EXTRACT FOR
Horny Couples 2
(Darren G. Burton)

No Strings Attached





Gemma said, "It's just not working out. I can't explain it." She sighed. "This relationship is just not doing it for me anymore."

Standing out on her front lawn, a bunch of flowers in hand as a token of apology for last night's argument, Danny looked up at the darkening sky, then back into Gemma's bright blue eyes.

"That's all you can tell me?" he implored her. "That it's not doing it for you? What the hell does that mean anyway?"

She shrugged. "I'm just not into this."

He looked at the ground, searching for answers. When he found none in the grass he looked back at her. "Is there someone else?"

"No," she replied, almost a little too quickly it seemed to him.

"Right," Danny said with a nod. He tossed the flowers onto the ground and walked back to his car.

"I'm really sorry," Gemma called after him.

"Save it." He got in, started the car and gunned the motor, disappearing down the street in a cloud of smoke, leaving behind the rancid stench of burnt rubber.

*  *  *

Two nights later Danny was having a drink at an inner city bar with his work colleague, Talitha.

"So she broke your heart," Talitha grunted before sipping on a beer. "I told you that one was a bit loopy." Talitha was a big woman, probably twice the size of Gemma. Her arms were bigger than Danny's. He always knew she had a bit of a thing for him, but she never acted upon it and was always ready and willing to talk relationships with him and to offer advice if the need arose.

"I wouldn't exactly say she broke my heart. We were never really that close and I could see it coming."

"Still, you get attached after twelve months together." She shrugged, and then added with a laugh, "Not that I'd know. I've never had a relationship last that long."

Danny put a hand on her shoulder and swallowed a mouthful of his own beer.

"So what now?" Talitha wanted to know. "Find a new squeeze?"

Danny shook his head adamantly. "Nah. I'm done with this 'girlfriend' thing. What I need now is something with no strings attached."

"Safer that way."

"You bet it is."

"Can't get hurt."

"That's what I'm thinking."

"I should know. I do it all the time."

Danny grinned. "Slut."

Talitha laughed. "Watch your mouth. I have a reputation of purity to protect."

Danny almost choked on his beer. "Yeah, right."

"So you're really going to try the casual thing?"

He nodded, sensing that Talitha wanted to offer herself into the equation. She refrained, however, and he was glad of that. They had a great male/female friendship and he didn't want that getting complicated and awkward. Sex wasn't worth fucking that up. Besides, he didn't feel attracted to her in that way anyway.

"Just fun and no commitment," he said. "Sex, occasional company for something outside of the bedroom and that's it."

"Sex can take place outside of the bedroom as well."

"I'm well aware of that."

Talitha was lost in thought for a moment.

She asked, "How old are you again?"

"Thirty-three."

"I might have someone in mind who would be perfect for you."

"Really?"

"Mind you, she's a little bit older than you."

A dubious look crossed Danny's features. "How much older?"

"She's just turned forty. But she looks fantastic for her age," Talitha added quickly. "Most people mistake her for early thirties."

"Is she attractive?" He wanted to ask specifically if she was overweight, but that wasn't a question he felt comfortable putting forth to Talitha, given her own size.

"Very."