Gentrified

by Kirsten McCurran

  Kyle led him back to the kitchen and pressed a craft beer in Winston’s hand. Winston was not a beer snob, and could not have cared less about the beer Kyle insisted he had to try. They moved over to a corner of the kitchen where they could talk with a modicum of privacy.

  “How’s it going with Nic, dude? I never thought I would see her settle down. You must really have a magic dick,” Kyle said.

  Winston thought of all of the replies he could make to that, but decided he was not opening that door. He didn’t need to discuss what happened unless Kyle really wanted to. The only contact the men had had was a brief conversation a few weeks afterward. Kyle told him everything was fine, and even thanked him for being so cool.

  “She’s a great girl. I think I’m the lucky one,” Winston said.

  “Yeah, she is. I guess it took a real man to tame her.”

  Winston smiled. “Trust me, man. Nic is not tamed.”

  “You are lucky, dude.”

  “You’re a lucky man, too. Jessie is incredible.”

  “Oh yeah. I know how lucky I am. It’s been an interesting ride.”

  “So everything’s okay? There was no fallout? I really didn’t want to mess anything up,” Winston insisted.

  “You didn’t mess anything up. If anything, I should still be thanking you. Jess has been amazing since…you know, since that night.”

  “Since I fucked her,” Winston said in a low voice. He just couldn’t help himself.

  “Yeah,” Kyle said, eagerly adding, “since you fucked her. I mean, she’s still Jess, but it’s like this other side of her has emerged. She’s got this new attitude. I love it.”

  “Nice.”

  “And dude, we’re fucking all the time now. I had nothing to complain about before, but she is, like, always down to fuck. You know what I’m saying?”

  “I hear you. Jessie’s a hot one. You’ve just got to cultivate a woman like that, and make sure you work to keep her interested.”

  “I’m doing what I can. We re-watch those videos together a lot. The night was…”

  “I feel you,” Winston replied. He wasn’t shocked. He knew how guys like Kyle were. Kyle was probably picturing Winston fucking Jess a lot of the time he was in bed with her. “Have you guys ever thought about doing anything again?”

  “Well, you’re with Nic now,” Kyle said quickly.

  “I didn’t mean me, man. Although if you need my services…”

  “Yeah, we’ve talked a little here and there, but it’s mostly fantasy. I think Jess is afraid it would really change her if we went all the way down that road.”

  “And you?”

  “I’m not worried. I love the changes in her, and I hope they’re permanent. I wouldn’t even mind if she got a little wilder—like Nic.”

  Winston chuckled. “I don’t know if Jessie could ever be like Nic, but you never know. Nic really is down with anything.”

  “Yeah?” Kyle asked. His eyes glazing over as he considered the possibilities.

  “Yeah, man. If Jessie ever comes over again, I’ll send Nic over to your place and you can find out.”

  “She would? With me?” Kyle seemed stunned.

  “She’s got a new appreciation for you since everything with Jessie. Get her under the mistletoe tonight and you’ll find out.”

  “You’re pulling my leg.”

  Winston shrugged. “We should probably find those women before they get themselves in trouble.”

  As he moved through the crowd, Winston observed he wasn’t the only African American at the party, but he still felt that he didn’t quite fit in. It didn’t bother him. He was cool with everyone, but he sensed a few side-eyes here and there. It was like when Nicole brought him around some of her friends. Not that they were offended by the interracial couple—mostly—but the guys always seemed intimidated by his mere presence, and everyone worked hard to be politically correct. Nicole enjoyed their discomfort as much as he did.

  Winston turned, and Jessica walked right into him. He held onto her arms, keeping her close. She froze, but then stepped back.

  “Sorry about that. I need to get another can of Sterno from the basement. I don’t want the meatballs to get cold,” she said.

  “Let me help you,” he offered.

  “You don’t have to do that.”

  “I don’t have to do anything.”

  “Really, I got it,” she insisted.

  Winston followed her anyway. He held the door to the basement, noting the mistletoe hanging above it. Jessica saw it too when she looked up, and turned red. He followed her down the tight stairs.

  “You really didn’t have to come down,” she said.

  “As I recall, last time you came down here during a party I had to save you from a pushy drunk.”

  “Oh, yeah. I’m glad he’s not here tonight.”

  “And then there was the last time we were down here.”

  Jessica turned and looked at him. Her eyes were in shadows from the dim lighting, but he didn’t need to see them to know what she was thinking. Winston really didn’t intend to push anything. He just couldn’t help himself around her. It didn’t help that Nicole told him to go for it. God, he loved that woman, but her wild streak was going to get them in trouble someday.

  “I remember,” she softly answered.

  “I was kind of hoping I’d get to talk to you again after that. It happened, and then you were gone.”

  “What were we going to say? We knew what it was. I couldn’t come back. And even if I wanted to, I’m married and you’re with Nicole.”

  “She says—”

  “I know what she says,” Jessica said, laughing lightly.

  “I’d like to think we had other things to talk about.”

  “We did, but…”

  “It would be weird for you? Is this weird?”

  “Yes…no. I like you, Winston. Maybe that’s the problem.”

  “You’re afraid of temptation.”

  Jessica smiled. “I’m learning to handle temptation, and enjoy it. It’s not the temptation I’m afraid of.”

  “It’s the giving in,” he finished for her.

  “Could be. The funny thing is, I don’t think Kyle would mind. I think he’d like it.”

  “And Nic doesn’t mind,” Winston said.

  “But that’s not the point. It would be so easy to just give in.”

  “But?”

  “It would be too easy. Once I gave in, kept giving in, where does it stop?”

  “You’re afraid you’d be over every night.” Winston touched her arm and she shivered.

  “Maybe. It’s not just about doing whatever I feel. I love my husband, my daughter. If it was an occasional thing, maybe. But you’re just right across the street.”

  “So test it,” he suggested.

  “What do you mean?”

  “We did just pass under the mistletoe.”

  “Very funny.”

  “I’m not kidding, Jessie.”

  Hands gripping both arms, he pulled her into a kiss, nearly lifting her off the ground. Jessica murmured something against his lips and fought his strength, but in seconds her mouth was open, and her tongue sought his. His arms enclosed her body pressing it against his. He stroked her silky blonde hair. It was like they’d never been apart. His cock throbbed against her, and Jessica rubbed into it.

  Winston lifted Jessica like a doll and sat her on the washing machine. It was like a repeat of their first kiss, on the other side of the basement, except they were both frustratingly wearing more clothing. That could easily be remedied. Winston tugged at the knot holding her wrap dress closed. It fell open, and his hand grazed over her breasts. He could barely feel her nipples through the padded black bra, but he didn’t care. He knew she was excited. Jessica was panting when he tiled her head and kissed her neck.

  “We shouldn’t be doing this,” she panted, digging her nails into his arms.

  Jessica didn’t tell him to stop, and he didn’t. He doubled dow
n, pushing the dress from her shoulders and her bra straps with it. He pulled the bra down, and his thumbs strummed her puffy, excited nipples. She bit her lower lip, but still cried out, her body tensing.

  “Winston…” she whimpered.

  He pressed a hand between her legs and found her panties damp. She squeezed her thighs closed, but all that did was push his hand harder against her mound. The edge of his hand pressed into her pussy and she moaned loudly. It was a good thing the party upstairs was so raucous.

  “Winston…please…we can’t…”

  “We can’t what, Jessie?” he purred into her ear.

  “We can’t…we can’t…fuck…”

  “But you want to.”

  “We can’t.”

  “But you want to,” he insisted.

  “We can’t, Winston, please…”

  Winston heard her resolve failing, and she was rubbing her pussy against his hand, instead of the other way around. She was completely soaked. His cock ached. He had forgotten just how intoxicating it was to be with Jessica, and he desperately wanted to fuck her. But he wasn’t going to make her. He hadn’t come to the party with that intention. He was just hoping to talk to her, but here they were. Even if he wasn’t going to fuck her, he could still make her come.

  “Okay, baby, okay. But I’m gonna make you come,” he hissed.

  “Winston…oh god…mmm…”

  Jessica relaxed her thighs, and he freely gripped her pussy, pushing a finger between her lips. He didn’t move her panties. They wouldn’t stop him from making her come. He pressed more firmly, and she rocked herself against his fingers. He knew he had her clit. It just took a few moments of that motion, and Jessica was hanging on him, crying into their kiss as an orgasm rocked her body. He clung to her tightly, knowing this was likely the last time he would feel this.

  “Oh god,” she gasped, slowly pulling herself together.

  Winston loved the way she looked after she came. Her pale skin was flushed from her hairline all the way down her chest, and her pupils were wide. The red lipstick she’d been wearing was smeared, and her hair was messed, but she easily raked it back into place. She fixed her bra and pulled her dress back into place.

  “That wasn’t nice,” she said, smiling.

  “There was mistletoe.” He shrugged.

  “Very funny. I don’t remember stripping and groping being part of that tradition.”

  He brushed her cheek with his fingers. “I can’t help it when I get around you, Jessie. There’s just something about you.”

  “You love corrupting me.”

  “It’s something like that,” he admitted.

  “Then you’ll be happy to know that I am thoroughly corrupted. I haven’t been quite the same since that night.”

  Winston helped her down from the washer, and she finished fixing her dress. “Yeah?”

  “I just notice things more now, other men. I get these dirty thoughts all the time.”

  “Sounds great. Maybe you guys should explore that.”

  “I told you, I think it’s dangerous.”

  “Not with me, Jessie. There are plenty of bulls out there. I’m sure you could find one and make it all about sex.”

  “Bulls?”

  “They’re the guys who like to do married women. You need to research this stuff some.”

  “I’ll talk to Kyle about it.”

  Jessica stared at his crotch, and put her hand on it. His cock jumped, and it was visible through his pants. “Sorry, baby. I didn’t mean to leave you like that.”

  He grinned. “You could take care of it.”

  “I think that’s Nic’s job now,” she said.

  “You’re afraid to, aren’t you?” Winston asked, reading her eyes.

  She looked away. “I shouldn’t admit this, but things already got out of hand. You’re right. I’m afraid if your pants come off I’m not going to want to stop.”

  “I’ll let you off this time.”

  Jessica sighed. He could see it in her face. She was dying to fuck him. He admired her self-control. If it was up to him, he’d be balls deep inside her.

  “Go upstairs. I’m going to wait a couple minutes, and then go up.”

  Winston pulled her into one last, lingering kiss. Jessica looked like she was going to stumble when he let her go. He chuckled and headed upstairs. His work was done here. He’d done everything he’d set out to do with his pretty blonde neighbor.

  twenty-nine

  Jess was reeling from what just happened. She stared into space in the dim basement, waiting for the tingling to recede from her body. At least one thing had been confirmed. It was dangerous to be alone with Winston. She may have stopped short of fucking him, but her willpower was weak around her handsome neighbor. They could never be friends, if they ever were that. Jess realized now that the strong sexual undercurrent had always been a part of their relationship.

  The party was still in full swing when she returned. She placed the Sterno and lit it, then looked around for Kyle. She had to tell him what happened with Winston. There were no secrets between them. Jess saw Winston talking to her brother-in-law Mike, and her sister watching nervously. Something was going on with Mike and Jen, she just didn’t know what. Satisfied Kyle was not downstairs, Jess went looking for him upstairs.

  Jess reached the top of the stairs, turned, and froze. Kyle and Nicole were standing just outside the bedroom, kissing passionately. Nicole’s arms were around Kyle, and he held her tight butt. The party noise must have masked Jess’s approach on the creaky old steps, because they kept right on going, unaware they had an audience. Reading their body language, she saw Nicole was way into it. This was not just a kiss.

  Her first thought was, Are they having an affair? Kyle encouraging her to be with Winston could have been a smoke screen to get approval for his own desire to step out. Jess dismissed that. Even if Kyle did want to cheat, Nicole would never betray her, despite what she was witnessing. Also, it would have been much easier for Kyle to cheat on the road than risk an affair with her best friend. Once the paranoid thoughts cleared from her head, Jess found herself fascinated watching her husband and best friend.

  Part of why Jess couldn’t understand Kyle’s voyeuristic desires was because she could never see herself giving the same permission, let alone getting off on it. Jess thought herself much too jealous to see Kyle with another woman. The idea was so crazy that she never allowed the possibility she might like it. But her experience with Winston had changed her. Opened her eyes. Instead of rushing in to stop them, Jess hung back and watched. She also remembered the mistletoe over the couple. They’d hung mistletoe over all their doors as a joke. It looked like Nicole took it seriously.

  Jess was still ravenously horny from her encounter with Winston, and she tried to blame her feelings on that, but she had to admit, watching Kyle and Nicole was hot. She already had a new appreciation for how sexy her raven-haired friend was, and seeing Kyle all over her made her see her husband in a new light. She saw him for the desirable man he was—not just as Kyle. Jess barely resisted the urge to touch herself as she crept closer to the couple. She was beside them when Kyle finally noticed her. He pulled away from Nicole and turned bright red.

  “Uh, hey, Jess. I…uhm…this isn’t what you think…” he stammered.

  “Kyle,” Jess said.

  Nicole laughed. “Slow down, cowboy. It doesn’t look like she’s mad. You’re not mad, are you, hon?”

  “I’m surprised,” Jess answered, unsure what to say.

  “We just saw the mistletoe, and well, what else were we supposed to do?” Nicole asked.

  “It might have gotten a little out of hand,” Kyle suggested.

  “I told you, it looks like Jess is good with it. Let’s see.”

  Nicole kissed Kyle again. Being so close to them while they kissed, Jess was sure she was reacting to them, and not some residual feelings stirred by Winston. She felt a pang of jealousy, because she did want her husband to herself, but
she was also jealous to be left out. She knew how well both her best friend and her husband kissed. Nicole didn’t leave her out for long. She pulled back from Kyle. He looked stunned when he turned to Jess.

  “See, she’s not stopping. You’re actually under the mistletoe, too,” Nicole said.

  Nicole kissed her, and Jess gasped as adrenaline spiked through her. Jess clung to both Kyle and Nicole and fully gave herself to the kiss, accepting Nicole’s playful tongue. Nicole groped her, and Jess regretted wearing the padded bra. When she touched Nicole, there was no such padding. She felt the brunette’s nipples rising even though her sweater.

  Jess didn’t let Nicole get away when she turned to kiss Kyle again. She swept Nicole’s hair, which had grown out longer, and kissed her neck. Nicole hissed Jess’s name between kisses. Jess reached to touch her husband’s crotch, and found Nicole’s hand already there. Nicole broke her kiss, and pushed Kyle and Jess together. It felt like the sexiest kiss she’d ever shared with her husband.

  Everything became a jumble. Instead of making a scene in the doorway—where they could be discovered at any moment—the threesome pushed into the bedroom, and the door was closed. They stumbled toward the bed, kissing and groping each other, and Jess was glad the guests’ coats had been thrown on Maddy’s bed.

  At the foot of the bed, Nicole slipped to her knees and pulled open Kyle’s corduroy pants. He stared at his wife wide-eyed. Jess understood. She could hardly believe this was happening either. She looked down and saw Nicole engulf his cock in her mouth. Her friend didn’t tease, she just went right to work, swallowing half of Kyle’s meaty shaft in one gulp. Nicole looked up at Kyle, but then her eyes shifted to Jess, who swore her friend was smiling around her mouthful.

  “Oh fuck,” Kyle gasped, one hand on Nicole’s head, the other on Jess’s hip.

  “Does that feel good, baby?” Jess cooed, kissing his neck and stroking his hair.

  “Fuck, Jess…”

  “It’s okay, baby, I want you to,” she said.

  The married couple kissed, and Kyle held the back of Jess’s head hard. It felt like he was trying to drill his tongue right through her. She liked him aggressive. He tore his mouth away, and cried out.