Chapter 28

Simon was an ordinary man with an ordinary life. He and his wife had once enjoyed a relatively satisfying sexual relationship. That was, until the arrival of the children.

Nothing could have prepared him for the aftermath of such a natural event. He wasn’t stupid, so of course he’d realised nothing of their past life would remain the same once he and Emma were parents. Hadn’t everyone gone to great lengths to warn him, especially his male friends? Hadn’t they told him about the sleepless nights and the end of all things sexual? At least for the immediate future.

He’d thought it would be different for them. He’d thought that once the children were out of the baby stage they would pick up where they left off. Go out, have fun, get a little drunk and have fantastic sex.

But it didn’t seem to work that way.

He didn’t think he was being unreasonable. Of course it would be difficult to maintain their pre-offspring spontaneity, but things could be planned. A night out here and there. Wasn’t that why God created babysitters? Even his mother had offered to look after the boys for a night.

But his wife hadn’t been keen.

She was too worried. Too full of ‘what ifs.’

At first he didn’t make too much fuss. On the outside she was still his beloved Emma—a perfect wife and loyal best friend. But once in the bedroom she became almost a stranger.

He had no idea what to do. He’d gone on the Internet and read up on postnatal depression before tentatively suggesting she see a doctor. But she was adamant nothing was wrong, so he’d gone out of his way to be even more supportive and loving. To ease some of her workload. The boys could be trying at times; he knew that. So full of energy, they could exhaust anyone.

But even so, she still had little inclination to fuck.

He’d tried not to be too demanding but he had needs too, and to be fair, when he did press her she would usually give in. But that was all it was. Giving in.

What had happened to the exciting and wonderfully crazy woman he had known? The woman who had once dared him to make love to her on the bonnet of their car, when parked in a secluded spot one evening?

Or the woman who had come home from a sex-toy party at a friend’s house to flirt outrageously and suggest they lose no time in putting her new purchases to good use?

Where had she gone, and more to the point, would she ever be coming back?

He wasn’t the sort of man to have affairs. Even the thought didn’t appeal. He’d seen the fall-out in other marriages, and he didn’t want the same thing happening to his. They had too much to lose. But over the past year or so he hadn’t been completely faithful, either. There had been a number of one-night stands. Usually after he’d been out with the guys for the odd celebration, when he’d had a little too much to drink, and his inhibitions fell away.

The first time he’d been with another woman he’d felt guilty for days. Not only that, he’d worried that somehow Emma would find out. But she hadn’t, or if she had, she’d said nothing. After that it became easier each time. Until he met Caryn.

She had wanted more from him, even though he had told her up front he was married. He had tried to let her down gently, explaining that nothing could come of it. She seemed to accept it, and he’d thought that was that. But their paths had crossed a couple of weeks later, and he’d ended up back in her bed.

He couldn’t believe how exciting sex was with her. Rationally he knew why. It was simply a combination of the forbidden and his frustration with his wife.

He also knew that if he continued to see Caryn it would lead to disaster.

Paying for sex seemed the obvious solution. If nothing else, with call girls there was no emotion involved, and if Emma ever did find out—and he hoped she wouldn’t—he could always argue that it was only a technical form of infidelity, and therefore no threat to their marriage.

Of course he couldn’t afford it too often, but on the other hand going out with the guys and picking up a woman wasn’t a cheap exercise either. He’d never dared look at his bar bill at the end of the evening—just handed over his credit card. The one Emma knew nothing about.

* * *

Anna’s strokes were firm but fluid. Up either side of her client’s spine, and then out across his shoulders. It would have been more effective had he been lying on a massage table, but she wasn’t there for therapeutic reasons, and straddling him on the motel bed was the best she could do. Leaning forward to gently knead the tight muscles, she kept her breasts in full contact with his back.

Small, guttural sighs emerged from his throat.

She continued her manipulations until she judged the time right to suggest he turn over. Her voice was low and provocative, befitting the moment. Then, acknowledging his twitching erection with an approving smile, she resumed her position to attend to his chest.

This was her third booking with Simon. She was aware of his marriage and his situation. He had gone to great pains to tell her, as if it were necessary for her to understand his reasons for requiring her services.

She had sympathised, going out of her way to assure him that sex with her was nothing more than a means to an end.

Which was what he needed to hear.

Easing herself farther down, she turned her attention to his belly and thighs. Now her touch was less that of a professional masseuse and more teasing. She deliberately avoided any contact with his cock, knowing that at that moment, all her client wanted was to feel it gripped in her fingers. He wouldn’t ask, though. He too liked to prolong his enjoyment.

Anna was already lost in her own world. She was wondering when she would see Adam again. Common sense told her he enjoyed their role-playing too much to stay away for long.

She had accepted the limitations. Of course, she could try to make him see her as something other than a submissive, but what was the point?

Glancing up at Simon, she realised he was breathing heavily and clenching his fists. He was closer to cumming than she’d realised, perhaps not surprising, given that she’d spent the last few minutes absently stroking his manhood while she daydreamed of Adam.

She rolled a condom onto him and quickly pulled him on top of her before it was too late.