150 comments/ 101621 views/ 14 favorites Always Faithful – To the Bitter End By: StormX NOTES TO THE READER: BobNBobbi recently completed a multi-part story titled "Always Faithful." The story is about a loving wife who, with her husband's permission, enters into a long term affair. In many ways the husband becomes both the enabler and the victim of his wife's affair. From the first chapter it was clear that this story fit into the traditional "Loving Wives" category; i.e., a story where the wife's enjoyment of extramarital sex is shared by both the husband and wife and serves to make their relationship stronger and more enjoyable. I admit that I questioned this assumption many times as each chapter was published but in the end I think the author succeeded. Unfortunately, a number of key chapters were published out of order and because of this my perception of the story changed dramatically. Instead of a loving wife I saw a self centered egotist who returned unconditional love with pain and humiliation. At this point, I anticipated a very unsatisfactory ending of the story and so began thinking about the altered history that follows. Please consider what follows as an alternate history. It is my hope that BobNBobbi considers this a tribute to how the characters he created got to me on a visceral level. To fully appreciate this story you should read "Always Faithful" by BobNBobbi. This story starts during Chapter 4.3. Since I am expecting the reader to have read the original story I will not waste your time by attempting to recreate all of parties or heated sex described in the original. However, I will expect the reader to understand references to some of these key events. For those that are still here... I hope you enjoy.. StormX --------------------------------------------------- She had been in San Francisco for two weeks of meetings with the executive management of Business Lady. The Friday night flight had been delayed four hours due to weather. Waiting to meet her had been her husband Dan and after collecting her bags, it was Dan that met her, drove her home and saw her to bed. She remembered how Dan had made that weekend a wonderful homecoming and she remembered how good their love making had been Saturday morning and again that night. She missed Dan very much, especially when business took her away for so long. But she had also been away from her lover and missed him too. That Sunday, during their weekly brunch, she told Dan of her desire to spend some quality time with Greg. Later that day, as she prepared to leave her husband and go to her lover, she was not surprised when he had kissed her goodbye and then removed the wedding rings from her finger. This was not the first time he had removed them, so she did not consider it an issue worth commenting upon. Reclaiming her rings was his way of telling her he was not happy. He was not happy that she was leaving after only two nights, but the real cause of his displeasure, had been her refusal to give him a return date. She flashed him a happy smile as she pulled away from their house. Her smile was sincere and full of love, because she truly did love her husband. The other reason for her smile was that she knew her husband loved her completely, and would always be waiting for her return. --------------------------------------------------- As she reached for the phone, her mind flashed back to her last weekend with Dan. She had returned late on a Friday night from San Francisco extremely tired. It had been his warmth, his gentle loving and his love that had revived her spirits. That Sunday she repaid him with a loving smile as she departed for her lover's bed. She knew at the time, that by not telling him how long she would be gone, that it would create exactly the type of tension she loved to see in both of her men. She loved keeping them desperate for her, though she sometimes wondered if one day she might go too far. She had been with Greg for six weeks when Dan called her at work and asked for her date. She was happy he had finally asked and agreed to meet for him dinner that same night. She remembered how Greg had chuckled, when she asked his permission for the date. She knew he only agreed because she had selected the restaurant they went to for their lunch time rendezvous' and had promised to return early and unused. Later that night, after Dan commented on the owner-waiter's familiarity with her, she admitted that it was Laura & Greg's restaurant. She couldn't explain why, but she knew there were times, like this, when humiliating her husband excited her to near orgasm. Why did Dan have to react so poorly though? She remembered that the only way she could stop his river of questions was by saying, "Dan, I have never fucked Greg here, but if you ask me one more time, I promise that I will and I'll send you the pictures to prove it." After that the conversation turned civil, at least until Dan asked her to spend the night with him. When she left, she had never planned on being gone six weeks and was thinking of going home next week. But she had promised Greg she would return early and with dry panties too. But, when she tried explaining why she couldn't be with him that night, he ended the evening without even attempting a kiss and offered only a gruff goodnight as he left. Watching him leave, she realized that the time to return home was now a couple of weeks off. Dan had not requested another date nor had he called or sent her an email since leaving that night. Guiltily she realized that she was the one that should have called. He had only wanted to be with her and she had refused because of her promise to Greg. She promised herself she would make it up to him when they reunited. Then her guilt was quickly replaced by a demanding memory of Greg fucking her in that very restaurant and on the same table she had shared with her husband three days earlier. With a smile she, she dialed Dan's office. Dan answered the phone and heard, "Hi baby, got a minute to talk to your wife?" After a slight hesitation he replied, "I always have a time for my wife, have you seen her around?" "Every time I look in the mirror Baby, every time." From his voice Laura knew the best approach would be the most direct. "Dan, I would like to come home this weekend". "What's the occasion?" Laura wondered if he could still be mad? "Surely not." She thought to herself. "Greg's Birthday." "That's why you want to come home, because it's Greg's birthday? I don't understand. Why come home for that?" "Baby you know how I am about traditions. There are the Laura & Dan traditions like spending Thanksgiving with our families and Christmas. Then there are the Laura & Greg traditions like New Year's Eve. Well Greg and I have always felt that his birthday was our only Greg & Laura & Dan tradition." "Laura what are you talking about. The only tradition I know about, is that you go out and fuck Greg on his birthday." "Oh Baby that is so not true and you know it. Think about it. Since my very first date with Greg you were intimately involved. Every year we spend hours shopping until you find the perfect outfit for me. Then every year Greg comes to the door of our home and you give me to him as a birthday gift. Then later after he has thoroughly enjoyed your gift, I return to your bed so you can enjoy your well used wife. Oh Baby, all three of us have always enjoyed sharing his birthday. So can I come home?" "Baby, as long as we have a home I will always welcome you back. You know that I never want you to leave me? And yes, I always enjoy picking out your outfits and love it you when you return late at night. But I can't be part of this year's events." "Why not? It won't be nearly as much fun without your help and coming home to an empty bed won't be any fun either." "Baby, I am leaving tomorrow on 3-week business trip, so I won't be in town to help you shop or for your night out. I am sorry that I ruined your plans. But I trust you to find another way to make it just as special for Greg this year." Chuckling, Laura replied, "Yes Baby, and I think I know exactly how I'll do it." "Dan?" "Yes?" "Baby, I really was looking forward to spending time with you. I have missed you and it has been a long time." "I agree, it has been a very long time. I have missed you terribly." "Dan, would it be okay if I was home when you returned?" Laura could hear his smile over the phone, "I would like that very, much." --------------------------------------------------- Greg's birthday came and went, and as before, Laura took great enjoyment in teasing Greg before surrendering to his every need and desire. But this year, true to her word, she made it very special indeed. Turning into his drive way Dan broke into a grin as he spied Laura's car nestled in the garage. As promised, his wife was back; she was home. With a happy step, Dan extracted his bags from the trunk and headed toward the door. Arriving there, he found Laura holding it open and with a smile as wide as his own. Crossing the threshold, the bags quickly fell from his hands as he pulled her to him. Their lips met and their bodies soon pulsed with the passion of reunited lovers. As they kissed, there was the passing sting of regret, as both lamented the time they had been separated and the many pleasures they had missed. After too short a time, they separated, and Laura spoke first, "I've been dying to do that for days." Dan responded with an honest smile and Laura continued. "Close the door and join me in the dining room. We are going to share a wonderfully romantic home cooked meal lover." "Oh, is Greg here?" "Nice one Baby. No, Greg is not here. This is our time, Laura & Dan's time. You know that you are not only my husband but my lover too, so don't be mean. I have missed you so much, and I want tonight to very special for both of us. Tonight it is just you and me. Okay?" "It is more than okay with me." was his heartfelt reply and to be sure she understood, he gave her another thorough kiss. Laura served a dinner fit for a starving man, and in many ways Dan was. As she placed his medium well steak and twice baked potato in front of him, she made sure her blouse allowed him a welcoming view of her breasts. Her reward was the desire that flashed in his eyes. Eating, they talked about nothing of importance for fear of ruining the pleasant mood. She loved watching Dan's face as he tried not to stare at her nipples, which were obvious in their need. She loved how hungry he was for her now and it only served to increase her own need for him. When they had finished eating, Laura stood up and told Dan, "Now may be your only chance to rest, so just stay in your seat and let me clean up the dishes." He gratefully did as suggested and greatly enjoyed watching her walk back and forth in their kitchen. He loved his wife with all his heart. When she had finished her wifely chore, she took a seat in his lap. Wrapping her arms around him, she kissed him deeply. Soon she deliberately, but gently started moving her hands, her breasts and her ass to maximize his excitement and desire. When she could feel his erection was firm and strong she whispered in his ear, "Time for our dessert." Without waiting a response, she stood up and confidently led him to their bedroom. When Dan woke late the next morning is initial sensory inputs were those of soreness, stiffness and stickiness. As he continued to wake his apprehension yielded to a soft smile and memories of the night before. Before getting out of bed for to perform his morning ablutions he took a few minutes to truly savor the returning memories. After showering and putting on some loungewear he went to find his returned wife. When he did, she offered him a kiss and a cold mimosa. Then before nipping his lower ear, she whispered, "You were wonderful last night, Baby, maybe the best ever." Dan smiled and took a long sip before replying, "I am only as good as the one I am with, and you were ... well to be honest I don't think I have ever seen you so hungry." Smiling, she replied to him, "You are so right Baby, I can't remember the last time I was so hungry, so desperate to cum." The warming Dan felt in his heart at hearing his wife's words quickly cooled as he realized her smile hinted at a meaning deeper than he was grasping. "Laura, what are you not telling me?" "What do you mean Baby?" "I mean I heard your words but your smile and your eyes tell me there is more." Still smiling, "I don't think you are going to like the answer. Are you sure you want to know?" "Yes." With a soft sigh that did not match the sparkle in her eyes Laura responded, "My extraordinary need was Greg's gift to you. He so enjoyed your birthday gift that he wanted to give you something special in return. He decided to send me back to you unused and in terrible need. To ensure this, he did not allow me to cum for two days but constantly teased me. He didn't allow anything to penetrate my lips, my pussy or my ass but he continually teased them all. He did that up until your flight landed. Then he left me here, desperately waiting for your return. As she spoke, Laura watched as the realization washed over Dan that her need last night had not been all about him, but rather had been all about her lover. She couldn't explain why, but these brief moments of seeing her husband and love humiliated excited so much. "So all of last night's sex was a gift from your lover to me? Did he tell you to give me the fucking of my life?" "Yes, he did." "Is that the only reason you did it Laura? Is the only time I get to make love to my wife now, when Greg sends you home to toss me a pity fuck?" Hearing the pain in his voice, she feels the first pangs of guilt. Doing so, she leans into him and kisses him on the lips. Pulling away she tenderly says, "Of course not Baby. I decided to come home because I missed you and I needed to spend time with you. I wanted to fuck you, needed to fuck you the day of our last lunch, but I couldn't because of my promise to Greg. And I couldn't come home sooner because you left so angry. Then, when I did call to come home, you told me you wouldn't here for three weeks. So it wasn't a pity fuck Baby, I really wanted and needed you. Greg knew this too, that is why he did everything to make sure I wasn't just needy, but desperate for you. And if memory serves, that worked out pretty good for both us. Don't you agree?" "I cannot deny that last night was phenomenal." Then they smiled at each other for a beautiful moment, before Dan's smile slid away and his face became serious. "Exactly what did I give Greg for his birthday? Since I wasn't here to place your hand in his and I don't recall purchasing anything for him, I can only assume that you gave him something in my name. So what was my gift?" Suddenly a torrent of thoughts cascaded through Laura's head. She had planned all week to tell Dan what she had given her lover in his name. In fact, thinking of doing so had resulted in last night's biggest orgasm. But now, watching how much he had suffered just from being told that Greg had prepared her for their reunion, she wasn't sure that now was the time for full disclosure. Impatiently, Dan interrupted her thoughts, "Laura, just tell me. What was this gift?" For the last year and half, whenever a choice had to be made as to whether she should protect Dan's feelings or hurt him she had always made the same choice. Today would prove no different. "You are not going to like this Baby; in fact I think you are going to be hurt terribly by the gift you gave him. But before I tell you; First I want to remind you what I did, is nothing more than I had promised you I was going to do one day. Second, since you were not going to be physically here for our annual tradition I had to find a way to include you in spirit if not in body." Dan sat silently; watching her with growing concern obvious upon his face. Laura, waited until she realized he was not going to say anything. "I came home the night before Greg's birthday and spent the whole next day getting ready for him. After picking me up, we had a wonderful night of dining, dancing and teasing. As you know, at this point he takes me somewhere and uses me hard before returning me home and to your bed. But since you weren't waiting for me this year, I told him I didn't want to stop anywhere. I just wanted him to take me home. He was so, disappointed and I loved every minute of our drive back. When he tried to kiss me goodnight at our front door, you should have seen the look on his face when I refused him." "Wait a minute. It is Greg's birthday and you refused his good night kiss?" "Yes, now let me finish. I refused his kiss and I even let him turn to go, before I pulled him back and gave him your gift." "My gift?" "Yes, your gift. My husband, I was very, very bad. I gave him a very special gift in your name. It was a gift I knew he wanted and it was one I had wanted to give him for a long time. I told him that since you couldn't be home and you didn't want me sleeping all alone while you were gone, as a birthday gift you wanted him to stay with me until your could return." Laura now stopped and studied her husband, her true love. "Laura, are you telling me that you invited him to spend the night in our house to keep you company?" "No Baby, that is not what I said. I told him you wanted him to stay with me until you returned." "Laura, did you fuck him in our house? In our bed? For the last 10 days?" "Yes, yes and yes." She watched as first the color left his face and then returned bright red following her last "yes". "Why Laura, why would you do this? I haven't seen you in the last month. We haven't made love in 3 months and you do this? Why? Tell me why Laura? " "Two years ago, when you told me I couldn't sleep with Greg in our guest room because it would be the ultimate infidelity, I told you I would get even. Why now? Because you weren't here to give me to Greg for his birthday. So at the end of the night I asked him, no I begged him to fuck me in our bed to make up for your absence. And yes, until two days ago, he took me in our marital bed every night." Dan got up and returned a few minutes later with two drinks. Handing one to Laura he asked her the only question that came to mind. "Do you hate me that much? What have I ever done to cause you to despise me?" Looking at her husband of 12-years the guilt and remorse for the pain she had caused him finally hit home. She truly didn't hate him; she knew it was hard for others to understand. "Never once Baby, I have never hated you or despised you. I didn't do it because I hate you I did it because I love you." Dan was so shocked by what she had said that he could barely keep his feet. He made his way over to the chair and sat down. He sat there sipping his drink occasionally, staring not at her but through her. He tried desperately to get his mind around all that he had experienced since coming home, but couldn't. At some point, he recognized that Laura had taken his drink and gotten him into bed. He was tired, he just needed some rest. He woke with a start. It was 3:00am and as his eyes opened all the memories of the last 24-hours slammed into him. He got up and went to living room. He was there when Laura woke him up with a kiss and cold glass of water. "I am sorry Baby, I really didn't want or expect last night to go the way it did." Dan replied with a groggy, "Neither did I." then he went silent. The rest of the weekend did not go much better. Dan showed all of the signs of a man in shock. His eyes didn't really focus on anything and any attempt at discussion was cut off with monosyllable replies. Laura realized that she may have pushed Dan too far, but hoped that with time and her love they could get through this. She promised herself she would do everything she could to make Dan happy again. Always Faithful – To the Bitter End Monday came and Dan felt sad and tired as he walked through the front door, but by the time he arrived at the office his energy and passion seemed to return. "Finally," he thought to himself, "I'm getting over this." Unfortunately, later, as he turned into his driveway, he knew he hadn't. Entering his home, everywhere he looked, he imagined Greg fucking his wife and his wife begging for more, telling him how much better he was than her, how she preferred him over her husband. He almost walked out then, but Laura kissed him hello and he knew that together they would get through this. Laura tried every night that following week but she and Dan never managed to have sex. She was equally unsuccessful the following week. In fact, not only did Laura fail to provide Dan with the sex she had always depended on to heal Dan's pain, but she discovered she could not even produce a useable erection in Dan. Oh, Dan's dick would get hard at her touch, but suddenly it would go soft. The less success she had the more desperate she became. Since dating Greg, hurting and humiliating Dan had become an aphrodisiac for her and for Greg. Laura admitted this to herself, but she never wanted to destroy Dan. She loved him and expected to spend the rest of her life with him and that meant fucking him too. The following weekend, things seem to get better when after a nice dinner they stopped at a lake to sip some wine and watch the moon float over the water. Soon Dan was hard and not wasting an opportunity Laura mounted him right there in the car and gave them both the release they both craved needed. Similar events happened twice more that week and Laura thought the crisis had passed. Of course it hadn't, she just never realized that since telling him that Greg had used their home as a playground, the only time Dan had been able to maintain his hard-on was outside their home. Two weeks later, following a wonderful night of outdoor love making, both Laura and Dan were sitting on their patio, enjoying their Sunday brunch. Dan's tension started to climb when he heard Laura say, "Dan, I have made a decision about my relationship with Greg. We need to talk about it." Dan's gut immediately tightened, as he instinctively knew how these discussions always turned out. "For simplicities sake, Laura, let's start with your decision shall we. If you are going to leave just tell me." "Silly, I am not leaving you for Greg, well not exactly." "What does "not exactly" mean?" By this time in her relationship with Dan she no longer considered the need for tact or compassion. The only communication tool she had any practice with during the last two years was being direct. "I have decided that I want to live Greg until the end of the year." Dan's reaction was immediate and surprisingly forceful, "Are you out of your mind? You want to live with Greg for the next 7-months. Why? Test driving my replacement? Laura, when did you become such cruel bitch?" "No I am not out of my mind and Baby, I may sound cruel, but that isn't what I am trying to be. I love you; I could never be cruel to you." "Could never be cruel to me? Laura, when did you decide I was a complete idiot? You have told me to my face that you have been cruel to me for no reason except you felt compelled to be. Maybe you have forgotten those discussions but I sure haven't. " Dan stood up and walked into the house. Laura just sat wondering if she had finally ruined her marriage. She hoped not with all her heart, but she wasn't' sure anymore. " Ten minutes later Dan returned and dropped down into his chair. "Why do you need seven more months?" Laura knew this was her one chance, "I want to know what it is like to commit myself totally to another man. I want to commit to Greg alone." In the long silence that followed she wondered what Dan was thinking. If Dan told her no, she would back off. She would back off, because she really did love him and not being married to him was something she had never really considered. After a very long silence, Dan looked at her and asked when she planned to leave. It wasn't his words that took her by surprise; rather it was the flat tone in which he delivered them. She knew this wasn't good, but thought it better to take advantage of his decision while she could. When they reunited she would have time to make it up to him. "I was thinking about this afternoon if that's okay?" "Laura, you can go to Greg but I have some conditions." "Thank you. What are your conditions?" "There are really only two. First, when you leave today, you take everything you need with you. I can let you go today, but I don't think I can do it in a piece meal fashion. This condition is not to hurt you but to protect me. Do you agree?" "Yes, I agree." "The second is this, since you want to live the rest of year committed to Greg then do so, but leave ALL the rings and jewelry I have purchased over the years for my wife in Artsy's box." "Yes, Baby I can do that too." "Then get packing and let me know if you need my help." Laura stood up and with tears in her eyes kissed her husband and in all sincerity thanked him and told him how much she loved him. The rest of the afternoon was a blur as Laura packed what she needed to move out of Dan's life and full time into Greg's. When she was finished, she sat with Dan at their dining table sharing a cold drink. He opened Artsy's box and watched silently as she placed her wedding rings inside. Without comment he watched her eyes widen as she realized his wedding band had already been placed inside. This was something new and she understood it as his way of telling her how mad he was. But she was now committed to Greg for the rest of the year and foolishly made no comment. After he closed the lid, husband and wife looked at each other in complete silence, each lost in their own thoughts and fears. When the silence became too painful, Dan softly spoke. "Laura, you do realize that I don't want you go don't you?" "Yes Baby, I know that, you couldn't love me if you didn't feel that way." "When you walk at that door and become Greg's wife you will break my heart Laura and every day you are gone, it will break a bit more. Tell me you realize that? "I know it will hurt Baby, but think how much more you will appreciate me when I return." "Are you going to return Laura? Are you?" "I always return to you my love, always." Opening the door as she prepared to leave, Laura looked back to Dan and knew she needed to offer him something to ease his pain, "You know, if you miss me too much, you can always call Greg and ask him if he'll let me go on a date." Once again, Dan looked at her with disbelief. "Are you saying that if I want to see you during the next 7-months, I have to call Greg and ask him for permission?" "Yes." Shaking his head, Laura watched in surprise as she saw anger flash anger across his face. "Why should he be angry," she thought, "I just told him I would be available if he really needed me." Dan on the other hand successfully fought the urge to scream that she was his wife and that was one humiliation he would never accept from her. Instead he looked into her eyes and very softly said, "Thank you for the offer, but I have never dated a married woman and it is unlikely I will start now." Laura's eyes blinked twice before she caught herself. She didn't understand his reaction. She had just told him that if he needed her she was always available, yet his answer was filled with anger. It wasn't the words but the tone that was angry. She really needed to understand this; she felt it was very important to understand it. But she knew just being there right now was hurting him and she didn't want to see any more of Dan's pain. So she turned away and doing so said over her shoulder, "I love you Baby." Dan closed his eyes as he spoke his reply, "Be a good wife to Greg, Baby, be a good wife." Closing the door, Dan repeated it once again, "Be a good wife to Greg, Baby, and be a better wife than you have been to me these last two years." A few minutes after the departure of his wife, Greg headed down to his basement. Down here was something that had been dreading ever since he learned of Greg's birthday gift. In the basement, Dan opened the only locked door in the house. On the other side of the door was the heart of the security system that Interior Decorator and Artsy and insisted he install. They told him it was necessary once he had become widely known as collector. Aside from the usual sensors, this system had motion activated video cams in every room as well as pressure and touch sensors attached to all of the art. Stored here was a month long video history of everything that happened within their home. Dan turn pulled up the video menu and selected the correct date and started watching on fast forward. Ten minutes later he knew that Laura had not lied. Not only had she taken her lover into their marital bed but from the looks of it every room and piece of furniture that would support their weight. In time Dan might have gotten past the fast forwarded images, unfortunately, the one time he ran the video at normal speed would orever be etched in his mind and heart. As if Laura had planned to maximize its impact, the only audio Dan heard from the recordings, was of his wife telling her lover that whenever her husband fucked her in this bed she would always think of how she was being fucked right now. For the first time in his adult life Dan wept. He didn't cry, he wept. Every tear that fell done his face felt like a piece of his soul being stripped away. When Dan ran out of tears it was early in the morning and he was numb to the world. He no longer felt or wanted to feel. Love and hate were both gone from him as were desire or want. He prayed that he would always feel that way. It would be one more unanswered prayer. When he heard the morning alarm blaring from the bedroom, he woke up to find himself sleeping on the living room floor and he immediately knew what to do. The few hours of sleep had provided answers that his waking mind had not. First he called the office and told them he wasn't feeling well and wouldn't be in. Next he packed two suitcases with essentials and left his house. As he locked the doors Dan accepted that his home was now gone. It had been destroyed by Laura's actions and words. First she had violated their home by fucking her lover within its walls. Then she completed its destruction by walking out of their home to become another man's wife. No, Dan would never again consider this building anything other than a house. After checking into a hotel close to the office, Dan picked up the phone and start dialing. Two hours later he had the name of the lawyer he was looking for and an appointment for later that day. After a brief introduction to his new lawyer, Dan explained that it was probable that he would be divorcing his wife of many years and wanted to understand the process and what he could expect in way of a settlement. After many questions about Dan's and Laura's earnings and assets, the lawyer proceeded to explain the divorce process, the time frames and they type of settlement he should expect. After hearing his lawyer out, Dan proceeded to explain Laura's affair. He left nothing out and was brutally honest about his own involvement. At the end, Dan gave him 2 DVDs containing video's of Laura and Greg. Smiling at Dan, the lawyer told him that this would tip any settlement in his favor. By meetings end, Dan had directed his lawyer to draw up the divorce papers but not to serve them. He told them that they might never be served, but if they were it would between now and next March. He had also engaged a private investigation firm to obtain more evidence of Laura's current attempt to fill the role of Greg's wife. Dan explicitly told his lawyer and investigator that he never wanted to see the evidence but wanted the lawyer to have everything possible should the need ever arise. The next day, Dan returned to his office and threw himself into his work. This way he was able to keep Laura out of his thoughts at least until it was time to go home. But Dan had no home now, just a cheerless hotel room. Friday, Artsy called to remind him of Saturday's opening and after hearing the pain in his voice agreed to meet him at the Palette later that night. Dan sat waiting for Artsy but was not thinking of her, he wasn't thinking at all, he was just sitting. Just sitting until Artsy walked through the door. When he saw her smile at him, he realized just how much he needed to be with someone he could talk to, who cared for him. After the pleasant hello kiss and some feel good conversation, Artsy finally got Dan to tell him why he was so down. Artsy sat there and held Dan's hand as he told her that she had left to be Greg's wife for the rest of the year. Artsy could not believing what Laura was doing to this man, a man, whose only crime she could find, was that he loved his wife beyond reason. She held him as he cried. Then she wiped away his tears and looking straight into his eyes told him, what he already knew. "Laura is a certified bitch. I told you when we first met that I don't date married men. Dan, after this I don't consider you married and as of this moment, if you want me I'm yours." Dan didn't have the words, so he did the only thing he could think of, he kissed her. He kissed her passionately, publically and as he did he could feel Laura's pain leeching out of him. Not all of it, but enough so that he could remember what hope felt like. When that kiss ended, Artsy grabbed his hand and said let's go home, there is something I have been wanting to do since our first kiss. As they each got into their own cars Laura yelled to him that she would meet him at his home and took off. Dan was too slow and before he could respond, all he could see were her tail lights. So he got into his car and headed to his house, amazed at quickly warmth and joy could be replaced with shame and dread. By the time he pulled into the driveway of what had once been his home, Artsy had been waiting for 15 minutes. As the engine died, Artsy slid into the passenger seat. "Are you okay? I was starting to get worried." As Dan opened the door the indoor light came on and she saw that Dan was pale, really pale. She pulled him back into the car and waited until the light went off. "Dan, tell me what's wrong. If you don't want me tonight, I'll understand Laura has hurt you a great deal. We can be together another time." Dan looked at her and for the second time tonight she saw a tear slowly cascade down his cheek. She waited as patiently as she could, giving this good man all the time he needed. Finally, she heard him take a breath and he related the story of how his wife had welcomed him home after a 3-month absence and 3 week business trip. If Artsy was shocked before, now she was furious. "Nobody," she thought herself, "Nobody should be treated this way, not even your worst enemy. But to treat one that loves like this man loves, is crime." At the moment, Artsy swore to herself, that she would do everything in her power to prevent Dan from ever being hurt by that cunt again. Then Dan went on to explain how it was no longer a home to him just a house and one filled with memories of love betrayed. He admitted to her, that he was no longer able to sleep inside it anymore and was going to a hotel every night. That's all she needed to hear. She kissed him and told him to follow her to her home. He did and they spent a very passionate but more importantly a very healing night. The next morning, Dan called in sick again. This time he let Artsy take him around town and show him possible places he could live in. It had only taken a brief discussion over breakfast for Artsy to convince him that sleeping in a hotel made no sense. About 4pm, Dan walked into the 5th house of the day and smiled.. Ten minutes later he knew that this would never be a home. It would never be a place for him and another to settle down and raise a family, but it was perfect for him now. It was a newly renovated loft. It was close to the city, had two large bedrooms, a gourmet kitchen and large wet bar. Even better it was an incredible space for displaying art. A lease was signed and a deposit placed before Dan took Artsy to celebrate. During dinner, after a pleasant but quick kiss, Dan told Artsy he had come to a decision. He told that he had started calling her Artsy because he didn't want Laura to feel threatened by her. He knew that she liked the nickname, but felt it was no longer appropriate. Last night you told me you were mine and you made love to me. You made me feel whole and more importantly like a man again. To attempt to hide something so wonderful would not be right, could not be right. So from this moment on, to everyone I know you are Leanne. She smiled. He grinned and kissed her softly. Ending the kiss he whispered, but in bed and alone, you will always be Artsy my personal muse. Hearing that, she pulled him back to her lips and this time it was not soft or gentle. It was strong, it was full of heat and meaning and need. They were soon back in Leanne's bed exploring the depth of its meaning and their mutual need. --------------------------------------------------- A couple of weeks after moving into his new loft, Dan arranged to meet Laura after work via email. They met at the Starbuck's near her office. As Laura was in a hurry to get home that night she had made it very clear that the meeting would have to be very brief. Dan greeted her as he would have greeted any wife of a friend or a colleague. He smiled, gave her a chaste hug and kiss on the cheek. Laura was surprised, but happy that Dan was not trying to push her or interrupt her time as Greg's wife. Dan acknowledged that she had little time and quickly presented her with a number of documents that required their joint signature. Dan told her that included in the documents were power of attorney's so he could manage their insurance and investments without having to interrupt her time with Greg. She quickly signed them all before leaving she gave him a soft kiss on the lips and thanked him for thinking of her and letting her enjoy her other husband. He sat there smiling as she rushed out the store and into her car. The next day, Dan selected a real estate agent and put his old house on the market. Because his interest was in a quick sale, his asking price was $25,000 below the market value. He also called Interior Decorator and arranged for all of the art he had collected to be moved from the house to his new loft. That weekend Leanne and Dan jointly determined the location of every piece. When then were done half of the loft looked very livable, while the other half looked like the Guggenheim. Dan was really quite proud of it. It was only later, after making love to Leanne did he realize, he didn't even miss the two paintings of Laura. With a sigh and soft smile he rolled over and went to sleep. --------------------------------------------------- As detailed elsewhere Laura's and Dan's life continued to go their separate ways. Laura settled into the role of Greg's domesticated wife and Dan found continued success at work and in his art collection. During the ensuing months Dan did not contact Laura nor did she find a reason to contact him, until the holidays arrived. --------------------------------------------------- It was the middle of October when Dan picked up his cell phone and was surprised to hear Laura's voice. "Hello Baby, do you have a minute to talk?" "What about?" Dan sounded like himself and Laura knew she had made the right decision. "Baby, I wanted to talk to you about how we were going to handle Thanksgiving this year." Always Faithful – To the Bitter End Once again he was amazed at how often Laura could surprise him. He wondered if he ever really knew her at all. "Laura, I didn't think there were any plans to make. I was going to tell my parents we wouldn't be visiting this year due to other commitments and assumed you would to something appropriate with your family." She couldn't blame him for thinking this, but Dan was her husband and this was a long standing family tradition. "Don't be silly, Thanksgiving is a Dan & Laura tradition. It's part of our relationship." After a short pause she continued. "I thought we could fly out to my parents Thursday morning, rent a car and drive to your parents on Sunday and fly back on Tuesday." When he got home, Leanne was waiting for him as she had been every night since they first shared a bed. After dinner, he placed a cold drink in her hands and told her about Laura and his upcoming Thanksgiving trip. She asked him not to go. He told he that he didn't want to, but short of filing the divorce papers he couldn't find away to say no. The discussion continued for quite a while. Towards the end, Leanne asked Dan the big question, the nuclear bomb question. "Dan, have you considered that now is the time to file for divorce? You know this trip will not end well for you. You know and I know it, so why go through with it?" Dan honored her question by giving it serious thought. After a time, he looked at the woman he was falling in love with and said, "No, I don't think this is the time. I promised her until the end of year. I told her I would not intrude on her relationship with Greg. I think she would see divorce as a major intrusion, don't you?" Leanne looked at this man and marveled at how he could be so hurt by that cunt and yet still risk more of her pain, just because he had told her he wouldn't interfere. In the end she could do nothing but grab him, hug him, kiss him and show him how special he was. Life returned to normal until Thanksgiving morning. Greg woke Laura up earlier and made sure she was marked as his woman by the time he dropped her at the airport. Leanne woke Dan with a holiday blow job and told him that whatever happened she was there for him. As he exited the car, Leanne made sure he had his cell phone with him and reminded him that she would have her's on and with her until his return. As it turned out Dan and Laura did not meet each other until Dan took his seat next to her. After closing the overhead compartment, Dan greeted her with a kiss on the cheek and gentle squeeze of the hand. A few minutes later they were at cruising altitude nursing two screwdrivers. At this point Dan pulled a velvet bag out of his pocket and emptied the engagement and wedding rings he had retrieved from Leanne's box. She smiled at them and then at him. "Are you asking me to wear them my husband?" Dan smiled back, "I brought them for that purpose." The conversational thaw occurred as soon as the rings were back on Laura's fingers. Soon she was telling Dan everything that had been going on with Greg, work and her work for Business Lady. Typically, she omitted all of her sexcapades, except of course for when Dan asked a direct question about them. She already knew that she was going to cause him a great deal pain and had no desire to make it worse. Eventually, Laura completed her tale and Dan was as caught up on her life as he could be. So she started to ask about his life starting with work. Dan told her that work was going great. "Last August I formally received the promotions to Senior VP. That means I am now one of 4 corporate officers running a $17B business. Not too bad is it?" "No that's great Dan, really, I am very proud of you. I always knew you would make it. Didn't you tell me that a new Senior VP is a really big event at your company?" "Still is. They held a companywide party with all of our other locations participating by video. It was strictly black tie, great food and good music. They announced the retirement of my predecessor and introduced me. I have to admit it was a bit embarrassing but in a very good way." "Sounds lovely, I wish I could have been there but I guess it was limited to employees only." "Just the opposite, wives were encouraged to attend. It's one the milestone events the company uses to make everyone part of the corporate family." "Dan, I'm confused if wives were expected why didn't I know about the party? Why didn't you take me?" Dan stopped talking and looked at her for brief moment till he realized she was serious. "Laura, this was your time with Greg, I promised you I would respect that and not interfere." "Oh. Well thank you then. Did you go alone?" "No, Leanne accompanied me to the dinner." Laura's nostrils flared a bit as she asked, "Did you tell everyone she was your wife?" Dan chuckled at that, "No I didn't tell them she is my wife. I wouldn't lie to those people especially not on a night like that one." "Well what did you tell them? They do know you are married." "Laura is that really important?" "Yes, Baby I think it is." With an inaudible sigh, "Knowing you couldn't be at my side I was worried for few days as to how I was going to handle your absence. I was worried until I realized you had already given me an example of what to do. So I used the same approach you used the night of your red dress date with Greg. I just told them the truth. In your case, you acknowledged to everyone that Greg was your lover and I was aware of it. In my case, I told them that you had left me 2-months earlier to live with your lover as his wife. Of course, there were a lot of follow-up questions and offers to help but I told them nothing was decided and that I was still in the processing of adjusting to the new situation. Off course having Leanne there to provide support helped immensely." Listening to this story Laura's emotions went on a roller coaster ride. She knew she should have been there for him. It was his time, she was proud of him. She had supported him all those years and encouraged his success. Not to be there when he finally achieved his prize hurt her deeply. But she couldn't really say anything because he did exactly what she had asked of him. He had let her have her time with Greg, just as she had asked. She wondered what will happen when Dan and I are together again, how will I face his peers and their wives when they know I missed the most important event in his career. And they know I missed it because I was with my lover. "Dam," she thought to herself,"this shouldn't be that hard, why is it always so hard. I love Greg but I love Dan more. I would have happily been at his side." Pushing the thoughts away she turned her attention back to Dan who was watching her intently. "So how has work been after the promotion?" Laura watching Dan, thought she saw a slight blush. "Why would he blush?" she thought. "Laura, we don't have to talk anymore about work, I can see it makes you uncomfortable." "Nonsense, tell me more. Tell me everything you've done." "Okay. Well I've told you before that after a new company officer is appointed, the executive team goes on a ten day retreat." Actually, Laura had forgotten. "Well this time was no different. A week after the party I was in Maui. Monday through Friday we reviewed the company's strategy and 5-year plans from 10 am -- 2pm. The rest of the weekday was spent socializing with the other officers and their wives. The weekends before and after were for husbands and wives to enjoy and relax. It was a great time." As Dan spoke, Laura's thoughts did not match her calm exterior, "Shit another wife inclusive event and I wasn't even aware of it. Dan and I have talked about going to Maui for years and when he finally goes there he doesn't even invite me." Just then, another thought came to Laura. "Dan, did Leanne go to Maui with you." "Yes." "Any other travel you would like to share with me?" Dan recognized the edge to Laura's question but figured, she asked and she always preferred the direct approach. "Yes, Baby a lot. My new job greatly increased my travel time. Since the Maui trip I've had two major trips. One was a 3-week visit to Japan and China. It was all business but I did get to stand on the Great Wall and shop the Ginza. The second 3-week trip was to New Zealand and Australia. I have also spent some time in London, Berlin and Rome. God I loved Rome, the art was spectacular." "Can I assume no wives were invited on these trips?" Dan actually sounded sad when he said, "No, wives were expected to come. The nature of the trips was relationship building and that meant a lot of social events and mixing of the spouses. And yes, before you asked, I took Leanne on all of them except to Australia. I took Patron to that one." Laura was trying hard not to get angry at Dan, in fact she was trying not to get angry at herself. As Dan talked about traveling the world with another woman she had been washing and ironing Greg's clothes. While she had been cramped under Greg's desk giving him a blow job, Dan's other woman has been in first class drinking champagne and living large. "Well with all that travel I hope they paid for first class seats." Laura saw Dan wince again. "They did pay for first class didn't they? You are one of their executives now aren't you?" "Yes Laura I really am one of the key executives now. But no they didn't pay for first class tickets." Dan paused before continuing, he sensed that she would not like what came next. "As an executive they no longer buy tickets for me. I have been assigned one of the company's jets for my personal use. I told you I travel a lot more these days." Laura literally didn't know what to say, after a couple of breaths she knew a change of subject was in order. "How is your art collection going? Any new acquisitions or events?" Dan smiled. "The collecting is going great. In mid September Leanne threw a party at my house. The invitees were a local who's who of artist and critics. The surprise attendee was the New York Times art critic." "Sounds good, do you think it successful event?" Dan looked at her, realizing that she truly hadn't made any attempt to keep up with his life. "It was pretty successful. The local paper had a full page article with 2 photos in its Living & Arts section, "Paper City" ran a 4 page spread calling it "The Artistic Event of the Year" and the critic from the Times gave it a favorable review in his Sunday column." As Laura listened to Dan's summary of his art collecting activities, she was struck by how changed he seemed. Last time she had seen him, he was sad almost in tears because she was leaving to be with Greg for a few months. Then she smiled. "Dan, did everyone like my two portraits?" Caught off guard, Dan answered the only way he could, truthfully. "No one saw them. I didn't include them in the show. With you gone, well they were just too hard for me to look at every day." The smile vanished with the words, "Yes, I can understand that and I'm sorry I hurt you so much you couldn't look at those pictures. One day, we can put them both up together okay, Baby?" Dan hugged her and whispered "Yes Baby, I would like that. I would like that very much." As he spoke those words he knew they were true. After all the pain and hurt he still loved her. He didn't know how he could possibly get past all that she had put him through, but he knew at that moment, if she came back to him he would try. He would buy a new house and they could make it into a new home. If she ever came back to him. He smiled then, thinking about the surprise that he had for her. --------------------------------------------------- The drive to Laura's parents was uneventful and peaceful and Thanksgiving dinner was the same except for lots of turkey and stuffing. The next day, Laura along her mother and sisters did their Black Friday shopping while Dan and the other men folk drank beer and watched football. Altogether, the two days had passed without incident and Dan was surprisingly happy with it all. Of course, Dan was blissfully unaware that Laura had spent several hours with her family telling them of her trial marriage with Greg and that she was flying out the next day to go skiing with her other husband. It was a little after 9:30 pm on Friday night when Laura opened up her suitcase and started packing. After a few minutes of silent observation Dan finally asked why she was packing. It was then that she told him of her plans to spend the rest of her holiday with Greg skiing at Stowe. Hoping to cut off an angry fight in her parent's house, she firmly told him that it was still part of her "until-the-end-of-the year" time and he had promised to support her. Laura's hopes were met as there was no angry fight. In fact there was nothing. Dan just stared at her for a long time, it felt like hours to her. Just before she was going to ask if him he had something to say, he burst out laughing. This disturbed her more than anything else since meeting him on the plane. When Dan's laughter finally stopped, he wiped his eyes and walked into the bathroom and closed the door. As soon as the door was closed he pulled out his cell phone and sent the follow text to Leanne: You were right. Needed earliest departure. Call back soonest. No reason to delay. Dan After sending the text, Dan returned to the bedroom where Laura was continuing to pack. "My sister will drive me to the airport tomorrow morning, so will have to drive to your parents alone." Looking at her, Dan said in a very conversational voice. "Laura I did promise you this time with Greg and I want to wish a very enjoyable vacation with your current husband. I was going to make this much harder for you, but thankfully you have reminded me of my commitment to your current marriage." Laura was now very confused. She had prepared for all of the expected responses to her announcement: anger, outrage, sarcasm and even whining. What she had not anticipated was laughter followed by heartfelt good wishes. "What were you going to do to make it harder on me? Yell? You know that wouldn't work. Once I have made my decision I don't change my mind." "No Laura, I wasn't going to yell. You are going off on vacation with Greg and like I said, I hope you have fun. Just out of curiosity, can you tell me where you went on your last vacation?" "I went to St. Marteen." "And the vacation before that?" "The Outer Banks." "Where was the last vacation you and I took?" Watching Laura hesitate when she had so readily answered about her vacations with Greg, Dan pushed forward, "Let me make it easy for you. For the last 3-years we haven't been on vacation together. I haven't taken one. I haven't taken one, because I never wanted to go without you and you consumed all of your vacation time with Greg." Laura took a step back in shock. "Dan, I am so sorry. I didn't realize, truly I didn't. I promise when this is all over I'll make it up to you. I promise I'll let you wisk me off on that company jet of yours to any place you would like to go I promise." With a slightly sadder tone, "Laura, I had hoped to wisk you off Sunday. You see, I never planned to see my parents this year. I told them I wasn't coming because you had been living with your lover the last 6-months and I was hoping to reconcile with you. The company plane was scheduled to pick us up Sunday morning and take us somewhere very tropical and romantic." Before she could gather her thoughts and reply, Dan continued. "You may have wondered why I started laughing a while ago. The reason is, as you shared your vacation plans with me, I realized that this was exactly why I never date married woman. Their availability is always determined by the needs of another." For the second time this evening, Laura didn't know what to say. Her whipsawing emotions had her paralyzed. Just as she said, "Dan..." his cell phone went off. Dan extracted phone, looked at the display and smiling answered the call. "It's me. Really, " a quick check of his watch, "Great that's very doable, but I gotta get moving. See you soon and with a little bit of luck mimosa's at sunrise." Hanging up, Dan looked around for his suitcase. Finding it, he placed it on the bed and started a frantic effort to pack." After watching him moving like a maniac, tossing his clothes into the suitcase, Laura couldn't help but ask, "What's going on, what's the big rush all of a sudden." Not looking up from his packing, Dan replied in that same calm voice he used ever since he had stopped laughing. "Well, it turns out if I hustle I can catch a ride on one of the other corporate jets tonight and since my jet doesn't have to fly out here on Sunday, I can leave tonight for my vacation. If everything works out right, I'm told I could arrive in time to see the sunrise and I'm told it's worth watching." Laura remained silent as Dan finished his packing. When he was done he looked at her. "Laura I will always love you, I hope you know that. I can't seem to stop you from hurting me, but you need to understand that there are always consequences. For example, because of the way you have humiliated me in front of your family, I promise you, that when I walk through the front door of this house, I will never return. I will never return here for another holiday so you have destroyed one of Laura & Dan's traditions.. Also understand that if any member of your family ever comes to visit, I will stay away from home until they leave. Think about that and then ask yourself if you could have handled this in a better way." Picking up his bag, he turned toward her one more time and said, "Enjoy your vacation." Laura sat there in disbelief. She heard him walk down the steps. Heard him talking to her father. Heard the door open and close. She heard the rental car start and heard its engine change from a something very close to something far away. Then she heard nothing and started to cry. As she cried, she wondered what had happened to the Dan that loved her. The Dan that hurt by her revelation would have argued with her to stay but in the end would have given his permission so she would be happy. Her happiness was important to the Dan she knew and loved. His pain when she left to be with Greg had always been the source of her confidence. As long as she could hurt him when she went to her lover, she always knew he would wait for her return. Waiting to love her and be loved by her. But tonight Dan was different. He gave her the permission she desired, but he seemed to do it without any internal struggle. Tonight's Dan seemed stronger, more confident, much calmer and maybe even a bit colder. Maybe it was all of his recent success at work? Maybe his success in collecting art was the source. She shuddered when she thought it might be Artsy. "Could she be turning Dan against her?" After an hour of deep thought, Laura finally concluded that Artsy was no threat. Dan still loved her and she had hurt him a great deal. The evidence was in his quick retreat. He's probably staying at a local hotel wondering what he is going to tell his parents tomorrow. The next day, Laura was on the ski slopes and as described elsewhere enjoyed a wonderful holiday full of hard sex with her Greg. Dan dig catch that plane, in fact he needn't have worried as it would have waited for him all night. The next sunrise Dan saw was on a perfectly white beach with a mimosa in one and Leanne in his other. Like Laura he had a wonderful time. --------------------------------------------------- After the holidays things returned to normal. Well as normal as they were before the holidays. That is Laura continued her successful ways for Business Lady and pursued domestic bliss with Greg. Dan returned to a job he loved and to a woman that mended and filled more of his heart each day. Truth is by Christmas Dan's heart was healed and totally owned by Leanne. He just hadn't admitted it to himself yet.