22. Aftermath
Aftermath
Nadine, Eddie, and Zaire sat at the dining room table. He’d opened a bottle of La Fete Du Cotes Rose’ for the ladies while he opted to pour himself a bourbon on the rocks.
They sat quietly, sipping for a few minutes until Eddie spoke, turning to Nadine.
“That was…amazing.” Eddie said, a shy smile gracing his face.
Nadine felt her face heat as she remembered what happened just hours ago. “It was.”
“Yeah, I don’t really fuck with couples or men like that, but you two are too hot to not want to,” Zaire said as she bit her lip, staring at them.
“Thanks,” Eddie and Nadine said in unison. They were more than enamored by the compliment.
Eddie took a sip of his bourbon before turning to Nadine. He reached out for her hand, squeezing gently. “I want to say I am sorry. I shouldn’t have reacted initially the way that I did. Putting my hands on you like that? I know your history with shit like that…I’m so fucking sorry.”
His voice was shaky and so small, so unlike the Eddie that Nadine knew.
Nadine patted his hand. “It’s ok, Ed. I know you wouldn’t hurt me. I know it was a shock to walk in on us like that.”
“Shock or not, that was a fucked-up reaction, and I can’t apologize enough. My emotions were all over the place. I was so turned on, yet so upset. It was…confusing.” Eddie looked down at his glass. It was clear to Nadine that he was completely ashamed.
Nadine closed her eyes and sighed, trying to shake off the memories that his reaction brought up for her. “I get it. About the emotions all over the place.”
“You and Zaire…how long has this been going on?” Eddie asked, motioning between the two women.
Nadine took a larger sip of wine before answering. She felt the burning chill of the rose slide down her throat. “A couple of weeks.”
“Weeks?” Eddie repeated, astonished. “And you didn’t think you could tell me? Why?”
“Given the circumstances and our rules we established, I didn’t know how to.”
“Yeah, but,” Eddie sighed. “I thought we were going to be honest, Deanie. I am ok with you exploring this. You didn’t have to lie about any of it.”
Nadine looked at Zaire, hesitation in her eyes. But Zaire nodded, encouraging Nadine to continue. “There is more to it than Zaire being the nanny. I…well…we’ve met her before.”
Eddie furrowed his brows, confused. “We have? Where?”
“The night you took me to Secrets.”
Eddie looked at Zaire, eyes slowly widening with recognition. “The dancer. The one that you kissed…”
“I’m very much a qualified nanny, if you’re wondering,” Zaire interrupted before Eddie could continue. “The agency can definitely back that up.”
Eddie’s mouth dropped open, and his eyes were still wide. “I thought you looked familiar. I thought I was tripping but…wow. This is wild.” He smoothed his hand down his goatee. “Nadine, really?”
“I know,” Nadine sighed. “I didn’t plan for any of this to happen, but it has. And it did.” She reached out for Zaire’s hand. “I don’t regret any of it.”
Eddie sipped more of his bourbon. “She’s bad as hell. I totally understand the attraction. A little young but…”
“I’m almost thirty, Eddie. Old enough to know my way around pussy as good as your wife’s.” Zaire quipped.
Nadine nearly choked on her wine. Eddie narrowed his eyes, giving Zaire a stare that could cut glass. But instead of lashing out, he started to chuckle. “That you do. And Nadine damn sure has good pussy. That we can agree on.” He held out his glass and Zaire clinked it.
Everyone started to laugh. Somehow, that dissipated any tension that could have been lingering between them.
Nadine reached for Eddie’s hand again. “Eddie, seriously, if this makes you uncomfortable…”
As much as she cared for Zaire, she loved Eddie.
He was her heart, the love of her life. She wouldn’t throw away sixteen years of marriage because of her own desires consuming her, even if it was integral to understanding who she was.
She was a different Nadine. She had Zaire to thank for that.
She was part of her heart. But Eddie was the reason that Nadine even had a heart to give to Zaire.
Eddie shook his head, interlacing his fingers with hers. “No, baby. If Zaire makes you happy, then I am happy. But I think we need to re-establish some ground rules for this mono/poly dynamic you got going on. EJ…”
“He’s barely four, Ed.” Nadine didn’t think it necessary to bring EJ into this.
Zaire waved her hand. “And I’m the nanny. Just Miss Z to him. That’s all. Cookie knows I’d never do anything to make him uncomfortable.”
Eddie nodded, understanding. “Ok. And what about Alex?”
Nadine’s eyes widened. “I…I mean…I’ll talk to her. I promise.” She and Alex were on shaky ground as is. She was going to have to have a long session with Dr. Flournoy to tackle her approach. Her therapist was going to be sick of her.
“By the way, Z. Why do you call her Cookie?” Eddie asked, curious.
Zaire bit her lip as she smirked. “One, she’s a beast with baking. There’s nothing she can’t make. And two, that pussy. I’ve never tasted pussy as sweet as hers. Don’t you agree?”
“Damn,” Eddie chuckled. “I've been married to her ass for sixteen years. Why didn’t I think of that shit?”
“Because,” Zaire smiled. “I see your wife in a whole new light. You don’t have fresh eyes like I do.”
Eddie looked at Nadine and smiled. “You’re right. I don’t. But I see you now, Deanie. I do.”
Nadine’s eyes filled with tears. “And I see you too.”
“Aww,” Zaire teased. “Ya’ll are too cute. But, uhm, can we get back to these rules? Because I’d like to continue fucking my girlfriend in peace.”
The three of them talked for another hour more before heading to bed. Eddie made it clear that he was fine with Nadine and Zaire continuing to be together.
Zaire wasn’t opposed to being exclusive but stated that if Nadine met someone else or either party wanted to end this, they would be honest. Nadine promised to keep lines of communication open with both of them if her feelings were to change.
Zaire said she had absolutely no desire to have sexual intercourse with Eddie and he agreed, which surprised Nadine.
He was very clear about his boundaries sexually, going into detail about what he would consent to and what he was comfortable with.
He explained in great detail his cuckold fantasies to Zaire, who simply nodded with understanding, asking him questions about his boundaries, safe words, and the like.
Nadine wished she’d had done that initially instead of judging.
Zaire was way more mature than she was when it came to sex. She could learn a thing or two from Z.
In the end, they all agreed that, if invited, Eddie was more than willing to participate with Nadine or simply watch.
Eddie had very specific needs in terms of his voyeurism fetish that Nadine, surprisingly, didn’t flinch at hearing.
She’d come a long way in terms of acceptance.
This was the first time they’d been completely open and non-judgmental about sex in their marriage. It felt good.
Zaire kissed Nadine softly before retiring to the guest room, and Eddie kissed Zaire on the cheek. It was the first time he’d kissed another woman since marrying Nadine, and she wasn’t even upset about it. This was definitely a new normal.
When she made her way downstairs the next morning, Zaire was with the chef, getting EJ to eat a bite of eggs. He was shaking his head in absolute protest, arms folded, with a frown plastered on his face. Zaire sighed as she looked at Nadine. “Morning, our EJ won’t eat his eggs.”
“Cause they smell like poopie!” EJ yelled.
Nadine laughed. “Come on, Mister Moody. One bite, please? For Mommy?”
“Yes,” Zaire added. “One more bite and I’ll let you listen to all the Elmo podcasts you want in the car on the way to school.”
“Fine,” EJ huffed.
They watched as he held his nose and took a bite.
It took everything in them not to laugh.
Nadine was so amused at EJ’s antics that she almost missed the two massive bouquets, filled with assorted roses, lilies and orchids on the opposite end of the island.
Nadine nodded toward the miniature garden. “What’s that about?”
Zaire smiled. “Go read the card, Coo…uhm…Nadine.” She playfully winced at the gaffe, nearly forgetting about EJ sitting there eating begrudgingly.
Nadine walked to the counter and read the card in the bouquet.
“Something beautiful for two beauties. Thank you both for last night’s experience- E.
Nadine smiled, holding the card to her chest. That was so unexpected that she was tempted to skip work, drive down the Eddie’s job, and drop to her knees to suck his dick in appreciation As she was rereading the card, her phone buzzed with a text message from her assistant.
Devi: Good news! The HVAC is all fixed. Sending a message to everyone that they can come in today. Moving all meetings back to in-person.
Nadine groaned. The old Nadine would have been more than eager to get back to the office. After the night she’d had, she didn’t want to be away from home. She’d enjoyed working from her home office, having Zaire near, and feeling her comforting presence. Grudgingly, Nadine fired off a quick text.
Nadine: Good. I’ll be in the office by 7:30.
Devi: By the way, new developments. Will inform you in person. Don’t want to text.
Nadine looked at the phone, puzzled. That was ridiculously cryptic.
Nadine slipped her phone into her bag. “Well. Looks like I’m heading into the office today.” She went to kiss EJ on his forehead. “Have a good day, my love.”
“You too, Mama!” EJ beamed with a smile.
Nadine looked up at Zaire, giving her a heated glance. She licked her lips. “You have a good day too, Miss Z.”
“You too Mrs. Moody. We’ll miss you. Isn’t that right, EJ?” said Zaire, returning an equally heated glare at Nadine. Nadine felt her coochie dancing in her panties. Highly inappropriate so early in the morning.