“I was just wondering when you were going to acknowledge your wife.”
He sighed.
“I haven’t had a wife in so long I wouldn’t begin to know how to address her.” He said coolly.
I took another sip of my tea crossing my legs.
“Wow, why so snippy? You act as if I cheated on you.”
He smiled.
“The jury is still out on that one.”
I hated when he talked to me like that.
“Are YOU accusing me of cheating? That is the funniest thing I have heard all day.”
He rubbed his hands over his eyes. He walked over to the table and took a seat next to me.
“Maria, I found a pair of your panties in the kitchen.” He chuckled.
I dropped my eyes and just stared at my tea. I was hoping he would not read much into that.
“Maria, do you want something from me?”
There were so many things that I wanted. I wanted to keep my secret buried. I wanted my life back. I wanted my self-respect back, but what did I want from Michael?
“Yes, Michael I have a proposition for you.”
His eyes narrowed.
“What kind of proposition do you have in mind?” He skeptically asked.
This was it I thought. This was my last chance. This was my last resort. I need this marriage to work. The cover it afforded me allowed me to make my family happy and keep my secret locked in this little box forever. I needed him to stay.
I cleared my throat.
“Well, it seems the main issue in our marriage centered on sex.”
He chuckled a little and shook his head.
“Dear, let me finish.”
He sat at attention folding his arms across his chest.
“Ok. I want to offer you a way to have your cake and eat it too.”
He smiled.
“I do not see that as a possibility. Maria, would you stop beating around the bush and get to the point? I have an appointment in a few minutes.”
“With Maxine?”
He froze. He started to say something then stopped. I took a sip of tea.
“Yes Michael. I know about your little dark beauty. She is quite something if you like that sort of thing.”
His eyes, finally showing some emotion, flared.
“If I like that sort of thing, huh? How did you find out about Maxine?”
I uncrossed my legs.
“Well, I went through your things and found her number tucked away in your desk drawer, in your second cell phone and I read every text message that you two sent to each other.”
He started to speak.
“Oh dear, I knew you would be angry, but I had to see who got you so worked up.”
His green eyes were full of fury.
“And…” I said standing, taking my mug to the sink. “We had a very nice chat at lunch today.”
I am certain he is no longer just angry. He is livid.
“You had lunch with Maxine?”
I smiled.
“Oh yes dear. It was a very interesting conversation. For some reason we talked an awful lot about you and I even offered her the same deal.”
He ran his fingers through his hair.
“What is this proposition Maria?”
I walked back over to the table and took a seat.
“I am proposing you continue this sexual relationship with Maxine on a confidential basis and also continue to be a good father and husband to me and your beautiful sons.”
He chuckled.
“So you want me to stay with you and have Maxine on the side for the rest of our lives?”
“Yes.”
He leaned back in his chair folding his arms across his chest with a smile on his face.
“There are quite a few problems with this deal.” He pointed out.
How can there be a problem? I am offering him every man’s dream. What could possibly be an issue?
“What could you find wrong with this deal?”
He leaned in across the table.
“For starters, we no longer make each other happy and there is no way Maxine would agree to be on the side for the rest of her life.”
“Does she not want you that badly?” I said.
Though I needed him to take this deal, a part of me wanted to push his buttons.
He reached over and grabbed my hand.
“Do you really want to stay in this unhappy marriage? I know I do not and will not. I care about you Maria. You are the mother of my children and you will always be a part of me, but I cannot do this anymore.”
This conversation was not going the way I planned. He stepped from the table and started to walk out. I could not let him leave. A wave of new emotions took over and I could not control myself. I grabbed him and he swung around to face me.
“Don’t you dare walk away from me!” I screamed at him.
Tears started to cascade down my face.
“You are not just going to leave me.”
Concern clouded his green eyes and he wrapped his arms around me as I cried. This was the first time in a long time that I let him touch me. Maybe it was because I knew it wouldn’t lead to sex. We stayed that way for a few minutes then he sat me in a chair at the table.
“Look, Maria. You have to finally be honest with me. I need to know. Are you truly still in love with me? I need to know.” He said searching my eyes for an answer.
I wanted to tell him that I did love him. That I needed him to stay, but for some reason, the words never made their way out my mouth.
“If you truly love me Maria, say it and I will stay. I will stay and we can keep on trying to work it out. Screw any other woman. I will be the man and the husband that you need. Just say the words.”
I was stunned by his words. Those were the same words Maxine wanted me to say earlier. I was still struggling.
“Do you still love me?” I said softly
He sighed
“I love you. You are the mother of my children. I will never stop caring or loving you. All you have to do is say it. Say that you love me and I won’t go anywhere.”
He reached over and softly caressed my cheek.
“I love you Michael.” I knew that those words would keep him here and keep our family intact. I needed him to stay.
I closed my eyes. I felt him lean over and kiss me. I kissed him back for the first time in months. I felt his tongue find mine and something occurred to me.
Kissing him did not satisfy me the way it did when Selena kissed me.
I had to know. I had to know if what I felt for her was real. I moved and straddled Michael. He seemed surprised, but did not stop me.
He lifted me onto the table and continued to kiss me softly. I didn’t object when he unbuttoned my blouse exposing my white laced satin bra. He placed kisses down my neck and slowly let his tongue flick in and out. I was done with the foreplay so I grabbed his pants and unzipped them.
He must have felt my urgency so he released his hard throbbing cock and slipped his hands under my skirt slowly stroking me through my panties. He pulled them down my legs and tossed them onto the floor.
When I felt his tongue gently graze my clit I felt a sense of
déjà vu
. It felt so good, but it wasn’t the same. When he entered me I was not prepared. I held on as he thrust in and out.
He felt such passion and pleasure. I could see it in his face. Right before he came inside of me, he called out my name and told me how much he loved me.
I watched him as he sat in the chair catching his breath.
“Wow that was amazing.” He said smiling.
I didn’t move.
I don’t think he noticed that I felt disgusting.
“I’m going to go clean up.” He said.
He kissed me on his way out
Driving in my car, I noticed spring was settling in beautifully. The trees were lush and fecund and the birds were back singing happy tunes.
On this day in particular, I would have went to the park with Julia, but Michael called and he wanted to meet me.
Lately when he called I would come running it seemed.
Over time, I have gotten used to having him around. I longed for his voice, his smile, and the sensations he gave me when I was near him.
It turned from a “good fuck” to “making love” quite quickly. Even when he called me and asked me to meet him, I was giddy. Giddy? I have not been “giddy” in years.
Sigh.
I swore after my last relationship, I would not fall for anyone. After Timothy, the sun didn’t shine so bright anymore. I spent my time locked in Mikey’s apartment moping around and crying for days. When I finally emerged I was different. I was a different woman and someone I didn’t recognize.
Being with Michael has begun to put me back in touch with the person that I used to be and I love him for that.
That’s right. I love him.
I was in denial for a while, but after meeting with his crazy ass wife I knew that my feelings ran deeper than just sex. I also realized why he was running away from this woman. I had to admit she had balls for offering me a deal like that, but she’s still crazy.
Through all of this I thought about my friendship with Mikey. I knew that if I pursued anything with Michael I would lose Mikey as my friend. That made me very sad.
It was hard to choose between them, yet I knew that Michael was the man I loved and I could not just let him go. He made it clear to me we belonged together and he truly loved me. I hoped eventually Mikey would see how much we loved each other and forgive me.
I knew I was in denial. I would never be friends with the person that was fucking my father.
Hell no!
Yet I knew Mikey had seen me at my lowest. He saw me whining and whimpering and picking my battered and bruised self off the floor after Timothy.
I knew he wanted me to be happy and I was hoping for a chance the happiness his father brought me would be enough. That is the only thing that made me feel a little better about this decision.
My decision to choose Michael.
I pulled into the parking lot of a Mom and Pop diner that according to Michael has really good food. He insisted we come here. It was pretty far and I was wondering why he picked this place.
I walked in and I immediately spotted Michael sitting in the booth in the back by all the windows. He waved me over and I made my way over to him.
Boy, did he look good.
He was just in a causal black t-shirt and blue jeans, but it looked so rugged and sexy. He stood and we embraced before I slid into the booth across from him.
He smiled.
“You look beautiful today.”
He was smiling but there was something hidden in his eyes. He didn’t seem as happy as he tried to make it appear.
“Thank you, baby.”