The next week arrives high with anticipation to the extent that it’s affecting my day to day efficiency at work. We are both convinced that zero hour is at hand for Sherrie’s first descent into adultery. We are as giddy as a couple of kids in a playground, and it’s never very far from upfront in my mind. All week we can’t keep our hands off each other even more than usual.
As I keep emphasising, all our usual Sherrie and John stuff is always running in parallel. We are still soul mates and each other’s best friends and lovers no matter what. We have our life together that we treasure as much as ever going on beyond the wild and crazy stuff, and the heavy conversations about how we might inadvertently wreck what we’ve always taken for granted as sacred and forever. Everything’s normal, but nothing is. It’s such a persistently distracting jeopardy that my balls keep that tender, swollen feeling day after day because my cock remains hard for hours, and I constantly feel that I want to come. When I do come, twenty minutes later the feeling returns. There’s no escape.
On the Thursday we take the day off work and drive down to the coast. Brighton is just under over an hour from our town, so we sometimes head out there just to chill, walk the prom and the pier, hand in hand or arm in arm, or my arm around her with a hand resting on her sexy swaying hip as we stroll along. Perhaps we’ll move on to browsing the shops together; Sherrie buying a few things, or me finding her a gift. It’s a fillip for the soul to stand gazing out to sea together, with the spray on the breeze in our faces, and hear the sea birds calling noisily as they soar by, instinctively riding the thermals by just the occasional adjustment of a wing feather. We turn to each other for a kiss and a hug. Nice, comforting familiar stuff that anchors us. It’s what we call an “us” day like we’ve enjoyed since we met as teenagers. Sherrie drove us south and I will drive us back later. We are totally democratic in sharing everything; treats, chores, money, life experiences, marital sex, and, of course, the plotting of her debauchery.
In the mid afternoon we wander into a small pub that’s advertising food, and we order a late lunch. We’ve been drawn in by the charming olde worlde ambiance, and it appears just the ticket for passing a pleasant hour or so. While we are waiting for our meals to be served, we are chatting and laughing over our drinks. The conversation pauses, and we happen to look into each other’s eyes which has a track record of leading us into temptation. She’s this picture of endless love for me. But, of course, I know she is. She’s my golden girl; my beautiful angel; revered and desired in equal measure. We close in for a kiss just sitting there at the table in the pub. Our kiss becomes all embracing, our eyes are closed, our tongues entwined. My left arm is around her back and my right hand is caressing her cheek softly. The budgies from those early days still live on in us. Anyone can see we are utterly in love. We are transported into our own world, and all they have to do is leave us alone. Suddenly I feel Sherrie stiffen and remove her lips from mine. I open my eyes to see hers averted from me, and I follow her gaze up to an ominous presence that is now looming over us. The most miserable, sour old bastard we’ve ever had the misfortune to encounter is on our case, and has swiped what’s left of our drinks off the table:
SOB: Just stop that and get out of my pub. You are a disgrace!
J(shocked and mystified): What? What have we done wrong?
SOB(incredulous): You don’t know? You’re really that shameless?
J (trying to keep calm and stay reasonable): We aren’t doing anything shameful.
SOB: You’re embarrassing my regulars with your fornicating and I’ve had complaints. It’s disgusting.
J (laughing): Fornicating??! That’s not even accurate. What the hell are you talking about? Who complained? (losing rag now) Must be some jealous, cynical bastard who’s never been in love.
SOB: Never you mind. Just sod off out of here and take your tart with you, or I’ll call the police. We don’t want your sort bringing good time girls in here.
J: Fine. I’ll have a refund for the meals we ordered then, and mind your manners about my WIFE!
SOB (almost screaming): No you won’t. Just get out!! Now!!
S (starting to weep): Oh come on, John. Let’s just go. It doesn’t matter.
J: It does bloody matter. This tosser isn’t getting away with treating us like this.
SOB stands there holding our glasses and we’re eyeball to eyeball. Sherrie is becoming more upset and sobbing now. I hate the bastard for doing this to us, belittling us and hurting and insulting my lovely girl who is all heart and wouldn’t offend a fly. I want to punch him, but that really would bring a criminal charge. All we were doing was expressing our love by kissing. To us it’s a beautiful thing.
S (beside herself in anguish by now): John. Please! Let’s get out of here.
J (to SOB): You haven’t heard the last of this.
J (to Sherrie): Come on, babe. Leave the old trout to his miserable life.
We walk out and I put my arm around her. She’s normally confident, outgoing and assertive, but the SOB has made her nervous of us being demonstrative in public and she tenses up, looking around us to see if anyone is watching. She never did that before. I’m not having it. I get in front of her and hold her to me in a clinch.
J: Sweetheart. We don’t let an old shithouse like that change us, right? If people don’t like us displaying our love then that’s their problem, not ours. I am going to shame that fucker, you wait and see. No matter how old I get, I promise you now that I will never be mean to young people who are just expressing their love as we were in there. If I ever do get like him, please fucking shoot me.
We continue down the street and back to the shore, but the unpleasant incident has knocked the stuffing out of the day for us. We find it all the more shocking because we’ve always looked upon Brighton as such a laidback, live and let live kind of place. Somewhere where everyone can relax and be themselves. Sherrie has stopped crying, but she is quiet and reflective.
S: Let’s start making our way back home, John. I’m getting a bit weary anyway.
J: OK sweetheart, but don’t let that swine play on your mind. Forget about him now.
She links me closer and kind of snuggles up and somehow shrinks into to me as we walk slowly back to the car park. I move my arm out of the link with hers, and put it around her upper body, crushing her under my protective wing. Fucking obnoxious asshole.
I’m concerned about her low spirits as we set off on the drive back. Sherrie’s sitting in the passenger seat, but my usually bubbly wife is nowhere to be seen. I must have driven a mile wondering what to say next when she finally speaks:
S (tiny voice): Do you think that was a sign? What happened in there? All that upset.
J (mind in neutral): Eh? Sign of what?
S: This Paul thing. I’m worried that something is warning us. Nothing like that ever happened to us before.
J: How can you connect that poisonous old bastard to anything else? Probably nothing like that will ever happen again.
S: He called me a tart and a good time girl. I hated it, but I am aren’t I? And I’m all set to be a bigger one. He was right about me. It’s a warning. Like he saw that I have TART tattooed across my forehead or something.
J: You sound like my grandma. It’s not like you to believe superstition like that. You’re a scientist for goodness’ sake.
S(chews over my reply for a long moment): Yeah. Maybe I’m just nervous about tomorrow. Well, there’s no maybe. I definitely am. I’m not as cool as you seem to think! I’m shitting it when I’m not hot thinking about it. I go from one extreme to the other.
J: Don’t be nervous. You weren’t nervous in that shop doorway or sending those wild texts. Enjoy! Think of the fun you’re going to have. And I want every detail when you get back!!
At least she seems to have stopped picking at the sore of the bastard in the pub.
S: Are you sure you are OK still? I know you say you are, but…
J: Are you? You’ve been driving it pretty hard to get yourself laid lately. I thought you were mad keen. What’s changed? Is this you giving me yet another last chance to back out?
S: Maybe I’m giving me a last chance to back out. I don’t know. It’s nothing I can put my finger on. I suppose the closer it gets the more the reality sets in. Like I’ve said, it’s us I worry about. I wish I could go out and fuck him and not be worried that anything bad will happen between us, but….. I want him so bad, John, but I worry about hurting you, and us.
It’s crazy how both of us have ebbed and flowed at different times, each in turn trying to encourage and reassure, then later looking to pull back. Were we really cut out for this? Would we be better advised to just sit together nuzzling each other on our budgie perch until the day one of us drops off it?
J: Look, babe. We’ve gone into this thing both wildly excited. We’ve wound each other up about it. You wouldn’t even be doing it without me supporting you.
S: Yeah, babe. But that’s just an endless circle. You might be supporting me because it gets you hot, but they are my urges in the first place that you’re supporting aren’t they? I wouldn’t be doing it at all if I didn’t want him. Why do I get the hots for men that aren’t you when I love you with all of my being? I’m odd!
J: Everyone gets aroused over others they fancy. They just don’t have the courage and the strength in their relationship to do anything about it. We’ve said we aren’t going to pull back now. Please just do as your instincts tell you. What are they telling you?
I can see she’s searching for the right way to put her inner thoughts to me and isn’t finding it easy.
S: You don’t completely understand, John. Well, I don’t think I do fully either. But that worries me too because I need to know you have your eyes wide open.
J: Make me understand.
S: I’ll try to explain better. (another long pause while I can almost hear the cogs turning in her head).
S: It’s like my brain is wired separately for love and for sex. The love part is permanently focussed on you. You know that. But the sex part is different. It’s on you most of the time. I love our brilliant sex, and I wouldn’t change it. You know that, too.
J: Of course! We’re rock solid. Never doubt it.
S: Yes. But when I take one of these crazy notions, or a man arouses me, it’s like the sex part of my brain pushes you out of the way and lasers in on him, like really powerfully. I want him, or at least my body wants him. I’ve got to have him, and it’s hard for my logical mind to control. Just like Damien that night. Just like those slutty texts I sent to Paul. I don’t know where it comes from, honestly, but it’s a part of me that has its own momentum.
J: And that’s red hot, right?
S: For sure, no doubt about it, but it’s the danger of losing control of what I’m doing and making bad judgments that makes me nervous about hurting us, and about this whole thing.
J: We won’t lose control.
S:
You might not, but it gets worse. The thought of
me losing control excites me too. It’s like I actually want those men to take control of me. On one level, I couldn’t stand to lose it to that extent, really, but on another, the idea thrills me, and if it happens…. I don’t know…… It’s fucked up.
I find that pretty deep and profound, and plainly so does she, but it’s very arousing all the same. It seems to ratchet the sexual tension up yet another notch.
J: Jesus, that’s so hot, sweetheart.
S: It’s dangerous too though, isn’t it? Remember when you said that if Damien dragged me out of the pub by my hair that night, I would have gladly gone with him?
J: I’ll never forget any of that as long as I live.
S: You were right. I would have done. I tried to shrug it off with you at the time and downplay it, but the way I felt, I’d have fucked him outside the pub in a heartbeat. Didn’t matter that we were in company; didn’t matter that he was with Jeannie; didn’t matter that I was with you. Anyway, you know the state I was in. That’s how powerful this urge can be in me sometimes and why I fear the sane side of me losing control.
J: I do understand that. It’s hot, but it’s scary. So what comes next? Totally your call.
S: Honestly? I really, really want to be with Paul. You can’t doubt that after what I’ve told you and reading our texting.
J: I certainly don’t doubt it. I’m right on board with it.
S: I want to feel his body in bed with me, kissing me. He’s a great kisser. Then I want him inside me, giving me orgasms. That’s my sex brain talking. I’m also scared that with Paul I want to get close to him. Know him better. Share more time with him. I enjoy being with him. You remember what I said about the energy of being with another man?
J: Like it changes the dynamic?
S: Yeah, I want to feel all that, but I’m scared that I want it because I always want us too. I’m greedy. It’s crazy that I can tell you all this crap without you freaking out, but I’m so glad I can. I can share the worry with you and not carry it all on my own. I love you, John. You’re so special.
Well she seems to be getting her spirit back. As we drive on through the countryside, nearing home, she finds even more.
S: Is it ok with you if I go back to his with him if we are getting it on tomorrow night?
J: Christ, I haven’t even considered the detailed arrangements. Looks like you have though.
S: Just thinking of the practicalities. We can hardly fuck in the shop doorway near the bus stop can we? Well I suppose we wouldn’t be the first, but I don’t want to if there’s an alternative. (she actually giggles which is a good sign).
I omit to tell her about the hot, but degrading, vision I had when we strolled in the park on Saturday, of them actually fucking like dogs in the shop doorway as she told me what they’d done.
This has developed into a surreal conversation after the lovey dovey ‘us’ day we’ve spent. I marvel that she can turn the mood around like this, apparently without difficulty. An hour ago she was deep into a painful introspection of her personal moral degeneracy prompted by the old bigot at the pub, yet now she’s coolly fathoming out the logistics of tomorrow night’s fuckfest with her prospective lover.
J: Well yeah, obviously I don’t want you doing it on the street in town! I’d just thought you’d maybe be back a bit later than usual looking all dishevelled and freshly fucked.
S: Well it might work like that, but I want to check with you….. (hesitates).
J: What.
S: Would you be ok if I stayed there the night and came home on Saturday? I’d like to spend the night with him really, if I can. I know it’s a lot to ask, but I want to enjoy it and not have to rush it.
I’m getting rock hard. I’m thinking of the way she described her “sex brain” pushing me out of the way to be with him and I’m assuming it’s doing that now. She wants him Friday night, and it looks as though she wants a repeat performance on Saturday morning.
J: Of course sweetheart, but if that’s the case, you must discreetly send me a text so I know that you’re safe.
S: Of course I would.
She smiles a strange smile at me, and there’s a mixture of excitement, fear, guilt and shame in it. It’s totally mind blowing. So hot, it’s hard to comprehend. That night in bed we make warm, tender love. No fireworks, just caring and taking it slow. We know that we’re as ready as we’ll ever be. We’re doing this; well, she is.