As Paula and Tom return to their regular routines in suburbia, they both wonder how their lives will be changed by the events of their week at the beach resort. Part 2 in the "Paula's Discovery" series.
Paula lowered her head under the intense stream of steaming water. Perhaps a subliminal attempt to clear the thoughts from her mind of the past week; the past 24 hours in particular. She still could not believe that she had willingly engaged in the activities that played through her mind like an instant replay. She relished the intense erotic feelings and the empowerment she felt from being able to shed decades-old inhibitions, but at what cost?
After ushering her temporary lover out of the room; (the fake text message from her husband telling her the fishing trip was returning early was the best she could do on short notice), Tom had ravaged her. The euphoric feelings took her back to the beginning of their relationship in college. The passion they shared last night was like the weekends when her roommate was away.
Still, she had doubt. Would the relationship she had with Tom be the same? She almost felt like that first morning after giving her virginity. As she showered that day she wondered as most girls, would her boyfriend still want her? Would their relationship grow or would he move on?
At least in that case everything worked out fine she reminded herself. That same boy was even now lying asleep in the wreck of their bed, a few yards away from the shower.
The logical, attorney side of her knew that he had encouraged her but she had seen too many times, the consequences when people decide after the fact that the result had not left them with the feelings they expected.
What would the future bring?
As she let the water rinse the last of the shampoo out of her blonde hair, she felt a presence nearby and familiar warm hands grasped her hips and pulled her gently back against his body. As one hand steadied her the other moved the familiar path upwards under her full breast and his lips found her neck.
"Do we have time for another round," he whispered in her ear.
"Not unless you want to miss our flight home," she answered.
"Ok," he said dejectedly. "With the kids at college, I doubt if they would miss us, at least until tuition was due, but Tucker would be devastated."
She laughed at the thought of their Golden Retriever sitting sadly by the front door awaiting their return.
As she pulled away from the water to begin drying, he pulled her against his still-firm, 56 year-old body and kissed her passionately.
"I love you," he said.
With the usual airport hassles behind them and the light First Class breakfast service finished, Paula began thinking about the week ahead. Two big financing packages to review and a new executive assistant to train would make for a full week in her real estate legal practice. As the Flight Attendant refilled Tom's coffee cup Paula looked up at him and smiled.
Tom returned her smile and as if reading her mind, he asked, "What was the most exciting part of the week?"
Paula looked quickly around to see if any of the other passengers might hear their conversation. 49 years of being a good girl made for conditioned responses in situations like this.
Tom smiled, knowing he had caused her a moment of panic, and said, "I don't mean the physical part, although I reserve the right to review that later." "I mean what aspect of the weekend gave you the most intense thoughts?"
Paula knew the way Tom thought and knew exactly what he meant. This was not an easy question. On one hand, the day at the beach when she stepped out of her comfort zone and walked away knowing that her butt was exposed to both her husband and the young men was probably the first turning point. It seemed laughable that in a week where she fucked a perfect stranger while her husband watched covertly, that a simple walk on the beach would even be a contender. Paula understood that the moment when she decided to allow herself to explore new feelings was the real key. The internal excitement was the real driver. The events that followed were results, not necessarily actions in and of themselves.
Paula knew Tom would not be satisfied with any simple answer so she framed her response carefully.
"It was very exciting to take on another personality, like an actress perhaps, but if I have to define one aspect, I would say it was knowing that you received such intense pleasure from watching me be someone different."
Paula looked at Tom to judge his reaction. She could tell he was pleased that she took the question seriously and didn't dodge it by talking about the nice weather or the good food. He was considering her answer and she knew that he was framing his next question. Even though he had been very successful with the software development firm he founded, she always thought he would have made a good trial attorney.
