No, Jen wants clarification.

“Wait, you didn’t want Rod to know because of what psychological prodding might make this sex-crazed teen do? Not what finding out will do to Rod?”

A wry smile creeped up over Angie’s lips. “Of course. Rod is far from insecure. He’s a smart guy. He knows how the world works now—that I don’t have a choice if somebody above us wants me. It’s going to happen. I can’t stop it. He knows that, if it weren’t for that, I would never fucking touch another guy at this point. He is all I want now.”

Jen couldn’t help but smile hearing her friend talk about Rod like this. “Maybe I was wrong to try push you out a bit again, girl. Sounds like you’ve already got everything you need.” Angela leaned against the porch and nodded.

“I do. And I’m lucky to have him. Besides, Rod may be lower in terms of raw status, but he is far from lacking in anything where it matters.”

Jen giggled, “In the sack or… ?”

Angela burst into laughter with her friend. “He’s got more than enough everything. If he’s interested and you’re not crossing Eli with it or anything, maybe you can see just how good he is. I probably owe him as much for all the times my mouth’s been abused since this started.” She winked and Jennifer blushed.

“He is a hunk, Ange. If I hadn’t first met him on your wedding day at your wedding, I totally would’ve tried to get him to go for a threesome.”

“Oh, I know. You weren’t exactly subtle squeezing his biceps every time he walked by you at the bar.”

“Hey, he was some fucking great biceps! And it was an open bar. If you didn’t want me making things interesting, you shouldn’t have put mixed drinks on your menus.”

The two looked out over the mountains for a couple minutes, happily reminiscing before returning to the conversation. Ange was the first to speak, moving to sit on the nearby bench.

“He really is wonderful. He’s helped me through so much. I can’t imagine life without him anymore.”

Jen shifted her footing slightly and leaned against the railing to look out at the mountains with her friend. “Are you really sure he’ll be ok with this?”

Angela nodded. “Yes. Like I said, he’s not an insecure guy. He’s a therapist. Well, a kind of therapist anyways.”

Jen raised an eyebrow, “What do you mean ‘a kind of’ therapist?”

Angela turned with to look at her friend with a devious glimmer in her eyes. “The kind of therapist used to working way above his social class.”

______________

Avery pulled up to Angela’s house chuckling. He hopped out of his parent’s car and walked towards the door. He was on a mission from his girlfriend to get his hands on some of Angela’s clothes to check the sizing for her to set up a little game or something, and he was happy to help out if it made Pastel happy. He wasn’t expecting to run into anyone at the house, it was well past 9:30 in the morning. In Bright Oak Farms, that meant husbands like Rod would all be out, and the pretty wives like Angela would be the only ones still in. Granted, this particular home’s pretty wife was out, thus necessitating Avery’s trip in the first place.

As he approached the door, Avery could tell something was different. But he couldn’t quite put his finger on what. The car was gone, but there was an interior light just barely visible through the window too. Avery decided it must have just been forgotten and walked up the steps to the door, readying himself to collect the key he’d hidden under a potted plant nearby. He was shocked when it swung open to greet him instead.

Rod stood in the doorway, and Avery’s instincts told him to run. Rod was tall and imposing, his muscles bulging from years of attention to physical fitness. He was clearly getting ready when he noticed the young interloper approaching, leaving his shirt unbuttoned and exposing his muscular chest. “Hello, Avery. Fancy seeing you this morning.”

He spoke with a voice oozing authority. Avery had to remind himself that the daunting figure in front of him was lower status than he was. It didn’t feel that way, that was for sure. “Hey, Mr. Sanders.” Avery’s voice wasn’t as steady as he expected it to be. What the hell? I haven’t felt like this… maybe ever. The fuck is up with me in front of this guy?

Rod stepped aside and gestured for the young man to enter the suburban home. “Come on in, Avery. We’ve got a lot to talk about.” That last sentence made Avery’s blood run cold. It did not feel like he could order Rod around. I mean, I could, Avery thought, but then what? He entered the foyer, kicking his shoes off to the side. Oops. Too used to making myself comfortable before using Angela I guess. “Uh, so… what did you want to talk about?”

“Isn’t it obvious?” Rod said over his shoulder as he walked to the kitchen. A mixer of some kind could be heard automatically shutting off in the other room. Rod stoically continued as the two entered the room and stood on opposite sides of the kitchen island, “How you’re fucking my wife’s throat.”

Avery’s mouth felt terribly, terribly dry. “I’m higher status. The law says I can do what I want. You can’t touch me!” Avery rushed the words out of his mouth. He may have been over six inches longer than Rod, but Rod was over six inches taller. And absolutely jacked.

Avery was not expecting Rod’s reaction. He simply smiled at the young man with a cold flame in his eye, pouring the contents of his mixer into two cups. “For the most part, sure. Strictly speaking, it’s still illegal to perform or receive oral sex here in Maryland, it’s just been deemed unconstitutional to enforce that law.” He pushed a cup over to Avery before beginning to drink his own. “Although, there are other provisions to keep in mind.”

Avery sniffed the drink cautiously. It smelled of banana and peanuts and something vaguely floral. He took a quick sip. “What do you mean?”

Rod’s eyes seemed to look into Avery’s very core. It felt like he could see the thoughts swirling in his head and then pull them out for his own curious examination. He began pulling. “Well, for one thing, the requirements to successfully pursue several other civil suits have been relaxed a bit to compensate for the removal of criminal penalties in acts that would have violated our old social contract before the shift. It can still be tricky, but liability is always something to keep in mind when you’re using someone else’s wife.”

Avery drank a sip of the offered smoothie. Damn, this is actually really good. “Are you threatening to sue me?”

Rod chuckled. “No, not personally. At least not yet. I think you are more than self aware enough to reconsider your behavior without the aid of the courts.”

Avery raised an eyebrow. “Excuse me?”

Rod chugged back the rest of his drink and began washing the cup in the adjacent sink. “It’s simple, Avery. I’m a therapist. I’ve seen cases like yours before.” He ran a cloth along the cup to dry it as he continued. “You’ve just turned eighteen and all of a sudden you are on top of the world. Nobody in your area even comes close to you in base status. Every person you meet has to obey your commands; every man is a servant for you to order and every woman is a possible sexual outlet for you to enjoy.”

The last sentence didn’t have a good cadence repeating in Avery’s mind. Sure, he’d ordered every hottie in his neighborhood to basically drop everything for his sexual gratification, but it felt… wrong to be confronted with the reality of his actions. He wanted to call Rod out—to tell the older man how wrong he was. But he just couldn’t.

Rod pressed on. “Maybe it was a tougher day than usual or maybe it was just a long one mowing lawns, but my wife, Angela, comes out to give you some water right as all the power you now feel has gone to your head. And, as an eighteen year old, you see how gorgeous she is and you decide to get some head from her too.” Rod’s tone became harsher as he placed the cup on the drying rack. “Who’s going to stop you, after all?” He extended his hand to take Avery’s glass too.

Avery’s heart was beating faster. “Um… so what’s your point, exactly?”

“My point is, Avery, that I understand your actions. You’re only human, and more importantly, you’re only eighteen. But you won’t always be. And that is my larger concern.”

So this guy thinks he just fucking gets me. That he knows my story.

“I don’t know your story yet, or exactly where you’re coming from that is causing you to take actions with wider social repercussions than just one-offs…”

Huh?

“… but I would like to.”

What?

“I’d like you to meet me once or twice a week for sessions at my office. I’m not blind, Avery. I can see what you’re doing around the neighborhood. I know it, but I want to fully understand it. To understand you. And I believe that you are better than your worst actions.”

Avery’s eyes narrowed. He practically threw the empty cup at Rod, but he caught it without spilling anything. “Pass.”

Rod shrugged. “Alright then. I can’t make you meet with me. And I’m not going to make you,” he added with a smirk, “although if you keep your word I think I could.”

That made Avery angry. “Nobody makes me do anything.”

Rod shrugged, “Perhaps. Or perhaps not. I could definitely take you in boxing.”

Avery scoffed “No fucking way. I’d kick your ass.”

Rod looked him dead in the eye. “Then why don’t we spar a little tomorrow. See who comes out on top.”

“Oh it’s on, old man. Gym off Eighth Avenue at 3:30. I’ll take you down.” Avery stormed out back to his car.

Fuck, I forgot the lingerie. Eh, I’ll just make something up. Avery drove off feeling more conflicted than he had in a long time.