Free Private Pleasures by Bertrice Small

grimacing as she realized that her body was back to normal! The sides of the fabric didn't overlap on her frame.
I don't have to be fat like this, she thought. I've really let myself pork up in the last few years. I need some exercise. Maybe I'll start walking with Carla. I hate the way I look in my clothes. My height is all in my torso, and so is the fat. She pulled on a pair of cotton briefs, fastened her bra, squeezed into her stretch jeans, and yanked a bright yellow T-shirt on over her head. Then perching herself on the edge of the bed, she called Carla.
"Hi, it's me. We've got to talk before the kids get home from school. Yeah, I'm here. Just barely. Come on over. I'll get out the wine. It's afternoon, and I need wine."
Several minutes later Carla Johnson came into the kitchen with a plate of turkey sandwiches, and sat down at the table across from her best friend. "It's only one, and I'll bet you haven't eaten. You're going to be sick as a pig if you drink wine on an empty stomach. You went to The Channel, right?" she said matter-of-factly.
"I went to The Channel," Nora said. "Perfect night for it. Jeff stayed in town. First time I didn't mind he did. J. J. stayed at his girlfriend's house to meet some bigwig from State." She sipped the wine nervously, and then began to eat one of the sandwiches, surprised to learn she was very hungry.
"Well?" Carla demanded, cocking her head to one side, her brown eyes curious. "What did you find there? And did you like it?"
"It's my dream apartment," Nora began. "The one I've always talked about. It is so beautiful there, and I'm not a plump matron pushing fifty either. I am this sexy redhead about thirty. And I had sex with two men. Wild animal sex!" Nora laughed.
Carla grinned. "I wouldn't tell this to anyone else but you and the others," she said. "I'm Captain Raven, the pirate queen. I sail the Caribbean, and have sex with whoever takes my fancy. Two nights ago I captured an English vessel bound for the Indies. There was a very handsome and wealthy young duke aboard. He was willing to do anything I wanted him to do to effect his release. At first he was quite difficult, but I made him walk the plank. When we fished him out he became much more reasonable."
She giggled. "Isn't The Channel great? We can have all the sex we want without venereal disease, AIDS, unplanned pregnancies, or guilt. I don't know who invented it, but it's terrific, and we owe them a vote of thanks."
"Nothing is for free," Nora said slowly.
"We pay for it," Carla replied glibly. "You'll see it on your cable bill. Movie. Three ninety-five."
"Doesn't Rick wonder about all those movies?" Nora asked.
"Nah, I pay the bills," Carla said. "And I took the twelve-dollars-a-month deal."
"I thought you loved Rick," Nora said.
"I do love Rick, but sometimes I want a change. I want to be young and sexy again. Doesn't everyone? I mean, hell, men do it with different women. Why are women expected to confine themselves to only one man? At least our generation thought that way. Tiffany loves her harem romance novels, so she's the sultan's favorite. Rina won't say."
Nora laughed. She couldn't help it. "Yeah, I'd expect Tiff would be the sultan's favorite. Carla! It was so real! I mean I'm actually sore."
"It is real, girlfriend. Now tell me how many times you did it with them, and who are they?" She leaned forward eagerly, her brown eyes sparkling.
"Four," Nora said, blushing with her memories. "Three times with my lover. His name is Kyle, and he's absolutely hunky. The last time was with my masseur. He's blond, has an Austrian accent, and is named Rolf. Kyle watched us while we did it, but he got jealous, and put his dick in my mouth. We all came together! It was so wild, but then suddenly I was back. God, Carla, I want to go back there!"
Carla grinned. "I am so glad you had such a good time," she said. "You're a whole different person today. How long has it been since you and Jeff were intimate?"
Nora sighed. She had never