by Olivia Grey
Axel smiled and jabbed her playfully in the side. Everything about their relationship bordered on bipolar.
“Still not gonna tell me what you have planned?”
“This one’s worth waiting for,” Jemma said, “I promise.”
‘”Um… guys,’ I said, swallowing hard, not really trusting myself not to punch her in the gut. “I’m parked over there, so this is where I leave you.”
“You’re not coming over?” Jemma pouted.
Again, I reeled in my anger and shook my head. “I’ve got this thing with mom. She’ll be pretty pissed if I miss it.”
“But I’ll see you tomorrow?”
“Yes, Jemma. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
Jemma blew a few kisses my way before getting lost in another conversation with Axel.
I thought I would have felt relieved, returning to my car and taking a break from their presence. But the days, they’d just sped by at rocket speed and I didn’t feel any more or less prepared.
If my mom found out, her punishments could range from shipping me off to a nunnery, disowning me or female castration. Okay, maybe she wouldn’t take it too far as that last bit. But it was all for the greater good, right. This all started out as some little game. Take the nerdy girl. Turn her into a princess. Reintroduce her to the world. But then came the promises. Jemma’s family had the kind of pull that meant something. My father worked in one of the companies owned by Jemma’s father. A promise to suggest to her dad that he offer my dad a raise was the same as Jemma letting me know that if I said or did the wrong thing, my dad would no longer have a job. Anyone would agree that no far would ever want his daughter to trade her virginity to secure his financial wellbeing. But that wasn’t really the point. My grandmother’s dead. My grandfather’s shortly after. They meant my father was already emptying out money jars he didn’t have in order to keep everything together. And then there was college. I had the smarts. I’d probably even get the scholarships. But if my father lost his job and couldn’t cover what the scholarships covered, it would ruin him.
There’s no telling whether or not turning her away in the beginning would have had any benefit at all. Well, outside of the fact that I would have been able to keep my panties on, my body to myself and my virginity intact.
13
Jemma
Finally. Saturday. We were only hours away from the time when I’d set the first domino in place, but still, it was Saturday. After weeks of stomaching Frances, it was time for me to take full advantage of the benefits that come with her unadulterated loyalty. Her phone call last night was enough I needed to sleep peacefully, knowing that she was still on board as co-captain of the ship I was ready to undock.
As expected, she had some questions, childish ones but ones that I answered willingly. Will it hurt? Are you sure Axel will even want this? I’d chuckled at the last one. There wasn’t a man on earth who would frown at the chance of having two women tickle his fancy…or his balls. And to have that happen in high-school when most guys were still figuring out how to get an actual boner, well that was a notch Axel would gladly punch in his belt. It didn’t matter that one person in the equation wasn’t as flowery as the other. Axel seemed to have a thing for nerds, so this was nothing more than him living out his fantasy.
I’d booked the hotel room, dropped off a key to Axel and headed over to the hotel to get a thing or two in place. As exhausting as it was to be driving back and forth, I couldn’t stay at the hotel because it was important that Axel was the first one to arrive. Things would be easier that way and more believable.
Rather than heading home, I headed in the direction of Frances’ house. Even though she’d given me her word, I had to make sure that no room was left for her to back out. I rang the doorbell and waited. No more than a minute later, her mother was standing in front of me- droplets of sweat on her forehead and a kitchen towel in her hand.
“Hi Mrs. Hilltower,” I smiled, “is Frances home?”
“Oh yes. Yes, of course,” she replied, calming her hair with her hands. “Sorry if I look a mess, I’m just getting a bit of tidying up done.”
There was no need to wonder who Frances inherited her wrecked nerves from. Her and her mother, they were like twins- minus a few wrinkles and the odd strand or two of grey hair.
“There’s no need to apologize. Someone’s got to keep the house clean, right?” And where there is poverty there are no maids.
Mrs. Hilltower nodded, still barricading the door with her nervousness.
“May I come in?” I cocked my head to the side, hoping to catch a glimpse of Frances.
Mrs. Hilltower moved to the side, gesturing for me to make my way past her. “Oh yes. Come on in. Frances is upstairs,” she said, trailing behind me.
“Do you mind if I go up?”
“No not at all. I’ll be down here if you girls need anything. Lemonade, apple juice, some pie.”
“Thanks, for the offer Mrs. Hilltower, but Frances and I are heading out to lunch, so we’ve got to save our appetites.”
“Oh, she didn’t mention that she was going anywhere today.”
Bitch!
“No? Well, let’s just hope it didn’t slip her mind.” I added a chuckle, like there was a damn thing humorous about Frances trying to skip out on me.
“Tell her not to be back too late, will you?”
I smiled, but didn’t answer. Threw my blond locks over my shoulder and tapped my stilettos as loud as possible on the way upstairs.
Frances heard me before she saw me. What a bummer? I would have loved to see the look she had on her face when she realized that there really was no escaping me.
14
Frances
I knew why Jemma was here. Hated the fact that she was here, but I understood why she came.
I wasn’t actually going to leave her hanging. I’d made up my mind to do it, as hard as that was. Plus, as soon as high school was over, all would be forgotten. Right? Jemma, Axel? They’d all be left in the backwoods of my mind.
I doubt women in their thirties cried over a stupid decision they made when they were in high school. And that was the age that mattered, right? When all the wisdom is meant to come. When life lessons are meant to be mastered. The family, the kids, the job, the house. That’s when we were all supposed to have all our shit together. Right now didn’t matter. High school didn’t matter.
“Hey Jemma,” I stood in the doorway and watched her work her way up the stairs.
“How’s it going?” She smiled and leaned in for a hug.
I rested my hand on her back and pulled myself into her. She smelled great, like lavender and sin.
“So… I was thinking that we could drive together.”
“You mean…now?”
“No, not now, Frances. I was thinking we should let him get there first, you know, make him wait a little. But if you’re really that enthusiastic-”
“I don’t mind waiting,” I blurted out and watched as Jemma’s brows reached a peak.
He placed her hands on my shoulders and squeezed a little.
“You’re super nervous, aren’t you?” Taking my hand in hers, she guided me to the bed and patted the spot beside her. “I’ve already talked to my dad about getting your dad a raise,” she said. “Apparently your dad’s been a bit out of it lately, but… like I said, a promise is a promise, right?” With a quick sweep, she pushed my hair away from my back, over my shoulders and proceeded to knead her fingers into my back.
“Just to help you get rid of some of the tension.”
15
Jemma
Frances moaned the cutest little moan as I sunk my fingers into her shoulder. Axel will definitely get off on that. I was right in thinking that as long as something felt good enough, she’d be able to forget how wrong it should feel. Like this massage, for example. She was completely lost.
Just a massage. That’s all it was, unless of course, there were reasons to believe that one party wanted it to go further.
But I didn’t. Not just yet. Some things were worth waiting for and our threesome was one of them. Plus, I wasn’t a lesbian. I didn’t have weird fantasies about girls. I had a plan. A plan that included both a boy and a girl. Sometimes, you gotta do what you gotta do.
“How does that feel,’ I whispered the words against Frances’ ear, kneading my fingers deeper into her shoulders.
She cleared her throat. “Good.”
“Great,” I slapped a hand across her back. “Because my fingers are about to go numb.” I pulled my feet from around Frances and gave her a nudge. “Show me what you’re planning on wearing.”
She toyed around with her fingers, then pointed at herself. A white dress with bright pink flowers clung to her body. I wouldn’t say it was the ugliest thing I’d ever seen, but it wasn’t the prettiest either.
Whatever. Like that old saying goes, it’s not what’s on the outside the matters.
“And underneath?”
“I picked something up at the mall. Lots of lace and a tiny little string.”
“Why don’t we focus on a little less telling a lot more showing.”
She shook her head. ‘It’s… you know… already under the dress.’
“And,” I cocked my head to the side. I could not have chosen a bigger prude. “You’re scared about me seeing you half naked? You think you’re gonna be getting banged with lace covering your lady bits?”
‘Um… okay. I’ll take it off,’ she replied, her eyes searching for a spot in the room where she felt safe.
“Get on with it then,” I said.
Frances reached back and slowly unzipped her dress. Her eyes closed as she rolled the thick straps over her shoulders and down her thighs.
Her breaths hitched.
So did mine.
Axel was going to fucking love her. She was full. Full and plump with curves. Lots of them. Breasts that bulged out of the top of her lace bra. Smooth, luscious thighs.
“Put your clothes back on,” I said, and took out my phone to check the time.
Frances would start fetching for a compliment sooner or later and I couldn’t burst her bubble, so I’d have to give her one. In all honesty, I didn’t want to. I didn’t want to admit that she was something worth looking at.
“And?” She asked shyly.
“Nice Lingerie. Yep. You did well.”
The lingerie was nice. That’s what she was asking, right? I didn’t have to tell her how good she looked in it or how appealing I knew Axel would find her (more appealing than intended). It’s not that I was jealous. I didn’t get jealous, not over someone like Frances. I had the perfect body- a body that was well taken care of. Good food, a good diet- those were the things my body represented. And so what if my breasts weren’t as bouncy, they were still big enough.
“Got a message from Axel,” I beamed. Damn, being fake was getting way too damn exhausted. “He’s there already.’
“So it’s time.” She exhaled. A long breath. The words she spoke were more to herself than they were too me.
“It’s time indeed,” I replied.
16
Frances
Somehow, despite the tremor, my legs managed to move. All the way across the parking lot, through the lobby and to the elevator. In complete contrast to me, Jemma, walked with confidence. She was wearing a smile that not even a hurricane could sweep from her lips. She no longer smelled of lavender. Instead, she oozed of pure woman sexuality.
Ding. The silver elevator doors parted in front of us. I stepped back to allow a man and a woman to exit. A man and a woman- just them, no third party. Whatever they were upstairs doing, it was conventional. Jemma and I, we were about to take part in the most unorthodox thing I’d ever done in my life.
Jemma grabbed me by the elbow and gave me a little shove inside.
Sure, I hadn’t lost my ability to walk, but if she didn’t move me, I don’t think I would have moved myself.
I looked down, trying hard to avoid my reflection. Elevators, they’re nothing but one large mirror, staring into the souls of those who have something to hide. I kept my head down. Not wanting to see the darkness staring back at me. The decision had been made and I couldn’t unmake it.
“You’re gonna have the time of your life,” Jemma promised.
She pursed her lips together and then audible smacked them apart. People like Jemma didn’t know what guilt was. The next time she looked in that mirror, she would see the same person she had always been. The next time I looked in the mirror, I’d see just how much innocence was wiped away from me.
All too soon, the doors parted in front of us and for the second time, Jemma was the one to force my movement.
“Stop,” I said, as she attempted to pull me down the hallway. “Wait. Just give me a minute to catch my breath.”
“Ready,” I said confidently, though not feeling halfway as confident as my voice let on.
“Wait outside the door for a few seconds. We want this to be a complete surprise, okay.?”
I nodded and watched as Jemma pulled something from her purse and examined it. The keycard. With her head pointed up, she checked number after number as she strolled by each door. And then she stopped. 522. Room 522, that’s where we were.
I stopped to the side of the door, at an angle where I knew Axel wouldn’t be able to see me. Jemma winked at me before tapping her knuckles against the wooden surface.
I could hear my heartbeats- loud and trembling. They were so rapid. Doctors have been ranting for years about how smart our bodies are. Trust your body. Listen to your body. Believe your body. My body was throwing warning signs at me. It didn’t want this. It wasn’t prepared or strong enough for it. But I didn’t listen. I ignored those signs and watched nervously as the door flung open and Jemma lost her lips on Axel’s.
“Happy Birthday, baby,” she whispered, then pulled back to clap her hands.
Axel smiled. Wider than I’d ever seen him smile. He had an idea of what Jemma had planned and he was definitely keen on getting it started. Except an idea was all he had. Not the full picture, just a tiny little snippet that didn’t involve yours truly.
“You look amazing,” he whispered to Jemma, holding her at arms length to trail us eyes up and down her body. His hands went to her leg and then slowly traveled up and under her black leather skirt. “I can’t wait to see what you have planned.”
Jemma whisked her hair over her shoulder, just like she said she would. That was my signal. I took a deep breath, put one foot in front of the other and reminded myself to walk. I was doing this for my future. Doing this for my father’s future. For his sanity. To keep my family together.
Jemma spun around, her eyes beaming with exhilaration and then, in slow, slow, slow, motion Axel turned around. His jaw dropped, missed the floor by only a few inches. He looked at Jemma and then at me- his mouth still wide open. But no words came. There was no turning back now.
Like the fool Jemma took me for, I walked toward him. I’d never been much of an actress, but like hell if I wasn’t going to put on a show. If you’re gonna do something, might as well put your best damn foot forward, right?
“Hi, Axel,” I managed, seductively, somehow managing to escape the awkwardness that was customary of me.
My nerves still weren’t intact, but I faked what needed to be faked. Put on the face I needed to put on. The greater good. This was all for the greater good.
“Frances?” Confusion settled in his eyes. He looked from me to Jemma, from Jemma to me.
“Happy Birthday Axel.” Seductive. So damn seductive. I didn’t think I had it in me.
Axel took a step to his right, leaving he doorway clear. Jemma and I walked in stride, leaving Axel to catch his jaw as we moved over to the bed, wrapped in silky white sheets.
There was a pause before Axel finally shut the door and turned around to face us.
“Okay,” he laughed, shaky, confused, his eyes fixed on Jemma’s. “I know you’re on for shooting the ball out of the p
ark, but…”
Axel leaned against the dresser, waiting for the video crew to show up, yelling and screaming, declaring that he’d just been pranked. A part of me was waiting for the very same thing.
17
Jemma
You know what’s worse than one coward? Two.
Frances did a good enough job at keeping her nerves together. She seemed believable, like she really wanted this. Which, I guess, maybe a part of her did want a part of this.
Slowly, I guided my fingers up France’s leg, over her knee, and halfway up her thigh before pushing her all the way back on the bed. She complied, permitting her head to fall against the pillow and her legs to prickle with goosebumps as my fingers traveled even further up.
“If you’re not going to join us, we’ll just have to have all the fun by ourselves,” I teased.
He watched, almost intently and of course, more than just a little bit shocked.
I positioned my body on top of Frances’ straddling her, leaning in to kiss and suck and lick at her neck. We’d barely even started yet and her heart rate seemed to be at an all-time high. As I dipped my head closer to her, burying my lips into her neck another time, I felt her breath catch in her throat. Frances’ body trembled with each touch. She placed her hand at the small of my back and I traced my tongue from the base of her neck to her ear, flicking it along the edges. “Are you ready for Axel to fuck you, Frances?”
Frances slid her fingers through my hair and pulled my head down. Everything about her motions was so intense that for a minute, I wondered just how much of this was an act. She pulled my face into hers. The closer I came to her, the more her lids lowered until her eyes were fully closed. And then, her lips were pressed against mine and mine against hers. Her tongue wrapped around mine and mine around hers. There was an undeniable intensity there as she pulled me into her, like a needy little virgin.
