Chapter 2
Becky stood in the dim light at the tiled rim of the pool, feeling a little self-conscious. Even her modest two-piece suit seemed too revealing. She couldn't hide the thrusting points of her breasts, which, though rather small, had always been firm and somewhat elongated. One girl in PE class at school, catching a glimpse of Becky in the shower, had told her she should model for bra ads....
"Nice!" Tina murmured, staring at Becky. The blonde's green mischievous eyes seemed to bore right through her suit-top. Becky had waited in the bathroom until the other girls had left giggling.
"Stop it!" Becky said.
"Honest, honey-you ought to show yourself off more. Hubby might like you better...."
"We get along just fine!" Becky said, shading the truth. She remembered the way Rudy had ogled Tina's legs just before they danced. Of course men liked to look. She remembered an old saying-"When the men are through looking, they're through." But Tina had given him plenty of opportunity.
Gene swung out of the pool, using the chromed ladder supports, smiling, handsome, tanned. He flipped a handful of water on Becky, making her jump.
"He likes you, honey," Tina quipped. She glanced out over the shadowy pool. "Where are you, Rudy?"
Becky observed the blonde's mini-Bikini, the lush bulges of her breasts that jiggled whenever she moved, the tiny waist and the swell of her hips and loins, barely covered by triangular red patches at front and rear.
She's lovely and sexy and I hope Rudy doesn't get too many ideas, she thought. Beside her I feel almost gangly.
Gene touched her waist and pointed at the portable bar set up near the pool's edge. Becky nodded. Perhaps she did need another drink.
"You're a real willowy doll," Gene murmured, winking as he iced a couple of glasses. She noticed that Hal came out of the pool instead of Rudy. Her husband was cavorting in the water with Janet. In the shadows it was hard to tell exactly what they were doing....
She decided to relax a little. If Rudy could play around with Janet, why couldn't she be more friendly with Gene? While dancing with him she had experienced a mild thrill.
She felt the basic wrongness of the situation, the casual pairing off, the way Tina and Janet flirted with other girls' husbands-but it seemed to be the popular thing to do in this neighborhood. She had read about suburban swap clubs, and she didn't intend ever to become involved in one.
She was quite sure that she and Rudy wouldn't be where they were at all if he had remained as before, during their first year of marriage, BTH. She had read articles concerning personality changes following plastic surgery ... a girl had her nose straightened and suddenly she was popular ... a man with a harelip and a dreadful inferiority complex began mingling with a whole new crowd and turned into a wolf.
She began to hate her husband's patch of artificial hair. She could blame his new dashing self on little else but that. Nothing momentous had happened. His steadiness at his work had been commendable and he had confided his troubles to her.
Now he seemed more self-reliant, not that this was a bad quality, because it had helped him get a promotion. It was simply that he was no longer the same Rudy she had married.
Can I really adjust-or are we headed for the rocks? I won't be drawn into a cheap trademate arrangement. He doesn't owe these people anything.
Becky accepted the fresh drink Gene handed her and withdrew his hand from her waist.
"What's the matter?" he asked, his voice showing the effects of the liquor. "Rudy and Janet're having a ball out in the pool."
"I don't like to be rushed," she said, aware of his masculine appeal, yet still determined to do nothing she would regret later.
"Sure," he said, smiling. "I'll go in and turn up the outside speakers a little. We can dance anyway."
He's clever, she thought, as the liquor warmed her. I'll have to watch him-and myself.
Janet climbed out of the pool, Rudy immediately behind her. Becky noticed that he hadn't wet his head and for obvious reasons his hair piece might come unglued. She also noted that Janet's lipstick was smeared. Rudy made an ineffectual swipe at his mouth with his right hand.
Janet laughingly adjusted her mini-halter and excused herself, saying she would be right back. Rudy wandered to the bar, obviously excited by what had happened out in the water.
"Having fun, darling?" he asked Becky.
"Not especially."
He paused with a glass in his hand. "You going to be a spoilsport?"
Hot words leaped to her lips, but she held them back. They could discuss it later. She hated to see Rudy make a fool of himself. He was trying to act ten years younger than his age.
When she didn't answer, he wandered over to where Tina and Hal stood. Hal was telling a joke. Becky heard the volume from the outdoor speakers increase and decided she would go inside and help Gene pick out some good records. He wasn't a bad sort really. Maybe after putting him in his place he wouldn't get too fresh.
She walked through the open doorway, turned toward the living room. Janet's intimate giggle rose above the sound of the music. Becky paused. Gene's voice answered.
"You look special tonight, sugar."
"Oh? I thought you had plans for Becky."
"She's a cold tomato. I guess the four of us can have a little fun anyway!"
Janet giggled.
Becky felt her cheeks turn warm. She had never cared about eavesdropping. People who listened in sometimes got their ears burned. She didn't miss the suggestion about the "four of us."
Made brave by the drinks she moved to the living room entrance and peered into the large dimly illuminated space. Janet and Gene stood by the Walters' console stereo set. They were kissing and he had her suit-top unfastened. His right hand cupped her full jutting breasts.
The vision of infidelity or at least of its beginnings shook Becky's senses. The play of his fingers across Janet's erect nipples made her own breasts tingle! It occurred to her that Rudy hadn't asserted himself for almost a week and she realized that she was envious of the attentions Janet was so obviously enjoying.
Janet's hand dropped to his tight swim trunks, where the bulge of his maleness was very evident. She caressed him, shaped him ... Becky had never done that-not until they were about to do it. She trembled.
Their mouths finally pulled apart.
"You're special tonight, too, honey." Janet murmured.
"Great! When the Finches take off, we'll have a real party."
"They're pretty square!" Janet answered.
The mutual fondlings continued and Becky shivered, finally tearing her eyes from the sensual scene. She retreated, their remarks stabbing at her like vicious darts. "Square?" Because she and Rudy lived normally-or at least had at first. Were these people so jaded they had to trade around to find sexual gratification?
She rushed out to the pool area and Rudy looked over at her. She walked up to him, unable to conceal her anger. "I think we'd better leave, Rudy."
"What's the matter, honey?" Tina exclaimed.
She wanted to shout, your husband is in the house fondling a friend's wife! But she didn't. The idea of Gene dancing with her now, after playing around with Janet, repelled her.
"I've got a headache," Becky answered.
There were remarks of dismay, but she could tell that Tina and Hal weren't unduly disappointed. Becky realized that she hadn't joined in with the girls in the bathroom, when the trio had been donning their Bikinis. She was an outsider....
Half an hour later they were home, in their own living room. Becky and Rudy still wore their swim suits.
"You sure know how to break up a party," Rudy snapped.
She sank down on the sofa. "If you recall," she said dryly, "it was our party to begin with. Then it turned into an undress show."
He halted, standing in front of her. "You're a prude. Lots of girls wear Bikinis!"
"Lots of young wives play around with other men, too-is that what you really liked?"
He flushed. "I didn't do anything out of the way!"
"But where was it all leading? What'd you and Janet do out in the pool?"
She saw the muscles play in his face. His mouth set rigidly. "Nothing I'm ashamed of. You want to make a bunch of enemies around town? Gene and Hal carry a lot of weight in this burg. They could hurt my job...."
"I've heard about things like this!" she flared. "Rising young executive has to have a 'cooperative' wife ... You don't owe them anything. Do you really want to go around swapping me off?"
"Hell! At least you could play up to them a little ... They're solid citizens-they make more dough than I do!"
"Is that the mark of success, Rudy? Why can't we be like we were?" She hated to add the rest, but she knew she had to now. "You've changed!"
His right hand rose in an almost unconscious gesture to his hair. He smoothed down his wig. "Lots of people change, if that's what's bothering you. Hell, I think I'll have another drink."
He strode into the kitchen, where bottles and glasses remained, leftovers from their own party. Tears stung her eyes. They had had very few arguments. She had wanted this evening to end right, with Rudy possessing her, relieving her tensions, but she knew it was spoiled now. He was really angry.
Shoulders sagging, she walked into their bedroom, turned up the lights, closed the door and began to take her swim suit off. She had already put away the party dress and undies she had removed at the Walters' house.
I suppose Janet and Gene are having a high old time, by now, she thought. And Hal would be playing around with Tina....
She was startled when the bedroom door opened suddenly. She was completely naked. She held her halter over her breasts and covered her loins with her hand.
Rudy stood there, a drink in his hand. His smile was twisted.
"Look at you!" he said mockingly. "Afraid to show your nude body to your own husband! You say I've changed. Maybe so, but you haven't grown up yet. Why don't you wear those new nighties I brought home? Why can't I take a good look at you once in a while?"
"I-thought you loved me!" she said on the defensive.
"Well, can't love include a little change once in a while? Why does it always have to be in bed with the lights out?"
She bit her lip, tears starting. "We got along fine till you got that-hair piece!"
He took a quick gulp of his highball. "I knew it would come around to that. You'd rather have me meek and quiet again, a dumb assistant department manager back at Spokane, I suppose?"
"No, Rudy. I'm happy you've succeeded ... Am I supposed to turn into a kind of harlot?"
He shook his head. "You don't get it, do you? Ever hear about the description of the perfect wife? I'm glad you brought up that word. 'A good cook in the kitchen, a lady in the drawing room and a harlot in the bedroom.' Is that too awful to think about? We've been married over two years. You going to act like a little girl forever?"
"Get out!" she stormed. "Maybe you'd better get a divorce and find somebody like Janet or Tina!"
He retreated, growling, "Might not be a bad idea, at that. Go ahead, put on your prim proper pajamas and act hurt and wounded. If I thought the party was still going I think I'd go over there!"
"They're already paired off for the night, darling!" she said dryly. "You might be embarrassed!"
He backed out, slamming the door.
A lump formed in her throat. She wiped the tears angrily from her eyes. Where will our marriage go from here? she wondered. All those vicious words....