He kissed along her collarbone, nibbling gently, hand around the back of her neck, massaging the pads of his fingers along her skin.
She sighed but not out of pleasure, it was out of frustration and disappointment.
He kissed up her neck and she found herself rolling her head away, not feeling goosebumps on her skin. He nibbled her earlobe, breath hot against her ear and she willed herself to get into it.
His hands crept down to her wrists, sliding around them, carefully, tentatively holding them down.
'Perhaps...' she tried to lift her wrists to see just how much he'd hold her down... but he relented immediately, sitting up just as fast.
"I'm sorry..." he stammered, "I'm trying... I just can't..."
He shook his head as if to rid the horrid thought from his head.
"I love you," he said sadly, "Why can't that be enough?"
She sighed, feeling like the biggest jerk in the world.
"I'm sorry..." she resigned, sitting up and dropping her head, "It is enough. I'll get used to it."
He winced and she felt him retreat from her. "You shouldn't have to just get used to it..."
She sighed as she had for months, feeling like she'd betrayed him.
His love was enough for her, she got more than enough of it, but that wasn't what she hungered for.
When they'd met, she adored the fact that he treated her well, respected her, and when they finally made love, he'd been attentive and doting. Well into their relationship this hadn't change, a fact that she had been proud of, seeing friends whose relationships wilted after two years.
No, he loved her relentlessly, always doting and lavishing affection on her, always making her feel appreciated and loved.
One day, she was buying simple lingerie and the sales girl commented about how her husband wouldn't be able to keep his hands off her tonight. She laughed, bought it, but on her way home it hit her: her husband had never had a moment where he hadn't been able to keep his hands off her.
He'd never succumb to pleasure and came to her in a moment of passion. He'd never kissed her heatedly, pushed her against the wall, or threw her onto the bed desperately.
Perhaps it was because they weren't teenagers anymore? She asked herself... Perhaps it was because they'd been together for years? She wondered... Perhaps he didn't find her heart-stoppingly attractive and worthy of such passion? She questioned...
But then she shook her head. He loved her, that was no question. He told her she was beautiful every single day. He made love to her often. He treated her as most wives wished their husbands treated them.
But she needed more. It was then when she realized that beneath the love making, the happiness at finding such a husband, that what she liked, what she hungered for was passion, for him to be rough.
She'd felt ashamed the first time she suggested for him to be more rough with her. She felt like such a slut asking her wonderful, sweet husband to hold her down or to throw her against the bed... but even saying it, she felt her blood boil at the idea.
He'd blushed, felt self-conscious, but like the good husband he was, he offered to try.
That had been six months ago. All attempts had failed and she felt worse each time, wishing she hadn't even said anything.
The idea to him was abhorrent. Why would he treat his wife with such rudeness? He loved her and he loved making love to her. Why wouldn't he? The thought of treating his wife with anything less than love disgusted him. He promised to love and cherish her, why would he ever be rough with her?
He couldn't understand her reason for asking... and it made him question.
Was she unsatisfied with their marriage? He wondered. Would she get frustrated and have an affair for what she needed? He thought. Why is love not enough? He asked.
The first time he asked her that, she felt like a monster. At only 24, married for a year, she still felt young, still felt fire. At 28, he was disappointed he couldn't please her.
She was pleased, she assured him, but she still hungered, requested more.
He tried... but each time he couldn't do it. And every time he tried more, he was terrified he'd go too far and she'd leave him.
But now, sitting with him on the bed, the two of them frustrated, she regretted ever saying anything at all. She'd never gone back to that lingerie store again.
"I don't know what I can do for you," he said sadly, "Do you want permission to have an affair to get what you need?"
He knew his suggestion was the last thing he wanted but he needed her to know he desperately wanted to make her happy.
"No, no," she assured, "Never. I don't want anyone but you. Please, let's just forget I ever said anything."
She crawled into his lap and he held her limply. They were both getting tired of this.
"I'm going to shower and then I'll meet you in bed," she offered him a kiss and headed off to the shower, considering pleasing herself while she could, knowing sex tonight would be out of the question.
He sighed, watching her go. He didn't want her to have to give up what she wanted, perhaps just tolerating having sex with him for the rest of her life.
He padded to the kitchen, staring into the fridge, when he closed it, said 'fuck it', and poured himself a little too much whiskey.
He heard her get out of the shower and he took a big sip of whiskey, feeling it burn. He winced but he liked it. She had never understood how he could drink it, she hated the burn of liquor in her throat.
He chuckled. He loved whiskey and the burn while she hated it... she liked rough sex and he avoided it.
Finishing the last drop, he poured himself more. Every sip, every burn of fire down his throat that he loved made him consider how he could, in turn, be rough with her.
He heard her close the closet door, putting on an old t shirt of his for bed. He threw back that last of his whiskey, relishing the feeling and stalked towards the bedroom, more confident that he'd felt in months.
She was rubbing lotion into her hands as she came into the bedroom, regarding him carefully as if he was still upset.
His hands went straight for the bottom of the t-shirt, pulling it up over her head as she tried stumbled back shocked, confused, frowning.
He pushed her back, the thought of apologizing glazed behind the whiskey, making her stumble.