To the Edge and Back

[Mad Dog65]

Just greatly appreciative of your writing and sharing this wonderful story

[OOAA]

Very hot chapter...., but Morgan's proposal to transform Nichole to the company whore is not my thing, sorry.

[Ky_Da]

Very hot chapter...., but Morgan's proposal to transform Nichole to the company whore is not my thing, sorry.

No worries for my part. I hope you keep reading along because there are many twists, turns, and conflict before the end. I do worry I might lose some readers with what’s coming, and that some will dislike Nichole for choices she makes, but this story is a journey, and well, it is what it is, there’s no way to write a story everyone likes all the time. Thanks for the comments though, you’ve always taken time to write something. Much appreciated.

[Ky_Da]

I am a lurker and don't like to write on forums, but I must write now. All I can sat is WOW, WOW, WOW. I can't wait for the next chapters.

Thanks!

[coastalover]

Well count me in on the company whore part. I was very disappointed that Samantha in Way Leads to Way never got to experience that.

[Ky_Da]

Well count me in on the company whore part. I was very disappointed that Samantha in Way Leads to Way never got to experience that.

Yeah, sorry about that. Life kind of got in the way on that attempt, but I’ve got this fantasy that I need to write in order to get out of my system, and since I wasn’t able to get there with Way Leads to Way, it’s going to be on this story.

Also, in full disclosure, this story has a major fantasy of my wife. Part of my deal with her for her supporting me in writing this story, is to include her fantasy. I’m not going to spoil any plots, but I think some of you will recognize it when it happens. I don’t know how many guys will like it, but I made the deal, so it’ll be coming up soon.

[twin12set]

Superb writing, been away for a week so just caught up. Fantastic.

[R_H_NC]

Well count me in on the company whore part. I was very disappointed that Samantha in Way Leads to Way never got to experience that.

Yeah, sorry about that. Life kind of got in the way on that attempt, but I’ve got this fantasy that I need to write in order to get out of my system, and since I wasn’t able to get there with Way Leads to Way, it’s going to be on this story.

Also, in full disclosure, this story has a major fantasy of my wife. Part of my deal with her for her supporting me in writing this story, is to include her fantasy. I’m not going to spoil any plots, but I think some of you will recognize it when it happens. I don’t know how many guys will like it, but I made the deal, so it’ll be coming up soon.

I think I see what's coming..................

[SamWarrens]

I think I know too....I don't like it much either but I'll live through it.

[Duke Lattimore]

For an accomplished author like Ky, I anticipate that real time feedback from loyal readers, during the writing of a hotwife story, can be both a blessing and a curse.

The blessings would include: timely motivation on occasions that writing becomes a bit of a grind; a helpful nudge when a literary roadblock is encountered; validation that a particular scene or sequence has the intended effect; and encouraging comments that, for authors who post on free sites, provide motivation to keep on writing.

The curses would include: negative feedback suggesting that a specific aspect of a story should be changed to accommodate a particular reader’s preference; petulant demands that the author speed up the writing process, with such posters clearly having no clue as to the difficulty in producing quality narrative in this genre – especially when done as a non-profit hobby; and hateful, vitriolic comments that clearly are mean-spirited and purely negative (such comments are rarely seen on this site, but they do occur on other literary sites – most notably Literotica - resulting in some authors abandoning such sites as a result).

Happily, many authors (including Ky) are able to diplomatically handle such duplicity, knowing that with the “wheat” of the blessings comes the “chaff” of the curses.

Personally, when I have constructive criticism for an author, my bias is to send such feedback as a private message, which affords me the freedom to be candid without concern as to perception. Otherwise, when posted on a public thread, such comments can come off as negative, petulant or self-aggrandizing, even though the poster may not have intended to create such a perception.

Just my 2 cents . . .

[mundyman]

Great writing Ky. Molten hot story!!
I wonder how much your experiences are woven into the thread of the story. No doubt the descriptions of the husbands reactions come from a place deep within you.

[tommaso1153]

I'm usually a lurker here, but I can't help but congratulate you on this story so engaging and emotionally engaging, too engaging perhaps. The level of distress is high and painful. But, despite what I fear is coming, as you wrote and as the title says, the story includes coming Back again, and I, despite mistakes and choices that are sometimes incomprehensible and dangerous, I hope there is a happy ending for Ky and Nichole who, after all, ultimately they love each other.
I apologize for the language. Greetings from Italy.

[WACouple]

I couldn’t agree more! Extraordinarily hot story, and I just can’t wait to find out where you’re going with it...

[kinkydetroit]

I think I have been on here too long. The job proposal reminds me of the Diane and Jerry chronicles dating back 10 years.
Great writing! I look forward to how it progresses

[Wistful]

Kinkydetroit--thanks for the reminder of one of my favorite hot wives, Dianne. And member continuity can be a good thing, as you demonstrate.

As I recall Dianne worked for a company which kept an apartment available to house visiting clients, or prospective clients, or even occasional visiting employees. And I think Diane opportunistically had a lot of fun there with all three sorts. But I don't really remember her exploits as a ploy designed specifically to convert prospective clients. Or do I remember incorrectly . . . ?

[subtoall]

Loving the story Ky. Never fear. The more you warn us about what's coming the more I expect I'll love it!

[JustWantToWatch]

Another incredible chapter! Thanks Ky!

[SamWarrens]

Let 'er RIP Ky! Let it get as kinky as you like!
We're ready for it.

[Duke Lattimore]

Fair warning #1: This is LONG and esoteric. If you imbibe, you may need a cocktail or 2 to get all the way thru it, if you are so inclined.

Fair warning #2 (from Ky, in his introductory paragraph for “To the Edge and Back”): He intends to explore the “seedier side of this kink”. In doing so, Ky - and several other elite authors in the hotwife genre - are taking off the proverbial gloves and allowing their characters to delve into the darker recesses of the hotwife journey. Art finds itself imitating life. Who knew that darkness could be so refreshing?!?!?!?!?

Notes: A) Below paragraphs are numbered for easy reference. B) I use the phrase “Stag/Cuck” to refer to the hotwife’s husband. A stag permits the hotwife to step outside of the marriage, but has very limited involvement otherwise. A cuck seeks additional involvement, which may be anywhere in the spectrum from subtle (in the room with bull and hotwife to simply observe) to extreme (sexual denial and humiliation).

1) Now onto current developments in Ky’s instant hotwife classic, “To the Edge & Back”, and the delicious devolution of the formerly pristine and innocent hot wife Nichole.

2) The “seedier side of this kink” for Nichole’s character is manifested in the next phase in her downward spiral from hot wife to hotwife, this time in the controversial role of company whore. My initial reaction to this revelation was “I ABSOLUTELY LOVE IT!”. The initial reaction of my good friend OOAA was the exact opposite, as he clearly is not a fan of pivoting Nichole’s character in such a tawdry direction.

3) Those diametrically opposed reactions led both OOAA and me on a quest to peel back the layers of the onion and determine why each of us had such a reaction. And the answer actually is quite simple: Perspective. And our personal experiences clearly affect (and inform) our perspectives. I tend to read a hotwife story from the bull’s perspective, while OOAA tends to do so from the hotwife couple’s perspective.

4) My preference, from the bull's perspective, is to view the power positioning / power dynamic / power exchange that is implicit in the company whore trope as high octane adrenaline that keeps me coming back for more in hotwife relationships. The boss as the sexual overlord for a hotwife employee elevates the power exchange to a whole new and uber-decadent level. The power exchange also seems to amplify the intensity of the hotwife's reaction and sensitivity, while also maximizing her submissiveness. While I probably should be more attuned to the societal baggage and collateral effect on the hotwife at the personal level, I simply am not wired that way. And therein lies the angst that is so fundamental to the hotwife experience – the hotwife’s freefall into the abyss, where former boundaries become stepping stones to new depths of debauchery, the intoxicating allure and raw fear all encountered on this narrow path to sexual nirvana, where all other aspects of life are rendered tertiary.

5) OOAA’s preference is that the hotwife not delve into the stigmatized realm of company whore, as the collateral damage to her workplace reputation and to her persona would overwhelm the allure of such an adventure. His point is well taken. OOAA likewise noted that he understood my point - in power exchange, or power positioning, another level of escalation of the fantasy and the involved pleasure can be achieved through the company whore scenario.

6) In the afterglow of connecting perspective and reaction, it seemed logical to explore in more depth the concept of power positioning / power dynamic / power exchange. While this concept does not seem to generate significant discussion, it must be acknowledged as a critical piece of the hotwife puzzle.

7) Consider the scorching interactions in “To the Edge and Back”, but with Nichole being unattached and not in a serious relationship. In that context, Ky’s story would be monolithic – focusing on Nichole’s sexual evolution, with a total absence of the delicious angst that epitomizes the hotwife dynamic in a marital relationship.

8) Now juxtapose the current scenario: Nichole & Ky in a loving relationship that results in marriage, which initially is faithful, loving and traditional, with Nichole being beautiful, pristine and the occupant of as lofty a perch as can be scripted for a hot wife at the beginning of her journey to hotwife. So, in the beginning for Ky and Nichole, the power dynamic is one dimensional, with the marital vows positioning the power within the confines of their marital relationship, with the power dynamic being exclusively between husband and wife. No power has been exchanged with anyone else - at least, not yet.

9) Then Ky opens the door with this initial trigger:

While we were all sitting on the edge of the pool, I noticed my wife steeling glances at Marcus’ cock <remember, Marcus donned a speedo to put Nichole at ease in wearing a revealing bikini selected by Ky> when she thought no one was looking. Not only that, but her nipples were plainly visible through the small amount of material that covered her breasts. They were hard and standing up for all to see. Luckily, she didn’t seem to notice. Seeing this made something inside me flare to life. The new feeling I’d experienced earlier exploded tenfold. An image of Marcus fucking my wife suddenly appeared in my mind and I felt my heart begin to beat more intensely.

After a moment, I shook the thought away. It was the oddest thing. I both wanted the thought to go away and I didn’t. Entertaining the thought was tantalizing and made something seriously primal stir inside me, but it also flipped another switch that flooded my system with angst and anxiety. The flood of emotions swirled together and seemed to give life to something new inside me, something I instinctively knew at some level was dangerous, and yet so powerful that I was helpless to force it away.

10) So, when Ky speaks of the “new feeling”, “flipping the switch”, “dangerous” and “powerful”, what is he referencing? Clearly, he speaks of the angst that simultaneously is disconcerting, intoxicating and exciting – and is the critical, fundamental emotion in the hotwife dynamic. But what actually is at the core of this emotion? To this point, the sexual relationship of Ky & Nichole had been exclusive. The power positioning in their relationship had been between them – and only them. As Ky considers opening the sexual door for Marcus & Nichole, Ky is initiating a shift in the positioning of power. He is relinquishing – or exchanging - a yet to be determined portion of his part of the marital power dynamic and giving it to Marcus and/or Nichole (with the actual allocation of power between them to be determined). In effect, he is exchanging his share of the control of the sexual aspect of the marital relationship for the exploration of his hotwife kink. He wants Nichole to receive the ultimate in sexual fulfillment, which selfishly also will give him what he perceives to be the ultimate in his sexual fulfillment, be it vicarious, with the implicit acknowledgment that he does not have the ability to take Nichole to such a lofty sexual peak.

11) As Marcus and Nichole move forward in their extramarital tryst, Nichole assumes almost exclusive control over the power dynamic in their marriage (ie. she is dictating the sexual tempo), while Marcus (with frequent assists from Rachel) assumes almost exclusive control of the power dynamic of Nichole’s sexual destiny outside of her marriage and sequentially expands her sexual experiences to include: in the present term - other sexual partners; in the near term, swinging with an expanded group of participants; and in the long term, setting up Nichole with employment controlled by a boss who subsequently could expand her sexual boundaries to new extremes, given the opportunity.

12) Thus, the power dynamic has evolved with this rather significant exchange: Ky became powerless; Nichole likewise became powerless, except with respect to Ky; Marcus assumed total control, at least in the short term, with the likelihood that he would pass control of the power dynamic at some future point. Thus, this initial power exchange was completed and validated by the subsequent sexual relationship between Nichole & Marcus and between Nichole & Ky.

13) Now, what could be the next steps in pushing the power exchange to a new and more intoxicating dimension? Or, as OOAA so aptly described it as “a level of escalation”.
* The introduction of Wade, with the consequence being Nichole’s evolution to size queen?
* With mind boggling orgasms that sealed Nichole’s fate as being totally submissive?
* With increasing extremes needed to feed Nichole’s burgeoning sexual appetite?
* With the introduction of multiple partners in a single evening?
* With the addition of the exhibitionism overlay, not only to heighten enjoyment but also as an indicator of Nichole’s sexual evolution and susceptibility to extremes?
* With Ky powerless to impose any boundaries?
* With Nichole’s submissiveness transforming her former boundaries into stepping stones to new depths of debauchery?
* AND NOW the possibility of Nichole becoming a company whore.
Welcome to a totally new level of escalation in the power exchange dynamic!

14) Remember, Nichole has emerged as the breadwinner for this young couple. Heretofore, the financial aspect of the marital relationship had been exclusively between Ky & Nichole. They made their own decisions as to their financial destiny.

15) NOW, with the emergence of the workplace as a whole new playing field for the power dynamic, Nichole & Ky have a new motivation for Nichole to be sexually compliant – financial security. Already a true sexual submissive, Nicole will become susceptible to new sexual extremes, with financial peril being a new and stronger motivation for Nicole & Ky to go along with whatever Morgan Schulz chooses to impose on Nichole, as his fresh, hot new spinner of a company whore. The financial overlay creates a whole new level of buzz in the power exchange dynamic. More extreme angst for both Ky & Nichole. More frequent sexual interactions, with Nichole’s workday becoming a much more expansive playground for sexual adventures than the occasional weekday and weekend. Irrespective of whether readers like the workplace / company whore scenario, it must be acknowledged that it pushes the power exchange to a scorching new level.

16) Of course, the workplace is not the only arena in which the power dynamic can be expanded beyond the basic power exchange that is fundamental in the entry level hotwife relationship between Stag/Cuck, hotwife and her extra-marital sexual partners. Other arenas also can be created, in varying degrees, in a variety of delicious scenarios: teacher/student; landlord/tenant; personal trainer/client; doctor/patient; producer/actress. Each of these scenarios, properly scripted, can add complexity, depth and heat to the power dynamic via a power exchange. New motivation for sexual compliance by the hotwife. New levels of influence and depravity for the bull. Additional helplessness for the Stag/Cuck. Fresh and raw angst from the threat (and implications) of outing the hotwife & Stag/Cuck (and, in some cases, from the outing of the bull).

17) Other "levels of escalation" also exist, beyond the personal relationships that are fundamental to the power dynamic. Such levels of escalation can be achieved by the bull's assertion of control, be it through: giving the hotwife mindgasms of epic proportions, which she never previously experienced, which she finds addictive and which can be leveraged by the bull to push her boundaries to new extremes that heretofore had been off limits; imposition of changes in attire and appearance; imposition of body modification; exhibitionism; and/or directives that intercede in the marital relationship (such as no marital sex within a week of the hotwife’s next extramarital tryst; mandatory condom usage for the Stag/Cuck; and involvement of Stag/Cuck in preparation of the hotwife for an upcoming tryst – such as shaving off her landing strip; purchasing risque clothing and lingerie in line with the bull's specifications; or preparation for the hotwife to lose her anal virginity). Personally, that's as far as I tend to go. I draw the line on humiliation, emasculation and sexual denial of the Stag/Cuck (as I believe dignity and reclamation to be incredibly important elements in a sustained hotwife, Stag/Cuck, bull relationship).

18) These other “levels of escalation” should be assessed not only for the immediate, visceral reaction of gratification, but also for the long term impact on the power dynamic in the relationship. Here’s a recent illustration.

Unbeknownst to the Stag/Cuck, bull has hotwife’s tongue pierced with a dual stud. But, instead of sending her home with the actual dual stud, bull sends her home with a flesh colored retainer that conceals the piercing, with it being noticed only if someone knows to look for it.

Hotwife: Honey, notice anything different?

Stag/Cuck: Other than the glow that you always have when you return home from a session with Duke, not really.

Hotwife (sticking out her tongue): Look closely. See it?

Stag/Cuck: What is it?

Hotwife: Wait a minute and I’ll show you.

She steps away for a moment and replaces the retainer with the dual stud.

Hotwife (sticking out her tongue): Now what do you think?

Stag/Cuck: Holy shit! When did that happen?

Hotwife (now speaking with a slight lisp, due to interference from the dual stud): About 2 months ago. We wanted to see if you would notice, and you didn’t. So, Duke thought I should bring it to your attention and give you a little demonstration.

Hotwife proceeds to give hubby his first blowjob executed with a tongue pierced with a dual stud, and the impact is amazing and immediate. It is not lost on the Stag/Cuck that this modification had occurred 2 months ago, and he never noticed. Quite the mindfuck for him, but it comes full circle when he derives unsolicited pleasure from the modification. In future interactions, the use of the dual stud can be used as a carrot to elicit additional concessions from him.

19) So, in the short term, the impact of this body modification, made subtle by the option to hide it with the flesh colored retainer, is visceral and real – a significant heightening of pleasure for the recipient and another valuable weapon in the hotwife’s sexual arsenal. In the long term, the bull has asserted more control over the hotwife by imposing a body modification that, when the dual stud is inserted, takes her far away from her former place as a pristine, faithful wife and now nudges her more toward the slutty / stripper / sex worker persona that is another manifestation of her sexual evolution and may be a harbinger of things to come. The existence of the flesh colored retainer opens the door for an extreme body modification that portends a greater divide between the reality of the hotwife's daily life and her alter ego as a hotwife with a bull - with the bull in control as to when the dual stud is displayed and when the tongue piercing is concealed. This level of control reinforces the completed power exchange and exemplifies a new level of escalation, with the bull yet again asserting total control, the hotwife totally compliant and the Stag/Cuck no longer capable of imposing any boundaries.

20) My conclusion is this: Power positioning / power exchange / power dynamic always should be considered and evaluated in all hotwife scenarios – whether in erotic fiction or erotic reality. Inherent in this concept is an element of self-awareness that merits greater focus and development in the hotwife genre. Simply stated, every act should be assessed not only for the immediate, visceral reaction of gratification, but also for the impact on the power dynamic in the hotwife relationship. More often than not, the focus is on the former. The latter deserves equal attention.

Cheers! Duke

[Mad Dog65]

Duke, Thank you for sharing these thoughtful insights on power exchange in the hotwife/ stag/cuck journey. insightful and agree that it goes well with a cocktail.

MD

[couple20uk]

Superb writing Ky, I have just caught up and I am looking forward to see where this story goes.

Thank you for taking the time to write and post here and good luck with your move to this side of the pond.

[Ky_Da]

Fair warning #1: This is LONG and esoteric. If you imbibe, you may need a cocktail or 2 to get all the way thru it, if you are so inclined.

Fair warning #2 (from Ky, in his introductory paragraph for “To the Edge and Back”): He intends to explore the “seedier side of this kink”. In doing so, Ky - and several other elite authors in the hotwife genre - are taking off the proverbial gloves and allowing their characters to delve into the darker recesses of the hotwife journey. Art finds itself imitating life. Who knew that darkness could be so refreshing?!?!?!?!?

Notes: A) Below paragraphs are numbered for easy reference. B) I use the phrase “Stag/Cuck” to refer to the hotwife’s husband. A stag permits the hotwife to step outside of the marriage, but has very limited involvement otherwise. A cuck seeks additional involvement, which may be anywhere in the spectrum from subtle (in the room with bull and hotwife to simply observe) to extreme (sexual denial and humiliation).

1) Now onto current developments in Ky’s instant hotwife classic, “To the Edge & Back”, and the delicious devolution of the formerly pristine and innocent hot wife Nichole.

2) The “seedier side of this kink” for Nichole’s character is manifested in the next phase in her downward spiral from hot wife to hotwife, this time in the controversial role of company whore. My initial reaction to this revelation was “I ABSOLUTELY LOVE IT!”. The initial reaction of my good friend OOAA was the exact opposite, as he clearly is not a fan of pivoting Nichole’s character in such a tawdry direction.

3) Those diametrically opposed reactions led both OOAA and me on a quest to peel back the layers of the onion and determine why each of us had such a reaction. And the answer actually is quite simple: Perspective. And our personal experiences clearly affect (and inform) our perspectives. I tend to read a hotwife story from the bull’s perspective, while OOAA tends to do so from the hotwife couple’s perspective.

4) My preference, from the bull's perspective, is to view the power positioning / power dynamic / power exchange that is implicit in the company whore trope as high octane adrenaline that keeps me coming back for more in hotwife relationships. The boss as the sexual overlord for a hotwife employee elevates the power exchange to a whole new and uber-decadent level. The power exchange also seems to amplify the intensity of the hotwife's reaction and sensitivity, while also maximizing her submissiveness. While I probably should be more attuned to the societal baggage and collateral effect on the hotwife at the personal level, I simply am not wired that way. And therein lies the angst that is so fundamental to the hotwife experience – the hotwife’s freefall into the abyss, where former boundaries become stepping stones to new depths of debauchery, the intoxicating allure and raw fear all encountered on this narrow path to sexual nirvana, where all other aspects of life are rendered tertiary.

5) OOAA’s preference is that the hotwife not delve into the stigmatized realm of company whore, as the collateral damage to her workplace reputation and to her persona would overwhelm the allure of such an adventure. His point is well taken. OOAA likewise noted that he understood my point - in power exchange, or power positioning, another level of escalation of the fantasy and the involved pleasure can be achieved through the company whore scenario.

6) In the afterglow of connecting perspective and reaction, it seemed logical to explore in more depth the concept of power positioning / power dynamic / power exchange. While this concept does not seem to generate significant discussion, it must be acknowledged as a critical piece of the hotwife puzzle.

7) Consider the scorching interactions in “To the Edge and Back”, but with Nichole being unattached and not in a serious relationship. In that context, Ky’s story would be monolithic – focusing on Nichole’s sexual evolution, with a total absence of the delicious angst that epitomizes the hotwife dynamic in a marital relationship.

8) Now juxtapose the current scenario: Nichole & Ky in a loving relationship that results in marriage, which initially is faithful, loving and traditional, with Nichole being beautiful, pristine and the occupant of as lofty a perch as can be scripted for a hot wife at the beginning of her journey to hotwife. So, in the beginning for Ky and Nichole, the power dynamic is one dimensional, with the marital vows positioning the power within the confines of their marital relationship, with the power dynamic being exclusively between husband and wife. No power has been exchanged with anyone else - at least, not yet.

9) Then Ky opens the door with this initial trigger:

While we were all sitting on the edge of the pool, I noticed my wife steeling glances at Marcus’ cock <remember, Marcus donned a speedo to put Nichole at ease in wearing a revealing bikini selected by Ky> when she thought no one was looking. Not only that, but her nipples were plainly visible through the small amount of material that covered her breasts. They were hard and standing up for all to see. Luckily, she didn’t seem to notice. Seeing this made something inside me flare to life. The new feeling I’d experienced earlier exploded tenfold. An image of Marcus fucking my wife suddenly appeared in my mind and I felt my heart begin to beat more intensely.

After a moment, I shook the thought away. It was the oddest thing. I both wanted the thought to go away and I didn’t. Entertaining the thought was tantalizing and made something seriously primal stir inside me, but it also flipped another switch that flooded my system with angst and anxiety. The flood of emotions swirled together and seemed to give life to something new inside me, something I instinctively knew at some level was dangerous, and yet so powerful that I was helpless to force it away.

10) So, when Ky speaks of the “new feeling”, “flipping the switch”, “dangerous” and “powerful”, what is he referencing? Clearly, he speaks of the angst that simultaneously is disconcerting, intoxicating and exciting – and is the critical, fundamental emotion in the hotwife dynamic. But what actually is at the core of this emotion? To this point, the sexual relationship of Ky & Nichole had been exclusive. The power positioning in their relationship had been between them – and only them. As Ky considers opening the sexual door for Marcus & Nichole, Ky is initiating a shift in the positioning of power. He is relinquishing – or exchanging - a yet to be determined portion of his part of the marital power dynamic and giving it to Marcus and/or Nichole (with the actual allocation of power between them to be determined). In effect, he is exchanging his share of the control of the sexual aspect of the marital relationship for the exploration of his hotwife kink. He wants Nichole to receive the ultimate in sexual fulfillment, which selfishly also will give him what he perceives to be the ultimate in his sexual fulfillment, be it vicarious, with the implicit acknowledgment that he does not have the ability to take Nichole to such a lofty sexual peak.

11) As Marcus and Nichole move forward in their extramarital tryst, Nichole assumes almost exclusive control over the power dynamic in their marriage (ie. she is dictating the sexual tempo), while Marcus (with frequent assists from Rachel) assumes almost exclusive control of the power dynamic of Nichole’s sexual destiny outside of her marriage and sequentially expands her sexual experiences to include: in the present term - other sexual partners; in the near term, swinging with an expanded group of participants; and in the long term, setting up Nichole with employment controlled by a boss who subsequently could expand her sexual boundaries to new extremes, given the opportunity.

12) Thus, the power dynamic has evolved with this rather significant exchange: Ky became powerless; Nichole likewise became powerless, except with respect to Ky; Marcus assumed total control, at least in the short term, with the likelihood that he would pass control of the power dynamic at some future point. Thus, this initial power exchange was completed and validated by the subsequent sexual relationship between Nichole & Marcus and between Nichole & Ky.

13) Now, what could be the next steps in pushing the power exchange to a new and more intoxicating dimension? Or, as OOAA so aptly described it as “a level of escalation”.
* The introduction of Wade, with the consequence being Nichole’s evolution to size queen?
* With mind boggling orgasms that sealed Nichole’s fate as being totally submissive?
* With increasing extremes needed to feed Nichole’s burgeoning sexual appetite?
* With the introduction of multiple partners in a single evening?
* With the addition of the exhibitionism overlay, not only to heighten enjoyment but also as an indicator of Nichole’s sexual evolution and susceptibility to extremes?
* With Ky powerless to impose any boundaries?
* With Nichole’s submissiveness transforming her former boundaries into stepping stones to new depths of debauchery?
* AND NOW the possibility of Nichole becoming a company whore.
Welcome to a totally new level of escalation in the power exchange dynamic!

14) Remember, Nichole has emerged as the breadwinner for this young couple. Heretofore, the financial aspect of the marital relationship had been exclusively between Ky & Nichole. They made their own decisions as to their financial destiny.

15) NOW, with the emergence of the workplace as a whole new playing field for the power dynamic, Nichole & Ky have a new motivation for Nichole to be sexually compliant – financial security. Already a true sexual submissive, Nicole will become susceptible to new sexual extremes, with financial peril being a new and stronger motivation for Nicole & Ky to go along with whatever Morgan Schulz chooses to impose on Nichole, as his fresh, hot new spinner of a company whore. The financial overlay creates a whole new level of buzz in the power exchange dynamic. More extreme angst for both Ky & Nichole. More frequent sexual interactions, with Nichole’s workday becoming a much more expansive playground for sexual adventures than the occasional weekday and weekend. Irrespective of whether readers like the workplace / company whore scenario, it must be acknowledged that it pushes the power exchange to a scorching new level.

16) Of course, the workplace is not the only arena in which the power dynamic can be expanded beyond the basic power exchange that is fundamental in the entry level hotwife relationship between Stag/Cuck, hotwife and her extra-marital sexual partners. Other arenas also can be created, in varying degrees, in a variety of delicious scenarios: teacher/student; landlord/tenant; personal trainer/client; doctor/patient; producer/actress. Each of these scenarios, properly scripted, can add complexity, depth and heat to the power dynamic via a power exchange. New motivation for sexual compliance by the hotwife. New levels of influence and depravity for the bull. Additional helplessness for the Stag/Cuck. Fresh and raw angst from the threat (and implications) of outing the hotwife & Stag/Cuck (and, in some cases, from the outing of the bull).

17) Other "levels of escalation" also exist, beyond the personal relationships that are fundamental to the power dynamic. Such levels of escalation can be achieved by the bull's assertion of control, be it through: giving the hotwife mindgasms of epic proportions, which she never previously experienced, which she finds addictive and which can be leveraged by the bull to push her boundaries to new extremes that heretofore had been off limits; imposition of changes in attire and appearance; imposition of body modification; exhibitionism; and/or directives that intercede in the marital relationship (such as no marital sex within a week of the hotwife’s next extramarital tryst; mandatory condom usage for the Stag/Cuck; and involvement of Stag/Cuck in preparation of the hotwife for an upcoming tryst – such as shaving off her landing strip; purchasing risque clothing and lingerie in line with the bull's specifications; or preparation for the hotwife to lose her anal virginity). Personally, that's as far as I tend to go. I draw the line on humiliation, emasculation and sexual denial of the Stag/Cuck (as I believe dignity and reclamation to be incredibly important elements in a sustained hotwife, Stag/Cuck, bull relationship).

18) These other “levels of escalation” should be assessed not only for the immediate, visceral reaction of gratification, but also for the long term impact on the power dynamic in the relationship. Here’s a recent illustration.

Unbeknownst to the Stag/Cuck, bull has hotwife’s tongue pierced with a dual stud. But, instead of sending her home with the actual dual stud, bull sends her home with a flesh colored retainer that conceals the piercing, with it being noticed only if someone knows to look for it.

Hotwife: Honey, notice anything different?

Stag/Cuck: Other than the glow that you always have when you return home from a session with Duke, not really.

Hotwife (sticking out her tongue): Look closely. See it?

Stag/Cuck: What is it?

Hotwife: Wait a minute and I’ll show you.

She steps away for a moment and replaces the retainer with the dual stud.

Hotwife (sticking out her tongue): Now what do you think?

Stag/Cuck: Holy shit! When did that happen?

Hotwife (now speaking with a slight lisp, due to interference from the dual stud): About 2 months ago. We wanted to see if you would notice, and you didn’t. So, Duke thought I should bring it to your attention and give you a little demonstration.

Hotwife proceeds to give hubby his first blowjob executed with a tongue pierced with a dual stud, and the impact is amazing and immediate. It is not lost on the Stag/Cuck that this modification had occurred 2 months ago, and he never noticed. Quite the mindfuck for him, but it comes full circle when he derives unsolicited pleasure from the modification. In future interactions, the use of the dual stud can be used as a carrot to elicit additional concessions from him.

19) So, in the short term, the impact of this body modification, made subtle by the option to hide it with the flesh colored retainer, is visceral and real – a significant heightening of pleasure for the recipient and another valuable weapon in the hotwife’s sexual arsenal. In the long term, the bull has asserted more control over the hotwife by imposing a body modification that, when the dual stud is inserted, takes her far away from her former place as a pristine, faithful wife and now nudges her more toward the slutty / stripper / sex worker persona that is another manifestation of her sexual evolution and may be a harbinger of things to come. The existence of the flesh colored retainer opens the door for an extreme body modification that portends a greater divide between the reality of the hotwife's daily life and her alter ego as a hotwife with a bull - with the bull in control as to when the dual stud is displayed and when the tongue piercing is concealed. This level of control reinforces the completed power exchange and exemplifies a new level of escalation, with the bull yet again asserting total control, the hotwife totally compliant and the Stag/Cuck no longer capable of imposing any boundaries.

20) My conclusion is this: Power positioning / power exchange / power dynamic always should be considered and evaluated in all hotwife scenarios – whether in erotic fiction or erotic reality. Inherent in this concept is an element of self-awareness that merits greater focus and development in the hotwife genre. Simply stated, every act should be assessed not only for the immediate, visceral reaction of gratification, but also for the impact on the power dynamic in the hotwife relationship. More often than not, the focus is on the former. The latter deserves equal attention.

Cheers! Duke

Duke,

So much to unpack!

I very much enjoyed reading your thoughts about power dynamics and the progression of control in Ky and Nichole’s marriage. I’m afraid I don’t want to say too much here because I might accidently reveal more than I intend to, but I thoroughly enjoyed reading your comments.

I will say that I gained some great insight from your insight into power dynamics. I’ve always found the corporate whore trope to be fascinating, but to date, I haven’t found a story that really scratched that itch, so it’s one of the reasons I decided to include it in this story.

I’m also trying to include some foreshadowing and symbolism that might help the reader understand the direction of the book, as well as give it some depth. But I’m still a relatively new writer, so that’s all a work in progress. It’s easy to be too subtle and for the readers to miss it altogether. Finally, I hope this story conveys the notion that this is a new and inexperienced couple. They're trying to feel their way through a labyrinth of emotions and pitfalls, which they'll have success and failures. They're not on a perfectly drawn growth arch, rather it jumps up and down, but little-by-little, they will go deep in the abyss.

[R_H_NC]

Duke,

So much to unpack!

I very much enjoyed reading your thoughts about power dynamics and the progression of control in Ky and Nichole’s marriage. I’m afraid I don’t want to say too much here because I might accidently reveal more than I intend to, but I thoroughly enjoyed reading your comments.

I will say that I gained some great insight from your insight into power dynamics. I’ve always found the corporate whore trope to be fascinating, but to date, I haven’t found a story that really scratched that itch, so it’s one of the reasons I decided to include it in this story.

I’m also trying to include some foreshadowing and symbolism that might help the reader understand the direction of the book, as well as give it some depth. But I’m still a relatively new writer, so that’s all a work in progress. It’s easy to be too subtle and for the readers to miss it altogether. Finally, I hope this story conveys the notion that this is a new and inexperienced couple. They're trying to feel their way through a labyrinth of emotions and pitfalls, which they'll have success and failures. They're not on a perfectly drawn growth arch, rather it jumps up and down, but little-by-little, they will go deep in the abyss.

You are doing a superb job doing just that. You did in the threads about your real life as well. The ups and downs, emotional roller-coaster that is the lifestyle (although not from first hand knowledge in my case).

[Duke Lattimore]

Ky:

Thanks for your kind comments. Though you may be a relatively new writer, you have immense talent that renders your lack of experience irrelevant to the quality of your work. And I say that will all sincerity.

The reality that your featured couple, Nichole & Ky, both are new and inexperienced is part of the allure of your story. Your vivid depiction of those characteristics makes your story incredibly realistic (which also is enhanced by your real life experiences, particularly in conveying the emotions that are inherent in the angst that can be so challenging to put into words). While Nichole & Ky may not be on a "perfectly drawn growth arch", you are taking their rocky path and incorporating it into a hotwife story arc that IS perfectly drawn. Bravo!!!

So, I will do the unthinkable and limit my comments to the foregoing, as the last thing that I want to do is distract you from scripting the delicious freefall of Nichole & Ky in the hotwife abyss!!!

And, thank you for sharing your time and talent with all of us on OHW.

Cheers! Duke

[Ky_Da]

Chapter 38

“His girlfriend?” I gasped in surprise, “but you’re married.” I knew as I said it that it was a stupid thing to say. I’d read enough online to know that a lot of people were married, yet still had boyfriends, girlfriends, and mistresses on the side. If I was honest with myself, I’d even entertained the thought of Nichole having a boyfriend on a few occasions, but never in any serious fashion.



“I know, that’s what I told him,” she said calmly, her eyes watching me carefully. “But go back to Mr. Schultz,” she said, changing the subjects again. “If I’m not going to be sacked, what did he have in mind?”



It took me a moment to mentally make the flip back to her work after thinking about Wade being a potential boyfriend to Nichole. I shook my head and said, “He has something in mind in business development, but seriously, it’s better he tell you everything. Then we’ll discuss it after.”



Nichole’s lips pursed slightly, but she nodded and seemed willing to let it go.



“Do you want to be Wade’s girlfriend?” I asked after a moment of silence.



“I don’t know,” she said quickly. “But I’ve enjoyed our explorations, is this the next step?” she said, her eyes still intensely focused on me. “I can tell you like the idea.”



“What? Why would you say that? I haven’t even had time to think about it.”



Nichole shrugged, but her eyes didn’t leave mine. “I can see it on your face… sometimes you get this look, and I can tell you like the idea. You’re easy to read that way.”



I gave my wife a skeptical look and shook my head, “I don’t have a look.”



“Oh yes you do,” she reiterated. “I saw it at the party, when I told you to enjoy Rachel because it was the last pussy you were going to see for a while. And just now, I saw that look again when I told you about Wade wanting me to be his girlfriend.”



“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I said, “maybe that was my Blue Steel look.”



“Blue Steel,” Nichole said, furrowing her brow. “Is that from that ridiculous movie you made me watch the other day?”



I shook my head, “Alright, let’s say I do have a ‘look’. What’s it look like to you?”



“I don’t know, it’s hard to describe. It’s probably what a teenage boy would look like the first time he sees a naked woman,” my wife said. “You get all excited and nervous, but also like you’re randy enough to step on small children to get what you want.”



“…That’s oddly descriptive,” I said, trying to follow her details.



“I told you, it’s hard to describe, but we’ve been married long enough that I can tell when you like something. Am I wrong? Did you not like the idea of me denying you my body, or taking Wade as more than a meaningless lover?”



It took me a long moment to think of a reply, and Nichole seemed content to let the silence linger until I was ready to speak. “Okay, you’re not wrong,” I finally said, “I do think about that kind of stuff a lot.”



“That’s what I thought,” Nichole said, the small smile on her face telling me that she knew she’d just won. “So, how do you want to start? Do you have a duration you want me to deny you for, are you alright with Wade taking me out on dates once-in-a-while?”



“I don’t… It doesn’t… look,” I finally said, finding my words. “It doesn’t work for me if I’m part of the planning. I kind of need you to, well… decide I guess. I need you to decide, and then just tell me what’s going to happen.”



An awkward silence fell between us, or at least I felt awkward, I’m not sure how she was feeling. I’d just given my wife the green light to not only sleep with whomever she wanted, but I’d just dialed the exploration up by a factor of ten.



“I see,” Nichole finally said. She looked at me for a long time, but she kept a perfect poker face and gave none of her emotions away. “Ky,” began again, “if we do this, if you want to put that responsibility on me, then you have to communicate, you have to tell me what you’re feeling, like if I’m pushing too far. I don’t want to be rowing with you every day because you don’t like the way I’m doing things.”



“I understand,” I nodded in agreement.



Nichole seemed to consider for a moment and then nodded. I could tell she was done talking, so I helped her to bed and killed the lights.



The next morning started like any other. Nichole slept in until the last minute possible before readying herself for work, and I went through my typical routine and headed to the office. All I could think about on the drive is as what details Morgan would tell my wife. What would be her attitude toward the new position once he’d told her what he was after.



I’d had some close calls at work, nearly missing some deadlines and being late to a few meetings. I’d even been warned that I needed to tighten things up, so I knew I couldn’t afford to be distracted at work. Consequently, I turned off my personal phone and focused only on work while I was at the office. And aside from riding my bike during my lunch hour, I kept my nose down and tried to grind hard. Nichole’s income was still based on her base salary, and since she hadn’t done so well with commissions, that income was meager.



I had to admit to myself that if Nichole took the new position at work, and she brought in a lot more money, our lives would dramatically change. Those thoughts would occasionally come, but I quickly pushed them out of my mind. I had no idea what that extra income could potentially cost us.



At the close of the workday, I turned on my phone and found a ton of text messages and voicemails. One after the other were from my wife, begging me to call her. I quickly called my wife’s cell.



“Ky, thank god,” Nichole breathed in relief.



“What is it, what happened?” I asked, trying not to sound too panicked.



“First, please don’t get angry,” Nichole said, her voice meek and vulnerable.



That was never a good conversation starter, I thought. “I won’t, are you alright, did something happen?”



“I’m fine,” Nichole said reassuringly. “But I’m afraid my car was towed.”



“Oh,” I said in total relief, “I’m sorry, I didn’t know it wasn’t running well.”



Nichole seemed to hesitate at that. “It didn’t break down,” she said, and I could swear I heard her fidgeting.



“So, you ran out of gas?” I made another guess.



“No.” Nichole then sighed and said, “I was pulled over for speeding, but this time the cop had my car towed.”



“Fuck Nichole, how fast were you going?”



“Eighty in a sixty, so only twenty over.”



“They usually don’t have you towed unless it’s like reckless endangerment or something. That’s fucked up they towed it for only twenty over,” I said, trying to puzzle out the details. Still, something in Nichole’s voice tried to tell me something beyond her words. “What’s the rest of the story?” I asked, suspicious that she was leaving something out.



Again it took Nichole a moment to answer. I heard her let out a heavy breath through her nose. “The car was towed because I was driving on a suspended license.”



“Nichole,” I said more loudly than I’d intended. “I didn’t know your license was suspended. Where are you? Did they take you to the police station? Did you have a bench warrant out for you?”



“You said you wouldn’t get angry, Ky,” she snapped back at me.



I closed my eyes and took a calming breath, “Where are you? Do you need a ride?” I said, forcing myself to sound calmer. The truth was I was seething. This was going to cost a fortune, and be a major inconvenience in getting her to and from work.



“When you weren’t answering, I called Rafe, and he picked me up. He actually only lives about twenty minutes away from the house,” she explained, referring to her immediate supervisor from work.



“Okay,” I said, feeling a sense of relief that at least she was someplace safe. “Send me the address and I’ll come get you.”



She did, and an hour later I pulled into the guest parking area at the condominium complex where Rafe lived. I sent her a text that I’d arrived, but got no answer. I was already frustrated, and having to go walk through the condo complex to find the one that Rafe owned wasn’t easing that frustration. I called her phone, but after half dozen rings, it went to voicemail.



“Damnit,” I swore, opening the door and getting out of the truck.



I walked down the sidewalk between the buildings and looked at the different building number and resident addresses. It took me almost fifteen minutes before I finally found the right one. I knocked on the door and Rafe answered.



“Hey,” he said, opening the door wide.



Nichole was sitting at the dining table, holding her coat and purse on her lap. She gave me a tight smile as she stood and came to the door. Then, she touched Rafe on the upper arm and leaned close to him.



“Thank you for saving me, and sorry for the trouble,” she said in what appeared to be a very friendly manner.



“Anytime, Nichole. Happy to help,” he said, a look of smug satisfaction on his face. “You’re almost on the way to the office, so we can carpool for a while if you need.”



Nichole nodded without looking at me, “That’d be brilliant,” she said a little too quickly. “I’ll text you later. I need to talk to my husband first.”



“Of course, just let me know,” Rafe said.



I said a brusque goodbye and we headed back to my truck. I knew I was walking too quickly for Nichole to comfortably keep my pace, and for a few minutes I didn’t care. But after a moment, I knew I was being overly difficult and slowed my pace.



“Thank you,” Nichole said as she more easily fell into step with me.



I waited until we were in the truck before saying, “Alright, Nichole. Spill it. What happened?”



Nichole clasped her hands and rested them on her lap. “I got a speeding ticket a while ago—I didn’t tell you about it,” she said bluntly. “But that put too many points on my licensees, and so it was suspended.”


“But you kept driving anyway?” I said in disbelief. Nichole nodded. “Why didn’t you tell me?”



“I know I should have, but you’re always having a go at me about my driving, and I didn’t want to hear it,” she confessed. “I know it was stupid, and I’m sorry.”



I bit my tongue, venting my frustrations on her wasn’t going to make me feel better, well, maybe in the short term, but I knew I’d eventually pay a much heavier toll to make peace. “Okay,” I said, breathing out a slow breath, “We’ll deal with it.”



“I am sorry,” Nichole said, her tone contrite. She looked so small in the passenger seat of the old Ford truck, you’d never know that she was hell-on-wheels. It wasn’t that she simply drove too fast, she was terribly reckless as well. As intelligent and on top of things as she normally was, she was downright scary when she got behind the wheel, a true menace. Maybe it was better for everyone that she lost her license. Hell, insurance might even be cheaper if she was removed from the policy.



“It’s fine,” I said with more authority, “we’ll just have to figure out how to get you to and from work for a while… probably a long while.”



“Rafe offered,” Nichole said easily.



A little too easily, I thought. “I don’t know,” I said, thinking about the guy that looked like a lumberjack made out of granite. Rafe wasn’t nearly as large or muscular as Wade, but he was definitely a guy’s guy, someone that knew how to handle himself and exuded the confidence that came with that kind of ability. “Rafe seems kind of into you.”



Nichole laughed, and when I looked at her she rolled her eyes, “Ky, why would that matter?”



That made me pause, and suddenly I remembered our conversation from last night. I’d been basically telling her for a while now that she was free to sleep with whomever she wanted, and here I was getting all protective about it. Did she want to take another lover already, or would this just be an occasional fling?



“I guess it doesn’t,” I said, my pulse quickening as I said it.



“I like that my husband wants to be protective,” she said, giving me a warm smile. “But, you don’t have to worry about anything happening with Rafe. He’s gay.”



I sputtered, “He’s what? Are you serious? He does not look gay?”



Her brow rose as she turned to me, “Oh, you can tell by looking at someone,” she said with a laugh. At my discomfort she added, “I didn’t realize you enjoy checking out other blokes, I’m sure Rafe wouldn’t mind if you chatted him up. I’d happily set it up.”



“You know what I mean,” I shot back without ire. “A lot of gay guys like you to know they’re gay—I don’t know, you just know it” I said, unable to find a politically correct way to explain myself. “Rafe just doesn’t look the type.”



“It is too bad he’s gay,” Nichole said, her smile widening, “because I’d tap that if he weren’t.”



This time it was my turn to roll my eyes, “That term doesn’t work for you. A girl can’t tap a guy.”



“Oh no?” she said, giving me a look.



I had to think for a minute, “Oh fuck, seriously? You’re talking about pegging?”



“Sure, want to try it?” the gleam in her eye was now unbearable.



“Is that one of your fantasies?” I asked.



Nichole shook her head, “It wasn’t, but I might make it one. Let’s go home and try it.”



“I don’t know,” I said, wondering how this conversation ever started and how I’d been pulled into it. “That doesn’t sound like much fun.”



Nichole’s smile was now almost feral, “It does to me.”



I pursed my lips and started the truck, purposefully ignoring her comment. After we’d exited the parking lot and were on the way to the freeway, I said, “Rafe seems like a good option. You should probably let him know.”



I didn’t turn to see it, but I knew Nichole was looking at me with a very self-satisfied grin. Fuck, a few minutes ago she was apologizing and basically throwing herself at my mercy, and now she’d positioned herself to be right back on top of the world.



“He does think you’re attractive,” Nichole said, and I could literally hear the smile in her voice.



I shook my head, but couldn’t help but smile a little, “Stop teasing already,” I said, focusing on the drive and the cars moving around me. The old Ford is a solid truck, but it takes more of an involved effort to drive compared to modern cars with all of the assist equipment packages.



“I’m not having a go,” Nichole proclaimed, “he really does. In fact, he told me again a few minutes before you arrived.”



I sat uncomfortably for a moment, “Whatever,” I mumbled, and Nichole let out a peal of laugher. “Do you to talk about, you know…” I looked to Nichole, but she sat patiently waiting for me to say it. “Does he, know about us?”



“You mean does he know I cheat on my husband?” Nichole said. I nodded. “No, we talk a lot, but not about that.” She then asked, “If I did tell him, would that bother you?”



“I don’t know,” I admitted truthfully, “Maybe not, but I think it merits a lot of discussion first.”



“I suppose,” Nichole said, “I guess I just thought a lot of people already knew, so one more wouldn’t matter.”



“But those people are all in the lifestyle already. They’re all swingers, so it doesn’t matter if they know.”



“Uh huh,” I heard Nichole’s voice say after a moment.



“What, you disagree?” I asked, chancing a moment to look away from the road and to her.



“No, not exactly,” she said quickly and then paused. “But people talk, and I’m sure some of neighbors are at least a little suspicious.”



“Maybe,” I sort of agreed. “Does that bother you?”



“That the neighbors might suspect something? No. They’re not the friendliest people I’ve ever met anyway. But we haven’t exactly tried to keep this a secret,” Nichole said. “I assumed we’d never want our families to know, god, mum would go spare, but if we keep going to these swinger parties, eventually people will know you’re my cuck-boy.”



I gripped the steering wheel tightly as I felt my heart begin to pound against my chest.



“You’ve got that look again,” Nichole said, giving me a wry smile. “You’re keen on me calling you a cuck, aren’t you?”



“It’s kind of intense,” I said, my voice strained.



“Good, you need to accept that’s who you are now. I think we’ll both be happier that way,” Nichole said matter-of-factly.



I listened as closely as I could, wanting to discern if she was putting on a show or if she was being sincere. If this was an act, I couldn’t tell.



“Are you going out with Wade this week?” I asked, taking a deep breath and trying to slow my heartbeat.



“You mean my boyfriend?” Nichole asked, and then added, “Say it Ky, you might as well start referring to him as my boyfriend.” She let out a small giggle. “I can tell you love that idea, I can see it in your face. It looks like you’re going to come apart at the seams.”



I felt almost dizzy, and wondered briefly if driving under the influence of cuckold feelings was a good idea. I made Nichole wait a full minute before I said, “Are you and your boyfriend going out this week?” My throat made a strangled noise.



“Probably,” Nichole said, and I knew she was smiling, but it was taking all my focus to not crash. “He hasn’t asked me yet, but I’ll text him tonight, I’m sure he’ll make time to see his girlfriend.”



“God Nichole, you’re really doing a number on me right now,” I confessed, my erection painfully pressing against my pants.



Nichole unfastened her seatbelt, moved to the center of the truck’s bench seat, and refastened the seatbelt there. It took her a minute because that belt always falls behind the seat and you have to fish it out. Eventually I heard the click of the belt, and then felt her hand on my crotch.



“I’m a lucky girl to have a husband that wants me to have everything,” she said appreciatively. “I’ll try to always remember that.”



With her hand on my dick, I couldn’t think of anything to say. I ended up just making a grunting noise and continued to drive. Nichole then surprised me by unzipping my pants and pulling my erect penis out.



“Does it make you hard knowing your wife enjoys sex with other men?” Nichole asked, leaning into my side, her hand gently stroking my dick.



“Yeah,” I said with a sharp nod.



“I guess that was kind of a rhetorical question. I can tell you like it,” she said, giving me a squeeze. “You know, I rather like the idea of you wearing a cage,” she said, easing her grip on my member. “There’s something very powerful about the idea of controlling you like that.”



“Is that your fantasy?” I asked.



I felt her shake her head against my shoulder, “No, but I’m starting to warm to the idea the more we explore,” she said, releasing me and running her hand down the inside of my thigh. “I’m still not ready to tell you my fantasy, but I’m getting close. I think I’ll be able to tell you soon.”



“Ugh,” I said with a laugh, “It’s killing me not knowing. You know I’ll do it, whatever it is.”



Nichole gave a nervous chuckle, “I wouldn’t be so sure. It’ll take some very open…” she suddenly stopped then said, “let’s talk about that another day. I’ve got other things I want to discuss with you.”



“Like?”



“I need you to be clear of mind when we talk,” she said, returning her hand to my dick and jacking me off much quicker, “so go ahead and cum and then we’ll chat when we get home.” She’d gained an experienced hand lately, and I knew it wouldn’t take her long to make me cum.



I nodded. “Tell me something else. Give me something erotic to think about.”



“Hmmm,” Nichole hummed and seemed to think for a moment. “Do you remember when I came up home late after surfing with Marcus about a fortnight ago?”



“Yeah.”



“You never asked why I was late.”



“I assumed the waves were good, so you stayed a little longer.”



“Actually, they were rubbish that day,” Nichole said, “but the weather was nice, so I was standing by the Jeep in my bikini as we were preparing to leave. And three of Marcus’s friends were hanging about having a chin wag with us in the car park. Marcus suddenly asked his friends if they wanted me to suck them off.”



“Fuck, are you serious, he said that?”



Nichole lifted her head and nodded, “And I did it,” she said without hesitation. “I sucked off each one. It didn’t take long, they were all extremely randy.”



“Of fuck!” I swore, squinting my eyes and then biting my lip. I was extremely close.



“Think about that cuck-boy. Your cheating wife sucked off three blokes that morning. I was kneeling on my flip-flops and sucking each of their cocks. They weren’t as large as Marcus, so it was an easy thing to take them all.”



My jaw clinched and I groaned as I came hard. For a brief moment, I drove over the raised pavement markers that split the lanes, and the truck vibrated as I ran over them. I quickly corrected and got back into my lane, but Nichole’s hand was squeezing me extremely tightly.



“Nichole,” I groaned.



“Oh, sorry,” she said, easing her grip. “I guess that was probably a bad idea.”



“Fuck that,” I said emphatically, “I was a great idea, maybe just not the safest.”



Nichole giggled and pulled up her hand. “You came a lot more than usual,” she said, holding her hand up for me to see. “Want to taste yourself?” Nichole moved her hand close to my face.



“Hey, I’m driving here,” I protested. I got a whiff of a faint metallic-like scent.



“I read that cucks are supposed to like eating their cum,” she said, her tone teasing and light. She laughed and I could see her shaking her head in my periphery vision. “God, that sounded depraved.”



“I don’t think I’m ready for that,” I said, leaning away from her hand.



“Oh, don’t be a wimp,” she chided, but ultimately pulled her hand back. “You like it when I do it.”



“Well sure, that’s different,” I said, giving her a smile.



“Oh really? You like it when your slutty wife swallows your cum?”



“Well of course. Every guy does.”



Nichole shifted next to me to where her body was slightly more turned toward me. “You know I’ve swallowed a lot of cum these last months,” she said, lifting her hand to her mouth. She stuck out her tongue and licked her knuckle, lifting a glob of whitish semen with the tip of her tongue. She closed her mouth and swallowed. “Yours is a bit salty.”



My wife then held my gaze while she licked her hand clean. I wanted nothing more than to stare at the display, but I had to keep looking away to make sure I was still between the lane lines.



“Wade’s is very sweet,” Nichole said after she’d cleaned her hand of my cum. “Marcus likes me to swish it around in my mouth before I swallow.”



“Good god, Nichole,” I gasped. “You’re going to be the death of me.”



“I hope not,” Nichole laughed again, “I have a lot more teasing planned for you.”



I put my arm around my wife’s shoulders and pulled her in tightly as we drove the remaining few miles to the house. Luckily my truck sits up higher than most of the cars around me, so I doubt anyone had seen our little display of lewdness, but I wasn’t really watching out very closely either.



For the sake of time, Nichole heated up a couple of chicken bowls that we keep in the freezer for when we don’t want to cook. She put them on the table, and we sat down to eat. I was tired after a long day at work, and I was still getting used to my afternoon biking routine, but my mind was amped and whirring a hundred miles an hour at what I suspected Nichole wanted to talk about.



“So you spoke with Morgan?” I asked after we’d taken a few bites of our meal.



Nichole nodded as she took a long drink of water. “It was, enlightening,” she said after a minute. Then, “How much did Morgan tell you at the party?”



I shrugged, “Not a lot of details,” I explained, “basically that you’d be in a business development role, and would cater to, what he called, a ‘special’ clientele. He also said that more than likely sex would be involved, at least to some degree.”



Nichole listened to me intently as I spoke, and I found myself wishing that I could hear her inner thoughts. Did she want to do this, or was she repulsed by the idea? If she was interested, was it more because she thought I might want her to go for it, or did she have her own motivations.



“As an overarching summery, I think that’s correct,” she said, looking pensive, her gaze never leaving my own. “He told me about the same. It was an, interesting, conversation.”



“Is this something you’d want to do?”



“What do you think?” she asked, avoiding my question.



I shook my head at her question, “Look, I’ll share my thoughts on it, but ultimately this has to be your choice. I got the impression from Morgan, that this wasn’t a dip-your-toe-in-the-water kind of position. He implied that there’s some serious financial upside, so I imagine he’s looking for some kind of serious commitment.”



“Quite,” Nichole said, finally breaking her gaze and taking a bite of her dinner. After a moment, she added, “He said the position started with a hundred-thousand-dollar base salary, plus a generous expense account for clothes, meals, and travel. But the commissions are where the big dollars are made. Morgen told me that Catherine, the other woman in Special Projects, made almost five-hundred-thousand-dollars last year.”



“Damn!” I said, my eyes widening.



Nichole shrugged and then nodded, “That’s life-changing kind of money.”



“I’ll say. A year of that and the house is paid for,” I said without thinking, then tried to joke, “Hell, if I had a pair of tits, I’d probably do it.”



Nichole gave me a small smile but didn’t laugh, “I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t seriously thinking about it,” my wife said, not turning away as her eyes met mine.



I felt my heart clinch and stop for a beat. “Really, you’re thinking about it?”



Nichole sighed and paused in thought for a long moment, “I’ve only thought about it,” she finally said. “That’s why I was distracted when I was driving home. I wasn’t paying any attention to my speed at the time. I’m probably lucky something worse didn’t happen.” Nichole turned the glass of water on the table between her fingers. “If Morgan would have approached me six months ago, before we started exploring, I would have turned him down straight away. But after what we’ve done—what I’ve experienced… I have to admit, I’m curious.”



“Fuck,” I breathed out, “I gotta admit, I’m a little surprised.”



“Disappointed?” Nichole asked, her eyes filled with vulnerability.



“No babe, not at all,” I said, trying to be as reassuring as I could be. “I’d probably be thinking about it too if roles were reversed. That’s a lot of money, like maybe start a family sooner kind of money.”



“I’ve had similar thoughts,” Nichole admitted, “but it feels like a slippery slope, you know.”



“I know exactly what you mean. I’m sure the laws of unintended consequences would have something to say about it. Not to mention your safety.”



“We talked about that, too,” Nichole said. “Of course Morgan was extremely reassuring that everything was planned and very safe. And then he had me spend the afternoon with Catherine to get her perspective.”



When Nichole saw that I was content to listen, she went on, “Catherine’s an interesting person. She’s at least ten years older than I am, and she’s very beautiful. Tall, blonde, long legs, large breasts, but she’s not the dumb blonde type. The woman’s brilliant, I mean extremely intelligent.” Nichole continued to turn the glass of water on the table as she spoke, the small act in itself didn’t mean much, but it made me feel like my wife was still nervous about the conversation.



“Catherine’s single, so it makes the travel she does a lot easier. She spends a significant amount of time with her clients, out on the company yacht, diving off some island in the Caribbean, or just staying at some resort in the Keys, she’s almost never home. That’s why she only keeps a small condo in San Diego.”



“Doesn’t sound like it’s the kind of job that’s conducive to a family,” I said, feeling worried about where this was going.



Nichole shook her head, but kept her eyes on the glass of water, “Morgan made sure to tell me that I would create my own schedule. Catherine likes the travel, so she takes every opportunity that pops up. But according to Morgan, there’s a lot of need here in SoCal, so I would only need to travel once in a while.”



“It could be an incredible opportunity,” I said, trying not to sound like I was for or against the idea. “But it’s also a little crazy.”



Nichole looked up, a small smile on her features, “Crazy doesn’t seem to scare us away any longer.”



I had to laugh at that. “I suppose that’s true.” Then, after a moment said, “Do you want to do it?”



Nichole sighed heavily, “I shouldn’t even consider it, Ky. But honestly, I want to think on it for a few days. I can’t stop thinking about how much of a difference that money would make. I don’t have any desire to live like the Kardashians, but having some extra money to get some furniture, and have a little nest egg saved in the bank would make me feel a lot more secure.”



“Nichole,” I said, pulling her attention back to the present. It felt like she’d been lost in her thoughts. “Don’t worry about the money. There’s no amount of money in the world that matters if this isn’t something you want to do. Really, we have options, we’re getting by.”



Nichole nodded, “You’re right of course, but it’s hard not to think about—but don’t worry, I understand what you mean. And I know we’re getting by, I’m fine with that, but I worry that I might get sacked if I don’t take the position. If it wasn’t for Rafe closing some of my deals, I would have probably been tossed out weeks ago.”



“We’ll be fine, we’ll figure it out,” I reiterated. “Even if that happens, something else will work out.” I eyed my wife until she nodded in agreement.



A few minutes went by and we returned to our meals. I started to think about a recent work assignment when another thought popped into my mind. “Hey,” I said suddenly. “Did that stuff in the parking lot actually happen?”



Nichole’s eyes rose and met mine, a shapely brow raising ever so slightly, “Maybe you should go surfing one morning and find out…”



Chapter 39
Three days had gone by since Morgan had offered me the Business Development position, and I had thought of little else during that time. Thankfully, Ky had more-or-less left me alone to work out for myself whether this was something I wanted to do or not. I knew what my libido was thinking, I’d needed to bring extra knickers to work because I seemed to be in a constant state of arousal. Even the two mornings I had spent surfing, and shagging, Marcus, had not sated my desire. If anything, that time had only served as an appetizer.



My thoughts were almost always directed to Wade, how he made me feel, how he’s woken me from a slumber I never realized I was in. Part of me felt like I was neglecting my husband, but it seemed like the more I thought and talked about sex with Wade, or possible others, the more excited he got. The more I indulged, the happier he appeared to be. It was a dichotomy to be sure.



Suddenly, Catherine poked her head into my cubical, interrupting my thoughts. “Got a minute?” she asked, leaning against the low wall of the cubicle’s entrance. She was dressed in a dark, fitted suit with a white collared shirt that was open enough to show off a small amount of cleavage. She wore high heels that displayed her perfectly painted nails. Given her position in the company, I’d assumed she would have dressed the part of ‘corporate slut’ with short skirts and skimpy tops. But I had to admit, she rocked the conservative workwear.



“Sure,” I said, turning in my chair and closing the lid to my laptop.



Catherine looked around the large office as if checking to see if anyone was close enough to hear what she might say. She needn’t have bothered, there were few people that ever came to the office with any consistency, and it was already well-past quitting time. The tall blonde woman took the only other chair in my small cubicle.



“I just wanted to swing by and see how you were doing,” she said, giving me a small smile. The woman was gorgeous, enough so I wondered briefly what it might be like to kiss those lips of hers. If I’d been a bloke, I probably would have been falling arse over kettle.



“Fine thanks,” I said reflexively, then, “trying to stay awake while going through the last of the mandatory HR training videos.”



“I remember those,” Catherine said, putting one knee over the other as she casually crossed her legs. “It’d be interesting to watch them again though—to see how many company policies I’m breaking on any given day.” She laughed and rested her elbow on the desk next to her.



“You lead an interesting life,” I said.



Catherine gave me a conspiratorial look at that, “And you can, too. If you want,” she said, leaning forward slightly. “Have you given Morgan’s offer anymore thought?”



“That’s about all I have thought about,” I confessed. “I’m simply unsure how one makes the leap,” I had to pause for a moment to think about what I meant. “The actual work—the business part, the sales, the client relations—that’s standard day-to-day stuff. But actually going to bed with a client, a complete stranger, that’s, well, a bit concerning.”



Catherine’s smile grew as she held my gaze in her own. “I saw a video of certain dark elf slut a few days ago, and I’ve got to say, she didn’t look like she was afraid of much. That was one of the hottest things I’ve ever seen.”



I felt the blood rush to my neck and head, and I was relatively certain I was displaying a brilliant blush, “That was different,” I said in whisper.



“Uh huh,” she said dismissively, “let me just say this girl, if you can do that, there’s nothing in this new position that would phase you in the least.”



I inhaled a deep breath and let it out slowly, “I don’t know, it feels very risky to me.”



“That’s understandable, Nichole. I felt the same way at first, but I can promise you this, you’re building it up in your mind to be much more than it is.”



“What do you mean?”



“Look, I’m speaking from my own experience here. I was feeling the same way you are now, so trust me, I know,” she explained. “How about this,” Catherine began again, “We have a potential new client that’s coming next week. His name is Arthur, he’s French but speaks good English, and he works as a procurement specialist for their National Health Insurance. Do you speak any French?” Catherine suddenly asked.



I nodded, it was something I’d studied in school when I was still living in England. “I’m fluent enough unless the conversation gets to be very specific about a unfamiliar topics. Then I’m lacking a little in vocabulary.”



“Any other languages?” Catherine continued to probe.



“Some Italian and Spanish,” I said, but I’m out of practice.



“Still, you’re light years ahead of most of us. You’ll get a fair amount of opportunity to practice should you so choose.” Catherine waved her hand dismissively. “I’m getting off topic. If you’re open to the idea, I’d like for you to meet up with Arthur when he’s in town. Spend some time with him, let him tell you what his needs are, and see what you can to do meet those needs.” Catherine paused briefly and recrossed her legs. “I need to explain something to you, Nichole. Arthur is like a lot of our clients. He works primarily for the government, but he’s extremely connected to companies all over the world. So while we’re working to sell medical equipment, it’s not uncommon to end up in the middle of a very different business deal.”



I sat back in my chair, my body stiffening slightly, “Like?”



“Arthur is connected to international shipping companies, farmers that own tracts of land larger than Iowa, and all types of mining operations. He’s basically a broker for anything he can make money on, commodities, futures, precious metals, medical equipment… he’d be extremely valuable to us as we grow our own network.”



“So there are times when you do deals that have nothing to do with Global Medical?” I asked, struggling to follow along.



“Of course,” Catherine replied quickly. “The Special Projects Division is set up to do any kind of deal that will make us money. We have almost total freedom to do whatever we want. But in order to be successful, you have to start building those relationships. And I thought Arthur would be a good start.”



“And would Arthur be expecting to sleep with me?” I asked, surprised at the feeling of willingness that suddenly possessed me.



“I’m sure he wouldn’t turn it down if you made yourself available, but if you find you’re uncomfortable with it, give me a call, and I’ll step in.”



I sat in thought for a long moment and didn’t speak.



“This might be a good way for you to see what it’s like, and it’s local, so you wouldn’t have to be out of town. But if you find it’s not for you, then simply let me know and I won’t pester you anymore.”



I bit my lower lip for a moment as I considered the idea. I knew a part of me wanted to do it, Catherine’s lifestyle seemed so exciting and filled with adventure, much more thrilling than the everyday monotonous routine I’d fallen into lately. And I knew Ky would support an exploratory step like what Catherine was proposing. Every time the subject of my potential job change came up, he got this randy look in his eye.



“Would sex be expected on the first meeting?” I asked.



Catherine shrugged, but her smile didn’t faulter, “It wouldn’t be turned down,” she said, giving me a subtle wink. “Arthur is quite handsome, but ultimately it would be your decision.”



It took a long moment to make my decision, or maybe it was more accurate to say it took a long moment to work up the courage to admit to myself what I wanted.



“Alright,” I said with a single nod. “I’ll give it a bash, see how it goes.”



“Excellent,” Catherine said enthusiastically, her smile reaching her eyes. “I’ll work out the details and send you his contact information. It might be easiest if you were to pick him up from the airport… Nichole?” she asked, probably seeing me wince.



“I kind of lost my license recently,” I admitted, embarrassed to my core. “Rafe’s been giving me ride’s to-and-from work this week.”



“Oh, you bad girl,” Catherine said, a look of genuine surprise on her features.



“I didn’t used to be,” I said defensively. For a moment I felt an urge to argue the point, but looking at it from her point of view, I could see why she’d said what she’d said.



“Hmmm,” Catherine hummed, giving me a skeptical look. “What did you do to lose the license, is it an interesting tale?”



I flipped my hands up in a casual gesture, “Not a particularly interesting tale,” I said, “I had a bad couple of months and got loads of speeding tickets. Then one time I made an illegal turn, and the officer said it was reckless—that was two points, and the last one was for driving on a suspended license… and speeding.”



“Wow,” Catherine said, her eyes wide, “I have to say, I think I misjudged you. You give off this innocent, good-girl vibe, but you have a naughty streak a mile wide.”



“I don’t know about that,” I said, feeling slightly uncomfortable at the thought. “Just a rash of bad decisions lately.” A laugh escaped me as I thought about how much had happened to me this year.



“I think the proof is in the pudding, love,” Catherine said, an obvious look of amusement on her face. “But that does give me an idea. I’ve known Rafe for years, and he might be someone Morgan might want to consider bringing into Special Projects.” Catherine’s lips pursed as she thought. “I’ll talk to Morgan about it, but for now, we can have him play chauffer for your date with Arthur.”



“Catherine,” I said, suddenly feeling very apprehensive. “I trust Rafe, but wouldn’t that be a bit, unusual.”



“Rafe’s good people. I’ll talk to him.”



I inhaled a deep breath and straightened out my fingers, laying the palms of my hands on my knees. “Alright, I’ll meet with Arthur,” I said more calmly than I felt, “but that’s all I’m committing to.”



“Excellent,” Catherine stood, “I’ll bring the information by in the morning and leave it on your desk. You’ll want to give all a read through before you meet, but he doesn’t land until almost noon tomorrow, so that should give you the time you need.” I thought she was done speaking with me, but then added, “Remember, Arthur’s not used to the American way of getting-right-to-business. He’s going to want to get to know you first, talk about the weather, life, whatever. Don’t rush things, okay?”



I nodded at her instructions, feeling my heartbeat increase as I thought about what I was agreeing to. Yet, there was a chance nothing would happen, and we’d spend the entire time talking about the weather. And I was English, talking about the weather was part of our national identity. “Do you have any recommendations on dress?” I asked.



“Professional, with maybe a hint of unprofessional,” she said, pressing her index finger to her lips as she looked me up and down. “You’re not meeting him as a cheap prostitute. You’re a professional that’s there to do a job. The after-hours entertainment is only a part of the equation. Our job is to make money through building strong, long-term relationships. Little-by-little, you’ll get to know these clients extremely well.”



“I understand,” I said with a nod. “What about my wedding ring, does it matter if I wear it or not?”



“Good question,” Catherine said as she stepped toward the cubical’ s exit, “Go ahead and wear it, but use your own discretion going forward. You don’t want to mislead anyone, because like I said, we’re working on building good relationships of trust. The worst thing you could do would be to act some part. Simply be yourself, have fun, but get business done.”



I felt a little dizzy as I walked out to the car park where Rafe was waiting for me in his car. He drove a Ford Shelby GT500. I know that because my husband hadn’t stopped talking about it since Rafe dropped me off at the house that first day and Ky got a look at it. At least it was a good icebreaker between my husband and coworker. The two actually seemed to be becoming mates.



“Hey Hot Wheels,” Rafe said, using the new nickname he’d started calling me after he learned that I lost my license. Ever the gentleman, Rafe opened the passenger door for me, and I got in fastened my seatbelt. He then got in and started the car, the engine flaring to life and emitting a throaty rasp that was almost defining if you were standing outside.



“Saw you talking with Catherine, mind if I pry?” Rafe asked, resting his hand on top of the steering wheel as he drove.



I’d been working with Rafe from the first day I’d started working at Global Medical, so I felt like I knew him well. He was charismatic and easy to like, and it was nice to have a friend that had no sexual interest in me. He was definitely on the masculine side of the male spectrum, which made the fact that he was gay all the more interesting. Most blokes were like my husband and never would think in a million years that Rafe was gay, but if you looked closely, he gave off a few clues.



Rafe was fit and worked hard to keep himself in excellent condition, but unlike a lot of blokes, he paid extremely close attention to his clothes. I’d never seen him with a wrinkled or stained shirt or trousers, he had an eye for fashion, and would wear a bow tie on occasion—that he tied himself. The man was also something of a gossiping hen at times, at least he was that way with me. He was an extreme juxtaposition of personality traits.



“No, I don’t mind,” I said, answering his question, “but it’s a bit of a loaded topic.”



I saw Rafe shrug in the corner of my eye, “We’ve got time, traffic is extra thick today.” Rafe pointed to the Waze app on his cell phone that was attached to the car’s dashboard. The line that marked our route was solid red.



“Ugh,” I sighed. I wasn’t really in the mood to sit in traffic. “I feel like I’m wasting my life by sitting in traffic.”



“I feel you there,” Rafe agreed.



I made myself comfortable and moved the vent on the dashboard to keep the cold air from blowing directly on me. “Morgan talked to me earlier this week about moving to the Special Projects Division in the company. I haven’t given him an answer, so I think Catherine came by to talk to me about it since she’s in that division.” I explained. “She said she was going to talk to you tomorrow to see if you might have any interest.”



“Seriously?” Rafe asked, his brow raised. “Catherine’s always been tight-lipped about the work she does, but whatever it is, it must pay well. I know she’s pulled down some big contracts for the company, so if it pays well, I’m in.”



“It probably does pay well, but it’s not so straightforward.”



“Meaning?” Rafe asked.



“I’m not sure how much I can talk about. I mean they haven’t sworn me to secrecy to anything, but it’s definitely sensitive information.”



“I don’t want you to tell me anything that will get you in trouble,” Rafe said, turning briefly to meet my eyes before returning his attention to the road, “especially if Catherine’s going to call me tomorrow, so just tell me what you think you can.”



After a moment to think, I said, “The Special Projects Division is supposed to target a specific clientele—calling it a Division is a bit of a stretch because basically, Catherine is the Division. She works to cultivate and build relationships with the targeted clients.”



“Sounds like what we do,” Rafe said bluntly.



“Yes,” I conceded, “but we don’t sleep with them in order to close a deal.”



I suddenly felt the car jerk under me as Rafe coughed and sputtered in surprise. My head actually lightly tapped the window next to me. I really have to be more careful not to distract the driver, or it might go poorly one day, I thought.



“You’re kidding me, right?” Rafe said, quickly correcting the car’s path. “Haha, yeah, you got me there… you’re joking, right?”



I shook my head and his eyes widened. “I’m not having a go,” I said, keeping my tone serious.



Rafe blew out a loud breath through pressed lips, “Well shit,” he swore, which was something he rarely did. “I guess Catherine puts the ‘Special’ in Special Projects.”



That made me chuckle, “I suppose so.”



“And they approached you to join,” Rafe said in more of a statement, “and you didn’t turn them down flat, so that means you’re considering it? Does Ky know?” he asked, working the details out for himself in his head. “You can tell me to shut up if I hit on something too personal,” he quickly added.



“It’s fine,” I said, feeling a surprising sense of relief in talking to someone about this, “and Ky knows—some of it anyway.”



“He’s okay with it?” Rafe asked.



I tilted my head slightly and shrugged, “It’s complicated,” I said. Then, after a moment I asked, “If I tell you something, will you swear to keep it private?”



“Of course,” Rafe said, completely serious now. “You know you can trust me.”



“Thanks, I know,” I said, and then went on to tell him about the sexual exploration Ky and I had been doing, and my husband’s affinity for me to sleep with other men. I told him about the Halloween party, and Morgan speaking with my husband. He listened intently, but I could tell I was blowing his mind. When I finished, he was silent for a long several minutes.



Finally, he spoke, “Nichole, if I woke up tomorrow with my head sewn to the carpet, I wouldn’t be more surprised than I am now.”



“Surprise,” I said, my tone a mix of satire and coyness.



“Oh my god, Nichole,” Rafe said, shaking his head as he laughed, his features filled with disbelief. “You dirty little slut.”



“Hey,” I said in mile protest, even though he didn’t say it as a put-down. “It didn’t used to be this way,” I continued, “I’m still bloody shocked that we’ve done as much as we have… Sometimes I really think I’ve lost the plot, but to tell you the truth, it’s been rather liberating.”



Rafe laughed and rolled his eyes, “I just can’t believe it,” he said rhetorically. “And you said Catherine wants to speak with me about moving into this division?”



I nodded, “She said she was going to speak with Morgan about it first, but I think she’s got something else in mind for you than Morgan does with me.”



“Morgan’s always treated me extremely well. I don’t really know him outside of work… I had no idea he was into swinging,” Rafe said, obviously surprised as he processed the information I’d given him. “Anyway, Morgan’s one of the smartest guys I’ve ever met, so if he’s pushing to create this Special Projects idea, it’s because there’s something to it. There’s a demand for it. He’s also someone I’d never cross. He doesn’t suffer fools.”



“He can be a bit intimidating,” I said, remembering how he made me feel when I met with him alone in his office. “I don’t know…” I said as a particularly long silence passed between us. “…when you boil it down, it really is selling sex. I think I’ve been trying to find a way to justify it in my own mind, but it doesn’t matter what color you paint it, it’s still about sex.”



Rafe once again turned to me, “I would understand if you did it,” he said. He seemed to notice my confusion and clarified, “I’ll use everything under the sun to make a sale—as long as it’s legal. We all use whatever assets we have at our disposal to get ahead.”



“So the end justifies the mean?” I quipped.



“I don’t know that it needs justification, as long as you’re not mentally flogging yourself over it,” Rafe replied. “Who knows, could be fun.”



We talked for the remainder of the drive, eventually arriving at my house. Rafe dropped me off and as I exited the car, I saw that the main garage door was open, my car parked inside. Ky must have worked out the details to have gotten it out of the impound. With a sigh, I gave my car a long look. It wasn’t a nice car by any stretch of the imagination, but it was mine, and I felt a twinge of sadness at losing the freedom that came with being able to drive whenever I wanted.



I expected to find Ky in the house, but when I didn’t immediately find him, my mind jumped to conclusions and felt a flash of anger that he might be over with Rachel. I knew my feelings weren’t justified, but I could no more stop the anger than I could stop the sun from setting. Setting down my things from work, I went out into the back garden with the intention to go to the neighbor’s and bring my husband home.



I’d only taken a few steps outside when I found him next to the house, working on the air conditioning unit there.



“Oh,” I said in surprise, “There you are.”



My husband was sitting on the ground, an assortment of tools around him. His hands were filthy, and he had a large black streak across his cheek. When he saw me, he dropped the wrench in his hand to ground, and gave me a frustrated look.



“Air conditioner’s kaput,” he said, getting to his feet. “The compressor’s shot, and some of the coils are rusted through.”



“The realtor told us it was at the end of its life,” I said, remembering that she’d told us she thought it would probably still work a few more years. “At least summer’s behind us.”



“True,” he said with a shrug, “but we’ll still need to come up with ten to fifteen thousand dollars over the next few months to replace it.”



“Bloody hell, it’s seriously that much money?” I asked, knowing we didn’t have close to that amount, nor would we before the next summer’s heat was upon us. “We have the money we’ve been saving to go visit mum and dad. We could use that.”



Ky shook his head, “No, we haven’t seen your parents in a while, they won’t be happy with me if we don’t get there for the holidays.” Ky pressed his lips together and sighed. “I can call my old boss and pick up some side jobs. I might be able to make enough by spring.”



“But then you’d have to work nights and weekends, yeah?” I said.



Ky nodded once, “Not much choice though. Its too fucking hot to live here without AC in the summer.”



“We could always move to Bristol, don’t need air conditioning there,” I said in a teasing tone, leaning against Ky’s shoulder while we both stared at the broken AC unit.



“Or Seattle,” Ky replied deadpanned.



“They wouldn’t let you wear flipflops there. You’d have to wear Birkenstocks.”



Ky feigned a shudder, “Dread the thought.”



That’s something I loved about my husband. He was not only good at home repair and building whatever home improvement project he wanted, but he had a great ability to roll with the punches and not get too burdened down. He simply dug in harder to solve the problem. I had the opportunity to do the same. Maybe not in the same way, but all I had to do was make a choice and we could instantly be able to not only afford a new air conditioner, but plane fare, Christmas presents, and the rest.



“Ky, we need to talk,” I said, taking him by the arm and nudging him toward the door.



Ky, however, held his ground, “Ok, let me put away my tools, and I’ll be right in.”



“It’s about Morgan’s proposal.”



He turned and looked at me. “Tools can wait.”