The Predicament

by Katie Ashley

  “I guess you’re right.”

  “No. Deep down, you know I’m right—you’re just too stubborn to admit it,” Emma teased.

  Casey laughed. “Fine. You’re right, and I’m wrong.” Holding her fist triumphantly in the air, she declared rather loudly, “My name is Casey Rossi, and I’m fantastic at fucking!”

  At her exclamation, a few people turned to stare in their direction. “Seriously, Casey,” Emma muttered, her face flushing crimson.

  Megan and Casey merely laughed at Emma’s embarrassment. Once the people turned back around, Emma cleared her throat. “Bottom line is you just have to stop being so hard on yourself. You just had a seismic shift happen in your life. Things are never going to be the same both for the good and for the bad.”

  “I know. It just doesn’t seem fair that getting something as wonderful as Olivia means having to lose something. It shouldn’t be an all or nothing thing.”

  Emma shook her head. “It doesn’t. You just have to adjust a little.”

  “Is that what you do now that you’re a mom?”

  “Yes and no. When Noah was born, my attitude about having sex was completely different than it is now.”

  “Because you just had him, rather than having Caroline, too?”

  “No, it wasn’t because I was less stressed or less tired because there was just one child to care for.” Emma grinned. “Well, three if you count Aidan.”

  “So if it wasn’t the kid factor, what was it?” Casey questioned.

  Emma thoughtfully twirled the red and white striped straw in her cup. “Aidan and I were still newlyweds when Noah was born. I guess I felt a little pressure to make sure he was taken care of sexually. You know, considering the strength of his sex drive.”

  Casey grinned. “Yes, the force is strong with that one.”

  “Ew,” Megan replied, but then laughed in spite of herself.

  “I guess I just felt I owed it to him, and that wasn’t a good way to feel. It also meant the sex wasn’t that great either because my heart wasn’t in it. It wasn’t long before Aidan figured out what was going on.”

  “He really has come a long way in the emotions department. Like quantum leaps,” Casey mused.

  Emma laughed. “I know, right? Once he confronted me and I admitted it, he really stepped up his game to make me want sex again, which was amazing. Sure there were still nights when it was just a wham, bam, quickie—”

  “Once again, ew!” Megan interrupted, covering her hands with her eyes.

  Casey patted Megan’s knee. “I just want you to know that I really appreciate you supporting me right now, even though it means hearing about your uncle’s sex life.”

  Megan peeked through her fingers at Casey and grinned. “You’re welcome.” She then nodded at Emma. “Go on and finish.”

  “Only if you’re sure.”

  “I’ll be okay.”

  “Anyway, since having kids, sex is something I chose to prioritize. I’m sure a lot of women wouldn’t agree with me, and that’s okay. We each have to do what is best for us and our marriages. Do I feel sexy and alluring most days we do it? Hell no. But in the end, Aidan makes me feel beautiful no matter what. And thank goodness we have better communication since Caroline was born.”

  “After last night, we’re good on communicating. Now it’s just actually finding a way to bring the heat back.” Casey then turned to Megan for her input. “How did you feel when you had Mason?”

  “I’m probably not a lot of help considering I was single. Overall, sex was pretty low on my to-do list.”

  “Totally understandable,” Casey replied.

  “But I do remember that after the insanity of the first six weeks when my hormones started evening out, I did have moments where I wanted sex.” Megan furrowed her brows. “Funny thing was it was at the most bizarre times—like during Mason’s mid-afternoon nap. I’d be watching television and see some sexy as hell guy, and suddenly I was hot. In that moment, I would have jumped the next available penis that walked by my house—even if it was the ancient Mr. McMurray across the street.”

  Casey snorted at the thought. She had had the pleasure of meeting the decrepit neighbor at Mason’s baptism party. “Man, post pregnancy hormones are a bitch, aren’t they?”

  “Here, here,” Megan said, raising her cup in a toast while Emma nodded vehemently in agreement.

  “So we know how you feel about the situation, but you never told us exactly what Nate said?” Emma questioned.

  Casey huffed out a defeated breath. “You know Nate. He’s honorable and chivalrous to a fucking fault.”

  Emma nudged Casey’s knee. “You say that like those are bad attributes for him to have.”

  “I just meant that I wished he’d gotten pissed off at me, rather than being so understanding.”

  “What happened when you got back home?” Megan asked.

  “We had a long talk about the crazy shit I’ve been feeling about our sex life. Of course, he doesn’t seem to think things are as bad as I do, but then again, I’ve always been more sexual than he has.”

  Megan took a thoughtful swig of her drink. “It sounds like you’re missing more than just the physical act of sex.”

  “Trust me, I’ve been pretty horny,” Casey argued.

  “And you’re getting satisfied physically with the sex, right? Like you come?” Megan questioned.

  Casey nodded. “Always.”

  “If you’re having a release, then your physical needs are being met. There’s something deeper going on.”

  “Interesting.”

  “It’s like you’re searching for the emotional connection you’ve found through being physical with Nate.”

  Pondering what Megan said, Casey replied, “Hmm, I can see what you mean.”

  “Have you ever tried Tantric sex?” Megan asked.

  “That weird marathon sex shit Sting and his wife do?”

  Megan laughed. “Yes and no. It’s probably well-known because of them, but there’s so much more to Tantric. It’s about connecting on an emotional level before you even touch each other physically. Then when you do come together, it just heightens every feeling.”

  Casey gave Megan an amused smile. “I see the good doctor is really packing the punches in the bedroom.”

  “Trust me. Pesh could be the poster boy for watch out for the quiet ones.” Closing her eyes in exaggerated bliss, she added, “Tantric sex really is amazing. There’s something about the withholding that makes it sizzle in the end.”

  “Sounds like something worth trying,” Casey said.

  “It’s not for everyone, and it’s not something you can just halfway do. So you need to make sure you have an afternoon or evening to devote to it.”

  Wrinkling her nose, Casey said, “That’s going to be a little tough with Olivia.”

  Emma shook her head. “No, it’s not.”

  “Why do you say that?”

  “Because I’m going to take her for you.”

  Casey widened her eyes in shock. “You are?”

  “Of course.”

  “While I really appreciate the sentiment, I can’t ask you to do that.”

  “Why not?”

  “Because you have enough on your plate with your own two kids.”

  Emma rolled her eyes. “Like Olivia would be so much trouble that I couldn’t handle her.”

  As much as she wanted to say yes, she hated to take advantage of Emma’s kindness, and in turn, Aidan’s. They’d both been so good to her about what had happened.

  Sensing Casey’s hesitation, Emma said, “How about this? I take Olivia for one day, and then you can take mine to give me and Aidan some alone time?”

  “I like that idea a lot,” Casey replied.

  Emma laughed. “I’m not sure why considering you’re getting the short end of the stick considering I have two kids to your one.”

  Before Casey could argue, Megan said, “How about I help you out the day you have Noah and Caroline? We can
pool our resources. Mason is great at entertaining Noah.”

  Casey smiled. “Sounds like a plan.”

  “Good deal.” Megan then glanced at her phone. “I gotta get back to work.”

  “Yeah, I need to get to work,” Casey said.

  “Feel better?” Emma asked.

  “Tons.”

  “I’m glad.”

  “I can’t thank you guys enough for talking me down from the ledge,” Casey said.

  “That’s what friends are for,” Emma replied as Megan nodded in agreement.

  “Will you be around to answer any Tantric questions I have?” Casey asked Megan.

  “Of course. Anything you need.”

  “Thanks.”

  As Casey started for the door, she felt a renewed sense of purpose in her step. She had a plan to recapture her bedroom heat, and it started with getting her Tantric freak on.

  Five days after her emergency girl’s summit with Emma and Megan, Casey stood in the middle of her bedroom ready to execute the next step of her seduction plan. Gazing around the room, she eyed the work she had done with a critical eye. She had spent her last several lunch breaks pouring over some of the Tantric sex books that Megan had recommended. She had highlighted and studied the parts on the importance of breathing. While making mental notes about some of the suggested positions, she tried to envision the ones Nate would feel the most comfortable in, but also the ones that wouldn’t make her feel like a tremendous fat ass.

  She had also learned that one of the biggest steps was to transform their bedroom into a “sacred spot for lovemaking”. Apparently to achieve such sacredness one need not hire a Hindu priest for a blessing. Instead, she merely needed to add some fresh flowers, light some scented candles, and break out the long forgotten pair of silk sheets. She had also stocked up on some aromatherapy oils. She was ready and willing to take out all the stops to ensure her afternoon was a success.

  When Nate left to grab a quick work out, she had taken Olivia over to Emma’s. Although Casey had tried talking her out of it, Emma remained firm in her resolve to help out. Considering it was a Saturday afternoon, Casey had thanked her and Aidan profusely. After watching the babies play together on a pallet on the living room floor, Casey had a hard time leaving. With a roaring fire going and Chinese takeout littering the coffee table, the room was so inviting, especially with baby chatter echoing off the walls. Aidan and Emma lounged on the couch in their most comfortable sweats and yoga pants.

  But she managed to pull herself together and give Olivia a kiss goodbye. The moment she had arrived back home, she’d torn up the stairs and started a frenzy of preparation. One aspect was changing into a comfortable piece of lingerie. While the silk nightie was sexy, it also gave her room to breathe. She sure as hell wasn’t going for anything like the nurse’s costume from the other night.

  She had just finished lighting the last of the candles lining the floor along the bedroom walls when she heard Nate’s car pull in the driveway.

  After the garage door shut, Nate called, “Babe?”

  “I’m upstairs.”

  Nate appeared in the doorway with his gym bag slung over his shoulder. Thankfully, he’d taken the time to shower and change before coming home. Not that she didn’t enjoy when he was a sweaty mess. She just preferred being the one to make him perspire.

  Although what she had done to their bedroom was a surprise, their sexdate was not. After her coffee date, she had told him that she was planning time for them to be alone.

  At the sight of the bedroom illuminated in candlelight, Nate’s eyes widened. “Wow, you really went all out.”

  She crossed the room to stand in front of him. “I hope you don’t mind, but I wanted us to try something a little different today.”

  Pulling her into his arms, he smiled down at her. “Of course I don’t mind.”

  “Even if it seems a little…strange?”

  Nate chuckled. “Should I be scared?”

  Casey grinned. “Of course not.” Tilting her head at him, she asked, “Have you ever heard of Tantric sex?”

  “The ancient Indian practice of using energy through sex,” he rattled, sounding like a textbook.

  “I should have known you would know, Mr. Smarty Pants.”

  “You know you love my big brain,” Nate teased.

  Nodding, Casey said, “Oh yes, it’s my second favorite big body part of yours.”

  As Nate nuzzled her neck, he said, “Remind me what your favorite one is.”

  “Mmm, your big ass feet.”

  Her smart answer was rewarded with a resounding smack on the ass. “Fine, fine. You’re fantastically huge dick.”

  “That is more like it.”

  Casey pushed herself out of Nate’s arms. “Okay enough of that for now. We need to get busy.”

  An amused look twinkled in Nate’s dark eyes. “I thought we were.”

  Wagging a finger at him, Casey said, “Today is all about Tantric.”

  “Yes ma’am.” After giving her a mock salute, he asked, “Where do we start?”

  “With some dancing.” Picking up the remote to the iHome, she turned on a little T.I. to get the blood really pumping.

  Tilting his head, Nate eyed her curiously. “What? I’m supposed to dance like I’m at a club?” he questioned.

  “No. It’s like this. Stand with your legs hip-length apart.”

  Nate’s brows furrowed in confusion. “How am I going to dance like that?”

  “Like this.” Casey then illustrated what she had seen in the book, which was basically a full body shake of your arms, legs, and ass. When the corners of Nate’s lips turned up, she demanded, “What?”

  “I was just thinking if I saw one of my patients doing this I would swear they were having convulsions.”

  She momentarily stopped shaking to smack Nate’s arm. “Not funny.” Jerking her chin at him, she said, “Come on.”

  Rolling his eyes, Nate began to mimic her movements. After a few seconds, he asked, “Exactly why are we doing this?”

  “It’s supposed to let out all the tension in our body. Once the tension is gone, we can allow more pleasure in,” she replied.

  “And how long does it take to achieve that?”

  “Just a minute.”

  “Thank God.”

  After a minute had passed, Casey turned the music from rap to a sensual Indian relaxation song. “Okay. Now it’s time for us to breathe and rock.” Taking Nate’s hand, Casey led him over to the bed. “Have a seat,” she instructed.

  “With my clothes on?”

  Casey nodded. Quoting one of the books, she replied, “We have to get emotionally naked before we can get physically naked.”

  “If you say so.” After climbing up onto the mattress, Nate shifted himself to the center of the bed. For a brief moment, Casey had a flashback of earlier in the week when he did the same thing the night of the disastrous blow job episode. She quickly shook her head and shook herself free of the memory.

  “Okay, cross your legs Indian style.”

  As soon as he finished, Casey got up on the bed and crawled over to Nate. Once she reached him, she eased onto Nate’s lap to where they were face to face.

  Staring into her eyes, Nate wrapped his arms around her. “I like this.”

  “No touching yet.”

  “Seriously?”

  “First we have to become one through our breathing.”

  With a resigned sigh, Nate let his arms fall away and rest on the mattress. “So exactly how are we supposed to breathe?”

  “We’re supposed to take each other’s breaths in. Like I breathe out, and you inhale. Then vice versa.”

  “Sounds easy enough,” Nate remarked.

  “While we’re doing it, we’re supposed to stay even further connected by gazing into each other’s eyes.”

  “I can do that.”

  Casey leaned forward on Nate’s lap. Ignoring his hardening cock beneath her, she brought her lips to where they were al
most touching his. As he opened his mouth, she breathed inside. The intensity burning in Nate’s eyes sent a shiver down Casey’s spine. Megan was right—this Tantric shit was pretty epic.

  Then the moment was abruptly broken when Nate’s expression changed from desire to concern. He inhaled sharply. "Do you smell that?"

  Casey widened her eyes. "I know you’re not trying to say I have bad breath!"

  With a jerk of his head, Nate then replied, “No. Nothing like that.”

  “Then what.”

  “I thought I smelled smoke.”

  Grinning, Casey teasingly asked, “Are you getting so hot with anticipation that you think you smell a fire?”

  Nate opened his mouth to say something when a small explosion went off across the room. Both of them jerked their attention to the balcony’s French doors where orange flames licked and danced their way up the frilly drapes.

  “Holy shit, the curtains are on fire!” Nate exclaimed.

  Nate grabbed her by the waist and threw her off his lap. “Oomph,” she muttered, as she bounced on the mattress. As she was pulling herself up, Nate scrambled off the bed. He fleetingly eyed the flaming curtains before sprinting into the bathroom.

  Throwing herself into action, Casey hopped down and grabbed her robe off the end of the bed. She started beating down the flames with the fabric. Nate reappeared with a bucket full of water. “Get back!” he commanded. The moment she dipped to the side he doused the remaining flames with water, sending a loud hiss throughout the room.

  Once the fire was out, they both stood huffing and panting as they tried to catch their breath. After she felt she could breathe again, she gazed around, surveying the damage.

  “Damn,” she muttered. They would have to repaint considering parts of the once khaki-colored wall were now an attractive soot-stained black. The flooring in front of the door would have to be replaced as well considering there were burned out holes in it. It was to go without saying they would need new window treatments since the old ones had been turned to ash.