A series of bizarre coincidences killed Charlie Edwards' husband, Graham. No one could have foreseen it, how can anyone see into the future? That fateful deadly day, began much like so many previous, insignificant weekdays. There had been many other, much more significant days in their lives; the day they met, fell in love, first had sex, were engaged, got married, moved into their first house in Witney, their second, present home in Banbury, along with a few other special days; all of these held some significance. This Tuesday would be significant for Graham because he would die, violently, agonisingly, slowly, and for Charlie, who would begin to die along with him.
Graham had become, over the previous several years, a well-respected member of the community he served. He helped to run a clinic of five General Practitioners in Banbury, his home-town. He also attended the Psychiatric Clinic in the Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford two mornings a week. Charlie held a partner's position in a highly regarded design studio in Banbury. Milton & Quest Design Studio specialised in graphics and design layups in high-end women's fashion magazines. Their clients included some of the most prestigious monthly magazines. The Richardson's lived in a large detached house surrounded by a large, neatly kept garden.
The significant day they met occurred over seven years ago when they were both at University in Oxford. She had just begun a post-graduate Master's degree in English Literature and History while Graham attended a post-graduate course in Clinical Psychology. They collided whilst cycling around Radcliffe Square, which is not, in fact, square but a large oval. They were both on their way back from lectures. Students cycle in both directions around the square; collisions are frequent. They tangled with each other as they tried to cross paths. He fell off, she did not. She helped him up and he thanked her profusely. It echoed the corniest "love at first sight" story. From then on, they were inseparable.
Charlie moved in with Graham after just six weeks of going out together every day. They lived for nearly two years on his sixty-foot canal boat, "Tinkerbelle" moored on the River Cherwell. They moved the boat around to avoid paying rent, making good use of the rivers and canals criss-crossing Oxford. They lived a simple life in the cramped conditions on the boat, learning to live in close proximity with each other. They cycled many miles, exploring the countryside around the city. They quickly found the more remote and private spots where they made love in every location that lent itself to the activity. They marked them on a large-scale map they kept pinned inside the door of the boat. After two years, they found nineteen such places, some of them used on a regular basis.
This particular Tuesday, this soon to be significant day in both their lives, began by following a familiar and skilfully honed pattern learned over the years of their fellowship.
Charlie lay soundly and peacefully asleep in the seven feet square bed. At a quarter to seven, Graham's wristwatch vibrated on his arm. Charlie lay naked under the warm duvet. She had her back toward him. Graham moved closer. He slid his strong hands across her silken skin, circling the firm globes of her ass, down her tapering legs, gliding over her back then around and over her shoulders to hold and gently squeeze the full globes of her breasts. He gently rolled her nipples to erection. Using his skilled fingers to arouse her slowly from her slumber, he continued until Charlie turned onto her back and let her long, firm legs slide apart. Charlie pushed and kicked the duvet down around her ankles.
He began a more intimate caress, slowly up the inside of her thighs, over her flat belly, around and under her full breasts, then down again. He slid his right hand over the neatly trimmed pale-blonde hair between her legs. His middle finger dipped between the folds of soft flesh. She allowed him complete control, not moving, not stirring under his expert ministrations. She began the long climb along the winding path, slowly but surely to an orgasm. His fingers worked their magic on her bud, sliding back and forth over the slick skin. His finger, just the middle finger at first, slid gently inside the now moist lips. He dipped as a hummingbird would, delicately, with the slightest vibration. He took just enough of the clear fluid from inside her to keep the lubrication around her clitoris just perfect. He maintained a steady and unhurried rhythm, just the way she liked. She taught him well in the early years of their relationship. His thumb pressed and rubbed on and around the erect nub of flesh, the centre of her whole universe right now.
Charlie lazily drew her long legs up and apart, her heels rising off the bed, her hands gripping her knees, pulling them wide apart, and offering him the best possible access to her sex. She used her elbows and shoulders to lever her hips upwards as the final moments approached. Charlie gazed deep into his eyes as she began to come, frowning slightly in intense concentration. She cried quietly, a keen wailing noise and hissed through clenched teeth as she shuddered under his fingers. She felt the moment approach, the flashing pulse of heat from deep within, the electric shock of pleasure that ripped through her consciousness. Her head went back, her neck tightened, her breathing stopped, her chest suffused an orgasmic red. His fingers flew, her clitoris exploded, her breasts shuddered in time to her own violent vibration. Her body curled, she looked closely at Graham's fingers doing their magic on her clitoris. Her wail rose to a scream. She shook, hissing the words,
"Yes! Yes! Yes!" as she came in great flashing bursts of pleasure. She scissored her legs closed, her body shaking and shuddering with the intensity of her orgasm. She fell back onto the bed. She clamped his hand captive as she squeezed every ounce of pleasure from him.
Charlie lay there, a small death, almost unconscious from the lack of breath. Moments later she gasped, a huge inflow of life giving air. She floated dreamily for a moment in the comforting warmth of their Victorian four-poster bed. Graham rested on his left elbow and studied her face, smiling at the intensity and depth of her pleasure.
