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 It was over an hour’s drive to North Salem from New York, and since he was going alone, Reed decided to forego the Fantasticar and instead give his recently invented solar-powered electro-car a long overdue shakedown cruise. It performed admirably, and when he arrived at the school, Emma Frost was waiting to greet him. She wore a plunging black one-piece, in contrast to her usual monochrome wardrobe, with a knitted crotchet beach robe of her usual white over it—evidently, she had sensed or been informed of his approach only recently. That, or it was another of her labyrinthine power moves. 

For a one-piece, he noted that her bathing suit was quite low-cut. A halterneck, really, with two black straps widening to considerable heft over her breasts, but still hard-pressed to cover all of her voluptuous cleavage. Wide swaths of skin were left visible between her breasts, to the sides, down her belly and along her back. The exposed flesh was pale, but with a richness and creaminess to it that appeared far more healthy and vibrant than a more obvious tan. Reed was not surprised to find himself invigorated by the sight.

“Reed, how lovely to see you,” she said, coming to him and grasping a hand of his in two of hers. Her grip was strong but friendly. “Always a pleasure to receive someone so open-minded.”

He knew of Emma’s differences with the Avengers, and likewise her magnanimity for the FF, who as scientists had always been sympathetic to mutants and eager to coordinate with them. While he did not mistake the stratagem of that alliance for affection, he knew that Emma could be trusted to appreciate and foster her allies, as any good gamesman would.

“Thank you for having me,” Reed replied. “I apologize in advance for being curt, but I’m here on a matter of some delicacy and importance. Could we communicate the concept psychically?”

“By all means,” Emma replied, displaying a grin at him showing the open-mindedness she had just praised. Reed had the impression that she knew very few, even on her own team, who were so comfortable with her psionic prowess. 

Reed took a moment to center himself. At the moment, besides a niggling thought on the efficiency of the electro-car and its viability as an alternate to the Tesla and various hybrid cars, he was thinking of Susan. To be more specific, as he thought of Sue more often than even she realized, he was thinking of how few flirtatious relationships he enjoyed—the unfeasibility of translating a great deal of them into sexual activity—and whether Sue appreciated how faithful he was to her, even in concept. Not that he was dissatisfied with Sue’s faithfulness, but would his own emotional state be more gracious if Sue were less desired? Obviously, she could not help this fact, and he enjoyed her attractiveness himself very much, but could he deny any misgivings about there being so many besides him who would enjoy her attention if she were simply to offer it? Perhaps if Namor, and Doom, and all the rest were more circumspect in their attraction to her, he would feel more content, less threatened, no matter his own faith in Sue’s fidelity.

It was an interesting proposition, involving a level of self-awareness that Reed conceded he was a stranger to, but it was irrelevant to the task at hand. Of the few he knew with a contemporary or even post-contemporary stance on sexuality, Emma was foremost. As well, she was an exceedingly attractive woman, as well as a trusted ally with several other positive factors in her credit.

When Reed closed his eyes, signaling that he had prepared himself for the detached intimacy of shared minds, he found Emma reading his thoughts with a casual friendliness that assured him he had not misjudged her. In a heartbeat, she was made aware of the situation and his proposal to her. She was flattered and receptive, but of the feeling that rather than reduce the exchange to anything as crude as her ‘doing him a favor’ and him then owing her, even in an added level of affection and trust, that instead he indulge a fantasy of hers so that they would equally enjoy the exchange and both benefit from it.

The proposition was only logical, but Reed still asked clarification of the scenario she envisioned. Emma’s thoughts on the matter were detailed and explicit; distantly, Reed felt his body grow aroused as he contemplated engaging in said exercise with Emma. Nevertheless, he thought of Sue and asked himself if she might take offense at the prospect. He could think of no earthly reason why she should, and Emma assured him that if Sue were comfortable with their extramarital dalliance in the first place, she wouldn’t pay any mind to the added wrinkle.

Thus having considered the idea, Reed agreed. 

Emma opened her eyes, looked Reed over, and verbally told him that his current clothes would do perfectly for the encounter. She, on the other hand, would have to change.