Day 200 Saturday
Denise woke finding that she had an arm around a nice warm body. She opened her eyes and recognized Karen's hair. She snuggled against the other woman enjoying the warmth. Karen said, "I know you're awake."
"Hmm, I don't want to get up yet," Denise said.
"You don't have to," Karen said.
"It is Saturday. You're leaving today," Denise said.
"That's right," Karen replied. Dale had told her earlier that week that she had completed the program and could leave today.
"I'm going to miss you," Denise said nuzzling the back of Karen's neck.
"I'm going to miss this, but I have to admit that it's been a strange living here," Karen said.
"In what way?" Denise asked.
"Remember that morning right after I finished my stay at Claire's?"
"Which morning?" Denise asked.
"The morning when the pumpkin shorts appeared on the table," Karen answered.
"Oh, yeah," Denise said.
Karen said, "I came out that morning ready to give Dale hell. As soon as I saw the horrid orange pumpkin shorts, I knew that he could see right through me."
"He told me the first day that you got back that you'd choose that morning to rebel," Denise said.
"I saw that and dropped to my knees vowing that I'd never try to cross him again," Karen said. She had nearly fainted on seeing the pumpkin pants. All thoughts of arguing with Dale flew out the window. She had sucked him off doing her best to make sure that he enjoyed it.
"I guess I haven't reached that point yet," Denise said.
Karen sighed and asked, "How many times have I given him a blowjob?"
"I have no idea. I lost count after my first fifty," Denise said. She added, "He's taken me in the ass more times than that now."
"You know what I hate the most?" Karen said.
"What?"
"He was right. I wasn't ready for a relationship with a man like Albert. I would have lost him after two dates," Karen said.
"Why do you say that?" Denise asked.
"Do you remember the night that Mike and Lucille came over?"
Denise nodded her head. That had been such a strange evening. She and Karen had sat on the couch watching as Lucille got double-teamed by Mike and Dale. Denise had no idea what she was supposed to be doing except watching. It had been so strange just sitting there. She said, "That was a bizarre night."
"I was watching Lucille thinking that she had to be so uncomfortable in that position. She was sitting in a squat astride Dale and leaning forward so that Mike could take her ass. I kept wondering how she could stay like that," Karen said.
"I wondered the same thing," Denise said.
"She sure seemed to enjoy it," Karen said.
"Yeah," Denise said.
"Dale and Albert did me that way," Karen said. She laughed and said, "I don't even know what position I was holding. My mind was focused on my pussy and ass. It's really a strange sensation being double penetrated like that."
"I guess," Denise said. She hadn't tried it yet. Larry was a little more conservative in letting her know his fantasies. She had a feeling that she'd be doing it one day soon; probably as part of the program.
Karen said, "There was a time when I would have hated myself for having done that. Now, I'm kind of proud at having pushed a major boundary. Is that strange?"
"I don't know. Living here has kind of turned my understanding of the world upside down," Denise answered. She didn't know what constituted a normal sex life any more. She realized that she had never known what a normal sex life was.
"You can say that again," Karen said. After a pause, Karen said, "It was about a week after watching Lucille and Mike that I understood what Dale wanted us to see."
"What?"
"They trusted each other and really communicated. Before anything happened, Lucille was pretty clear in establishing her limits. Mike made sure that those limits were respected. He also mentioned his concerns and Lucille addressed them. Even though the act encompassed three people, there was love between only two of them. Dale was a little something for them to share," Karen said.
"I didn't notice any of that," Denise said.
"When Albert and I included Dale, I realized that we were doing the same thing. Even before getting over here, Albert and I had talked about our concerns. There weren't any surprises," Karen said.
"I guess that Larry and I aren't to that point yet," Denise said with a frown.
"Maybe you're already doing it, but just haven't thought about it," Karen said, "One of the things I've come to realize is that we do a lot of things without thinking about them. The program forces you to think about what you are doing."
"Hmm, I've still got eight months in the program. Maybe I haven't learned the lesson yet," Denise said.
Karen laughed and said, "Well, you've sure learned how to have sex."
Denise laughed at the comment. It was true. She used to accuse Susan of being a slut, but now she was worse. More often than not, she initiated sex with Dale. She asked, "Do most people just stop what they are doing and have sex wherever they are?"
"I have no idea," Karen answered after thinking about it for a few seconds. She really had no idea how most people conducted their sex lives. Even in this house, they might have sex at any time but it was invisible from the outside. She laughed and said, "As far as I know, that isn't exactly a cocktail party conversation topic."
"You're right," Denise said.
"I suppose that there are homes where people will do it wherever, but I don't think it is that common. I mean, it is such a big deal in a movie when a couple does it in the kitchen or dining room," Karen said.
"So we're to learn something about how people actually live from movies?" Denise asked.
"It looks that way," Karen said.
Denise said, "I was thinking the other day about us. I've worked for you a long time and I realize now that I knew almost nothing about you. How can I see someone eight hours a day, five days a week, and fifty weeks a year for so many years without knowing anything about them?"
"That's a good question," Karen said.
"I was surprised when Dale told me what he knew about you," Denise said.
"You were surprised? I was shocked," Karen said. Although she routinely checked potential clients for credit worthiness, she didn't do the kind of in-depth background check that Dale performed.
"His knowledge about you was rather detailed."
Karen could feel Denise snuggle a little closer. She said, "You never struck me as the type that would enjoy women."
"I never thought of doing anything with a woman before Dale more or less forced me into it. At first I hated it. Now, it is just another sex act," Denise said shifting her position a little. She said, "Not that I don't enjoy it. It was just something that I had never considered doing."
"That's okay. I was just curious," Karen said.
"You're a very good lover," Denise said.
"Thanks," Karen said. She'd spent a lot of time between Denise's legs the first ten days there. Since then it was a rare event. Denise never sought her out for attention.
Denise said, "It is a sex act and I enjoy it."
"I've grown to appreciate that distinction. It is just another sex act," Karen said.
"Speaking of which, I better get out there and give Dale his morning blowjob," Denise said starting to get out of bed.
"Don't worry about that. I already did it," Karen said. She relaxed when Denise settled down behind her.
"It is going to be hard keeping up with him after you leave," Denise said.
Karen said, "My cousin is moving in next week."
"What?" Denise asked. This was the first that she'd heard about that.
"I talked to her parents last night. She's a nice girl, but overweight. She has low self-esteem and a rather caustic personality. I figured that she could really use Dale's help," Karen said.
"Did you ever think that you'd be recommending something like the program to someone?" Denise asked.
"Not in a million years," Karen answered, "The problem is that it works. I've seen it with you and I've experienced it for myself. He said that he'd make my dreams come true and he delivered it. I'm getting married to Albert."
"He's a nice guy," Denise said.
"He's the only guy for me," Karen said with a sigh. She couldn't believe how much she loved him. He challenged her mentally, complemented her physically, and comforted her emotionally. It seemed to her that time flew by when she was with him.
"I can tell," Denise said.
Karen said, "When you chained me up in that little tent that first night, I was so pissed. When I heard Albert talking, I wanted to run out there and grab him. He said all the right things without knowing that he was describing me."
"You were frustrated? What about Candy?" Denise asked.
Karen burst out laughing at the reminder. Candy had nearly choked herself trying to get out of the tent. She said, "I ended up having to hold her back. She was so desperate to get to Bill that it was almost tragic."
Denise was silent for a moment and then said, "She's the most surprising person that I've met while in the program. She openly acknowledges that she's uneducated, scatterbrained, and a coward. She's right, but she's an incredibly fascinating person."
"I've got to agree with you on that count," Karen said. She'd spent a lot of time with Candy. Shaking her head, she said, "Everyone loves Candy."
"It is true. She's a lovely person," Denise said.
Karen said, "I heard that she's been visiting Bill in his lab."
Denise laughed and said, "Talk about fantasies come true."
"Bill's?"
"No. Her's. She told me that she dreamed of visiting scientists in the labs and helping to ease their needs so that they could concentrate better," Denise said.
"That's so funny," Karen said. She could imagine Candy walking around a laboratory. After spending so much time with Bill, she still described his work in nanotechnology as making itty bitty things that do stuff.
"I don't think Bill minds the attention," Denise said with a smile.
"I would hope not," Karen said.
"She's going to be happy with Bill," Denise said. Bill wanted someone to take care of him, but it wasn't in a dominating manner. He appreciated every little act of kindness and showed his appreciation with little gestures that meant a lot to Candy.
Karen said, "Dreams. We all have dreams and so few of us know how to live them. I guess people like Dale are necessary. I'd have never come this close to my dream without him."
"Susan got her dream," Denise said. She was quiet for a moment and then said, "I'm getting closer to mine."
"I think you're much closer than you think," Karen said.
Denise replied, "I'm getting closer, but I've got a long way to go. I've learned that it isn't really a matter of my weight alone. Dale was smart in drawing out of me the real goals that I should pursue."
"You dream of having a loving husband, a house with a white picket fence, and children?" Karen asked.
"Yes," Denise said. She knew that it sounded like a little thing, but it was important to her. She wanted the security that she felt would come with that entire package.
"I think every woman dreams of that," Karen said. She laughed and said, "I know I do and I'm getting very close to having it."
"You don't think it is a stupid thing to dream for?"
Karen shifted a little in bed turning to face Denise. In a soft voice, she said, "I think it is the only dream that matters. Someone might dream of climbing Mount Everest, but the dream ends when it has been realized. You climb down the mountain and go home.
"The kind of dream you have is permanent. The dream of finding a loving husband can live forever even once you've found him. You grow old with him and the love will grow greater. You can live in a house and spend the rest of your life creating a home. Your children will grow and change with time. One day they'll reward you with grandchildren. How does climbing some stupid mountain compare to that?"
Denise said, "I guess it doesn't."
"You know it doesn't," Karen said. She said, "That's why women throughout the ages have dreamed of that. It is a dream that can last a life. I think men are foolish about the kinds of dreams they have. They want to see or do things. They seek out little moments and then move on to the next."
"Does Albert pursue foolish dreams?" Denise asked.
"Yes and no," Karen answered. She smiled and said, "He dreams of me and there's nothing foolish about that."
Denise laughed and said, "You've never been modest."
Karen was quiet for a moment while she considered the comment. She said, "You're right. I've never been that modest. I've taken a lot of pride in my intelligence and education. I've built a successful business and I was never bashful about letting people know it."
"I didn't mean that in a bad way," Denise said.
"I'm not hurt," Karen said, "I think that modesty is an overrated virtue. In today's world, the modest person will get ignored and their contributions forgotten. It is easy to ignore the advice and warnings of someone unless their greatness is recognized."
"That's a jaded view," Denise said.
"There was a time when a successful person was someone whose advice was sought out. Everyone knew who was successful or not. Today we follow the advice of the loudest person. We live in a world with a memory of fifteen minutes. Unless you remind everyone who you are at least once every fifteen minutes, they'll forget you," Karen said.
"I don't believe that," Denise said.
Karen asked, "Name five people who were in the news three years ago."
"That's easy. The President," she answered and then faltered. "I guess I'd have to think about it for a few minutes."
"You got one and that is more or less a gimme," Karen said.
"You're right," Denise said admitting the truth of what Karen was saying. She said, "Is Albert a modest person?"
Karen said, "Albert is a factual person. That's something that Michelle taught him. She changed the shy nerd into a real person. He'll tell you his accomplishments in a very factual manner when necessary. He isn't boastful and he isn't modest. He's factual.
"In a way, I think that is the most remarkable accomplishment of Michelle's program. She instills in her men an honest presence based on fact that allows them to deal with just about every social occasion. When Michelle lectured Lawrence about how to respond to the choices you gave him, she was telling him to tell you his honest preference. Think about that. It is a remarkable piece of advice.
"When Albert tells me something, I know he's being honest. There aren't many people today who I have that kind of confidence about their honesty. Ask him if he's successful and he'll tell you his accomplishments. He doesn't make the judgment, but gives you the data necessary to know the answer."
Denise said, "I guess Larry is still learning that lesson."
"Why do you call him Larry rather than Lawrence?" Karen asked.
"He told me that he preferred it," Denise said.
Karen smiled and said, "You're right. He's still learning that lesson."
"Why do you say that?" Denise asked.
"Because if he had learned it, everyone would call him Larry because he'd tell them his preference every time they called him Lawrence," Karen answered.
"I never thought of that," Denise said.
Karen said, "I think it is interesting that Dale's and Michelle's programs first begin by teaching the participants how to give sexual pleasure to their partner. In the process, the participants learn how to accept and experience pleasure."
"It is almost like they are saying that being successful in life requires that you first be successful in bed," Denise commented.
"There's a lot of truth in that. Knowing beyond a doubt that you are good in bed gives you a lot of confidence," Karen said.
"More confidence in bed," Denise said.
Karen shook her head and said, "No. I mean more confidence in everything else. Most people have their greatest insecurities about how they are in bed. All other insecurities pale beside that one. If you want to crush someone, then all you have to do is convince them that they are horrible in bed."
"Like laughing at a man's dick?"
"Exactly," Karen answered. "Michelle gave me a long talk on the care and feeding of her men. One of the most central themes of her talk concerned sex. She puts a great deal of importance on allowing the man to be a great lover. Part of that is being a great lover in return."
"Okay."
Karen said, "Think about it. Dale has taught you how to be an amazing bed partner. There is no sex act that a man is likely to request that you can't perform with great expertise. You have amazing skills in oral sex, intercourse, and anal sex. You've learned how to use your entire body to give pleasure. Twosomes, threesomes, foursomes, and more are all within Larry's realm of possibility because he'll have you in his life.
"Michelle has taught Larry how to be an amazing bed partner. Not only will he have all of the mechanics down for great sex, he'll learn about hugs, cuddles, and tenderness. Incredible emotional security is within your realm of possibility because you'll have him in your life."
"Hugs, cuddles, and tenderness; I like the sound of that," Denise said.
Still positioned on the bed so that they were face to face, Karen said, "We're going to have to get out of bed sometime this morning."
"That can wait," Denise said, "I'm enjoying the chance to talk with you."
"Thanks," Karen said. She thought about the past two months. So much had happened to her during that time. She didn't even know how to organize her thoughts about it. She said, "It is funny, but life isn't linear."
"Linear?"
Karen said, "There are these little pockets of time where things seem to happen fast and furious. It's hard to keep up with the changes. Then there are long periods of time where it seems like nothing is changing. Life is almost boring."
"Those long slow times is when the next crisis is building," Denise said.
"After the first four weeks in the program, it seemed like nothing was happening. Then I realized that I was changing. My world view was maturing, but the process was so slow that I couldn't see it. Then things heated up again. Albert asked me to marry him."
"You keep coming back to your pending marriage," Denise said.
Karen replied, "Of course. This was something that I've wanted for years. I searched long and hard for a man like him without any luck. Then 'bang' there he is."
"You'll get married soon. Candy will be next. I'm going to have to wait the longest time," Denise said. Larry had a long time remaining in the program. She'd be out for almost two months before him.
"I'm sure that there'll be lots of tears when Candy gets married," Karen said.
"Why?"
Karen smiled and said, "Everyone loves Candy."
Denise laughed and then got serious when she said, "I'm going to miss having you around."
"I'll see you at work," Karen said looking surprised.
Denise reached over and rubbed Karen's breast. She said, "You aren't dressed like this at work."
"True," Karen said trying hard not to giggle.
"And I won't be dressed like this," Denise said.
"That's true," Karen said.
"Let me pleasure you," Denise said moving to kiss Karen.
"Great idea," Karen said. She decided that this would be a perfect ending to her time in the program.