I am retired from industry and have been for some time. My dream job was always woodworking, but until I retired, it was little more than a dream. I decided that when I retired, I wanted to stay busy with something I loved. I built a shop behind my house and started working. When I started very few of the pieces I built were sold because my wife adopted them immediately. I didn’t have a problem with that. I didn’t build my shop primarily as a business. I built it as a calling. Eventually, I made enough commission pieces that word got out and the business came in.

There is a satisfaction to working with wood that is difficult to understand unless you work with it. The design of an heirloom quality piece of furniture is critical to the process of building it. If you don’t start with a sound foundation in design, it doesn’t matter how good you are at execution. I want my creations to be beautiful, functional, and able to last for generations. You don’t build something like that without a plan.

I enjoy the design process. I like working with clients to determine what they want and need. Then, I want to surprise them with something that exceeds those wants and needs. I don’t want them to be happy with what I create for them, I want them to be ecstatic. I want to make pieces and get them out into the world for others to enjoy. My ambition is to create art with wood.

The joy in woodworking for me is when all the pieces start fitting together. The use of hand tools like chisels and planes not only improves the quality but also provides tactile feedback that connects me to the piece. When I start applying the finish, it is like watching a child blossom into adulthood. The finished piece provides a sense of pride and a sense of loss. When the finish sets, the piece will go out into the world. It is likely that I will never see it again.

I doubt anyone wants me to go on about getting older, but I have to say a few things. Life has no rainbow shining on the horizon when your loved ones are gone. All that seems left is that march to oblivion. I know how wonderful the feeling of a woman’s skin can be. The excitement of growing intimacy, followed by erotic love. What happens when that is all behind you? When there is no one that could replace what you have lost? When each day is a fight to push back the grief and find something, anything, to smile about?

I am in my mid-sixties and I am alone. My family is gone from this world. I will not share those tragedies. It is impossible for anyone to understand the grief I have carried and the sadness that permeates my life. My shop is my solace. That and my next-door neighbors.

Mark and Jill live in the house next door. They have two children that I adore and spoil every chance I get. Mark, Jill, and the kids are family to me, and I will do anything for them. They provide the light that pierces the darkness of my decline.

Mark and Jill are good people, and they work hard. They are the kind of people that you want to give a hand to when they need it because they will make the best of it. They would never ask for help but are always grateful if they get it. You can bet that they will do anything they can to pay it back and pay it forward. A person could not ask for better neighbors or better human beings for that matter.

Mark visits the shop as often as a young father has the time. I always enjoy his evening visits. If left to my own devices, I will often work through the night. His welcome interruptions help me maintain a normal sleep cycle. Many Friday or Saturday evenings, we would sit in the shop sipping a good whisky and talking. It is a chance for him to talk about the things that interest him or stress him and for me to share my somewhat welcome experience.

We generally discussed relatively safe subjects, but occasionally he will confide in me regarding his marriage. I am a huge fan of Mark and Jill and would never take a side. I always try to be a diplomat. The truth is that they have an exceptionally good marriage and Mark’s venting is usually just that. He is never angry or upset with Jill. He just needs to vent a little. I am always glad to hear him out and verbally slap him upside his head if needed.

I would never admit to anyone that I often fantasized about Jill. She is a petite brunette with huge soulful blue eyes and an amazing body. A body I have thought about often when masturbating. Yes, old guys still masturbate. The main differences between an old guy like me and a young guy are physical stamina and a total lack of interest from the opposite sex. The plumbing still works, and I shoot blanks. A decision my wife and I made many years ago. It happens that young sexy women are not interested in my ammunition, regardless of the potency.

One Friday evening Mark and I were a bit deep into a good single malt whisky. I pulled out the vape and we took a few tokes. As many people are aware, a combination of the two often leads to diarrhea of the mouth and a lack of discretion regarding the conversation topic. Mark had something on his mind, and he finally loosened up enough to start working toward whatever it was.

He blearily looked at me. “John, do you think it is improper for married people to have sex with someone else?”

Say what?! I pondered his statement for a moment. “Well, that depends. In my opinion, if one person in the marriage is having sex without their spouse’s knowledge and consent, it is an act of betrayal. Marriage is a partnership between two people who love each other. You do not betray whom you love. However, if a husband and wife decide that involving others in their sex life will enhance their marriage, I think it is perfectly fine. It comes down to trust and ground rules.”

Mark looked a bit confused. Or maybe he was a tad high. He took a sip of whisky. “I guess I am a bit surprised. What do you mean by ground rules?”

“Think about it. I doubt that most married couples start out their marriage by having sex with other people. It’s not a normal part of their lives. Many couples talk about sex with others, often just to spice things up in the bedroom. They don’t really want other people, and if the opportunity presented itself, they would likely shy away from it. Most of us have too many ingrained taboos that prevent us from opening up in that way. If a couple is secure in their love, is open-minded enough, and a safe opportunity is presented, they still need to ensure they protect their relationship. The rules of engagement have to be established and adhered to.”

Mark raised his eyebrows. “Like what?”

“First, husband and wife have to be solid in their love for each other. Second, both must enthusiastically agree to the act. Third, both must be aware of who, what, when, and how. Fourth, everything is shared. If one of you cannot handle the graphic details, you don’t do it. You are trying to enhance your marriage, not end it by falling for someone else. Which leads to five, it is just sex, nothing more. I am sure there are examples where love was extended to another person by husband and wife. That kind of situation must be handled carefully, or people are going to get hurt. We are talking about sex, not love. The two often become mixed, which can lead to many stupid and regrettable things.”

Mark looked me in the eye. “It sounds like you might have some experience.”

“I do. Deb and I had a lot of fun when we were your age and didn’t regret a bit of it. We also knew people who did. Sometimes they just didn’t click with the other sex partner. Sometimes a spouse falls in love with a sex partner and ends a marriage. In some cases that is not necessarily a bad thing. In others, it is devastating for everyone involved.”

“Mark, if you don’t mind me asking, why are you bringing this up?”

Mark sat in silence for a good while. He seemed to come to a decision. “Jill and I have been talking about a fantasy we have. We have only had sex with each other. I would like for her to experience more, but I don’t want to lose her to another man. She finds the idea exciting but doesn’t want to be with a stranger. Both of us are clueless about how we would bring it up with our married friends. We don’t think any of them would be comfortable talking about it. Let alone actually following through.”

“Do you have any single friends you would trust to be with her?”

Mark thought for a moment. “I can think of one guy I would trust, but she would never agree. She would be too embarrassed to be around him afterward.”

“I have a suggestion. Food for thought anyway. What if Jill was blindfolded?”

Mark perked up. “That might work.”

I decided some shock tactics were in order. “OK, you must be absolutely sure that you are honest with each other. You both need to be excited about some guy sticking his hard cock into her pussy and fucking her hard until she cums. He may fuck her harder and better than you ever have. He may have a bigger cock, and she may decide she likes that cock a lot. She may want to have that cock again, ramming into her pussy, filling it with cum. She may suck his cock until the cum drips out of her mouth. The mouth that kisses you and your children.”

"What the fuck John! I can’t believe you’d talk about Jill like that!”

“So, are you upset at what I said or the fact that I said it?”

“I just never thought you would talk that way about Jill.”

“So, forget it was me that said it. What about what I said?”

Mark thought for a moment and smiled. “Honestly, it makes me horny.”

"Ok, you need to figure out a way to say to Jill what I just said to you. If it makes her horny too then you can probably move forward.”

Mark nodded. “I think that is a good idea. I have no idea where to go from there.”

“Since you asked for my opinion I might as well continue. Please tell me if you want me to stop?”

“You are a good friend. I trust you and value your advice. Even if you explain way too much. So, go ahead.”

“The first issue you have is finding the right person. A person who can be trusted to keep your confidence and not talk about what happens to anyone, ever. That is a huge amount of trust to have in anyone. He must prove he is clean and that means getting tested. Someone has to pay for that. He must be kind. He must immediately stop and leave If asked to. No questions asked. Once you find that person, you need to be in control. Jill needs to know that she will be safe and comfortable. Send the kids to the grandparents for the weekend and invite the guy to your house or meet him at a hotel room that you reserve. Jill must know that you are nearby. At the minimum, you must be able to hear everything even if you don’t want to watch. If she calls for help, you must be there instantly.”

“She might be more comfortable if she wears a blindfold. It does require a higher level of trust on her part. It also allows her to go back to everyday life without the fear of recognizing the guy. I don’t know how she feels about bondage but tying her hands to the bed might also be a good idea. In the heat of the moment her hands could wander, pulling off the blindfold or touching an easily recognizable feature of the partner. A beard or mustache for example. They make lined cuffs that will not hurt her wrists. You also need safe words. I suggest one for “Stop” and one for “That’s enough of that”. Finally, she can speak but her partner cannot. She would probably recognize his voice.”

Mark looked a bit puzzled. “Why would she need a word for stop? Why can’t she just say stop?”

“What if she says, “Don’t Stop” and all you hear is, “Stop”?”

“Whoever the lucky guy is he must be kind, considerate, and focused on her joy most of all. She deserves the absolute best. His needs are secondary.

“The details are important for two reasons. They help keep you safe and happy and make you think about your actions. You can choose not to do it. That is the easiest and safest choice. You can choose to deal with the details and truly let yourselves enjoy the experience. It might be awesome. It might not. I just threw a lot of information at you. I hope you took good notes.”

We were both pretty buzzed by this point, and that struck us as funny. We laughed like idiots for a bit. Not long after that, he staggered across the yard and into his house. I am sure he was talking to her within minutes of going inside.

I’ll know they’re serious about it if he brings the subject up again. I kind of hope he will. I would love to be the guy! It will never happen in the real world, but I can certainly fantasize about it all I want. Fantasy is about as good as it gets.

I realize I am fantasizing about making love to a lithe young woman. Something that I took joy in when I was younger. Something I knew was never going to happen again. I wondered when the things I wanted to do again before I die became the things that I am never going to do again.

I suppose that is what it is like getting older. If I am honest, I really do not think it is age. I think it is the loneliness and the grief from so much loss. It adds a heavy weight to my shoulders that I sometimes think I cannot carry another step.

I take the step. I always take the next step. I will endure. Until, just like every living creature on this earth, one day, I do not.

I just wish it could be a whole lot more fun.

 ~~~~~{}~~~~~

It’s Friday, and I am done for the day. I work in my shop, or I drink in my shop. I never do both at the same time. Now I am enjoying a nice Porter with my friend Mark. I can tell he wants to talk about something so badly that his tongue is trying to beat a hole through his teeth.

“Mark, you act like you want to talk about something.”

Mark shickered. “Not too obvious, am I? I have been thinking a lot about what we talked about. I would like to go over the details again just to make sure I didn’t miss something. A have a photographic memory, but I may have run out of film last Friday.”

I proceeded to tell him everything I told him on Friday, nearly word for word. He took notes, but I think he was doing that as a cover. He was getting his courage up to say something. I knew he would get around to it if I waited for a bit.

Eventually, he did. “The goal is to make this the amazing experience she deserves. Everything depends on the guy. The guy needs to be single and someone we can trust. Clean, kind, considerate, and focused on her joy more than his own.”

I nodded. “That’s it in a nutshell.”

“I have been searching for the guy. I will not go into the gory details, but I assure you that no stone has been left unturned. I have found one guy that meets all the criteria. Well, all of it except the cock part of it. I don’t know about that yet.”

I was a bit confused. “So, why are you talking to me about it? Talk to the guy.”

Mark smiled at me. “I know you have a tape measure. How long is your cock?”

I looked him dead in the eye. “If this is some sick joke, I will never forgive you.”

“I would not be that mean to a stranger and I promise I would never be that mean to a friend. I am serious. You fit all the criteria and Jill means the world to you. You have a lifetime of experience and should know how to give her a fucking she will fondly remember.”

Holy Shit! I almost fell out of my chair. “I’m in! I am definitely in!”

“Cool! Ah, but the equipment?”

“If you think I am going to get my dick out and look at you while I try to get it hard you are out of your fucking mind.”

That set off a fit of laughter. When we settled down, I told him, “I will send you a picture later. I am trusting you with it.”

He took off for the house shortly after that. I hustled to my house and shaved. What I mean is that I shaved my pubic hair, balls, and all. I thought it was a good idea to have a clean landscape. One less possible clue. Note to self, shave everything else as well and moisturize. I need to be silky smooth.

After dinner, I went back to the shop. I gave the problem a bit of thought before the light bulb lit up. I cut a hole in a piece of white cardboard and got the tape measure ready. I kicked back, phone in one hand and tape measure in the other and thought about Jill. Not long after that I determined that I needed a larger hole.

After a rather painful hole adjustment, I was ready. I was standing proud when I slid the yellow tape measure down next to my cock. It took a few tries to get the angle right for the picture. I had never measured my cock before. It always seemed to do the job, so I never felt the need. I still don’t know if nine inches is long or if two inches is wide. It’s not like I’ve measured a lot of cocks.

I left the cardboard on while I ran the picture through my photo editor. I managed to clean the lighting up and blur any background that leaked through. The result was a cock, sticking through the cardboard with a generic tape measure alongside. There were no apparent clues to my identity. I sent it off to Mark.

I pulled the cardboard off and tossed it on the layout table. Then I started thinking about the picture. I wondered if he was showing it to her. I wondered if she liked it. Not long after that, I was cleaning cum off my stomach and chest. Note to self, get blue pills.

I texted Mark a document with questions. Where are her favorite erogenous zones? Does she like light biting, nipping, nibbling, and licking? If so, where? Does she like a massage? Is she ticklish? If so where and how sensitive? There were many questions.

I wanted to know everything about her body I could in advance. I did not want to do something that would pull her out of the experience. I wanted to touch her body, and I wanted every touch to be a pleasurable one. I also knew that when I touched her the real discovery would begin.

 ~~~~~{}~~~~~

Mark dropped by the shop on Wednesday. “Are you available Friday evening?”

My legs shook from the adrenaline rush. “Do you mean what I think you mean?”

Mark smiled. “Yes, we are both extremely excited about it. I showed her the pictures you sent. You should have seen the look on her face. She was impressed. Hell, I was impressed.”

I did not know what to think of that, but I took it as a positive sign. “You bet. What time do you want me there?”

“Come to the back door at eight. I will let you know if there are any last-minute changes. That will be the last time we talk during the evening. I will be sitting on a chair in the corner. I won’t make my presence known unless Jill wants you to stop.”

“OK, I'll be there.”

I was beyond excited, I hoped that I wouldn’t have performance problems with him watching.

I began preparing as soon as he went home. I shaved my body and moisturized my skin. I didn’t have a problem with my cock being in the way. I was so hard that It stuck out like some giant hornet’s stinger, making it easier to shave around my pubic area. My fist was wrapped around it as soon as I finished shaving. Minutes after that I was cleaning up the mess. I am glad I got the blue pills.

Friday rolled around. I shaved, showered, and checked my nails to make sure they were smooth. I grabbed the cologne and gave myself a light spray, got dressed, and double-checked my breath. I left the house by the back door and walked across the backyard. I had barely knocked on the door when Mark opened it. He waved me in. “She is ready upstairs. Nothing had changed since we talked. The safe words are “Blue” for stop and “Frog” for stop doing that.”

I followed him upstairs. He went to the bedroom while I undressed in the bathroom. I quietly walked into the room and stood there stunned as I looked at the beauty on the bed. She had the blindfold on, and her hands were in mink-lined cuffs. The cuffs were secured to the headboard by light chains. She could move her arms, but her hands could not reach below her neck. She was wearing a light blue, nearly transparent negligee that split up the middle. I little bow was tied between her breasts holding it closed. A matching thong barely covered her shaved mons. She was magnificent!

Her petite frame, pert breasts, and the swell of her mound drew me. She was the epitome of beauty and desire. I forgot that Mark was in the room. My focus was intensely on her. My cock led the way as I moved toward the bed. I was so hard it hurt.

I started by putting a knee on the bed so that she would know I was there. I reached up and touched her cuffed hand, lightly caressing it. I held her hand and lightly squeezed her fingers. I wanted her to know that not only was I there but that everything would be all right.

I ran my hands down her arms to her elbows then lightly caressed her face. The touch of my fingers as they ran from her ears down her neck was light as a feather. I moved to the end of the bed and knelt at her feet.

I needed to make this real for her before we went any further. I massaged her right foot and worked my hands up her leg to her knees. I then rested her left foot between my touching thighs, just below my cock. I massaged up her leg, and by the time I reached her knee, her foot had slid upward and was pressing against my erection.

 Her breath caught and I wondered if she was going to say “Blue”. Instead, I felt her foot slide up my cock. When she felt the head, she curled her toes over. Smiling, I gently wrapped my hand around her ankle and moved her leg to the side. I needed her feet apart just enough to massage her upper leg. My fingers were extended as my hands massaged up her thigh approaching teasingly close to her center. I did the same to her right leg.

I moved up the bed and caressed her face, running my fingertips over her lips. I leaned down and kissed her lips lightly. I captured her upper lip with my lips and caressed it with my tongue. Her mouth opened for me and I kissed her. Romantic kissing soon became tongues touching. I kissed her until her tongue was excitedly moving against mine before slowly separating. Moving back down the bed I kissed her stomach before running my tongue down until it touched her thong. I ran my tongue back up her body until I reached the bow on her negligee. I rose enough to kiss her neck and ran my tongue up her neck and around her ear lobe. I nibbled her ear lobe and kissed my way back down her neck.

When my lips met hers, she kissed me passionately. She was beginning to move as her arousal grew. I could see her erect nipples through the negligee when I cupped her breasts with my hands. I lightly squeezed them through the negligee as my thumbs rubbed around her nipples, teasingly close but not touching them.

I untied the bow while I kissed her again. My hands spread the negligee apart as I kissed and licked my way down her neck and to her breast. I sucked her nipple into my mouth as my hand brushed over her other nipple. Her breath caught again, and the moan that followed was music to my ears.

My hand wandered down to her leg and began to massage her inner thigh. She moved her legs apart as my hand approached her thong. My fingers lightly brushed across her clit before moving to the other leg. I repeated the process with that leg. I kissed her more and harder. Her passion was evident in the way she responded.

Her legs were spread enough for me to move between them and I kissed my way back down her body. My tongue licked around her thong and down her thigh. I moved to her other leg and licked my way back up. I kissed her pussy through the thong and felt her hips move as she pushed against my lips. I ran my tongue up her center and pressed the tip of it hard against her silk-covered clit. I heard the chains rattle as she strained to bring her hands to my head.

I slid a finger under the side of the thong and brushed it up and down her slit, pressing my knuckle against her clit. She raised her hips readily when I grasped the waistband of her thong. I pulled it off and tossed it aside before lowering my head and putting my mouth on her sweet pussy. I licked her slit while my finger brushed around her opening. My tongue ran around her clit. Teasingly close, but not touching.

Her moans were now close to whimpers and I knew it was time to stop teasing. The back of my tongue was rubbing against her clit when my fingertip entered her vagina. I caressed the inside of her opening before slowly sliding it fully in. I caressed her g-spot while my tongue rubbed her clit and her hips began moving in time with my tongue.

My tongue and finger moved faster, and her moans became louder. I felt her vagina squeezing my finger, and she thrust her pussy hard against my face as her orgasm swept over her. I was thrilled that I was making this amazing woman have an orgasm. I could also tell that she was hyper-sensitive immediately after she had one.

I got up on my knees and wiped my face. I moved close and passionately kissed her again. She returned it with enthusiasm. I took her nipple into my mouth and nibbled it as she squirmed below me. I raised up and looked at her gorgeous pussy. I took my cock in hand and began to rub the tip up and down her slit, rubbing her clit with the head.

She spoke for the first time. “Frog! Frog! Just please fuck me!”

I ran the head of my cock down her slit and found her opening. I slowly slid the head in, and she gasped. Moving slowly, I pushed a little more into her. I pulled back a little and pushed in more. The last of it slid in as I kissed her. I held myself up on my elbows as I began to stroke slowly into her. I kissed her deeply and heard the chains rattle again as she tried to pull her arms down and wrap them around me.

I kept to a slower pace as her passion built. When I lightly bit her neck, she thrust her pelvis against mine and orgasmed. I stopped moving for a few moments afterward to allow her to recover. When I felt her start moving again, I knew she was ready for more.

Picking up the pace, I began to long stroke into her. Her legs wrapped around my thighs and she was moaning loudly as I fucked her. I cannot describe the feeling of joy that came over me when she came again. This time she thrashed and yelled as she came.

Her sensitivity was high, and I knew she needed a moment. I slowly slid out of her, reached up, and freed her hands. I kissed her deeply and lay next to her on the bed. When her breathing evened out, I pulled her on top of me so that she could straddle my hips. I let her take control. When she was ready for more, she would let me know. It was not long before she did.

She grabbed my cock and lowered herself onto it. She began to grind her mound against me, and I could feel my cock buried in her warmth. I began to stroke upward as she came down and soon my cock was slamming into her drenched pussy. Her hands were braced on my chest and her arms were stiff as she held herself up. Her arms became weak as her passion grew and she collapsed on top of me. Her cheek rested on my chest as I continued to fuck her hard.

This time when I felt her vagina pulse around my cock, I knew it was my time as well. She must have felt me swelling because she locked her mouth on mine. My body stiffened, I started shooting jets of cum into her, and she screamed her orgasm into my mouth. We were both shaking as we gradually returned from the peak of our desire.

I held her in my arms and kissed her face and her mouth. I could not get enough of her. I also knew she was done for the evening. Any energy she had left was meant for Mark.

I held her longer than I probably should have. Finally, I rolled her onto the bed, kissed her deeply one final time, and left the room. I didn’t notice until I was almost dressed the tears that were running down my face.

I would never do anything that would hurt my friends, but from that moment on I loved her. I had always admired her and liked her, but after that night I just couldn’t help myself. I will never say or do anything about it. It will be my secret. My wonderful secret.

 ~~~~~{}~~~~~

Saturday afternoon Mark stopped by the shop. His smile as he walked in reassured me. I had been a bit nervous that maybe I had misread how things had gone.

“Last night was awesome! Jill told me it was the most amazing sex she had ever had. I cannot tell you how happy you have made both of us.”

“It doesn’t bother you that she enjoyed it so much?”

“Hell no, I wanted her to have an experience of a lifetime. This was never about me. Although I did enjoy the hell out of it. We went at it like rabbits an hour ago.”

I felt a twinge of jealousy and clamped it down hard. She is not my wife, she is his, and they belong together. I must forget about a love I haven’t earned. Instead, I choose to focus on and be forever grateful for that amazing experience.

 ~~~~~{}~~~~~

A few days later Jill came by the shop to talk about a dresser I was building for them. She stood at the layout table while she talked to me. She kept glancing at the table, but I didn’t think much of it. She seemed flustered but managed to pick out the stain she wanted and left.

Wednesday she came by again and asked me to give her a hand moving a few boxes into the attic. I followed her over and started in. A while later I finished and wiped the sweat from my head. She offered me a glass of water in the kitchen. She brushed by me and hesitated. She turned back, put her hand on my arm, and raised up. She put her nose against my neck and breathed in deeply.

She moved back and grinned at me. “It was you, wasn’t it?”

I pretended to be confused. “Me what?”

She cupped my face with her hands. “I saw the white cardboard with the hole in it the other day at your shop. Just now I recognize the smell of your cologne and the musk of your sweat. It was you that made love to me. It was you that fucked me.”

She kissed my lips. “I am glad it was you. It was perfect.”

I smiled, hugged her tightly, and went back to the shop.

I will always carry the weight of my grief and loss, but they have been made so much lighter by the memory of that night. That wonderful night with Jill gave me the strength to take the next step, and the one after that.