Storytelling Saturdays: Unfaithful

As a woman who had liked to be independent most of her life, starting a new job was very important to me. Excitement overwhelmed me. My life was moving magnificently in the direction I had chosen, and needless to say, it was going well. My fiancé and I were about to get married, then move into a new home where we would build a rewarding life. My fiancé Roger was an attractive, intelligent man, and I felt very comfortable with him. Everything was rosy, except in the physical love department. We were not doing as well in that department. I was trying my best to ignore this. It is not that important, I thought.

I was lying to myself.

What should stand out was the treatment, the communication, and all the other things. I had no idea if it was about Roger or me. Despite that, every time I tried to make things work, Roger would find any excuse to get away from the bed with alarming alacrity.

“Honey, I have to go to work. By the way, you are starting today. How are you feeling?” he would ask with mock enthusiasm.

Ignoring that, I replied, “I am excited, honey. Wish me luck.” I said in a falsely cheerful voice as well. Roger went to the bathroom, and I lay there wishing for passion.

In my new work environment, people welcomed me with open arms. I could not wait to get started. My office was lovely. It needed a little of my personal touches and nothing more. I sat behind the desk, savoring the moment when a knock on the door brought me out of my musings. I had taken off my shoes and could not get them on quickly, so I left one shoe behind as I made my way to the door to open it.

“Welcome. My name is John Preston. We will be working together.”

Standing in the doorway was a striking man, impeccably dressed with a big smile on his face welcoming me.

He was gorgeous and my body registered that information physically. I ushered him in, shaking from head to toe. I forgot I was missing a shoe until he smiled down at my feet. I blushed and hurried to recover my other shoe.

The man had charisma. He was explaining office procedures and breaking down the meetings I was expected to attend. I had to struggle to pay attention. The suit he wore did not quite conceal what was underneath. Back home, I could not get him out of my head. Not even when I saw that Roger had prepared dinner, and was waiting for me standing at the table to congratulate me on my first day at work.

During dinner, I continued to think relentlessly about John. His enigmatic smile had touched my heart, which was the most serious part of the whole thing. I would have to keep seeing him for a long time to come.

I was worried, no doubt about it. Back home I had an amazing man, but John exuded sensuality from every pore of his rock hard body. I shook my head to clear my mind, and after dinner, went straight to bed.

The next morning John informed me that we would have a working lunch to catch up on quarterly reports. He dismissed all my efforts to refuse. We went to lunch with John at a nearby restaurant repeatedly throughout that week. The conversation between the two of us was interesting to an unsuspected degree. The flirting was hopelessly present, and both my heart and my body responded. I felt desired just by his gaze. Suddenly, I was faced with the possibility that this could all be in my head, and my spirits dropped.

Until arriving at my office one afternoon on our way back from lunch, John came close enough to me that I was able to take in his scent with total clarity. I was tempted to close my eyes and inhale harder, but I restrained myself. I did not care if it was all in my mind. My fantasy was the only action I was getting. Besides, it was harmless if it was all in my head.

As more time passed, I realized it was not. The more I evaded, the more he pursued.

One evening he came into my office as I was leaving. He cupped my chin with one hand, and that was it. His lips met mine, soft and deliberate. I let myself go. He deepened the kiss, and I felt my legs falter. I wrapped my arms around his neck and we kissed until a single thought broke through. I was engaged. I pulled away from him, pushing him gently. His eyes were lit with desire, stronger than my resistance, and the kiss resumed.

“Dinner tonight, Catherine,” he said as he retreated, leaving the invitation hanging in the air.

I did not want to go home. I did not want to face reality. I was falling in love with John. I knew what it meant when he did not wait for my answer. He wanted me to think about it. I got home and Roger still had not arrived. I was relieved. I could think better. My mind would not accept what my heart already knew. It was not within my power to accept it just like that. I picked up my phone and typed, pick me up at eight o’clock. For all the commotion, I had not noticed the message on my phone. Roger was with some friends. I sank into the couch, preparing for the most dangerous decision of my life.

After dinner, John drove me home. I was not thinking clearly. Roger knew I was out, yet I did not tell him the truth. He had no idea. My life was in chaos. It was even more so because I wanted it with all my being. My core felt ready to erupt. In John’s room, I felt a warmth that had little to do with the atmosphere.

We gave in completely.

I closed my eyes once more and let everything go. There was no turning back. We moved together, lost in what we felt, until the world outside no longer mattered. When it was over, he rested against me, and time stood still.

On the way home, I thought, I must tell Roger. This was just what I was going to do.

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