Dance of a Lifetime

by Frank Downey

  " What are you talking about? Jessie asked.

  "Drugs, Jessie!" Corinne spat out. "You're taking drugs again, aren't you?"

  "No, I'm not."

  "The three of you," Corinne maintained.

  "Mrs. Reidel," Sophia said, "As far as I know, Jessie hasn't done drugs in a few years. I haven't done drugs in longer than that. Warren has never done them. There were no drugs here."

  "There had to be," Corinne maintained.

  "Dammit, Mom, there were not!"

  "Then what was it?

  "Love and support," Jessie maintained.

  " I try to give you that, Jess!" Corinne said. "And it hasn't worked."

  "It's different."

  "Why, Jessie? Love and support is love and support, isn't it? There has to be something else."

  "OK, Dammit," Jessie said. "Great sex! Love and support and great sex. Are you happy now?"

  "I thought you were here yesterday," Corinne said. Jessie nodded. "Then who could you have great sex with?"

  "THEM!" Jessie howled, pointing at Warren and Sophie. "I had sex with them. Both of them. And it was euphoric."

  "What?" Corinne choked out, shocked.

  "You know, Jess and I really have to stop shooting our mouths off at inopportune moments," Warren said wryly.

  "You had sex... with Warren... and Sophie?" Corinne asked, still stupefied.

  "We invited her into our bed," Sophia said quietly. "And, by the way, that's an open-ended invitation, and she knows that."

  The room went deathly silent. Until the silence was broken up by delighted laughter. It was Kate.

  "Oh, I love it!" Kate burst out. "My sister is having a menage a trois with her fiancé and her best friend! How cool is that? You guys are nice and kinky, aren't you?"

  "Excuse me?" Dan said.

  "Well, Dad, it is," Kate said, still giggling. "Sounds like fun, actually."

  "Jesus, Kate, I knew being around Sophie was going to give you ideas," Dan grumbled-though not entirely.

  "Oh, I've been having that idea since Chad introduced me to his friend Stacy. And she was wearing a skintight halter top and short shorts," Kate giggled. "I'm usually not one for girls, but I took one look at her and went 'hmmmmm'."

  "KATHERINE!" Dan yelled-but he couldn't help the grin that was threatening to break out. "Ah, to hell with it," he said. "I give up."

  "You gave up a long time ago," Kate grinned, tickling him on the arm. He turned to Sophia. "Do you know that when I first went to bed with Chad, I was actually able to talk to him about it without him taking my head off?"

  "You're older," Dan said. "And I know you're responsible. And, I guess, I have changed some of my attitudes." He grinned wryly. "In this house, it was either that, or be completely grey instead of only partially. Not to mention the ulcer I'd develop." He looked at Sophia. "But isn't this a bit, I don't know, dangerous?"

  "We don't think so," Sophia said.

  "I guess what puzzles me the most," Corinne said, "is this. Look, Jess, you know I try to be open-minded, but I didn't think you had any interest in girls. Are you questioning your sexuality?"

  "Nope," Jessie said. "What I've decided is that I'm heterosexual, with a side order of Sophia Daniels." The whole room chuckled at that. "It's just her."

  "So, what does this mean?" Ellen asked.

  "It means that The Couple is now a threesome. As long as Jess wants it that way," Sophia said.

  "And, at least for right now, I want it that way," Jessie said.

  "But, the wedding?" Ellen asked.

  "This does not affect their wedding," Jessie asserted.

  "Well, yeah, it does. I think I need to find a new best man," Warren said ruefully.

  "Why?" Corinne asked.

  "Well, this fat lip? Jason's fist."

  "Oh, Jeez," Ellen said. "I thought you told me he fell," she said to Sophia.

  "Well, we were trying to keep all this under wraps," Sophia said.

  "Wait a minute. Jason knows?" Corinne said.

  "He figured it out. I don't do a poker face very well," Warren said.

  "And then he slugged you?" Corinne said.

  "Well, actually, no. He didn't slug me until I told him he didn't deserve Jess."

  Corinne laughed. "You know what? If you two made her this happy, then you were right, Warren."

  "We love her," Warren said.

  "We both love her," Sophia added. "We just want her to be happy." Jessie was beaming.

  "But, I don't know, guys," Ellen added. "What about you two?"

  "We're already happy," Sophia pointed out. "With Jess involved, we're just happier."

  "This isn't permanent," Jessie said. "This is for now. We all know that. We can handle this."

  "If you say so," Corinne said. "Just be careful, OK? Judging by the look of Warren's lip, this little escapade has already ruined one friendship."

  "True," Warren said, "but the three of us have talked about this. Besides which, Crash was being an asshole. To Jessie especially."

  "Well, that's one problem you might have, Jess," Ellen said. "Your next boyfriend better be a gem. Because I think Warren's about to become more overprotective than Dan used to be about Kate!"

  "Nope," Warren said. "She just knows she has someplace else to go, now. He'd better be a gem if he plans on keeping her!"

  The next day was Christmas Eve. Warren convinced Sophie to go out and do some last-minute shopping. Sophie and Jessie had always exchanged gifts, but Warren wanted to find something for Jessie from both of them.

  They did. And when Jessie opened up the gift that evening, she broke into tears.

  They had found a set of earrings. The part in the ear was a diamond stud. Dangling from the stud part were little gold hearts.

  Three little gold hearts.

  Chapter 118 - Photogenic

  "So, tell me again," Jessie asked Sophia as she sat in the passenger's seat of Sophia's car, "where are we going?"

  "New Hampshire."

  "And why are we going to New Hampshire?"

  "Tattoos."

  Jessie looked at her. " Tattoos?"

  "Yeah, I didn't tell you before this because I didn't want you to spill the beans. Warren doesn't know about this." She giggled. "I've always wanted to do this, and with that Maxim photo shoot coming up next week, I decided I wanted the tattoos beforehand."

  "How many, and where?" Jess asked.

  "Two. One on the small of my back, one right above the bikini line on my right boob."

  "What?"

  "You'll see," Sophia grinned. "The one on my back is cool. I checked this out. These guys we're going to, they have a good reputation of being able to work well from a drawing. I knew what I wanted, so I had Kate sketch it out for me, and the tattoo guy is going to copy it. It's going to be great."

  "Just so you don't expect me to get any," Jessie snorted.

  "Well, they do piercings, too. I figured we could get your nipples done. With a chain connecting the two, so I can lead you around by your tits."

  "Hmmm. Well. Hmmmmm," Jessie said. Both girls cracked up laughing. "Nah, I don't think so. If I did it, I'd do it after I went back to Wisconsin. I don't want the recovery time to coincide with the too-few weeks I have here."

  "Good point," Sophia laughed.

  Jessie giggled, then got serious. "You know how my Mom said she made me an appointment with a psychologist? I kept it. Even though I'm a lot happier, my life has gotten very weird all of a sudden."

  "True," Sophia grinned.

  "She said a lot of interesting things." Jessie took a deep breath. "I was worried about the lactation thing, you know. She didn't seem to think it was a big problem. She asked me if I had ever mothered you. And I said, yeah, actually, back when you were going through all of your younger pre-Warren shit."

  "You're right, you did," Sophia agreed.

  "So, the shrink thinks that it's your turn to mother me, and it's just coming out in a different way. Plus the fact that it turns me on intensifies
that. So she's not worried about that at all."

  "Good, because I'm feeling full. We might have to pull into a rest stop," Sophie teased.

  "Wouldn't that be interesting if we were caught!" Jess said, laughing. "Anyhow, then I asked her about this whole threesome thing. I described a lot of stuff to her. And I told her my worry-that I thought I had to try really hard not to monopolize Warren. That I had to remember that I was number two, and not get in between you and he. She thinks I'm worried about the wrong thing." Jessie took a breath. "She thinks that I have to be careful not to monopolize you."

  "Me?"

  "Yeah. She thinks the bond between Warren and I is strong-but she thinks the bond between you and I is unbelievably strong."

  "It always has been," Sophia smiled.

  "And that was before we added sex to the equation. Plus-let's face it-Warren is easygoing. He won't fight for his rights until it gets really bad."

  "Yeah, but I will," Sophia asserted. "I love you Jess-but I love him, too. And I prefer men, sexually. I love having sex with you, but I'm not going to forget Warren, believe me. You're not that good."

  Jessie cracked up laughing. "True. And you're not as good as he is, either. Except he doesn't lactate. Anyhow, though, I wasn't just talking about sex. I almost turned you down on coming with you today, but you were so insistent. I thought you should be taking Warren."

  "Oh, we would've all gone, except I'm trying to surprise him."

  "Yeah, I get that, now."

  "Besides which, Jess, our time together is limited. Warren and I will have plenty of time to rejuvenate. And, quite honestly, as long as you are here, I prefer the three of us together anyhow, not pairing up with someone left out." She grinned. "Especially in bed. Opens up so many possibilities."

  "True," she grinned. Then she got serious. "Crash called last night."

  "What did he say?" Sophia asked.

  "I don't know. I wasn't there. If you remember, dear, last night I was eating your pussy while Warren fucked me."

  "Oh, yeah," Sophia laughed. "He left a message?"

  "Yeah. Says he just wants to talk."

  "Are you going to return the call?"

  "I'm inclined not to, but I'm still deciding," Jess sighed. "I just have a funny feeling it's going to be a diatribe-against me and Warren."

  "Well, call him, and if he launches into a diatribe, hang the phone up."

  "Maybe. I still have to think about it."

  "I can't tell you what to do. Anyhow, here we are."

  "Sophia Daniels getting tattoos. Never woulda thunk it," Jessie grinned.

  Warren was home with Betsy, Dan, Kate, and Kate's boyfriend Chad.

  "Quite honestly, Dan," he was saying, "I expected you to go ballistic over this whole threesome thing. Especially after Kate piped up with how cool and kinky it was."

  "Hmm. So you like this idea?" Chad grinned.

  "Do not get me in trouble here," Kate laughed.

  Dan laughed, too. "You know what, Warren? Sometimes, in life, you either accept what is, when you know you can't change it, or you just make yourself ill. Nothing I say is going to stop you guys. Nothing I say is going to stop Kate. If she and Chad want to get it on with another woman, nothing I say is going to stop it. Yeah, with Kate, I could put my foot down, threaten to kick her out, yadda yadda yadda. What would that prove? I did it for too long, and I almost ruined my relationship with my only daughter beyond repair. It's not worth it."

  "Well, well, well. When did you get all enlightened?" Kate said.

  "You know when? Well, with you, it was when you broke up with Dave."

  "Huh?" Kate said.

  "I wasn't taking sides or saying that you should've broken up with him, mind you-that was between you and he. But breaking up with him was a mature, thought-out decision. You didn't get wrapped up in 'being a girlfriend', you made the decision you thought best at the time. I was impressed. You ended up alone all summer-lots of girls your age wouldn't have done that. They would've 'hung on' just so to not be alone."

  "Hmm," Kate said. "Thanks."

  "You're welcome," Dan smiled. "As for you," he said to Warren, "well, I must admit. I treated you and Sophie-especially Sophie-harshly over the years. And I regret that. Because I underestimated you, both of you. And I didn't really realize it until you brought home that squirmy thing in your arms."

  "I'm so impressed by how you've handled parenthood, at your young ages. I know, next year is going to be tough, juggling Betsy, skating, and school-and with no Ellen around. I would've thought it would be a disaster. I don't think so anymore. You guys can handle it."

  "Sophie's a fantastic mother. You're as equally as good a father. That kid's lucky. Ellen helps, I know-and having an easier schedule helps, too. But you guys did that, too. Taking a year off from school wasn't an easy decision-but, again, it was a good and mature one. And you two dote on that baby. I've been impressed since the day you guys brought her home."

  "If you can handle that, then I think you can handle your own sex life. Plus, I might have been worried more if it was some strange girl you guys brought home, but it's Jessie. She's been a part of Sophie's life forever, and a part of your life for almost as long. She's here all the time anyhow, whenever you're all in town, so what's the difference? You're in bed instead of on the couch? Who cares? If you guys think you can handle it, then it's your business."

  "Thanks, Dan. That means a lot," Warren smiled.

  "Where are the terrible twosome, anyway?" Dan asked.

  "They wouldn't tell me," Warren grinned.

  "Well, I know, but I'm sworn to secrecy," Kate giggled. "Though, Dad, your estimation of Sophie's maturity might go down a smidge. I think she's nuts, but, hey, it's her decision."

  "OK, now you've got me worried," Warren said.

  "Oh, no, nothing worrisome. I just think it's stupid. But, then, that's me."

  Just then, Sophia and Jessie walked in the front door. "Hi, folks!" Jessie said, running in the door. "Hi," Sophie said. She was moving a little stiffly-especially when she took her coat off, Jessie had to help her.

  "Honey, what's wrong?" Warren asked.

  "Nothing. It's just a little painful. It'll go away," Sophia grinned tightly. "I knew it was going to hurt."

  "OK. What did you do?" Warren demanded. "Kate wouldn't tell us what it was, but said she thought it was stupid."

  "Well I don't. I've been wanting to do this for a very long time." She started taking off her blouse. "Don't worry, I've got a bikini top on underneath." She got the blouse off, and pointed to her right boob, right above the bikini line. "That's the small one," she said.

  They looked at it. It said " I W K."

  "A tattoo?" Warren grinned. "You got a tattoo? And it's such a sweet one. I'm touched."

  "Well, no, I got two tattoos," she grinned, and turned around. "Kate designed this one, they just copied it." On the small of her back were the five Olympic rings. Dangling from the two bottom rings were a pair of ice skates.

  "That's fantastic!" Warren enthused. "I love it!"

  "OK, it really is impressive," Kate agreed.

  "Very eye-catching," Dan said. "And very appropriate for you. The good thing is that one's not one you're going to be embarrassed about twenty years from now. Because you'll always be an Olympian."

  "And I won't be embarrassed by the other one, because I'll always heart W K, too," she giggled.

  Warren started singing in a bad country-western parody, "She loved me so much, on her tittie she had it tattooed; but when I tried to kiss it all better she said I was crude."

  "You're a nut, you know that?" Sophie laughed. "You really like them? I was afraid you wouldn't."

  "I really like them," Warren smiled. "You did this now because of the Maxim photo shoot, didn't you?"

  "Yup!" Sophia admitted.

  The next week, after the new year, Sophia-with Warren and Betsy in tow-flew down to New York for the Maxim photo shoot.

  They met the photographer and the i
nterviewer, and Sophie signed all of the relevant paperwork. The photographer asked her, "What are my limits?"

  "Huh?

  "How far can I go? With most celebrities, I get 'don't show this'."

  "Oh. Well, then, no limits," Sophia said. "I know you guys don't do full nudity, but, even if you did, I wouldn't care. I'm not shy."

  "Great!" the photographer said.

  First, they had someone do her makeup and hair. Then, an assistant handed her a bikini. "Go put this on, so we can get an idea of what I have to work with," the photographer said. There was a place for Sophie to change, and she emerged in a very skimpy black bikini.

  "Nice tattoo," the photographer laughed.

  "I have two," Sophia grinned, and turned around to show him the other one.

  "Oh, I like that one!" he said. "We'll definitely get a shot from the rear. Now. Sit here and we'll do some bikini shots." He looked at her. "Are you sure you had a baby five months ago?"

  Sophia laughed. "She's right over there, with her Daddy," she said, pointing behind the photographer to a corner of the room. "And I watched her come out, so I know she's mine. I had to get back in shape in a hurry for skating."

  "You did that. Let's get started."

  Sophia was there for a couple hours, taking all sorts of photos. At one point, Betsy cried, so Sophia asked for a few minutes to feed her. The photographer snapped a few of that.

  "Somehow, I can't see Maxim wanting breastfeeding shots," Sophia laughed.

  "Probably not, but, you know, I'll submit them. One of them was quite beautiful."

  She enjoyed it, even thought some of them are quite revealing. She took some with no top on at all, her arm covering her breasts. A few taken from the back, with her looking back over her shoulder, were done with her wearing nothing but panties. This was going to be quite a spread, she thought.

  The interview was painless. The interviewer asked her about skating, Betsy, Warren, and juggling all those things. She enjoyed it.

  The issue would be out in about a month and a half-after Nationals, but just in time for Worlds. Sophie and Warren couldn't wait to see how the skating world received it.

  After they got home, they were lying in bed with Jessie, just talking, when the doorbell rang.