The Demarcation of Jack

by Blakely Bennett

  “I’m not even going to question where you got your dope. I’m glad you did and would you mind sharing some of it?” He grinned broadly and pulled her to him.

  “I realized that it was easier for me to focus on you than take a good look at myself. I’m sorry for all we’ve put each other through. Coming here may turn out to be just what I needed—what we needed,” she said, running her fingers through his black hair.

  “You’re still the best kisser I’ve ever had,” Jack said, softly touching her face. “I’ve missed you, missed us.”

  “Me, too. I love you, Jack,” she said, nuzzling into his neck.

  “I think I need to take a nap,” he said, drawing her in close. “It’s been a long day.”

  “Well, then let me help you relax,” she said. She undressed and slid back into bed next to him. She reached into Jack’s boxers, taking him completely by surprise, but he quickly responded.

  “I can’t remember … the last time … you initiated—” he muttered, nearly panting in his excitement.

  As she fondled him, she gave him a wicked smile and said, “I think I owe you something.” She crawled between his legs, like the vixen she remembered she used to be, and yanked off his shorts. “Seems like he’s game,” she said, gesturing at his erection.

  “I’d say,” Jack said with a funny British accent.

  “Turnabout is fair play.” She skulked forward and took him into her mouth.

  “Oh my god, Jenna, it’s been so long, I don’t think it will take—”

  “Just relax and enjoy.”

  She used her hand on his shaft, running up and down as she sucked hard on the head of his erection. Circling his crown with her tongue, she reveled in her capacity to stir Jack. Finding just the right rhythm, she felt his phallus swell. Sucking hard one last time, she released her mouth and used both hands to bring him to completion. He ejaculated onto his stomach, grunting loudly each time he pulsed his release.

  “Oh god, Jenna,” he finally said.

  “I think you should nap well now. I’ll go grab a towel.”

  After cleaning up, they shared several soft kisses and then dozed off.

  Jenna awoke to find Jack watching her sleep. “Hello,” she said, blushing slightly.

  “You are truly outstanding,” he said. “I’m sorry I stopped telling you that. I really love you, Jen.”

  “Thank you,” she said, touching his face. “Are you sure you’re going to be okay with me going to the beach bash?”

  “Aba-solutely,” he said. “I’ve no problem with that. Marc and Summer will take good care of you, I’m sure.”

  She stretched her arms above her head and then checked the time on the cell phone. “Would you like the TV on or the radio? I need to get ready.”

  “No, nothing. Wait, the CD player would be great. How about some Kings of Leon?” he said and he rolled over, pressing his face into the pillow.

  “I’m going to take a quick shower and get dressed. I’ll be sure to be quiet when I return,” Jenna said and kissed Jack on the cheek. “I’ll see you in the morning.”

  CHAPTER TEN

  As Summer and Marc approached the beach, they decided to remove their shoes. The sand surrounded their feet with a pleasant coolness as they walked among the dinner guests assembling for the evening’s festivities. The sun left a warm glow over the party as it melted into the Caribbean Sea. The steel drum band played a sultry Jamaican song, inviting everyone to get into the island spirit.

  The lavish buffet, lined with well-groomed suntanned couples, greeted Jenna as she approached the gala. The glow of the tiki torches highlighted the dancing palm fronds as they waved in the ocean breeze, while off in the near distance the lights illumined rows of linen-covered tables adorned with tropical flowers and sparkling water glasses set for the evening’s feast.

  Jenna strolled casually to the gathering, feeling lighter than she had in months. Her smile radiated her newfound resolve. She hesitated for a moment at the edge of the party, and thought, Wow, this is a Jack party.

  “Jenna, we’re over here,” she heard through the crowd. “You look amazing! I love that dress.” Summer threw her arm around Jenna’s waist and started walking her to their table. “How are you feeling?”

  “I feel better than I have in a long time.”

  “I can see that. You’re positively glowing. My husband sure has a way with women, doesn’t he?”

  “Thank you for letting me borrow him,” Jenna said.

  “Honey, you can borrow him anytime you want to,” Summer said in a sultry voice as they sauntered up to Marc.

  “How nice is this? I’m blessed with my two favorite women on the island. How are you tonight, Jenna? You look wonderful,” he said, standing to embrace her.

  “Thank you. I’m doing fine. I’m doing more than fine, actually. I feel great. You were great,” she whispered as she hugged him.

  “How’s Jack doing? Is his foot feeling any better?” he asked, sitting back down.

  “Well, had he stayed in bed, he probably would be feeling much better, but after our fight, he searched the hotel trying to find me.”

  “Did he find you?” Summer asked, sitting down next to Marc.

  “He walked up behind me as I was banging on the door, thinking he’d left me and caught a flight home,” she said, pulling out a chair to sit down.

  “So he’s in the room, now? Sleeping?” Summer asked.

  “Yeah, he’s in the room and forbidden to get out of bed. He was falling asleep when I left.”

  “Let the partying begin,” Summer said, standing up. “Let’s you and I go up to the terrace bar and get a drink,” she said to Jenna. “Marc, do you mind staying at the table? Becky and Cliff are supposed to be meeting us and I invited two other couples from Tower Island to join us. They promised to have clothes on,” she said as she took Jenna’s hand and they laughed their way up the beach.

  The emcee introduced the first act from Kingston, a reggae band ready to make the party jam. “The Kingston Groove, ladies and gentleman.” The music beckoned those who had arrived early and finished partaking of the feast to get up and dance.

  After she and Jenna got their drinks, Summer’s table of friends joined the buffet crowd and piled Jamaican delicacies onto their plates. On their way back to the table, they passed the dessert bar filled with a large variety of cakes and pies. “This is simply hedonistic,” Summer said, eyeing the pastries.

  “It all looks so yummy,” Jenna said.

  “I should have shown more discipline in my choices I suppose,” Marc said. “But why come to Jamaica and behave?”

  “Exactly,” Summer chimed in with a big smile.

  “I hope you’ve enjoyed the expressive style of the Kingston Groove,” said the emcee. “Next up are some of our very own employees teaching you how to move through a Jamaican dance.”

  “Marc, come and dance with me,” Summer said, pulling him up from his chair.

  “I’m right behind you,” he said, placing his hands on her hips. “And what a nice behind, I must say.”

  The party found a rhythm and a pace that encouraged everyone to embrace their inner dancer. As the night wore on and the drinks continued to flow, inhibitions loosened.

  “Marc, dance with me,” Jenna called over the music.

  “I’d love to,” he whispered into her ear.

  Jenna had a hard time maintaining eye contact as they grooved to the beat. His intense stare caused all sort of feelings she wasn’t ready to acknowledge. When he swung her around with a strong lead, she giggled from the feeling it gave her in her stomach. She hoped he couldn’t feel her hard nipples when he pulled her in close.

  They danced through two songs and returned to the table.

  “I think I need some water,” Jenna said, taking a sip from her glass.

  “That was a lot of fun. Thanks for the dance,” he said. “I’m glad you and Jack are getting along better.”

  “It’s good. At least for now. We’ll
see,” she said, scanning the dancers swaying to the music. She noticed Summer dancing with an older man she didn’t recognized. Cast in the shadows of the flickering amber light, she watched them move together in a sexy teasing manner. The song ended and a slow song began as the man drew Summer in close.

  Jenna felt the urge to escape from the scene. Oh shit. She glanced back at Marc who sat watching Summer gyrate. He surprised her by taking hold of her hand and leading her close to where Summer danced on the beach. As Jenna raised her eyes to look at her, she saw her kiss the man as they swayed to the rhythm of the music. As the rotation of the dance brought Marc around, she knew he would see Summer.

  Jenna froze as Marc pulled her in very close. The reggae band changed to a faster beat and he released her from his grasp. Jenna, barely moving, watched Summer dance her way over to them. Believing that she’d come to dance with Marc, Jenna suffered an uncomfortable moment when she realized that Summer was cutting in to dance with her.

  “What were you doing?” Jenna asked.

  “I was kissing another man,” she said casually, dancing to the rhythm of the steel drums.

  “And Marc … is okay with that?” Jenna asked, narrowing her eyes.

  “I guarantee you, he loved it,” she called out as she spun around with her hands thrown above her head.

  “Wait? I don’t get it. When you said you knew everything, did you mean you knew Marc kissed me?” Jenna asked, ceasing to move.

  “It’s hard to explain. But you’ll find we’re more faithful than most couples. Yes, I know about it, we tell each other everything.”

  “Now you really have me confused,” she said, brushing her hair back from her face.

  “I would never do that if Marc wasn’t around. It’s our agreement. He wouldn’t do anything like that unless I was nearby or we had agreed otherwise.”

  “You weren’t there when he kissed me.”

  “That was an error in judgment on many fronts.”

  “An error? Have you told Jack about it?” Jenna asked, feeling nauseous over the conversation.

  “Telling Jack is up to you.”

  “That’s a relief. Do you like seeing him with other women?” Jenna could not wrap her mind around what Summer had said.

  Summer laughed. “Yes, I like seeing him with other women and we’ve been known to share one or two.”

  “Uh … I need to sit down,” Jenna said, walking back to the table in a daze. As she lowered into her chair she said, “I don’t know if it’s the alcohol or what, but you guys are freaking me out.”

  Summer sat down next to her. “This is who we are and it works for us. We would never expect you to be involved in anything you weren’t comfortable with.”

  “Who’s this guy you were kissing? How do you know he wasn’t cheating on his wife? This is Couples, you know. Couples!” she said.

  “The two couples and the woman sitting at the table next to where we were dancing,” Summer said, pointing across to a group of tables, “That is his wife and two other couples they came here with.”

  “Apparently there’s a whole other world going on around me without my knowledge. Is this some secret swinger resort? I’m going to kill Jack.”

  “Not at all. There are other resorts for that sort of thing, but not here. People here are mostly just flirtatious.”

  “Frankly, I don’t know what to make of this,” she said, looking at Summer. “Are you hitting on me?”

  “This is not meant to offend you but—”Marc said. “We’ve considered it, but you and Jack seem to have a lot you need to work out. Do we like you? Are we attracted to you? Yes on both counts. Do we think the two of you are lovely people? Yes. Do we want to get in the middle of what you’re going through right now? No, absolutely not.”

  “Uh … hmmm. I don’t know what to say. I’m at a loss. I’m not sure if I should be offended or flattered. I think I need another drink,” Jenna said, putting her forehead in the palm of her hand.

  “I know this can be a lot to deal with but we had to tell you sooner or later and now is as good a time as any,” Marc said calmly. “We’re not swingers. And really it’s mostly flirtations and infatuations. It rarely goes any further than that. Although I must admit, we’re willing to open our lives to other loves.”

  “I love Marc more than anyone in the world,” Summer said. “Because of what we have, I would never do anything to jeopardize our marriage. I love the freedom to be myself and the lack of stress to freely be attracted to other people I meet and to explore those potentialities.”

  “What happens if you find someone you love more than Marc?”

  “I don’t think that could ever happen,” she said, reaching across the table and taking him by the hand. “After all the people we’ve met, no one has ever come close to tempting me away from him. I love him tremendously and I know he loves me as well and I trust him. I don’t know many couples who can say that. The idea that someone new could exceed the intimacy we’ve created over the years is simply not possible.”

  “Yeah, but why take the risk? Why be married then?”

  “It’s who we are. This is natural for us. Why confine ourselves to the dictates of the present culture? If I had, I would have never married Marc—I would’ve married a black man or a Jewish guy. Look, many people feel the way we do. A lot more than you’d think, to be honest.”

  “You’ll have to forgive me if I seem a little discombobulated. I’m still trying to work out this thing with one person,” Jenna said, breaking into an uneasy laugh. “It seems to me that it would be very complicated. Wouldn’t swinging be easier?”

  “It depends what you’re looking for,” Marc said, settling back into his chair. “I, for one, am not looking for just sex. I have one of the best lovers on the planet.”

  “And don’t you forget it, big boy!” Summer interjected.

  “But if I find somebody attractive, why not be able to tell them so,” Marc said. “If the relationship evolves and grows and a deep connection is established, why not share affection through love making?”

  “I can think of several reasons.”

  “All of which would be valid for you,” Marc said. “For us, this works. This is who we are and we’re thoroughly enjoying our lives and the choices we make.”

  “Well, you’ve completely thrown my mind into overload but it definitely explains the kiss. It might have been nice to know sooner so I wasn’t twisting in the wind with guilt,” she said, standing. “I’m leaving now. Not because I’m frightened, mind you—although I am a little—but I need some time to mull this over. I’ll be in my room.”

  “Ladies and gentlemen, I present the bonfire…” the emcee whispered loudly into the microphone, “…where you throw your head back and let the rhythm take hold of your body.”

  A loud whoosh sounded and a ball of blue flame rolled into the air as the drummers pounded out an ancient native beat. The dancers rushed the area, forming a circle around the fire.

  Jenna hesitated for a moment, engrossed in the energetic movement of the dancers. She broke away from the vision. She tromped through the sand, passing the many guests that by now frolicked with the enthusiasm of their college days. Thoughts darted through her mind on her way back to the room. She felt repulsed, aroused, curious, and scared all at the same time. She detected the scent of marijuana in the hallway. Unintentionally she followed the odor right up to her room door. She could smell the distinct odor of cannabis seeping through the seams. She slid in her key, entered, and walked straight to Jack.

  “How did you get that?” Jenna asked, standing in front of him with her hands on her hips. “You haven’t been walking on your foot again, have you?”

  “Only to the door. Our bellman, Demonde, delivered it. He’s a very cool guy.”

  “O … kay,” she said as she approached Jack. “Well, I’m glad you’re awake. You won’t believe what I have to tell you.” She unzipped her dress as she moved to sit on the edge of the bed.

  “What h
appened?”

  “God, look at the size of that thing,” she said.

  “I know. It’s incredible, isn’t it? It’s some good shit, too. Want some?”

  “Nah. That’s okay,” she said. “So you’re not going to believe what I found out. Oh my god, I’m freaking out.”

  “Well then, spit it out already.”

  “I’m sitting at the table and I look over and I see Summer dancing with this older man drenched in gold, doing the bump and grind,” she said, sounding very much like an excited teenager disclosing her greatest secret.

  “Cool.”

  “Not so cool. So like I’m freaking out and Marc pulls me back to the dance area and I see Summer and this guy kissing. And I mean kissing.”

  “Excellent,” he said, grinning and tilting his head back against the headboard.

  “Then Summer comes over and I’m thinking she wants to dance with Marc and I’m about to escape but she grabs me instead and I say, ‘What the hell was that about?’”

  “And she said?”

  “She said she was kissing another man. Just matter-of-factly, like it was no big deal.”

  “Very cool. I miss the best stuff.”

  “Then Marc and Summer explain how they’re free to do what they want as long as the other is present. Marc actually enjoyed watching Summer kiss that man.”

  “Wow, that’s some kinky shit, man. I knew those people were cool.”

  “Don’t be obnoxious. So naturally, now I’m thinking they’re hitting on me, Marc in particular, and then they tell me no. I was very confused.”

  “Did you say ‘they’re’, as in they are, hitting on you. Mmm … you and Summer? Cool.”

  “You need to stop smoking that pot, Picasso. And wipe your chin!” she exclaimed, lightly punching his arm. “So anyway, they said we have too many problems or something like that, otherwise, they’d be interested. I felt somewhat insulted. I mean not that I would be interested or anything, but still.”

  “Well, speak for yourself. I’m interested.”

  “I’m going to assume you’re either too stoned or too stupid to know what you’re saying,” she said, rolling onto her back away from him.