Compersion
He rounded the divider wall into the garden and kicked off his flip-flops as he stepped onto the soft, manicured lawn, which sloped down towards a grove of palm trees and strelitzias below. He thought of the two women reconnecting as they filled his heart with warmth. Oh, compersion; what a wonderful feeling.
It was more than the opposite of jealousy. No, it was deeper. He checked in with his emotions again. He had been aroused and rather intrigued by Laverne’s parting comment too. But the sheer joy and love he felt for the connection being evidenced in front of him was more pleasure than he could ever imagine, even if it never had and never would include him at all. That was compersion, plain and simple; joy from other people’s joy.
Jack walked on, enjoying the garden and allowing the pleasant feelings to wash over him. He sat down with his back against a tall fever tree, closed his eyes, and took in the sounds of the garden around him.
Such compersion occupied his heart that it felt perennial. Now and then, he allowed the more primal feeling of arousal to enter but was aware of it and let it leave before circumstances made it frustrating.
He was about to get up and return to join the women when he became aware of soft footsteps on the grass approaching him. He opened his eyes. Slowly to see that it was Laverne, only she was stark naked, walking across the lawn like an apparition of Eve.
He stood up in surprise but regained composure quickly.
“Jack, Sarah wants to know if you’d like to join us in the pool,” she said, taking his hand and siding up with him. “I think we both knew that as soon as we saw each other, this pretense would be forgotten.”
She moved in front of him, looked up at him, and kissed him full on the mouth. “Come,” she said, pulling away. “Sarah is waiting for us.”