Page 33 of Her Beast

“Yes, she did.”

“It never bothered you?”

Malcolm blinked at the change in topic. They’d not discussed much other than exercising, whores, or business, for years.

“I assume you’re asking if I became jealous?” Malcolm finally said.

“Did you?”

“No.”

“That’s unusual, isn’t it?”

Malcolm shrugged. “I suppose.”

“You’re not the jealous sort?”

Malcolm chuckled. “Oh, I’m capable of jealousy—plenty capable. The lass I was with before Sukey drove me half mad with it.”

“Then what was different with her?”

“It certainly wasn’t because I didn’t love her.”

Smith nodded. He knew better than anyone how much Malcolm had loved his wife.

Malcolm gave the matter some thought. “I think it was different because Sukey was already with Brian when we met, so I could hardly complain about her predilections when I’d known about them right from the start.”

“I never did hear how the three of you first became intimately acquainted.”

“That’s because you never asked.”

"No, I didn't—back when Sukey was alive, we were too busy enjoying ourselves to waste time on mere conversation."

Malcolm chuckled. "No, Sukey wasn't much for talking when she could be fucking."

“Tell me about it now.”

“Why?” Malcolm stared hard at his friend for a long moment. Just what was the man up to delving into the ancient past?

“I’m just curious, Mal. I swear I’ve got no ulterior motives.”

Malcolm snorted. “You without an ulterior motive? I’ll believe it when I see it.”

“Well, perhaps I should have said I have no ulterior motives that involveyou.But I am very interested in how you managed your unusual arrangement with Sukey.”

What could it hurt to share the story? Besides, Smith was the only person left he could talk to about his dead wife.

“I was living in a glorified broom closet above my first dry goods shop when I met Sukey and Brian. They lived above her glove store in the building next to mine. When they invited me to dinner the first time, I thought they were just taking pity on a poor, hungry bachelor. I thought they were happily married so I was proper gob-smacked when Sukey asked me to join them for, er, dessert.”

Although Malcolm had been ten years younger than both Sukey and Brian, he’d had plenty of sexual experience by the time he met them. Even so, his his jaw had hit the floor when Sukey told him they wanted him in their bed.

He glanced at Smith, who was waiting patiently. “I was hesitant—not because I wasn’t interested—but Sukey and Bri were neighbors and I worried what might happen if things went, er, badly.”

“That could have become awkward,” Smith agreed.

“That first night was—” Malcolm broke off and smiled fondly at the memory. “Well, let’s just say it was the first of many.” He shook away the past. “Anyhow, I quickly learned that she needed time to herself, time to have her little adventures, she called them.”

“Adventures meaning other lovers,” Smith said.

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