Masters And Lovers 1-4 novel Chapter 48

“Why don’t we head for the hot-tub… well warm-tub, Charlotte being in the condition she is…” says James, giving her a wink. “I put the wine on ice out there and we can talk in comfort.”

In the tub, I find myself flanked to one side by Charlotte, then James; to the other side by Beth then Richard. James pours cava for me and Richard. Charlotte pours for herself from a bottle of elderflower fizz then offers it to Beth.

Charlotte twists around, touches my lips then runs the finger through my hair before pressing her mouth to mine. “It’s good to see you smiling again.”

“I’m sorry. I… abandoned you. It felt as though all the lights had gone out. As though I were in the dark.”

She kisses me again, her expression intense. “You didn’t abandon me. You would never do that. And the sun is here now.”

“Feeling good, Michael?” says Richard.

“God, yes.” I brush a knuckle over Charlotte’s cheek then turn to face the red-haired beauty on my other side. “Beth, thank you.” I kiss her cheek. “And Richard, thank you too, for er… loaning me your wife…”

James turns away, as though hiding a smile and Richard’s lips pucker. “Interesting that you should choose to phrase it like that, Michael. In fact, that brings us to something I want to talk to you about.”

“Oh? What’s that then?”

James reaches across, topping up my wineglass. “Richard?”

“Yes, thank you.” Richard takes a mouthful of wine then, “Michael, you spoke of my loaning Elizabeth to you. How would you feel about it being a more permanent arrangement?”

The cava blows bubbles up the back of my nose and I splutter. “Sorry? Come again?”

“Within the bounds of our group of five, you and Elizabeth have been occasional lovers, with my blessing of course. Just as you and James have allowed Charlotte and me to enjoy each other.”

Where the hell’s this going?

“Yes… So…?”

“So…” Richard pauses, sips his wine again. “Let me start at the beginning. As I understand it, when you, James and Charlotte set up your Triad, it was at least partly because of the age difference between the two of them. He knew that he would age sooner than her and that Charlotte would outlive him, probably by many decades.”

“That’s right, yes.”

“Also, James felt that in his later years, as he grew older, perhaps as his health failed, it would not be fair on Charlotte, while she was still in the prime of life, to be limited by marriage to a much older man.” He glances down, in the direction of Charlotte’s belly. “Let alone to any children there might be.”

“Yes, that’s true too. But…”

Richard leans back, stretching his arms along the edges of the tub. “And so, you reached an arrangement between yourselves; a very practical arrangement. James and his closest friend shared the woman they both loved, in your different ways. Charlotte has both the men she loves. And as James grows older, you will be there to protect her, to love her, to be her husband.”

“Yes, all this is true, Richard, but…”

He leans forward once more. “Michael, it is no different between me and Elizabeth. James and I are much of an age. Charlotte is only a few years younger than my Elizabeth. I will be old long before she is.”

I’m beginning to see where this is headed. “Richard, are you suggesting…?”

“You and Elizabeth are, at the very least, fond of each other…” Her hand slips into mine under the warm water, squeezing my fingers. I squeeze back but shoot a look sidelong to Charlotte. She’s smiling happily, her eyes dancing as she tilts her glass to me.

Richard continues. “It’s not just when we have our fun and frolics as a… a five-some… We all see that you enjoy each other’s company out there in Real Life. How would you feel about, instead of confining your… um… role in her life to these fun but limited sessions, it becomes a full-time arrangement?”

My mouth is dry. I knock back the contents of my glass. James refills it. “Richard, are you offering Beth to me as her full-time lover?”

“I’m offering more than that, Michael, if you want it and are willing.”

As it comes crashing over me, the scale of what Richard is suggesting, Beth looks up into my face, her fingers, warm and slippery, winding into mine. “Michael?” She’s blinking, biting her lip.

I swing to Charlotte. “You knew about this?”

She’s all dimples and cheek. “Course I did. You think Richard would have spoken like this if he hadn’t cleared it first?”

“And you’re alright with it?”

“I’m a woman with two husbands. Why shouldn’t you be a man with two wives?”

Why indeed?

James?

The first time it was suggested that I ‘give Beth her birthday present’, I thought James was going to bury me. But he too is looking relaxed.

“You knew too?”

He’s resisting a smile. “I did.”

“And you… approve?”

“I think it’s an excellent idea. And for several reasons.”