“Let’s invite her back to our room when she gets off,” he said, placing his arm around the back of her chair.
“What will you be having tonight?” Kokila asked as she sidled up. She looked directly at Jenna.
“An Orgasm, for Jenna, please,” Jack said.
“What?” Jenna yelped.
“In the liquid form or otherwise,” Kokila said, still staring at Jenna.
“The drink,” she said, surprised at her own reaction.
“Red Stripe for me,” Jack said, laughing.
Kokila sashayed away to fetch their drinks while Jenna and Jack watched her without speaking. When she returned with the beer and cocktail, she inclined forward and whispered, “Does this mean a decision’s been made?”
“Oh … um … I—”
“I wasn’t kidding when I said you take my breath away. I get off at nine o’clock,” Kokila said, scanning the bar for new customers. She strode over to the man waving at her.
“That was so hot,” Jack said excitedly. “She really has it bad for you.”
“Stop drooling.” Jenna felt turned on but befuddled at the same time. Could I do this for Jack? she wondered. Pulling herself out of her thoughts, she asked, “How often do you think she does this sort of thing?”
“Does what?”
She leaned toward Jack and whispered, “Fools around with the guests.”
“Why don’t you ask her?”
“Yeah, okay,” Jenna said sarcastically, looking apprehensive.
“No, really, ask her. But I don’t think she’s into me,” he said. He glanced over at Jenna who stared at Kokila.
“We should definitely call it off then.”
“It’s not a problem for me,” he said. “As long as I can watch, that is.”
“You have to be able to watch because that’s the only reason I’m even considering this. For you, Jack.” She pulled her attention away from Kokila and faced him. “Don’t you feel like we’ve been here forever? So much has happened in such a short span of time.”
“Yeah. I’m glad we still have a few more days but I must admit I’m excited to get back and create. You and Kokila together were—”
“Did I hear my name?” she asked, sliding up in front of them. “How’s the drink?”
“Delicious.”
“You’re delicious,” Kokila mouthed quietly.
“I have a question for you,” Jenna said. She waited until the bar-back passed with a bin of ice. “How often do you do this?”
“I’m not sure what you’re asking. Are you asking me about my sexual orientation?” Kokila whispered, bending over so Jack could barely make out what she said.
“No, but I want to know that as well,” Jenna said as she stood. She hovered over the bar and whispered, “How often do you fraternize with the guests?”
“Never,” she said. “Well, at least not until now.”
“Never?” Jack and Jenna said simultaneously.
“I’ve been working here for five years,” Kokila said in her normal voice. “Never.”
“Oh,” Jenna said.
Jack furrowed his brow trying to figure out how he felt about her response.
“And the other question?” Jenna asked.
Kokila leaned over again and whispered, “I’m attracted to whom I’m attracted to. Sometimes it’s a man but most of the time, it’s women.”
Jack sat up and glanced over at Jenna. She appeared befuddled.
“I see,” he said. “Can you come by after you’re done here?”
“I would love to.” Kokila moved away holding Jenna’s gaze until she had to turn around.
“Are you okay with her coming over?” Jack asked, swiveling back around to look at Jenna.
“It would have been nice if you’d have asked me first, but I’m fine. Let’s grab our drinks and head back to the room. I think I’m going to have to get myself psyched up for this.”
*****
“What time is it, do you think?” Jack asked. He sat smoking a cigarette on the balcony across from Jenna.
“Not sure. Eight-thirty or so,” Jenna replied, stretching her arms above her head and rolling her neck. She closed her robe over her crossed leg.
“How was your nap?”
“Wonderful. Did you nap for long?” she asked.
“No. I just needed a fifteen-minute power nap.” He tapped out his cigarette. “Marc seemed okay at dinner, don’t you think?”
“Yeah,” she said. “He said his partner is handling it well and there’s nothing more he would do even if he was there.” Jenna moved to the railing, looking out at the ocean and the night sky. “Have you decided about the horseback riding excursion tomorrow? It sounds like fun but I’m fine hanging out here.”
“I’m thinking we should stay here. It’ll give me a chance to finish the sculpture and ship it home. I don’t want it to get dried out before I can complete it. We can go early next week.”
“Okay,” she said, turning around to face him. “Jack, I’m nervous. I’m not sure we should even play with Kokila. I mean, I know Marc doesn’t have an issue with it but—”
“I think you should be more worried what I think,” he said, crossing his arm in front of him.
“I do, I am. I just don’t know what to do and I don’t know what to wear tonight.”
“Come here,” he said, opening his arms.
She sat on his lap and toyed with his messy hair.
“Enjoy yourself. You look great together. I wish I had a video cam—”
“Jack!” she howled indignantly, slapping his arm. She rose from his lap and headed for the closet, still feeling unsure of why she even agreed to have Kokila over. Part of her was curious but she also realized that she wanted to please Jack and push her growing feelings for Marc back to a safer distance.
“Hey, a boy can dream can’t he? How do you feel about photographs?” he called out as he followed.
“Please, Jack! Come help me pick out something to wear.”
“Does it really matter? How long do you plan to be clothed?” he teased as he approached. He pulled her close and kissed her neck.
“It matters to me.”
“Okay.” He opened the middle drawer and pulled out a fitted tank top and a pair of boxer shorts. “Here,” he said, holding out the clothes.
“Are you sure?”
“Definitely. Get dressed. I’m going to smoke a little ganja on the balcony.”
Jack walked outside and Jenna went into the bathroom to dress. While brushing her hair and trying to decide how to wear it, she heard a knock. She stepped out of the bathroom and opened the hotel room door. Kokila immediately stepped inside, dropped her bag, and pushed the door shut. She pressed Jenna against the wall, pinning her arms slightly above her head.
“I’ve been thinking about this all day,” Kokila said, her face close to Jenna’s lips. She placed her knee between Jenna’s legs and kissed her ardently.
Jenna moaned when she pulled away. “Jack,” she said.
“Jack will find us soon enough,” Kokila said, breathing heavy from the kiss.
“Why is your hair wet?” Jenna asked.
“I showered off the day. I wanted to smell sweet for you.” She lowered her head and began kissing Jenna’s neck. “I haven’t felt this aroused in a long time,” she said, planting small kisses all over her face. “I really had trouble focusing tonight. All I could think about was kissing you … sucking your—”
“Sweet déjà vu,” Jack called out as he reentering the room. “May I join you?”
“No, sir. Why don’t you sit on the bed and watch us,” Kokila said, relegating Jack to the front row voyeur’s seat. She let go of Jenna’s arms and cradled her face in her hands. “You are so lovely.”
Jack circled to the side as Kokila pushed Jenna back and fell on top of her onto the bed.
She trailed her hand up Jenna’s waist and pushed her top up to expose her breasts.“Ohhh,” Jenna groaned. “That feels—”
“There’s so much I want to do to you,” Kokila said, tickling her hand down Jenna’s stomach.
Jenna closed her eyes and found herself imagining that she was feeling Marc’s large hands caressing her hips, moving slowly up her inner thighs. When Kokila’s mouth descended on Jenna’s protruding nipples, her body twisted and convulsed. She knew they both stared at her but she tried to lose herself in the fantasy that played out in her mind.
“Look at me,” Kokila demanded as she reached down and drew her finger through Jenna’s wetness.
She opened her eyes as she groaned out. Her body responded fully to Kokila’s administrations but her heart did not.
Just as Kokila started to circle her clit, Jenna sat up and said, “I’m sorry, I just can’t.”
Kokila said, “Excuse me?” at the same time Jack said, “What?!”
Jenna scooted to the end of the bed and said, “I didn’t mean to lead you on and every touch felt amazing but—”
“Then what’s the problem?” Jack asked, almost yelling.
Jenna shook her head and said, “I don’t know how to say this other than to share the truth. I’m not feeling it here.” She pointed to her chest. “You are a lovely and sexy woman but—”
“I understand,” Kokila said. “Hopefully we will have time to try again … after you—”
“I don’t get it, Jenna. I thought this was just for fun.”
Jenna rose from the bed, embarrassment filling every pore. “Can you go so Jack and I can talk?”
“Of course.” She scooped Jenna up in a tight embrace and whispered, “I don’t give up easily.” Kissing her softly, she sucked in Jenna’s bottom lip, making Jenna gasp. “Have a great night,” she said as she sashayed out the door.
“What the hell was that?” Jack asked as he paced back and forth.
“I thought I could do it for you and it might be fun, but I—”
“Is this about Marc?”
“Partially, yes. My emotions are wrapped up in what we are forming with Summer and Marc and it seems wrong to muddy it with Kokila.”
“But they said that they don’t care,” Jack whined.
“But I do,” Jenna replied with resolute firmness.
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
Jenna tied her floral wraparound dress at the waist and slipped on her sandals. Jack buttoned and zipped his white linen pants that he had rolled up three turns at the bottom.
“That looks really good together,” she said. “I like the turquoise and palm trees on the shirt. You look so islandy.”
“Are we supposed to bring drinks with us?” he asked.
“No. Summer said she was taking care of it. Is it time to go?” She checked herself in the mirror and added some lipstick.
“No, we have a few more minutes. Come join me on the balcony. I think I’ll roll a joint to take with us.”
“Okay,” she said, following Jack through the French doors. “Let’s not mention Kokila tonight.”
“Why not?” he asked.
“I want tonight to be about them and not about that.”
“What are you saying? Just say it.”
“I don’t want you to think when we get home that we’re going to be looking for women to—”
“Jenna, I don’t and I won’t. But please explain to me what that has to do with tonight.”
“I don’t want to bring what happened with Kokila into the relationship we’re developing with our friends,” she said and moved over to the railing. “That’s private and kind of embarrassing to me. Do you get it?” She glanced back at Jack trying to gauge his reaction.
“Yeah I get it. Okay. Can I just say again that last night was incredible until you stopped things?” he said, shrugging.
“Let’s drop it for now, okay?” she said, sitting down.
“Okay, but one last question and then I’ll leave it alone. If we did find a woman that you could feel something for—” he said with a cheeky grin.
“Jack! Cut it out. I love you but don’t be such an ass.” She stood up. “Are we ready?”
“As ready as I’ll ever be, I guess,” he said, taking her hand.
*****
“So am I going to talk to Jenna or are you going to talk to Jack?” Summer asked, standing in front of the bathroom mirror using her hands to tease out her hair.
“You and I know these arrangements are always made through the women,” Marc said as he walked into the bathroom. “You look fantastic.” He swept her up in his arms. “Have I told you lately how much I simply adore you?”
“Yes, but I never tire of hearing it.” She nuzzled her head on his chest and said, “Are you excited about tonight?” She moved from his embrace and walked over to the closet.
“Yes. I missed them today. I had a great time but—”
“I know what you mean. How’s this?” she asked after she donned her spaghetti strap sundress.
“Very nice. So did you decide on champagne or—”
“Champagne and Red Stripe. Jack doesn’t seem like the champagne type. The drinks should be here any minute.” She sat on the end of the bed and slipped on light brown sandals that crisscrossed under her calf. She hopped up and slid her large hoop earrings through her lobes.
“How’s this?” he asked, turning to face her.
“Wear this out,” Summer said, untucking the shirt from his beige Chinos. “There. The blue in the shirt really makes your blue eyes stand out. She’ll love it.”
There was a knock on the door.
“I’ll get it,” he said. He strode to the door and let the bellman into the room.
“On the table is good,” Summer said. “Thank you.”
“Enjoy your evening,” the man said as he departed.
“They should be here shortly. Come give me a kiss,” Marc said, pulling her onto his lap.
They heard a second knock and broke away from each other.
“I’ll get this one,” she said, jumping from his lap and flouncing to the door. “Hey guys.” She kissed Jack and hugged Jenna. “Look at you two! You look fabulous!”
“You guys look great,” Marc said, kissing Jenna lightly on the lips. He shook hands with Jack, pulling him into a hug. They slapped each other on the back and smiled.
“You, too,” Jack said, walking over to the table and holding up a beer. “Thanks.” He sat in the chair next to the table.
“Should I open a bottle of champagne?” Marc asked.
“Not on my account,” Jenna said, standing by the dresser. “I need to eat something first.”
“The bottles are on ice, we can wait until after dinner,” Summer said, sitting down on the bed.
“Any word on the guy who died?” Jack asked.
“Looks like we’re off the hook completely,” Marc said.
“That’s so great,” Jenna said. “That must be a huge relief.”
“Yeah, it is,” Summer said. “They arrested his wife.”
“His wife?” Jack and Jenna said in unison.
“The police believe that his wife found out about an affair he was having and replaced his heart medicine with sugar pills,” Marc said.
“It turns out he was having an affair with another member of the wellness center,” Summer said, shaking her head. “Why is it so hard for people to be honest? It always amazes me how invested the world is in monogamy when it fails more times than it succeeds.”
“But you and Marc are married,” Jenna said as she settled in the wicker chair by the balcony.
“That’s true. We like the benefits of marriage, but don’t confuse that with monogamy,” Marc said, resting against the wooden poster of the bed.
“What is it then?” Jack asked.
“We don’t really call it anything other than being open,” Summer said.
“Some people call it polyamory which means being able to love more than one person,” Marc said.
“How’s that different from swinging?” Jack asked.
“The primary focus of polyamory is l
ove and relationship. Swinging is more or less just about recreational sex,” Marc said. “Not that I have anything against sex, you understand.”
“But come on ... this here ... us ... it is about sex,” Jack said. “Friendship also but don’t tell me it’s not about sex.”
“Well, I think you’re sexy,” Summer said as she walked over and put her finger on his chest. “But I also like you a lot. And if we never have sex, Jack, I’m still going to like you a lot.”
“Sex is not fundamentally necessary in polyamorous relationships,” Marc said, sitting back against the edge of the dresser with his arms folded in front of him. “In fact we prefer sex not be the primary focus. For us the primary issues are honesty and intimacy—being able to share affection in an honest way.”
“There’s a lot of freedom for me knowing that Marc can spend time with Jenna, like her very much, have a good time, and I totally trust him in that situation,” Summer said.
Jenna turned to Marc and asked, “Do you and Summer kid around the same way that she and Jack do?”
“Not really,” Marc said. “That’s why Jack is so appealing. He brings something different and you, Jenna, you bring something different, too.”
“This is all starting to make so much sense to me,” Jenna said, excitement rushing through her. “I mean, it’s helping me to understand you guys much better.” She back stepped for Jack’s benefit.
“That’s good,” Summer said.
“I’m a little slow on the uptake,” Jack said. “So, where do these things end up?”
“Like any other relationships. Jack, this is not the answer, it’s just another lifestyle choice,” Marc said. “It leaves more room for others.”
“I still don’t see how it’s any different from swinging,” Jack said.
“Because it’s more than just a physical excursion, it’s also about connection.” Summer stepped toward Jack but sensed his defensiveness. “We’re not going to ask you to marry us. Not yet anyway,” she said and winked.
“Listen if this is—” Marc started to say as he got up.
“No, it’s cool,” Jack said, waving his hand for Marc to sit again. “I’ll figure it out. It’s just that I’m an experiential learner, and sometimes I need to be walked through things.”
The Demarcation of Jack Page 24