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\par Anne said nothing about her new personal insight that night. She still wanted to allow time to pass to make sure that it wasn\rquote t just the heat of the moment.
\par 
\par For heat there was, undoubtedly. Stan dropped Denise off at her house and waited to be sure she got indoors safely, and then he drove on. As soon as Denise was out of sight he felt Anne\rquote 
s hand on his thigh, heightening his own response. It was difficult to drive with her hand there and a burgeoning erection, plus whenever he had to change gear Anne had to take her hand away again, but by the time they arrived at Anne\rquote 
s house he was ready to }{\cs16\i\insrsid13703288 burst}{\insrsid13703288 .
\par 
\par Anne was aroused too. She felt her lower lips sliding across one another as she squirmed in her seat, her hand sliding up and down Stan\rquote s thigh as he drove whenever she could lay it there.
\par 
\par \lquote What\rquote s come over me?\rquote  she wondered. This was more, much more than the horniness she\rquote d felt after last week\rquote s dance. She wanted Stan inside her, hard, fast and }{\cs16\i\insrsid13703288 soon}{\insrsid13703288 .
\par 
\par Stan parked the car and undid his seatbelt. Anne removed hers at the same time and in a second they were in each others\rquote  arms, kissing passionately, deeply. For a few minutes they made out like teenagers in the front of Stan\rquote 
s Mondeo before he pulled back and murmured, just loud enough for Anne to hear, \'93I don\rquote t know which is more uncomfortable at the moment, the gear lever or the handbrake.\'94
\par 
\par Anne pouted as he pulled away, but then smiled at his words.
\par 
\par \'93I have a door key,\'94 she reminded him, \'93and there\rquote s a bed upstairs, remember?\'94
\par 
\par They didn\rquote t get a
s far as the bed. Once inside the door, Anne pushed Stan against the wall, one hand playing with the buttons on his shirt and the other questing at his fly. Her mouth crushed against his, and he kissed her back eagerly. Stan was amazed. He\rquote 
d never known Anne so eager. Even earlier that day, when she\rquote d pulled her panties aside while bent over the chair, she\rquote d been less }{\cs16\i\insrsid13703288 horny}{\insrsid13703288  than now.
\par 
\par Anne\rquote s left hand slid inside his shirt, having undone two of his buttons. Stan moaned as her fingers played with the
 hair there. All the while Anne was playing at his crotch. She slid down the zipper of his trousers and pushed her right hand inside, feeling for his dick.
\par 
\par \'93Anne, if you don\rquote t stop\'85\'94
\par 
\par Her only answer was to slide to her knees. She undid the belt and clip 
at the top of his trousers, slid his briefs down a little and took his dick in her hand. Stan gasped at the touch, and then gasped again as he felt the hot, wet mouth of his lover slide around the head of his cock.
\par 
\par There was no way Stan was going to last long under this stimulation, given the head of steam he\rquote d built up. In less time than he wanted he grunted \'93Coming, Anne! I\rquote m going to cum!\'94 and she pulled back to suckle at the head
 while pumping his cock with her hand. Seconds later, spurt after spurt filled her mouth. Anne started a little at the first one, but eagerly, greedily, kept up the sucking and pumping, getting all she could from him. Once he\rquote 
d finished, legs rubbery, Stan felt her leave him alone as she stood. He opened his eyes, closed during
 his climax, and saw her standing there, slightly above him, and she opened her mouth to show him the pool of semen still there. She closed her mouth and swallowed, then kissed him. He could taste himself on her still, but found it intensely arousing and 
kissed her back, fervently.
\par 
\par \'93Hmmmmm. Now that the edge is off, shall we go to bed?\'94 Anne said, huskily, into his ear. Taking his hand, she led him up the stairs.
\par 
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\par Denise got inside her door, checked her phone for messages \endash  there were none \endash  and }{\cs16\i\insrsid13703288 ran}{\insrsid13703288  upstairs. She turned on the taps for a hot bath, and pulled some bubble bath out of the bathroom cabinet.

\par 
\par Some long, wonderful, intense minutes later Denise was in the throes of an intense orgasm as she lay in the bath, fingers moving with the expert precision of long practice. \lquote God, I needed that!\rquote 
 she thought afterwards, as she finally relaxed. Denise couldn\rquote t }{\cs16\i\insrsid13703288 believe}{\insrsid13703288  just how horny she\rquote d felt.
\par 
\par Denise told herself that she tried to work out what she\rquote d been fantasizing about, but the impressions were a blur. Stan figured in there, she was honest enough and now in control of herself enough to admit that. Elaine and Susan of course. But }{
\cs16\i\insrsid13703288 Anne}{\insrsid13703288 \'85 Anne figured too. Denise knew that she was attracted to Anne. The beautiful, tall, elegant blonde h
ad always been a physical attraction for her, but until recently Anne had been distant to her. At first it was just the way she was to everyone, but then it had been Stan that had come between them.
\par 
\par Now\'85 now she didn\rquote t seem that way, and Denise couldn\rquote t help it. She wanted to see Anne writhing under her, to taste her, to smell her. \lquote God,\rquote  Denise thought, \lquote I can\rquote t be falling for }{\cs16\i\insrsid13703288 
Anne}{\insrsid13703288  as well, surely?\rquote 
\par 
\par But she was, and she knew it. Anne, though, was straight. Plus she was }{\cs16\i\insrsid13703288 Stan\rquote s}{\insrsid13703288  girlfriend. Now tears formed in Denise\rquote s eyes as she thought that she\rquote 
d never be able to have the relationship she wanted with }{\cs16\i\insrsid13703288 either}{\insrsid13703288  of them.
\par 
\par \'93Besides,\'94 she told the bathroom, shaking her head and then wiping her eyes as she lay in the water, \'93I\rquote ve got Laney and Susan. I don\rquote t }{\cs16\i\insrsid13703288 need}{\insrsid13703288  Anne or Stan.\'94
\par 
\par The words felt hollow even as they left her lips.
\par 
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\par Stan lay in bed, turned away from Anne. He thought she was sleeping, and didn\rquote t want to wake her, but his mind was running furiously. In the end Stan got up and went to the bathroom, using the time to think.
\par 
\par \lquote I\rquote m in love with Anne. That\rquote s a given,\rquote  he thought. \lquote So what do I feel for Denise, and what should I do?\rquote 
\par 
\par \lquote Well, first question. It can\rquote t be love, surely, because I\rquote m in love with Anne. I can\rquote t be equally in love with both of them, can I?\rquote 
\par 
\par Stan\rquote s nature was introspective and careful. Even in the depths of his depression, those months ago, he\rquote d been honest enough with himself to know that, in theory, he should have been doing something about it. Now, he felt a si
milar honesty. He }{\cs16\i\insrsid13703288 was}{\insrsid13703288  in love with both women, he finally admitted to himself.
\par 
\par \lquote And so what? I can\rquote t have both of them at once!\rquote  he thought. As always, he felt back for the source of help and solace that had never failed him.
\par 
\par \lquote }{\cs16\i\insrsid13703288 Caron? What do I do now?}{\insrsid13703288 \rquote  he asked, and felt her presence, sympathising, knowing. He closed his eyes in the bathroom light and saw her eyes regarding him, mocking but concerned.
\par 
\par Stan always felt better when he thought of her, but this time he couldn\rquote t be sure what he thought she wa
s telling him. Not once, in all the years they were married, had he cheated on her, or had she cheated on him. Now, he felt like the worst kind of cad as he felt the same intensity of love for two women at once, and even Caron seemed at a loss to guide hi
m. But his wife\rquote s love suffused him, made him feel more at ease, regardless of the situation.
\par 
\par Stan shivered in the relative cold of the bathroom, and the vision dissipated. He knuckled his eyes, shook his head and returned to the bedroom. At the doorway he hesitated, fearful that he\rquote 
d woken the beautiful blonde who he loved so much. When he heard nothing, he slid back into bed, careful not to touch Anne with his cold limbs.
\par 
\par Stan lay there for quite some time before dropping off into a fitful sleep. His dreams were of red hair entwined with blonde.
\par 
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\par Anne felt Stan get up, and carefully controlled her breathing in order not to let on that she was awake. She was still trying to sort out her feelings.
\par 
\par }{\cs16\i\insrsid13703288 God}{\insrsid13703288 , she\rquote d been so full of }{\cs16\i\insrsid13703288 need}{\insrsid13703288  tonight. After the rushed blowjob downstairs they\rquote d }{\cs16\i\insrsid13703288 made love}{\insrsid13703288 
, carefully, slowly, }{\cs16\i\insrsid13703288 lovingly}{\insrsid13703288 . Anne was now secure in her feelings for Stan, and knew, beyond doubt, that he loved her.
\par 
\par \lquote But,\rquote  she thought ruefully, \lquote he loves }{\cs16\i\insrsid13703288 her}{\insrsid13703288  as well.\rquote  That Stan loved Denise was no longer a question in her mind, she\rquote 
d gone past that. Watching them dancing together tonight had been the revelation, but then she thought back to the other times the she\rquote d seen the two together, and realised that Stan touched, protected and cared for th
e redhead as much as he could. Denise, until very recently, hadn\rquote t let him near, and Anne felt a little guilty in the knowledge that she\rquote d been a part of the reason for that.
\par 
\par But now Anne knew she had a decision to make. \lquote If I do nothing, we\rquote ll all go on as if nothing had happened tonight. Stan and I will go on, Denise will eventually find another. That might be best.\rquote 
\par 
\par \lquote But if I do nothing, Stan will be hurt. He loves Denise. I can\rquote t knowingly hurt him, so I have to do }{\cs16\i\insrsid13703288 something}{\insrsid13703288 . Then there\rquote s Denise. I can\rquote t honestly say I want to hurt her, either.
\rquote 
\par 
\par Anne\rquote s logical brain found an answer, which her emotional side immediately rejected \endash  it wasn\rquote t }{\cs16\i\insrsid13703288 done}{\insrsid13703288 . Was it?
\par 
\par Anne resolved to do a little work on the \lquote net tomorrow.
\par 
\par She felt Stan\rquote s presence as he turned off the bathroom light and stood for a moment, silent, before getting back into bed. Anne lay carefully still, to let him go back to sleep. 
\par 
\par }\pard\plain \s17\qc \li0\ri0\sb100\sa100\sbauto1\saauto1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid13703288 \f36\fs24\cf9\lang2057\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp2057\langfenp1033 {\insrsid13703288 - - - - - - - - - -
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\par Denise arrived at work the next day early. She wanted a quick chat with Elaine before everyone else arrived.
\par 
\par \'93Hi Denny!\'94 the pretty young blonde called as Denise walked in. \'93Good night last night?\'94
\par 
\par \'93You don\rquote t know the half of it!\'94 Denise replied, a rueful smile on her lips.
\par 
\par Denise told Elaine about the night, the dance with Stan, and her bath afterwards.
\par 
\par \'93I couldn\rquote t help myself, Laney. I felt like I would burst! And it was Stan. I mean, come on, I\rquote ve been out with him, gone abroad when he said \lquote no\rquote , had a couple of guys and thought I\rquote 
d got over him. Yet still, last night, dancing together \endash  well, we just looked at one another and I got kinda lost, you know? I guess I\rquote m not as \lquote over him\rquote  as I thought I was.\'94
\par 
\par Elaine leant forward, concerned for her friend and lover. She smiled slightly and said \'93Denny, sweetheart, I know you\rquote re not over him. You never have been. Susan and I talked about it last night.\'94
\par 
\par \'93You did?\'94
\par 
\par \'93Yes, we did.\'94 Elaine told her. \'93It was Susan who brought it up, actually. She said that you\rquote d admitted to her that you still wanted Stan. Susan wanted to know how I felt about that, naturally.\'94
\par 
\par Denise looked down at her feet. \'93I guess I should\rquote ve told you about that, Laney. Sorry.\'94
\par 
\par \'93Well, yes. But it\rquote s okay, I don\rquote t have a problem, I\rquote ve told you before. We split up }{\cs16\i\insrsid13703288 because}{\insrsid13703288  you wanted a guy, }{\insrsid13703288 Denny}{\insrsid13703288 ,\'94 she said, gently, \'93
and when we had our nights together, the three of us, Susan and I told you then that we were okay with the idea. Just, please, keep us }{\cs16\i\insrsid13703288 both}{\insrsid13703288  in the loop, okay?\'94
\par 
\par Denise went around the desk and, heedless of anyone coming in, she wrapped her arms around the girl in a fierce hug. \'93I\rquote m so sorry, Laney. You know I wouldn\rquote t do anything to hurt you, and I\rquote m really sorry. I just never thought. It
\rquote s all a bit new to me.\'94
\par 
\par Elaine grinned back at her. \'93You think it\rquote s not new to me, too? But the same basic rules apply to this relationship as to any other \endash  we need to talk to one another!\'94
\par 
\par Denise stood back from Elaine as someone bustled in muttering a \lquote Morning!\'94 to the two ladies}{\insrsid13703288  and}{\insrsid13703288  paying no attention to them. Denise said, \'93I guess I\rquote d best be getting to my desk. I\rquote 
ll see you later, Laney.\'94
\par 
\par }\pard\plain \s17\qc \li0\ri0\sb100\sa100\sbauto1\saauto1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid13703288 \f36\fs24\cf9\lang2057\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp2057\langfenp1033 {\insrsid13703288 - - - - - - - - - -
\par }\pard\plain \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid13703288 \f36\fs24\cf9\lang2057\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp2057\langfenp1033 {\insrsid13703288 
\par Stan and Anne arrived a scant minute or two later. Anne thought she detected something in the way Elaine looked at her and greeted the pair of them, but couldn\rquote t lay a finger on it.
\par 
\par She gave Stan a peck on the cheek, told him she\rquote d see him at lunchtime and hurried on through to her desk. She wanted to get some work done before launching her own, private project.
\par 
\par A couple of hours later she was checking the \lquote net. It took only seconds to find the keyword she\rquote d been trying to pull forward in her brain: \lquote polyamory\rquote . Armed with this, she went looking for more.
\par 
\par Hmm. It seemed there were more people practising being in love with more than one person than she\rquote d thought. Some of the advice and so-called \lquote help\rquote  was a bit \lquote out there\rquote 
, but some of it seemed remarkably sensible. Anne grabbed a few sites into her bookmarks and closed the browser. Time to look them over more carefully later.
\par 
\par Lunchtime arrived. Anne reopened her browser and went to the new bookmarks. She was still reading them when she felt a hand on her shoulder, and jumped into the air!
\par 
\par \'93Christ! You startled me!\'94 she told Stan, who was behind her, grinning
\par 
\par \'93Feel like a walk?\'94 he asked her. \'93It\rquote s not bad outside, not exactly the heat of a summer\rquote s day, but nice enough for a walk.\'94
\par 
\par Anne switched off her browser, glad that Stan hadn\rquote t, it seemed, seen what she\rquote d been reading. Yet. \'93Good idea, Stan \endash  I\rquote ll just grab my jacket.\'94
\par 
\par They walked out and wandered in the grounds, eventually finding their way back to the overgrown formal garden again. They talked of this and that, neither quite ready to broach what was 
actually on their minds, each unaware that the other was thinking of a similar subject. Denise.
\par 
\par }\pard\plain \s17\qc \li0\ri0\sb100\sa100\sbauto1\saauto1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid13703288 \f36\fs24\cf9\lang2057\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp2057\langfenp1033 {\insrsid13703288 - - - - - - - - - -
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\par Denise and Elaine, meanwhile, had slipped out of the back and into the grounds there. They were earnestly discussing Stan, and their relationship with one another.
\par 
\par \'93Denny,\'94 Elaine said, \'93You and Stan. I know how you feel, obviously, and you only have to see how Stan is around you to know that he still has feelings for you. Whether or not they are as strong as you think they are I couldn\rquote t s
ay, but that\rquote s something only you and he can really know.\'94
\par 
\par Denise replied, \'93Yeah. But regardless of those feelings, there\rquote s Anne.\'94 
\par 
\par \'93Well, yes, I know, but then you\rquote re already aware that it doesn\rquote t }{\cs16\i\insrsid13703288 have}{\insrsid13703288  to be a problem. There are you, me and Susan to show that.\'94
\par 
\par \'93Uh-huh, but then that simply is yet another problem, isn\rquote t it? I mean, I\rquote ve barely begun a relationship with the two of you, and now I want to throw in }{\cs16\i\insrsid13703288 another}{\insrsid13703288 
 unconventional setup? I mean, good Lord, how complicated and fucked-up do I want my life to be?\'94
\par 
\par Elaine laughed. \'93It\rquote ll work itself out, Denny, it will. Let\rquote s see where the problems are, and work on those, huh?\'94
\par 
\par Denise nodded, and stopped, and sat down on a bench. She turned to Elaine and said, \'93Okay. Honesty time. I love you and Susan, of that I\rquote m sure. I love Stan, too, however. But the real problem is }{\cs16\i\insrsid13703288 Anne}{\insrsid13703288 
. I\rquote m attracted to her, why wouldn\rquote t I be? But she\rquote s straight, she\rquote s conventional, and she\rquote s with Stan. I can\rquote t approach her and say any of this, she\rquote d freak. I\rquote m pretty sure Stan wou
ld be a bit freaked too, \lquote cos I know I still am.\'94
\par 
\par \'93You\rquote re }{\cs16\i\insrsid13703288 sure}{\insrsid13703288  she\rquote d freak at the idea?\'94 Elaine asked. But she answered herself, continuing, \'93Yeah, I guess she is pretty conventional, isn\rquote 
t she. Not to mention the ice-queen bit, though since she\rquote s been with Stan we\rquote ve }{\cs16\i\insrsid13703288 all}{\insrsid13703288  noticed that\rquote s been thawed out quite nicely.\'94 Elaine smiled, and went on, \'93You should\rquote 
ve seen them this morning. They came in together, Stan following like a dutiful puppy, and then Anne turned and gave him a little kiss on the cheek and his eyes lit up like it was Christmas!\'94
\par 
\par Elaine saw Denise\rquote s face fall, and said, \'93Oh, God, I\rquote m sorry Denise.\'94
\par 
\par \'93Oh, I\rquote m fine, I\rquote m okay. I just want him to look at me that way.\'94
\par 
\par \'93He won\rquote t unless you can say something though, Denise.\'94 Elaine looked around. No-one was in sight, so she leaned forward and kissed Denise. \'93Sweetheart, I love you and Susan loves you. We\rquote ll help you as much as we can, but you
\rquote ve got decisions to make, and you know that only you can make them.\'94
\par 
\par }\pard\plain \s17\qc \li0\ri0\sb100\sa100\sbauto1\saauto1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid13703288 \f36\fs24\cf9\lang2057\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp2057\langfenp1033 {\insrsid13703288 - - - - - - - - - -
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\par Denise went home that night, thought for a moment, and then called Susan.
\par 
\par \'93D\rquote you mind if I come over tonight, Susan}{\insrsid13703288 ?}{\insrsid13703288  I don\rquote t want anything, just some friends to be with and have a natter with.\'94
\par 
\par \'93Sure, come over! See you soon, Denise.\'94
\par 
\par Once again she was there in a few minutes, and Susan opened the door. \'93Elaine\rquote s doing some shopping, she\rquote ll be back later. Tea? Coffee?\'94
\par 
\par \'93Oh, d\rquote you know, a nice cup of tea would go down quite nicely, thanks!\'94 Denise answered as she gave Susan a kiss.
\par 
\par Once they\rquote d settled down with their drinks, Susan asked Denise, \'93I hear you spoke to Elaine today, about Stan.\'94
\par 
\par Denise blushed slightly. For her, even a slight blush was spectacular, so Susan easily saw it.
\par 
\par \'93No need to feel like that, Denise. We\rquote re all together, you, me and Elaine.\'94
\par 
\par \'93Yes, Laney reminded me of that today!\'94 Denise told her. She recounted the conversation of lunchtime, then said, \'93I know that Laney said I had to say something, but I\rquote m not sure I }{\cs16\i\insrsid13703288 can}{\insrsid13703288 
. How do I approach that? Do I say \lquote Excuse me, but can I share your boyfriend?\rquote  to Anne, or do I say to Stan \lquote How\rquote d you fancy both of us?\rquote  or what?\'94
\par 
\par Susan smiled at her obvious agitation. \'93You managed to ask me if it was okay to come back to my house, with Elaine, remember? I said yes. What makes you so sure that Stan and Anne wouldn\rquote t agree, }{\cs16\i\insrsid13703288 if you}{
\cs16\i\insrsid13703288  just}{\cs16\i\insrsid13703288  asked them}{\insrsid13703288 ? Someone\rquote s got to make the first move, Denise.\'94
\par 
\par }\pard\plain \s17\qc \li0\ri0\sb100\sa100\sbauto1\saauto1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid13703288 \f36\fs24\cf9\lang2057\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp2057\langfenp1033 {\insrsid13703288 - - - - - - - - - -
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\par Stan, meanwhile, was curled up in his chair, with a glass of }{\cs16\i\insrsid13703288 Bowmore}{\insrsid13703288  in one hand and a Patrick O\rquote Brien novel in the other. He wasn\rquote t really reading the book}{\insrsid13703288  or}{
\insrsid13703288  tasting the fine whisky, though. He was distractedly jumping from thought to thought, from impression to impression. He thought of Anne\rquote s beautiful face, then of Denise\rquote s gorgeous hair. He remembered the feel of Anne
\rquote s body against his, then of how Denise felt in his arms as they danced.
\par 
\par Stan spent the evening at home, unfocused, unsure and ill at ease. His life seemed to be out of his control again. \lquote Was it ever in my control?\rquote  he wondered, finishing his second, fairly large glass.
\par 
\par He loved Anne, just as he loved Caron. \lquote Wait. Does that mean I can love two of you the same?\rquote  he considered, a little fuzzily.
\par 
\par \lquote Yes, I can,\rquote  he decided. \lquote If I can love Anne, and still love Caron, then I can love you too!\rquote  he thought}{\insrsid13703288  as}{\insrsid13703288  an image of Denise, laughing in his arms}{\insrsid13703288 ,}{\insrsid13703288  
danced }{\insrsid13703288 through }{\insrsid13703288 his mind.
\par 
\par Stan drifted off to sleep, still in his chair, a small smile on his face.
\par 
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\par Not very far away, Anne was looking for one of the websites she\rquote d bookmarked earlier. She was at home, having emailed the address to herself.
\par 
\par In the time that they\rquote d been together, she\rquote d found out enough about Stan to know that Denise was attractive to him. \lquote Goodness knows, she\rquote s attractive to }{\cs16\i\insrsid13703288 me!}{\insrsid13703288 \rquote 
 she thought. Then she wondered where that thought had come from, and where it might lead to. Dismissing that, she returned to Denise and Stan.
\par 
\par \lquote I want what\rquote s best for Stan, and also I want Denise to be happy. Now, how do I tell her? How do I broach the idea to Stan? How do you begin a conversation like that?\rquote 
\par 
\par Ah. Here we were. \lquote Polyamory\rquote . It meant \'93Participation in multiple and simultaneous loving or sexual relationships\'94}{\insrsid13703288  and also }{\insrsid13703288 \'93}{\insrsid13703288 e}{\insrsid13703288 t}{\insrsid13703288 
hical non-monogamy}{\insrsid13703288 \'94}{\insrsid13703288  according to the dictionary. Well, she was sure enough about the loving part. But sexual?
\par 
\par Again, she wondered, \lquote How do you begin a conversation like that?\rquote 
\par 
\par }\pard\plain \s17\qc \li0\ri0\sb100\sa100\sbauto1\saauto1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid13703288 \f36\fs24\cf9\lang2057\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp2057\langfenp1033 {\insrsid13703288 - - - - - - - - - -
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\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid8193564 {\insrsid11292439\charrsid8193564 
\par }}