Your Bed or Mine? (20 page)

Jen looked at Tish funny. “Tish Jones! I’m beginning to think there’s more to that whips-and-chains comment you made than
you’re willing to tell us.”

Tish only smiled.

“And speaking of whips and chains,” Zada said, stealing the conversation away from doom-and-gloom Jen. “Shouldn’t we be discussing
how we’re going to handle the sexual fantasy segment of our meeting with Alicia tonight?”

Jen groaned. “Don’t remind me.”

Tish said, “What do you mean? Your fantasy last Saturday was the sexiest by far, Jen.”

“Forget it, Tish,” Jen said. “Flattery does
not
work with me.”

Jen looked right back at Zada. “Alicia is your guest, Zada. I vote for you giving Alicia a rundown of your session with Rick
last night and put an end to it.”

“I have a better idea,” Tish said, beaming.

Now Jen had that faraway look.

“All I ever wanted,” Jen said wistfully, “was to move into a nice, normal subdivision. I’m going to call a Realtor on Monday
before you two really do corrupt me.”

Tish ignored Jen and looked back at Zada.

“We need to remember that our main goal tonight is not to antagonize Alicia in any way,” Tish said. “We don’t want Alicia
going back on her word and resuming her plan to seduce Rick. That means we need to be nice to her, even if it kills us.”

“And on the fantasy level?” Zada quizzed.

Tish grinned. “That’s where my better idea comes in.”

Zada had already gone off to her Fantasy Club meeting by the time Rick got home Saturday evening. But she’d left a note on
the kitchen table for him.

Only four little words: “Your bed or mine?”

Words that promised she was still in the game.

And God, how he had enjoyed finally having Zada back in his arms—even if the game they were playing was pure torture for him.
Zada had no clue, but his main goal was not about keeping Simon and the house at all. His main goal was to hold out until
they both had some answers. Answers about how they really felt about each other. About whether or not they really could learn
to live together without arguing day in and day out.

But most importantly, an answer about whether or not Zada really wanted a divorce.

Last night had given Rick hope that she didn’t.

And he’d kept a goofy grin on his face all day.

Even now, as he played poker with Joe and Charlie, Rick couldn’t keep the goofy grin from occasionally tugging at the corners
of his mouth. If Joe or Charlie had noticed, neither of them had said anything.

Yet.

Rick glanced at the monitor sitting beside Joe on the card table again this Saturday night, the screen showing the twins watching
TV in their bedroom. Only tonight, the monitor was useless. The Fantasy Club meeting was being held at Jen and Charlie’s.

“A dirty, rotten shame is what it is,” Joe grumbled as he tossed the cards around the table. “If anyone has any steamy fantasies,
I bet it’s Alicia.”

“Look on the bright side,” Charlie said, scooping up his cards. “No matter where the girls gather to share their fantasies
tonight, it means hot sex for us later.”

Joe frowned and punched Charlie with his elbow.

“Would you cut Rick a little slack here? It might mean hot sex for us, but there’s no point in torturing a guy.”

“Don’t worry about Rick,” Charlie said, looking over at Rick and moving his eyebrows up and down. “Right, Rick?”

Joe frowned again. “What’s that supposed to mean?

Charlie said, “Didn’t Tish tell you?”

Charlie ducked when Joe took a swing at him.

Alicia wasn’t sure what was going on, but something was up. Everyone was being too damn nice.

Especially Zada.

They’d been sitting around Jen’s kitchen table for the last hour. They’d had a few glasses of wine. Nibbled on Jen’s artfully
displayed hors d’oeuvres. Swapped enough boring chitchat to put them all to sleep. But none of them had mentioned one word
about sharing any sexual fantasies.

Alicia almost laughed.

She’d known all along the fantasy part was a farce. Not that sharing fantasies had ever been her goal—being invited to the
meeting had been her goal. Being invited meant when other women in the neighborhood learned she was hanging out with the Housewives’
Fantasy Club, everyone would stop treating her as if she had some dreaded social disease.

But, Alicia decided, it wouldn’t hurt to do a little prodding. At least enough to watch Zada squirm.

Ha!

She’d bet money Zada hadn’t even told Jen and Tish about the big fantasy lie she’d told. Poor Jen and Tish were probably clueless.
They were sitting here, doing what they did every Saturday night while their husbands played poker. Absolutely nothing. Just
as she’d suspected all along.

Alicia glanced at Zada.

Zada looked in her direction at the same time.

Eyes locked.

Phony smiles appeared.

Alicia was one second from jerking Zada’s chain, but Tish tapped her fork against her wineglass.

“Okay, ladies,” Tish said. “It’s time to officially call this meeting to order.”

Zada smiled and looked away.

Alicia settled back against her chair, casually crossed her legs, and leisurely swirled the wine around in her glass.

This, I gotta hear.

Tish smiled at Alicia this time. A smile not quite as phony as Zada’s, but phony, nonetheless.

“Before we start the fantasy side of our meeting, Alicia,” Tish said, “we have one sacred rule. What we say at the meeting,
stays at the meeting. Understood?”

Alicia nodded.

“And since you’re our guest this evening,” Tish went on to say, “you have the honor of drawing the type of fantasy we’ll be
sharing tonight.”

Lucky me.

Jen got up from the table.

She came back with a glass bowl.

When she held the bowl out, Alicia fished her hand into it and pulled out one of the folded pieces of paper.

Alicia unfolded the paper and read the words. When she looked back up, all three of them were staring at her. Alicia didn’t
like the cat-swallowed-the-canary looks on their faces.

“‘Progressive fantasy?’” Alicia said quizzically.

“My favorite kind,” Zada said with a smug smile.

Tish said, “Let me explain how this works, Alicia. One person starts the fantasy and stops wherever she wants. It’s up to
the next person to pick up wherever she left off. However, you can go in any direction you like when it’s your turn. That’s
why this type of fantasy is so much fun.”

I’ll try to contain my enthusiasm.

Zada looked over at her and said, “Usually the person who draws the fantasy starts the fantasy, Alicia, but why don’t we let
Jen go first tonight? By the time we get back around the table to you, you’ll have a better understanding of how a progressive
fantasy works.”

I’m not an imbecile. I get it!

Alicia looked at Jen and said, “Is that okay with you?”

“My pleasure,” Jen said, “if you’ll pardon the pun.”

Everyone laughed.

Except Alicia.

Something told Alicia the infamous Housewives’ Fantasy Club had been rehearsing this meeting all day.

J
en picked up her wineglass. She took a leisurely sip, and looked around the table.

“You notice him the second you walk into the small boutique.

“He looks out of place in a lingerie store.

“He’s tall and lean.

“Shaggy hair.

“Black leather jacket.

“Tight, faded jeans.

“Your gaze locks on the rear of those tight jeans.

“He glances over his shoulder and catches you looking.

“You blush.

“He smiles.

“Seductively.

“You quickly look away.

“You hurry past him, cheeks flaming, yet incredibly turned on by his bad-boy grin.

“He’s every mother’s nightmare.

“Yet, the type of bad boy every woman wants in her bed.

“You pretend to ignore him, but you sense he’s still watching you.

“You can feel his eyes moving over your body, slowly undressing you, one piece of clothing at a time.

“The thought excites you as you run your finger lazily along the clothing rack, pretending to shop.

“But the feel of the sexy lingerie between your fingers takes your thoughts right back to the bedroom.

“You imagine him fisting your hair.

“Jerking your head back.

“Covering your mouth with a bruising, breathtaking kiss.

“Your finger runs across a black, floor-length, see-through negligee, and you chance another look in his direction.

“He smiles at you again.

“Approvingly.

“This time, you boldly hold his gaze.

“He watches as you take the hanger from the rack.

“Watches as you walk to the full-length mirror attached to the front of the dressing room door.

“Watches as you press the sheer fabric suggestively against your body.

“Your eyes meet in the mirror when he walks up behind you.

“You tease him and run one hand lightly over one breast, then the other.

“Your nipples spring to life and press against your blouse.

“He steps closer, the look on his face warning you he’s tired of being teased.

“You panic and quickly open the dressing room door.

“You’re only one step away from safety.

“But you look back over your shoulder one last time.

“And …”

Jen pointed to Tish.

Tish said, “You look back over your shoulder one last time, and crook your finger in his direction.”

Jen said, “No! I was only playing a game. I imagined myself blowing him a farewell kiss!”

Tish said, “You’ve had your turn. This is my fantasy now.”

Tish repeated, “You crook your finger in his direction.

“He looks around the store, puts his hand at the small of your back, and pushes you inside the small cubicle.

“You turn around to face him as he slides the lock closed on the dressing room door.

“He pulls you to him, kissing you roughly, just as you imagined.

“Your arms slide around his neck.

“The forgotten negligee falls to the floor.

“His fingers fly over the buttons on your blouse.

“He pushes the blouse off your shoulders and jerks down the straps of your skimpy, lace bra.

“Your breasts spring forward, fully exposed.

“You gasp when he drops to his knees and buries his face against your bare flesh.

“His hot mouth moves from one breast to the other, sending a tingle through your entire body.

“His hands find your skirt and push it up and out of the way.

“Down come your panties.

“He grasps your hips and pulls you forward.

“You moan when he guides you straight to his hot, wet tongue.

“Wave after wave of nothing but pure pleasure explodes through your body.

“You tangle your fingers in his shaggy hair, lost completely in a state of forbidden ecstasy.

“Finally, you cry out.

“You fall back against the mirror, fully satisfied and thoroughly spent.

“Gently, he pulls up your panties.

“Carefully, he pulls down your skirt.

“He stands up.

“He smiles.

“And …”

Tish pointed to Zada.

Zada said, “He stands up. Smiles. And says, ‘See you at home later.’”

Tish said, “No! This is where the
stranger
should blow a farewell kiss!”

Zada said, “Too bad. I’m not into sex with strangers.”

Zada started over.

“He stands up.

“Smiles.

“And says, ‘See you at home later.’

“You’re waiting for him that evening in the kitchen.

“A low whistle escapes his lips when he finds you wearing nothing but a lacy red thong, red high heels, and the long strand
of cultured pearls he gave you as a wedding present.

“You turn around slowly on your red stilettos, giving him a full view, and reminding him what an excellent choice he made
choosing you to be his wife.

“‘Dinner?’ you ask, motioning toward the table.

“He grins his bad-boy grin.

“‘How about dessert first?’ he asks.

“Just as you hoped he would.

“He hurries upstairs to the bedroom.

“You follow, knowing what he’ll find.

“Candles, flickering to the beat of a sexy CD.

“A new robe for him waiting on the foot of the bed.

“A new game you want to play.

“
Before
you serve the dessert he requested.

“You walk into the room and follow his gaze to the lone chair sitting in the middle of the room.

“He looks over his shoulder, eyebrow raised.

“You smile and point to the robe first.

“He undresses in a hurry, your pulse racing with every piece of clothing he peels away.

“He slips into the robe.

“But you jerk the silk sash from the belt loops.

“Now, you point to the chair.

“Again, he obeys and takes a seat.

“You tie his hands behind him, securing them soundly with the long, silk sash.

“Dessert can wait.

“You’ve decided to give him a lap dance first.

“You straddle him as he sits in the chair, losing yourself in a hypnotic beat as you sway seductively back and forth to the
music.

“You’re so close you’re almost touching.

“The fact that there’s nothing he can do about it, really turns you on.

“You step back and do a snake-like wiggle as you step out of your thong.

“His eyes turn a deeper blue as they travel over your nude body.

“You move closer, straddling him again as you pull the pearls suggestively through your parted lips, purposely sucking on
one perfect pearl at a time.

“He squirms in the chair, rock hard and ready.

“You move slowly down the length of his body.

“His eyes turn even darker with desire when you come back up with the can of whipped cream you’ve placed beneath the chair.

“‘And now, dessert,’ you tell him.

“He licks his lips expectantly as you spray the frothy mixture over your bare breasts.

“You straddle him again.