I often have difficulty deciding on a category for a story. I chose romance but several others could be appropriate. The story surrounds an emotional affair and asks whether an emotional affair is as bad or worse than a physical one. It has elements of depression and self -harm ideation. It's also a story of one man's wake up call to try to reclaim what he lost.
It is pretty light on sexual content so be forewarned. I hope you enjoy.
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Carmen Bizet sashayed over to my desk and parked one absolutely gorgeous ass cheek on it's corner.
"So where are we going for lunch today?"
We had been having lunches together two or three times a week. It was innocent fun, we weren't serious. Of course we flirted with each other, it just seemed normal for the two of us since we worked closely together.
Carmen's family was of French descent. She had long dark hair, full and flowing. She had a robust hourglass figure. Her short skirt hiked even higher as she perched on my desk.
"I was thinking of someplace down by the water."
"We can walk the old boardwalk, sounds good."
Our boss came walking around the corner at that moment, took one look at us and shook his head.
"Why don't you two get a room? Baxter, I need to see you in my office."
"Yes sir, give me a second."
"Don't get fired." She laughed as she went back to her desk. I walked back to the boss's office.
"Have a seat. Baxter, please remind me, don't you have a wife at home?"
"Yes sir, Shelly."
"Does your Shelly knows all about your regular liaisons with Ms. Bizet?"
"I don't believe that it's ever come up in conversation."
"And you sure as hell wouldn't want to introduce that subject to her now would you?"
"She would likely be a little uncomfortable with it, but I assure you, things are not going to get out of hand."
"I don't approve of romance between coworkers, it just invites problems."
"We aren't romantically involved, sir."
"If it walks like a duck, Baxter. It sure as hell looks like an office romance to me and the rest of the staff."
"Thanks for the warning. I assure you our lunches are benign."
I got back to my desk and worked till lunch. Carmen came by and took my arm and we caught an Uber ride to the boardwalk.
We stopped at a food stall and had lobster rolls. She wanted some oysters as well.
"They are great to increase the libido."
"As if I needed any improvement!"
"I wouldn't know, you keep that side hidden from me."
"Church and State, Carmen, it's like Church and State, forever separate."
"You know, Baxter, I wish you would blur some of those hard lines of yours."
"The boss reminded me that keeping those hard lines is pretty important, to both my marriage and career."
She pulled my arm, bringing me closer to her.
"You know I don't care about the boss's silly moralizing. You know how I feel."
"I know, but it's really hard."
"It's hard because I make you hard?"
God help me my cock stiffened as she said that. Carmen Bizet was the type of woman that men started wars over. She seemed to want me but I was married and loved my wife. That said, my resolve hung by a thread these days.
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I returned home to my sweet wife, Shelly. She had made a Shepherds Pie, one of my favourite meals. Where Carmen was voluptuous and exotic, Shelly was down to earth and homespun. I absolutely adored her and I cherished the ten years we've spent together. She was a quintessential earth mother type, she looked right at home in tie-dye and denim.
"Another crazy day at the office?" She asked.
"Yeah, but I think we have a handle on things."
"Your boss says you and Carmen make a good team."
"My boss? When were you speaking to my boss.?
"He called for you a month ago, you werent home, we chatted for a while. This afternoon he called to invite me to the company barbecue party.
"I meant to tell you about the barbecue, I forgot."
I hope I didn't blush too much at the blatant lie. I had kind of hoped that Carmen and I could spend that time socializing together. Shelly has a social phobia so she doesn't fare well at these events. Now I felt guilty. Carmen was a huge temptation. Was my boss trying to warn Shelly that something was going on?
"I'm looking forward to meeting Carmen after all this time!"
Shit, Shelly meeting Carmen was something that I wanted to avoid. Nothing good was ever going to come of this but the die was cast.
The following morning Carmen and I had a coffee together.
"You'll be at the barbecue pool party this weekend right?" I asked.
"Yes, it should be fun."
"Shelly will be coming with me. The boss called to invite her yesterday afternoon."
"Oh, I was hoping you and I..."
"Not going to happen. Please don't stir up any trouble."
"Who, me?" She laughed. "I'm looking forward to meeting your better half."
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There wasn't a cloud in the sky on the day of the barbecue. Shelly was wearing one of her favourite peasant dresses. She brought along a conservative one-piece bathing suit since the boss had a pool.
We found a place to sit. I made introductions to those who didn't know Shelly. This was hard work for Shelly, she was very friendly but the social anxiety put a huge strain on her.
We had just settled in when Carmen arrived. She was absolutely breathtaking in a pair of hiking shorts that showed off her long, tanned legs. Her high wedge-heeled sandals added just the right touch. She wore a white tank top. If she was wearing a bra it must have been made of angel wings because the outline of her breasts was clearly visible. The nipples were pushing hard on the thin fabric. She came right over and stood in front of Shelly.
"Hi Shelly, I'm Carmen."
"Hi."
"I've been enjoying working closely with your husband. We are great partners."
"I've heard that," Shelly said awkwardly.
