The Colonel's Wife

All characters are over the age of eighteen.

Just a heads up. If this story seems familiar to you, it's because I had it taken down a while ago when I put it out there in the pay-to-read world. It did pretty well, but it's time to return it to Lit.

As always, please check the tags to make sure this is your kind of story.

The Colonel's Wife

Diane strode through the nearly empty parking lot, shaking her head sadly. 2008 had been a rough year when the market crashed. 2009 was worse. It was like the months after a hurricane when the damage could be gauged, and long-term effects, measured. Bronson's Custom Fixtures was a business she'd been involved with as a real estate agent for the two years she'd been in the area. She had developed a rapport with the owner and his team's work had greatly improved the appeal of many of the homes she had sold. It had been well worth putting the extra time and money into them. But the housing glut and the market crash had hit the Wichita community hard. Bronson's kept its staff working through 2008 because pre-ordered and paid-for work still had to be finished. But when the work dried up, the layoffs began.

Ordinarily, this lot would have been packed and the outdoor break area full of men eager to leer at her as she entered the building. Now it was nearly empty. Today had been the last round of layoffs and there was a man she was very interested in speaking with. For reasons that could change both their lives.

Diane approached the blue pickup. She could see a form hunched over the steering wheel through the open side window. Though she was wearing high heels that made a wonderful click-clack sound on the pavement, she was able to get right up to the door to startle the poor man.

--------

Henry had his head pressed against the steering wheel in deep thought. He'd had a while to plan for the layoff, but none of his prospects had panned out. Next week would see his last paycheck for the foreseeable future. The bed of the truck was full of his carpentry tools, which had taken him half his lifetime to accumulate, and now the prospect of pawning them was a very real possibility. He wondered how his mortgage company was going to take this news.

"Bad day, huh?" a female voice asked quietly at his window.

He started and cried out. "Whoa! Oh, hey... Diane." The pretty blonde woman gave him a sympathetic look. As great as she looked, it was all he could do to force a weak smile for her. "Yeah, a double tough day, for sure."

Diane had been a regular visitor to Bronson's over the last couple of years. He and the rest of the team always liked seeing her. Real estate agents always seem to dress very attractively, and Diane was no exception. Her skirt and blouse combinations were always very fetching, and the heels she wore were nearly scandalous. It took a special lady to rock a three-inch heel for everyday wear and she sure could. Stocking or nylons in the winter and bare legs in the summer. And what legs they were. Somewhere in her mid-forties, they had agreed she must be, but you couldn't tell from her figure. Some of the guys called her a cock-tease, but she wasn't, really. A bit of a flirt, certainly. When some of the bolder men would yell catcalls her way, she always just gave them a sexy smile and a wink, with perhaps a little extra wiggle in her walk.

"Got any work lined up?" she asked softly.

He shook his head sadly. "No. I had a couple of possibles that I was hoping would pan out, some short-term offers, but nothing came of them." Being in real estate, Diane had her finger on the pulse of the local building market and a new thought occurred to him. "Do you know anyone looking for help?"

She smiled brightly, and it made him feel better instantly. It's funny how a woman's smile can do that. Particularly one as stunning as Diane.

"Yes. Me," she said.

Henry's face screwed up into a quizzical expression. "You?"

She shrugged. "Well, me and my husband Jack bought a sweet little farm on the west side of town early last year and we've been renovating it."

Henry grinned. "Wait a second, Diane. Your husband is named Jack?"

She giggled. "Yep, just two American kids doing the best they can."

They both laughed. Afterward, she handed him her card. "Why don't you go home and relax? Then come out to my place tomorrow morning and meet Jack and see our place. We'll talk about the job." She pointed to the business card. "The address is on the back. There's enough work to get you through the rest of the year, at least. Sound good?"

A ray of hope entered Henry's heart. Seven months of work could mean the difference between survival and... he didn't want to contemplate past that. He smiled and took the card. "I'll be there! 9 a. m. work for you?"

She turned and took a step away from the truck before looking back over her shoulder. She smiled and replied. "Let's make it ten. A girl's got to get her beauty sleep." She watched Henry's eyes drift down to her ass.

"Ten a. m. sounds good." He looked back up at her face, realizing she'd seen where his wandering eyes had gone. But she was still smiling. "Damn, she is fine," he thought.

He watched her walk away in that leg-over-leg runway stride and realized he had an erection.

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Diane smiled as she slid into her sedan, smoothing her skirt down over her legs. That had gone very well. Henry was an artist with a saw and a wood chisel. The things he could do with wood in a home were very impressive and had been the reason he'd been among the last to be let go at Bronson's. Her home could really use a person with his talents. That he was a completely scrumptious man made the idea an easy decision for her. She shivered a bit, imagining his lean frame on a ladder, completely oblivious to her admiring gaze. Suits were great and all, but a man in well-fitting jeans, boots, and a tight t-shirt was the cat's meow for this lady. That or a handsome uniform. Henry wore his straight dark hair shoulder length but frequently pulled it into a ponytail to keep it out of his face while he worked. He was usually clean-shaven, which she had always appreciated. She thought he was just shy of six feet, with the lean muscularity a person with an active and physical lifestyle seems to achieve. But it was his ready smile that always drew her eye. It was disarming and very charming.

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The next morning, Henry whistled as he turned into the driveway of Diane and Jack's home. It was a vintage farmhouse that had once been common in the Wichita area. The classic two-story home with a wrap-around porch. It even had a covered carriage entrance on the side of the home, something not seen much after the 1930s. A separate three-car garage stood to the right of the home. It was a modern construction but had been decorated and painted to match the house rather nicely. The impressive acreage around the home was recently fenced in and two gray horses grazed calmly in front of the house. His tires crunched on the gravel driveway.

He parked his ten-year-old truck in front of the garage and got out. He smiled when he saw Diane exit a screen door under the carriage porch. The beautiful blonde had her hair pulled into a ponytail and was dressed for yoga, in a pair of pale green tights and a matching sports bra. She certainly wasn't dressed as though she expected him. She leaned against the column of the carriage porch as he approached.

He looked at her with a smile. She was so easy on the eyes. A classic blonde beauty with curves in all the right places. "We said ten, right?"

She grinned back. "Yes, we did. Jack was supposed to give you the nickel tour, but he got caught up in a phone call from work, so I guess it's up to me. I was in the middle of a workout. Do you mind? Shall I go change?"

Henry grinned wolfishly. "Not at all."

"Down boy," Diane giggled.

----------

There was evidence of a lot of recent construction activity at the home. The outside had been recently painted and all the windows looked new. The interior was fresh as well.

"There was some pretty extensive termite damage. Some joists and framing had to be replaced. We ripped down all the plaster and lathe, reframed, and hung sheetrock with spray-in insulation. New electrical throughout."

Tim was impressed. "Wow, that must have taken a while."

She chuckled. "We had crews in here full-time for a year. There was so much to do, the crews were stepping over each other."

Henry gazed down into her blue eyes and smiled. "But it's not done. There's no floor or crown molding, no windowsills, no door or window frames."

"That's where you come in, handsome." She smiled, waving her hand toward the tired and worn staircase. "Your skills are what we need to finish the home. All those things and several others. Shiplap in the kitchen, the mantlepiece, the entire staircase, some built-ins. All of it needs an artist's touch, to make this the home we've always wanted. Jack has all the details."

She led him through the home, inspecting each room. The small master bedroom on the ground floor had been converted into a home gym with its own bath and the sitting room into a comfy library. The kitchen, dining and living room had been tastefully updated without losing the country look. Upstairs, two of the four bedrooms had been converted into a large master bedroom with an outstanding ensuite. The other two rooms were a guest bedroom with a bath and Jack's office, where she led him now.

She opened the door just as Jack was wrapping up his phone call.

Jack acknowledged them with a smile and waved them in. "Yes, that's right. The engine specs by the 28th and the final design by the end of the year. Okay? All right, I'll make a call to the General's office. Yeah, I'll be in touch. All right. Goodbye."

Those few seconds gave Henry time to size up his prospective employer. Jack was a bear of a man. Tall, trim, and broad in the chest and shoulders. He was ruggedly handsome, with a tight military haircut that was going gray. The big man wore jeans and an Old Navy printed T-shirt. He looked... casually formidable.

Jack stood with a smile and came around the big desk. "Henry, right?"

Henry nodded and stuck his hand out. Jack shook it. The handshake was firm but not overpowering, for which Henry was thankful. He motioned for Henry to sit in the chair in front of his desk.

"I'll let you boys get acquainted and go finish my workout," Diane quipped. She shot Henry a wink. "Don't let the Colonel intimidate you, he's just a big teddy bear in a crew cut."

Henry turned back to Jack. "Colonel?"

The big man motioned toward the wall to Henry's right, which was full of awards, photos, and mementos from a long Army career. "I retired from the Army two years ago after twenty-two years. I feel bad for leaving while the war is still going on, but I had a close shave and decided to call it a career. I'm lucky to be in one piece. A lot of my friends weren't so lucky. I was an Apache pilot in a cavalry battalion. After making Colonel, I retired." The man's face was withdrawn and despondent for a moment, and Henry couldn't think of anything to say.

"Anyway, enough about me. Let's talk about the job." Jack's face broke into a broad smile. "Diane gave you the tour. What do you think of the house?"

Henry cleared his throat. "It's beautiful. I'm very impressed with what you've done so far. It's very tasteful."

Jack grinned. "Yeah, it was tempting to gut the first floor and make it into the big open floor plan that everyone wants, but it wouldn't have been right for the house."

Jack leaned over the desk and looked Henry in the eye. "Diane tells me you're the guy to finish the job, and I trust her judgment. She'd like you to do it. We're tired of having huge crews and the house a disaster. We want one guy, doing one room at a time. Everything the room needs, plus painting whatever you add. Finish one room and move to the next. I don't care if takes you a year. What do you think of that?"

The craftsman in Henry was astounded at the amount of work, but the artist in Henry saw a huge blank canvas, just waiting for him to break out his paint kit and start painting happy little trees. "I can't wait to start, but I'm going to need some equipment that I don't own."

Jack waved it aside. "Already taken care of. I called John Bronson an hour ago. You will continue to work for Bronson at your current salary. I will employ you through him as a contractor. That way, your insurance and 401K stay in place. Monday through Friday, forty hours a week, eight to five with an hour's lunch. I'm not interested in paying overtime. The tools you need will be here tomorrow. Sanders, radial arm saw, miter saw, the works. Lumber and paint will be here the day after."

Henry sat back, impressed. The Colonel wasn't a guy for half-measures. "That sounds great. Thank you, sir." A huge wave of relief washed over him.

Jack laughed. "No. Thank you. It will be a pleasure watching you work, not to mention being able to enjoy my home for a change. Any other concerns?"

Henry rubbed his head. "Yeah, but I'm hesitant to mention it, seeing how lucky I am to have this opportunity."

Jack looked at him levelly and spun two fingers in a horizontal circle. Let's hear it, the gesture said.

"Well, I live on the east side of town and you are on the west. My commute would be over forty miles one way, and my truck doesn't get great gas mileage and doesn't need the extra miles." He said a little sheepishly.

Jack smiled. "Diane and I talked about that. There are two options. One, I can rent you a car. Or two, you stay here in the guest room Monday through Thursday and go home on the weekends. Got a girlfriend, or pets that would need you home every night?"

Henry blinked. "Umm, no sir... I ah, don't have a girlfriend anymore. And no pets either."

"That's great. I'll be honest with you; I'd rather you just stay here if that's agreeable to you. It'll be easier on the project budget."

Henry rose and extended his hand. "That will be fine! Thank you, sir. You will not regret this a bit. I'll stay out of the way as much as I can."

Jack rose and shook it. "Your welcome son, and please just call me Jack. I've had enough sirs, for three lifetimes."

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Jack and Diane sat on the porch as Henry drove away. He pulled her in tight with his left arm. "So, he's the one you want, huh? He looks like your type," he said with a grin.

Diane snuggled into her husband's chest. "I think so. He's handsome and in great shape, but it'll take some time to get to know him before I'm sure." She looked up into his eyes. "When I've spoken with him in the past, he seems sweet, so I'm hopeful. Regardless, he is perfect for this job. You wait and see."

Jack kissed the top of her head. "If you say so, baby doll. If you say so."

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Henry arrived on his first day of work and found everything, as Jack had promised. There was a covered area behind the garage where the lumber had been stored and the tools were under the carriage porch. He made a quick call to John Bronson to verify everything was still good on that end. His employer seemed legitimately overjoyed to help give Henry this opportunity. The worst part about layoffs for the employer is not getting back those workers who are nearly irreplaceable when the contracts roll back in.

Diane met him at the door with a smile. Henry smiled back. "So where do I start?"

She slid her arm under his and led him toward the kitchen. "Breakfast first. You will eat with us every day. Jack works from home mostly, but he needs to travel a few times a month, so sometimes it'll just be the two of us."

He smiled inwardly. Spending time with this beautiful older woman would not be a chore.

Her real estate files and laptop occupied the kitchen table, so they ate at the island counter in the kitchen on barstools. The three of them ate together, discussing the project. They told him to start in the master bedroom, move to the office, and then the guest room. There were covers for the furniture. The couple would sleep in the guest room while he was working in the master bedroom, and they set him up on the couch downstairs.

Jack gave him a flash drive with all the plans for each room. Afterward, he sat in the kitchen with his laptop, looking them over. Some rooms were planned to the Nth detail with photos of the desired moldings, descriptions of built-in shelving, and where they wanted them. For most of the bottom floor, they wanted more of an artist's touch and wanted Henry to come up with unique ideas and discuss them with the couple. All his creative synapses were firing, and he was thrilled. Infrequently was he offered the opportunity to be a designer and a carpenter.

Work began. No foreman, no other guys to work around, and almost no distractions. He popped in his earbuds, kicked off his music, and got to it. Jack was the hands-off type of boss. He'd check in a couple of times a day, look around, maybe ask a question, then nod and walk out.

Diane, on the other hand... was everywhere. At least a dozen times a day, she'd pop in to refresh his water, discuss meal plans or just talk. They would frequently chat while he worked about this and that, hobbies, interests, or future aspirations. And it seemed she didn't own a piece of clothing that didn't look amazing on her. If she had a home showing, she'd be in her nice dresses and heels, which always drew his eye. On other days, she'd spend the day in her yoga outfits or just a pair of jogging shorts and a halter top. The mornings were the best because she never wore a bra under her tank top and seemed to have unusually prominent nipples.

In the evenings, Henry was encouraged to spend time with the couple in the living room watching television or playing cards. It made him feel less like an intruder and helped him feel his presence wasn't burdensome.

Friday of his first week rolled around and he was very happy with the way the job was proceeding, though he'd been growing exceedingly nervous. He'd thought being around someone as sexy as Diane would be great, but he found he was constantly distracted by her. She was fond of eye contact and the sexy little smiles that drove him crazy.

It was not unusual for him to eat lunch alone, as the couple were often busy in the middle of the day. Henry liked to take his meal out to the back deck and enjoy the warm spring weather. The deck included a well-used grill and smoker, a furnished patio with a fire pit, and a hot tub. What Henry had not been expecting that Friday afternoon was the addition of a naked woman.

Lying on an upholstered chaise was Diane, wearing only sunglasses and a golf visor. She lay on her back, facing him. Her breasts were two wonderful handfuls of heaven that settled on each side just a bit. The beautiful blonde's nipples were longer than any he'd seen before. Her vulva was bare but for a tiny triangle of golden hair above her vagina. Her legs were open enough to see the lovely petals of her inner labia. He froze mid-stride with his sandwich halfway to his mouth.

After about twenty seconds Diana spoke. "Are you going to say something or just stand there like a peeping Henry?"

He stammered, "I ah... I am so, so sorry. I didn't know you'd be out here... naked."

Diane smiled. "And if you had known?"

He set his sandwich back on the plate and straightened. "I um... don't know. I wouldn't want Jack to get the wrong idea. I'd like to think I'd be respectful, but umm..." He cleared his throat, as his eyes devoured her. "Do you... do you do this often?"

She smiled and stretched languorously. "Often enough. What's the point of living a half mile from your nearest neighbor if you can't walk around in the buff every now and again? And as for Jack, I wouldn't worry about it. He's not the jealous type. But you might catch him out here too, so keep your eyes," she lowered her sunglasses to look at him seductively, "Open."

That evening, he showered in the guest bathroom before he left for the weekend. He couldn't get the image of her gorgeous body out of his mind. All he could think of was being face-first between her legs. He grew so aroused that he masturbated vigorously until he came with a breathless groan on the new tile floor. As he leaned against the wall recovering, he looked through the glass enclosure to see that the previously closed bathroom door was open about four inches. He was very glad to go home that evening.

-------------

He continued to get to know Jack and Diane over the next week. She was an avid horseback rider, spending many hours out with her two appaloosas. The housing market was in tatters at the time, and home sales had been slow. Jack had been head-hunted the moment he left the service and was hired by an aviation company in town to be a liaison between the company and the Department of Defense and to provide advice for their design teams. This job is what brought them to the Wichita area. His experience in actual combat with attack helicopters made his insight invaluable throughout the entire process. His ridiculous corporate salary and military pension were funding the work on the house. He also enjoyed spending time on his own private shooting range that he'd constructed at the back of the property. There wasn't much of a social life outside the home that he could see. Between their careers and the work on the house, perhaps there hadn't been much time yet, Henry supposed.

On Wednesday afternoon, Diane returned from shopping in town as Henry was finishing for the day. She wore a pair of yoga pants and sneakers with a loose, casual blouse with a deep V-neck. Her hair was put up in a messy bun.

"Can you help me with these bags?" she called over to him from her car. Henry set down his broom and walked over.

She smiled, stepped up to him, and began wiping sawdust from his shirt. "You are always such a mess."

He chuckled. "Occupational hazard, I'm afraid." He grew a little uneasy with her admiring gaze.

"Where's Jack?" she asked.

"He was on the phone with someone named Colleen planning his trip for this weekend for a while and then grabbed his gun case and headed for the range." To prove the point, the sound of gunshots began in the distance.

The two of them grabbed the bags and headed into the house. They set the bags down on the counter and just as naturally as can be, both began going through the bags, getting the refrigerated items out to be put away first. They bumped into each other in front of the refrigerator.

Holding a container of sour cream in her hand, she looked up into Henry's eyes and they both froze. Henry stopped, alarms going off in his brain. But he didn't step back. He was transfixed by her startling blue eyes and the soft look on her face. His hands trembled.

She set the sour cream down on the counter and then set her palms on his chest. "I like you," she whispered. Then her arms stole slowly around his neck and pulled him down to her. Again, though every instinct told him to step away, he didn't. His brain was screaming at him. DON'T DO IT! DON'T DO IT! Until their lips met.

The kiss was electric. His arms slipped around her waist and pulled her body into his, gently but firmly. She moaned softly into his mouth as the kiss turned feverish and passionate. Their hands roamed over each other, with Henry's hands finding her firm ass. When they broke the kiss, they were both breathless.

Henry gasped, their faces nearly touching. "This is crazy. There is an extremely large and highly trained man out there, shooting guns for fun. This should not be happening." But all he could see was her face, her lips. The feminine scent of her was intoxicating. She kissed him again, briefly, then she looked him in the eye again.

"He knows," she whispered. Diane smiled, stepped back, and put the sour cream into the refrigerator before turning back to the grocery bags.

"Umm... come again?" Henry asked, mystified.

She turned to him with a sly smile, a hand on her cocked hip. "He knows, silly. We opened our marriage years ago, after his first deployment in Desert Storm."

She waited patiently as the idea sank into Henry's brain. She approached him again, running her hand down his bare arm. "We don't sleep around or anything, but we've both had lovers over the years. I never could have gotten through five combat deployments through two wars without someone to hold me." She smiled at him. "Do you like me?"

Henry bit his bottom lip and nodded slowly, maintaining the eye contact that seemed to sap all his self-control.

"Do you want to kiss me again?" she whispered seductively.

Henry trembled again, overcome with desire for this effervescent woman. "Oh God, yes."

Their bodies met again, and Henry lost himself in the experience in ways he'd never known before. Her arms were strong around him and he felt her desire for him. He pulled her into him, and her leg wrapped around his as he supported her full weight. They broke the kiss and stood with their foreheads together, catching their breath.

"Would... you like to stay for dinner Friday night after Jack leaves for White Sands?" she asked breathlessly.

He looked into her blue eyes and nodded.

She smiled and hugged him, kissing his neck. "It's a date."

------------

That night was pure torture as he lay on the sofa. His mind was a whirling kaleidoscope of her naked body and his desire for her. He did not sleep well.

He began work early the next day. Diane and Jack ate at the kitchen table, both glued to their laptops.

Around 9 a. m. Jack retreated to his upstairs office. Diane wandered out to the carriage porch where Henry was cutting some crown molding on the miter saw. When he finished his cut and shut off the saw, she approached him and kissed him firmly.

"I'm looking forward to tomorrow," she said with a smile.

Henry's nerves had gotten the best of him again, and he glanced at the door. "You're really not concerned if he sees us?"

Diane sighed. "No. He knew when he hired you I was interested in you." She stepped back. "Listen, I haven't had a boyfriend since we moved here two years ago."

Henry's face turned serious. "Boyfriend? Is that what you're looking for?"

Diane looked at him coyly and nodded. "Uh-huh. He has his girlfriend, Colleen, when he travels for work." She gave him a cute, questioning look. "Why shouldn't I have fun when he's traveling, if he is?"

"Colleen is his...?" Henry paused to process the information. "I thought she was some sort of administrative assistant."

She stepped in close again. "This is going to be such a treat for me. In the past, I had to hire a sitter for the kids and go meet my boyfriend somewhere remote. Very necessary in a military town. It was a huge hassle." She kissed him tenderly. "Now the kids are off at college, and I get to have my fun right here at home." She shivered in delight with a bright smile.

That smile made him feel good. It had been a while since anyone had smiled at him like that. Henry had a poor history with women. He seemed to be a magnet for the wrong sort. At thirty years old, he'd had two rather nasty and toxic relationships that made him leery of putting himself out there again. This... situation could be interesting, he thought. The benefits of dating, with no long-term expectations beyond... more dating. Unconventional? Certainly. "But, God, look at her," he thought. She was gorgeous and flirty and so well put together in every way.

She got serious for a moment, "But I need you to understand something. Jack is my husband and I love him completely. Be respectful of that and him, and we will all get along fine."

The whole idea was wild, and she could tell he was struggling with it. As it turns out, more kisses help with that.

That night, Henry awoke to a thudding sound. He rose from the couch, thinking a high wind, which was common out here on the plains, was blowing a chair around on the porch, but it was a still night. It wasn't until he heard a high feminine wail coming from upstairs, did he figure it out. Henry covered his face with both hands and shook his head as the cries of passion grew louder and the thumping noise more insistent. It was a long night.

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Diane and Jack came down the stairs just after dawn. When she saw Henry asleep on the sofa, she elbowed her husband and pointed. Jack looked and stifled a chuckle. "I think we owe someone an apology," he whispered.

She smiled. "I'll make it up to him." Jack smiled back, and they both turned into the kitchen, leaving the young man sleeping, still wearing the earplugs he wore when using the power tools.

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Just before lunch, the three of them stood in the master bedroom. Henry had added molding, floor and ceiling, door and window frames, and windowsills and painted or stained each. A handmade built-in bookcase in the corner was a marvel of workmanship and the centerpiece of the room. Henry had just finished it. The smell of drying paint filled the room. Jack looked very pleased.

"Amazing work Henry. I see why Diane has such faith in you," he said, examining the corner joint on a doorframe. "I can just barely see the joint between the two pieces. Very impressive joinery." Diane was just beaming.

"I'm glad you like it, Jack. I'll start in your office today."

Jack clapped him on his shoulder. "I can't wait to see it." He turned to his wife. "I'm gonna head out to the airport, babe."

Diane kissed him deeply. "Say hi to Colleen for me. I hope her mother is doing better."

"Will do hun." He turned and looked at Henry. "Hey, Henry, if you want to chill at the house this weekend and keep Diane company, I'm cool with that. Maybe get some sun. I'll see you both on Wednesday."

The big man turned and left the room, leaving Henry speechless. Jack knew he'd seen Diane naked. The comment about getting some sun made that obvious.

Diane followed her husband downstairs to the side door. He turned for a kiss and threw her a wink. "Have fun."

She smiled slyly at her husband. "I certainly plan to."

He laughed. "Not during his working hours. No fooling around on the clock."

Diane kissed him and gave him a cute little pout.

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Henry's whole body vibrated like a struck tuning fork for the rest of the day. She came in to see him around 3 p. m. "You don't perhaps have any nice clothes here, do you? For our at-home date tonight?"

The thought had never occurred to him. "I'm sorry no. I have work clothes and chilling-out clothes."

She shrugged. "Okay then. Shower and chilling-out clothes. We'll make it a casual date." They both smiled. Henry still wasn't sure what he was getting into, but he couldn't wait to find out.

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Henry padded barefoot and freshly showered into the kitchen. He'd done a lot of thinking today. Part of him was ready to grab his keys and head home. Diane was pecking at her laptop while standing at the island counter. He could hear her painted nails on the keyboard. She also looked freshly showered and wore a lovely short sundress that fit her very nicely, revealing her fabulous legs that were enhanced nicely by the wedge-heeled sandals she wore.

It was at that moment that he made up his mind. Listening to the primal, animal part of his brain probably wasn't the smartest thing he'd ever done, and God knew it had gotten him in trouble before. But this situation was unique, and the woman was... oh God, the woman.

He took another couple of steps, and she heard his footsteps on the cool tile. She looked up and gave him that bright smile that always sent his heart racing. "You're done already?"

He smiled back. "I started early the last couple of days. I hit forty hours around 3:30. Is that okay?"

They met at the counter. "Of course, I just haven't started cooking yet, silly. I'm going to grill some nice steaks with a salad. Are you hungry?"

He set his hands on her hips. "Yes. But not for food." He peered intently into her eyes so there could be no question of his intent.

She did a quick double-take. "Oh?... Oh." Then she smiled seductively and wrapped her hands around his neck. "So, what would you be in the mood for?"

Henry lifted her by her waist and set her butt down on the island counter. His voice deepened as he replied. "You." He grinned wolfishly at her, and she shivered. "Every bit of you." He slid his hands up the outside of her thighs and she lifted her butt off the counter so he could slide her dress up to her waist.

Diane tipped her head back and closed her eyes in anticipation. "Oh Henry, yes, please." She lifted her dress to reveal her panty-less pussy. She straightened and lifted her dress over her head, revealing her beautiful, round breasts. Her nipples were pink and inviting and beginning to harden, standing tall beneath his gaze.

She wrapped her arms around his neck again and pulled him in for a long, passionate kiss. His kisses were hot and moved down to her jaw and then her neck and shoulders. She pulled his body in hard.

Henry's eyes met hers again. "Is this what you want from me?" He whispered breathlessly.

Her eyes conveyed everything. "Yes."

With a serious look, he continued. "I want to hear you say it."

Diane collapsed in his arms a bit and her voice fell to an intimate whisper. "I want you to have fun with me. I want you to fuck me until I'm an exhausted mess. Until my knees are weak and my entire body shakes. Can you do that for me?"

He grinned wolfishly at her again. "It would be my pleasure." His mouth fell to her breasts, and he began to devour them with his lips and tongue. She moaned softly into his ear, pulling his head into her. Her nipples were so responsive to his touch. He sucked them into his mouth and played with them with his agile tongue.

"Harder baby,' she whispered. "I love nipple play."

Henry closed his eyes and let his mouth do its work. She moaned enthusiastically. After several minutes, he began to kiss his way lower. When his lips settled on the tiny little triangle of blonde hair, she lifted her legs, set them over his shoulders, and settled back on her elbows. Henry felt her tremble when he first licked her open slit. It was warm and sticky and inviting. The taste of her was musky and sharp, and he enjoyed it. After several licks in and around her generous fleshy pussy lips, he settled back and began nipping and sucking at the oh-so-tender skin on the inside of her thighs. He watched the slickness ooze from her as he did so, and her breathing became ragged and uneven.

He slid his hands back up her thighs until he slowly slid his right middle finger inside her slippery pussy. Diane's whole body quivered as he did so, and she moaned loudly.

"Oh, fuck, that feels good. That's it, baby,... ugh... take your time. I love it," she said breathlessly. After several slow strokes, he slid his finger out and sucked it deep into his mouth. He closed his eyes and smiled warmly. "Mmm."

Finally, he wrapped his hands under her thighs and licked deep into her pussy, pushing his nose hard into her clitoris. Diane moaned deeply and abandoned her elbows, lying flat across the counter with her legs over his shoulders. Time slowed to a crawl as he slid his tongue in and out of her slippery cunt. Finally, he worked his way up to her clit and began lightly licking around it.

Her panting increased until his fingers slid into her again, turning her moans into wails of ecstasy. "Haaaaaah! Haaaaaaah! Oh fuck! Oh, fuck." She took a deep breath and swallowed. "Oh, don't stop. Don't you stop!"

Henry smiled and spun his fingers to push downward toward her perineum, stretching her pussy open.

"Hooo shit! Oh, my fucking God. That is... ugh!" she wailed.

When Henry spun his fingers again to find the spongy little area of her G-spot, she came instantly. Her whole lower body clenched, and her thighs locked around his head. Her eyes closed, and she convulsed on the counter, with her legs locked out, and screamed from the pleasure he was giving her. She rode the waves of her orgasm for over a minute before releasing and pushing him gently back with her foot. She pushed his hands away as she struggled down from the counter.

On her feet, she kicked off her heels before she took his hand and quickly led him into the living room. Falling heavily onto her back on the sectional couch, she looked at him imploringly.

"Put it in me. I'm on fire. I need to feel it in me." She said, her eyes wide.

Henry removed his shirt and shorts. Her eyes were glued to his engorged cock, with a wild smile on her face. He lifted her legs and spread them wide, holding her feet. He positioned his cock between her pussy lips and held it there, feeling her wetness on the bottom of his cock. Henry slid it slowly between her pussy lips, grinding his cockhead over her clit.

Diane reached down and pushed his cockhead onto her clit and moaned wantonly. "Henry, please! Please put it in. I've been so horny all day."

Henry smiled. "Me too. Hearing you fuck last night drove me wild." And then he slid his cock slowly into her waiting pussy. When he was sheathed fully in her, she wailed as his cockhead butted gently against her cervix. "I know, I did it... ugh... on purpose. I wanted you to hear."

Henry slid out and hammered hard into her with a violent slap of flesh. "You did it to make me wild for you." It was not a question.

The wanton expression on her face was strained. "Yes. Oh yes, and I'm not sorry." Henry began to fuck her enthusiastically, their bodies making wet syrupy sounds as he slid in and out of her cunt. She opened her arms and welcomed him down to her. He leaned down, and they kissed wildly as she wrapped her arms and legs around his thrusting body. She bit into the meat of his shoulder, whimpering deep in her throat.

"I'm not sorry, I'm not sorry, I'M NOT......... HAAAAAAHH!" She screamed as she came once again. Henry fucked into her powerfully, not letting up, not letting her recover. She flailed and flexed her hips to meet his thrusts. After several minutes, Henry exploded deep inside her with a bestial roar that made her cry out as well, and he filled her womb with his cum. Afterward, they lay gasping together, with Henry spooned up behind her. She turned her head to see his face.

"It was manipulative and I'm not sorry. I wanted you and here you are. I'm not sorry." She said, but the look on her face said otherwise.

Henry smiled and kissed her. "I'm not sorry either." She sighed and relaxed in his arms. "Good."

-----------

It was nearly dark when they awoke on the sofa. Diane giggled. "Are you ready for some supper now?" She rolled off the sofa onto her knees and turned to lean down and kiss him.

He yawned and smiled. "I could eat, but how about something quick?"

She stood and grinned. "You got it. Why don't you go out onto the deck and start a few logs in the firepit? We'll eat outside."

Henry nodded and got up and walked into the kitchen, leaving his clothes on the floor. She watched his lean muscular body, his pale body a harsh contrast to the deep tan on his arms, neck, and face. Another occupational hazard, she thought with a smile. She took out her wok and grabbed some shrimp from the fridge.

It was a cool evening and Henry had the fire started when she walked outside with two deep bowls of salad greens, a bit of cheese, boiled egg, tomato, cucumber, and stir-fried shrimp in a pleasantly tart balsamic dressing.

She handed him his bowl as he sat down on the patio sofa. "Here. This is my famous Diane-on-the-go meal. I'm sure Jack is tired of it by now, but I love it."

Henry had already been impressed with Diane's skills in the kitchen. She was very health conscious and cooked in a very reduced-fat sort of way.

As she sat, Henry admired her as the firelight danced off her tanned body. She had turned off the house lights as she walked out, giving the deck area a wild and primitive look.

"You're gorgeous." He stated matter-of-factly.

Diane paused with her fork halfway to her mouth and giggled. "Well, I'm glad you think so."

"I can't believe Jack would let you have another man."

Diane smiled. "Don't you worry about Jack. Right now, he is seven hundred miles away with his cock buried between Colleen's big tits." She shrugged. "This is the way we are, and it works for us. I like it and he likes it. Neither of us is the jealous type, and we always come home to one another."

She gazed at Henry. "The question is, can you handle being the boyfriend in this equation?"

He gave her an amused look. "Well, I don't know."

She turned to face him fully, with a wide, questioning expression. "You don't know?"

Henry shrugged. "Yeah, I mean, I haven't even been asked yet. A guy hates to be taken for granted."

Diane snorted a laugh. "Really?" She set her bowl down on a side table and took Henry's from his hand. Then she pushed him down onto his back with a lascivious grin. Henry laughed and laid back, folding his hands behind his head.

She straddled his knees and took his soft cock in her left hand. Diane bent and slid her tongue over it, and thrilled at the instant response as it twitched in her hand. She stroked it softly as she looked him in the eyes with a mischievous smile. "Henry, I would really like you to be my boyfriend. Would you, please?" she said in mock seriousness. With that, she bent and sucked his stiffening prick into her mouth. With each stroke, she felt him get harder and harder.

Henry slid his hands down into her golden hair and moaned. "Oh fuck. How could I... ohh... how could I refuse?"

She slid his hard cock from her mouth and grinned. "How indeed?"

After another dozen strokes, Diane rose to move herself astride his hips. Henry moaned when he felt his cock slide between her pussy lips. Back and forth she slid, keeping intimate eye contact, as they moaned to one another. The firelight danced across her breasts, and he felt himself getting more and more enraptured with this beautiful woman.

"I will," Henry whispered.

Diane closed her eyes and trembled as she let his engorged cock slide into her. She leaned over him and kissed him, and they both reveled in the feeling of him filling her. She whispered into his ear. "Will what? I want to hear you say it."

He grinned, realizing that turnabout was indeed fair play. "I will be your boyfriend, your fuck toy, your guy-on-the-side." He gasped as she speared herself forcefully on his cock. "Whatever the fuck you want me to be."

She smiled happily and pistoned herself twice down his length before leaning down and kissing him passionately. "That's wonderful. That makes me very happy."

Some minutes later, the lovers howled into the night sky as they orgasmed together under the stars. Diane lay across his body as they recovered their breath and enjoyed the warm euphoria. He held her tight to him. They smiled at each other as they finally sat up and finished their meal.

"What's for dessert?" he asked.

She sighed contentedly. "I'm sure we can come up with something."

----------

After dessert, Diane kissed him goodnight with a smile and a caress on his cheek and went to her newly finished bedroom. Henry had been half expecting her to spend his first night in the guest room with him, but apparently, that's not part of this arrangement.

The arrangement, he thought. He still didn't fully understand it, and figured there must be some sort of rules to this. Henry couldn't imagine how there couldn't be. He made that the first thing on his to-do list for Saturday. Exhausted, he settled into a deep and dreamless sleep.

----------

"C'mon sleepyhead, it's nearly 10 a. m."

Henry opened his eyes to see Diane's radiant smile. She leaned over him and kissed him firmly on his lips and seemed to be in a fine feather. She grabbed his arm and pulled, laughing gaily.

"Let's go handsome. We're going shopping!"

He laughed and grabbed her hands, pulling her to him and kissing her forcefully. She recoiled a bit with a fake grimace. "Ugh. Shave and teeth brushed, please. You're kinda prickly."

He held her. "I wasn't shaved last night. You didn't seem to mind."

She extricated her arms from his grasp and sat up with a grin. "Yeah, well, that was the heat of the moment. I've got a bit of whisker-burn down there if you catch my drift." She glanced down at her crotch.

Henry smiled apologetically, "Shaved and brushed. Gotcha. What are we shopping for?"

"We are shopping for you!" she giggled. "In the past, dates with my boyfriends were just an evening out and then home to the kids." She stepped back as Henry slid from the comfy new mattress. "But I get to spend entire weekends with you. You need some nice clothes and I have always wanted to be a proper sugar mama."

Henry laughed. "Sugar-mama? I have nice clothes at my place."

She leveled an amused but authoritarian look at him. He laughed again. "Okay, okay, Sugar Mama, let's go shopping."

She smiled. "Smart man."

---------

They left the house after eating a quick brunch. Diane wore a lovely floral dress with the same heels she'd worn the night before. He was in a casual button-down short-sleeve shirt and some loose cargo shorts with sneakers. He was sure he looked like a total slob next to her.

As they got into her sedan, he posed a question.

"So does Jack do this for Colleen?"

She started the car but didn't put it into gear. She turned and looked at him.

"Please, let this be a rule. When we are together, I don't want to talk about Jack. He's doing his thing and I'm doing mine." She smiled slyly. "That is... you. And to answer the question, yes, he does. We have an agreed-upon budget for our lovers, and it's never been an issue. Don't be concerned." She looked at him levelly. "You got it?"

Henry nodded and waited a few minutes until they were out on the road before he voiced his next concern.

"That's a good rule. Are there others? There must be."

She sighed. "You are a very detail-oriented guy, aren't you?"

"Yes, and that's why you hired me," he replied. "I need to know what I'm getting into. This isn't your everyday situation."

She cleared her throat. "Well, you are the first boyfriend that Jack has ever spent any time with, much less lived with. And I've never spent time with Colleen though we've met, and she does live here in town. Jack and I discussed this because I thought it might get weird. So, there will be no overt affection between us when he is home. We will keep things just the way they were the last two weeks." She glanced over at Henry, and he nodded. "Keep things casual, and it will be fine. If it stops being fine, things will have to change."

"Thanks. This was the big question in my mind. I don't want to upset Jack. He is my employer, and I can't afford to be without one," Henry replied.

Diane nodded. "Other things we'll talk about if they come up, but that's most of it. Aside from one very important rule." The sedan eased up to a stoplight and she looked over at him. "The L word."

Henry stammered a bit. "Umm... you mean... love?"

She looked forward again as the light turned green. "Yeah. There is going to be a certain amount of affection between us and quite a bit of sex, but that's where the line is drawn." She glanced at him again. "If it becomes obvious that you are falling in love with me or I feel I'm becoming too attached to you, we have to end it."

She pulled up to a stop sign and checked her rearview before she looked over at Henry. Their eyes met. "This is about fun. Right? It's just sex."

Henry nodded with a smile. "Pretty fun so far." She smiled back and eased away from the stop sign. "Yeah, pretty darn fun," she agreed.

He cleared his throat before continuing. "One last question."

She gave him that same "let's hear it" finger gesture that Jack had used.

"Has that happened before? Did one of them fall in love with you?" he asked softly.

Diane fidgeted in her seat and adjusted her seat belt across her breasts. "Yes, and I don't wish to talk about it. Is that everything?" she asked tersely.

"Jack didn't kill him, did he?"

Diane erupted with laughter, and Henry chuckled. It did wonders to lighten the mood.

"No sweetie. Nothing like that." She said softly, but didn't elaborate.

------------

The couple spent a nice afternoon shopping for them both, spending a lot of time in Macy's and Nordstroms and the occasional mall boutique. She enjoyed stepping out of the changing rooms, showing off new clothes to him, teasing him with the occasional nip slip or peek at her panties. He played with her as well, modeling new clothes for her as he tried them on.

After several hours and a late lunch, they returned home. They split their purchases downstairs and then went upstairs to get everything on hangers.

When Henry finished hanging the last shirt, he turned to find Diane standing next to the bed. She wore only the bra and panties she'd worn out. The look in her eyes spoke volumes. Volumes on desire and lust specifically.

Their bodies met next to the bed, and they grabbed one another forcefully. They kissed passionately and their hands explored. She began unbuttoning his old, casual shirt.

"I loved seeing you in those new clothes. I wanted to tear each one of them off you on the spot." She whispered.

Henry ran his hands through her hair. "You were teasing me all afternoon, leaving your blouses unbuttoned, lifting your skirt when the store clerks were out of sight." His hands slid down and expertly unsnapped her bra.

As the heat rose between them, her hands flew to the button and zipper of his shorts. She fell to her knees and took his cock in both hands. Her breathing was already ragged as she lovingly caressed his length. She licked it up and down, tasting the musk of him. She was preparing to slide it into her mouth when he bent to lift her by her shoulders.

Their eyes met, and he shook his head. He spun her forcefully and pulled her back into his chest, wrapping his arms around her from behind. She gasped when his big rough hands peeled the cups of her bra down. He slid his hands over her breasts to pinch her nipples gently.

"Oh, Henry." She moaned. His hands gripped her breasts more forcefully before dropping to his knee and peeling her lacey panties. He left insistent kisses on both globes of her round ass as he stood again and unsnapped her bra. As it fell to the carpet, he resumed mauling her perfect globes. He reached down and lifted her right leg, setting her foot on the exposed wooden bed frame rail.

He ran his left hand up, caressing her neck and tilting her head back against his shoulder. They kissed as his right hand stole between her legs, caressing between her pussy lips that were flushed and wet. She moaned into his mouth and exhaled loudly. Her left hand moved behind her to stroke his rock-hard cock.

His hand kept her head tipped back so that he could see her face in its rictus of arousal. Her mouth hung open, and she was panting, her eyes locked on his. She bit her lower lip as his middle finger delved into her slick pussy.

After several minutes, she pulled his hand away from her neck and bent over at the waist, her hands gripping the sheets like talons. She looked back and wiggled her ass at him. The need was apparent on her impassioned face.

Henry grinned and lifted his right hand to his mouth, sucking her slick cream from his fingers. He let her pant for nearly a minute before stepping behind her and pushing his cock inside her.

She growled her enjoyment as his engorged cock filled her completely. She whined as his left hand twisted into her lovely blonde hair. "Oh, fuck yes. Fuck me!" She heard Henry growl deep in his chest as he pistoned out and in, pulling her back on her hair. She nearly orgasmed on the spot. He felt her pussy flood with wetness.

Henry lost himself at the moment, his thrusts fueled by her wails of ecstasy. He hammered into her over and over, feeling her pelvic muscles squeeze down on his cock. Her cries encouraged him to thrust harder and harder. "Don't stop, oh... don't... fucking... no don't, haah ah ahh ahh." Each moan was punctuated by a slap of their bodies joining again and again.

Her orgasm built and built until she heard his animalistic grunts get deeper and louder.

"Yes, baby, cum for me! Fill my fucking cunt up with it. UGH! Yes, fucking... fill..." she grunted loudly.

With a breathless moan, Henry's cock dove deep into her pussy and he emptied his balls inside her. The feeling of his cock swelling as he burst and filled her, sent Diane over the edge and she came powerfully. Her pussy clamped down hard and she could feel his cock pumping her full of his cum. They moaned and wailed together as the waves of euphoria rolled over them. Finally, stars swam in his vision and Henry sank to the floor, winded and spent. Barely standing herself, Diane turned and slid down to the floor beside him. They sat panting, each with a satisfied grin as they caught their breath.

They spent that evening in bed together watching television and before they said goodnight, she rolled him over on his back.

Her eyes found his. "Your cock feels so good exploding inside me, I want to feel explode into my mouth. Is that okay?"

Henry chuckled. "Has a man ever said no to that question?"

She gave him a sultry look. "Not in my experience." As her warm mouth enveloped him, Henry tipped his head back and moaned. "Oh, Diane."

She pulled back a moment and smiled. "Yes baby, moan for me. Moan for your sugar mama." Henry's hands slid into her hair again and cradled her head as it bobbed over his cock. Her right hand came up to cup his balls gently, holding them warm within. She kept her mouth loose around his cock, letting her saliva and his pre-cum run down his cock. She smiled inwardly as he began to moan and flex his hips, trying to get firmer contact with her mouth. He had just had his way with her, in every way she wanted and needed, but there was no need for him to know that. Not when she could have her way and tease him until he was nearly as aroused as she had been.

"Oh, please Diane," he whispered.

She brought her hand up and stroked his shaft gently as she smiled at his body undulating on the sheets. He groaned deep in his chest.

"We are going to have so much fun together, aren't we, hun?" she whispered lustily.

Henry's eyes met hers, and he smiled. "You're damn right."

Her hand squeezed his cock finally, and he moaned loudly. Her mouth fell over his cock again and she slid his shaft as far down her throat as she could take, sucking vigorously. Henry thrust up with his hips as her head bobbed up and down. Her agile tongue felt wonderful on his shaft.

Henry was easy to read when he got close as his moans got deeper and louder, so she was ready when his hands tightened in her hair and his hips flexed wildly. She sucked lustily as he fired multiple loads into her waiting mouth.

"Oh, fuck Diane! Diane, Diaaaaanne!" He wailed. The taste of him was slightly bitter and salty but happily, not unpleasant. She swallowed it happily and milked his cock with her wet hand to make sure she got every drop into her mouth. She propped herself up on her elbow and looked at him. When his grateful eyes met hers, she grinned lasciviously and wiped both sides of her mouth with her thumb.

She crawled up to him and leaned over for a kiss. "I was really hoping you would be great in bed." She smiled before continuing. "You don't disappoint." Henry pulled her down and kissed her between heavy breaths. "I'm glad that my sugar mama is pleased," he said with a smile.

"Very."

----------

Henry was already in the kitchen cooking when Diane came downstairs. The smell of bacon wafted from room to room. She was already dressed in her barn clothes. Henry wore only a pair of jogging shorts. She admired his body as she stepped into the dining room, sniffing the air.

"Oh my. That smells... unhealthy." She giggled.

Henry grinned. "It is. Eggs fried with paprika and pepper, over hard, in bacon grease, on a bagel. With bacon and colby-jack cheese." He set the big sandwich in front of her on a plate. "A bona fide hand-held heart attack, as my dad calls them."

She stared at the plate with a smile, her mouth watering. "Oh, I shouldn't. I really shouldn't."

He walked up behind her. With a slight growl in his voice said, "Live a little. You can go back to kale and rice wafers later."

She looked back at him with a wide smile and then picked up the enormous sandwich. Her eyes fluttered as she bit deeply into it. "Oh, damn, that's good," she mumbled with her mouth full. Henry sat down beside her with his sandwich and tucked in.

Henry only finished about three-quarters of his and Diane only half. She looked at him apologetically. Henry waved it away with a grin. "So, what's the plan for today?" He asked.

She looked him over, hungrily. "As loath as I am to ask you to put on additional clothing. I need to clean the stalls, and the horses need brushing and cleaning." She looked at him hesitantly. "It's not exactly a date, but would like to spend the morning out there with me?"

Henry picked up the plates and slid off the barstool. "Sure, I love horses."

-----------

Henry dressed in some of his usual work clothes and boots. He added a ball cap, and they strolled down to the barn around two hundred feet from the house. The horses saw them coming and kept pace with them on the other side of the split-rail fence.

"The dark one is Boris and the light one is Bela, named after the actors in my favorite monster movies when I was a girl." Henry could see they were both geldings and looked to be in great condition.

When they got to the barn, they both grabbed a lead and halter. She watched as he haltered Bela with practiced ease, stroking his face with genuine affection. "Do you ride?"

Henry nodded, not taking his eyes off the big animal. He led him to the cleaning stall and tied off the lead to the big iron ring bolt. Tools for cleaning the animals hung on a pegboard nearby. "It's been a while, but yes. My Aunt Anne has a farm on the east side. She taught me."

She watched as he gently tapped Bela's chestnut, asking him to lift his foot. He held the hoof in his left hand and went to work with a hoof pick. She smiled. This man may be too good to be true, she thought. "That's terrific," she said.

Then she got an idea in her head and spoke without thinking. "I have a load of hay to be delivered in three weeks. Jack is due to be out of town. Do you think I could ask you to help me put it away in the dry barn?" she asked. She regretted it the second it left her mouth.

Henry didn't hesitate a moment. "That's not a date. That's work." He looked at her levelly. "But I'm sure we can negotiate an agreeable salary for it." There was no trace of a smile or laughter in his voice.

"Right. Of course. We'll talk it over later." She said nervously. Henry just nodded. She was instantly ashamed that she'd just tried to take advantage of this new relationship. After finishing with Boris, she left him tied and went over to clean the stalls by herself.

----------

They walked back to the house together silently. Not far from the deck, she gently grabbed his sleeve and stopped him.

She looked up into his eyes. "I'm sorry. I was wrong to ask that."

Henry looked down and dug his toe into the dirt. "I have a good job. I own my home. My truck is paid for. I have a credit score of 745 and a credit card balance of thirty-three dollars." He looked back at her. "One might think that would make me quite a catch for some woman who wants a responsible man, wouldn't you?"

She nodded.

"But I'll tell you, what it has done is make me a target for women who want to take advantage of a guy like me. And it's cost me dearly."

Diane tried to interject. "But I..."

Henry held up his hand. "I don't think you're like those women. I don't." He saw her body relax a bit. "I realize this 'boyfriend-at-home' situation is new to you, but the guy who has sex with you and then throws bales for you is a husband, not a lover. Don't confuse us."

Henry turned and walked into the house. He spent the rest of the day either reading in the library or watching television in the guest room. She let him be.

----------

Monday morning, Diane was relieved when Henry exited his room dressed for work. He walked into the kitchen, whirled her around, and kissed her thoroughly. His strong right hand gripped the firm globe of her left butt cheek, squeezing it tightly.

She exhaled forcefully and met his shining eyes. "We're, okay?"

Henry smiled and kissed her again. "Yep." He reached over to the fruit bowl on the counter, snatched an apple and banana, then turned and left the kitchen.

"See you later, gorgeous!" He shouted from the porch door.

-----------

That evening, Diane watched through the open doorway into the guest room. She stood outside her own room, silently enjoying the view as the lean man peeled his dusty clothes off and dropped them into the hamper. She hadn't minded the increased laundry if it meant having two gorgeous men in the home. Two. The very idea sent shivers down her spine. Henry glanced over and gave her a sexy smile. He turned, naked, and gave her that "come hither" finger gesture. "Come here, Sugar Mama."

Diane smiled and walked up to him, laying her hands on his muscular chest. Jack was built like a heavyweight fighter, but Henry was like a track athlete. They both made her heart race.

Henry lifted her arms and quickly divested her of her workout shorts and halter top. He took her hand and silently led her into the bathroom and shower stall. She relaxed into his arms as the warm water coursed over their bodies.

------------

The next day was very different. Unless Henry asked her a question, Diane didn't speak to him. When she'd pass by or refresh his drink or bring a piece of fruit, she just gave him a sexy smile. A smile that said, "I'm thinking something naughty." After lunch, she headed out to the barn while he worked. He could see her riding Boris and then Bela out in the pasture.

As the afternoon grew late, Diane came back inside and walked past the office where he was working. Again, the same sexy, "I know a secret" smile. Henry smiled back, knowing the saucy woman had something up her sleeve. He wasn't wrong.

Henry was standing on a short stool an hour later, test-fitting the header board over the door. He was particularly happy with this piece. Rather than corner scrollwork like a lot of old doorframes, he'd incorporated the U. S. Army star symbol. Then the sound of Diane in her heels caught his attention.

His eyes nearly flew out of his skull as she came into view. She walked up to him wearing black lace lingerie. A lacy bustier, panties, and stockings, with a pair of five-inch strap stiletto heels in black leather. "Holy fuck." He said under his breath, but she was close enough to hear. She smiled seductively.

Her makeup included dark smoky eye shadow and dark red lipstick. Her hair was brushed out nicely, but was still damp from the shower. Henry's heart began a tap dance rhythm as she stood before him. The header board slipped from his left hand, and he only just caught it before it could fall from his right.

She enjoyed seeing his reaction. "What time are you knocking off, handsome?" She said, swinging a black velvet drawstring pouch.

He struggled to string some words together as he glanced at the clock. It was 4:45. "I, umm... I can stop... any time. I can just start a bit earlier over the rest of the week."

She looked thoughtful for a few seconds and then shook her head. "No. Work until five and then come to me." She looked at him from the corner of her eye. "Not a minute sooner. Do you understand?"

Henry nodded enthusiastically, "Yes."

She winked at him. "Good boy."

She turned and walked down the hall. Henry expected to hear her steps on the staircase and was surprised when he didn't. He poked his head through the doorway to see the door to his guest room standing open about five inches.

He did his best to concentrate on the task at hand and was able to do so until the humming started. A shudder rolled through his body as he realized what had been in that velvet bag. He imagined her spread out on the bed, feeding a vibrating toy into her wet pussy. When Diane began to moan, Henry put his tools down and waited for the last agonizing minutes to tick by.

At five on the dot, he gently pushed the bedroom door open. Much as his imagination had shown him, Diane lay on the bed with her legs wide, her calves and feet dangling. The black panties she wore were of the crotchless variety and her glistening pussy made sticky wet sounds as the silver vibrator slid in and out. The sound of it changed intensity as it did so. Henry's heart skipped a beat as their eyes met. He took a step toward her, but stopped when she smiled slyly and shook her head.

"You're a very take-charge fella in bed, Henry, and I do enjoy it. But tonight... tonight I'm in charge." Diane's eyes got narrow. "Step back, little boy-toy."

Henry smiled wolfishly and stepped back. "Good boy, you should probably undress while I play," she whispered as she leaned her head back onto the sheets. "I want you to watch." Henry's heart beat wildly as he watched her slide the vibrator into her glistening, slippery pussy. "Doesn't that look just dreamy, lover?" she whispered. The wet sound it made as it slowly slid in and out was tremendously erotic.

Henry's breathing hitched and his mouth opened in awe. "Yes, it's so fucking sexy." She smiled at the compliment. Just then Diane's breathing also hitched for a moment, and she froze, with the vibrator fully sheathed inside her. Henry's eyes watched hungrily as a shudder rolled through her body. She moaned lustfully as her hips flexed. Finally, she opened her eyes and began pushing the vibrator into her pussy with vigor. Her shoulders came off the sheet and her legs lifted into the air.

"Yes! Oh, fuck yes." Henry watched her diaphragm contract forcefully as she panted with each thrust into her slick cunt. "This... this is gonna be a... big... one." She wailed. "Henry, watch! Henry watch... meeeeee!" She screamed. Her orgasm struck like a thunderclap, and her body convulsed violently, her hands slapped the sheets and clawed into them. Her pussy clamped down on the silver cylinder, holding it deep within her. Henry watched with rapt fascination as she was caught up in a full-body orgasmic experience. Her legs shook and her mouth hung open as she screamed her pleasure.

"Haaaaaaaaaaaaaa! Oh, fuck Henry. Oh, hhhaaaaaahhhaaaaaaa!" He watched her back arch and found himself jealous. He was positive that he'd never experienced an orgasm that profound. Finally, she collapsed back and onto the sheets, gasping. She grabbed the vibrator swiftly as it began to slide out, turning it off. She sat it next to her as she recovered.

Diane smiled as she opened her eyes again. Henry stood there gloriously nude, with a diamond-hard erection. She could see pre-cum dripping from his cockhead and loved the sight of it. "Come, little toy. I want to feel your breath on my pussy. I'm so sensitive right now. Don't you touch me until I tell you."

Henry was more aroused than he could ever remember being. He crawled onto the bed; his eyes locked on her dripping pussy. It was flushed and red and her cream dripped out copiously. She writhed on the sheets, feeling his heavy breath on her wet skin.

"Okay, baby." Henry looked up over her body and their eyes locked. "Lick me. I want to feel your mouth on me. Your tongue inside me. Your mouth is the only thing that can touch me."

Henry exhaled heavily and leaned in to lick her wet slit. He licked heavily from her opening to her clit, like she was melting ice cream. When she moaned Henry experienced a wild rush of adrenaline and trembled.

"That's it, baby, that's it. Oh, that's so good," she moaned. The world stopped for the two lovers, where giving pleasure and receiving it became the center of their universe. Oblivious to all else. After several minutes, she turned on the vibe again and handed it to him. "Fuck me with it and suck my clit. Make me cum again."

Henry grinned wildly and wet the silver shaft with his tongue before sliding it slowly inside her pussy. Her wails turned to screams as his lips fastened around her engorged clit and sucked vigorously. The added feeling of his tongue flicking it back and forth drove all coordinated thought from her pretty head.

"OH FUCK! Oh, Jesus, Henry, that feels... don't stop, oh God, don't ever stop, I'm gonna...!" Henry knew the signs. The moment her hips flexed off the bed, he pulled the toy from her pussy and sucked hard on her entire pussy. Diane screamed like a banshee as she squirted his mouth full of her juices. Henry swallowed just as fast as he could, but it was no use. He gasped as pussy juice coated his mouth and chin and ran onto the sheets. He licked her clean, but she elbowed back from him, gasping heavily. She collapsed onto the bed.

Henry desperately wanted to touch her, but knew he wouldn't be rewarded for doing so. Finally, she rolled over with an exhausted expression. "Sit up there, lover, on the headboard. Stack up the pillows and lay back." She licked her lips as she watched his hard cock move, nearly coated with his pre-cum.

Their eyes met as she crawled up to straddle his lap. "Are you ready, hun?" She purred.

Henry was beside himself with desire. "Can I touch... now?"

She leaned back and nodded. She gasped as Henry's strong arms wrapped around her and pulled her into his chest, burying his face between her breasts, breathing in the scent of her sweaty body. He licked the sweat from her flushed tits.

Diane wrapped her arms around Henry's neck and felt the head of his cock butt up to her slick opening. She merely had to roll her hips a bit, and she sank down on his cock, so much thicker than the vibrator. The naughty wife bit her lower lip as she felt herself get filled. She leaned back and Henry sucked her left nipple into his mouth. She froze for a few minutes like that, not moving, just reveling in the exquisite feeling of his cock and his mouth. Finally, Diane began to roll her hips on him slowly. She shuddered with pleasure when Henry whined during each movement. Finally, Henry pulled her face to his and kissed her wildly. She sighed as his hands slid down to her ass and lifted her so that he could slide down flatter on the bed. She grinned as she could now place her hands on his chest and rode him enthusiastically and moaned when his upward thrusts met hers.

"Are you gonna cum for me, baby?" Diane whispered. He looked into her eyes and nodded. "I'm... shocked that... I haven't... yet."

She leaned over him and kissed him passionately, his hands twisted into her golden hair. Their sweat-slick chests slid against one another as she flexed down on him. "Cum for me, baby. Fill me up."

Henry's vision swam as his orgasm took him to unimagined heights. He fired rope after rope of his cum deep into her womb as his cock swelled within her. A tremendous feeling of warmth spread through Diane. It wasn't an orgasm, she thought, but a wonderful feeling nonetheless and she was in no hurry for it to end. She lay across his body, and they kissed and held each other.

At some point, she slid off him and they both drifted off to sleep entangled in one another. But when Henry awoke in the middle of the night, he was alone in bed.

----------

Jack returned just before lunch on Wednesday. Henry found a reason to go home that evening and gave the couple some privacy rather than wear the earplugs again.

----------

Thursday evening, after finishing up, Jack met Henry in the kitchen. He handed Henry a cold beer. "Got a couple of minutes to chat?" Jack nodded out to the back patio.

Henry took the bottle. "Sure."

After they were outside, but before they could sit down, Jack started. "I really appreciate the extra effort in my office. It was... very thoughtful. Thank you."

Henry smiled and twisted the top off the bottle. "I enjoy adding artistic touches. It makes me happy and usually makes the customer happy too."

Jack smiled. "Usually does?"

Chuckling, Henry elaborated. "Well, years ago, I learned the hard way to run it by someone first. Diane said you'd like it, so I did it. It was her call."

After Henry mentioned Diane, Jack paused and cleared his throat. "Diane says umm... that the two of you have been having a good time."

Henny's eyes got wide, and he inhaled sharply before exhaling slowly. "Oh wow. We're really talking about this."

"Too awkward?" Jack asked with a nervous chuckle.

"Umm, yes. But... I can deal with it if you can," Henry replied without a smile.

Jack shifted in his seat. "Good. Okay then. I umm... found out this past Monday and told Diane last night that my employer is halting all non-essential travel and all business that had required travel must be done online whenever possible. A cost savings measure."

Henry looked at him as he tipped his beer bottle. "So that means..."

"Right, no more weekend dates." He cleared his throat again. "Diane was upset. And I guess she had a right to be. I've been seeing Colleen for about a year and Diane and, umm... you have only just started. It's not really fair, I suppose."

Henry sat and watched the big man. Clearly, this was pretty uncomfortable for Jack. He fidgeted in his seat like a kid who needs to pee.

So, what we've discussed is for us to have a date night, every other Friday night. "I'll, umm, go into town and stay at Colleen's and you guys can do whatever it is..."

"She wants to do," Henry finished for him.

Jack laughed, and there was a fair bit of relief in his laugh. It was like a bubble of tension had just popped inside of him.

"I guess you're learning that too, huh?" He chuckled.

Henry tipped his bottle to Jack. "Yep. I surely am. Ah... there is one thing that I've been hesitant about asking her. Does she expect me to be exclusive? To her?"

Jack laughed. "Oh, hell no. Nothing like that." His eyes narrowed. "I'd keep date night Fridays free though, if I were you."

Henry thought for a moment and figured that was sage advice.

-----------

The next three months flew by. Henry completed the entire upstairs, the gym, and the staircase. The three of them had spent the night on the sofa and an air mattress downstairs while the wood sealer dried on the stairs. Cohabitating got easier between Henry and Jack, especially after Jack had taken him out to the shooting range and the two had bonded over more manly pursuits. Henry's father was an avid hunter and had taught him to shoot at an early age. He managed not to embarrass himself in front of the former soldier. Every other Friday, Jack would grab a bag and leave around lunchtime to return the next morning.

These Fridays were more like actually dating for Henry and Diane, dressing up and either going out into town for supper or a movie or staying home to do so. Sometimes they came home afterward, other times they'd stay at Henry's home if they were closer to it. It was the only time Diane spent the entire night with him.

Diane loved to dress up, and she enjoyed seeing Henry that way, too. It made undressing that much more enjoyable, and Henry found he loved it too. Rolling stockings down Diane's shapely legs had become a favorite pastime. Other times, they'd hook up the horse trailer and take Boris and Bela out for a trail ride. They arrived home those days, tired, smelling of horse and each other. He learned to work a little later at the beginning of the week to make up for any time he'd miss on those Fridays. The dating plan seemed to work perfectly.

---------

Diane rushed through the side door, her arms full of her laptop, purse, shoes, and her brochures. She spotted Henry in the kitchen, waiting for her. He wore the beautiful gray suit she'd bought him with a black shirt and no tie. She'd tried to get him to wear ties, but Henry wouldn't budge on it. No tie. His dark hair was combed and pulled into a tight ponytail.

"I'm so sorry, lover. I know I'm running late, the Olsen's just kept waffling and making weird demands. Finally, the sellers just told them to take a long walk off a short pier. It's no problem, I'm sure I can sell it. Even in this market." She dropped her armload on the table and turned toward the stairs. "Let me just change real quick."

Henry smiled and admired the lovely woman. She wore a tight blue skirt and matching fitted blazer, with an elegant silk blouse. Henry loved her work outfits. "No, I love that outfit. Grab your shoes and let's go."

Diane smiled and cocked a hip. "You like this? Really?"

He nodded. "Oh yeah, you have this sexy boss vibe going on that makes me want to tear it off you."

She blurted out a laugh. "Really?" she said with a wry grin. "Can you give me five minutes, then?"

He smiled and nodded. "Five minutes."

Six minutes later, she came back down the stairs. Henry smiled in his approval. Diane had left the blouse and bra behind, showing off her amazing cleavage in the buttoned blazer. Her hair was left loose and was brushed out nicely. She'd added dark hosiery as well. She wore flat pumps and carried a tall pair of heels for the occasion. Walking the gravel driveway in stilettos was a recipe for disaster.

She stopped at the bottom of the stairs to pose on the tapered Newel post. "You like? Is it still 'sexy boss' enough?"

Henry nodded. "Oh yeah, but now it looks like 'horny sexy boss.'"

She grinned wolfishly at him. "Very fitting then."

---------

Diane smiled as she saw Henry's eyes devour her as she slipped her five-inch black pumps on as they waited in line for the valet parking at Luciano's. The valets opened the car doors and Henry came around to take her hand and help her from the car.

They strode into the restaurant arm in arm, just in time for their reservation. At the table, Henry was thanking the maître d' for seating them when he heard Diane gasp and then laugh out loud. He turned to see her covering her mouth to politely hide her mirth. That's when he noticed Jack at the next table. His face was flushed with embarrassment. Across from him was a beautiful woman with long, wavy, dark hair who looked pleasantly amused.

Jack rose from the table and introduced the woman awkwardly. "Diane, you remember Colleen."

Diane had just barely gotten control of herself. "Of course, dear, it's lovely to see you again." Diane held out her hand and Colleen shook it demurely.

"Colleen, this is Henry. Henry is..."

Colleen chuckled. "Yeah. I got it, Jack." She nodded politely to Henry and gave him a smile.

Diane spoke to her husband. "Well, this was bound to happen sooner or later. I've come for some Cioppino and wine and I'm not leaving here without them. So, what do you say we act like adults about this and push the tables together, instead of trying to pretend the other couple isn't here?"

Jack still looked a bit stunned, so Colleen answered for him with a pleasant smile. "I think that would be perfect."

----------

Henry's father had been a retired Navy enlisted man and was always full of colorful nautical sayings. "Keep your eyes in the boat" was one of his favorites and it basically meant, "Keep your eyes on what you're doing to avoid distractions." Henry found it was also sage advice at this moment. He kept his eyes on Diane throughout the evening, though he found Colleen quite distracting. The curvy brunette was about as tall as Diane, with a fuller figure and larger in the hips and bust. She had a lovely Mediterranean skin tone and dark eyes. She wore a dynamite red dress and matching heels. He stealthily checked her out as the staff pushed the tables together.

Against all odds, the two couples had a good time together, mostly by concentrating conversation on Henry's and Colleen's work. Diane gushed about Henry's carpentry skills and the work in the house, while Jack spoke admiringly about Colleen's interior decorating business. Colleen was even so bold as to suggest the couples switch locations on Friday so she could see Henry's work at the house. Everyone agreed that was a fine idea.

-----------

Jack opened the car door as they arrived at his home. Compared to Jack and Diane's home it was tiny, a mid-sized split-level ranch, but it had amazing curb appeal with Henry's skills obvious everywhere you looked.

Diane looked up at him from the passenger seat and giggled. "I think I had too much wine."

He looked down at her and smiled. "Considering the circumstances, I think you were entitled. That was pretty surreal." She swung her shapely legs out and he held his hand out to help her up. She stood a little wobbly on the paved driveway.

"I think I should take my shoes off. I'm a bit unsteady." She giggled again.

Henry frowned, "The hell you are." He handed her his keys with the house key out. "Here." When she took the keys, he bent and lifted her in a bridal carry.

She laughed. "Whoo. Sorry chum, but I'm already married. You can't carry me over the threshold."

Henry stopped and their eyes met. "Would you rather I just throw you over my shoulder?"

The smile fell from her lips and her voice got deep. "Yes. Yes, I would." He felt a shudder run through her body as he set her feet back on the ground.

----------

Diane's eyes were wide as Henry deposited her roughly on his bed. She'd seen this look in his eye before, and it made her heart race. They both seemed to sense what the other was in the mood for. She lay back and waited as she watched him strip out of his clothes. The light from the streetlight lit the room through the high window. It cast streamers of shadow across his lean body. Diane held her breath as he crawled over her.

He grabbed the bottom of her tight shirt and pushed it up. She lifted her butt so it could gather around her waist. He drank in the sight of her in a pair of crotchless pantyhose. Her bare pussy glistened in the amber light.

Henry moaned deep in his chest. "No panties."

She smiled and popped the two buttons on her blazer. The left side of it slid open to reveal her bare breast. The sight of her fully dressed yet without underwear of any sort was incredibly hot and Henry could feel his pulse racing. He sat back on his heels and raised her left leg up in the air. He marveled at the toned shape of it, and the dark seam that ran up the back of her leg. Henry slowly ran his hands over her black leather pump and then over her taut calf. He pushed his face to it and felt the smoothness of the nylon on his clean-shaven face. He gently kissed the bulge of her Achilles tendon.

He looked down at her face and enjoyed the relaxed smile he saw. His left hand slid down her calf, over her smooth thigh, to the spot where the nylon ended. Her breathing picked up as Henry gently caressed her labia. He felt her wetness and could smell her arousal. He scooted a little closer so that she could feel his hardness against her thigh, and she moaned softly.

Henry moved over so that he could repeat his worship of her right leg. She left her left leg open wide, bent at the knee. He slid his cock against her thigh and moaned at the exotic feel of it. He wet his right middle finger and their eyes met. Diane bit her bottom lip and whispered, "Please, baby."

As Henry's thick finger entered her slick pussy, Diane moaned deeply from her very core. Her hips involuntarily flexed upward, pushing his digit further inside her. She smiled lasciviously and reached down with her left hand to cup the other side of his cock, and it pressed into her thigh. She enjoyed the feel as it slid in and out of her hand, in time with his finger sliding in and out of her cunt. Her eyes closed, and she trembled as his finger curled to find her G-spot. Her right hand opened the other side of her blazer and squeezed her breast firmly.

"Ohhh Henry, if you keep that up..." she whispered. She looked up and saw that Henry was as lost in the sensation of it as she was. Slowly, steadily, their pace quickened until Henry paused to insert a second finger. Diane's back arched hard and her fingers pinched her engorged nipple roughly. "Oh fuck," she moaned.

Henry's arm pistoned down as his hips picked up speed. The wet sounds of his fingers pounding into her drove them both wild. It was all Henry could do to maintain his coordination, as he groaned loudly and filled Diane's delicate hand with a great wad of warm cum. He hugged her leg to his chest and continued stroking her G-spot. Diane took her cum filled hand and slapped it down on her clit hard, splashing his seed over them. She began rubbing his cum into her clit briskly. Her eyes bored into his as her orgasm, like a wave building as it approached the beach, rose and exploded throughout her body. She screamed Henry's name as her back arched and her pussy gushed over his hand. His fingers curled and pressed up into her G-spot forcefully, and the euphoric wave seemed to have no end. Finally, she relaxed and lay there gasping for air.

"Holy cow," she panted. "You gotta love... a guy... who works with... his hands."

Henry slid down to lie on his side. "You're not so bad yourself," he said with a grin, before reaching over to the nightstand to grab a small towel for her. She took a moment to unzip and slide out of her skirt before spooning up to him.

"Sorry about the cum on your skirt." He said mischievously.

Diane chuckled, "It won't be the first cum stain my dry cleaner has gotten out. Jack loves my work outfits, too." She laughed brightly. "My occupational hazard, I guess." They both laughed, and she turned onto her back so he could kiss her. Her right hand grasped his semi-hard cock and began coaxing it back to attention. Henry kissed her hard and pistoned his hips, sliding his cock through her soft hand.

He kissed her as he lifted her right leg over his hips and rolled into her body. She began breathing hard again as she lined his cock up and he pushed it into her wet pussy with his hips. Diane gasped as Henry laid his right leg over hers and pushed deep into her. The feel of his cockhead grazing her cervix as she stretched to accommodate him sent shivers down her spine.

"Go slow. Please, go slow. It feels so damn good." She whispered insistently. She sighed contentedly as he slid languorously in and out of her. His hands slid gently over her flushed and sweaty breasts. The lovers reveled in the closeness and depth this position offered, and minutes later they came nearly simultaneously as Henry's strong fingers pinching her nipple sent her over the edge just moments before his spent cock softened within her.

The next morning Henry drove her home, with a fresh load of his cum leaking from her well fucked pussy.

----------

Weeks slid by, and summer became late fall. The air was colder, and the carpentry job was nearing completion. Only the library was left. Henry had purposely left this room for last, as it would involve far more artistic woodwork than any of the others. He was so in the zone; the couple figured out early to just let the man work.

On the Friday date night of that week, Diane returned home early and was surprised to find Jack's truck in the driveway. Jack was as surprised to see her as she was to see him when she walked into the house.

"Is Colleen here? I can leave if you like," Diane stammered.

Jack turned on the couch as she walked into the recently completed living room. The smell of paint was just barely perceptible. "No, umm... she's not here. Early night? I wasn't expecting you home."

Diane sighed heavily and sat down close to her husband and was silent for a few minutes. "Henry told me after dinner that tonight would be our last date." She turned her head and looked at him. "He broke up with me. He told me a month ago that he was seeing someone. I guess it's finally serious enough to become exclusive." She sighed again and leaned into her husband. Jack put his hand over hers.

After a few minutes of silence, Jack spoke quietly. "Colleen broke up with me two months ago." Diane sat up and turned her body to look at her husband, surprised. "She said that she wanted to move on to another phase of her life. To find the right guy, fall in love and maybe start a family."

"She...? So, what have you been doing for the last few date nights?" she said excitedly.

Jack shrugged and gave her a hesitant look. "Bowling or a movie. I crashed in town those nights."

Her jaw dropped open. "Bowling? By yourself? But why? Why didn't you tell me?"

He shrugged again. "You always feel weird when you have a lover, and I don't. I wanted you to enjoy your time with Henry. He's a good man. I saw Colleen for over a year, but you've only had a few months and the lack of travel cut that time down quite a bit."

Diane's mouth closed with a click of teeth. Finally, she sighed and hugged her husband, laying her head on his broad chest. "You're a good man, too. And the best husband ever." Jack wrapped his big arms around his wife and held her tight. They held each other for quite a while.

She rubbed her face into her husband's shirt. "Do you think you'd like it if...?"

Jack finished her question. "If it was just us?"

Lifting her head, she looked into her husband's eyes. "Yeah," she said quietly. He pulled her head back into his chest and whispered into her ear. "I think that would be perfect." Her arms wrapped around his big body and squeezed tightly.

After several minutes of listening to each other breathe, Diane stood and smiled down at her husband of twenty-five years. She reached back and unzipped her green pencil dress. Diane let it fall to the floor, revealing the black bra and panties she wore with her green sling-back heels. She held her hand out to her husband.

"C'mon Colonel, let's get started on the next twenty-five years," she said seductively.

Jack smiled broadly and took her hand. "Whatever you say, General. You lead, I'll follow."

She led her husband upstairs to bed.

---------

Epilogue

Henry turned his truck onto his street, feeling great. Bronson's had called guys back for work as contracts were coming in. He'd just another ten days left at Jack and Diane's, and much to his surprise, it hadn't been weird. It kind of felt just as it had the first couple of weeks there, but with less flirting. It was friendly and casual. Jack and Diane were both overjoyed with the work he'd done in the house.

He smiled as he pulled into his driveway, seeing the red convertible waiting there for him. He watched the car door open, and a dark-haired buxom woman stepped out in a blue dress and matching heels. She wore a long button-down sweater against the late fall chill.

-----------

Colleen smiled as she watched Henry's truck approach the house. It felt kind of surreal, how things had turned out. Two weeks after she'd broken things off with Jack, guess who would end up behind her in the checkout of their local market? When he'd asked her out for coffee, she'd stunned herself by saying yes.

Henry came around the front of his truck, and they met between their vehicles. He pulled her in and kissed her passionately. She melted into his arms. When they parted, she leaned in and kissed his throat, breathing deeply to smell his scent. He smelled of hardwood, soap, and sweat.

Henry looked in her car and saw two paper sacks. "Dinner?"

"Yep. Pork chops and roasted parmesan green beans. Sound okay?" she said.

He kissed her full red lips again. "Sounds great." He walked around and lifted the two bags from the passenger seat. He looked across the car at her. "Speaking of dinner. My umm... employers have requested us for dinner this Friday. They want to meet you."

Colleen clapped her hand to her mouth. "You've told them yet?"

Henry grinned and shook his head. "I couldn't figure out how to tell them. 'Hi guys, I'm dating Jack's former lover?' It's just too crazy."

Henry came around the car and she met him, sliding her hand around his waist. She smiled. "Well, tell them we'll be there. We'll make it a surprise." She looked up at him. "We do kind of owe them for the introduction."

Henry slid both bags into his right arm and wrapped his left around Colleen's shoulders. He chuckled and nodded. "That's for sure. Friday date night has just turned a whole new corner."

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Author's Note:

Thanks very much for reading my story. Especially if this is your second time through it. I hope you enjoyed it. I had a good time writing this one.