Chapter 4:
The Morning After

His hands searched my body as something new and exciting, every inch as a place to be worshipped with kisses. I giggled beneath the whispers of his long and slender fingers as they traveled up my inner thigh. I could be insecure about a lot of things. I wasn't completely hairless where most women are these days, under the panties, and I didn't have a six pack.

My long hair was untamed, and my skin was still recovering from its last sunburn. Freckles were placed out of order all over, and I never knew what to do with my hands. I laughed at myself. I wasn't that insecure. I was a women on the verge of turning thirty with nothing to lose.

I enjoyed having long legs, ivory skin, dark hair, and piano playing fingers. Apparently Edward loved all of those things, too, among others. I giggled again when he nibbled on my belly button. His head full of hair tickled my breasts as he went further down. I stopped breathing and fell serious at once. Oral felt much more personal than what we had done so far.

I bit my lip, not to hide fear, but to suppress my moan. Edward's hot tongue licked me up and down. I wanted to squeeze my legs closed when the pleasure became too intense. We couldn't wake the sleeping pair next to us and be caught in the act. Edward continued his lapping, and when I felt a long finger enter me at the same time, I bit down harder until my lip released blood. It was all I could do to keep from crying out his name.

"Some night, huh?" My mind snapped back to reality and I sat up straight. I wiped my mouth when I felt a slight drip of drool from my reminiscing of the hours spent with Edward before dawn. Kate took a seat in the rocker next to mine on the front porch. She wore Riley's white button up, and his suit jacket from the night before. Her long, tan legs were toned and shimmery. I swallowed hard.

"Oh, yeah," I coughed. She flipped her blonde locks behind her shoulder and sipped on her mug of coffee. It was well after ten in the morning, but the night's rainstorm had left the start of the day in a hazy fog, making it feel much earlier than it was.

"Are they still asleep?" I asked.

"Out like lights," she giggled. "Edward is a sleeper anyway."

"Riley, too," I added with a laugh. We were quiet for a while, and I was suddenly embarrassed around her. What I had shared with her husband was something we had in common, and something that wasn't personal since it was shared between multiple people.

"So, what did you think?" She asked perkily. All I could do was nod with a smile. Kate laughed.

"God, that Riley sure does know what he's doing, huh?"

"Mhmm," I lied.

"And what about Edward? The man works magic with those fingers, am I right?" I choked on coffee.

"This isn't awkward for you?" I blurted.

Since the morning had come, and coffee had begun to awaken me, I felt dirty and ashamed. My personal life was now a living scandal. Thank God there weren't any local tabloids around this city. The four of us would no doubt be front page news.

"Sex is a part of life, Bella," she replied easily. I frowned.

"But...the sanctity of marriage –"

"Isn't very binding when the couple wants to experiment." My shoulders dropped. She was right. We were the ones that allowed this to happen as much as our spouses. I wasn't sure what my marriage meant anymore.

"I mean, didn't you enjoy it? Don't you feel...exhilarated?" She asked curiously. She shook her shoulders and inhaled the morning air deeply. My eyes went to ground.

"Yes. That's what is worrying me," I whispered.

"Worry less, live more," she advised. "I feel great."

I was about to question her further, but my heart stopped beating when I heard tires over gravel. My head swiveled to the left to see a red truck with a trailer attached heading our way. I stood up frantically, fixing my hair and patting my old t-shirt and shorts flat.

"Who's that?" Kate asked. The big, red Ford parked behind Edward's dark SUV.

"My mother," I mumbled. Renee Swan walked around the vehicles and stopped dead in her tracks at the bottom of the porch steps. She studied Kate with wide eyes, then looked to me questioningly.

"Hi there," Kate piped in her sweet southern accent.

"Hello," Renee replied skeptically. "Who are you?" Her hair was braided perfectly tight, her riding boots and her clothes were new, and she carried a large invisible chip on her shoulder that could weigh down the world. My mother was as tough as stone.

"Oh," I laughed nervously. "Mom, this is –"

"Her best friend, Kate Masen," Kate interrupted, saving me from saying something stupid and unbelievable. Renee frowned.

"I was unaware that my daughter had a best friend. Or that she still held sleep overs." Kate's smile faded.

"Of course I do, Ma," I said, still laughing nervously. Renee's eyes went from Kate's bare feet up to her make-up smeared face. Kate shuffled her feet uncomfortably. My mother could make anyone shudder.

"What do you need, Mom?" I groaned.

"I...I'm gonna go inside," Kate said. I looked to her apologetically. I'm sure she could feel the judgement that my mother was boring into her through her eyes. "And uh, call Edward's," she whispered. I nodded. Do they share custody with her and Edward?

"Bella Summers," Renee snapped once Kate was out of sight. I rolled my eyes, and put my old riding boots on that sat by the screen door. I didn't speak until we were at least a hundred yards away from my house.

"Were those Riley's clothes that girl was wearing?" Renee hissed.

"Of course not!" I lied. "They're her husband Edward's."

"Who?" I stopped walking to unlock the barn doors.

"We had some friends over. It got late, and we didn't want them driving home, so they slept in the guest bedroom," I stated strongly. Renee eyed me carefully before giving up with a shrug.

"Whatever dear," she replied. My chest eased. "It just looked like –"

"Like what, Mom?" I snapped. I stomped down the breezeway with her on my heels.

"Like an orgy," she finished. I spun around to face her in shock. She was smiling, then burst into laughter.

"Mom!" I wasn't annoyed with her statement as much as I was her treating me like I was a teenager.

"I'm sorry. I'm sorry," she defended. "I'm just in a pissy mood today. One of my horses broke an ankle."

"Oh, no," I replied worriedly. Renee nodded.

"That's why I'm here. I was hoping to borrow O'Ryan." My mind instantly flew to Lucy and her love for my horse.

"O'Ryan?" I squeaked.

"Yeah. It'll only be a couple of months. I have a student with a show coming up, and she's going to win gold, she just needs the proper horse. I thought since Pepper broke her ankle, you could lend me him, and I'll lend you Chester to compensate for your lessons. Poor boy is just too old for competition, but perfect for kids."

I nodded slowly. "What about Diane?" I countered. "O'Ryan is just beginning his show training, and you know Diane has already won."

"I didn't think you'd let me borrow Diane," she replied simply. I smiled.

"Be my guest." Renee hugged my neck tightly and thanked me profusely. Anything for my mother.

-.-

I sent Renee on her merry way with my prize winning horse in tow, and could finally breath again. I loved my mother, but only as much as she allowed me to. She was superficial with everything but horses. It had always been difficult to speak with her on a personal level. She adored Riley and thought extremely highly of him. My husband could do no wrong in her eyes. She had been married to my father for thirty years before he passed away a few years ago.

When she lost him, she lost more of herself. I couldn't blame her, but it didn't stop me from searching for the real Renee Swan. She was judgmental of my life, and wanted it to run perfectly. After a while, I came to want the same things she did.

The fog of the morning had dissipated into the early afternoon, and I could smell bacon as I entered my home. I breathed in heavily realizing that I was famished. I stood quietly at the entrance of my kitchen and watched three lovers maneuver around easily.

Riley flipped bacon at the stove with Kate grabbing plates from the cabinet, and Edward pouring fresh coffee into three mugs. I watched them for a while before moving, mesmerized by the simplicity and comfort they all seemed to feel. I was jealous, I think. But of whom? Kate's overwhelming sexual power over my husband, or the small body grazes she shared in passing with her husband?

Riley noticed me first, and sauntered over with a wide smile across his face. I frowned slightly. He kissed my mouth with more fervor than I knew he was capable of. I couldn't close my eyes to give into his kiss, instead looking over his shoulder at Edward. He wore a sad smile that stung my heart.

"Morning wife," Riley cooed softly. I smiled.

"Breakfast at noon?" I teased.

"Better late than never," Edward countered with a smirk. My cheeks heated as I caught his eyes appraising my body. I could still smell us, his sweat mixed with mine.

"What did Renee want?" Riley asked. I took a seat at the table and poured myself more coffee. My body tensed up when I felt Edward sit down next to me, across from his wife. Riley placed a full plate of bacon, eggs, and toast down in front of each of us.

"Diane," I said simply. "She's going to bring Chester by tomorrow as a trade for a couple of months." Riley nodded after taking the seat across from me. He dug into his food immediately.

"You breed horses?" Kate asked between bites of food.

I scooped food onto my plate. "Board them," I corrected. "And give riding lessons."

"Oh, really? My niece wants lessons!" She said excitedly. I frowned and looked to Edward. His eyes fluttered nervously.

"Yeah, uh, could we arrange something?" He asked me. I was about to wonder why he hadn't told her about me, but then I remembered that I hadn't told Riley about him.

I nodded slowly. "Sure." Kate grinned widely. "So what do you do?" I asked her.

"I'm a receptionist for a law firm," she said happily. My eyes shot over to Riley.

"Oh?" I squeaked.

"Yeah, oh?" Riley asked, just as surprised. "I'm a lawyer."

"No!" Kate exclaimed. Riley nodded enthusiastically.

"What are the odds," I snapped sourly. Edward chuckled. "And what do you do?" I asked him.

"Edward doesn't work," Kate said, laughing easily. "He is a stay at home...uncle for our niece, Lucy."

"That's nice," Riley mumbled through a full mouth. Edward sighed and turned to me.

"I own a real estate company." My mind suddenly clicked into place. Riley spit food from his mouth in surprise.

"Masen Estates? Like, you're the Masen?" Edward nodded simply. My eyes went wide. I was impressed.

"He's showing off," Kate added lazily. "His granddad left the company to him. He worked for a few years, but now he just sits and makes money." Edward rolled his eyes.

"I work long hours at odd times. My six year degree didn't hurt matters," Edward retorted.

"Neither did being a Masen," Kate snapped. She turned to me. "He's the youngest and richest real estate company owner in the south." I could easily sense the venom in her voice, but Edward laughed it off as he leaned back in his chair.

"It's exhausting just hearing about it," he boasted. Kate rolled her eyes and turned to Riley. I tuned them out as soon as I heard the word, "law." If I didn't know any better, I'd say that Edward and Kate bickered like siblings, always trying to outdo the other in anything they could.

I tried focusing on my food. I ate half of the plate, but now that I wasn't busy listening to conversations, all I noticed was how close Edward was sitting next to me. His body heat was like a furness. I jumped in my seat when I felt his beautiful fingers on my bare knee cap. I quickly sneaked a glance at his face. He looked to me and winked, forcing me to look away quickly as my cheeks ignited on fire.

My eyes grew heavy and my breathing became harsh as his delicate fingers traced up my leg.

"Well, what do you think, Bella?" Riley asked annoyed.

"Hmm? About?"

"Have you listened to anything we've been talking about?"

"Where do we go from here?" Edward said, quickly filling me in.

I shrugged. "Where does everyone want it to go?" No one spoke.

Edward snorted. "Look, if we can't be honest with each other, we might as well part ways now."

"I agree with Edward," Riley said. "I'll go first." My husband cleared his throat. "My wife and I did this in hopes to save our failing marriage," he began. I sunk low in my seat with red cheeks. Did the man have to be so truthful? Weren't lawyers generally good liars?

"I truly enjoyed last night," he added.

"Us too," the rest of us blurted in unison.

"So, do we choose different partners now?" Riley asked. Edward cleared his throat.

"From what I've gathered, we can go our separate ways, or begin a four way relationship."

"Four way relationship?" I laughed. Riley and Kate frowned at me. "I'm sorry, but how does that even work?"

"There are rules and boundaries of course, but it's kind of official that we all only see each other," Edward explained.

"I think we should take the week with no contact, and regroup again this weekend," Kate suggested. "That way we can let everything digest, examine where our own marriages stand, and go from there. We all work anyway, so it would be the weekend when we could get together again."

"I agree," I said. I needed time to think, and time away from all three of these people to do it. Riley nodded, followed by Edward.

-.-

I stood on the porch watching my lame husband say goodbye to Kate. I could hear him thanking her, and it was repulsing. He didn't have to go into such detail, did he? I shook my head and jumped when I felt a warm hand on my back. Edward smiled. Would I ever get used to his touch?

"Calm down," he soothed. "You can go wherever you want with this, Bella."

I shrugged. "I just wish I knew where that was." Edward's face fell. "Not that I didn't enjoy myself," I gushed. I lowered my voice and leaned in closer to him. "Because I did. Maybe a little too much."

"There can be so much more of that," he whispered darkly, allowing a long finger to trace down my back. I shivered slightly.

"I have to go to Atlanta this week for meetings, so my mother will be bringing Lucy to her lessons. Is that alright?" My heart sank to the ground. I wouldn't see him until we all met up again. I wanted to speak with him alone about so many things, but maybe this way was for the best. I was stronger when I was away from him. I nodded.

"I wish I didn't have to," he breathed. "I just want to have you one more time to last me the week." My knees began to shake, and all I could do was hum my agreement. "I'll be remembering your taste, and hoping that you choose to let me fuck you again, Mrs. Summers." My eyes shot open wide and my breathing was ragged. Before I could even try and respond, he was gone.

I just felt like posting again. It has been a very LONG week for me, so here's to a relaxing weekend!

Enjoy Father's Day!

What are your thoughts on how things are progressing for these four?! ;)

Thank you Roniangel85! My speedy beta!

And to Beffers87 for her beautiful manips!