The Cottage Jake collected Mary and Sharmila from the hospital about two in the afternoon. Mary brought her down in a wheelchair and they both assisted her into the back seat of the car. She clearly had great difficulty walking and Jake locked his arm around her for support. She asked to stop off at her apartment first to collect a few things. The stairs to the flash new apartment block were too much for Sharmila, so Mary and Jake volunteered to go on up and get the things she requested. While Mary packed a bag of clothes and underwear for her, Jake gathered up her files and packed them into a briefcase. He didn't find the gun in her drawers and assumed she must have hidden it out of the way. Jake manhandled two large suitcases down the stairs and thanked his lucky stars it was only a week she'd be staying. He went back up for the hangers of her business clothes and met Mary, on the stairs, shaking her head in wonder. "Shit, babe," she said, "it's like an expensive, department store showroom up there. The TV's even got its sticker still plastered to the screen. I don't think it's ever been turned on." "Told you! There's a shit load of money up there. I wonder where it all came from?" "Maybe she's got a sugar daddy we don't know about?" she grinned, "besides you?" "I'm not... " Jake started to say before noticing Mary's playful grin. "Stop winding me up!" he told her, as he continued up the stairs. "Hey!" she called, "y'know, you've got a nice bum from down here?" He turned and smiled, before going back into the apartment. Sharmila sat in the back with her eyes gently closed as they drove out to the cottage. Jake had to practically carry her inside, as he did that night when he found her lying on the lawn. She smiled a thank you as he sat her on the sofa. She seemed in pain and Mary went to fetch some paracetamol. She came and sat beside her, hovered as she swallowed the tablets, and stroked her face. Sharmila had a contented look on her face and smiled sweetly at them both. Jake hauled her things into the back room. Mary used to keep it for storage and he'd spent half the day clearing out old planters, boxes of old kitchen things, broken items of furniture and stuff Mary hadn't got around to throwing out. He'd scrubbed and dusted and assembled an old bed that was kept as a spare. He'd found an old hand-stitched quilt and some clean sheets and made it really nice for her. Mary told him he'd make someone a nice wife someday and he'd told her to 'get stuffed.' He had a twinkle in his eye and Sharmila caught them smiling at each other, like sharing some personal joke. Women notice things that pass men by. Sharmila saw the gleam from Mary's finger in the ambulance on the way to the hospital. She understood immediately its significance but was too preoccupied with her own suffering to mention it. She watched them from the sofa as they busied themselves with her comfort and took in every look, every gentle touch and whispered endearment. Their love created a warm glow in the room and she couldn't help but be affected by it. "Let me see?" Sharmila said, taking Mary's hand. She had a keen eye for value and knew she was looking at a very expensive item of jewelry. "It's beautiful!" she gushed. "The setting... it's wonderful!" "Jake was an idiot..." she started to say, but Sharmila stopped her. "No, no!" she protested, "it's the right thing, it suits you beautifully. You must wear it forever and never take it off." "I'm too scared of losing it," Mary told her, "he shouldn't have spent that amount of money." "But he loves you. You must allow him to demonstrate his love for you. It is perfect, Jake," she called, "you knew exactly what to buy her!" "Yeah?" he replied, "I just went 'eenie meenie minie mo' over the display case." "Ah, but you knew instinctively what the right ring was. Your spirit was guiding you, your love was telling you what the right thing to do was." "It did? I was? Shoot!" he grinned and looked at Mary, who smiled back. "Can I ask you when is the day?" Sharmila asked, "have you set a date?" "I think towards the end of the year," Mary said, "then Jake and I are going off on holiday overseas." "Wonderful. You will have such a happy time together. You must send me an invitation to the wedding." "Of course," Mary said. Jake shot her a strange look but she chose to ignore it. Sharmila was delighted with the room. Jake warned her that, mornings, the sunlight streamed in and it could get hot and stuffy. She told him she didn't mind and she enjoyed the sun. She told him he didn't know what heat was. The sash windows had lost their counterbalance weights but Jake propped them open with short pieces of timber. The cool breeze was refreshing and Sharmila said she'd like to lay down on her bed for a while. He later brought in some sandwichs and juice and left it beside her as she dozed. --------------------------------------------- The next morning Jake rose early and prepared breakfast for the two women. Mary was anxious to get back to work and Jake offered to drive her. When he returned, Sharmila was awake, her computer on her lap. She was studying so intently, Jake decided to excuse himself. It was just before lunch time when she was ready to receive him. He asked her what she would like. She yawned, smiled sweetly, and asked him what he was offering. She settled on some chicken salad and he brought it in, with their daily paper. "You are a good man, Jake," she said, before devouring the paper. Mary had helped her change into another nightdress and sponged her down. She now wore the pale blue satin number, and looked scarcely less delectable. She needed escorting to the toilet, and Jake gladly lent his shoulder. She walked slowly and gingerly, wincing now and again, and Jake placed a steadying hand on the small of her back. The smooth feel of the satin and his hand in close proximity to her sexy arse was a strain for Jake. He managed, manfully, he thought, and didn't betray his discomfort. Jake went out after lunch to purchase a fax/printer on her account and soon Sharmila had the back room set up as a small office. He, himself, found himself running messages for her and later that afternoon, he went to view a property at her request. When he returned she listened carefully to what he described and asked specific questions. She showed him plans for a possible future development sketched, apparently, by some surveying firm she'd persuaded to come on board. He was in no doubt that she wouldn't spend any money if she could avoid it. "You see?" she told him, "you must keep your bottom line as low as possible. Government and city compliance costs come right out of your profit..." "Sure, but you can't avoid that, can you?" "Perhaps there are other ways? We must comply with the law, but it's complex and there are many ways around it." "You're not suggesting anything illegal?" "Of course not," she laughed, "that's foolish. It will cost you hundreds of thousands in fines and your reputation will be destroyed. No-one will work with you for fear of being burned." It was all a little beyond Jake and he struggled to keep up. She was high maintenance. Sharmila was apt to skip meals unless Jake placed a tray in front of her and watched her eat. He fetched her medication at the appropriate times and dosed her with painkillers when she complained of being sore. She seemed not to notice her personal discomfort in her singleminded desire to succeed with her business. He imagined this vast army of gofers out in the city doing all the leg work required. Her cellphone was always pressed to her ear issuing instructions or consulting some expert. He could see clearly how she worked and began to believe how easy it would be for her to burn herself out and act irrationally. Perhaps Mary was right and fatigue had unhinged her? She may well have been coming to see them about some deal and had lost track of the hour. It was easy to believe time losing relevance for her at the pace she was running. At the same time, the human body could only take so much and Jake was concerned. Even injured, she flogged herself harder than Jake could envisage. "Sharmila?" he said, as he brought in some food for her, "don't you think you ought to slow down?" "I'm all right," she insisted. Conversation was difficult as her cellphone was always going off. "You're taking too much on. You're all banged up and need to rest." But she insisted she was fine and thanked him for his concern. ------------------------------------------ Sharmila was pleased with the way everything was going. She'd already bought three properties and was negotiating for a couple more. She'd chosen to use proxies, as the same person buying up properties would alert the market. Inevitably, prices would go up as other speculators sniffed around for the action. She had a basic stock target calculated, based on the expected capital gain, and she'd just about reached that. Development, finance and regulatory compliance costs would hose up profit below that. Anything above was pure cash in the bank. She liked the room Jake had prepared for her. It smelled faintly of lemon cleanser, and paint where he'd touched up a few patches. The patchwork quilt was kinda charming, she thought, with reds and golds. The sun beamed in mornings and she had views of the backyard and out over the fields to the distant ranges. She couldn't wish for a better aspect, with Jake's flowerbeds and the fern shrouded spa pool. When she gets better she thought she'd like to try out the spa. Perhaps one moonlit night when the wind was still and the only sound was the distant owls? She would need to have her stitches out, she knew, to ensure there was no infection. Jake had brought her car down from the layby and parked it on the front lawn. He told her there were 'far more doodahs than I could cope with.' Sharmila didn't really understand what he was getting at but it sounded funny and she laughed. Mary was jealous of her, she thought, because she worried that Jake likes her more. Sharmila didn't think that was very fair because he obviously adores her. But Jake is a kind and decent man: a man that will make Mary a good husband. Mary cannot expect him to reserve his kindness just for her. Sharmila thought Jake was too easily dominated by women and she needed to give him some space to be himself. Jake helps her to the toilet. She enjoys the feel of his body close to her's. He puts his hand on the small of her back for support and she can feel it long after it's gone. She senses that Jake doesn't want to let her go and his fingers trail wistfully across her back when they reach the door. The first night of her stay, Sharmila lay awake on her bed listening to the sounds in the house. Mary's cottage was old and not particularly soundproof. The country night is dead quiet except for the distant lowing of cows. Sharmila's room was right next door to Mary and Jake's bedroom and she could hear quite clearly. Their bed had a squeaking spring and the floorboards a creak. Sharmila could hear them moving around next door and their voices carried, even though they were keeping them low to not disturb her. She could hear every sigh, every whisper and every movement on the bed. They didn't make love that first night but she didn't expect that situation to continue. She doubted they could keep their hands to themselves, and who could blame them? When you're in love you want to enjoy the feel of each others bodies and make passionate love together. Sure enough, the very next night was Friday and their lust couldn't be contained anymore. Sharmila heard them talking in murmers for a long time and the squeak from the bed as they moved around. Then she heard them turn on a radio softly, as if that'd mask the sounds of them fucking together. But you only need to listen carefully to pick out the different noises. The ear is a wonderful instrument and the brain can analyse a mixture of sound quite easily into different sources. It is well nigh impossible to drown out the sound of lovemaking unless with volume, and, clearly, they're hardly likely to turn the radio up that loud for fear of waking her. She knew when they were kissing together, their whispering would stop, then resume. She could hear them rolling around by the squeak of the spring. The creak told her when they were moving rhythmically and the tapping of the bedhead against the wall was a sure sign of vigourous fucking. Mary tried to keep quiet, but she was one well-used to making a lot of noise. She'd once attended university and lived in student flats with lots of others. Under those circumstances, it was easy to lose one's embarrassment. The thumping of the bedhead increased in frequency and Sharmila could hear Mary's cries grow in volume and pitch as she neared orgasm. Her growling through clenched teeth was a sure sign she was cumming while trying not to scream and wake her next door. For Sharmila, it was so easy to form a picture of their activities. She created a video in her head, put together from sound and her imagination. Mary had come into her earlier, wearing just a T-shirt and panties, to say goodnight and made sure she'd stopped working. She was concerned she was overdoing it and spoiling her recovery. Sharmila watched her standing by the door and it was easy to picture her naked. She wasn't wearing a bra and her nipples were quite visible through the cotton. She watched her boobs move unfettered and she could tell by her skin showing that she was pale with freckles. No doubt her breasts would be even whiter and there'd be a bra line where they'd been shielded from the sun. Mary had a prominent pubis and a thatch of ginger hair. Sharmila noticed some errant hairs peeking past the leg elastic of her panties. Her thighs were good and strong and her legs long in proportion to her height. Mary turned and Sharmila got a view of her arse through stretched panties. The silk molded itself to her crack. 'Silk?' thought Sharmila. Obviously Jake had bought them for her. She didn't think Mary was the sort to buy expensive panties for herself. A picture of Jake slowly sliding them down formed in her mind and she felt a familiar itch developing between her legs. Jake and Mary made it so easy for her. They took their time and allowed Sharmila's mental picture to fully form. She knew Jake's body from memory, of course, and didn't need any additional cues. She pictured Mary's hand wrapped around his cock and Jake's long, sensitive fingers stroking her softly between the legs. She knew how Mary felt, how she wanted to throw open her legs and take Jake's magnificent hard cock deep inside her. She knew she wanted to turn over and feel Jake's hands on her hips. Jake liked her to ride him cowboy, so he could play with her boobs and watch them bob up and down. Sharmila was sure they liked giving each other oral sex. They probably did that first tonight because it didn't make as much noise. You could do that kneeling on the floor and there was little jumping around. Her wound was a dull, persistant ache, but the edge had been taken off with painkillers. They made her feel a little sleepy, but not so much that she couldn't come. Sharmila grasped and rubbed herself in her practiced technique as the couple next door worked up to their climax. She came almost the exact time as Mary, timing herself to her muffled cries of joy. Yes, Sharmila was going to like it here at Mary and Jake's cottage. She wondered how long they will let her stay and whether she could extend that time a little further? ------------------------------------------ Sharmila was beaming radiantly when Jake took in her breakfast in the morning. There'd been a change in her, was a lot more relaxed, and she had a soft glow about her. He suggested she get out of bed a little later and come and sit outside with them. He told her not to work, that she needed a him she would, once she'd gone through her emails. Jake only had on his pair of denim shorts and she thought he looked really sexy first thing in the morning. She spied them out the window. The couple set up table and chairs in the yard and a sun umbrella. Clearly, today, they planned to spend the day outside. Around ten Mary fetched her and stayed to help her change. She checked her wound dressing and Sharmila persuaded her to massage her tummy with her fragrant oils. She told her it avoided stretchmarks later when she was going to get really big. Mary walked slowly with her outside to the yard and eased her into a chair. There was a jug of fresh juice on the table, she poured herself one and watched Jake in the garden. Mary sat in the other seat and they chatted idly about the gardens. Sharmila told her she liked the spa pool and Mary grinned happily. She told her that Jake spoiled her rotten and that, 'a fool and his money are soon parted.' "Jake?" Sharmila called, "you have your money invested at a good rate?" "Sure, Sharmila," he replied, "mostly in a blind trust. I don't have the worry of it that way." "Yes, but if you play the stock market you can get a better return?" she told him. "Yeah, and bigger losses unless you know what you're doing. Sharmila, I'm not bothered enough about high finance to go into it. I'd rather put it away into something secure and just let it work away for me. I'm not looking to make another fortune. It's plenty for what I want to do." "It is good and sensible way to be," she told him, "you have a secure future. What more can one ask?" "Exactly!" "We can have a three month holiday, travel Europe and America, just using 6 month's interest," Mary told her. "It's kinda strange to think Jake'll still have the same amount of money in the trust when we return than when we left. We've no need to touch the principle. It's what we're living on now, how he could afford this," she put up her hand with her just the interest. Isn't that weird?" "Jake will have another million to add to it, soon," Sharmila said, "we should double that investment, Jake, at least." "You think? That much? Whew!" "Just property speculation?" Mary said, "it kinda seems wrong to me, somehow, how you can make that sort of money just buying and selling yet adding nothing to it." "You carry the risk," Sharmila said, "that's why the return is so high. You can easily fall on your face and lose a lot of money. The city might change their minds and not rezone? Some environmentalists might decide the houses are historic and take out heritage orders on them? Their values will plummet, in that case, and you're left with big costs and no profit." "Is that likely to happen?" Jake asked. "I don't think so," she said, "commercial pressure is inevitable and the properties are nothing special. Just old 1920's worker's cottages in poor states of repair. As they are, they are worth nothing. Cleared and serviced for commercial development?" she said, grinning, "as much as fifty thousand a square metre, perhaps?" "How much?" Jake asked, looking up. "Maybe more?" she grinned. "Jesus!" "With that sort of profit we could put up a building and lease it out? Just think of the profit, then? We can have it freehold and it'll give us a steady cashflow for as long as we want." "So why don't we do it, then," Jake said, "sounds a good idea." "It will mean you won't be able to pull out your investment, Jake. It'll be tied up." "So? I don't need it and it'll be working for me, won't it?" "Of course!" "Jake?" Mary intervened, "don't commit yourself without checking everything out." "Of course not, Jake, do as she says. It's important that you are completely happy." Mary came over to Jake and knelt down, pretending to watch what he was doing. In a low voice, she said, "Jake, she's a good talker. Don't let her talk you into something." "Honey, it's only a million!" "'Only a...' have you any idea how crazy that sounds? Babe, she'll manipulate you into giving more, you'll see, then you'll wind up in so deep that you can't get out. Stick with the trust, honey, it's safer." Mary could see the trap Sharmila was laying for him, even though he couldn't. Jake was providing the money for Sharmila's dream of business success. As far as Mary was aware, she had contributed nothing except her alleged expertise. It seemed to her a case of 'heads I win, tails you lose.' Sharmila stood to lose whatever she put into the venture, nothing. Jake would wind up carrying the can for her. "Yeah," he said, "I'll think about it. Don't worry, babe, I'll be careful!" She lightly stroked his back and gave him a peck on the cheek. "You're doing fine, there, isn't he, Sharmila?" "Yes," she replied, "he is very talented with his hands!" Mary blushed and looked away. Jake looked up and smiled at her. Sharmila looked on seemingly unaware of the double entendre. ------------------------------------------ "C'mon, my talented one," she giggled, "show me what you can do with your hands?" "Shh... she'll hear!" Jake hissed. "You think she's listening?" Mary replied in a hushed voice. "You think she's getting herself off right now?" "Mary, stop it, you crazy bitch...ow... take it easy!" "I bet she'll like this," she whispered, still giggling, "your nice fat prick going into my moufff... mmmff, mmm!" "Mary, shh, ow!" "Mmmfff... mmm! You like this? Or this? Mmm, mmmf, mmm, mmm..." "Mary?" His voice was urgent. Sharmila could plainly hear through the wall. "You like pussy, now, hmm? You see it's all wet and dripping? Mary wants you nice and hard and in here!" "Fuck up, will you?" Jake hushed. "No, fuck this, Jake... hehe. C'mon, baby, take me hard... uh, shit, be careful!" Sharmila could hear the bedhead banging away furiously. Mary was gasping and moaning and she could hear Jake grunting. She worked her pussy furiously with her fingers. "Ohhhhh!" she heard Mary wail, "oh, God, babe!" "Ohhh, Jake!" Sharmila refrained. "Cumming... ohhh." "Oh, Jake! Ohhh!" Sharmila echoed. "Oo, fuck, uh!" Jake contributed. Suddenly the banging ceased, to be replaced with hushed whispers and stifled laughter. Jake told Mary she was being juvenile and she told him she didn't give a shit. There was more giggling, from Mary, as well as Jake, and he told her she was a crazy bitch and he loved her. "Goodnight, Sharmila," Mary said through the wall. "Goodnight, you two," Sharmila replied. "Oh, shit, Jake, she's awake!" she heard Mary whisper, followed by more laughter. "Oh fuck!" Sharmila didn't mind the performance. They'd been drinking and she knew they got a little stupid. It was satisfying she got her own back this time and, after all, they'd been so hot tonight, so carefree. She knew they'd have been much more furtive in their lovemaking if they'd been sober. She wondered whether they'd reach a point where they'd let her come into their room and watch. Perhaps, another Saturday night when they'd had a few wines and were in a good mood having spent all day together? They were all getting on so well together, now, and she was happier than she'd been in a long time. Perhaps even happier than when she and Jake were together and they'd masturbate for each other? Perhaps Jake would like to see her do that now? She'd really like to see him with his big cock in his hand. She'd even like to see him do Mary, really lovingly, with her face screwed up in pleasure. Would her nipples be stiff and ache like her's. Of course she liked Jake sucking on them, she'd heard. She also knew Mary liked him to do her really slowly and sometimes forcefully, when she was in the mood. His tongue worked wonders on her, she knew that too, and she could almost feel it herself, lapping softly at her pussy. She thought that, one day, she might even be willing to try him inside her. She didn't want him to pound her, like he sometimes did Mary. But maybe nice and slow? She'd be willing to try at least. Sharmila was so worked up tonight that she felt there were another few spasms to go. She rolled on her tummy and worked herself. She was right, she was still hot down there and it didn't take her long to tease another cum. It was long and intense and she had to grip the pillow with her teeth to stop from crying out. This time, she didn't want Jake and Mary to hear. This was one for herself alone. --------------------------------------------- "Hear that?" Jake whispered, under the sheet. "Doing herself again?" Mary asked. She was worn out and wanted to sleep. "Yeah!" "Leave her alone, babe. What the fuck would you do if you didn't have me to take care of you?" "Yeah, but it's kinda creepy." "Aw, bullshit, Jake. In a weird kind of way it's a turn on... to think she's getting herself off listening to us. It's not as if you minded, once?" Jake knew she had him, there, and to be honest, it was a turn on for him as well. He put his arms around Mary onto her tits. She smiled and covered his hands with her's.