Vignette #31: Playtime

Ian dressed and put away the dishes that Tippy had cleaned and Reese had left on the kitchen counter. After everything was where he wanted it to be, he hopped in his car and drove to the convenience store at the end of the street to buy a carton of cigarettes. Damn but they were expensive. He thought he should give it up.

He had barely entered the house, just enough time to flip on the lights, when his doorbell rang. Ian looked out the peephole before he opened the door. He was surprised to say the least.

As he opened his front door he expressed that surprise, “I didn’t think I’d be seeing the two of you so soon.”

On his door stood Jeremy Tyson and Susan Andrews, holding hands and looking sheepish. “I hope you don’t mind that we stopped by without asking” she apologized.

“The kids are with her folks, and we didn’t want to go back to an empty house yet. We stopped for ice cream and saw your car pass by.” He explained. “Is it okay that we decided to follow you and take a chance?”

“Sure”, he opened the door wide and invited them in. “Welcome to my humble abode.”

Susan looked around, “Oh my, Miss Elizabeth left just about everything.”

“You’ve been here before?”

Jeremy said, “Many times. The Elysian’s were two of our favorite people. They are the ones that actually introduced us.”

Susan squeezed her husband’s firm shoulder. “They were such romantics.” Susan’s eyes shown bright and she walked to the painting on the wall in the stair wall. “I don’t believe she left this behind.”

Jeremy and Ian joined her and admired. “I love it, couldn’t bear to take it down or move much of anything at all. It just seems right the way it was.”

Jeremy touched the painting. “Did you know that Herman painted this?”

“No, I didn’t.”

“He was quite the artist. He worked in studio make up all his life, but painting was his real passion.”

“I didn’t know that either.”

Susan turned to Ian, “Miss Elizabeth was a contract player for a while, that’s how they met. She wouldn’t discuss it much, but whenever she was out of the room, Herman loved to talk about the old days.”

Jeremy put his arms around his wife’s shoulders, “And as soon as Miss Elizabeth walked back in the room he would shut up, changing the subject like a child caught telling a story”.

“They were such a great couple, made for each other. I often wondered why they never had children.” She said.

“I think they regretted it, especially as they got older. Elizabeth always got this sad look in her eyes when the subject came up.” Jeremy added as he led his wife to the couch Ian had silently offered them a seat on while they talked.

“I’m surprised she didn’t take that painting. She loved it.” Jeremy mused. “Although she never would have told Herman that. She was afraid it would go to his head. She’d get so mad when Herman would call it ‘The Untitled Masterpiece’. She’d fuss and he’d say back every time, well you know it is.”

“Actually, that seems the perfect name for it.” Ian said staring at the painting from his comfy chair.

Susan slipped her bag off her shoulder, opened it and reached inside. “It’s still playtime for us. Would you mind if Jeremy joins you in a smoke?” She pulled a cigarette and lighter out of her purse.

Ian was a little shocked. “Sure. No problem, if you don’t mind.”

“Actually I enjoy it now and again.” Susan looked at her husband who had a twinkle in his eye. “And he does love it so; I can’t deny it to him all the time.”

“I let her control it.” He took the cigarette in his hand, put it to his lips and bent down to the flame she flicked. “That’s my Suzie, my control.”

Ian went to the table to find his new carton and opened his own pack. When he returned he found Susan had slipped to the floor and Jeremy to the end of the couch so he could share the large glass ashtray with Ian. Ian returned to his seat in the easy chair. Susan got up on her knees and flicked the little flame, to graciously light his cigarette.

They smoked for a moment in silence. Susan absentmindedly stroked her husband’s thigh. They were still dressed as they were this afternoon, he in Bermuda shorts and a sleeveless tank top, she in a tennis skirt and a matching cotton pullover. Susan watched the hair on her husband’s thigh dance as she brushed it with her fingers.

“Ian, we so loved your performance last night.”

“Thank you.”

Jeremy looked at his wife and smiled. “I already told him all about it.” He kissed her and smiled.

She turned and looked at Ian. “We don’t get away too often. Sometimes the children need grandparent time and we try to take full advantage of it.”

“I understand.” Ian said as he put his cigarette out.

“You do?” she asked.

“Of course, it must be tough to get private time when you have small children. You have to make the most of it.”

“We try.” She said.

Jeremy kissed his wife again and then looked at Ian, his eyes doing a little dance. “We thought that maybe, hoped that you might want to help us make the most of our last hour of playtime tonight.”

Susan leaned back between her husband’s legs and rested her head on his crotch, and looked at Ian. “Would you mind terribly playing with us…?”

Ian knew he had to be getting the wrong idea. He had fantasized many times about Susan Andrews. He had dreamed of feeling her long blond hair falling over his naked body as they made love. He never would have believed that he’d get the chance. Surely he was misunderstanding.

“I…”

“Its okay” she said getting back to her knees.

“Don’t be nervous, Ian.” Jeremy said quietly. “We’re just going to play. No one’s getting hurt. Just relax.” He stared at Ian with a calm cool sexiness.

“Okay” was all Ian could think to say.

“Don’t be nervous” Susan kissed her husband and he followed her lips to the floor with her.

Ian watched in silence for a moment. Okay so maybe he hadn’t misunderstood, the sight and sound of a husband and wife beginning to make love, both thrilling him and terrifying him.

Jeremy pulled his shirt over his head. Ian could see the taut abs and the mischievous sparkle in his eye that had made him the People Magazine’s sexiest man alive. He kissed his wife deeply, holding the small of her back, Susan staring into Ian’s eyes. Susan reached down and pulled off Jeremy’s sandals, as he reached over and squeezed Ian’s thigh.

“Let’s just all enjoy ourselves.” Jeremy sighed, before returning to his wife’s lips.

Jeremy, almost unnoticeabely, took hold of the bottom of Susan’s shirt. She lifted her arms over her head, letting him slowly peel it off her torso, her waist length hair whisping back down over her back. She turned and looked over a naked shoulder and smiled at Ian, then bit her lower lip.

“My husband is so sexy, don’t you think?”

Ian was speechless, hands on the arms on the chair, feet flat on the floor, afraid to move. “So are you.”

“You can come play with us whenever you like.” Jeremy said as he took his wife in his arms and pulled her close, her arms wrapping themselves tightly around him. Jeremy hands slipped down her back, cupping her firmly, lifting her off the carpet enough to lay her gently on her back and fall into her.

Susan reached a hand to Ian. “Come and join us, Ian.” There was no way he could misunderstand what was going on now, especially with that look in her eyes.

“Please come down here with us.” She begged with a moan.

And he did. God help him. Ian did.