That night, I stayed at a Motel 6 outside of Palm Springs, California. There was a steak house near the motel. I had a small sirloin and a salad for dinner. After dinner, I returned to my motel and logged on to the Internet.

There was an email from Jeanne. I opened it.

"Dear Michael,

I am safely at home. Thank you for a wonderful weekend.

As soon as I arrived home, I called the girls and told them about our plans for Christmas. They're both excited and certain they can arrange the time off of work. Paul will be coming, too.

If we can get the tickets, we thought we would fly down on Christmas eve and return home on New Year’s Day. Will that work for you? When I hear from you, I'll make the airline reservations.

I miss you already. I love you so much. Thanksgiving is going to be lonely without you.

I'll call you at the end of the week.

Love, Jeanne"

I wrote back.

"Dear Jeanne,

Thank you for letting me know that you arrived safely at home. I would have worried.

I'm happy that the girls are excited about Christmas in San Antonio. My schedule is wide open, so those dates are fine with me. Go ahead and buy the airline tickets. Because this will be the peak holiday traveling time, the seats are going to be expensive, so why don't you fly first class. I'll call Ruth in the morning and have her transfer some extra money to your checking account. I'll try to make the hotel reservations tomorrow morning.

I had a wonderful weekend, too. Thank you.

Love, Michael"

After sending the email, I decided it was time to investigate the cuckold websites. I googled the word 'cuckold'. I found several definitions, but then I saw an ad for a web site. I clicked on the link. It opened. You could be a member, but I quickly realized that you could read much of the content without joining.

There was a story section. I opened it and found a full page of cuckold oriented stories. I started perusing them. They were all by amateur writers; some were more skillfully written than others. They also dealt with a wide range of fantasies. It was immediately obvious that Jeanne had been correct. For many men, sexual domination seemed to be part of the cuckold fantasy.

I skimmed several stories. While I didn't find the sexual domination and humiliation in them particularly appealing, they were still interesting. They reinforced my growing belief that the sexual fantasies and practices of consenting adults are nobody else's business. The site also showed the number of times each story had been viewed. The numbers were in the thousands. Clearly, there were a large number of people who were at least curious about the cuckold fantasy.

It was after midnight when I finally shut off my computer and went to sleep.

The next morning, I drove south to Tucson, Arizona. I arrived in the middle of the afternoon. It was Monday, November 19th. The sun was shining and the temperature was 84 degrees. As I parked in front of a Motel 6, I decided that Tucson would be my home for the next month.

After checking into the motel and unloading my gear, I decided to do a little exploring. About a mile from my motel, I found two municipal golf courses and a driving range. I also found a steak house, several interesting looking Mexican restaurants and an IHOP. I had everything I needed.

On the way back to my motel, I passed a bar called Danny's Lounge. A neon sign above the door caught my attention. In simple block letters it read "Exotic Dancers Monday through Saturday noon to 2:00 AM".

I'm a voyeur. I love looking at naked women. Prior to marrying Jeanne, I regularly enjoyed strip clubs. Marriage, manhood and concern about my standing in the community caused me to abandon that pleasure. Other than for a couple of stag parties, I hadn't set foot inside a strip club since Jeanne and I got engaged.

I wanted to stop, but I continued driving. For the past twenty-seven years, every time I passed a strip club, I've wanted to stop. I didn't, not even once. I always resisted the temptation.

As I drove back to my motel, I asked myself why I didn't stop. Loyalty to my wife? She was regularly giving blow jobs to men she met at Brady's Pub. Concern about what people might think? I was almost two thousand miles away from home. The opinion of my daughters? They were both advocates of free love and I'd just learned that my oldest daughter was a dominatrix.

Unable to think of a single valid reasons not to stop, I turned right at the next corner and circled back to Danny's Lounge. It was four o'clock in the afternoon. There were maybe a dozen cars in the parking lot. Excited, I parked and walked into the bar.

Inside I was greeted by a large, broad shouldered young man who looked like he could have played linebacker in the NFL. "I'm sorry, I have to pat you down."

Surprised, I asked, "Are you worried about weapons?"

Shaking his head he answered, "Nah, cell phone cameras; the girls don't want to end up on YouTube."

I laughed. "Okay, I left my phone in the car."

After giving my pockets a quick pat, he said, "Go on in and have a good time."

"Is there a cover charge?"

"Only on Friday and Saturday nights after 5:00."

"All right." I went into the bar. It was dark. I took a moment to let my eyes get used to the lack of light and then I surveyed the place. On the left side of the room, two young women and five men were sitting at a horse shoe shaped bar.

A stage filled the center of the room. The stage was actually two adjacent ovals. The first stage had a stripper pole. A young blonde wearing only a G string was twirling around the pole.

There was a small wooden chair on the stage nearest to me. A young black girl, also wearing only a g string, was sitting on the chair. Her legs were spread wide. She was lasciviously rubbing her cunt. A middle aged man was standing next to the stage in front of her. He was holding a five dollar bill.

There were about two dozen small round tables surrounding the stage. Each table had two or three chairs. Six of the tables were occupied by middle aged men. Four of the men had young women sitting on their laps. The other two were watching the girls on the two stages.

The outer walls of the bar were lined with brown vinyl couches separated by end tables. Four men, all middle aged were discreetly spaced on the couches getting lap dances.

In the far left corner of the bar, there was a glass door. Above the door, a neon sign read "VIP Room".

I found a table and sat down. As soon as I was seated, a young woman in a short skirt and skimpy blouse carrying a tray came over to me and asked, "What can I get you to drink?"

"How about a Diet Coke."

"Is Pepsi okay?"

"It'll be just fine."

"I'll be right back."

She hurried off to the bar. A moment later, a slender young blonde approached me. She couldn't have been older than twenty. She said, "Hi sweetie, my name is Candy. Would you like some company?"

Candy was a pretty girl, but I had two daughters older than she was. Shaking my head, I said, "Thank you, but I think I'll just watch for a little while."

Smiling, she said, "Okay, if you change your mind give me a wave."

"I'll do that."

She walked away. A moment later the waitress returned with my Pepsi. Actually it was two Pepsis. As she set them on my table she said, "It's happy hour, they're two for one. That will be six dollars."

I smiled.

She shrugged. "You didn't have to pay a cover."

My dad taught me that the first time you go to a new hotel or restaurant it pays to spread a little money around. I said, "You're absolutely right." I handed her a twenty dollar bill and said, "The change is for you."

Grinning, the waitress gave me back a ten and four ones and then she lifted her skirt. She pulled the crotch of her thong out exposing her shaved pussy and said, "Nice guys get to put their tips in here."

As I folded the bills and slipped them behind the crotch of her panties, I said, "Clearly, it pays to be nice."

She kissed my cheek and whispered, "Honey, in this place that's very true." And then she added, "We have several women here who love middle aged men. I'll make sure one of them stops to see you."

Behind me a voice said, "Connie, I'm already here."

Connie smiled. "This is Chantel. She'll take very good care of you."

I turned. Chantel was a tall slender black woman. Her smooth skin was the shade of rich coffee laced with cream. Her long black hair was pulled back into a pony tail. She wore a white lace brassiere that barely contained her large breasts and a matching white lace skirt that couldn't have been more than six inches long.

I gawked.

Smiling, Chantel said, "You like my outfit."

"Very much."

"You told Candy that you just wanted to watch for a little while, but I'm wondering if you might prefer the company of an older woman."

"I have two daughters older than Candy."

"A man of principle, I like that. May I join you?"

"Please do."

Chantel walked around my table so that she was standing in front of me. "May I sit on your lap?"

"Of course."

Grinning, Chantel sat down and put her arm around my shoulder. Her large brassiere covered breasts were now inches from my face. "You have me at a disadvantage. Connie told you that my name is Chantel, but I don't know your name."

"My name is Michael."

"Michael? Not Mike?"

"I prefer Michael."

"Actually, I do too."

I smiled.

Chantel said, "So Michael, can I interest you in a dance?" As she asked, she leaned over and rubbed her large breasts in my face.

Chuckling, I asked, "How much does a dance cost?"

"Ten dollars here and fifteen dollars if we move to one of the couches."

"Let's move to the couches."

Standing up, Chantel picked up my two Diet Pepsis.

I said, "One is enough." and then I started to walk towards the closest couch. It was near the entrance.

Chantel said, "Michael."

I stopped and turned.

As she set one of the Diet Pepsis back on the table, she said, "Let's go to the couches on the far wall." She nodded towards a man in a sports jacket standing by the bar. "Do you see that man over there?"

"Yes."

"His job is to make sure that nothing overt happens in here. We can have fun, but we have to be discreet. The couches near the entrance are well lit and closely scrutinized." Chantel leaned over and whispered, "That's where we take the guys who are drunk."

"I understand. Let's go to the couches on the back wall."

"What a good idea." Chantel took my hand with her free hand and led me to our couch.

I sat down. Chantel set my drink down on the end table to my left and sat down on the couch next to me. Laying her hand on my thigh, she said, "Let's wait for the next song." And then slipping her hand inside my thigh, Chantel asked, "Michael, do you live in Tucson?"

Realizing that I was being vetted, I answered, "No, in fact I just got here today."

"Really? Are you here on business?"

"No, I guess you could say that I'm on a combination sightseeing and golf tour of the United States."

"How are you managing that? You're not old enough to be retired."

"I'm an accountant. I have my own business."

"And you can afford to leave it?"

"I have good assistants."

"You're a lucky man. What about your wife? You told me that you have two grown daughters. How does she feel about this trip you're taking?"

"We're having some differences right now."

"Is that why you're taking this trip?"

"Yes."

Chantel slipped her hand over to my cock and gave it a gentle squeeze. Apparently I'd passed the test. Leaning over she nuzzled my neck and whispered, "I'm sorry baby, I didn't mean to pry. I just need to know who you are."

"I understand."

"Are you ready for your dance?"

"Yes."

Standing up, Chantel reached behind her back and unfastened her brassiere. After tossing it on the end table she climbed on top of me and pressed her naked breasts into my face. At the same time she picked up my hands. Placing them on her body she said, "I like you, Michael. You can touch me anywhere, anywhere at all."

And then the dance started. Chantel rubbed her breasts in my face. I sucked one of her nipples into my mouth and kissed and licked it. She reached between my legs and caressed my cock and balls. It was already the most amazing lap dance I'd ever imagined, but then Chantel climbed up so she was standing on the couch straddling me. She raised the hem of her short skirt. She was wearing a white lace thong. Pulling it aside, she said, "Look at my pretty black pussy. Do you like it baby?"

"Very much."

Giggling, Chantel slid off of me and knelt between my legs. Cupping my erect cock between her hands, she leaned over and rubbed her lips and nose against it.

I gasped. My erection was covered by my trousers, but it still felt good.

Winking at me she asked, "Do you like that baby?"

"Very much."

Chantel pulled herself up on to the couch. Sitting next to me, she laid her hand on my now very erect penis. As she slowly massaged it, she whispered, "I liked it, too."

"You're really good at this."

"You're a nice guy. Nice guys get my best effort."

"This one appreciates it."

"I like you, Michael."

"I like you too, Chantel." I paused.

Chantel looked at me. After a moment she said, "Michael, you want to ask me something, don't you."

I nodded.

She smiled. "I love shy men. Do you want to know about the VIP room?"

"Yes."

"You have to pay the bar twenty dollars to get in, but that covers you until we close tonight."

I nodded.

"And dances are twenty-five dollars each."

"Okay."

Giggling Chantel said, "That's not what you wanted to know, is it."

Feeling a little chagrined, I shook my head.

"Michael, you really are a gem. Okay, these are my personal rules. I won't let you fuck me and I won't let you put your finger in my cunt or my ass. I have to have a pretty good understanding with a guy before I'll let him do any of those things to me."

"That makes sense."

"But there are still a lot of fun things we can do. The man in the sports jacket never comes into the VIP room. Would you like to try it?"

"Yes, I think I would."

Chantel stood up. Picking up her brassiere and my Diet Pepsi, she said, "Let's go." She started walking towards the VIP room.

I stood up and followed her. As we passed the bar, Chantel caught the waitresses eye. She hurried over to us.

Stopping, Chantel turned to me and said, "Give Connie twenty dollars."

I took out my money clip, peeled off a twenty dollar bill and then added another five. As I handed it to Connie, she said to Chantel, "Your new friend is a generous man."

"He is, and you know how much I enjoy rewarding generosity." Chantel was grinning.

Connie winked at me. "You're going to have a very good time."

I smiled.

"Come on, baby." Chantel opened the door to the VIP room, grabbed my hand and tugged me inside.

The room was about the size of a living room in a moderately priced house. It was furnished with eight couches and end tables similar to the couches and end tables that ringed the bar room.

Chantel led me to the couch in the far corner of the room. "I like this one; it's private."

"Okay."

As soon as we sat down I took out my money clip and peeled off ten twenty dollar bills. Handing them to Chantel, I said, "This should be enough to cover the dance we just had in the other room, several dances in here and a nice tip."

Chantel took the bills. As she put them in a small wallet she was carrying, she said, "This will cover more than that."

"My intention was to give you enough so that for a little while at least, we wouldn't have to worry about money."

Staring at me, Chantel said, "Michael, you're a very interesting man. I like you." She laughed, "Suddenly, I feel like I'd like to return your money and give you a freebie."

Shaking my head, I said, "No, don't do that."

"You're turning a freebie down?"

"Yeah, I guess I am. Chantel, while it's fun to pretend otherwise, this is business transaction. You provide a service and I'm buying it. You happen to be a nice person so this transaction is turning out to be a lot of fun for me."

"It's turning out to be a lot of fun for both of us."

"I believe you and that makes me happy."

Chantel smiled.

Smiling back, I said, "Think about this. Imagine that you're an architect and I hired you to design a house for me. While we're working on the design we become friends. Should I expect you to return your fee?"

Shaking her head, Chantel said, "No, of course not."

"I agree, but maybe after we finish the design we might have a cup of coffee together."

"Michael, are you asking me out?"

"I'm not that presumptuous, but I am wondering if after we're finished you might be willing to sit at a table with me for a few minutes and just talk."

"I'd like that very much."

While we were talking, Chantel had been busily untucking my shirt. Leaning over, she brushed her lips along my neck and whispered, "It's time to play." At the same time, I felt her hand slip under my shirt. Her roving fingers quickly found my left nipple. She gave it a little tweak.

I gasped.

Giggling, she asked, "Do you like that, baby?"

Suddenly very excited, I nodded.

"Let's try the other one."

As Chantel moved her hand to my other nipple, she brushed the chain for my new pendant, the pendant Jeanne and I had just purchased at the sex shop in San Francisco.

She paused for a moment and then she asked, "Michael are you wearing a religious medal?"

Embarrassed I groped for an answer.

While I was thinking, Chantel said, "That's really none of my business. I'm sorry, I didn't mean to pry."

I realized that I didn't need to hide anything from this woman. It was highly unlikely that she would be judgmental about either Jeanne's adventurous behavior or my growing acceptance of it. If it turned out that she was, it was unlikely that I'd ever see her again.

Smiling I said, "It's okay, you can ask me anything. If I don't want to answer a question, I'll tell you."

"I like that, Michael. You can do the same thing with me." She paused for a moment and then she added, "But can I ask for a favor?"

"Of course."

"Please don't ask me how I got into this business. That question feels so judgmental to me."

"I won't, I promise."

"Thank you."

"Besides, it would be awfully hypocritical for me to get judgmental about your profession. After all, I am here enjoying your services."

"Michael, the more I get to know you the more I like you."

"I like you too, Chantel."

"I'm glad."

"It's not a religious medal. It's a silver pendant with an inscription on it. My wife and I bought it this past weekend in San Francisco."

"You were with your wife last weekend?"

"Yes."

"You told me you were having difficulties. That's why you're traveling."

"That's true, but last weekend Jeanne flew to San Francisco so she could see me. She's trying to repair the rift."

"What does the pendant say?

I pulled it out from under my shirt, slipped the chain over my head and handed it to Chantel. "You can read it yourself."

While the VIP room wasn't dark, it wasn't well lit either. Chantel held the pendant up close to her eyes. After a moment she said, "It says, 'I love it when she's naughty.' Michael what does that mean? What does your wife do that's naughty?" She looked at me for a moment and then she asked, "Michael do you like to spank your wife?"

Taking a deep breath I said, "Chantel, Jeanne likes to be naughty with other men."

"And you're okay with that? I mean it says here, 'I love it when she's naughty'."

Sighing, I looked away.

Chantel shook her head and said, "Of course, now I get it. This is the cause of the rift. This is why you're traveling."

I nodded.

"But you were willing to see her this weekend. She's trying to repair the rift, but you bought this pendant. She's still not giving up the other men."

"She offered to do that, but I know that isn't what she wants."

"You're afraid that she's going to cheat on you."

"No, I'm afraid that she's going to grow to resent me."

"Because you're keeping her from doing what she really wants to do."

"Yes."

"And you don't want to divorce her."

"Jeanne's the love of my life."

"So you're trying to learn to accept her infidelity."

Sighing, I said, "There's more to it than that."

"Tell me."

I took a moment to gather my courage and then I said, "When I think about my wife with other men I get excited."

"And that's hard for you to accept, isn't it."

"Yeah."

"Michael, you really are a lovely man."

"What makes you say that?"

"I've known a lot of men. More than you can probably imagine. I'm quite certain that most of them would feel the same excitement you're feeling, but they'd be ashamed about those feelings."

"But that's exactly..."

"Yes, I understand. You're trying to cope with feelings of shame too, but Michael, you're actually trying to cope with those feelings. Most men would adopt a facade of false bravado. They'd kick the love of their life to the curb. They might even do her physical harm, and the only reason they'd be doing it is to protect their fragile egos. You're actually trying to work out a compromise solution that meets the needs of both you and your wife. Baby, I'm beginning to realize that you are a truly magnificent man."

"I'm a cuckold."

"That's only an ugly word if you make it an ugly word."

"Chantel, I don't know."

Chantel slipped the chain and pendant over my head. After tucking the pendant back under my shirt she said, "Baby, lie back and close your eyes. It's time for Chantel to weave her magic."

I smiled, but I didn't move. I was too tense. The conversation about Jeanne had raised all of my insecurities and fears.

"Lie back and close your eyes. Don't argue with me." Chantel's voice was soft and soothing. At that moment she reminded me of Jeanne.

I closed my eyes, lay back and tried to relax. I felt Chantel unzipping my trousers.

She whispered, "Michael, I want to see your cock.

Can I take it out?"

"Won't that get you into trouble?"

"I know how to be discreet."

"Okay, you can take it out." I chuckled. "Hell, I'd love it if you took it out."

I felt Chantel slip her hand inside my trousers. She wrapped her fingers around my partially erect penis and then it was free.

"Michael, you have a magnificent cock. I love it."

"It's not very big."

"It's big enough. Baby, only fools equate size with quality. Wiser people understand that a small serving of fine chocolate mousse can be much more pleasurable than a huge dish of cheap ice cream. Michael, you're a beautiful man with a beautiful cock. It is so very desirable."

I smiled. Chantel knew exactly what to say to make a man feel good about himself.

Chantel stroked me for a moment. When I was fully erect, she slipped my cock back into my trousers and pulled herself up on the couch. Straddling me, she stood up and raised the hem of her short white lace skirt. Her shaved cunt was inches from my face. "Michael, I'm going to suck your cock, but first I want you to eat me. Will you do that? Will you lick Chantel's pretty black pussy."

"Is that a choice here?"

"For you it is."

"I would love to do it. Why don't you sit down."

"No baby, we have to do it like this. That way if someone comes in I can pretend that I'm doing a lap dance for you."

"More like a face dance." I was grinning.

Chantel laughed. "That's true, but it would be a lot harder to explain why I was sitting on the couch and you were kneeling between my legs with your face buried in my cunt."

"Yeah, I guess you're right."

"Are you ready?"

"Oh yes."

Placing her hands behind my head, Chantel pulled my face into her cunt. As she did that, she said, "I love a man who enjoys giving head to a woman."

She was wet, very wet. I kissed her, and then for the first time in over twenty-seven years, I licked a woman other than Jeanne. At first I felt guilty, but then I remembered that it was likely that tonight or tomorrow night, Jeanne would go to Brady's Pub. She'd meet a man there. They'd flirt and dance with each other for a little while and then they'd go out to his car, where Jeanne would give him a blow job while he played with her tits.

I gave Chantel's cunt a long slow kiss and then I found her engorged clitoris, sucked it into mouth and started flicking it with my tongue.

She gasped. "Michael, that feels wonderful. Where the fuck did you learn to do that? I thought only women did that."

Placing my hands on Chantel's full round ass I pulled her even more tightly to my face and continued sucking and flicking her clit.

Suddenly, Chantel pushed me away and stepped off of the couch. "Michael, that feels really good, but if I let you keep doing it, you're going to make me cum. I'm a screamer. We can't do that in here."

Chuckling, I said, "Okay, I understand."

"We really can't. I'll get in trouble." Chantel was just a little bit indignant.

"I told you that I understand, but I do have to point out that when you're miffed, you're really quite attractive." I was still chuckling.

Rolling her eyes, Chantel said, "Would you please be serious."

"If you insist."

"Michael, you really can be a frustrating man, but I do have to admit that it makes you even more intriguing."

"I get it from my dad."

"Shut up and lie back. I'm going to suck your cock and I don't want to hear a peep out of you while I'm doing it."

"Yes, ma'am."

"That's much better."

We grinned at each other. I was beginning to really like Chantel and I sensed that she liked me too.

Chantel positioned herself between my legs and took my cock back out of my pants. Looking up at me, she asked, "Do you have a handkerchief?"

"Yes."

"Give it to me. I won't let you cum in my mouth and I don't want you to make a mess on your pants."

I took my handkerchief out of my back pocket. As I handed it to Chantel, she said, "When you feel yourself getting ready to cum, give me a heads up."

"I will."

Chantel put my cock in her mouth and started sucking me. She was good, very good. That was to be expected. She was a pro. What did surprise me was that Jeanne was just as good. In the three short months I'd been away from home, my wife had learned how to give a professional caliber blow job.

What surprised me even more was the realization that it didn't bother me. In fact it not only didn't bother me, I found it exciting. I was beginning to understand that I enjoyed having a hot wife.

The amazing sensations that Chantel was creating with her mouth, tongue and hands combined with my illicit but thrilling thoughts about my hot wife, to quickly bring me to the brink of orgasm. As I felt the warm sensations building in my loins, I whispered, "Chantel, I'm about to cum."

Smiling she took my cock out of her mouth, covered it with my handkerchief and looked up at me. Lasciviously staring into my eyes, she slowly pumped the shaft of my erection. "Cum for me, baby. Do it."

I did and it was wonderful. Chantel continued pumping my cock while I ejaculated into the handkerchief. When she finally felt my erection beginning to soften, she cleaned me with the handkerchief, folded it neatly and laid it on the couch next to me. Then she put my flaccid penis back in my pants.

As she zipped me up she asked, "Did you enjoy that, baby?"

"It was wonderful. You're very skilled."

Laughing, Chantel said, "That wasn't the first blow job I've ever given."

"I kind of figured that."

"It's fun to do it for someone I like."

I smiled.

Suddenly Chantel turned towards the bar room and listened. I watched her.

After a moment she turned to me and said, "Michael, I'm sorry. That's my song. I'm supposed to be on the stage." She stood up and found her thong and brassiere. After quickly putting them on she said, "Baby, please wait for me. I only have to dance for two songs." And then she grabbed her shoes and hurried out of the VIP room.

I sat back on the couch and took a deep breath. While the past hour had been unbelievably exciting it had also been intense. A brief respite was welcome.

I was just starting to relax when the door to the VIP room opened and a tall, slender blonde walked in. She was dressed in skin tight jeans and a white crop top that barely concealed her large breasts. She was wearing high heeled sandals. I noticed a tattoo on her right ankle. I looked at it. It was a bird, a song bird.

She walked directly over to me and said, "Hi, Michael, I'm Simone. Chantel asked me to take care of you while she's dancing." She extended her hand. "Come on, let's go find a table and watch her."

I took Simone's hand. As she pulled me to my feet, she noticed the folded handkerchief on the couch next to me. Picking it up, she said, "We'd better take this with us. We wouldn't want people to get the wrong idea about what you and Chantel were doing in here."

And then she led me out of the VIP room.

We sat down at a table next to the stage. Chantel was still on her first song. They played long songs at Danny's Lounge. When you bought a lap dance, you got your money's worth.

We watched. After a moment, Simone said, "She's really good. She's a much better dancer than I am." Turning to me she quickly added, "I don't mean to imply that I'm bad. I'm not. I'm just saying that Chantel is very good."

"Are you a dancer, too?"

Smiling, Simone said, "Yes." She paused for a moment and then she shook her head and said, "I'm sorry, of course your confused. I'm wearing street clothes. Yes, I'm a dancer too, but my shift just ended. I've already changed. Chantel's shift will be over as soon as she's finished dancing and then she'll change into her street clothes too."

"I'm sorry, I didn't understand. I should be leaving. I'm sure you'll both want to go home." I stood up.

Simone reached out and gently grabbed my arm. "No, baby, please don't leave. Chantel really likes you. She asked me to keep you here until she's finished dancing and changing her clothes."

"Are you sure? I don't want to impose."

Smiling, Simone said, "I'm beginning to see why Chantel finds you so attractive. Michael, you're not imposing. Chantel wants to get to know you. Frankly, now I do, too."

"You're sure?"

"Yes, I'm very sure."

"Okay." I sat down again.

As soon as I was settled, I said, "I don't understand. Why does your shift end so early? Men are just getting off work. I would think that this place is about to get a lot busier, and you're leaving."

"You're right, it is; but our clientele are all at home now."

"I still don't understand."

"Michael, Tucson is an unusual city. While it does have some industry, it doesn't have a lot. What it does have is an air force base, the University of Arizona and a beautiful climate. The climate draws people who are retired. Tucson is a retirement community."

"Okay."

"You're absolutely right, Danny's is about to fill up with young guys getting off work, guys from the air force base and college students. Mostly they come to have a few beers and watch the girls on the stage. They can't afford to buy very many lap dances. Usually they'll buy one just before they leave. Since they've been drinking, they're generally a little handy. Chantel and I don't mind if a guy feels us up while were doing a lap dance, but we don't want him trying to finger fuck us."

I smiled.

Simone nodded towards a girl in her early twenties who was talking to a young man three tables away from us. "When those guys do buy a dance, they usually buy it from one of the girls her age."

"I see."

"Danny's opens at 11:30. In most cities, you won't find many strip clubs that open that early. In Tucson, it pays. Starting at 11:30, we get a steady stream of retired men looking for a little discreet fun. They're polite, they have money and they're looking for women who are a little more mature. Those men are our clientele. By four o'clock, they're all on their way home to have dinner with their wives. That's why Chantel and I always end our shift at five."

"Okay, now I understand."

Chantel's second song ended. She picked up her brassiere and a few one dollar bills that had been left on the stage for her and walked over to our table. "I see the two of you have met."

Simone said, "Yes we have. I just explained to Michael why we work here."

Looking at me, Chantel said, "Really."

I nodded.

"Are you interested in having dinner with two strippers who cater to the geriatric set?"

Grinning, I said, "I can't think of anything that would make me happier."

"I'll go change my clothes. I'll be back in ten minutes. Don't talk about anything interesting while I'm gone." Chantel turned and hurried to the dressing room.

As soon as she was gone, Simone said, "I guess that limits our conversation."

Shaking my head, I said, "Not really, I'm an accountant. As a group were considered to be extraordinarily dull."

Simone laughed. "Michael, you're not living up to your profession's reputation."

"I'll take that as a compliment."

"It was meant as one."

"I gather that you and Chantel are friends."

"We're moving into an area of conversation that might be considered interesting."

"Let's risk it."

"Okay, we're close friends, very close friends. We're actually talking about going to one of the states that allow gay marriage so we can make our bond legal." Simone stared at me.

Not knowing exactly what to say, I smiled.

Simone said, "Does that shock you?"

"No it doesn't, but it does make me wonder why you're sitting here with me."

"Michael, we don't dislike men. It's just that neither of us has ever been able to have a successful relationship with one."

"Okay."

"We actually both love the equipment you were born with, it's just that we've had too many relationships with men who turned out to be assholes. A serious relationship is based on trust and Chantel is the only person I've ever been able to trust."

"This sounds like an interesting conversation."

I turned. Chantel was standing behind me. She was now dressed in a pair of skin tight western jeans, a cowboy belt and a chambray western shirt tied off just below her large breasts.

Simone said, "Michael asked about the extent of our friendship. I answered him truthfully."

"As you should." Turning to me, Chantel asked, "Would you like to have dinner with a couple of dykes?"

"Dykes, that's kind of a harsh word; but yes I would love to have dinner with the two of you."

Chantel looked at Simone. "Bobby's?"

"That's a long drive for him."

They both turned to me. Simone said, "Bobby's is our favorite restaurant. It' a barbecue place. The food is wonderful, but it's in Catalina. That's about a thirty minute drive north of here."

Shrugging, I said, "That's all right with me. It'll give me a chance to see more of the city."

"Let's go." Chantel turned and walked towards the door.

Laughing as we stood up to follow her, Simone said, "That girl loves barbecue."

In the parking lot, Chantel said, "Amy you ride with Michael. We don't want him to get lost."

Simone answered, "That's a good idea Mel."

I looked at them. "Amy? Mel?"

Chantel laughed. "I guess it's time for proper introductions. Michael, I'm Melody Adams, but everyone calls me Mel." She gestured towards Simone. "And this is Amy Cooper."

"Amy, Mel it's nice to meet you; I'm Michael Nolan."

Amy said, "So Michael Nolan, which of these fine automobiles belongs to you? I'm just as hungry as Mel."

"The silver Escape."

"Let's go. Mel, we'll follow you."

Mel got into a red Jeep Cherokee. An older model, it was an SUV that's become a classic. It was in immaculate condition. Amy and I got into my Escape and followed her out of the parking lot.

The trip was fun. As we drove, Amy provided me with a running narrative about Tucson.

We crossed the Rillito. To me it looked like a dry river bed, but Amy told me that during the monsoon rains in August and again during the mountain snow melt in March, it actually was a river.

After we crossed the Rillito, we drove up into the foothills of the Santa Catalina Mountains. Amy explained that Tucson was ringed by five mountain ranges; the Santa Ritas in the south, the Rincons in the east, the Tucson Mountains in the west, the Santa Catalinas in the north and in the northwest the Tortilita Mountains.

We drove west along the southern edge of the Santa Catalinas Mountains until we reached a street called Oracle. There we turned north and drove along the western edge of Pusch Ridge. Pusch Ridge was a ragged backbone of steep rock that formed the southwest corner of the Santa Catalinas.

After passing through a suburb called Oro Valley, we entered what looked like a sleepy little ranch town. This was Catalina. While there was the traditional feed store and hardware store, just south of the town we'd passed a new super market and a new chain drug store. Clearly Catalina was now more than a sleepy little ranch town. I also noticed at least six restaurants. I found it particularly interesting that all of their parking lots were full.

Amy said, "That's Bobby's Barbecue ahead on the right."

Bobby's was a rustic looking concrete block building that was clearly a holdover from the days when Catalina really was a sleepy ranch town. Mel was already turning into the nearly full parking lot. She found two open spots along the side of the building. She took one; we parked next to her.

As we walked to the restaurant door I asked, "How does this little town support all of these restaurants?"

Mel said, "Catalina is surrounded by several large retirement housing developments."

"I see."

We entered the restaurant and were immediately greeted by the hostess. She was an attractive woman in her early forties. "Hi Mel. Hi Amy. Who's your handsome friend?"

"Becky, this is Michael Nolan. Michael this is our good friend Becky Raymond."

Becky asked, "Are you here for dinner or are you just stopping for a beer?"

Amy said, "We're here for dinner."

"Follow me, I have an open booth."

As we followed Becky to our booth, Mel said, "It's Monday. If it was Thursday, Friday or Saturday we'd have to wait in the bar for at least a half hour before we could get a booth."

When we reached our booth, Becky laid three menus on the table and said, "Do you want your usual from the bar?"

Mel looked at me and asked, "Michael, do you drink beer?"

"I love beer."

Amy grinned. "Our kind of guy."

Mel turned back to Becky, "Yes, Becky, please bring us our usual."

Becky left for the bar.

"Amy, you can sit with Michael. I got to play with him all afternoon."

Amy slid into the booth. As I slid in next to her I asked, "Are you planning to molest me during dinner?"

She placed her hand on my crotch and gave my penis a firm squeeze. "Damn right."

Laughing, I said, "This is going to be an interesting meal."

Leering at me, Mel said, "Michael honey, this is just the beginning of what I hope is going to turn out to be a very interesting evening."

I was trying to think of a witty response, when a girl who was maybe twenty or twenty-one showed up with a pitcher of beer and three frosted mugs.

As she set them on the table, Mel said, "Hi Maggie."

Smiling, Maggie said, "Hi Mel, Hi Amy; who's your friend?"

"Maggie, this is Michael Nolan. Michael this is Maggie Reynolds."

"Hi, Maggie, nice to meet you."

"Hi, Michael, nice to meet you too."

Mel asked, "Maggie is Dexter Porter treating you good?"

"He is. He bought me a ring. He gave it to me Saturday night. We're engaged." Beaming with pride, Maggie held out her left hand and showed us her new diamond engagement ring.

Nodding her approval, Mel said, "That's a beautiful ring. Dexter must have gotten that job with Donleavy Construction."

"He did, and now he's saving as much money as he possibly can. I am, too. We want to be able to buy a house."

Amy asked, "Have you set a date for the wedding?"

Shaking her head, Maggie said, "We're going to wait for at least a year, and when we do get married, I think we'll just go to a justice of the peace. Weddings are expensive. We'd both rather spend the money on a house."

Mel said, "That's smart."

Turning to me, Amy asked, "Michael, would you mind if we ordered for you? We know what's good here."

"Not at all."

Turning back to Maggie, Amy said, "We'll have an order of pulled pork, an order of beef brisket and an order of ribs. For sides, we'll have creamed corn and beans."

Maggie asked, "Do you want tortillas or Texas toast?"

Mel and Amy both looked at me. I shrugged.

Amy said, "Bring us tortillas."

Maggie left to turn in our order. As soon as she was gone, Mel started pouring beer. "They have Dos Equis lager on tap here."

"We like the food, but I think we might like the beer even more." Amy was grinning.

Once she finished filling the three mugs, Mel pushed one towards me and another one towards Amy. Then she picked up her own mug and held it out. "To our new friend."

Amy and I picked up our mugs. Holding mine out, I said, "To my new friends."

The three of us clinked our mugs together and drank. The beer was cold and tasted good.

As we set our mugs down, Amy said, "You know, this is the first time we've ever done this."

I looked at her with a puzzled expression.

She explained. "I mean go out with a guy we met at the club."

Nodding, I said, "Okay." But then I asked, "Why me? I'm just a middle aged accountant."

Shaking her head, Mel said, "No, Michael, you are a truly fascinating man."

"Why?"

"Lots of reasons, but I think the way you're coping with what your wife is doing might be the most compelling."

Amy said, "I haven't heard much about this. Will you tell me what happened?"

"Okay, but it's kind of a long story."

Mel said, "Bobby's is open until 2:00 AM."

"All right." I told them the story, the entire story. They both listened with rapt attention. When our food arrived, I continued talking while we ate. Occasionally one of them asked a question. They were both curious about the observations Jennifer Rawlins had made that night in The Cosmopolitan Lounge. They also prodded me for every detail about the weekend I'd just spent with Jeanne in San Francisco.

When I was finished, Amy looked at Mel and said, "Now I understand why you were so eager to get to know Michael better."

Mel said, "He's an interesting man, isn't he."

"Yes, he is."

"Would one of you please explain why this situation I'm in makes me such an interesting man?"

Amy said, "Michael, it's not the situation, it's the way you're responding to it. You're actually listening to Jeanne. You're trying to understand. You're making an effort to find a way to stay together. Most men would have kicked Jeanne to the curb. Some of them would have slapped her around first. What was it you said when you talked about her dating that Trent guy? Oh yes, you told us that you realized that if Trent fucked Jeanne in the ass, it really wouldn't diminish you as a man at all. Michael, that is an amazingly insightful statement. I've already fallen madly in love with you."

"I have, too." Mel was smiling.

"You're both embarrassing me."

Laughing, Mel said, "Tough titty, cuckboy."

"What?"

Amy kissed my cheek and said, "She's just teasing you. You should be flattered. Mel only teases people she likes."

"That's right." Mel was still smiling.

I smiled back at her. There was a moment of silence and then I said, "Okay, I told you my story in detail. Now I think it's only fair for you to tell me yours. I want you to hear how the two of you met."

Staring at me, Mel said, "That's pretty close to asking me why I became a stripper."

"Okay, you're right, but I ask you this question. Do you really believe I'm going to judge you?"

Shaking her head, Mel said, "No, Michael, I don't."

Amy said, "Mel, it's a fair question. I'll start. When you feel comfortable you can join in."

"Okay."