“You know what irks me the most? After all these years, I never expected to be affected by what anyone thought of me—of us.”
“It’s understandable, Jim. We really like them, but we have to respect their boundaries if they aren’t into us. It’s probably my fault the way I blurted out we were having a partner swap, but what else could I have done? They were both so upset that we hadn’t invited them to our party.”
I cupped Merry’s cheek and placed a kiss on his forehead. Regardless of what happened in our lives, we always had each other, and that was the only thing that mattered. We understood each other and knew exactly how to meet each other’s needs. Cairo and Brandt were more conservative, although I’d thought they were warming up to us.
“It’s better to know how they feel now than later after we got too deeply involved. It’s been a while since we’ve taken to a couple this way, hasn’t it?”
“I don’t think we ever have to this degree. It doesn’t help they’re so sweet and kind, but we can talk about that some more when we get home. Let’s go in. Our clients are probably already waiting for us, and if we’re not vibing with them, say your safeword, and I’ll get us out of there.”
“You’re a doll.” I pecked him. When we got out of my car, I placed my arm around Merry’s slender waist. The contact gave me an instant sense of calm as we walked to the café. The streetlights bathed us in a soft, warm glow, silhouetting Merry’s profile against the city backdrop.
We hadn’t seen pictures of the couple, but they’d told us they would both be wearing red scarves. One man in a corner reading wore a red tie, but given he was alone, I didn’t figure him to be our client.
Merry stuck his elbow in my ribs. “Oh my god, Jim.”
“What?”
He gestured to a couple in the back of the café, wearing red scarves. Cairo and Brandt. Judging from their shocked looks, they’d had no idea they were meeting us.
“Oh shit, this means they are looking to explore.” Merry gasped, his voice going high as it did whenever he was excited.
“I don’t know, Merry. Cairo’s been blowing me off at work, so why should I assume he’ll want to see me?”
“We can ask. Go on over. I’ll get us some coffees and join you.”
“Merry!” But he had already skipped up to the counter. Left with no option, I approached the corner table where Cairo and Brandt sat.
“Evening, guys.” I tried to sound casual, but my heart was pounding hard. After ten years of sex surrogacy, I shouldn’t be reacting this way. I never did. What was it about these two that made me second-guess myself?
“Hey, Jim,” Cairo said, his voice hesitant. “What brings you here?”
I gestured toward Merry, who was chatting animatedly with the barista as they prepared our coffees. I smiled. That was why I loved him so much. He knew how to make everyone feel special.
“I think you already know. Merry and I are here to meet some clients. I assume that’s you two.”
“Well, this is embarrassing,” Brandt said.
“I understand. I get it. You would rather not have us. After all, you’ve been avoiding me at work, Cairo.”
“I didn’t mean to.”
“Yeah, well, whatever.”
I turned and almost collided with Merry, who did his best not to let the cups of coffee fall. “Where are you going?”
“Come on, babe. I don’t think we’re wanted here.”
“Wait…what?” Merry frowned. “Aren’t you here to meet us?”
“We didn’t know it was you,” Brandt said.
“So? You don’t want it to be us.”
“I don’t think we’re doing a good job explaining. Why don’t you sit, and we can straighten things out?”
Merry put the coffees on the table and sat, making it clear he was his own person, even though we were a couple. I’d never tried to stifle his autonomy, which was one reason we worked so well together. I understood his need to make his own decisions, even when they were unpopular, and I always supported him.
“All right, we’re here.” I parked my ass in the chair beside him.