by S M Mala
‘Don’t you? Does Mummy like to know who you play with?’ I say and glance at a stony faced Joan.
‘We’re late for supper,’ Joan stands up. ‘Do you want me to leave you for a moment to talk or can we safely say that you,’ she points to Hal, ‘will stop accusing me of spoiling your fun and you,’ now pointing to me, ‘will just get laid to stop you looking so miserable!’
‘I think I should talk to Belle alone,’ Hal says looking like a naughty school boy who has been told off by matron then he does his wicked look.
‘I’ll wait in the car,’ Joan sighs and looks at him.
‘Don’t wait. I’ll follow you.’
Joan looks like she’s going to combust as she glares at me full of anger.
‘Don’t bloody well be late,’ she grimaces and when she looks at me, it’s more fixed and I swear I hear a growl.
She marches out and slams the door while we both stand there looking at her.
‘You’ve been telling tales on me, have you? Just because I wouldn’t let you do it to me in your new bathroom? What a brat!’ I laugh and head for the fridge, pulling out a beer and opening it. ‘Want one?’
‘Yeah,’ he says smiling. ‘I never took you for hard to get.’
‘I won’t be dictated as to who and when I can sleep with. But that seems to be the norm in your relationship with granny.’ I hand the bottle over to him. ‘I get the impression I’m going to have to slot in when it suits you.’
‘Considering it?’ he says taking a slug from the bottle.
‘If it’s for sex then I haven’t got a problem,’ I brazenly reply knowing I’m wary of the whole thing. ‘You’re okay in the sack.’
‘I really like you,’ he says then smiles. ‘And I do love you a tiny little bit.’
‘You talk crap.’
‘I’m telling the truth,’ he says earnestly.
‘Are you capable of love?’
‘Of course I am.’
‘What do you want from me?’ His suit makes him look exceptionally sexy which is distracting me from my annoyance.
‘I like you,’ he says smiling and walking to me. ‘I actually really like you. You know Joan guessed I slept with you in Devon?’
‘No she didn’t. She was bloody angry and-.’
‘She told me to take your mind off things,’ he smiles.
‘What things?’
‘Oh?’ he says pondering for a while. ‘Josh.’
‘I don’t believe you for one moment. You’re trying to get me annoyed with her so I’ll drop my knickers.’
‘Shall we try again?’ he sweetly asks looking at my bandaged hand. ‘How did you cut it?’
‘Beth was being a pain in the backside very much like you.’
‘Just like her mum,’ Hal says and I see he’s on the charm offensive. ‘You know I’m not going to split up with Joan. We have this arrangement and it works for me.’
‘I know that woman and she won’t let something happen for nothing you know.’
‘Maybe you’re her greatest challenge?’ he says coming closer.
‘And what happens when you’re bored of me?’
‘We’ll figure that out. Can I kiss you?’ he politely asks.
‘Okay,’ I say.
I can safely say I have no idea what I’m doing.
He walks closer to me and there it is again, the shock of his scent makes my knickers wet instantly. I wonder if he has got some spray that makes women want to shag him?
He touches my lips and I feel his tongue slide in my mouth as I hold onto his waist.
‘Is Beth a good sleeper?’ he asks.
‘She usually sleeps well and I gave her some Medised, kid’s medicine, to help her.’
‘Shall we sit down?’ He’s smiling, that big old wide grin.
I sit down and he sinks to his knees in front of me and kisses me harder than before. I feel his hands are slowly searching for my breasts and I notice he is holding their full weight.
‘I’m still not convinced,’ I say gently pushing his hands away. ‘You’re up to something.’
‘What do you mean?’ he innocently says. ‘I’d like to be up you but you’re not letting me.’
‘Sometimes this sex talk doesn’t work for me, okay,’ I say as he kisses me gently. ’A bit of romance is good from time to time.’
Hal quickly takes off his jacket then slips his hand under my top and gently caresses my boobs before undoing my bra strap, letting them fall out. I mean seriously drop. I arch my back to get them to lift up.
He moves in closer and I feel his hands reaching for my hips and I let his tongue swallow me up. My hands are firmly gripping his shoulders and I know he wants to have sex, here and now.
‘Erm Hal,’ I say trying to extract my tongue.
‘Yes.’
‘The blind isn’t fully shut and someone could see us from outside,’ I say trying to see if anyone has been looking. They’d have to be a midget but you never know.
‘I don’t care. Were there any complaints after we did it on your kitchen table?’ he says and sticks his tongue back in my mouth. ‘Why don’t you ever wear a skirt?’
‘Because,’ I reply. ‘I’ve got hairy legs at the moment.’
‘You’ve always got hairy legs,’ he laughs.
‘No I haven’t.’
‘Well hairy armpits?’
‘Next time ring before you come, okay?’
Cheeky man to comment on my body hair!
‘Is there going to be a next time?’ he mumbles into my skin.
‘Convince me.’
I’m a wanton old slapper deep down.
I smile before he kisses me again and I can feel him tug my kickers and trousers off. I can’t help it but I keep glancing at the window but then I’m a little conscious that he’ll have to wring my knickers out as they’re sopping.
His hand goes straight for my snatch and I know what’s coming up next so I go for his fly, undoing quickly as humanely possible without removing his pubic hair.
We’re both looking at each other and he kisses me harder. Hal’s hands are now all over the place, touching and squeezing me, and I love it.
‘Is that okay,’ he says twiddling and poking my bits. I feel the surge building up in my groin.
‘Yes, faster,’ I say as this is like a rocket ripping up my fanny then I have to bite into his shoulder to stop me from giving my child an early heart attack if I scream.
‘Condom,’ I say and like clockwork his puts his hands in to his jacket and pulls out his wallet, condom inside. He puts it on and is constantly smiling at me.
With a quick force, he pushes in and I grab his shoulders. He’s moving slowly and trying to look into my eyes
‘This is nice,’ I say smiling at him while pushing my hands through his hair.
‘I like to relax this way,’ he says. ‘So how many times do we meet up?’
‘Depends on … oh.’ I’m getting hot. ‘All depends on Beth to be honest.’
‘God I forgot how you burn up,’ he says squeezing my breast. I look down and catch his piston movement. ‘Joan said she’d look after her if I need to see you.’
‘What happens if I don’t want to see you?’
‘You will,’ he smiles. He pushes my hair away from my face and kisses me before looking into my eyes and smiling. ‘I’m very close.’
Then he groans quietly into my hair.
I hold him in my arms for a moment.
‘That was fast,’ I say.
‘I was excited,’ he says kissing my neck and holding my thighs. ‘I’ll take my time next time.’
I look up and I see something move.
‘Oh my god,’ I say, quite startled and realising they’d be able to see a full view of Hal’s buttocks. ’Someone’s at the window.’
‘Don’t be silly,’ he says, pulling out and cleaning up. ‘Who’d want to watch us?’
I have an idea!
Sixteen
‘I thought it was best we were
out in the open to discuss this,’ Hal says looking at Joan then at me.
‘So you pick my favourite restaurant to have this meeting?’ she sighs then glances over. ‘You could have gone to Burger King if she’s involved.’
‘Be nice Joan,’ he says and taps her hand.
‘You’re very quiet, what’s going on in that little brain of yours?’ she snaps at me.
At this moment in time I’m not sure.
Here we are, the three of us, going to talk about the arrangements for seeing Hal.
It’s wrong.
‘Are you okay Belle?’ he asks gently and smiles.
‘I’ve never done this before,’ I gulp before taking a big swig of my wine and wondering what I’ve got myself into.
‘Okay here’s the drill,’ she says leaning closer to me. ‘You can see him once a fortnight, preferably on a Thursday. I don’t want him sleeping round yours because of Beth so you’ll have to go to some cheap hotel.’
‘I see,’ I reply and look at Hal who’s shaking his head.
‘That’s not what I want,’ he says to Joan then looks at me. ‘I’d like to see you every Thursday round my home, if you’d like?’
‘No!’ snaps Joan. ‘That’s too much. You never usually go for a weekly thing!’ She looks seriously put out by his suggestion.
‘Sometimes I’m not in the country so it may be a month before I see her.’
‘I think that’s a better option, once a month,’ Joan says with her cat’s bum face.
‘I’m sorry,’ I pipe up. ‘I have child to look after so I have to-.’
‘Joan can look after her,’ Hal announces brightly. ’Then at least we know no harm will come to Beth.’
‘I bloody well won’t. I’ll be out doing my own thing,’ she defiantly replies.
‘Or spying on me?’ he gently says and she looks really guilty at his comment.
‘Do you spy on him?’ I ask knowing full well she was playing peeping tom when I was getting frisky with Hal in my living room the other week.
‘Don’t be stupid,’ she says venomously.
‘I didn’t suggest this arrangement you know, so I don’t know why you’re being hostile to me,’ I say defensively.
‘You bring out the bitch in me.’
‘Doesn’t take much then,’ I snipe and see Hal smiling at the pair of us.
‘I also need to lay some ground rules, ladies,’ he gently says pulling his chair slightly away from the table.
‘What do you mean? You never have rules,’ Joan indignantly replies.
‘This isn’t a normal situation so I have to state a few things,’ Hal calmly says. ‘The pair of you are not to discuss or compare notes? Do you hear me?’
‘Don’t be gross,’ I say turning up my nose at Joan.
‘I mean it,’ he seriously says. ‘If I find out that you are in cahoots with each other then we’re finished.’
‘Okay,’ I say and see he’s not joking then I notice Joan grinning broadly at me.
‘And that goes for you too, Joan,’ he says turning to look at her and I notice she goes completely ashen.
‘We have Beth in common so we’re going to have to talk about you a little,’ I say. ‘Beth is going to want to know why we’re both your friends.’
‘Make something up,’ he says sitting back on his chair and looks at me with a grin.
‘I’ll say I’m catering for you that night,’ I brightly say.
‘That’s my girl,’ Hal replies and strokes my face.
Bad move.
She’s glaring at me.
‘And no public displays of affection in front of me or anywhere,’ Joan snaps and stares at Hal. ‘I can take so much but her slobbering all over you might ruin our perfectly healthy sex life.’
This is happening. I’m going to start seeing the mother in law’s lover with her permission on a set day.
This is so screwed up.
I’m walking down the road with Hal, near where he lives and he’s smiling at me. It’s Thursday so I know we have the evening and night together but he managed to free up the afternoon and wanted to take a walk. He doesn’t hold my hand and, after six weeks, I see he is certainly abiding by Joan’s rules. I don’t mind as it is lovely being with him
Except for one problem.
Women keep eyeing the son of a bitch up and he likes it. The only men eyeing me are of pension able age or have been kicked out of the pub.
I’m not the jealous type, well not much, but it’s a little off putting. He is really handsome and you’d never guess we see each other occasionally but it does make me sympathise with Joan (just a tiny little bit) what she has had to put up with for all these years.
I don’t say anything. I smile and wonder who people think I am to him or, if indeed, they actually notice me at all.
‘Drink?’ he says turning to look into a pub.
‘Sure,’ I say seeing the place is full of wall to wall women. I take a deep breath and follow him in.
‘Hi Hal,’ this young thing says, walking up and kissing him on the cheek.
‘Hello,’ he replies, all open eyed and enthusiastic before engrossing himself in a conversation. I notice I am being blocked so I turn to the bar and order us a couple of drinks before finding a table in the garden.
I look around and wonder how many people he has slept with in here. I know it sounds petty and jealous but I expect there are a few.
I’m outside for 10 minutes before he emerges with the same young woman, laughing. They look like the perfect couple. What the hell is he doing with me?
Okay that’s a confidence thing going on which I’ll have to learn to deal with sooner than later. I must exude confidence, I must exude sexiness … I will exude gin from the pores of my skin the way I’m necking my drink.
‘Hey there,’ he says walking towards me and smiling brightly before sitting next to me and whispering, ‘why did you walk off?’
‘I could tell you didn’t want to introduce me.’
‘What’s there to say?’ he smiles and turns to face me.
Sometimes he’s really quite insensitive.
‘Who is she?’ I ask seeing her smile over at us.
‘The daughter of a friend.’
‘Is that your next stage to conquer, after the daughter in laws you move on to the daughters?’ I turn to look at him and he has a blank expression on his face.
‘Is that what you think?’
‘I don’t know what to think,’ I honestly reply. ‘I’m grateful I get my Thursday leg over.’
‘I’m pleased,’ he smiles and looks at me the way he does when we’re alone. ‘I do like you, you know that.’
‘I’m sure you do,’ I say and look at his beautiful green eyes.
‘How are you coping with the arrangement?’
‘Fine,’ I lie, knowing when I’m not with him I have pangs of anxiety realising he’s with Joan more than me.
‘It’s not difficult for you considering you’re into the long term thing?’ he whispers.
‘It’s a nice alternative while I’m waiting for my one true love,’ I smile seeing him pull an unconvinced face. ‘Or until you bin me.’
‘I’m happy,’ he says gently and touches my hand his little finger.
‘Stop!’ I say sharply. ‘No public display of affection just in case your lover’s got someone spying on us.’
‘I thought you didn’t want any displays of affection.’ Hal sits up and turns so he is looking at the side of my face.
‘Why do you think that?’
‘You never hold my hand or touch me when we’re out.’
‘You don’t touch me,’ I shrug. ‘We don’t go out much.’
‘Do you want me to take you out more?’
‘Not really,’ I reply. ‘You’d never be able to afford the bar bill.’
‘I’d like to buy you something,’ he announces.
‘I don’t need you to buy me anything,’ I say.
‘You really are so low main
tenance,’ he laughs out a little loudly. ‘You don’t mind that I don’t take you out, you come round when I want you to, you cook for me and tip toe out of my bed the next morning just in case you stay longer than you should.’
‘What’s wrong with that?’ Is he insulting me and I’m being a little too thick to realise? ‘I thought that would make me the ideal part time mistress?’ He’s still laughing. ‘Is there a problem?’
‘Is this what you’re like with men in general?’ he asks with a semi-serious face.
‘Are you trying to point out I’m going wrong somewhere?’ I suck the contents of my glass and then start pulling the lime apart.
‘I’m not criticising,’ he begins. ‘You’re lovely and you’re making my life heavenly. No quarrels, no demands with lots of fun and sex.’
‘But you’re not happy,’ I say feeling the same wobbly sensation I always have when I’m about to be chucked.
‘No I am happy but you should be more demanding and challenging when it comes to men. Don’t just lie there and roll over-.’
‘I don’t just lie there when we’re in bed,’ I reply insulted by the comment.
‘It’s an expression,’ he says looking at me. ‘I’m not talking about sex.’
‘I don’t know what you’re getting at,’ I whine. I’m not taking this well.
‘I knew I shouldn’t have said anything,’ he says now turning around and looking out onto the garden. ‘If you have a better opinion of yourself and more confidence then people wouldn’t mess with your feelings.’
‘They don’t,’ I lie. ‘Do you want another drink?’
‘I’ll get these,’ he says and walks to the bar.
Now I know I have a relatively pissed off expression on my face but I’m doing everything to facilitate this guy so he doesn’t turn around and suddenly dump me. My plan was to be easy going compared to the uptight mother in law and he’d appreciate it more. I’m obviously using the wrong tactics.
He returns and sits next to me then grabs my hands.
‘I am first and foremost, your friend,’ he says. ‘What I say is to help you in the future, build your confidence and self-esteem.’
‘Fine,’ I say unable to release my hands from his as I look around. ‘You shouldn’t be doing this.’