into a full blown, saliva swapping, tongue dancing production. When we broke for air, mom fell back on the sofa, breathing heavily.