Once again thanks to Millie for her infinite patience and expert editing
His Story.
As I donned my dressing gown I glanced, almost drunkenly, at the alarm clock; the flashing green light showed 01.53. The storm still raged outside, rain pelted the window as the bell sounded again more persistently this time. I was still only half awake as I reached the door to see her standing there, in the dim light almost unrecognisable from the girl I once knew. The long dark hair, of which she was so proud, hung like rat's tails over the collar of her trench coat, but it was her face that commanded my attention. What little make-up she wore was smudged and streaked, painting her face grotesquely in shades of blue and gray. I didn't speak; I could only stare at this caricature of my ex-wife.
As Claire spoke her words were almost carried away by the ferocity of the wind.
"I'm sorry, I had nowhere else to go," she sobbed.
As I looked at her my heart almost melted, almost but not quite.
"What do you want; do you know what time it is?" I asked, my anger taking over from my surprise.
"I'm sorry," she repeated, as if those two words would wipe out all the pain she had caused me or turn the clock back to those idyllic days when we had first met.
I realised that whatever differences we had I couldn't leave her standing there and I moved to one side in a silent invite. She slipped passed me, staring at the ground as she entered. Where, I thought, was the arrogance of two years ago when she left? Her parting words echoing in my ear, burning themselves indelibly into my brain, "Half of all this is mine, and I'm having it," she had said.
Was that really the same woman who stood in front of me now, dirty, dishevelled . . . pathetic?
"There are such things as hotels you know", I spat at her.
Her sobbing increased as she sat on the couch, the one we had selected so carefully together.
"I have no money," Claire mumbled, her face creased up as more crying racked her body violently.
"But you had, God only knows, how many thousands after the divorce, where has it all gone?"
"He's gambled it away, there's nothing left."
I felt the rage rising inside me and my hands shaking as I stared incredulously at her.
"All the fuckin' money I worked so hard for, you gave it to him, knowing what he was like? Are you a fuckin' idiot or what?"
Tears poured down her face as she clenched and unclenched her hands. She didn't answer.
I took a cigarette from a packet on the small coffee table, not offering her one even though I knew she smoked. I wasn't feeling terribly generous at that moment. Compassion, if not forgiveness, took over as I inhaled deeply feeling a coughing fit developing which I managed to suppress.
"You can stay, but only tonight."
She didn't answer as she stepped by me and, however sorry I felt for her at that moment, I couldn't resist a parting shot.
"You know where the spare room is, don't you? The one I occupied for days on end, or should I say nights?"
She paused half way up the stairs as I watched her.
"May I have a shower?" she whispered, without turning.
"Do what you want," I snapped back at her, "but just be gone in the morning".
She nodded and continued up to the landing.
I returned to the lounge and slumped into my favourite armchair and closed my eyes.
'What the fuck have I done?" I thought. I had just started to get my life back on track after the, somewhat, messy divorce; then suddenly she was back, like the proverbial bad penny. At this moment I saw Claire as some frightened, vulnerable child, desperate for reassurance but I knew I had to be 'hard', she'd hurt me before and I no intention of allowing her to do it again.
As I turned off the light I heard the shower start and, as I climbed the stairs, the gushing of water. I crossed the landing and noticed she had left the bathroom door partly ajar, as she used to. I glanced in and watched her through the frosted glass of the cubicle. Even with the details distorted I could see she was still as she had always been gorgeous, tall, lithe, her dark hair cascading down onto her shoulders and part way down her back. I groaned inwardly as I felt my cock stirring under my dressing gown. "Not again," I thought. "Please, God, not again."
As I once again snuggled down under the warm sheets I was more determined than ever not to be suckered into falling for her. I was still thinking that as I drifted towards sleep and felt her creep in alongside me, her body moulding itself to mine as she pushed herself tight into my back. I ignored her as I plucked up the courage to ask, no, tell her to go. But as she rested her head against my back and I felt her full breasts pushing into me my anger crept from the bedroom in much the same way as she had crept into it, and animal lust took its place.
Her hand slipped down to my waist, over my hips and onto my already hard erection, but as she moved the loose skin up and down my shaft I still had enough will power left to realise that for the first time in years it was me who had the upper hand, tonight I would dictate what happened. I smiled as I recalled all the things I wanted to do that she denied me in the past. Well, tonight would be mine.
Her story.
I could see that the house was in total darkness, even with the wind and rain lashing at my face, and I was confused, He said he would be in, waiting for me. I had completed the delivery he sent me on, it had taken all day, but I didn't mind and he did promise to have dinner waiting for me and a little play time later. With his recent lack of interest in sex it was something I could look forward to, after all, he hadn't touched me in at least two months. Although I did get worried, I knew he had money problems, he swore things would get better, just one big win that was all it would take and everything would be ok again. Stupidly I believed him.