"Is the cabin furnished?" Marcy asked.
"It was when we were there," Jessica said. "So I think so."
Marcy tapped a finger against her lips. "The cabin is small."
"Yes," I said. "And there's no garage. But it's an amazing lot, and we can expand. I want a garage first, and I want enough space to have guests."
"The last time I was there, the dock was not in the water. Do they even have a dock that comes with the property?"
"Yes," I said. "Or something that looked like one, rolled up on shore."
Marcy pursed her lips. "I do not want Jon slaving away on your cabin all the time when we go up. He is going up to relax and slave away on our cabin." She smiled.
"Marcy, we don't want him to slave away," Jessica said. "We'll do the work. We just don't know how to do it all. We'd want him to be our foreman, I guess, and help us for those things that require his muscles. I won't ask for more than that."
"And my father will also help," I said.
"If the well breaks, you will fix it yourself or hire a plumber," Marcy said. "Jon hates plumbing and it ruins his mood for hours afterwards."
"You're saying yes?" Jessica asked.
"Jon, I presume you will let them use the pontoon boat when we're not using it ourselves."
"Actually, Marcy..." he said to her.
"Oh hell, you want to make another one." She was smiling at him, and it was a smile filled with love.
"I have some ideas I wanted to try. Is it okay if I give them our old one?"
"Yes, as long as we may use it until your new one is done."
"We can buy it," Jessica said. "And I'd absolutely love it. I love that boat."
"No," Marcy said. "Housewarming gift. Or cabin warming gift." She smiled warmly at Jessica. "I would have fought you about this when with your earlier girlfriends, Jessica. I did not care for them one bit, and I didn't want them around my children. But this one I like." She smiled at me. "You may use the cabin. I'll give you the key before you go. I hope you'll stay the weekend with us."
"Marcy, thank you," Jessica said, smiling.
"I do not want you using the ski boat," she said. She turned to me. "Do you water ski?"
"I've been once."
"If you like, we'll teach you when we get up there. Jessica is a very good skier, Dawn is learning, and Laura is upset we haven't let her try it yet."
"How about you?" I asked her.
"I have been water skiing since I was four," she replied.
We talked for just a few more minutes before Marcy said, "It's a long drive. I'll get the key. Jessica, please don't get the girls all worked up before you go."
We all got up. I started helping to clear the table.
"No, no," she said. "I have a particular way I like it done. I know it's weird." She looked at both of us. "I expect you both to pack bathrobes if you intend to stay the weekend."
"Oh hell," Jessica said. "I didn't hang it up properly? I'm sorry, Marcy, but-"
"Jade already explained. It's fine."
Marcy led the way into the house, Jon taking the rear. Jessica went to find the girls and say goodnight. Marcy disappeared to collect the cabin key. This left me with Jon.
"Wow," I said to him.
"Marcy is amazing. She and Jessica are so much alike. That may be why I love her so much. Do you have any idea what you're getting into?"
"No."
He laughed.
"Jon, Jessica thinks Marcy hates her."
He sighed. "I know. She doesn't. But I can't get the two of them to just talk honestly with each other."
"Was she just playing nice in front of me?"
"No. You got a pretty good view of what she's like."
Marcy appeared with the key to the cabin. "Jessica knows all the normal things," Marcy said. "The well is still turned on. You only need to open the supply to the house. If either of you know how, check the LP tank. It was supposed to be filled this week. If not, I want to call the supplier and yell at him to fill it by Friday."
"LP tank?"
She smiled. "It's the big silver tank in the back yard. Call tomorrow during the daylight and I'll explain how to check it."
"I have so much to learn."
"We'll help with that," Marcy promised. "And Jessica knows a lot already."
Jessica reappeared.
"You didn't get them worked up, did you?" Marcy asked her sternly.
"Maybe a little, but that's just from walking in. I'm sorry."
Marcy looked at her for a moment. "I expect you to be discrete in front of the girls. If you have anything to get out of your systems, please finish it by mid-afternoon on Friday."
"We won't be staying, Marcy," Jessica said quietly.
"Yes, we will," I said. "I am looking forward to it. Don't worry, Marcy, you won't have any strange activities to explain to the girls."
"Jessica, the last time you were up with us with one of your girlfriends, I had to explain the contents of the nightstand. I did not appreciate the conversation."
"They snooped?" she asked.
"You should be used to little girls snooping through your toys," I told her with a grin. I turned to Marcy. "Don't worry. I will personally guarantee there is nothing for the girls to find that you will have a difficult time explaining." I considered the implications. "We'll have to think about a solution for our own cabin. I do presume you will allow the girls to visit us."
"Of course," she said. "And thank you for understanding."
After that, Marcy and Jon ushered us to the front door. Jon tried to shake my hand, but I hugged him. Then I hugged Marcy. She was surprised, but she hugged me back. Jon and Jessica hugged too, but Jessica didn't hug Marcy. The two of them really needed a straight conversation with each other.
We got in the car and drove to my place. We'd gotten a block before Jessica said, "Man, she is such a homophobe."
I sighed. "No, she's not."
"Of course she is. You heard her lecture us."
"I heard her ask us not to expose her five and seven-year-old daughters to adult situations. If I were a guy, I can't imagine she would want you having sex with me in front of the girls, either."
Jessica didn't respond to that. I waited two more blocks and told her, "I liked your brother. He's quiet."
"Only around Marcy. He'll talk your ear off without her."
"Well, I liked him. I liked her, too."
"You better be on my side, not hers!"
"Hey," I said, reaching over and setting my hand on her leg. "Of course I'm on your side. But I'd rather all four of us were on the same side. Okay?"
She glanced over at me. "She intentionally embarrassed me in front of you, Jade."
"No, she didn't. She was telling me the rules and why. Who left the toy where a child could find it?"
"That was Eliza," she said. "She brought it. I didn't know she had it until she told me to look in the nightstand."
"A vibrator?"
"Worse. A dildo."
"And you wonder why Marcy might have been unhappy her seven-year-old found it?"
"She was six at the time," Jessica said. "And I see your point."
We rode quietly for a minute. "It's kind of funny though," I said.
"What is?"
"What sort of story do you think Marcy came up with?"
Jessica began to grin.
"I couldn't have come up with a story on short notice, and I sure wouldn't have told the truth." I thought about it. "Hell, I can't come up with a story now. I have no idea what I could have said. Now I'm going to have to ask her about it this weekend sometime when I'm alone with her."
Jessica began to giggle. "Marcy the prude explaining a dildo to a six-year-old. Okay, you're right, that's funny."
"I don't think she's a prude, Jessica. I think she's very controlling, but that makes her a lot like you. And I think she's trying to raise her kids right. But she likes the way you play with the girls."
"Why won't she let me babysit?"
; "You should ask her. If you don't, I'm going to."
"No."
"Yes."
"Jade, no. Stay out of it."
I didn't respond.
"I mean it, Jade. Stay out of it."
I thought about it.
"Jade!"
"Jessica," I said calmly. "I won't go out of my way to bring it up. But if it comes up naturally, I am going to use my own judgment. You will either trust me or you won't. If you want my trust, then you have to give me some in return."
We arrived at my house. Jessica was quiet, but as soon as we were in the door I turned to her. "Please kiss me, Jessica."
She turned away.
"No, do not do this. Kiss me and let me know you want me."
"Of course I want you!" But she wasn't facing me.
"Then why aren't you kissing me?"
She turned to me. "I am the dominant one in this relationship, Jade."
"I have a brain and will not stop using it," I replied. "Although you did a good job shutting it off earlier tonight. Please kiss me. I need to feel you."
She stepped closer and pulled me into her arms. "Mine."
"Yes, Jessica. Yours. Please kiss me."
She did.
She tried to do more. "We could drive up in the morning," she said.
"No. We're driving up tonight."
"I bet I can change your mind," she suggested.
"Jessica, I will let you do anything you want to me when we get up there. But if you bring any toys more incriminating than scarves, you must have a plan for the kids to not find them."
"Anything?"
"Anything."
"You have three minutes to pack."
I laughed. "We have to call Karen first and tell her we're making an offer." I still had Karen's information in my phone. I retrieved the phone from the purse and called her number.
"Karen Carlson," she said.
"Karen, it's Jade Hampton."
"Hello, Jade. How are you doing?"
"Very well," I said. "Jessica and I would like to make an offer on the Benson place. Tell me it hasn't sold."
"It hasn't sold."
"We're driving up tonight. It will be late. We would like to make the offer first thing in the morning. Will you be available?"
"Yes. I'm so happy! It's a beautiful cabin, and I'm glad it will go to two people who loved it as much as you two did. Is nine AM good, or would you like later?"
"Nine is perfect, Karen."
"Bring identification and a checkbook," she said. "You will need to write a check for the earnest money."
"We'll see you in the morning, Karen."
I hung up. "We're on."
Jessica was grinning broadly.
* * *
At her house, Jessica wouldn't let me help pack. Instead she gave me her car keys and directions to the grocery store. "Go buy whatever you think we'll need until at least Friday morning. Remember to get ice for the cooler and things to eat and drink in the car."
When I got back, she was waiting for me. We carried the groceries in, piled things into the cooler as necessary, and carried everything back to the car. It was after eight before we were on the road.
* * *
"We're really doing this," she said, shortly after we got on the road.
"Jessica, you will never assume you know what I am thinking again. Do you understand me?"
"Yes, Jade. I'm sorry."
"Yes, we're really doing this. What are you going to do to me tonight?"
"Oh honey, you are going to be walking funny tomorrow."
I laughed.
"I'm serious," she said.
We spent the rest of the trip talking about the cabin. Once we were out of town she asked, "Can you drive?"
"Of course. Tired?"
"I want to drive after Mille Lacs," she said. "But I'll be fatigued if I drive the whole way. Long, intense day."
She pulled over and we switched drivers.
"We'll stop at the same gas station. Can you handle it that far?"
"Of course."
We began planning what we would do with the cabin. "Is Jon really giving us a boat?"
"We should pay for it," Jessica said.
"We should offer again," I said. "But it is rude to turn away a gift." I drummed my fingers on the steering wheel. "Honey, I may deal better with Marcy than you do."
I caught her glancing at me.
"Will you trust my judgment?"
"I'll try."
"I will talk to Marcy in private about the boat, and we will do whatever she and I agree. All right?"
"All right," she said.
"So," she said. "Basics. We need to make sure it's equipped. Kitchen stocked. Dock is in good condition. Wood for the fireplace. Have Jon and your father help determine any necessary maintenance." I glanced over to see her staring into space, then from the corner of my eye, I saw her turn to me. "We should make a list."
"Paper in my computer bag," I told her.
She reached behind her and fumbled for a while, finally retrieving the paper.
"Fishing poles and stuff," I said.
"Water toys."
"A safe chest for adult toys."
She laughed. "With a lock."
"How much do you know about things like the heating system?"
"You turn it on with the thing on the wall," she replied.
"Marcy said something about a tank. A big silver thing out in the yard. It's filled with gasoline?"
"No. Propane. For the furnace."
"I don't remember one at our cabin."
We talked about that for a while and agreed we didn't know enough.
"There was a shed," she said. "I wonder what is in it."
"It's in bad shape," I told her. "I want to build a garage and get rid of the shed."
"And we want two more bedrooms."
"I'd like a TV room separate from the living room."
"Why?" she asked.
"So we can have adult conversations when the kids come over with their parents, and the kids want to watch television for a while."
"So expand for a TV room and two bedrooms."
"Right," I said. "And a second bathroom."
"With a shower for two."
"And a tub for two."
"This is getting expensive," she observed.
"Yes," I agreed. "We can do the expansion but rough in some of the rooms without finishing them."
"I want a ski boat and a non-powered boat. Canoe, kayaks, sailboat. Something like that."
"I have a canoe," I told her. "It's in my garage."
"Really?"
"It's a nice one. I take it to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area."
* * *
We traded drivers at the gas station. The fresh air felt nice. Jessica bought salty treats and diet sodas at the grocery store while I filled the car with gas. I spent the rest of the trip popping potato chips and peanuts into her mouth whenever she wanted. She would open her mouth like a baby bird, and I would pop something into it.
By the time we reached Marcy's cabin, we had all the plans for the cabin we didn't even own yet. I was so excited.
We carried everything into the cabin, opening windows for fresh air. Jessica took care of the water. I hung our clothes up. She also had a gym bag that was locked. I could only imagine what was in it. I left it on the bed.
She came upstairs. "Put your swimsuit on," she said.
"Midnight swim?"
"Midnight boat ride."
I smiled and changed into my swimsuit. She did too. We grabbed towels. She also grabbed her gym bag.
"Why are you bringing that?"
"Get your ass down to the boat, Jade."
I looked at her.
"We are partners when dealing with the rest of the world. And I will accept rules for how you wish to be treated. But within the relationship, you will do what I tell you. You understood this when you initiated the conversation today."
"Yes, Jessica. Getting my ass to the boat."
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"Good girl."
I wriggled my ass at her.
When we got down to the dock, the boat was on its lift. "Do we need one of these?"
"We'll talk to Jon," she said "Not everyone uses them, but there must be a reason for them." She lowered the boat into the water and ordered me aboard. She started the motor and untied us.
"Is this safe at night?"
"There are lights," she said.
She backed us away from the dock then got us headed into the middle of the lake. There were no other boats. It was after midnight and very quiet. We heard a loon cry, but nothing else. There was a sliver of a moon.
When we reached the middle of the lake, she shut off the motor.
"Come here," she ordered me.
I stood up and walked to her, She turned around in her chair and pulled me to her, wrapping her arms around me and kissing me. I opened for her tongue.
She tasted of salt and the taste I'd grown to recognize as Jessica's mouth. I loved that taste. By the time she broke the kiss, my heart was pounding again.
She kept her hands on my ass.
"I have a fantasy," she said.
"You have a lot of fantasies."
"I've never done this one."
"Why not?"
"Because it's special to me, and I wanted it with someone who is special."
I hugged her. "Yours," I said into her ear. "What do you want me to do?"
"Strip."
I pulled away and looked at her. "Here?" She nodded. "People can see!"
"Look around."
"Someone could boat past."
"We'll see them coming for five minutes, and you'll be below the level of the railing. They can't see you unless they're right next to us." Her tone became demanding. "Strip, Jade."
Slowly I slipped out of my swimsuit and stood in front of her, stark naked. I tried to cover myself.
"No," she said. "Hands on your head, Jade."
I raised my hands and laced my fingers together.
She began caressing me and teasing my nipples. "You are so beautiful, my lovely, lovely piece of Jade."
The night air wasn't cold, but she gave me goose bumps.
"Spread your towel there," she said, pointing. "And lie down on your back. Feet near the doorway to the front deck of the boat, head up this way.
I did what she said. She gave me her towel for under my head. Then she opened the gym bag. I couldn't see what was in it. The first thing she did was slip a blindfold over my eyes. It had some sort of complex buckle arrangement I didn't understand, but I realized it wasn't coming off.
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