Friends with Benefits

by Anne Lange

  “Thanks for the dip, but I’d better get back to work now.” He grabbed his jeans, pulled them on over his underwear, and sauntered away.

  She hadn’t uttered a word throughout the entire show. She couldn’t. All she could picture were those wet briefs hugging his tight rear end.

  With a whimper of frustration, and desperate to ease the ache between her thighs, Angela let her eyes drift closed as she slipped beneath the chilled water.

  * * *

  Connor smiled to himself. Judging from the way Angela had tried her best to escape him in the pool, all the while sporting the most fascinating shade of red-toned skin; she definitely found him attractive. Even before she got into the water, her hard little nipples poked against her top, giving her away.

  Tyler had instructed him to push her. He enjoyed flirting. If only Cindy would stop pestering him. Couldn’t the woman take a fucking hint? Damn it. She’d come close to spoiling his mood today, but the dip in the pool and playing with Angela had worked to release the tension that built every time his ex intruded on his life.

  His gaze moved over to the house. There was work to be done. God knew if he didn’t get it finished this weekend Angela would never see it built. And if any chance existed for him to spend some time here this summer, this tiny alcove would be put to good use.

  Connor labored hard through the afternoon placing the boards onto the deck’s frame, piecing the white pine together like a big puzzle to create an intricate design. While he worked, he considered his next move. The pool seemed an ideal location for a more purposeful encounter. Thinking about the possibilities aroused him.

  He wondered what Tyler got out of this. Sure, fulfilling a person’s secret desires had its benefits, and sharing had been fun in the past, but this was the man’s wife. What exactly was his end goal here?

  Connor finished the day a few boards short. He could pick them up tonight, finish that piece in no time first thing in the morning and then start on the fencing. This was the best sort of job—when somebody else did most of the hard work, and he just had to bring it home.

  After cleaning up his work area, he walked over to see Angela. Sitting by the pool, with her eyes closed, she appeared relaxed, perhaps sleeping, so he took the opportunity to check her out.

  Without a doubt, she’d stand out in a crowd. Lying there, her body covered in a sheen of perspiration, he fought the urge to kneel next to her, to run his tongue up and down her stomach, licking the salty wetness off in luxurious strokes.

  She must have been out for a while. Her skin glowed with a light pink highlight from the sun. Her breasts filled her bikini top near to bursting, and her legs stretched out long and shapely along the yellow floral print cushion. She had a nice figure and silky-looking hair. Despite the sun shining down, she bore a carefree expression. What thoughts floated about in her head to put that little smile on her face?

  He adjusted his erection behind the zipper of his jeans, and cleared his throat.

  “Angela?”

  Her eyes popped open. She jumped up, knocking her book to the ground. She bent over to pick it up, and Connor leaned down to retrieve it at the same time. They bumped heads.

  “Ouch. Sorry.” She rubbed her forehead.

  “No, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to startle you. You okay?” He squatted to look her in the eye. He reached out a hand, nudged hers aside, and rubbed his fingers over the softness of her forehead. “You looked so peaceful. I hated waking you, but I wanted to let you know I’m finished for today.”

  “I’m okay.” Her eyes locked on his, widened a fraction. Her nostrils flared.

  “I’m ready to head home, but I’ll be back early tomorrow. Before I leave though, I need to know what your plans are for the privacy fence.” Even to his own ears, his voice sounded husky.

  “It’s no problem. I didn’t hear you come over.” She broke the connection and moved to stand. He let his arm fall away and stepped back. When she took the lead and wandered over to the work area, he followed behind, urging his cock to settle down while he watched the luscious cheeks of her ass swing back and forth in front of him.

  “This looks fantastic, Connor. My husband will be so happy. You can certainly get lots done without the added distractions of a wife or kids to slow you down.” She peered up at him, her face bright red. “Sorry. I’m assuming you don’t have a family. I didn’t think to ask if I’m intruding on your personal time with anybody.”

  “Not to worry.” He forced a laugh, back in control of his body’s reactions, somewhat. “No wife. No kids. I’ve been focusing on my career.” He gazed down at her. “It appears that you don’t have a husband either…at least for the weekend.”

  She flushed a brilliant red and changed the subject. “So…the privacy fence. I think we wanted it to run across the back and up the side to about here. We want to block unwanted eyes from seeing us in the tub.” As she spoke, she walked around the deck. “Nothing too fancy. I think board on board, with lattice on top.”

  Connor nodded in understanding, then bent down and picked up his toolbox. When he spoke with Tyler tonight, he’d double check with him.

  “Sounds good, and that’s easy enough. I’ll see you tomorrow morning then. Maybe you’ll have coffee waiting for me when I get here?” he hinted, before making his exit, adjusting his jeans once more.

  Chapter Five

  Tyler dialed his home number and listened to the phone ring four times before Angela answered.

  “Hello?”

  “Hey, baby. How was your day?” He was anxious to find out her thoughts about Connor, but he controlled the urge to broach the subject so soon.

  “Good. How about yours? How’s your mom?”

  “She’s fine. She says hi. I took her out for dinner tonight. As expected, she wouldn’t let me pay. Oh, and she’s finagling for grandbabies. Again.” For the last three years, this particular topic had been a constant theme for both their mothers. Although he and Angela did plan to add to the family headcount, they were in no hurry. Their parents had two grandchildren each already.

  Tyler’s mother puttered around her kitchen in the background. The tinkle of cutlery knocking against glassware echoed down the hallway. From his perch on the spare room bed, he leaned over to push the door closed so she wouldn’t hear anything he said. He’d be scolded if she discovered what he was up to. For extra measure, he stood and walked over to look out the window while he continued the conversation with his wife.

  He picked up on Angela’s sigh over the phone line. “I’m not ready for a baby yet, Tyler. I want to get settled in this house first.”

  “You and me both, hon.” Eager to find out about her meeting with Connor, he turned away from the view of a small pond and a walking path in the park across the way. He’d been watching a young couple pushing a stroller. “So, what did you do today?”

  “Oh, you know. Some work. Then I sat out by the pool. Read some.”

  He’d have to dig harder. “Anybody call?”

  “Nope.” Crap.

  “But…”

  He perked up. “But what?”

  “We do have a new resident on the street.”

  “Cool. Anybody interesting?”

  “A man, about your age. He came by to introduce himself today.”

  Tyler grinned. “What’s he like?”

  “Oh, you know…tall, kind of good-looking.”

  Kind of good-looking? Tyler knew his wife would be no different from all the other women who flocked to Connor in school. “Did you talk to him for long?”

  “Yeah, a while. He’s single, does carpentry.”

  “Really? Maybe I could get him to help me with some stuff around the house.”

  “Um, yeah. That might be a good idea.” Tyler smiled, picturing her struggle for words. “I think he might be interested. I could ask him. I guess.”

  “You know honey, if he’s single, and handsome, maybe we could…?” He tested the water. If the rest of this conversation went well, he’
d give his friend the green light.

  “We could what?” He detected a hitch in her breathing.

  “We could invite him to play with us.”

  “You mean—”

  “That’s exactly what I mean. Why don’t you flirt with him a little, see if he’s interested?” No response came through the phone though he could hear each breath she took.

  “But—”

  “Angela, honey, I think this would be the perfect opportunity to indulge in your stranger fantasy.”

  He listened to her breathing for what felt like full minute. “How far?”

  “As far as you want. Flirt with him. Play around if you’re comfortable with it.” He paused. “And, if you want to have sex with him, I think maybe you should. I only wish I could be there to watch.”

  She gasped. “I can’t…but…you don’t even know this man.”

  “Angela, I trust you.”

  “Did you set this up, Tyler?”

  Shit, he needed to dial down his eagerness, or she’d catch on. “Go with your gut and your desire, honey. You can tell me all about it over the phone afterward.” The idea of a play-by-play excited him.

  “I don’t think I can do it without you here.”

  Her whisper spoke to his heart. She wanted to do it, but nerves and guilt held his wife back from taking what she wanted, what he offered to give her.

  “Are you attracted to him, Angela?” Silence filled the line. “Honey, you still there?” He could hear tiny inhalations, and then a slight gasp.

  “Yes. And…yes.”

  “Baby, I’m giving you a green light here to have some fun. I trust you. I’ve told you before I’d do anything to make your fantasies come true, sweetheart.”

  “I don’t know.”

  “If you’d prefer to wait until I get home, that’s fine. I’m not going to push you into anything. I’ll be back late Sunday afternoon. Invite him to dinner. We’ll go from there.”

  “OK.”

  “But promise me something? If the situation presents itself, and you’re interested, I want you to consider going for it.”

  “I’m not sure.”

  “Promise me. I don’t want you to miss out on this chance to fulfill one of your secret wishes. I’ll be thinking about you as if I’m right there with you. Just pretend I set this whole trip up for you.”

  “Maybe.”

  He shook his head. She still hesitated. “I’ll call you tomorrow night, see how your day went.”

  “I love you, Tyler.”

  “I love you too, baby. Good night.” He disconnected the call. Poor Angela. He sensed her doubt mingling with her curiosity. If need be, when he talked to her tomorrow, he’d tell her all about Connor. That would destroy the opportunity for the spontaneous stranger scenario, but she’d feel more comfortable about it.

  One down. Now he’d let Connor know the game was on. Tyler speed dialed his friend, his toe tapping while he waited. He turned at a knock on the bedroom door.

  “Dear, I’ve cleaned up the kitchen, and I’m heading to bed now. I’ll see you in the morning. His mother nodded toward the phone. “Tell Angela I said hello. And, I hope to see her soon.”

  “I did. ‘Night, Mom.” He watched his mother back out, closing the door behind her. After almost thirty-five years of marriage, her skin still glowed, her eye sparkled, and she always smiled. He wanted to see that same look on his wife’s face when their thirty-five years rolled around. The love and respect his parents gave each other, and in turn showered on him and his younger sister, surpassed that of a conventional relationship. That’s what he wanted Angela and their children to have.

  “Hello?” Connor’s deep voice echoed in his ear.

  “Hey, man. How’s it going? Got my deck built yet?” Although he teased, Tyler knew he’d end up with a fabulous outdoor area. Connor was nothing if not a perfectionist when it came to his work.

  “I got a good start on it. Should be finished before you get home.”

  “I’m looking forward to a few private hot tub parties.”

  Connor’s strained chuckle rumbled over the telephone line. “Tub parties, pool parties, you’ve got a great setup here.”

  “You okay, Connor?”

  His friend sighed. “Yeah. Just got off the phone with Cindy, again.”

  Tyler winced. “I thought you weren’t in touch with her?”

  “I’m not. She’s the one who keeps calling me.”

  “Have you considered changing your number?”

  “Yeah, but it’s my business phone. I can’t do that.”

  “What does she want?” Did she want back in his life? That relationship had been toxic for his friend. Connor needed to keep his distance from the woman.

  “What she can’t have. Look, I don’t want to discuss my problems.”

  “Connor, if you need to talk about it, or if she’s causing trouble, let me help.”

  “Not your problem, Tyler. I can deal with her.”

  Tyler sensed a need to change the subject. “I just got off the phone with Angela.”

  “And how’s your wife?

  “Interested.”

  “You sure?”

  “Definitely. She’s not ready to admit it though. I had to go by her hesitation and heavy breathing, but she’s eager to play.”

  “She’s great, Ty. You’re a very lucky man.” Connor’s voice had lowered, became solemn.

  “I know I am.”

  “Are you sure this is what you want?”

  “I want to make my wife happy.”

  “And what about you? What will make you happy?”

  Tyler paused, not prepared to divulge his own interests at this point. He needed their connection established first. “I get to enjoy my wife’s pleasure.”

  “Even if that includes watching another man fuck her?”

  “We’ve done this before, Connor.”

  “But neither of us was serious about the woman before. This time is different, and you know it.”

  Yes, it was, and he did. “I’m good with this, Connor. More than.” The time had come to push things along. “I want you to do some serious flirting tomorrow. Get her to open up and try something with you. If she goes all out, great. If she just tests the waters, that’s fine. But unless I miss my guess, by the time I get home, I’ll have a completed deck and a satisfied wife.”

  The thought of walking in on Angela and Connor, of catching her unaware and caught up in the moment, watching her come…Fuck. His cock hardened like a spike.

  “Whatever you say. I’m your man.”

  “That you are my friend. That you are. Listen, I’m going to check in with her again tomorrow night. I’ll wait until late to call so I don’t…interrupt anything.”

  “I’ll be over at your place first thing. We’ll see how the day goes.”

  “Perfect. Good luck.”

  They said their good-byes and disconnected.

  Tyler stood at the window, gazing out, seeing nothing. He swallowed. His stomach churned. If his plan didn’t come together, he’d live out the rest of his days with a woman he loved more than life itself. Not a single thing wrong with that. Most men would be happy with that alone. Could he be?

  He rubbed the edge of the phone along the bottom of his chin. This had to work. Connor Jones was the one man he trusted enough to consider for this role. For years, he’d thought about it. Yes, they’d shared women, but even his best friend didn’t know the truth about how he was raised. In school, it had been all about the sex. Some great, some mediocre, but still just sex.

  It wasn’t all about sex anymore. Long ago, Tyler had shelved his dream. Now the time had come to pull it off that shelf, dust it off, and see if dreams really could come true.

  * * *

  Saturday morning Angela awoke to the high-pitched sound of a screw gun drilling through deck boards. She jumped from the bed and ran downstairs, almost slipping on the bottom two steps when the leg of her lounge pants snagged her heel. She rushed to brew a p
ot of coffee.

  Whirling like a dervish, she raced back up the stairs, tugging off her cami and pants as she went. She showered, shaved her legs and then dressed in crisp white shorts and a light blue tank with her blue striped bikini underneath.

  She felt a little foolish putting more effort than normal into how she looked. On any normal weekend, she didn’t worry about her hair and makeup just to sit outside by the pool. But hey, what woman didn’t go the extra effort when some good-looking guy might give her a little attention. And Tyler had encouraged her to flirt.

  Back in the kitchen, looking as presentable as possible, but without looking as though she wanted to make an impression, Angela moved across the tiled floor to the sliding glass door, a steaming cup of her favorite dark-roast coffee in each hand. She opened the door, ready to step out, when a wall of heat smacked her in the face. Already, the day was shaping up to be a scorcher.

  Head down, careful of where she stepped, Angela strode in the direction of the noise, looking up as she got to the edge of the new deck. She promptly tripped over her own two feet, damn near spilling hot coffee down the front of her pretty top. She managed to right herself before any real damage could be done. Connor appeared to be distracted, fighting with a screw. He didn’t seem to have heard or seen her clumsy approach and near miss.

  Holy mother of God. The man stood with his back to her, assembling the frame for the first privacy panel. In deference to the heat, he had shed most of his clothing. Today he wore a pair of frayed, cut-off denim shorts. They were so faded and soft looking. Her hands twitched to touch them, to rub her finger along the frayed edge.

  She tightened her grip on the mugs and dragged her eyes up to the top of his head, where he had tied his hair back from his face with a blue bandana. Given the span of his shoulders and his chiseled build, she had to wonder where he bought his shirts. His back narrowed down to a trim waist. And then there was that fabulous, perfectly shaped ass, supported by solid thighs. Not an ounce of unwanted fat to be seen anywhere.