A Warning and a Choice

A WARNING AND A CHOICE

Work has been interfering with the completion of this story. It was written in fits and starts. Also, I had no idea how it would turn out.

Theo Martin and his wife Lill were headed back from dropping their three children off at State University. Todd, the oldest, was a junior there. The twins, Kate and Joan, were incoming freshmen. They'd rented a van, and Lill had driven their SUV behind it for the two hour trip. Theo dropped of the rental and all five went out to dinner at a nice American restaurant.

Everyone had a fine time. Maybe Theo was a bit subdued.

It was August and still daylight at eight pm when the parents drove away south, back toward home.

Both parents were a bit lachrymose. For twenty years they'd had children at home. Now the twins were off, at least partly on their own. They were pretty, but level-headed young women. But Theo worried anyway. However, on that particular drive, his kids were not foremost on his mind.

About thirty minutes into the drive, Theo changed the subject from the family and empty nest to..... to a direct warning to his spouse.

"Lill, I want to say right now that there are no circumstances under which I would tolerate infidelity. None." It was a statement delivered flatly, with little or no affect.

Theo was driving. He heard Lill gasp. That gasp surprised him a little. Lill was a seasoned lawyer, a prosecutor, not given to displays of weakness. But Theo's statement had rattled her. Lill had been well on the way toward a sexual affair with a younger man who worked as an investigator in her office - Troy Block. She and Troy had been involved at first in a flirtation, when he came to work for the firm six months before. But it had blossomed from harmless to intense. And.... she had plans to see him for sex that Tuesday evening, covered by her normal girl's night out.

Troy was thirty, tall, blond and cut, with long hair worn tied back. About a month before the university trip, he had given Lill a 'burner' phone, solely for their own use. He had also started showing up at the Tuesday functions, at a local bar. Lill's three normal companions on her GNO's were surprised at first. But now they'd become used to Troy. He was fun and so sexy. And he danced with all four women. But it was Lill who got the most attention.

Nevertheless, none of the women mentioned Troy to their husbands.

When she heard Theo's statement in the car, Lill was shocked. She didn't respond immediately. When she calmed a bit, she said, "Neither would I, Theo."

Theo also took a few long seconds to respond.

Then he said, "Troy Block."

Another gasp. Less obvious, but he heard it. Lill was now floating on a sea of uncertainty. Theo, who was supposed to be in the dark, apparently knew a lot. But how much? And how did he find out? She and Troy had not had sex. A few kisses out back of the bar.

Lill replied, "I haven't done anything with Troy. How did you....?"

"How did I find out? Never mind that. I want to know why, Lill, after all this time?"

Lill replied with some heat, "I told you nothing's happened."

Theo shot back, "Hyatt Hotel Regency. Tuesday."

Those words prompted Lill to abruptly turn away, toward her passenger window. But soon she spat out, angrily, "You've been spying on us.... I mean on me. How could you?" An ambiguous question. Mainly she wondered how he could know about the hotel.

"You mean I should play the role of clueless cuck? Not happening. If you go through with your plans, the marriage is over. It may be over anyway."

"We... we've been so long together. The kids. Jesus! We... they're still young. It would affect them. Especially the girls."

Theo said, "I haven't made this situation. All on you, my dear. I'll say this, if you ghost the guy and agree to go to counselling, maybe we can continue. Maybe."

Lill thought about that. She did indeed want outside sex. She thought it would be so great. It was what she needed at her age. A cure for middle-aged empty nest blues. But no way would she risk it all for that. Well, it was unlikely but not impossible. She loved Theo and the kids. But...

She said, "Okay. I can disengage with Troy. But, you know, he will still be at work. You'll spy on me, right?"

"Yes. I don't trust you, Lill. That's one main reason for counselling. I don't want to live having always to be alert to betrayal."

"How did you...?"

"You really don't need to know that. You've not considered all of it, or you wouldn't have asked."

Theo had found her burner phone in the back of an underwear drawer in the bedroom. He'd

looked for it because she'd been acting oddly and he'd seen her putting something in there one evening when he came up the small, rear staircase. She had not noticed. There were revealing texts on the phone, as well as numerous calls to one number. Mostly the calls were on weekends. Some evenings.

Lill said, "Right. Right, I see that. Fuck."

"Do you work directly with this guy?"

"No. I did, but that case is over. But I don't make assignments for investigators. Perry does." Perry was her boss.

"Ask him to keep a separation."

"I can't. He'll ask why."

"Tell him. You want to avoid problems that could arise."

"I just can't. We only have three people on staff for that stuff. I can simply cut it off with Troy. He won't.... persist."

"And if he does? He might, you know."

"I'll threaten him."

They were inside the house now. Theo took his overnight bag upstairs. Lill didn't follow. She put on some coffee and sat to ponder her predicament.

When Theo came back down, he poured a cup for himself. He said, "I made an appointment for counselling with a woman, Marge Davenport. She's well thought of, I hear. It's for Tuesday at seven-thirty - after work."

He handed her a card with Ms. Davenport's name and address on it.

Lill said, "That was presumptuous of you, Theo."

He said, "Maybe. I give you the choice. You show up at her place, or you don't. If you don't, well, that'll simplify my choice."

That was Sunday afternoon. The rest of the day was spent without much discussion of anything at all. Theo worked in his office on a new book. His hobby. None of his efforts had made much of a splash yet.

Lill did some research on Ms. Davenport and found that she'd be acceptable. She also did some research on the effect of mid-life divorce upon the children and the spouses. She did not like what she discovered. No one won. In their case, both made very good money. Each could afford the divorce. But the children would likely be damaged.

Sunday at ten pm both were washed and in bed.

Theo was reading a mystery novel.

Lill said, "I looked into the therapist. She seems okay. But... I mean, I..."

"You what? What I hope is that I can get some assurance that you'll be a faithful wife. That would involve an explanation - an honest explanation - of why you were planning to cheat."

'He's hot and I.... I feel old."

"So, you're willing to risk it all, so you won't feel 'old?'"

"You wouldn't just go. After all these years."

"Really? You believe that? Except, after all these years, you want more. We made our promises. You broke yours."

"Not yet. I didn't yet."

"A matter of opinion. I believe you did. By setting it all up."

"Okay. Okay. Sorry."

"I get the feeling that you're not committed any longer. Perhaps we should simply cancel and end it."

"You would do that? Really?"

"Yep. I feel betrayed. And you don't give a shit about that. I can see it. That's the problem with a long marriage. People get to know each other."

"I... I absolutely do not want a divorce." Her statement was devoid of emotion, though.

"But you want to fuck around. Can't do both... marriage and screwing around. I'll say this, I want an absolute promise from you that while we work on this, you won't sneak around on me."

"Okay."

"Okay what? Jesus."

"I promise." Now there was a bit of annoyance there. Exasperation, almost. She felt him stiffen up. She knew why.

She said, "I love you, Theo. I do." This was delivered with some depth.

He turned and looked at her, said nothing.

"I mean it. I love you."

He nodded and turned to go to sleep. It was already past his bed time.

The two of them went through the motions Monday and Tuesday. Off to work, almost as if nothing had occurred. But not much interaction. Sleep in the same bed with no contact.

Tuesday after work, they ate delivered pizza and Theo started toward the door. Lill came along with him. She had pondered her choices. Her main goal was to save the marriage. But a subsidiary goal was to have.... a fling or two. She was undecided about whether to sneak around, or to insist. She regarded the counselling sessions as an opportunity to bargain.

On Monday, Lill cancelled the tryst with Todd. The two of them met over lunch at an out of the way Mexican place where they had some privacy.

Todd was not in love with Lill. Nor she with him. But they did have quite a mutual sexual attraction. Lill was very attractive, medium height, lush figure, deep brown hair and eyes.

Lill said, "Theo knew all about our plans. Including the hotel. That's why I cancelled."

Todd thought about that and said, "The phone. He found it. That's the only way."

Lill nodded. "I thought about moving it. Then I didn't."

"We can get another. Use the first as a decoy."

Lill smiled. But she said, "I cannot risk it now. Maybe.... I don't know. I have to give it some time. It isn't as if you'll go without."

Todd said, "No. But we have... we have something between us. You know it."

Lill nodded again. "So what? I'd end up living alone. And old and ugly. Anyway, I love him, and I'm used to him."

"Maybe he wouldn't leave you. If you set up a weekend for us and told him. That would be it."

She smiled at the thought. But she shook her head no. "Not time now. And no sneaking. Sorry."

Todd sighed and finished his burger. They went back to the office.

THEO

Theo was not optimistic about the marriage counseling. Two things occurred to him. One - the burner phone had been active for over two weeks. That spoke volumes about Lill's intent, and about whether she could be trusted.

Two - Lill's sex drive seemed to be ramping up as she reached her mid-forties. It was all Theo could do, sometimes, to keep up with her.

The combination of her slyness and her intense libido made it seem unlikely to him that she would resist temptation.

And, since it did seem unlikely, Theo was faced with the task of constantly monitoring her. Either that, or just let it happen.

He also had to decide whether to lay all these thoughts out at the marriage counseling. He decided to react - decide based on what happened.

LILL

After the Monday lunch with Todd, Lill found that she was shocked by her obvious and persistent desire to have sex with Todd. The conversation they'd had assumed the truth of that. And she couldn't deny it.

So, what to make of that?

Would the counselling blunt her lust? Or, if not, would it allow her to continue the marriage without sneaking around for sex?

What would she say at the first session? She assumed that she'd be asked for her goals going forward.

She decided to play it by ear. But.... she knew what her true goal was. That was to have it all. Especially some orgasms under Todd. Or perhaps on top of him. Both, really. The depth of her lust was still surprising to her, but not shocking, as it had been on Monday. She was starting to take it for granted, as if it was only another bodily function, like hunger.

She sighed.

Maybe the counselling could be used to convince Theo to turn a blind eye. She'd give him some slack as well. A bargain. But she was pretty sure that he would not go for it.

SESSION ONE

Marge Davenport was forty-six, medium height and build, pretty face. She had light brown hair and eyes. When she was meeting a new couple, she made an effort to look somewhat dowdy. She felt as if that would prevent any distractions.

Marge emerged from her office at 7:30 pm on the dot. Lill and Theo were seated across from each other, not speaking.

She extended her hand toward the office and said, "I'm Marge Davenport, please come in."

They did enter her office. Always a good start, and one which didn't always happen.

Marge had placed two office type chairs in front of her desk. Lill and Theo used them.

Marge sat and said, "I understand that you're here because Lill made a date with a co-worker, without mentioning it to Theo. But Theo discovered that and called her on it. Is that about right?"

Lill nodded and Theo said, "It is."

"I'd like each of you to say what your goals are for the counselling. Who goes first?"

Lill and Theo looked at each other. Lill said, "You set the session up. You go."

Theo said, "I want to understand why Lill was going to cheat. I really want to see if I can continue in the marriage after what happened."

Marge looked at Lill. Lill said, "I.... I don't want to split up. I'm sorry I snuck around. That was a bad mistake."

Marge asked, "Why did you do it?"

"I was... I mean, Todd, the guy I was meeting, he's so very attractive, and we hit it off immediately. I mean we had a physical attraction."

Marge asked, "Why not discuss it with Theo?"

"He wouldn't have taken it well. He hasn't taken it well. So, I felt like maybe a time or two would get it out of my system without breaking us up."

Theo said, "How did that work out?"

Marge shushed him. She said, "Theo, what if she asked you for some leeway? You know, a time out?"

Theo answered with some heat, "No way. Just no way."

Lill said, "See!"

Theo replied, "You still want to do it, don't you?"

"Sure I do. But I won't. But I do, yes, I do." Lill looked right at Theo and he at her. He started to rise, but Marge snapped, "Not finished, Theo."

He slowly sat back down. He said, "We've been married a long time, Marge, and right now I have no trust in Lill's word. I also will not agree to a hall pass."

Marge waited. Then she said, "What if you get one too?"

"No. I thought about that. But no."

Lill said, "He's afraid he can't get a woman." It was spiteful.

Marge was silent.

Theo said, "I'll likely deal with that after the divorce." He was standing up. Lill got up as well.

Marge snapped again, "Sit down. Both of you!"

They sat. Theo was amazed at how Marge could do that.

He turned to Lill and said, "I can get women. Until you screwed up, I only wanted you."

Lill said, "I was just..... I mean no kids home. I feel like I'm sagging. We're sagging."

"What the fuck does that mean? Sagging?"

Marge looked at Lill with intense curiosity. Theo's look was far less benign.

Lill paused...."I mean.... my body and my.... my life. Slowly sinking. I want something to stop it, dammit!"

Marge said, "And sex with a young body would help?"

"I want to see. Maybe that would lift me up. I cannot see how I can..... you know get right."

Theo was just looking at this. He had a sinking feeling himself. And, he was pissed off at the idea that he was sagging. Because he WAS NOT SAGGING!

He began to get angry and flushed. But he was - always had been - a person who could think things through with little emotion.

Marge looked at him. So did Lill.

His face was red. But he said, to Marge, looking at her, "Lill.... I always thought she had my back. The one person who could be relied on. She was my partner in life. I felt as if, in her eyes, I was her one and only. But I'm not that, I see." His voice trailed off on this last sentence. He stared at his lap.

Lill didn't know how to respond. He hadn't even looked at her. He spoke to Marge, and he used the past tense. Fuck, fuck....

Lill said, "I won't. Theo I won't."

Now he looked at her. There was a long pause. He said, "Too late." He got up. This time Marge let him walk out. She didn't see any percentage in further talk with him. And she saw how stunned Lill was. Theo's words had smacked her in the face. Hard.

Marge and Lill watched Theo leave. Marge said, "Well?"

Lill said, "We came in the car together." Not exactly a non sequitur, but also oddly off kilter.

Marge asked, "Do you want to leave? Because maybe we should discuss what happened."

Lill was almost sobbing, a catch in her voice. She nodded.

Marge asked, "Do you have his back?"

Lill said, "Maybe I don't and maybe he doesn't have mine."

"But he did have your back until you didn't have his. Right?"

"That's true. No doubt. Also, now he doesn't. Even if I.... if I never messed around. I see that."

"Do you, sitting here right now, deserve his trust?"

"No." There was a catch in her voice. She said, "It's... it seems hopeless to me."

Marge looked at her. "You mean you don't want to try?"

"I wanna scratch this itch and not lose him."

"He seems dead set against that, and also he seems like he'd certainly find out sooner or later."

Lill thought it over. She said, "Here's the thing. I can see why he doesn't trust me because I don't trust myself. Suppose one of those sexy guys at the gym asked me up to his apartment one afternoon, and I knew I could likely get away with it. I'd go. I believe I'd go. And, you know, they can smell that. Like sharks."

"That sounds so weak. Desperate, really. Why now? Have you cheated before?"

"No. This.... this phase started maybe three months ago. Before that I just wanted Theo to give me more sex."

"Did he?"

"Yes. Yes. But now it.... I mean, he has the disadvantage of being so familiar. And I want DIFFERENT!"

"So, Theo really has no chance? Surely you had other guys before you met him."

"I did. They were young and inexperienced, like me. All the best sex I ever had in my life was with Theo. For a lot of years, he could rock my world most of the time."

"But not now? Maybe you're getting old, or maybe both of you."

"I don't want to lose my... my sexual exuberance."

"Sooner or later, though." Marge said that with a small smile.

"Sooner or later we all die. Meanwhile...."

Marge said, "Time for us to leave it for now. Next week, same time."

Lill got an Uber home. Theo was there watching baseball. He looked up at her when she came in the door. He raised a brow.

Lill said, "Marge and I had a longish discussion. She wants us back next week."

Theo asked, "Can you keep your panties on for than amount of time?"

Lill nodded. "Sure." A picture flashed through her mind, though, of her panties being pushed aside as a thick dick entered her. She flushed and went upstairs.

Even though it was the bottom of the ninth of a tie game, Theo followed her after a few seconds.

She'd thrown herself onto the bed. Theo thought she looked.... really frustrated. Also perplexed.

He said, "We should simply be honest."

She slid off the bed to her knees and pulled his pants down until his cock was out. And she started in on it. She didn't look him in the face.

Theo got excited and erect. Lill shoved him around and onto the bed on his back. She straddled him, pushed her skirt away and pushed her panties aside. Then she lowered herself onto him in a true frenzy.

Theo was stunned and overwhelmed. Excited. He grabbed her hips and started thrusting with gusto into her. Then she had a big orgasm, and he did too.

When it was over, she collapsed onto him, and they lay there for some time. Then Lill sat up and looked at Theo.

She smiled and said, "I kept my panties on." She got off and went to the bath to wash up.

Theo stripped and waited his turn. As he sat there, he considered that she was probably fantasizing about Todd when she took him. It bothered him some.

Lill came out of the bathroom naked. She was still a beauty. Theo was quite a fit guy, able to do most things that he could do thirty years before. He had all his hair, and HE WASN'T SAGGING!

In fact, he was erect and hard as Lill made her way toward her nightgown, hanging on the closet door. She saw that. He saw that she'd seen. She stopped, turned to him and stared. She lunged at him and shoved him onto the bed again. She rolled with him until she was on her back, spread. She said, "Fuck me again....."

So he did. He was as forceful with her as ever he'd been, and she really reacted well to that. This session lasted quite a bit longer than the first and featured lots of grunting and shoving back and forth. Animal coupling at high intensity.

When it was over, Theo rolled out of bed and said, "My turn for the shower."

When he was under the spray, Theo thought about what had happened. Their sex had ramped up. Way up. He didn't know quite what to make of that.

Lill was also thinking about how great the sex had been. Better than it had been for some time. She put it down to her aborted tryst. She thought that Theo was being competitive, now that a younger guy was about to take his wife. Ironic that her misstep had led to that. She decided that she'd see how far this dynamic could be pushed.

When Theo was clean, she took his place in the shower. When she came back out, he was sound asleep. Lill wasn't sleepy at all. It occurred to her that Todd would still be wide awake. She sighed.

Still, Theo on this night was certainly enough for her. She doubted that she would sacrifice the marriage for a third fuck after two satisfying ones. But she knew well that she'd been thinking about Todd's hard body when she had her orgasms with Theo. He'd probably also realize that. So what? He should be.... grateful.

They went off to work the next day without any detailed discussion of their issue. Theo gave Lill a nice kiss as she was leaving.

When Lill got to work, Todd was waiting for her. She took him into her office and sat behind her desk, so that there would be some barrier between them.

He asked, "How was the counselling?"

Lill smiled. She said, "Theo got pissed off and walked out. But when I got home, I just took him. The sex was great."

Todd gave her a smile. "All down to me, eh?"

She blushed. "Not all. I mean, Theo was there the entire time."

"But I know who you were thinking about. I hate to be used in that way, though, without getting the real deal."

Lill could see Todd sitting in the chair across from her desk. He had an obvious erection. No hiding it. He made no effort. He stared at her intently. And she got really aroused. Just as she was about to get up and attack him, he stood, paused so she could get a good look, and left the office. She didn't run after him. She wanted to do that but retained a modicum of self-control.

When she considered it all at lunch time, she was again stunned by her lust for Todd. The sex on the previous night had not quelled that. If anything, it had ramped up her desire for sex with Todd.

Somehow, she managed to get through the day. Todd had left the office on some assignment. And Lill had morning court.

Meanwhile, as he ate lunch at a diner in Arlington, Todd considered what to do about Lill. He knew that he could get her if he tried. After this morning, he felt as if all he needed to do was create an opportunity for them. And she'd fall. Fall hard. He got hard just considering it. The only reason he hadn't fucked her that morning in her office was consideration for their jobs. They could have been discovered. And he, at least, would be fired. Fucking a married lawyer from the office, in the office, would certainly produce that result.

Might have been worth it, though. Something about Lill had gotten to him.

The two of them didn't see each other Thursday or Friday morning. Lill had been on edge Wednesday, and that evening she again imposed upon Theo for satisfaction. She was wild with him. And again, she overwhelmed him. He fought back and fucked her hard.

And fell asleep at nine-thirty after screwing her twice.

Thursday night, having not seen Todd at all that day, she was able to leave Theo alone. He seemed grateful, but wary. She felt as if he knew full well why he was getting her rabid attention. When she thought about it, she wondered why he wasn't annoyed at being used.

Todd had a date Thursday evening, and it worked out very well for him. A younger, sexy woman occupied his bed all night. But.... but he found himself thinking about Lill - his MILF obsession.

Friday at lunch time Todd strode into Lill's office, on a mission. Most of the staff were out to lunch. Lill was behind her desk.

Todd closed her door, walked straight around the desk to Lill. She was looking up at him, and his bulging pants.

She said, "I promised I'd keep my panties on...." Breathing rapidly.

Todd unzipped and pulled out his erect penis. He reached for Lill's hair and pulled her out of her chair, onto her knees. He rubbed his cock over her face.

He said, "You're gonna keep your panties on. But I'm getting off inside you."

He pushed his cock into her mouth and slowly fucked her face. In and out. In and out.

Lill was moaning and sucking. She had an orgasm as Todd was just reaching climax. He filled her mouth. She tried to swallow it all, but some cum dribbled down her chin.

Todd pulled out of her mouth and stepped back. Lill scooped up some of his cum, reached down between her legs, pushed aside her panties and shoved it up inside herself. And she came so hard when she did that.

Todd got erect again watching.

But Lill became aware of the danger of discovery. She kissed the head of his cock and said, "Put away your weapon."

She sat back in her chair and watched him struggle to get his dick back inside his pants.

When he succeeded, he turned and walked out.

The entire episode had taken about four minutes, at most. But it took Lill at least an hour to calm down.

Before she left the office for home, Lill made sure that she was clean, with no signs of her encounter with Todd.

She strolled in at the usual 6:00 time. Theo was cooking a chicken dish with rice. She gave him a kiss. Then she turned him around and pinned him to the counter. And, poor Theo reacted by grabbing her ass. She turned off the burner and dragged him upstairs.

The sex then was so very, very intense. Lill rode Theo hard from the top. She had multiple orgasms on his dick before he came inside her.

After a few minutes, she got up and asked, "What's for dinner?"

"Chicken fricassee." They redressed and went for dinner.

Later that evening, and the next morning, Lill used Theo hard. He didn't complain, though he knew something had happened.

Saturday morning after sex, they were eating pancakes when Theo asked. "What happened?"

Lill looked away. She said, "I kept my panties on, Theo."

"But he fucked you anyway, like the other night with us."

"No. No." She said this in a determined way. "But...."

"Be honest, Lill."

She colored and said, "Blow job. I sucked him off. Really, he just came in and took it from me. But I let him do it."

"You wanted it, right?"

"Yes." She said it in a clear voice. No denying the obvious. "What now?"

Theo shrugged. "Not sure. I have to think about it."

Lill looked very carefully at him. She saw that he was totally at a loss. She felt sorry for him.

He sat and stared out somewhere. It lasted what seemed like forever.

Then he pulled out his phone and began tapping. That took a few minutes. He hadn't looked at her at all.

He got up, walked right out the door and drove away a few minutes later. He hadn't said anything to her. He hadn't even looked at her.

Lill had a serious bout of depression coming on. Based on Theo's reaction, she was nearly certain that the marriage was rotating around the bowl.

Theo had made plans for Lill's possible fall. His texting was to his buddy from high school, Jordan Best. He drove thirty miles to see Best, stopping off at a clinic to get STD testing.

Best was not someone that Lill knew well. The two men had been very close growing up, and Best felt that he owed Theo. For good reason. When they were juniors, Theo had pulled him out of a burning car, unconscious. Maybe a minute later the car was totally in flames. Jordan believed that Theo had saved his life, at the risk of Theo's own.

As he was leaving the clinic, his cell phone beeped. He saw that it was Lill. He turned the phone off.

Jordan Best was waiting on his front porch when Theo drove up. The two shook hands, sat and had a beer as they spoke.

Thirty minutes later Jordan went inside and made some calls. Jordan was very well off but was not fully legit. He ran a construction business. He also ran with a dangerous crowd at times. It had been necessary if he wanted to succeed in the regular business. He did some favors and got some favors in return.

He and Theo had discussed this many years ago.

Theo and Jodan walked off the porch when an extended cab pick-up pulled to the curb. They got in.

The three men - Jordan, Theo and the driver, went to lunch at a bar nearby. They ate in a private room in the rear.

Later that Saturday, close to midnight, Troy Block parked his Honda Civic in the reserved spot he had outside his apartment building. Troy had been out with a woman from across town. A married woman who had to be home from her girls' night out by midnight. He dropped her off back at the bar where their assignation started and drove back to his place.

As he strolled across the parking lot toward the loading dock entrance to his building, three men approached from his rear. They wore hoodies and masks. They were up on Troy quickly and silently, as he walked under the loading dock overhang.

The biggest man, on the right, hit Troy's head with a sap. Troy dropped to the ground. He was not totally unconscious. So he felt the first kick. The one that broke two ribs. After that, he didn't feel anything until the paramedics were working on him.

Theo stayed with Jordan, at Jordan's house that night. In the morning, he took Jodan for a nice breakfast at a deli. The two men parted ways after the meal, shaking hands.

Theo went to a bed and breakfast place and checked in, paying for one night. Once settled there, he took a very long walk around a park nearby. Then he read a book he picked up on his way back to the B&B. He slept okay, phone still off. He had a nice breakfast at the B&B and drove home to dress for work. He worked for himself as an accountant for various small businesses in the area. He usually showed up on Monday at the small office., where his assistant/secretary, Joan Bassey, would be working. But he needed a change of clothes. So, home he went.

He got there at 9:20 am. Lill's car was parked in the driveway. Normally she'd be at work by that time. Oh, well.

Theo parked next to her and let himself in the front door. Lill came out from the kitchen. She looked a mess. She was wearing work clothes, but her hair was frizzed, and there was evidence of tears having been recently shed.

She stood staring at Theo. He stared back.

She said, "Was it you?"

"Was what me?"

"Todd's in the hospital, badly hurt. Was it you?"

"That's news to me. Couldn't have happened to a better guy, though."

"Asshole."

"I agree he's an asshole. Probably he was jumped by some husband."

"I meant you Theo. Todd..... isn't really a jerk. He didn't deserve a beating."

Theo shrugged. He walked by her. He said, "I need to dress for work."

Lill followed him up to the bedroom. She was pretty sure that Theo had something to do with the attack upon Todd. She followed him to see if he had any marks or signs that he'd been in a fight.

She could see nothing along those lines. He was aware of what she was doing. So, he stripped completely and turned fully around for her. Then he went to get a shower. She was not there when he came out and he dressed for work and left. Her car was gone.

Theo's work day was normal. Every so often he smiled to himself. He left work early because he had an appointment with a family law attorney. Sylvia Marks. While at her office she guided him through some financial steps which were taken prior to filing for divorce.

The petition they agreed upon was based on irreconcilable differences. One mentioned was Lill's desire to be intimate with other men. Theo signed it. He arranged to notify Ms. Marks when, or if, he wanted it to be served. But it was to be filed in the court the next day. Just not served.

Then Theo went home. Lill was there. No dinner was apparent. She was drinking some wine at the kitchen table. Since it was seven pm, Theo nuked a bean burrito. He didn't ask about Lill's dinner. The two of them did not speak at all until Theo finished the burrito.

Then he looked up at her, raised his eyebrows.

She seemed spooked. But she said, "Theo, I was wrong to... to let that happen. I apologize."

"Not accepted. Too easy. You were warned and did it anyway. Are you promising not to fuck around?"

"Yes. Well, for now. I guess it depends on you, mainly."

"Why?"

"I still need what any woman does. Maybe I won't get that from you now."

"How long before your boy toy is well enough to do you?"

"He's not some, like, bimbo guy. He's.... he does a good job at work. He... only he just... he's just so hot. I'm not the only woman at work who lusts for him."

"You're the one who sucked his dick, though. I believe your work has a policy about that. You're his supervisor."

"No one knows."

"Bullshit!"

"Really, they believe he got beat up because of some case or another. That's what the investigators seemed to believe."

"Uh huh." Sarcastic. "Did you do a hospital visit?"

"Yes. He doesn't look good. He thinks you did it, and so do I."

"I don't care what either of you think. Anyway, I haven't seen any cops, so maybe he didn't say that to them."

Lill started to leak tears. She said, "Theo, can we stay married? I was a fool. But I'm not gonna be one again."

"There's no reason for me to believe that. Maybe you're sincere now. But some hot guy will try for you and.... who knows?"

"I won't. I know I'm at fault here. I only thought that..... a few good times would cheer me up. You know I'm getting old and how long do I have?"

"To what? Fuck around? Why is it so important to you? I thought we had pretty good times in bed."

"We do. Or we did. But...."

"But I'm old news in an old body and you wanted younger and better. Makes me feel like shit."

"No, Theo. You're the best news."

"I don't see that as truthful. And I probably never will be able to see it like that. It leaves a permanent bad taste. You can use mouthwash, but this bad taste is not so easy."

"We can work on it. We have a long history together."

"I need a better explanation from you. You were sneaking around to get fucked. I don't want to live on the edge about whether you'll do it again."

"I won't. I just will not."

Theo let that statement sit for a moment. Then he said, "I don't believe you." He turned and went out the door.

He went back to the B&B and stayed through Sunday, again with his phone off. Monday morning he got word that his STD test was positive for Chlamydia. He went to his GP and got a prescription for an anti-biotic.

Then he arranged to have Lill served at work. Of course, he had also told his GP that he'd gotten infected by his wife. County health was notified.

They tracked down Lill at work as well.

As she was working on trial prep Lill got a call from County Health. A shocking call. She had to tell them all of her sex partners for the last year.

As she was making some effort to come to terms with this new information, a young man opened her office door, stepped to her desk and served her with the divorce papers. Lill shrieked and then lost consciousness. Her head hit the desk, but she remained in her chair. The young man called for help and two of the other lawyers came into the office. They got her to stand and walked her back and forth until she had partially recovered.

She flopped down onto the couch in her office, sobbing.

"Oh, my God......" Over and over.

Lill eventually went to County Health, and then a clinic. She got the same anti-biotic shot as Theo. She was told to refrain from sex for at least two weeks. Of course, she had to tell them about Todd. He was still in hospital. She found herself hoping that he died.

Lill arrived home - if it was still her home - at 7:00 pm. Theo was there, sipping an IPA in the living room.

She had thought long and hard about what to say if he was at home. She said, "I'm so sorry."

Then she went upstairs and took a shower. Theo had not even looked at her.

Theo had considered what to do or say if Lill came home. When she did, he hadn't decided. So he ignored her. He hoped - after - that it had sent a message. After an hour or so he went to the guest room to sleep. And he did sleep. Mental exhaustion, no doubt.

Tuesday morning Theo sat up in bed and considered his situation. He came to some tentative conclusions. One of them was that he would attend the counselling session that evening. But he wouldn't tell Lill that. At the very least, he needed to talk all this over with someone neutral.

He got out of bed, showered and went down to the kitchen, where Lill was drinking coffee. They stared at each other. Then Theo poured some coffee into a travel mug and left. Not a word had been spoken.

Lill went to work. She had a trial coming up and couldn't shirk. But she didn't get much done. Several people commented on Todd's mishap. To Lill it seemed as if some of them suspected her involvement with Todd. There were sideways looks. Or maybe she was just paranoid.

Lill decided to go see Marge, despite all that had happened. She needed to get her bearings and Marge might be able to help. She went straight from work.

Theo was sitting in the anteroom. Marge came out of her office as Lill came in the outer door. Marge, unaware of recent developments, nevertheless saw that something had happened.

She said, "Whatever it is, come in and talk."

They sat down and Marge looked from one to the other and said, "Well?"

Lill said, "I screwed up. Bad."

Theo said, "She sucked, swallowed, got VD and gave it to me. So, I had her served."

Lill said, "Also, Todd got beaten up. He's still in the hospital."

They stopped talking and looked at Marge. But Marge was temporarily suffering from TMI. There was a longish silence as she made somewhat of a recovery.

She looked at Theo and asked, "Did you do it?"

"No. But.... I'm so very happy about it. He deserved it. She's not the only married woman he's messing with."

Lill almost shouted, "How could you know that?"

He smiled and replied, "I got friends in low places." He didn't sing it.

Marge said, "Whoa!" In her command voice. It worked again. The two of them looked at her.

She said, "Lill, what happened to.... you know... seeing how the counselling worked?"

"Todd happened. He came in my office, locked the door and pulled..... pulled.... shit."

Theo took up where she left off....."Pulled out his magic cock."

Lill spat out, "It was a nice one, asshole! I know you hurt him."

Todd turned to Marge, "So, you see why she got served."

Marge thought for a moment. She asked, "Before the positive test, did you know about the blow job?"

"Yes. She admitted it after I questioned her about.... her.... well, she wore me out. I assumed it was something with him. She admitted it."

"So, when you knew about the blow job, but not the VD, were you going to have her served?"

"I hadn't decided. The papers were ready, but I just..."

Lill said, "The disease wasn't my fault."

The other two stared at her. She flushed. She said, "Okay, okay." Raised her hands.

Marge turned to Theo and said, "In some ways it seems to me that getting an STD changes the situation for the better. I mean, she's unlikely to stray again after that."

Lill said, "I wouldn't have even without that."

Theo replied hotly, "Or use a condom."

"It was so fast. Spur of the moment thing. I couldn't..."

Theo said, "You're saying that you were overwhelmed. Like temporary insanity. Did you get condoms for your hotel meeting?"

Lill made no reply.

Marge said, "Still, Theo...."

Lill started to cry. She was just gasping at first, but then it was outright sobbing. She was speaking. Maybe "I'm sorry." It wasn't easy to understand.

Marge looked at Theo. He got up and pulled Lill out of her chair and hugged her. He just could not stand to sit there and watch.

Marge watched, though. She felt like smiling but refrained.

When Lill calmed down some, Marge said, "I believe you both should go home and reconsider things. Because I really don't think either of you wants a split. It's a matter of how to avoid that, in the end."

Theo nodded. He guided Lill out of the office. She'd taken an Uber and so he drove her home. They didn't say much. When they got inside the house, Lill said, "I'm so sorry. And stupid. I'll make it up to you, Theo."

Theo snorted. "No sex for two weeks."

"Oh. Oh."

"Anyway, I'm not at all sure that we'll ever have sex again."

Lill looked stricken. "What about Marge? She said...."

"She said what she said. But Lill, I mean, you dissed me bad. I'm having a hard time forgetting that. The great sex was down to lover boy. You used me."

Lill admitted to herself that what he said made sense. She said, "I'm sorry. I don't know what's happening to me." She flopped down on the couch. She had a haunted look about her and she didn't look at Theo.

Theo felt angry and sorry for her all at once. He said, "We have some time to think. You don't have to answer the complaint for twenty days. And no sex. So...."

Lill looked up and nodded. She said, "I love you, Theo. Whatever happens."

Theo sat down next to her and put his arm around her. She collapsed on his shoulder and cried for a while.

But Theo was still not sure about anything. He wasn't sure about Lill. Shit changes day to day. That had been amply demonstrated by recent events.

The two of them continued their day to day lives, much as they had before, except no sex. They slept in the same bed, sometimes touching, sometimes not. They arranged to have their talks at dinner. But after two days they stopped that due to indigestion. Instead, they spoke in bed.

Lill continued to give apologies. Theo continued to nod at that. Nothing she had said so far assuaged his insecurity about her. Really, it was Todd's incapacity that helped a bit. Lill had not checked on Todd after the STD diagnosis. But Theo had done. He had a contact at the hospital. Todd's sexual functioning was in some doubt, still.

Once their two week hiatus was up, they went back for tests. The next day they were cleared for action. But they had a session with Marge the night before they got those results.

As they all sat down in her office, Marge asked, "How's it going?"

Lill said, "I don't know. We.... we're okay. But Theo is non-committal."

Marge looked at Theo.

He said, "I can't say that I'm sure we can be together. Now, yes. But next year? Not so sure."

"Why?" Marge was really curious.

"Because she snuck around for outside sex. And even after I called her on it, she was going to hide the blow job until I confronted her. So, I mean...."

Marge asked, "Is Todd still in the picture?" Looking at Lill.

She shook her head violently. "NO WAY! The creep gave me...."

Todd interjected, "He isn't the only young guy around who wants to get with you."

"I told you over and over, Theo. I swear on my life."

Marge thought she was sincere. Theo also believed she meant what she said. Just as she meant her wedding vows. He voiced that.

"You meant your wedding vows, too."

Marge said, "Well, that lasted a long time. Maybe this will, too."

Theo nodded. "Maybe...... probably."

Marge said, "You know Lill better than you would ever know some other woman. And you love her. It may be worth the risk, eh?"

Lill looked over at Theo. She said, "If we're both clean tomorrow, I'm gonna ride you until you give in."

Theo immediately got erect. Lill looked so.... so wanton. He thought that she must have looked that way as she sucked off her boy toy. Nevertheless, he knew he'd let her do him.

He nodded, smiled.

Marge said, "Well, have a good time."

The next day they got their clear results by email in the late afternoon. Each was at work. When Theo came into the house after work, Lill pulled him up the stairs without any delay. She shoved him onto the bed and undid his pants. Then she sucked his cock for a few minutes, making sure he didn't get too carried away. When she was ready, she lifted her dress - no panties - and she fucked her husband. It was intense for both. And messy. Theo had some cleaning bills coming up.

The two of them showered, went back to bed, and then had sandwiches for dinner. Beer. Dos Equis. In a bottle. Lill took her half finished bottle and ran it up and down between her spread legs. She had such a wanton look. She slowly pushed the bottle up inside her. Theo watched, fascinated. It was way better than beer pong. His very own porno show, right there in the kitchen!

Lill had a small orgasm around the neck of the bottle. She pulled it out, still half full. Theo took it and drank the rest. Then he turned Lill around and fucked her on the table. When they were done, Lill said, "You're way better than a beer bottle." Theo laughed.

They watched a movie and went to bed. No more sex. Theo was worn out. And Lill thought that a younger guy could keep on going. Or maybe two of them. She stared at her sleeping husband, wondering if she really could be true to him. She had her doubts. He was good, for sure. And she loved him. But..... but.....

Theo also had his doubts about Lill. Her promises meant nothing. She'd given him a disease. And she was always hot. Like she had the fire down below. He knew that if she kept on being that way, he couldn't keep up. Maybe a vibrator?

Still, he was having a great time. He withdrew the divorce papers.

He just had to know how it would all turn out.

The end.