Ann: The Married Years Ch. 07

Greetings readers.

First, an apology for my reaction to a reader that posted to my last chapter. While I value opinions of those that take the time to read what I've written, I was a bit thin-skinned that day. While he/she was wrong in their view of where they felt the story was ultimately going (their comment and my response since redacted), and therefore questioned the category in which I've been placing this series for the most part, my response was unprofessional, even for someone that doesn't do this for a living (although wishes he could).

For those that may care to know, I've updated my profile page to explain where this story is really going. I felt compelled to share this so that I could dispel some of the misconceptions about who Ann is, and more importantly, who she is not or ever going to be. I can't change the categories I've placed this saga in (well, I probably could, but it would be a lot of work at this point). But there's a reason for where they are. Bottom line, I try to put each chapter where it belongs for that chapter, so new readers won't be surprised by the content. If someone isn't really into say, BDSM, I don't want them shocked to be reading a story and then have it delve into that area without warning. That said, with knowing where the story I'm writing is headed, you'll have to trust me on the category. Erotic Couplings may not be the right one sometimes, but it fits most of what Ann and Neil do. Besides, part of the fun of reading is not being able to anticipate the plots twists and turns.

It's ironic that this chapter is next, as I can see it will likely only reinforce some reader's beliefs as to the direction where things are heading. That's the fun, and the risk, of a couple that pushes their limits sexually. Just remember that Ann and Neil have long establish a firm line, and that there's knowledge to be found in reading between those that are written. Anyway...

I truly respect your feedback, provided it's done with just that... respect.

Off my soapbox. On to the story, if you're still interested after all of this.

Enjoy!

2014, All rights reserved - mimaster

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"I'm surprised that's what you're wearing," Neil commented nonchalantly as he zoomed along a four-lane highway, his sporty red Nissan hugging the inside of a curve he was navigating.

"Really? Why would you say that?" Ann replied with a wrinkled nose, taking a moment to glance down at her outfit.

She was wearing a pair of very tight black jeans, and a trendy long-sleeved white tailored blouse that hugged the contours of her body. The design of the front was cut to look a bit like a vest, the short panels angled at the bottom, showing off a hint of her bare midriff. There were just three buttons, the deep plunge allowing a generous amount of her cleavage to come into view. Her four-inch black heels were open-toed, showing off her perfectly painted red nails, matching those on her manicured fingers. She looked incredible, but that didn't stop Neil from wondering why she'd chosen that particular outfit.

"Well, you're dressed a little conservatively, aren't you?"

"Since when are sexy black jeans and a sharp blouse considered conservative?"

"You look fantastic, babe. You always do. I'm just saying it's not the same as what you wore last year, that's all."

"Well unfortunately, my team isn't playing this year. Besides, I don't expect things to get out of hand like they did last year."

"Out of hand? I thought you had a good time. Do you regret doing it?"

"No, of course not, baby. I had a blast. I think you'd know that, based on how we fucked when we got home."

"We didn't fuck when we got home Ann. You passed out from drinking too much. We did it the next morning, on the front porch. Remember?"

"Wow, how did I forget that?" she teased, recalling every part of that memorable encounter. Winking at him, she said, "I loved the party Neil. And I have no regrets. If I did, we wouldn't be going tonight, would we?"

"Well, that's what I thought. But then you said you don't want things to get out of hand."

She turned toward him, a sexy smirk on her face. "I never said I don't want them to get out of hand. What I said was that I don't expect them to. There's a difference."

He arched his eyebrow, offering a wry smile. "So you're saying you might to do that again?"

"It depends. It's not my house, and it's not my party."

"So you're not going to do it."

"Look, I don't intend to be the one that starts. Like I said, it's not my party. I'm not even going to bring it up. But if Carol and Martina are up for it and something happens, who knows?" she shrugged.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Neil and Ann were off to Carol's Super Bowl party, which was announced on the elegantly written invitation as the 'Second Annual'. With her having the first party the year before, the obvious inference was it was now going to become a yearly affair. And this time, she said that Barry, her boyfriend, was co-hosting it with her. They'd officially become an item in August, no longer considering themselves just friends that were fucking.

Carol had dated several other men during that time, unsure if she wanted something serious or not. In fact, she insisted she didn't for the longest time. But she found it odd that while Barry didn't squawk about her dalliances, he remained totally committed to her and her alone. She questioned several times why he didn't date other women, and he simply told her he got everything he needed from her, and he could wait for when she needed him.

It was obvious it concerned her that he was younger, although he was incredibly mature. It had more to do with the fact that he was still in college, while she was out in the working world, had her own place and had already experienced a failed marriage. But things changed in June when he graduated and began working at an accounting firm nearby, having transitioned his unpaid internship there into a full-time job. She also found it endearing that he while he was making decent money he continued to deliver pizzas a couple nights a week to begin paying off his student loans.

Eventually, she came to realize that the feelings she'd been denying all along were real, and the reasons she'd come up with to deny them were silly. Breaking down after a long evening of hot, steamy sex, she finally admitted to him that she didn't want to date anyone else, and she asked him if he felt the same way.

"I've felt that way since the day we first met," he replied, making her cry even more.

Since then, they'd been exclusive, and she came around to calling him her boyfriend just a month or so later. They hadn't committed to anything more than that, Carol insisting that they shouldn't rush into anything. And Barry didn't push it, content to let things play out naturally. He kept his apartment, insisting that they live apart, although he spent many nights at her house. But he steadfastly refused to move any of his clothes or personal things in, not wanting to pressure her.

Part of his thinking was he wanted to show to her, and himself, that he was self-sufficient. It was obvious she came from money, and that she had it. But she continued to work. He loved that about her, because he was no different in terms of work ethic. He'd busted his ass in school because he wanted a career. Having Carol in his life was amazing, but he didn't feel about her the way he did because of her money. That never entered his mind. She knew that almost from the very beginning from the way he let her have her space. And he proved it again in those first few months after graduating, the fact that he was working two jobs to pay toward his student loans made it very apparent.

They hadn't professed love just yet, although they both felt it. She was too scared of admitting it for fear of being wrong again. He was too wary of saying it for fear of scaring her off. But they were on that well-worn path, and it felt comfortable where they were.

So their relationship became more exclusive. She wasn't dating other men any longer. But the one thing she'd made clear to him was that she wasn't going change her new view of herself. She went so far as to use Ann as an example; a role model of sorts. She said she didn't want to be locked into a sexual trap, where she had to be prim and proper all the time. She loved being a free spirit, and living adventurously. Barry was comfortable with it, because that's how he always viewed Carol anyway, which was one of the reasons he was not only attracted to her, it made him like her to begin with. His only stipulation was the same that Ann and Neil had put into place. No fucking other men.

The odd thing was that Carol objected... strenuously. It wasn't a knockdown, drag out fight, or even an argument. But it was a contentious debate of sorts. He said if it worked for Neil and Ann, it should be the same in their relationship. Carol opined that while the relationship between her friends was what she was hoping to model, it was that very relationship that shaped her when she needed it most. Then she reminded him of the time she welcomed him to her home the morning after Neil had fucked her. She had opened the door to greet Barry mostly naked, with cum dripping from her pussy.

She had told him that very day that that was who she was, and she had no intention of changing; if he wanted to become her fuck buddy, he had to accept that fact. And to her, that fact remained.

Barry argued that they were now beyond just being casual sexual partners. Carol countered that he was turned on by the way she greeted him at the time, and while she wasn't suggesting she wanted to fuck any man, she didn't want to rule out every man. It went back and forth a little bit, and there looked to be no solution. But finally he struck upon the one fact she didn't want to admit, which was she loved her threesomes with Ann and Neil.

"So, you're saying that you want him kind of Grandfathered in, somehow."

"I'm saying that I've had three threesomes with them, Barry. And I've been very up front about that. There's supposed to be one more."

"So is that it? One more and you're done?"

"No. What I'm saying is that other than you, the only other man I'm willing to fuck is Neil."

"Is that all," he scoffed sarcastically.

"Look Barry, it's not like I'm going just going to fuck him. It's always totally up to his wife. But I have to be honest with you... if she wants me to have a threesome with them, I'm not going to say no. Like I said, that's the way I was when we first talked about this, and I'm not changing. She's my friend, and I love them both."

"You love them?"

"It's not like that. But yeah, I do. And they love me. Look, it's not going to happen all that often; or maybe ever now that we're... you know. Ann may decide she doesn't want to do that anymore if I'm with you. But at the same time, if she offers, I'm pretty sure I'll say yes. And remember, if it weren't for Ann and Neil, there wouldn't even be a you and me. And you have to admit, we've had some of the best sex after I've spent the night in bed with them. It turns you on, and you know it."

Barry thought about it, contemplating his options. He knew his feelings for her. Yet at the same time, they weren't engaged or anything. And even if they were, she was right. He actually liked being with her afterward the few times she'd had a threesome with the Thomas'.

She'd called him to come over each time when she was done, hoping to continue her sexual fun, and it was actually a huge turn on for both of them. When he thought about it, it hadn't bothered him all that much that she'd been out dating other guys, undoubtedly fucking some of them as well. He didn't feel the need to do the same, but he never objected even though he had real feelings for her. He wondered at first if that made him strange, but he decided to let it go and accept her for who she was and what she wanted.

"Okay, sweetie... I can live with that," he finally said.

She threw her arms around him, grinning widely. "Boy... you are so going to get laid tonight," she cooed.

Now they were a couple. One that was comfortable enough to host a party together. One they had hopes would be as fun as the previous year.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

There was nothing on the invitation that suggested the party was going to be like the previous year though. Well, other than it was specifically designated as an adult party, spelling out that kids would not be allowed. Carol had made the same stipulation the year before, mostly because she didn't want to have to child proof her home. That and she would be serving alcohol, and she didn't want to have to worry about that influence on young ones.

Still, when Ann read the word 'adult', she couldn't help but be reminded of what happened the year before when her beloved 49ers were playing. She'd worn her favorite team jersey and a short spandex miniskirt, dressing sexy while also wanting to show her allegiance to her favorite Bay Area team. It was a bit of a surprise when Martina stripped off her top after the Niners scored a touchdown. She couldn't even really remember why, other than she was inebriated. When she thought of Carol taking off her shirt on the next San Francisco touchdown, she remembered that the three of them had begun doing shots of Jack Daniels after every 49ers TD.

On the touchdown following the one Carol had stripped, everyone in the room was suddenly looking toward Ann. Unfazed, she winked at her husband, looking for approval. Seeing it in his eyes, she stripped off her top in kind. Except unlike the other girls, she hadn't bothered to wear a bra, and that changed everything.

The party continued that way, the 49ers winning in a rout. At the end of the night, the three of them were all nearly naked, with Ann just wearing only her g-string and her heels. Nothing else happened. There were simply three topless babes walking around amongst the twelve couples that were there. But they could have all ended up completely naked had San Francisco continued to pile up the points, and that wasn't lost on any of the attendees.

It helped Ann knowing whatever happened that night had stayed amongst the three of them and the group. Martina and Carol worked with Neil, but they were the only ones from the plant that were at the party. Carol wanted it that way. So what happened at the party was almost an afterthought a year later.

In fact, no one had actually brought it up to her until Neil asked about what she was wearing. She found that interesting, since she'd been with several people that had attended the gala since then. Hell, she'd been with Carol and Barry, and Martina and Alphonso numerous times since then, and they hadn't even broached the subject.

Riding in the car, she recalled more of the events from that night, and she actually started to get excited. In fact, she wished she had dressed a little more provocatively, or at the very least, worn something that would be easier to take off. Putting that out of her mind as they pulled into Carol's long driveway, she grabbed her purse and waited for Neil to open her door.

They were one of the first couples to arrive, with Martina and Alphonso already being there. They'd agreed to come early, wanting to help Carol and Barry set up. But they'd found that was already done, so they got to sit back and relax, and wait for the rest of the guests to arrive.

Ann sensed a noticeable tension in the room. The six of them had been talking and laughing, but also dancing around the subject of the previous party. It was hanging over their conversation, like a dense fog. But no one brought it up at first. Not until Ann asked Carol if there were any new guests coming to the party this time. Carol said yes... admitting that they'd invited a couple of new couples, and she also confirmed that they were not from the plant.

"I want this to be an annual party, but I'm not comfortable making it a work thing, and I know Neil and Martina won't bring up the plant," she said frankly.

"I'm not having anyone from my firm come either," Barry offered. "I want to keep my work and private life apart as much as I can."

Ann nodded and said, "Well, that makes sense. And it means we're going to have more people!"

"Uh, not really," Carol said bashfully.

"Oh, someone can't make it?"

"Actually, a couple of couples weren't invited this year. I guess technically, they uninvited themselves."

"What are you talking about?"

"Well, first of all, I was really comfortable with the amount of people we had last year. I thought it was perfect, so I kept it the same."

"Okay, so who's not coming?"

"I'm not sure you remember everyone that came last year, but Dale and Cindy, and Beth and Tyler aren't coming back. The girls were upset that the party got a little risqué last time. They each called me a week or so after and said they were surprised that it turned into what it did. I said I didn't know what they were talking about, and they commented on the drunken nudity. Anyway, I thought about it, and frankly, I don't regret anything I did."

"I do," Martina laughed.

"Really?" Alphonso said with a shocked look on his face. "You started it."

"I don't regret starting it. I just regret drinking so much that I don't remember much of it," she laughed. "But I'm not ashamed, and I don't regret that we did it. What about you Ann?"

"I'm here," she said in a non-committal way. Then she flashed her brilliant white smile. "Actually, I'm fine with it. Neil and I were just talking about it on the way here. Besides, I rarely regret doing anything sexy. But that's me. I don't want to put my morals on anyone else."

Carol nodded and said, "That's kind of the point. We all agree we were okay with it. But like I said, Cindy and Beth apparently weren't. But get this... I send out the invitations for this year, and I get a call from Beth last week. She said that she had heard we were having another party from one of the other girls that came last year, and she wondered if she should bring anything. I actually had to tell her she wasn't invited this year."

Ann put her hand over her mouth and exclaimed, "Shit... you really had to tell her that?"

"Yeah. Apparently not getting an invitation wasn't a big enough hint."

"So what did she say?"

"She asked why, and I told her it was because she put up such a stink over what happened at the party last year. I guess Tyler's really pissed at her now."

"I would guess so. She opens her mouth and he doesn't get to see any more naked women," Alphonso laughed in his big baritone voice.

"So I take it by that statement that we're doing that again," Ann said bluntly.

Carol shrugged and said, "I don't know... maybe. Look, all I told Beth was that I was a part of it, and I wasn't going to feel ashamed about it, and that's how she was trying to make me feel with the way she bitched about it. She questioned me on that, and I told her I'm not going to be uncomfortable or feel bad about anything that happens at my own damn party. I told her that while I didn't plan on anything, I wasn't going to guarantee there wouldn't be some kind of repeat performance, so it was just easier not to invite those that openly complained."

"Anything that happens, eh?" Barry joked.

"Calm down, Barry... there's not going to be an orgy, I can promise you that."

"So... what are we saying?" Ann asked, wondering if there was some kind of plan or ground rules.

"I don't know. All I'm going to do is be up front with everyone when they all get here, and let them know that while what happened last year wasn't planned, it wasn't anything the three of us are ashamed of. I also plan to say that while I don't have an idea of what might happen this year, I want people to be open about it. I don't want to have any more friends getting their feelings hurt."