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Marriage Exchange

By: Romantic1



I rarely write in the third person, so this story is an experiment for me. My thanks to Jeriscol for his editing and education about the commas and semicolons. 

*

Marybeth stomped down the street trying to vent her anger. Brad had pissed her off every day this week, setting a new record for his insensitivity and selfishness. Moreover her wrist hurt where he'd twisted it trying to gain control over her and make her have sex with him the night before. She'd spit in his face and he'd thrown her across the room onto the sofa. Now that she thought of it, her hip hurt too.

"Oh, God," she thought, "I'm headed towards a divorce. He was so nice when we lived together -- and then we had to go and get married." The wedding had been two years ago and the marriage had gone downhill from there. A fleeting thought of the lavish wedding and reception flashed through her head.

"I'll call Jess later and see if she has any suggestions." Jess, her long-time best friend, had divorced her husband of five years the year before and now seemed to be living an idyllic life living and working in the Embarcadero in San Francisco. She had several attentive boyfriends that seemed to adore her and satisfy her every need. Marybeth pushed back the twinge of jealousy that crept into her mind when she thought of Jess.

"Coffee; must have a coffee." The aroma of fresh brewed coffee wafted onto the sidewalk as she passed the Starbucks near her office. As usual she turned and waited in line for the expensive brew.

Afterwards, as a reward that fine spring morning and also to cool her temper and anger at Brad before she went to her office, she sat at a small metal table outside the coffee shop and sipped the hot coffee.

It was then that she noticed renovations going on in the empty store next door to Starbucks. The store had sat vacant for almost two years, the art gallery that had been in the place had folded. She recalled the art had never appealed to her and that she'd never seen anyone other than the gallery owner in the store. No wonder it had folded. There was no indication of what the new store would become.

*

Two days later, Marybeth stomped down the street -- as usual. She thought, "Brad's setting a new record. He's been an asshole everyday this month." This morning he'd yelled at her for leaving her dirty clothes from the day before in a pile in the corner of the bedroom. Of course, his were strewn from one end of their condominium to the other, some of them smelly remnants of his basketball game with the guys the evening before at the court in the schoolyard near where they lived. He'd thrown a few things at her but fortunately they'd been clothing.

Also as usual, she turned into Starbucks glancing at the pile of construction debris piled curbside for trash pickup by the empty store next door. "That's quite a renovation they're doing there," she thought. I wonder what the store will be. 

When her turn came to order her coffee she also asked the girl behind the counter if she knew what the store would be. The result was a shrug and a shake of the head.

On her way to work she peered through the windows of the construction site next door. The place would be some kind of nicely appointed office space. She could see that the contractors were preparing a number of separate rooms. Based on wires hanging from the wall, the place would be well connected with computers and such. She speculated on what kinds of business that might include: insurance? Investments? Telemarketing? Oh well, time will tell.

*

Two weeks later things had only gotten worse with Brad. Marybeth came out from Starbucks and sat down to enjoy her morning coffee. She thought, "I have to get my head off my hellish life with Brad and into my job. My marriage is affecting everything I do." Suddenly, she noticed the intriguing name for the store that had been under construction. The signage must have gone up the day before while she'd been at work:



Marriage Exchange



*

Friday, Marybeth arrived at Marriage Exchange at exactly 8:30 a.m. as she'd been told to do. Tara was there and introduce her to Stacy who would be the first person she'd work with in terms of collecting information about her and Brad.

Stacy was another stunning person: long black hair, with natural curls in it, high cheek bones that provided angular relief to her crystal clear complexion and full lips. Stacy was also about Marybeth's height and full bosomed. Stacy's legs were sheathed in a long, maxi-length dark gray skirt with a slit up one side. As she walked in her low heels, Marybeth could occasionally see significant flashes of skin well up Stacy's thigh. The whole package was alluring and Marybeth actually felt herself flush at her unusual Sapphic reaction.

Having met Tara a few days earlier, Marybeth had started dressing better again. She wore heels, snug designer jeans that showed off her best assets, and an expensive looking summery blouse and a colorful scarf that called attention to her slim neckline and breasts. She had a light sweater in her oversize purse. She'd actually admired her flat tummy in the mirror that morning as she'd stood assessing her nude body after her morning shower. She recalled thinking, "It's a shame Brad will never get to touch all this lovely real estate again." She also wondered if anyone would ever find her interesting enough to explore the secrets her body held. 

"Shall we begin?" Stacy said, after she'd led Marybeth into a nicely decorated and comfortable meeting room. The two sat; both chairs were padded in comfortable leather. The table between them had a posh inlay of leather also. The surroundings were rich and suggested a successful organization.

Stacy went on, "You and I will spend this morning together. After lunch, you'll meet with Mike Connors and he'll continue with you in the afternoon. He's new to this office, but one of the co-founders of Marriage Exchange, so you'll be getting the best all the way along today." She smiled in an engaging way. Marybeth felt herself relax.

Stacy continued, "The three of us will meet again for the last half-hour of the day to wrap up and cover any unasked questions. I'm going to collect a lot of standard information and then start to ask you some very personal questions that I hope you'll answer candidly. Sometimes, it's just some little fact that helps us trip the scale in the right direction so bear with us. Of course, all of the information is confidential. We do record our sessions so we can go back and review the information, but the tapes are destroyed after a month or you can have them back."

Marybeth nodded; she'd been ready to start all week.

Stacy started with the usual questions about Marybeth's demographics: address, birth date, parents, health, financial status, job position and nature of work. Then the questions became a little more personal: how she felt growing up, her relationship with parents and siblings, her friends and how they interacted, her education, her work and her co-workers.

The questions then got into her emotional life: how she felt about things in general; what made her happy and sad; what brought joy to her life? Did she have a narrow or wide range of emotions? Was she quick to anger ... or laugh? Was she forgiving and tolerant?

Marybeth felt well grilled about her 'public' life by the time the pair took a fifteen-minute break about ten-thirty. She walked around outside to clear the cobwebs from her head and get a little exercise and fresh air.

Stacy started the late morning part of her interview with an interesting question: "Marybeth, when you first saw me, what did you feel?"

Marybeth stammered a little at the directness of the question. Finally, she garnered the courage to answer it accurately; "To tell the truth I had several thoughts. Well, first you come across as very professional and competent. Perhaps it's the way you dress or carry yourself, however, I felt I was in good hands and made the right decision to come here." She paused and went on, "You are also a beautiful woman. Everything about you has, errr ... sex appeal, and I wish I had the ability to always look as nice as you do -- to be sexy too."

Stacy didn't bat an eye, but made a minor notation on her note pad. Finally she looked up and said, "You're normal and I appreciate your compliments. To tell you the truth, I'm drawn to you as well. Your jeans are tight enough to show you have nice legs. You are sexy in your own way." She grinned.

Marybeth almost gasped.

Stacy added with a laugh, "Don't worry, I'm not hitting on you. If I ever did, I'm pretty direct and you'll know it. Besides I like guys."

After that, the questions got very personal, including Marybeth's sexual preferences, experience and predilections. When did you start having sex? Did you like it? Have you had many partners? Who was the best? Why? What do you like most about it? What have you done? What would you like to do again ... not do again? What do you fantasize about?

Marybeth decided this was the most complete interview she'd ever had. Somehow the morning flew by until suddenly Stacy's phone buzzed to indicate noon. 

As they stood to go to lunch, Marybeth volunteered, "All this talk about sex made me hot and bothered. The first male I meet better watch out."

Stacy laughed and confided, "Frankly, I am too. Mike probably won't notice, and even if he does he'll act professionally. By the way, he's going to join us for lunch. I thought we'd go to a little sandwich place around the corner." She grinned at the clear indication that Mike would be the first male I'd see.

Mike was waiting in the lobby of the small office and after a cordial introduction; the three walked the hundred yards or so to the Greek restaurant on the corner. 

Marybeth studied Mike as they walked. As Tara and Stacy were beautiful, Mike was handsome. He stood just over six feet tall, with short wavy dusty brown hair. He was smooth shaven and thus his square jaw and clean-cut look were amplified. He had square shoulders and no doubt worked out to carry the physique evident on his body. He had trim hips, a cute little behind, and what looked like long strong legs. Marybeth now felt even more bothered.

Mike was very polite and held the chairs for both Marybeth and Stacy. Marybeth wondered if the two of them were an event. She started to hang on his every word, his voice so well modulated and masculine. She checked his left hand and for some reason was glad to see he wore no wedding ring.

"So are you all answered out?" Mike asked with a touch of humor in his voice.

"Well, let's just say I've never spent such a concentrated period of time talking about myself -- and in some sensitive areas too."

He turned to Stacy and asked with a chuckle, "How'd she do on all the sex questions? Did you finish?"

Stacy said, "You can listen to the tapes later but she seems above normal on the scale. That's good; we're more likely to find her someone quickly that way. I'll explain the side to side variations to you later."

Marybeth asked, "Huh?"

"Oh, we use some research instruments that allow us to portray your answers on a multi-dimensional grid. What the resulting polyhedron looks like -- up, down, left, right, and all the other dimensions -- helps us understand both you and Brad better, plus it helps us match you to some other people with a much higher degree of success than any dating service ever dreamed about. Isn't that right, Mike?" Stacy turned to him clearly with a desire to impress, and Marybeth suddenly realized two things: Stacy and Mike had not worked closely before today, and Stacy appeared attracted to Mike. She wondered if Mike had been Stacy's date the night before and then decided the two did not have that kind of chemistry yet. She could see the unrealized potential between the pair and felt glad that they worked together.

Mike picked up the lead and answered in a professional tone, "I worked at two dating services before this -- e-Harmony and Match.com. They're the leaders in what they do. While I worked, I also went to grad school and came across these new techniques and instruments that we use now, and then co-founded Marriage Exchange. I couldn't wait to apply some of what I learned. The company is now five years old and our success rate is phenomenal."

Stacy said in a flirty jest, "You don't need to sell it, Mike. She's already bought."

He retorted with a chuckle, "No, but I am bragging. This is really good stuff." He turned back to Marybeth, "You should know that about a year ago, based on the instrument's use on a couple of thousand individuals, the whole shebang got updated and refined. The improvements are wonderful. Further my partner and I have integrated what we call E.H.T. into our approach and it's made it almost foolproof."

"Oh, I wanted to know more about E.H.T.," Marybeth said jumping into the conversation.

Mike began, "Well it stands for Extended Hypnosis Therapy. The term 'extended' means it lasts for a long time; it also takes a long time, relatively, to make happen. The technique was created to deal with addictions -- nicotine and drugs; and then began being used in other areas such as treating post-traumatic stress, anxiety and such. The problem with it is that any therapeutic benefits tend to wear off unless they were reinforced in some subtle ways. We learned how to make the benefits last longer -- a few months anyway - and also how to avoid any feeling of violation or doing something against your will. Then a couple of us got interested in using the approach to help improve relationships, and," he gestured, "Here we are."

"Who's your co-partner?"

Mike replied, "Rachel Star. We were grad students together and then co-founded Marriage Exchange. We got the Atlanta office started and then I decided we needed to expand and so she started a Washington office. I stayed in Atlanta until I groomed someone that could run it. I moved here about a month ago after we'd made arrangements for this office, clerical help and such."

Marybeth was enthralled with Mike's enthusiasm about the profiling instrument and E.H.T., as well as the new office. She asked some polite questions and relished his answers. She'd certainly lucked out in finding this place, and prayed that it would work on Brad. All that, plus she hoped she'd get to spend more time with Mike than just the coming afternoon. The trio finished their sandwiches and drinks and walked back to the office. Mike ducked into a newspaper shop for two minutes and then caught up with women just as they reached the office door. He had a flat package under his arm -- a couple of magazines.

As they walked in the office door, Stacy excused herself and said she'd rejoin them about 4:30 p.m. Mike led Marybeth back into the same interview room they'd used that morning and the two sat comfortably at the table.

"Marybeth, I want you to close your eyes for a moment -- until I tell you." She could hear the rustling of paper, no doubt Mike's package. A few seconds later he said, "OK, open you eyes."

In front of her on the table were four men's magazines -- well, not entirely: Playboy, Hustler, Playgirl, and a magazine called Couples. 

"Which of these magazines would you like to read first?" Mike asked in a soft voice. He went on, "Don't think about your response, just react. Speak now."

Marybeth blurted out, "Couples."

"Why?"

"The copy and photos on the cover make it clear it contains graphic pictures of couples making love, in one case in a group setting. I've only seen that in a couple of porn films Brad showed me. I'm curious, plus that kind of thing turns me on."

Mike picked up the magazine and set it aside, "All right, what one would you choose next? Just blurt it out."

"Hustler."

"Why?"

"I saw it once before. It's crude, raw, rough sex. Graphic. Again, it turned me on. I'm not sure I'd do any of that stuff, but it's fun to think about."

"Why not Playboy or Playgirl?"

"Both too tame. My dad had Playboy lying around the house as I grew up, it got to be just another magazine. The women in it were too 'processed' -- they weren't real. Dimples were added and beauty marks removed, if you know what I mean. Playgirl is about the same, except for the male body. Well hung guys, but I need to feel something about the guy -- either love or lust, but passing interest as I'd have at a Playgirl photo just doesn't cut it -- well, at least most of the time." She blushed.

"Fair enough," Mike said. He gathered the magazines and handed all of them to Marybeth. "Here," he said. "Take them home and study them over the weekend. You'll be tested on them on Monday." He chuckled and then sat down and made some notations on pages in his portfolio.

Mike finally looked up and said, "OK, for the next few hours, we're going to talk about Brad. So close your eyes and take a deep breath."

Marybeth did exactly that to get her head in gear.

Mike said, "We'll start with the easy stuff first. Give me his demographics -- his bio if you will; all the kind of information you probably gave Stacy at the start of this morning."

Marybeth laid out what she knew about her husband: birthday, where he grew up, parents, family, financial status, job, friends, and so forth. She talked fast and ignored the small microphone sitting before her. Mike also wrote rapidly as she talked. Finally, she ran out of the 'public' things to say about him. She was surprised she knew so much of his background, and doubted if he'd ever paid that much attention to her life.

Mike then pushed into a new but related area; questions like: How did you meet? When did you have sex? How was it? What did he say? How did he react? Did he follow up or did you? What were your later dates like? Was sex a regular occurrence? When did you start living together? Why? What did each of you get from cohabitating? How did your relationship change over time? Why did you two decide to get married? Was the engagement different from just living together? How did things change during that time period? What was the wedding like? How did Brad behave? How did the frequency with which you had sex change over time? Why?

Then Mike took yet another tack: Who are Brad's friends? Does he bring them home? Have you met them all? What percentage of time is he with them? Do you detect anything emotional in his relationship with them? What do you know about the home life of his friends? What do they do together? 

Mike's questions then shifted and got into Brad's anger, distrust and dissatisfaction with life. He probed to find Brad's open sores that he said they might find a way to exploit. Mike also bore in on Brad's sexuality even further: What turned him on? How did he react to things you did together? Did you and he have any joint fantasies you explored? Was he all male? Do you describe him as an alpha? How would he have reacted if you had an affair? 

The questions went on and on, and Marybeth realized that Mike was methodically searching for the weaknesses in Brad's behavior, disposition, performance, preferences, and fantasies. Somehow, Marriage Exchange would find the chinks in Brad's armor and use them to advantage. They'd slip in the Trojan horse and then the job would basically be done.

*

Marybeth arrived home exhausted from the intense questioning she'd undergone all day. Stacy had made her promise to relax over the weekend.

Brad was particularly surly when she walked in the door. She hadn't expected him to be home until after sunset since he usually played 'hoops' until he had to come home and eat, consume a prodigious amount of beer, belch a dozen times, and then lamely try to have sex with her.

"Why are you late?" He demanded. "Where's my dinner?"

She brushed off his comment with a remark about workload at her job and then set about fixing dinner. Brad got into the beer right away, not a good sign unless she could get him to consume so much that he eventually passed out in front of the television. 

He grumbled and sniped at her as she worked in the kitchen, actually tossing a nearly empty can at her as she rushed some hamburgers to the table for him. She then had to scurry to clean up the spilled brew before it stained the carpet.

If she hadn't found the glimmer of hope at Marriage Exchange, this would have been the night she probably would have walked into the bedroom, packed a suitcase, and then walked out the door into the night, risking that he might get physically abusive with her in some way.

Brad wolfed down his dinner, making crude remarks about how he wanted to fuck her and make her his woman tonight. When out of sight, Marybeth just rolled her eyes, and went to get him another beer. Then she had what she thought was a stroke of genius: she'd make him a boilermaker. She poured a little of the beer from the can and poured in about an ounce of Jack Daniels -- Brad's favorite hard liquor. She carried it to him as he watched TV.

"Honey, I know how much you like your beer," Marybeth crooned as she delivered the special can to him. "This one's special; see if you like it. I made it just for you."

Brad gave her a suspicious look and sniffed the can then took a sip. Marybeth adopted the posture of the doting wife and stood near him with a calculated look of trying to please him. "Hey, this is good. You put some Jack in this? Good girl." He turned back to the TV.

She smiled and clapped her hands, apparently pleased that she could please her man. She kept delivering those to him for the next two hours, the dose of Jack larger in each succeeding can. 

Brad passed out about ten o'clock. Marybeth put a pillow under his head, covered him over, and turned the television volume down slightly on the twenty-four hour sports channel. He'd be out until around six in the morning when he'd have to get up to piss; he wouldn't bother her then. He'd just go back to sleep on the couch again, probably after taking a pile of pills to mitigate the terrible hangover he'd have by then. She grinned at her sweet revenge.

As Marybeth closed the door to the bedroom, she thought how diabolical she'd been. I'll have to tell Stacy on Monday she thought -- or Mike. She found herself attracted to the two of them.

*

Monday morning, she enthusiastically strode into Marriage Exchange ready for another full day of questioning. She wasn't disappointed. In the morning, Mike and Stacy each interviewed her further, the emphasis shifting more towards her husband and his terrible behavior. She told them about how she had fended him off all weekend, keeping him in an alcoholic stupor. She urged them to move quickly. 

After lunch she was introduced to other people new to the office, Philip and Natalie, both also beautiful people and skilled interviewers who led her deeper into a psychological assessment of Brad, and, of course, herself. The quartet of interviewers met as a group with her from four to six o'clock, probing a few untouched areas as well as searching further for any hidden areas any one of them might have missed that could provide a leverage point for dealing with her husband -- or, for that matter, matching her to some highly desirable mate.

Marybeth picked up some Chinese takeout on the way home, however, Brad wasn't there when she arrived at the condo. She ate and eventually put the leftovers in the refrigerator for him, if he ever came home. One could hope.

About midnight she heard the door slam, announcing Brad's presence one again. He came into the bedroom and she could smell the stale smoke and beer on him before he even got near the bed. 

"Oh, yuck!" she said with an acidic voice. "You need a shower. You smell terrible."




Marriage Exchange



"Fuck you, bitch," he said as a retort and left the room, slamming the bedroom door. Marybeth felt sorry for their neighbors. Brad's anger at her had gotten louder and meaner with each passing week, resulting in more yelling and now his slamming doors. That said, she thanked the stars he hadn't tried to make love to her.

*

At work two days later, Marybeth answered her cell phone. "Marybeth, this is Stacy."

"Hi, what's up? Do you need me for more questions?"

"No," she said in a cheery voice. "I just wanted to let you know that we're starting today -- this evening in fact. Come by the office about five. You said you wanted to see part of this operation. We're assuming that Brad will go by his usual club after work."

"Oh yes," Marybeth said with a touch of glee in her voice. "I'll be there."

*

Stacy finished placing the scraggly dark wig on Marybeth's head and adjusted the look. "Now, with this change of clothes and some crazy glasses, we know Brad will write you off as someone he's not interested in. You'll just be a body in this place, if he should even see you."

Marybeth looked at herself in the mirror in the backroom of the Marriage Exchange. She barely recognized herself. She wore the clothes of someone ten years younger and much more punk; large tinted glasses gave her a funky look that would not appeal to Brad. Stacy had also down dressed and wore a wig, giving her a less than attractive appearance. The two were a pair.

"OK, let's go," Stacy said, "I need to warn you that Brad may not be approachable tonight. We think we have the right mix of ingredients, but we'll have to see." Stacy led them out the door and they caught a taxi to a club not too far from where Brad worked and where Marybeth knew he often went after work, sometimes for hours and hours.

The place was filling up rapidly as the after work crowd poured in for some drinks or even a burger before heading home. A DJ kept a wide variety of songs playing at too high a volume over the speakers on the stage. He had a smoke machine that gave an interesting air to the place.

Stacy said, "See the redhead near the bar?"

Marybeth nodded.

"She's the bait. She's done this before for us."

"She's going to pick him up?"

"Oh, a little more than that, but I'll explain as things unfold."

Marybeth turned rapidly away from her look at the redhead that also took in the main door to the club. "He's here. He's actually here."

"Oh good," Stacy said. She picked a small device out of her purse and held it near her lips. Marybeth leaned forward so she could see and hear what Stacy said into the small microphone, "Chili, your target just came in. Sandy hair, blue shirt near the door looking around. Now he's heading to the slot at the bar to your left about six people down from you."

Marybeth hitched around until she could see the redhead, whose name was apparently Chili. She raised both arms and stretched; apparently a signal that she'd heard the message and homed in on the target. The pair watched as she hefted her pert figure off the bar stool and sauntered towards Brad, stopping to make a remark to each person as she went. Marybeth could tell she could be very friendly.

"Chili's an expert at flirting. You'll meet her later. She said she wanted to meet you too. It's unusual that we do this, but you wanted to see her in action plus she also wanted to meet you after reading your file and listening to some of your tapes over the weekend. She's from the Atlanta office, by the way."

Marybeth blushed thinking of some of the material on the tapes.

Chili reached Brad and tossed out some comment to him. He replied and soon the two were in conversation. The postures of the flirting couple were unmistakable. This was a mating dance: Chili out for the kill and Brad the soon to be carcass. Soon they watched Chili buy Brad a second beer and then a third.

Stacy explained, "Based on what you told us, Brad appears to be a sucker for females that gift him little things -- like a drink. It's a dom-sub thing. Moreover, he likes redheads, freckles, and touching -- see how she's got her hand on his arm now and her body pushed into his muscles. He likes an aggressive female, even if she's teasing."

Marybeth said, "But I never told you any of those things explicitly."

"No, but we imputed them from the data you gave us after we did a computer analysis. By Saturday we thought we had it figured out and what you told us Monday only confirmed our initial analysis. Fortunately, Chili was free and could start the game tonight."

"She came here from Georgia?" Marybeth asked in an astonished voice.

"Yep, just for you. She's got friends here too, so it's not entirely a dedicated trip."

They watched as Brad pulled Chili in closer to him, trying to plant a kiss on her cheek. Chili deftly turned at the last minute, laughed and then sashayed away from him towards the ladies room.

"Quick, that's our sign, come with me," Stacy said. She pulled Marybeth up and the two women followed the trail Chili had left towards the ladies room. The room was a torrent of women coming and going, the area in front of the large mirror swamped with women primping before they went back into the meat locker.

Stacy saw Chili and led Marybeth over. "Hi, doll. This is Marybeth."

Chili smiled warmly and sympathetically at Marybeth; "You've got yourself quite a handful to get rid of out there. He's a case, all ego and self centeredness."

"I heard you came up especially to help do this for me. I'm so grateful. I hope he doesn't give you a hard time. That's what I usually get."

"Don't worry, Marybeth," Chili told her. "You'll find a way to pay it back and I'll try to leave him at least neutered tonight so he won't be a problem when he gets home." She winked at Stacy. She pulled the earpiece out from behind her hair and with some finger work dislodged the small transmitter from her lacy under garments and pulled it up and out of her blouse by the wire. "You'd better take this. If he starts rummaging around in my hair or elsewhere, I don't want him finding it." Stacy took the receiver and put it in her pocket.

Chili exchanged a couple of words with Stacy and then said, "I better get back. I'm going to deliver the first dose in a few minutes if I can. I'll check in with you later or tomorrow." She slipped out the door of the bathroom as a gaggle of early twenty-somethings came giggling in the door.

"We'll give her a few minutes then slip out," Stacy said as she headed towards an open stall. "Be right out."

Back at their table, Stacy and Marybeth watched Chili and Brad in their flirtatious dance.

"Will she lure him with sex?" Marybeth asked, suddenly starting to put pieces of the puzzle together. 

"Yes ... and no," Stacy said. "Brad is complex. He'd take the sex, but the fact is he wants more. He wants to play out that dom-sub thing I mentioned, plus he'd like to entertain all manner of fantasies with the right woman, most sexual, but some more substantive. That's why we picked Chili."

"I just don't want her to do something she wouldn't normally do," Marybeth said.

"Oh, she won't. You should know that Chili is happily married. She went through the Marriage Exchange program about two years ago -- at the time she lived in Raleigh. She liked it so much she started working with us."

"Did she have a terrible marriage, like mine?"

"No, in fact it was just one of those things that turned cold after a few years. Amazing, since I met both of them and thought they were warm people -- just not with each other. Anyway, that was true exchange."

"What do you mean?"

"Well in that case we matched Chili and Hank, her first husband, up with Shane and Alison. They were going through the program too, only from a few miles away in Chapel Hill. The couples hit it off and so did the cross pairs, if you know what I mean. They ended swapping spouses."

"You mean sexually?" Marybeth asked, surprised by the volume of her voice.

Stacy laughed, "Well, I don't know about that, but after they'd established their compatibility, they swapped marriage partners for good -- two success stories. Shane moved to Raleigh to be with Chili, and Hank to Chapel Hill to be with Alison. They even kept the houses they had."

"Did you think of doing that with Brad and me?" Marybeth asked then realized the dubious nature of her question. She clarified, "I mean, swapping us with another couple." She gave Stacy a lopsided grin.

"Yes, briefly, at least until we learned about Brad's abusive nature. I haven't met a woman yet that wants an abusive, often drunk, self-centered, egotistical bastard as a mate." She laughed at her string of words. She added, "Sounds just like my first husband."

"You mean ... you ... were you a client too?"

"One of the first," Stacy said. "At that time there was a lot of theory about all the match making and luring games. I lived in Boston at the time and met Mike's co-founder --Rachel. She was doing her Ph.D. on E.H.T. They needed a test subject and I was one of them, or rather my ex was."

Marybeth asked, "If E.H.T. is so good, why not just hypnotize the person so they change their disposition and be nice. Why does the couple have to break up?"

Stacy nodded and said, "What their research found is you can only change the fundamental nature of someone for a short time -- a few months at best. If you keep coming back and reinforcing it, you can boost it back up, but sooner or later, what I call their true nature resurfaces." She thought for a moment and added, "To your other question, if Brad changed now and stayed that way would you take him back?"

Marybeth thought for a moment and said, "No, not now. The relationship is too damaged to survive."

Stacy said, "Mine was too. Anyway, this part of what we do is sort of temporary. The person knows what they're doing, they can even object if they want, but it's done nicely. They can be a little easier to convince too. But sooner or later, we have to let nature take its course and they'll revert to the way they were -- in Brad's case, a rotten disposition."

Marybeth turned back to look across the room at Chili and Brad. Chili had her arm around his shoulders and was whispering in his ear. "I hope she's having fun," she thought aloud. 

"No," Stacy said in a serious tone, "I think she's actually working. He's getting his first dose of hypnosis therapy based on the spacey look on his face." We watched for a few minutes; Brad sat almost motionless on the bar stool as Stacy whispered non-stop into his ear.

Finally, Stacy said, "We should get out of here. Not much more is going to happen tonight. She'll make a date to see him back here in a couple of days probably. I'll talk to her tomorrow morning and let you know of anything important."

The pair settled the tab and left the club. Brad never paid any attention to them.

*

Marybeth was in bed when she heard the door to the condominium open and shut as Brad came home. She actually thought he was trying to be quiet for a change. She waited for his usual attempt to make love to her; however, it never came.

In the morning as she got up to go to work, Brad was asleep on the sofa. He cranked one eye open and looked at her as she passed by to go to the kitchen; "Hi Babe. I didn't want to wake you so I slept out here. Got home past your bedtime I guess. Have a good day at work." His eyes closed and he nodded off again.

Marybeth was amazed at his pleasant demeanor. He'd rarely been that nice to her. Then she thought, 'Too little; Too late.'

In late morning Stacy called Marybeth. "I just wanted to update you. I talked to Chili and she's cool with everything that happened. She said he was an easy subject to hypnotize and open to every suggestion she made. She reminded me to tell you that some of it may wear off so don't be surprised if he regresses in some situations until he gets the full treatment. One session does not a success make." She laughed and said, "You can always revert to the boiler makers again." The two chatted a little more and ended the call.

*

Friday evening, Brad was groping a pretty and young longhaired blonde when Chili came through the door of the bar. She nodded subtly in the direction of Stacy and Marybeth's distant table then slowly worked her way down the bar to Brad and the blonde. Once there she planted a very wet and sensual kiss on him that made others at the bar start to comment about the steamy relationship and how Brad was going to get very lucky tonight.

Much to the surprise of his bar mates, as well as to Brad's surprise and apparent pleasure, Chili turned to the blonde and planted a similar sensuous kiss on her, running her tongue up to one of the blonde's ears and back down to her mouth. Soon the two were creating a small scene right in front of Brad. A couple of catcalls rang out from down the bar. The bartender paused to leer at the pair.

Marybeth asked Stacy in a conspiratorial whisper, "Is the blonde part of the act?"

Stacy laughed and said, "No, never saw her before. Chili has wide and varied tastes as you can see. Who knows, she just might take the blonde home tonight." She grinned at Marybeth at the obvious sexual innuendo.

"Hot," Marybeth whispered as she sat back.

The trio at the bar fell into conversation, with lots of physical touch involved. As Marybeth and Stacy watched, they could see Brad enter his trance-like state as Chili whispered in his ear and then remarkably, she repeated the process on the cute blonde. 

"Do they know what's happening?" Marybeth asked.

"Oh, yes," Stacy said. "They're fully aware. They're just allowing themselves to be led more directly to make decisions and take actions they otherwise might dismiss."

The trio soon hit the dance floor and started gyrating around to the rock music echoing off the walls. Marybeth felt a touch of nostalgia and even a twinge of jealousy as she watched him flirting with Chili and the blonde. Such a shame, she thought. If only they could have made the marriage work. Now, she tested once more in her mind, it was dead -- very dead -- and she was ready to move on with her life.

*

The following week all was quiet and she only saw Brad a few times. On Wednesday night when she got home from work, she actually found a note from Brad telling her, politely, that he intended to play basketball with the guys and when he would be home.

In the morning, she found Brad again asleep on the living room sofa. As he got up and rubbed his eyes he told her, "I know I've been a little edgy the past year or so. Anyway, I thought I'd sleep out here until you felt comfortable asking me back to our bed. I won't try to force my way on you any longer." He gave her a warm smile and then headed off to use the bathroom.

Marybeth was speechless. She accepted the comment with a nod and then prepared breakfast for the two of them. The two made polite conversation about his basketball game the evening before. *

Mike escorted Marybeth to Brad's favorite bar the following Friday evening. She again wore the wig and some clothes that were just 'not her'. They took a table far from the bar, but one that afforded each a view of most bar stools. Brad appeared again right after work only this time obviously waited for someone. The 'someone' turned out to be Chili.

Mike volunteered, "According to Chili the blonde might show up too. Apparently they did have a little liaison last week."

Marybeth's eyebrows rose. "Did everyone participate? Brad?"

Mike laughed and said, "From what I hear, Chili got lucky. Brad didn't."

Before too much time had passed, Marybeth noted that Brad's vacant stare had returned and that Marybeth was whispering in his ear. "How many sessions like this will it take?"

Mike replied, "Well, we measure the effectiveness of E.H.T. on a ten-point scale. We keep up the 'treatments' until the subject gets to a nine or ten. Based on what you told us about his behavior over the weekend and earlier this week, and about his change of attitude -- his politeness and all -- I'd say he's at about a six. We're getting close. Chili will give him a strong dose tonight and we'll reassess in a couple of days."

Marybeth sighed and then relaxed back into the chair, watching one more time as Chili whispered into Brad's ear; she was rubbing his arm in an erotic manner and Brad had a distant look in his eyes. Mike hitched his chair a little closer to Marybeth. He reached over and held her hand. The nonchalant move was anything but that to Marybeth; her body went on high alert at the flirt. As the minutes passed and they sipped their drinks and talked, Marybeth felt the wetness in her crease purely as a result of the physical attraction she had for Mike. Apparently Mike liked her too.

Soon Marybeth said, "We should go. I have to play catch-up this weekend -- a few things from the office I pushed off from when we did all the interviewing. Brad looks in good hands. I wouldn't even care if he got lucky tonight." Mike shook his head to indicate the concept was very unlikely.

Mike settled the bill and the two left the bar. Outside the pair stood for a minute. Mike whispered to Marybeth, "You should know I'm very taken with you. Some night I hope to get lucky with you ... errr, I mean to date you. I know you may not be ready now, but someday." He bent and kissed her. 

The words and his kiss surprised Marybeth. "Oh ... oh ... yes ... I'd like that ... I'd like that very much." She reached up and stroked his face. She thought about how long it had been since she'd rejected Brad for the last time. She thought about the sexual revelations she'd provided to Stacy and Mike in the interviews, and then about her magazines and her bedside vibrator. She looked up into Mike's face and this time she kissed him. She then said, "In fact, I'd like it tonight please."

The pair hugged and Mike hailed a taxi to take them to his apartment a few blocks away.

At his apartment as Mike took her coat, Marybeth asked, "Am I under any kind of hypnotic spell by any chance?" She also pulled the wig from her head and brushed out her hair.

Mike laughed, "No, only the spells and curses we place on ourselves. No one of us has done anything to you. You, however, have made yourself open to other people as you closed Brad out of your life. You're receptive ... and I'm glad." He came and kissed her and she kissed back, just enough to hold a promise of where the night would go. Mike walked to his open kitchen as she stood by his window admiring the view of the courtyard below.

He got out some Grand Marnier and gestured with a small liqueur glass to Marybeth. She nodded her acceptance and he poured a half a glass of the rich tasting liquid. He brought the glass to her but rather than hand the glass to her, he took a sip from the cordial glass and then kissed her again, this time using his tongue to open her mouth and then squirting the Grand Marnier from his mouth into hers. The moment was a turning point. She moved forward, pushing her pelvis into his and rubbing her breasts across his chest. This was a mating dance.

"Wow," she said, licking her lips, "No one has ever French-kissed me with Grand Marnier before." After a few more regular kisses, she said, "I'd like some more Grand Marnier." Mike reached for a clean glass, but she stopped his hand. "No, that's not how I want it." He sipped some more of the liqueur in his mouth and again thrust his tongue and the liquid into her mouth as they French kissed again. 

In an obvious move, Marybeth reached up and undid the top button on her blouse. "The rest is up to you," she said in a sexy voice. Mike reached up with one hand and worked each of the lower buttons to open the blouse completely, pulling it from her waistband as he did. Once the blouse was open, he put his head to her lacy bra and blew hot air on the apex of first one breast and then the other. He felt each nubbin rise to meet his moist call. He made small biting motions through the bra's thin material at each nipple. Marybeth watched intently as he ministered to her breasts with his mouth. She cradled his head and held him close to her.




Marriage Exchange



Mike's hands were not idle as his mouth teased her breasts. He stroked her buttocks and then used an up and down motion on her thighs with one hand. He got closer and closer to her pussy on each up stroke, making those moments as sensuous as possible for both of them, expecting them to end at any second.

"Come," she said, pulling him to the sofa. They nestled in next to each other. She undid the buttons on his shirt until she had his chest exposed. Marybeth then ran her tongue around each of his nipples, biting gently as she went. Mike soared into orbit at her behavior. He liked aggressive women too.

He undid her bra snap and in a sweeping movement, Marybeth shrugged off both blouse and bra. Mike lost his shirt too. They hugged but in a way that allowed her to use just her nipples to stroke his chest. Her nips were highly erect and sticking out three-fourths of an inch. 

Mike said, "I'll give you all night to stop that." She smiled wantonly at him and did it some more, both of them getting erotic stimulation from her act. Mike finally stopped her and captured a breast in his mouth, gumming onto her nipple with at first gentle and then rougher sucking and biting action. 

She said, "You're good at this. You know all the right spots." She sighed at the pleasure he brought her. 

Mike used his free hand to again stroke up and down her legs. Finally, she stood up and said, "Come with me. We'll be more comfortable in bed." She led him into his bedroom. She stood and faced him, half naked; her beautiful erect breasts betraying her arousal. She undid her belt and zipper and her skirt dropped to the floor. She kicked them to the side as she dropped her lacy thong too. Mike lost his clothing in as rapid a manner.

Marybeth and Mike stood facing each other for a moment, both totally nude. His erection arched out from his body; her pubic area devoid of hair to accommodate her bikini. Then they came together in a hug; this time savoring the feeling of each other's bodies and the skin-to-skin contact. They rubbed their bodies together to maximize the skin contact and enjoyed more soul kisses; this time with greater meaning and feeling to it.

Then they were on the bed. Mike buried his face between Marybeth's legs. She spread her legs apart for maximum availability. He slowly licked up and down her slit, savoring her musky taste, and used his thumb on her clitoral nub, pushing through her swollen labial lips. She squirmed in obvious pleasure and delight. 

After a few moments of external stimulation, he brought a finger into more significant action, thrusting in and out of her pussy lips as he continued his oral attention on her clit. Marybeth was jerking around on the bed and moaning encouragements to him. 

Mike felt around inside her vagina and finally located her G-spot by the slightly rougher texture of vaginal skin. He could tell he'd found the right place, because Marybeth yanked his head into her pussy when he stroked the area and sucked on her clit at the same time. "Ohhhhhhhhh," she groaned. 

He kept stroking her G-spot and increasingly focused on her clit, not fully ignoring her moist labial lips either. He occasionally thrust his tongue in and out of her pussy too. Her moaning and panting increased. 

Finally, she clutched the top of his head and pulled his face tight into her. A long "Faaaahhhuuucccckkk," replaced her groans. Her hips rose off the bed as she thrust her cunt into Mike's mouth. There then followed a series of little squeaks and moans as her body visibly deflated from her climax.

She looked with large doe eyes at Mike; "Oh, how did you ever learn how to do that, you wonderful man." Marybeth reached down and pulled him up to her so she could kiss him. "Hummm," she said, "You taste like my pussy! How delightful." She gave him a naughty smile.

Mike grinned and said, "And, how do you know what your pussy tastes like?"

She ignored his question and pushed Mike over on his back and arched her body over so she could take his erection into her mouth. She told him how nice a cock he had in terms of length and girth. He had deflated slightly while administering to her, so at first, she had the whole penis in her mouth, but then a surge of blood arrived and his cock grew to a rigid rod, and she was only attending to the upper part.

Marybeth alternately stroked him in a masturbating move and sucked and licked the mushroomed head of his unit. He kept swelling until her hand barely reached around its circumference. Gradually, she pulled the rod deeper and deeper into her mouth. He felt the tip enter her throat as her face pushed into his pubic bone. 

"My God," he thought, "She's completely swallowed my hard cock." Now he was the one moaning. He started little thrusts into her mouth to emphasize that he had a mission to accomplish too. She reached up and stroked and pinched his nipples.

Mike whispered to her, "If I have the choice of where to cum, it is not into your willing mouth, although that's not a trivial activity. I would much rather be embedded deep in your warm pussy. You're putting me on high alert right now. Can I make love to you?"

Marybeth moved up his prone body and straddled his hips. She rose up while she held his saliva-covered cock in her right hand. She rubbed the mushroom head along her slit several times, focusing on her clit. Then she started little up and down jerky movements over him, sometimes thrusting her hips forward and sometimes to one side or the other. Each time she came down, his dick would go a little deeper into her cunt. Quarter inch by quarter inch she worked her pussy down his cock, teasing erotically, until at last their pubic bones jammed together.

They didn't move for a few moments, just enjoying the sense of mutual coupling that they had accomplished and tenderly kissed each other. Mike relished in the warmth surrounding his cock, punctuated as it was by an occasional muscle twitch from her. Marybeth praised the sense of fullness he gave her.

Mike reached up and again started to stroke and smooth her breasts, rubbing her nipples between his fingers. He could actually feel her vaginal muscles contract when he pinched or bit into one of her nips a little harder than usual. 

Gradually, they established a rhythm as he thrust in and out of her vagina. They enjoyed this pace for a few moments and then Marybeth started to rotate her hips in a rolling motion that sucked his cock deep into her body on her forestroke -- right up to her cervix, and then released him on the backstroke. She bent over him as she did this, so that he could suck on first one breast and then the other. Her nipples were rigid, the same as his cock; all were steel rods of varying lengths extending from their bodies to maximize their pleasure in some way.

Marybeth's rotating hips did him in. He couldn't hold back any longer and told her so. "I'm going to cum," he panted as he thrust up into her body. She smiled and kissed him again, her nipples raking across his chest; "Me too," she said. 

They pumped only another thirty seconds with increasing vigor until Mike's orgasm arrived. He felt the approach from deep in his body. The first rays of ultimate pleasure filled his whole lower body as he thrust up into her cunt. The wonderful sensation radiated outward until it was focused on his balls and cock. Rapidly, then, signals going to his brain said this is spectacular; you feel good all over -- and he did. Mike's inner pump called forth the frothy white semen from deep within; he felt the surges moving down his urethra towards Marybeth's body. He came and came and came, filling her exquisite pussy with his love juice.

Marybeth's orgasm arrived simultaneously with Mike's. Her vocalizations became louder and louder again. Moans had turned into squeaks of enjoyment had turned into slutty words, spoken and then shouted, urging continued fucking, sucking and licking until the end of time. Her back arched and she thrust her cunt down onto his hard cock for deep penetration. Her arms moved back to support her from falling backwards onto his legs. He was deep into her body, his cockhead by her cervix as he exploded. He could feel the strong rippling muscles inside her milking every drop of fluid from his cock.

Marybeth said she could feel his surges splashing on the walls of her vagina. She said "Oh God" about a dozen times. They were both soaked in sweat and the room had that sensual aroma of sexual intercourse. 

Marybeth collapsed over Mike and he wrapped his strong arms around her. He remained deeply ensconced in her vagina as they both panted and listened to their racing hearts. Gradually the after shocks from their climaxes subsided and their body chemistries came back towards normal. Mike stroked Marybeth's back and buttocks gently as they cuddled in the after glow. She remained above him, clearly unwilling to make any move that would result in the separation of their sexual union.

Mike whispered to her, "Thank you, my gorgeous Darling."

"And thank you my beautiful Mike," Marybeth whispered back before she showered him with kisses again.

*

"Marybeth, this is Stacy," she heard as she fumbled with her cell phone. "I just wanted you to know that Chili did another assessment last night and Brad is at a nine or ten on our scale. She planted the final seeds for him to leave you, so he might say something any day. I just wanted you to be prepared."

"That was so fast," Marybeth spoke into the phone, thinking only a month had elapsed since she'd signed up for Marriage Exchange . "Thank heavens. I didn't want a long drawn out process. Thank you and please thank Chili. Will I see her again?"

"Oh, I'm certain of it. She wants to see you sometime anyway, perhaps after the Brad thing has finished unraveling." Stacy paused and added, "I'm alone in the office and someone just came in, I'll keep you informed and if you have anything to report, please call me. Bye."

They bid goodbyes and hung up.

*

Thursday morning, Marybeth awoke early. Something told her this would be an important day, a sixth sense perhaps. 

As usual, Brad had slept on the sofa. He stirred when she shuffled into the kitchen to get a glass of juice and start the coffee. "Mornin' Hun," he said.

"Good morning, Bradley," Marybeth said in a cheery voice, noting she used a name she'd often reserved for him in more formal occasions. "Coffee will be ready in five minutes. I'm going to do scrambled eggs, can I fix you some too."

"That'd be nice," he said pleasantly. "I'll be right back." He headed down the short hall into the guest bathroom. 

Marybeth thought how amazed she was at his change in behavior since Chili had started to work on his case. 

Brad came back into the living-dining room. He'd put on slacks and a golf shirt and a pair of loafers. He said, "After breakfast, I was sort of hoping we could talk a little -- about our relationship. Can you stay home a bit and not rush off to work?"

Marybeth nodded and said, "Fine, I'll be here. I can do what I have to do here today." She paused and added, "Coffee?" A smile graced her whole body.

Brad started talking, apparently unable to wait until after breakfast was finished; "I don't know what happened to me when we got married. I think I resented being tied down I guess. I don't know. Anyway, a week or so ago, I woke up to the fact that I haven't been a very good husband. I guess I also woke up to the fact that you've fallen out of love with me."

Marybeth sat opposite Brad at the dining table and nodded in agreement with his read on her feelings. 

Brad went on, "Anyway, given that our marriage is dead and we're both young enough to move on, I feel I should move out and that we should divorce."

Marybeth nodded in agreement again. Inside she jumped for joy, yet tried not to show it.

"To make it up to you I'll cover all the costs and such. We don't have too many assets but you can take whatever you want. I need to start over again in so many ways. I thought I'd take a trip of some kind, by myself, and try to find myself. To figure out how I can be a better person the next time around."

Marybeth predictably asked, "Have you met someone?"

He answered, "Yes and no. I've met several interesting people, and deep down I know they'd never really be interested in me the way I am. If I can change, I don't know whether they'll be there then, but I'll be okay. Eventually I'll find someone -- and I hope you will too." He paused and looked longingly at her and added, "I really loved you; I'm sorry I fucked it up so."

She nodded and rose, getting the coffee pot and pouring them both another cup. After a long silence, she caught his eye and said, "Brad, thank you." 

Marybeth worked at home that day, in one sense feeling she had to be there for him. Late in the afternoon a melancholy mood struck her. She sat by her condominium window and looked out over the terrace, a glass of wine in her hand. A light mist from a gray sky filled the outside air. 

"It was so easy," she thought. Brad had spent the morning packing. He'd even planned ahead and brought boxes in to pack up some of his possessions and his sports gear. There hadn't been any arguments and she'd kept her distance as he packed, although he seemed pleasant enough.

He told her he'd taken a short-term rental on an apartment a couple of miles away. The rent was good and the place was clean. Before lunch, she'd helped him carry a few of the boxes down to his car. And then he drove away and Marybeth felt a dark blanket lift from her life.

Now the place seemed so empty. She'd cleaned and straightened after he'd left, moving a few of her things into the closets and spaces he'd vacated. In one sense it was refreshing and in another depressing. She knew the feeling would pass and also knew her life would change only for the better.

*

"Good morning, Marriage Exchange ."

Marybeth recognized Tara's voice. "Hi Tara, this is Marybeth. Is Stacy in yet this fine Friday morning?" Her voice carried a new cheerfulness, a joy that hadn't been there for several years.

"Hi Marybeth, yes she is. Hold on I'll get her."

After a silence, she heard, "Stacy here."

"He's gone. He left yesterday."

Stacy said, "Wow! Great! How're you feeling? No, I bet I know: a mix of relief and a little depressed, right?"

"Yeah, right," she sighed into the telephone. "I feel I tossed away a few years of my life."

"We've all been there," Stacy told her. "We've got some other things to do to finish this episode in your life: paperwork, legal stuff. Are you up for it today? I've got the afternoon free."

"I'll be there. How about three o'clock?"

*

By five o'clock, much to Marybeth's amazement, she'd completed her version of a divorce agreement and had something for Brad to sign, if he was willing. He'd said he'd agree to whatever she wanted, but the truth would be if he signed. After he signed, it would only be the mandatory state waiting period and a review by a judge before the divorce would be completed. She'd been fair she thought, and they'd split the proceeds of the condo unless she bought his half from him. She liked walking to work. After the Marriage Exchange  attorney departed, Marybeth and Stacy sighed and looked at each other.

Stacy said, "I think this calls for some type of celebration. How about we collect Mike and go to the wine bar down the street. My treat."

Marybeth smiled wanly; she was tired and mentally drained from thinking about the dissolution of her short marriage and longer relationship. But she liked Stacy and Mike and wanted the interaction with them. She nodded and went to gather her copies of various documents and her note pad from the table they'd been working at.

Stacy added, "Then, you and Mike can see where the evening takes you ... again." She shot Marybeth a sly grin, obviously teasing her.

"So Mike kisses and tells?" Marybeth asked in a mocking tone.

"No," Stacy said with a laugh. "I'm a superb guesser. Mike blushed ten shades of pink at the mention of your name after you were out with him watching Brad last week. I took that as a positive sign that you two had connected. I assumed it had happened the night he took you to peek at Chili doing her stuff with Brad and I presented it to Mike as if I knew for certain and he inasmuch admitted it." She looked pleased with herself.

Marybeth blushed now, "Well, you're right. Sorry if I've ruined his professional reputation, but he was a perfect gentleman and it was just one of those nights where everything clicked." She gave a little cockeyed grin at her.

"I knew you two would click," Stacy said in a positive tone, as she put away some of the papers on the table. She added, "In fact, I was certain you two would click."

Marybeth looked at her with her head cocked to one side in an unasked question.

"I did your interviews, remember. I know a lot about you. Please! I listened to tapes from all the other interviews you did too, plus I did the analytic work we do to see what makes you tick -- what makes Brad tick -- and how the two of you interacted." She paused and added with a grin, "I also did a work up on Mike."

Marybeth said, "I thought you didn't know him until he started work here."

Stacy replied, "I really didn't. Last summer, long before you ever walked through the door, we did impartial tests on each other in the company with the new evaluation instrument. That's when I met Mike for the first time. I interviewed him for two days and then did his work-up with the evaluation software. Someone did me too. After that I didn't see him again until he showed up here to start work the same day you walked in the door. I was working outside of Washington and he was in Atlanta. I knew after interviewing you that first day that you two would connect. I know a few other things too, but I'll tell about those later."

Marybeth looked amazed, "You mean Mike is my exchange husband?"

Stacy laughed and said, "Maybe." She turned and over her shoulder said, "Come on. Let's find him. By the way, he doesn't know I think you two are a match so keep your mouth shut. You're not supposed to know either. It's all supposed to happen surreptitiously." She led the way out the door and down the hall to Mike's office.

"Come on Mike," she said standing in his doorway with Marybeth close behind, "We're going out to celebrate another success in Marriage Exchange 's approach to fixing relationships, in this case getting rid of an unwanted husband. Marybeth is about to be very single again. It all went like clockwork. I'll call Chili later and tell her."

Mike stood with a smile on his face, clearly happy that things had worked out. "Marybeth, congratulations. I'm so glad all this worked for you." He came around his desk and offered a handshake to Marybeth.

Stacy said, "A handshake? All she gets from you is a handshake? After a week ago? Oh, come on!"

Mike looked at Marybeth rather sheepishly and then moved to give her a rather bland and non-committal hug. The two moved together tentatively until Stacy wrapped her arms around them and pushed. "I want to see a 'real' hug. Come on guys, I know what you did. I just wish I'd been there with the two of you." She gave them both a wistful grin.

Stacy leaned in and kissed Marybeth on the lips and then kissed Mike too. She then orchestrated a full-body press and solid kiss between the two of them, in spite of their blushes and protestations.

The trio parted and headed out the door to the promised drink down the street. As they walked Marybeth touched her lips, almost as if she wanted to seal in the kisses from Mike -- and much to her surprise Stacy. She was drawn to both of them -- emotionally, physically, sexually, and intellectually. She had a fleeting thought of actually going to work for Marriage Exchange .




Marriage Exchange



Mike was the hunk, but so kind and gentle in his approach. He'd already proven in the one night they'd been together that he was a considerate lover. Moreover, he was smart and ambitious enough to be the co-founder of the company that was painlessly helping her regain singlehood again.

Stacy was gorgeous, and equally sensitive and motivated. Several times in their talks Marybeth had felt a sexual attraction to her, wondering what an encounter with another woman would be like. She'd never sampled that side of life but always thought it interesting. She liked the saying one of her bisexual friends told her about that lifestyle: "It doubles the chance for a date on the weekend."

A glass of wine at the wine bar turned into several glasses of wine and a flow of tapas from the menu. As the evening went on the frequency of touching between the three increased. Mike initially reached out to Marybeth, clearly enamored by her. He often touched her arm or shoulder, then held her hand and then often rubbed her thigh as their knees rubbed together.

Stacy too wanted to physically touch both Marybeth and Mike. Initially it was when someone said something funny; she'd reach forward and put her hand on Marybeth or Mike's arm. The trio all hitched their chairs closer to the table when the snacks arrived and their knees touched. Stacy took advantage and often rubbed her palm up Marybeth's thigh or Mike's leg. She let her shapely leg rub against Mike in a more obvious flirt. Neither seemed to mind in the least.

Marybeth liked being touched. Brad had not been physical, except when he wanted to get laid. He had no sense of foreplay and 'caress' turned out not to be a word in his vocabulary. Mike's touch excited her just the way it had the week before when they had their first 'date' that really wasn't a date, it was checking on Chili's progress with Brad. Marybeth reciprocated to Mike, touching back to show him she liked what he was doing.

Then, increasingly, she became aware of Stacy's touches. Much to her surprise she also found those exciting, especially after she realized there was probably some sexual intent behind them. Over and over again she replayed Stacy's comment as they left the office to go to the wine bar: 'I just wish I'd been there with the two of you.' The more the idea of the three of them fermented in her mind, the more she wanted just that to happen.

By nine o'clock, the trio had exhausted the tapas menu of the wine bar. "I'm still hungry," Marybeth announced.

"Me too," Stacy said. "Let's move this celebration," 

Mike said eagerly, "My place isn't too far. We could pick up some Chinese on the way there and hang out some more." He looked at Marybeth, hoping she'd stay with him that night. He really liked her. He didn't plan much beyond wanting Marybeth to come back to his apartment. He liked Stacy too but wasn't sure what her role would be the rest of the evening. He was glad she wanted to be with them too. Both women turned him on.

Stacy picked up the tab as she'd promised while the other two waited and then the three walked in the direction of Mike's flat. Along the way, they stopped and picked up some takeout food as well as two more bottles of wine.

Mike played the perfect host to the two women. He gave them a brief tour of his new apartment -- modern and very fashionable; made sure they were comfortable; turned on some light jazz on his stereo -- some Eva Cassidy music, served the wine of their choice; and ensured they had everything they needed to enjoy the food they'd bought. His enthusiasm for perfection amused Marybeth. She kept telling him to slow down and just come and join them. 

Finally, after his flurry of activity, he joined them, sitting next to Marybeth on the sofa. Stacy sat in a nearby chair. The conversation resumed, this time with talk about Marybeth's soon-to-be new single life. Stacy particularly suggesting all the different 'hang outs' where the good-looking guys went. Mike even added a few to the list.

As they finished, each of the three took their plates to the small kitchen. In the tight space, Marybeth suddenly found herself pressed against Mike. She did what came naturally, putting her arms around his neck and pulling him into a passionate kiss. The two wasted no time in escalating the brief kiss into a soul kiss with dancing tongues and hips pressed solidly against each other. She could feel Mike's arousal as the kiss extended.

At the end of their kiss they parted, looking longingly at each other. Marybeth became aware of Stacy standing only a few feet from them watching intently, totally mesmerized by the display of passion the two had just completed. 

Marybeth turned to her, "Did you mean what you said earlier? You wished you could be with the two of us -- make love with us?"

Stacy nodded and in a throaty whisper said, "Yes. Most definitely yes."

Marybeth reached out to Stacy and the two came together. Marybeth said, "I've never been with a woman before."

Stacy said, "Neither have I, but I want to be with you." She looked at Mike and said, "And with you. Somehow I just know this is a path to some new happiness for me -- for each of us."

Marybeth leaned in a kissed Stacy, a soft feminine kiss full of tenderness, caring and love. Mike put his arms around the two of them and then kissed Stacy after Marybeth had finished.

Mike said, "I can't believe we've worked in the same company all this time and never realized ... I mean I would have moved here sooner." Stacy held her fingers to his lips. 

Much to the surprise of the others, Marybeth unbuttoned her blouse and shrugged the white fabric from her body. Her bra unclasped in the front and she immediately shed that garment as well. After tossing her clothes on one of the dining chairs she turned back to Mike and Stacy, thrusting her chest out in their direction.

Stacy reached out tentatively and stroked one of Marybeth's breasts. They weren't huge or pendulous or anything like what she'd seen in a few pornography films, instead they were taut and well shaped handfuls with large dark areoles -- much like her own. 

Mike lowered his head to the breast nearest him, sucking on the nipple and bringing both it and Marybeth to a heightened state of arousal. Of course, he could feel his own organ swell with excitement as he watched the two women kiss and as he watched Stacy smooth Marybeth's chest.

Marybeth's fingers delicately started to unbutton Stacy's blouse, their eyes locked on one another as each tested whether they wanted to proceed further. When the blouse opened Marybeth leaned in and blew hot air through Stacy's frilly brassiere onto one of nipples. Stacy groaned and soon joined Marybeth in shedding all her clothes. Mike was quick to get the message and helped both women in between getting assistance from them in creating his nudity.

The three came together in a group hug when their nakedness was complete, each enjoying the sensation of two other sensual bodies rubbing against their own. Mike said, "I've never done this. The feeling of both your bodies at the same time is mind blowing."

Mike steered the women across his living room and into his bedroom. Marybeth stretched out languorously across the large bed. Stacy started to join her but then changed her mind and knelt in front of her, leaning into Marybeth's sex with her tongue extended, and licking at her wet secretions.

"Mmmmmm," Stacy said, as she tasted her for the first time. "You've been thinking about this for a while, haven't you?"

"Yeah," Marybeth said slowly, "Ever since you mentioned that you wished you were with us last week. That idea grew on me. Oh shit, don't stop doing that." She paused as Stacy's tongue moved up her slit. A few seconds later she reached out to Mike who knelt on the bed, "Bring that love stick of yours over here. " She pulled him into position so she could suck on his rod. Mike was the next to groan as she inhaled his fullness.

The first sex acts the trio engaged in consisted of Marybeth's giving Mike a blowjob as Stacy ate her pussy. After a few minutes Marybeth started to crest. "Oh, ... Stacy ... what you're doing to me ... is making me ... cummmmmmmmmmm!" Her back arched as the climax hit from deep within; even through her climax she continued to pump Mike's cock near her head, occasionally mouthing his rod. Stacy looked pleased with herself.

As Marybeth regained control over her spasming body, she said to Stacy, "Switch with me." She moved out of the way.

Stacy moved into position, her mouth immediately opening to allow Mike's engorged cock to fill the cavity. Marybeth lay prone across the lower bed and lowered her head to Stacy's pussy. Now Stacy was the one that groaned and abandoned herself to the wondrous feeling her friend delivered to her. 

Marybeth captured Stacy's clit in her mouth and sucked the small nub as well as used the roughness of her tongue to stimulate. Mike used his hands and fingers to caress Stacy's breasts, pinching and erotically tweaking her nipples as she writhed beneath the two of them. Stacy soared higher and higher, approaching her orgasm. Finally, she announced, "I'm near, very near. I'm going to cum."

Stacy thought for a moment and then added "I want you in me," Stacy said as she pulled Mike onto and into her body. Mike started his rhythmic thrusts into her body, his hips pumping as her magnificent breasts swayed in harmony with his thrusts. His cock, now harder than steel, pelted into her body on each lunge downward, his hips becoming a blur as his desire made him speed up.

As they fucked, Marybeth lay next to Stacy, fingering her wet pussy and talking dirty to the two of them. "Look at that steel cock moving into you, Stace. You look like you love cock -- especially buried in your sweet pussy. I love your taste, you know. I'll keep eating your pussy every chance you give me. And Mike, your cock is so fulfilling to suck. I love your aromas -- the smell of fucking going on here. Pump faster -- faster - harder. Don't you just love how his long cock hits all those nice places in your cunt?"

Mike pumped harder into Stacy as Marybeth talked, then Stacy crested into another orgasm. Knowing he had to please two women, Mike rolled to his side, jerking his cock from Stacy's pussy. She moaned and almost came again at his sudden extraction. 

Marybeth immediately pushed Mike up the bed beside Stacy and impaled herself on his shaft, her warmth and moisture now the focus as his upward thrusts into her body, meeting her down strokes. 

Stacy moved in and sucked on Marybeth's nipples for a minute then shifted so she could lower her pussy onto Mike's mouth. He inhaled her sweet musky aroma and drove his tongue deep into her vagina. In a few seconds, he'd located her clitoris and started to alternately inhale and rub the bulbous sex shaft of her body with his tongue. 

Stacy became the one to talk dirty at this point as Marybeth's focus turned inward. "Oh, pump that pussy with your cock. Drive into her. Wash Marybeth's insides with your cum. Make her cum. We love fucking with you lover. Oh, shit, your tongue ... it's just right ... oh gees."

One of Mike's hands went to Stacy's breasts and the other to Marybeth's clit, so he could bring as much pleasure as he could to his two new lovers. Their bodies oscillated in carefully orchestrated harmony for a few minutes then Stacy spasmed over his face again, ejecting a small spray of girl juice on him. She fell away from Mike to her side on the large bed as she clenched her pussy in the happiness and after glow of her passing climax.

Mike then focused on Marybeth, watching a series of small waves of pleasure wash through her body. After one of her small tremors she rolled to his side keeping his long cock inside her.

Marybeth then said, "Mike, both of us are going to fuck you at the same time. Just nestle in. I had this idea earlier as I watched you and Stacy make love." Marybeth orchestrated the careful placement of each of their bodies. Stacy and Marybeth approached Mike's body from different sides, carefully interlacing their legs across his lower body so that their dripping pussies ground together with his rock-hard shaft between them. They pushed towards each other creating a moist pulpit made of two pussies around his cock. Mike moaned and said, "I feel like I'm in both your vaginas at the same time. This is mind blowing." 

He slowly started to pump upwards into the space of their union. As he pumped, each girl swayed forward in her own surge towards climax and sexual sensation. Marybeth said, "Oh fuck! As you do that, as we move, you rub against my clit. You're going make me cum again."

Stacy spoke too, "He's hitting my clit too, right where ... well, it couldn't be any better." She sighed and pushed into their union.

Mike thrust upward with ever-longer strokes, watching as each girl's breasts swayed and feeling the unusual sensations of their three-way fuck. Then he felt his orgasm start. This time was not a sudden arrival and ejection; instead, he felt a series of surges deep within him start to send his semen towards his cock.

He warned the girls of his impending explosion. Marybeth moaned, "Me toooooo!" Stacy just nodded enthusiastically as she threw her head back in the arrival of her ecstasy.

Mike could feel his juices jet through nature's plumbing low in his body, leaving behind a trail of ecstasy. He kept pumping between the two juicy cunts that tightly surrounded his cock. All the sensations they delivered to him were the right ones. He exploded upwards into the space above where their three sexual organs joined.

Jet after jet left his body, flew upwards and then splashed back onto their union. Soon the trio was covered in his cum. Mike exclaimed, "I can't believe I ejected so much fluid. My cum is everywhere." He looked slightly horrified.

"Oh, God, that was sexy," Stacy told her lovers from her prone position. She rubbed some of Mike's cum into her flat abdomen.

Both women were panting. "We came too," Marybeth confided.

"Oh yes," Stacy added. "That was powerful. I felt I was having intercourse with the two of you, not just one." She reached down and scooped up some of Mike's cum from her flat tummy and brought the fluid to her lips, showing the other two in a highly erotic move as she sucked the cum from her fingers.

Not to be outdone, Marybeth repeated the process, this time allowing the fluid to drip from her fingers into her upturned mouth. She laughed as she caught the first couple of droplets then devoured her fingers and the remaining cum. She reached down again and filled her fingers and this time rubbed the white liquid onto her breasts. Mike relaxed and even felt himself harden again as the two women played with his cum.

The three of them rearranged themselves so they could all snuggle into Mike across his king-size bed. The women held hands across his body. Kisses were exchanged between the three of them and one by one they each allowed themselves to drift into dreamland.

*

Saturday morning the trio repeated their lovemaking. Marybeth felt almost sinful screwing in the bright light of day with the shades wide open; however, no other buildings had a direct line of sight through Mike's bedroom window. Stacy, on the other hand, clearly had more of an exhibitionist streak in her. After their 'session,' she rather intentionally paraded around in the nude into the living room and kitchen where an office building across the street did indeed have a direct view into the apartment windows. "It's Saturday," she said; "Anyone working today needs some motivation." She stuck a sexy pose only a few feet from the window. She seemed thrilled at her actions, at least until Mike came and pulled some sheer curtains across the large windows. He kissed her to make up for ruining her show.

Oddly enough there seemed to be no embarrassment or shyness between the lovers that morning, only a willingness to do it all again and an even stronger willingness each felt to remain as a threesome throughout the weekend. 

Thus, after their lovemaking and a nude 'touch and feel' breakfast, Marybeth led them all back to her condo so she could pickup a change of clothes and some cosmetics. The three then meandered through a street fair and market, picking out some fresh foods to use that evening for dinner. 

Lunch consisted of some quesadillas at a sidewalk table for a little Mexican restaurant in Mike's neighborhood. Anyone studying the trio would have had difficulty figuring out the pairing amongst the three of them, the difficulty created by the fact that there was no pairing -- they were a threesome.

After lunch they walked along the river, enjoying the sunny afternoon. As they walked, Mike paused to look at some used books a sidewalk vendor was selling. He told them, "You walk on ahead, I'll just be a moment." 

The girls walked on ahead at a slow pace, arm in arm. Marybeth remembered a comment Stacy had made: "Stacy, you said something yesterday that I just remembered and I'm not sure what you meant. You said that you knew Mike and I would connect, but then you said you knew a few other things and you'd tell me later. What were the other things?"

Stacy actually blushed, unusual since just that morning she'd shown no shyness in exposing her entire body to the office building across the street from Mike's apartment. She stopped and turned so the two of them faced each other. Stacy said, "I learned that you and I are a perfect match too. This threesome is a perfect match all the way around. We were made for each other." She leaned in and slowly and passionately kissed Marybeth on the lips; Marybeth kissed back.

They parted and Marybeth said, "Oh," in a neutral voice. The pair started walking again, looking back to keep Mike in sight as he picked out another book to look at. Stacy looked sideways at Marybeth, afraid for the first time that she'd overstepped some hidden boundary. A long silence hung between them.

Finally, Marybeth stopped and hugged Stacy to her. She said, "You know, I've never envisioned myself in a relationship -- a love relationship -- with a woman, let alone a man like Mike and a woman at the same time. It's exciting in one sense and I feel so appreciated by the two of you."

She paused and looked at Stacy before continuing; "I feel a burden I didn't feel in my other relationships -- when I was one part of a couple -- even with Brad. I never felt I had to balance between lovers because there was only one. Last night and this morning, even today, I'm constantly testing to be sure no one feels left out of my affection -- my love for them."

"Oh, Honey," Stacy said, "You don't have to worry about that kind of stuff on a minute by minute basis. It'll all even out, and I'll take any little thing you can toss my way. Plus neither Mike nor I are shy. If we want something from you I'm sure we'll signal that to you rather clearly. I'd just ask for some of your time or create a 'date' with you -- if it was all right with you -- and Mike, of course." We looked back towards the bookseller and Mike had just finished his purchases and started to walk to catch up with us.

Marybeth asked, "What if Mike doesn't want a threesome?"

"I think he will," Stacy said with a grin. "Let's ask him." She led Marybeth to a nearby park bench and the two sat until Mike caught up with them.

"Mike, have a seat," Stacy said in a coy voice. "We have the beginning of a lovely proposition for you." She turned to Marybeth to be sure she had stated things properly. She nodded.

Mike sat between them, taking the time to kiss each woman on the lips in a tender way. Before either could say anything he reached in his bag and pulled out two books: the first, Sonnets from the Portuguese by Elizabeth Barrett Browning, was one of the best selling book of love poems for all time; the second, an anthology of love poems by Susan Polis Shultz. He carefully presented one book to Marybeth and the other to Stacy. 




Marriage Exchange



Mike said, "I give you each a book of love poems because in the short time we've known each other, I find myself falling in love with each of you -- an untenable situation I know, yet one I can't seem to help." He turned and kissed each woman again. A passerby on the river walkway did a double take; Mike just smiled to the man.

Stacy said, "Mike, I'm falling for you pretty fast too. It was destined, I found out."

Mike looked puzzled.

Stacy went on, holding one of his hands tightly as Marybeth held tightly to his other hand; "I probably did something I wasn't supposed to do at work. Remember when we were testing the new approach and I interviewed you last year. Well I kept my notes, the analytic work I did on you, and my access to your Marriage Exchange  computer profile. When I heard you were coming to this office and we'd be working together, I pulled your profile up and ran it against the people in our system. I was one of those women ... and I came out as your most likely match -- by far." Stacy actually blushed as she finished her confession. She was looking at the book in her lap and not directly at Mike.

Mike started to say something, but Stacy turned and put a finger to his lips. "There's more," she said in a weak voice of contrition. "After we did all the interviews and the profile on Marybeth, I repeated the process. You and Marybeth matched with a very high score ... and so did Marybeth and I." Stacy looked down at her lap with a shy smile, leafing through the pages of the book Mike had just given her.

Marybeth asked the two of them, "Why does the idea of the three of us being together in a long-term relationship have to be untenable?" She particularly looked at Mike who had just made that statement a moment before. "The idea of a threesome was what Stacy and I wanted to talk to you about just before you arrived with our gifts." She patted her poetry book. "We wanted to talk about it, not as a one night stand -- or a casual lusty weekend -- but as something with some staying power to it."

Mike looked surprised at her proposition and hugged both women to him. The trio sat for over an hour and talked about how they could work through dating and even living together, as well as Marybeth's concern over balance and jealousy.

They played the 'what-if' game about situations that might come up and how the threesome would handle it. They talked about living arrangements, daily chores, lovemaking, illnesses, parents and siblings, friends, work, communicating, and a lot of the issues they'd found to be sticking points in other relationships. They revisited some of the areas in the interviews each had gone through they remembered as sticking points or questions that were hard to answer or deal with. As the afternoon wore on, each became increasingly comfortable with the idea of the threesome as well as with the wit and intellect of their new lovers. 

Mike actually confessed he thought he'd died and gone to heaven to have fallen in love so quickly with two beautiful women. His big concern had been having to make a choice between the two of them, a choice that didn't need to be made if he was allowed to love both of them.

Marybeth looked up at him and asked, "Are you concerned about our bisexual natures? Something, I might add we both just discovered about ourselves." 

Mike grinned and confessed further that he found it exceptionally arousing that the two of them loved each other and had physical feelings not only for him but also for the other in their triangle. He also admitted he'd been concerned about the 'balance' issue the same way Marybeth had, having to share his 'limited resources' as he called them -- gesturing towards his groin -- with two women.

Both women laughed and acknowledged that they both felt more than adequately satisfied the night before and that morning. Stacy espoused her theory that none of them should worry about balance on a minute-to-minute basis, but on a longer-term basis -- say on the order of days. "If one of us feels needy, all she or he needs to do is talk about it: Right?" The others agreed, falling back on the principle of excessive communication that they'd already agreed upon in their long discussion.

Late afternoon found Mike, Stacy and Marybeth arrayed in a panting pile of satisfied flesh in the middle of Mike's large bed. They'd opted for an afternoon sexual interlude before dinner, an idea that had been unanimously and enthusiastically embraced by all of them. Now the odor of sex permeated the air. Further, there was the promise that the three of them would repeat their ardor after dinner.

Marybeth lay in the middle this time, snuggled tightly between Mike and Stacy who she alternately kissed by turning her head back and forth. She whispered to her new lovers, "If you guys want a testimonial about Marriage Exchange , just let me know. I am one satisfied customer."

The three all burst out laughing and hugged even more tightly.

*

Late Monday morning, Marybeth called her friend Jess in San Francisco. She started after Jess came on the line, "Jess, you know how you're always telling me to dump Brad, loosen up and get laid. Well, Brad's gone, I'm in love -- with a great guy ... and a beautiful woman, and they both love me back. I've got to tell you about the most amazing weekend we all had ... and it's just the beginning of something that feels totally right and long lasting ..."

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