But he had lied.
Mark stayed quiet, still staring at his coffee.
“So you’re going again today, huh?” His voice dripped with jealousy and irritation.
That pissed me off. This was his idea. His grand plan. And now that I was genuinely enjoying myself, he had a problem?
“Yes, I’m going to Florin’s studio today.” I stood and carried my plate to the sink. “He wants to paint me.”
I was about to say “paint a nude of me,” but decided to spare him the details.
“Glad to hear it,” Mark said through gritted teeth and continuing to sip his coffee.
The open marriage arrangement was keeping me so busy that I had forgotten to keep our fridge stocked. I decided to squeeze in a quick grocery run before going to meet Florin. As I was picking through the vegetables, I heard someone call my name.
“Amelia? Amelia Davis?”
I turned to see a woman in a tight leather dress that looked completely out of place among the produce and baguettes. Her breasts were practically bulging out, fighting to escape the confines of the dress. She was beautiful in that polished, high-maintenance sort of way. Perfect makeup, not a hair out of place.
“Yes?”
“I am Simone.” Her accent was thick, her smile bright. “I have seen your picture with your children on Mark’s desk. I recognized you immediately.”
Simone? Ah,theSimone. She was completely different than I had imagined, and it was a little unsettling to realize that Mark had been wanting to sleep with someone who was so…so different from me in every aspect.
“Hello, Simone.” I managed.
“I just wanted to say that I’m very impressed that you are so accepting of Mark’s relationship with me.” She leaned in conspiratorially. “Not many wives would be so... modern.”
This was what Mark meant when he talked about being open and understanding, about opening our horizons. Maybe chatting with your husband’s girlfriend at the grocery store was just the new normal that came with this arrangement.
I decided to stay cordial.
“Well, we believe in honesty and transparency,” I said, echoing Mark’s words back at her.
“May I ask you something?” Simone’s voice dropped lower.
“Of course.”
“I really enjoyed spending the night with Mark, but...” She bit her lip. “I don’t think I satisfied him completely. Although he was very, very good...”
I waited, saying nothing.
“What should I do so Mark is more interested in me? Are there any positions he particularly likes? What is his... thing?”
I thought about my last time with Mark in the pottery studio. The clay everywhere, the way he’d dominated me completely. The way he’d shoved his muddy fingers in my mouth and ordered me to suck them clean. The way he’d called me his good little slut.
Simone had no idea what Mark really liked.
“Mark’s thing is kinky sex,” I said matter-of-factly. “He likes it rough. He likes to dominate. Maybe you could try that?”
Simone’s eyes widened. “And you? Do you like to be dominated?”
“Yes, absolutely.” I smiled. “I love it rough too.”
“Could you... could you teach me some moves?” Simone asked desperately.
“I’m sorry, but she’s busy today.”
