Chapter 5
Francesca
After the shower.
And after more wine—probably more than I should have had—we all landed back in bed. I guess Nick was staying the night with us after all.
I liked that idea.
But what I didn't like was the fact that Eve was alone.
We talked for a while in bed. Just sweet touches and caresses. It was fun being with these two friends. They knew each other so well that it didn't take much for them to get started on a topic. And they always included me in whatever conversation they were having.
They were never rude or excluded me. We just settled into a nice, lazy back and forth.
And then—Nick's touches began to—change. And he kissed me. More than just quick pecks. His mouth—and his hands—were asking.
And I answered by kissing him back just as intensely.
A knock at the bedroom door made us stop and look up.
Eve stood there—in a black lace negligee. She looked hot.
I guess she wanted her husband back, and I couldn't blame her one bit.
“Is there room for one more?” she asked with a sexy little smile. Her blonde hair flowed down over her shoulders, but her breasts were still very visible through the gorgeous lace.
“There's always room for one more. You know that,” Stefan said and moved over closer to me.
Eve and her curvy body walked around to Stefan's side of the bed. She smiled at him. “Hi,” she said. Stefan reached over and grabbed her hand. And tugged.
She playfully tumbled onto the bed—but mostly onto him. They laughed and kissed each other.
Seeing Eve kiss my husband in the kitchen had been one thing. But seeing her kiss him now—in bed, while he was naked under the covers, and she was wearing a seductive negligee—was something else.
“Francesca.” Nick's hand slowly rubbed up and down my arm.
I tore my eyes off Eve and Stefan and looked at him.
“The only thing that will ruin this,” he motioned with his hand, “is jealousy. It can occasionally creep in from time to time. But it’s how we deal with it that matters.
I love my wife, and she's my partner in life. My most important relationship. Just as you and Stefan are to each other. And Giselle and Carlo are the same.”
His hand brushed a lock of hair over my shoulder.
“But we all love one another as well. These men are my brothers—even though I don’t share the same parents.
Nothing could make us more like family. I would die for them.
And I know they would do the same for me.
” His hand wandered down my arm and grasped my hand.
“I trust them with my life. But even more—I trust them with my wife.
I know they'll take care of her and treat her like their own. Because she—is—theirs, too. She belongs to them. And being able to share the love we have for each other only makes our love stronger.”
I gazed over at my husband and Eve. She was lying on his chest as he held her.
It was stupid.
But it hadn't clicked until that moment.
But—
Of course, Stefan would do more than just—kiss—Eve and Giselle.
Oh, my gosh.
What was I thinking?
Well, I hadn't been.
Maybe it was my brain's way of avoiding this whole thing.
I looked at my husband. “How long have you been—” I swallowed and went on, “sleeping with each other?”
Nick answered for him, “I shared Eve with him right from the beginning.”
Eve nodded and touched Stefan's chest. “It was a shock to me at first. I didn't really understand. But as time went on—” she shrugged, “and things evolved, I grew to love this lifestyle.
And Nick's right. Our love has only grown because of it.
Yes, we've experienced some pretty big bumps in the road.” She pushed up and gazed into Stefan's eyes.
Her hand lovingly touched his face. “But it all worked out in the end. Because real love is worth fighting for.” She leaned down and kissed him softly.
“There are rules,” Nick said, and I looked back at him.
“To avoid any problems.” I didn't have to wait for him to explain.
“For example, kissing and touching are always allowed.
But anything more—must be agreed on beforehand.
No one takes liberties with anyone's partner without prior discussion and consent from all parties.”
I frowned and thought about that for a moment. “So, it's not just one big orgie, all the time?”
Everyone—except me—burst into laughter. The entire bed shook from them.
“I dislike that word. But yes, sometimes it's a bit of a free for all. But no, we do have our rules. And stick by those rules.”
Hmm. A question popped into my mind. So, I asked it. “Have any of you—not—played by the rules?”
Eve sighed and nodded. “Yeah. But Giselle and I didn't know we screwed up.
Until we screwed up. She and I are lovers, too.
But, like Nick said, that love evolved over time.
We weren't always sexual with each other. Until—we were. And the men walked in on us.” She looked over at her husband with remorse written all over her face.
“And they set us straight on what was allowed and what wasn't.”
I frowned and had another thought. “So—they didn't want you two to be lovers?”
Nick chuckled and shook his head. “To be clear—we were overjoyed that Eve and Giselle discovered a deeper physical love for each other. But that relationship counts the same as the others. If my wife wants to have sex with Giselle—it needs to be arranged ahead of time. With me. And with Carlo.”
Something else popped into my brain. “And what if you don't want Eve to sleep with Giselle?”
Nick looked at me and asked, “Ever? Or just at the time of asking?”
I shrugged. “Um, either?”
He let out a long breath. Then he brought my hand to his mouth and kissed it. “Francesca, I want my wife to experience and express the love she shares with Giselle. If I didn't want that, then none of this would work. Feeling insecure about my wife being with Giselle, or Carlo, or Stefan—”
Yeah.
He'd just confirmed it for me. If I hadn't understood it before.
Stefan had definitely slept with both of these women.
Regularly.
For years.
“Well, then that would mean I'd have to do some real soul-searching. And think about whether this lifestyle was still working for me or not. Letting things go and trying to sweep those feelings under the rug would only create resentment. And then everything we share would fall apart.”
He smiled and added, “But, if Giselle, Stefan, or Carlo ask to be with Eve—but I want to keep her to myself that night,” his grin grew, “then I tell them that. And they listen.”
Hmm.
I wondered about something else. “And do you ever—refuse them?”
Nick nodded. “Yes. Many times. And there are no hard feelings. On either side. We have to be all in. Or it doesn't work.”
Eve spoke next, reaching over to touch my arm, “It's a lot to take in.
I can't even imagine being you—coming into all this.
But I'm also happy for you. That you get to join our family.
And the love we've worked on building. We're excited to have you.
And if you have any questions or something feels—off—then please talk to one of us about it.
We've all gone through the entire gamut of emotions over this. Trust me.” She gazed down at Stefan and touched his handsome face.
“But each time we choose each other—” her voice cracked with emotion, “it only makes us stronger in the end.”
Stefan gave her a sad smile and nodded. “Definitely.” Then his hand slid into her hair, and he pulled her down for a kiss. A deep, sexy kiss.
“How does it feel to see your husband kiss my wife?” Nick asked in a low voice.
I watched them essentially make out in front of me. And when Stefan's hand slid up and covered Eve's huge breast—I actually gasped.
Nick's hand moved up my arm—and then over to my breast.
“Answer me, Francesca, please. Tell me how you're feeling as you watch your husband kiss and touch another woman.”
I lay there and watched Stefan and Eve devour each other's mouths. Stefan's thumb brushed over Eve's nipple, and she moaned.
Nick's thumb did the same to mine.
And it felt—good.
“Um, I don't know. Weird, I guess.”
Nick agreed and said, “It is. At first. Because of the societal norms we're taught.
One man. One woman. But that's all very limiting.
As you've experienced, the last couple of evenings—opening up your mind and your heart can let in wonderful things. What if we do everything those two do? At the same time?”
I looked back at Nick, my mouth open. “What?” I asked, wondering if I'd heard him correctly. He wanted us to do everything Stefan and Eve were doing? At the same time?
Eve broke their kiss and turned her head toward us.
“That sounds so hot.” Her pretty lips were puffy from their kissing.
Stefan's hand was still on her breast. “Straddle Nick. Like this.” She slid her leg over my husband and sat on top of him.
I'd bet he was already hard. I mean, he had a gorgeous woman on top of him.
“Francesca, please?” She raised her eyebrows.
“If you start to get too weirded out, we can stop. Okay? I promise.” She reached down between us and grabbed my hand.
“This is going to be so good, though. I know it is.
I've been waiting so long for this.” Eve's tone and words were so genuine.
And the way she looked at me with her pleading eyes tugged at my heart.
“All of us can make this good for you. Really good. Great, even.”
Stefan's hand landed on my thigh. “She's right, Chesca. We'll make this fucking incredible for you. And for us.” He squeezed my thigh. “Eve's right. If you want things to stop at any time. We stop.”
I stared into my husband's eyes and asked, “But you want this? Right?”
He gave me a sweet, soft smile. “Yes, I want this. Very badly. I want to watch you with my friend. While you watch me with yours.”