Final Chapter
'What am I doing?' Karen asked herself lying in bed listening to Peter snore and watching the beige curtains start to lighten as the sun began to rise the morning after her escapade in the Library with Mark. She had been sat up for most of the night, a book sat face down and open on her bedside she had read four chapters before realising she had no idea what was going her mind clearly elsewhere. Sitting there her husband fast asleep next to her she had let her mind wander... She had to be truthful with herself, she knew what was between Mark and her was not love but sheer lust a beast that they both found thrilling to ride. Just a brief thought of Mark sent the butterflies into motion her stomach as if she were a teenage girl again.
She had known for such a long time how Mark had felt about her, she had told him as much but she had not told him how as he got older she had also found she felt a longing for him. Their holiday had been a week long thrill for Karen, it was seeing the look in Marks eyes, that wanton gaze that made her feel so special, Peter was too dim to realise that she was dressing for the young lad not for him but it was easier to let Peter believe that it was all for him. Karen had felt excitement letting Mark see her naked back on the beach, when the bee had intervened and she had jumped to her feet, well, she knew everyone within hearing distance must have seen her tits including Mark. Peter had fucked her from behind that night and Karen had felt ashamed that she had thought of Mark and not of Peter behind her thrusting deep.
Peter rolled onto his stomach the movement silencing the snores for the time being, Karen let out a sigh Peter was a wonderful husband and father but as a lover...well he was lacking, foreplay to him was a slap on the backside and finger in her cunt for a minute before he got his cock in her, though he expected a blow job more often than not, Karen having to take him to the brink before he spilled his seed over her ample tits, she had only swallowed Peter's load once he had been ecstatic at that outcome but she told him it was not her thing. Karen blushed now remembering taking Marks surprise load, almost chocking on it and realised she had enjoyed it. One of her hands had found its way to just above her pyjama bottoms where her sex simmered with longing. She forced the hand back up, if Peter woke he would expect to get in on the show and Karen just was not in the mood for him.
Karen had showered, dressed and was in the kitchen getting breakfast ready for herself and her brood by the time Peter came downstairs, he sat at the table grabbing the morning paper as he did so one hand out clasping for his daily cup of morning coffee. James was not far behind, already dressed and looking sullen, "What's the matter?" Karen asked joining them at the table slices of toast piled high on a plate in her hands.
"Mark is being a retard," James said grabbing a slice of toast and savagely buttering it as he spoke, "he's been blowing me and the guys off the last few days, saying 'I have to get this or that' or 'university, university' blah blah, crap" He lifted the toast and took a big bite. Karen was pleased with the silence she opened her mouth to speak then James let rip again, Specks of toast flying from his mouth as he spoke. "I mean it's not like he has a girlfriend!"
Karen smiled at this, 'would I class as a girlfriend or a lover' she thought but said, "Well maybe he's being sensible, you both leave in a week and you have done nothing. What happened to all those books you were meant to buy?"
James looked at his mother with wide eyes and sighed, "Jesus mom why don't you just adopt Mark." Peter laughed at this and shook his head eyes never leaving the newspaper. James had always been so immature both he and Mark were only children so you could not blame that, perhaps it was just one of those things. Though she worried that James would find University that much more difficult if he did not grow up quickly whereas Mark seemed to be in the right frame of mind to fit in easily.
"You need to grow up," Peter said putting his newspaper down and looking directly at James, "your eighteen going on thirteen the way you act. Maybe Mark does have a girlfriend and he's just too embarrassed to let you meet her," James jaw dropped open. "Or maybe he is starting to realise that he may have out grown you." He held his sons stare a moment longer letting his little speech sink in then lifted the paper and resumed reading it.
"Your father's right in a roundabout kind of way," James attention turned to Karen, "We are not going to be around to dig you out of trouble, and Mark's your best friend talk to him before you lose him."
Mark had come out to the park reluctantly, he wanted to stay close to home in case Karen made an appearance, it had only been yesterday they had met in the Library but that felt like weeks ago now. James had come knocking all sincere which was very unlike him that Mark had felt a touch of concern for his friend as well as a little guilt at what he, Mark, was doing to his friend's mom. The guilt won out and he went with James to meet up with Brian, Oscar and Floyd. For a gathering of geeks they were quite good with a football and the morning had gone by quicker than Mark had thought. Now all five of them sat on the grass, a bottle of coke between them a healthy dose of rum mixed in, "What's going on Mark?" James asked, his face a slab of solemnity. Mark was taken aback by his friend's attitude that he had the disconcerting feeling that he knew what he and Karen were up to. "I mean the last week or so you have really changed."
Brian snorted hearing a conversation that did not involve a console game or a fantasy book and grabbed the bottle of coke and took a big swig passing it on to Floyd. "To be honest," the honest answer would not be good, but Mark could miss out a big chunk, "I'm just getting my act together. There is more to life than alcohol and porn mags. I mean were University students and we are acting like kids," he shook his head feeling good about getting this off his chest. It had been months in coming. "Maybe its time you did the same thing?" James was on his feet in a flash and stormed off.
Oscar put down his comic and looked at Mark, "If that's the sugar coated version I would hate to hear the original."
Mark had felt shitty all afternoon after that, he had stayed with his remaining three friends all of who it seemed felt the same way which made Mark feel even shittier. The sun was setting when he finally dragged himself home, he opened the gate to the front garden and only realised someone was sat waiting when he lifted his head up after he had fished the keys from his pocket. "Karen!" he said the realisation that it was the first time he had ever said her name out loud going by unnoticed. Karen pushed herself to her feet but kept low, the garden hedgerow on either side offering a little protection and keeping her secluded. "No one's home, your mom wanted help with your secret party."
The secret party was anything but, the alcohol was piling up in the house and Mark had stumbled across the going away banner and balloons that very morning. "Yeah she's working late, didn't she tell you?" Mark said the final words petering out as Karen smiled. "She must have forgotten," the days falling out with James was suddenly behind him the weight lifting from his shoulders in that little smile that Karen gave him.
It felt so naughty sneaking into Mark's house Karen was again reminded of being a teenager. Mark closed the door and locked it from the inside, "Mom will be home at about nine I think, but you can never be too careful." Karen was on him as the last word came out, their lips meeting as their hips joined a passionate embrace that surprised them both, "Wow!" Mark said croakily as they parted, Karen's face felt flushed, her heart beating wildly, it had not slowed since seeing Mark walk down the path. She took his hand and led him upstairs and to his bedroom.
"I want to see it?" she said entering the room and turning to face Mark. Mark gave a goofy smile in return and started to unbuckle his jeans, "Not that," Karen said then stopped herself, "Well that as well but I want to see the photograph of me." Thinking of that day on the beach during the night had reminded her again that Mark had a photograph of her, she was intrigued to see how good it was and to see how good she looked, and she could only imagine it must be worth keeping if Mark still had it around.
Mark was unsure about the request, he had felt rather dirty when he had admitted to having the photograph even if it was just a nod, but it was a confession never the less. He stopped undoing his jeans and went to his knees reaching under his bed and pulling out the lockbox. His hands shook with apprehension as he unlocked it Karen sat down on the bed next to the box as he lifted the lid. He rummaged about briefly and pulled out the dog eared photograph.
Karen gave a light laugh as she saw herself all those years ago. The photograph was a off centre, mainly sand with Karen filling about a third of the shot and even that was slightly blurred. Her face was red, eyes shut and mouth open wide in a scream forever frozen, her breasts looked huge frozen in flight as it were, slightly higher than she remembered them being. "Not bad. And you have had it all this time?"