Chapter 13

Hello," Becky said, hoping her voice sounded right. Her hand was wet on the receiver.

"This is Janet," came pleasantly over the wire. Becky felt a sharp wave of relief. It was short-lived, though. The redhead had sounded pretty sure of herself ... What would she really do? What did she have on Rudy?

"That Irene finally took off," Janet said, apparently relieved. "You kids like to come down to a barbecue, out in our back yard?"

"Sounds like fun," Becky answered. "Let me go and ask Rudy."

"Tell him Gene and Tina are coming, too."

Becky took a deep breath. "Be right back, Janet." She knew already that Rudy would go, hangover or not. And she did want to see Tina again....

The Collins' lot at the rear was surrounded by a high thick hedge. Large maple and sycamore trees dotted the lawn. An elaborate barbecue pit had been built at one corner of the expensive lawn and Hal, appropriately garbed in tall chef's hat and white apron, presided over the pit of glowing hickory coals.

Two strings of dim-colored lights furnished the only illumination.

Janet had asked everyone to dress informally, and Becky wore a snug jersey and clinging tights-the latter showing off her long legs to good advantage. The evening air was still warm.

Although Rudy's brief caress when he had come home had been encouraging, he hadn't touched her since. She remembered how his eyes had fastened and held on Tina's pink snorts and halter....

Tina excited him and I was handy, she thought, watching Rudy sidle over beside the cuddly blonde.

Ever since Janet's call she had been wondering what the switching order would be-and on arriving at the party she soon found out. Gene would be with Janet and Hal would be Becky's date. Well, she was moving around. It was her turn with the slender clever-talking store owner....

Becky, highball in hand, started to leave her chair to join Hal at the grill when Janet sank into a lawn chair beside her. The hostess, too, wore snug jersey and shorts. Her lush appeal, the fullness of her breasts and hips, could not be ignored. Her thighs were smoothly tanned.

"Glad you kids could come," she murmured. "Are you upset about something, Becky?"

"Nooo. Sorry to be a drag. This drink will perk me up."

"Good!" Her voice lowered. "Hal has his talents, honey," she drawled. Becky smiled. She asked a question.

"When did Irene leave?"

"This morning. Just between you and me I was glad to have her gone."

The way she said it gave Becky the idea that the redhead might have made a few passes at Janet. She didn't ask, though. She didn't have the feeling of closeness with Janet that she experienced around Tina. At the same time she was sure the blonde and the lush brownette had been intimate. Well, that was their business.

"I heard that Irene hasn't left town, though," Becky said.

"Really?" Janet drawled. "I liked her show, but not her personality."

"Maybe I shouldn't ask," Becky went on, "but did she carry a folder or two of dirty pictures around with her?"

Janet frowned. "Not that I saw!"

Her answer appeared spontaneous enough. Becky realized she wasn't much of a detective. Those photos bothered her. It was a sneaky worrisome thing. She was glad she had shoved the prints in the garbage can. She wondered now whether or not she should have burned them....

When Janet left, giving Becky a rather odd sidelong glance, she wandered over toward Hal.

He looked up, grinning. "Well fan my brow, if it isn't Miss high-pockets, all duded out! With boots and hat on you could win Mrs. Rodeo of America contest hands down."

She smiled, looking at the steaks on the grill. She realized she hadn't eaten much lunch and no dinner. She was famished. She liked the relaxed atmosphere at the Collins' place. They seemed more normal than Tina and Gene. Was it because they had a child? Did Tina really want offspring or was it just a pose?

Janet had mentioned that she and Hal farmed out their daughter when they had a party.

She watched Tina near a table loaded with bottles and mixers, flirting with Rudy. He had taken a nap before the party and appeared refreshed by it. Becky had rested, but hadn't been able to sleep. Irene's threat seemed to hang in the air, clouding her mind ... and she was still troubled by her strange affair with Tina.

Whenever I get near her I start thinking about all the fun we had ... I failed with Gene. Will I have to pretend with Hal? Has Tina warped my desire for men...?

An hour later, after a delicious feast of sirloin and brandy after-dinner drinks, the six retired to the Collins' rec room. It was a long cozy place, done in a Western motif, scantily lighted by soft red-shaded lamps. Janet said she had a new game she thought would interest all those present.

Becky was glad to be inside. The evening air had finally cooled. So far Hal had been quite the gentleman, but then he had been busy with the serving.

They all stood at the bar Hal had built at one end of the oblong room. The liquor was in old-fashioned decanters Becky thought attractive. On the mirror were a number of girlie pictures cut from a well-known men's magazine. Rudy and Gene were busy admiring them.

"What's the game, honey?" Tina asked Janet.

"I'll tell you soon," the hostess said. "But first, everybody has to put on a costume." She laughed. "All you girls follow me...."

"What about us?" Gene complained.

"Hal has the men's outfits ready."

Becky finished her highball and trailed along after Janet. She went through a door that opened off the rec room, and found herself with the other girls in a spare bedroom. Lights were already on.

How handy, Becky thought, glancing at the bed. Is this where I'll end up with Hal?

"Strip, girls," Janet said, laughing. She opened a drawer in the mirrored vanity that sat near the bed and drew out three sheer colored pieces of nylon that Becky couldn't identify, at first glance. "We're going to play harem!"

Tina giggled. "How'll we do that?"

"Wait and see," Janet replied, her dark eyes flashing. She held up one of the garments. It was bright red, a diaphanous pair of pantaloons with an elastic top.

"No bras?" Tina asked.

Janet unfolded a matching red band about four inches wide and just as sheer as the bottoms. She handed the wisps to Becky. "I think this color suits you, honey."

Becky trembled. She swallowed her momentary unease. She wasn't going to be a square and spoil the party. Already Tina was down to her panties and bra, giggling and squirming. She really loves to show off her curves, Becky thought.

"Come on, honey," Janet said to Becky, peeling her jersey over her head....

Ten minutes later the girls were "dressed." Becky had never seen Janet nude and she noticed the prominence of her dark red nipples, the wide aureolae, the fullness of her gorgeous breasts. They were huge! Janet wore pale blue, Tina yellow. The pantaloons, with elastic at the ankles as well as at the waist, added to their allure, no question about it.

In tying the red band about her breasts Becky had tried to make the bow cover her nipples, but Tina had nixed that plan. The blonde fastened Becky's bra in back.

Becky had paraded naked in front of Gene the night before, but somehow this was different. The clinging nylon accentuated charms Janet and Tina already had admired. Her cheeks were hot as she stepped out into the rec room.

Whoops of appreciation came from the men. They, too, wore costumes of astonishing brevity. Only a small patch of brown cloth covered their loins. Otherwise they were naked.

An overstuffed chair with wide arms sat in the middle of the room-a sign on it said THRONE.

"The boys will take turns being king," Janet said, laughing. "That is, as soon as we have enough drinks to set the mood right."

"Hell, I'm ready to go it right now!" Gene exclaimed.

"Cool down, honey," Janet answered, drawing him toward the bar. Her large breasts swayed and she twitched her hips provocatively.

"You mean all three of us girls have to make over the men, one at a time?" Becky whispered to Tina.

"Sure. I think it's a swingy idea."

Hal came up to stand beside Becky, and Tina joined Rudy. Becky decided her husband still looked a little hungover. Why should I care? she thought. All he can see tonight is Tina or Janet. They're new. Isn't that the real idea of all these games? Everybody can have fresh stuff for an evening. They get tired of the same old lay.

It was still wrong, though. It violated basic ideas of society-no matter how momentarily thrilling....

Hal's voice brought her quickly up to date. "Would you-all like a drink, Miss Rodeo?"

"Yes," she answered and meant it. I think I need several.

He led her to the bar. He whispered. "Honey baby, you've got one hell of a lovely figure." His eyes lingered on her almost-bare breasts, then swung down to her slender hips, her long legs.

"I'm not as big as Janet," she murmured. "Sweetie, size isn't everything. I'm going to hire you to come down to the store and model my new Western duds for girls." His arm were around her naked waist.

Play their games, she thought. Maybe Hal does have his talents!

She had already noticed Hal's compact build, his narrow hips and wide shoulders. Not an ounce of fat anywhere. Obviously he kept himself in fine physical condition. Lately she had noticed a slight puffiness in Rudy's belly, a softness in his grip. Or was she already tired of him? Where was the man she had married? Surely he was nothing like this new Rudy with his changing personality, his swaggering extroversion, his conviction that he was God's gift to women.

She took the drink Hal gave her and gulped it down as swiftly as she could.

"Hey, honey, you'll knock yourself out that way!" Hal said. He went around the bar and mixed her another.

"I'm all right now," she answered, beginning to lose her qualms about what lay ahead.

Hal grinned, returning to her side. She would be lint-headed and frolicksome, like Tina and Janet. Anything for a change....

Hal isn't too unlike Zane in appearance, she thought. I'll try to imagine Rudy's brother is my date.

She leaned closer to Hal and laughed. "Do you really like slim girls, Western man?"

"Nothing like a change of pace to stir a person up, is there?"

His hand circled her. She drew her shoulders back, accenting the line of her bosom. Out of the corner of an eye she saw Rudy fondling Tina and she didn't want to be outdone. The liquor was hitting her now.

Hal's fingers reached her breasts. He cupped and squeezed, creating a wave of tinglings in her nipples. They perked forward.

"Ter-iffic!" he breathed. The thin nylon was no hindrance to his caresses. "You've got 'em, Becky."

She trembled. He did have a wonderful touch.

"You're not so bad yourself, Hal. Play with me some more."

His dark eyes burned into hers. Zane's hand is there, she thought, making my breasts hot. I need a man's touch. I've got to stop this business with Tina.

Hal's mouth aimed at hers and she opened her lips.

"Time for games!" Janet announced, breaking in on Becky's little fantasy. Hal's hand left her.

"Just wait!" he whispered.

"I hardly can," she whispered back.