Husbandry (8 page)

Between one pounding heartbeat and the next, the soap was
gone and I was given a rinse. I lifted my lashes to see he’d grabbed the spare
showerhead—the detachable one that could be angled any way he wanted. He
cleaned the suds from my chest and dipped down to where I needed him most.

With a flick of his thumb, the water switched from rain to
pulse, beating my mons with rhythmic spurts of water. I cried out as he brought
it right up against my sex so that my defenseless clit was pounded head-on. I
imagined this was what men felt when they ejaculated—this uncontrollable flood
that was indistinguishable from the pleasure.

He pressed against my back and let me feel his cock, which
was already semiaroused again. Then he reached from behind with his free hand
to slip three fingers inside me. He thrust them deep, giving my channel
something to hold on to. The unexpected pressure was almost enough to send me
over the edge. His knuckle striking my G-spot was more than enough.

With a gasp, I came so hard I saw spots. My sheath clenched
around his fingers, holding on to them for dear life. I couldn’t tell how much
of the moisture spilling to the floor was my cum versus the water. He didn’t
remove his fingers or pull the showerhead away until I begged for mercy.

When he finally released me, I struggled to unclench my
hands from the towel bar. Charles had to steady me for a moment. Once I was
sure I’d keep my balance, I turned around and gave him a quick kiss. I didn’t
give him the chance to turn the caress into something more. Having met my
morning limit of excitement, I stepped out of the shower to towel off.

From there, we fell into our normal routine as we moved
around the bathroom and closet getting ready. Our morning preparations would be
easier once Chuck installed additional sinks and a bigger closet, but we were
in sync enough to keep from bumping into each other. Chuck was snoring noisily
when we left the bedroom to go down to breakfast.

Chad’s absence in the kitchen was glaring. Most of the time,
he was already there waiting for me with a kiss. Though he’d often be wearing
only silk pajama bottoms, he’d have the table set, the coffee brewing, and
maybe even a freshly picked flower lying in front of my placemat. Not this
morning.

Today the kitchen was cold and empty, and I had to flick on
the lights when I entered. The tide of guilt and sadness that had assailed me
last night flooded back, threatening to drown me.

Charles got the espresso maker going before he turned to
face me with a shrewd look. “Chad isn’t going to forgive you so easily.”

“No, he isn’t.” I tried to hide my wince. “Does this mean he
told you what happened?”

“I ran into him when I got home last night.” Charles’s
expression turned inscrutable. “He ranted for a while and quoted Wordsworth’s
‘A Complaint.’ Something about your love ‘not taking heed’ of his needs, or
something like that.”

“And here I thought men only had one need.” Although I knew
I was in the wrong, I couldn’t help feeling defensive and out of sorts.

It was funny, really. I’d gone into this marriage worried I
wouldn’t be able to satisfy the sexual demands of three such virile men. Now I
realized that was the easy part. They were all fantastic lovers, so keeping up
with them was a pleasurable challenge. The trick was meeting all their other
needs—the desire for children, workaholic ambition, and wanting to meet my
family.

Charles smiled, though the expression didn’t quite reach his
eyes. “Oh, we men have lots of needs. Sex just takes top priority. Once that
itch is scratched, our other needs tend to surge to the forefront. So I’m
afraid you’ll have to soothe more than our dicks.”

“Sorry.” My spirits dropped so low I stared at my feet,
waiting for the floor to open up and swallow me. “I shouldn’t have said that. I
also should never have cropped that photo. Despite how it looks, I didn’t mean
anything by it. I just haven’t figured out how to tell my parents about you
guys yet.”

When he didn’t say anything, I lifted my gaze to meet his
again.

“Are you mad at me too?”

He appeared to think about his answer. “No, I’m not mad,
though I’m definitely annoyed. Cutting us out of our own wedding photo is
beyond insulting, no matter what your reason. You are mine, Fila, as much as
you’re Chuck’s and Chad’s. We claimed you as our wife, and you made a promise
to us in return. I expect you to keep that promise.”

“I’m sorry.” I suspected I’d be saying that a lot in the
near future.

Charles grinned, and this time his eyes twinkled with it.
“Lucky for you, sex
is
a top priority
with me. Our little shower game this morning has made me easygoing. I’ve
decided to forgive you.”

“I don’t know about easygoing, but I’m glad you forgive me.”
I should have been relieved, but I knew I had a long way to go. “Do you think
great sex will work on Chad?”

He filled his espresso cup and took a sip. “He’s not going
to divorce us, if that’s what you’re worried about. Chad is more sensitive
about these sorts of things, though. I suspect you’ll have to earn his
forgiveness the old-fashioned way before he’ll let you get close enough for
great sex.”

“The old-fashioned way?”

“Grovel.” He saluted me with his cup.

Damn. I was afraid he’d say that. Although I’d swallow my
pride and grovel to Chad if it would make things right, I knew that wouldn’t be
enough. When I got home from work today, I’d have to do something really
difficult. I was going to have to call my mother.

* * * *

The thought of contacting my folks tied me in knots the rest
of the day. As a result, I wasn’t very productive at work, which only made me
feel worse about myself. I wandered into the break room for a glass of water,
hoping to clear my mind.

Over and over, I tried to anticipate the conversation with
my mom. So far, the best I’d come up with was, “Oh, yeah. Mom, I’ve been
meaning to tell you that Chuck isn’t my only husband. I’ve got three of
them—one for every occasion.” Yeah, that would go over big. If only I could
think of a segue.

With a groan, I dropped my head on the table. Just then, one
of my coworkers, Liz, passed by on her way back from lunch. She stopped in
front of me.

“Are you okay, Fila?”

Forcing myself to sit up straight, I tried to give her a
smile. My first impulse was to tell her I was fine. Though I was closer with
her than with anyone else in the office, neither of us had ever talked much
about our personal lives. We usually stuck to everyday chitchat. That’s
probably what I should have done now, but I wanted very badly to confide in
another female.

I told her the truth. “My husband and I had a fight last
night.”

“Uh-oh.” Liz grabbed an empty chair and pulled it closer.
“Did he forget to take out the garbage, or was it about something more
serious?”

“I wish it were as simple as taking out the garbage. Chuck
always takes care of chores like that. No, this was more serious. And it was
all my fault.” I didn’t expect the burn of tears that suddenly assailed me. I
had to blink hard. “I did something really stupid.”

“You cheated on him?”

“What? No!”

She returned a smile. “I didn’t think so. You’re not the
type. Maybe you flirted with another guy, then? Had lunch with an old
boyfriend?”

“It was nothing like that.” I was too shocked by her
suggestion to work up a decent case of outrage.

“In that case, it couldn’t have been too stupid.” Her tone
mollified me, as did the sympathy I saw shining in her dark brown eyes. “Trust
me. Infidelity is about the only deal breaker for a man. Anything else can be
worked out, especially if you fight dirty with some sexy lingerie and chocolate
syrup. Men are simple creatures.”

I gave her what I suspected came out a lopsided grin.
“According to Charles, men are more complicated than we think, but only after
they fill their minimum sex quota. That’s their top priority.”

“Really?” Liz threw back her head and released a boisterous
laugh. “Oh, I like that. Now I’ve got to meet him. You should bring your hubby
to work someday and do a little show-and-tell.” She appeared to sober. “Hey,
does that mean you two are still talking? Because if you’re still talking, then
the fight couldn’t have been that bad.”

“Charles and Chuck are still talking to me. It’s Chad who’s
furious with me.”

“Come again?” Liz’s mocha skin wrinkled between her brows.

The moment of truth had arrived, giving me heart
palpitations. I’d set out to make things right in my life, though. That started
with embracing my married life instead of treating it like a shameful secret.

“I only had a fight with one of my husbands: Chad. Charles
wasn’t too happy with me either, but he and I already made up, and Chuck was
the only one I didn’t hurt.”

“You have three husbands?” She couldn’t have looked more
dumbfounded if I’d stabbed her between the eyes with a pen.

“Yes. They’re genetically identical. Not clones, because
they’re all original, but…yeah. We came together through Genetic Harmony Inc.”

Liz’s sudden silence made me nervous. I waited in suspense
for her to snap out of it, but she just sat there with that baffled look on her
face.

My stomach twisted. If a friendly coworker was horrified by
my polygamous marriage, what hope did I have that my mother would accept it?
This was a nightmare.

“I can’t believe it,” Liz finally mumbled. She scrutinized
me as if she was just seeing me for the first time. “You seem so straitlaced.”

I fidgeted with the water glass in front of me. “You’re
disgusted, aren’t you?”

“Of course I am. You’re a hoarder!” She threw up her hands.
“Do you know how long I’ve hunted for Mr. Right? Now I find out you have not
one, but three studs at home. It’s just not fair.”

Her reaction startled a snort out of me. “Are you saying
you’re jealous?”

“Insanely. Three gorgeous, lusty males in bed? I’m surprised
you can even walk.”

“Liz!” I slapped my hand over my mouth and felt my cheeks
burn fiery red.

“Just saying.”

“Well, that part is pretty great,” I admitted. “There’s only
one of me to go around, though, so sometimes I’m spread a bit thin.”

She nodded in understanding. “I hadn’t thought of that. So
what was this fight about, and why is Chad the only one mad at you. Or was it
Charles?”

“Charles was only annoyed. Chad is the one I have to make
things up to.” I explained what I’d done with the wedding photo.

Liz remained silent until I was finished. “I get why you did
it, but you’ve only made things harder for yourself. You should have bragged
about the three of them loud and proud from the get-go. That would have given
your family time to get used to the idea and accept it. Now that you’ve covered
it up so long, it’s awkward. Everyone will be hurt you lied, which taints the
whole news about the marriage.”

That was pretty much what I had concluded, though hearing
her voice the problem made it more real. She wasn’t making me feel better.

Liz seemed to realize that. “Cheer up. It won’t be fun, but
a little confession is good for the soul. If they love you, your family will
come around eventually, and you’ve got three warm bodies to help comfort you
along the way. That’s more than most people have.”

She was right. I was being a baby about this.

“There’s just one thing I want to know.” She leaned forward
with an eager expression.

“What’s that?”

“Tell me more about this Genetic Harmony. Can I find three
hunky men there?”

Some of the weight lifted from my shoulders. I left off
worrying for a while as I told her all about the matchmaking company, doing a
good job of giving them a referral.

Once Liz left to get back to work, though, my mind returned
to my upcoming call to my mother. Although my coworker’s reaction gave me hope,
I knew better than to assume my mom would accept the news so easily. Back at my
desk, I decided to do what Chad had suggested. I checked my home messages.

Sure enough, my mom had left one of her typical long,
rambling recordings, chattering excitedly about receiving the wedding photos.
She also made sure to chastise me yet again for not inviting her to the
ceremony. Before she hung up, she ended with a remark Chad had failed to share
with me. She said she and my dad were thinking of coming for a visit. It was
definitely high time I had a talk with her.

I dived back into work, tackling as much as I could through
what remained of the afternoon. When quitting time arrived, I was anxious to
get home and deal with my more pressing issues. Unfortunately, I was forced to
take public transportation and walk part of the way since I didn’t have my car.
I had hitched a ride with Charles so I could leave Chad our second vehicle. It
was the least I could do after hurting him so badly.

The house was silent when I came through the door.

“Hello? Chuck?” When there was no response, I climbed the
stairs. “I’m home. Are you up here?”

Still no answer. He must have run to the hardware store or
something. It was so rare for me to have the house to myself.

I quickly changed into casual clothes before I sat at my
computer. The first thing I did was resend my wedding photos, undoctored, to my
mom. I included a quick note:

Sorry these didn’t go
through right the first time. Chad and Charles shouldn’t have been cropped out.

Okay, so I didn’t mention that I was the one who’d cropped
them out. Let her think it was a computer error. I was trying to be honest
about my relationship, but that didn’t mean I needed to air my dirty laundry.
At this point, I figured a little selective wording wouldn’t hurt—what PR
people called “spin.”

With the photos resent, I drew a deep breath for courage. I
picked up the phone to call home and paced as I waited for one of my parents to
pick up.