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This story contains graphic scenes, language, and actions that might be extremely offensive to some people. These scenes, words, and actions are used only for the literary purposes of this story. The author does not condone murder, racism, racial language, violence, rape, or violence against women. Any depictions of any of these in this story should not be construed as acceptance of the above.
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Chapter 06 - Unexpected Encounter
"I want to go to that club this weekend, Dan," I blurted out during dinner the next night. I had decided that the direct approach was the best, although it did risk him losing his temper. I hoped I could nip that in the bud if he started losing his cool.
"What club?"
Dan tried one of his usual deflection methods, pretending he had no idea what I was talking about, hoping the topic would go away without him having to deal with it.
"You know, the one we talked about in the city. The one Mandy invited us to."
"I thought we already discussed this?"
Dan's tone had changed slightly, letting me know he was somewhat annoyed. This was typical of him, escalating things slightly, hoping I would sense his frustration and back down.
"I know we did, but I've been thinking about it more, and I think it would be fun. At worst, we can have a good laugh about it after, right?"
I tried to keep the mood as light as possible, not wanting to give him anything he could use to escalate things further. Dan paused before answering, looking down at his plate. This was the moment of truth. I observed his body language closely, trying to determine whether or not I had already pushed him too far.
"We already agreed on this," he sighed. "Why do we need to discuss it all over again until you get your way?"
His sigh told me I had managed to keep things from blowing up. So far, so good. Now it was time to convince him.
"It's not about me trying to get my way, Dan. It's about us doing something fun together. I just don't want us to decide not to go and then end up regretting it later."
I tried to keep the focus on us, not me, but I could feel my stomach tensing as I spoke. I knew deep down that he was right. I did want to go, and I wanted him to agree to it. I had wanted to tell him everything that I was feeling. About how I had spanked myself last night and how turned on it had made me when I imagined him doing it to me, but I couldn't.
"Why is this so important to you, Abby?"
I could tell Dan was now searching for anything he could find to convince me we shouldn't go. I needed to keep this positive and about us.
"I just think we should live a little, you know? Experience something new together."
"You know how your parents would feel if they found out about something like this. Don't you?"
Dan tried to play my parents against me, and he was right again. My parents would be devastated if they knew that I had wanted to do something like this, but it's not like they would ever find out.
"Are you going to tell them? Because I'm not."
"No, of course not," he shook his head, adding, "but word gets around, you know. What if it got out in the community? How would that affect your real estate business?"
He made another good point, and I had to admit I hadn't thought about that. It was a small, tight-knit conservative community, and gossip had a way of traveling faster than the wind. If something like that got out in the community, it could really affect my business.
"OK, fair point, you're right. But again, it's only you and I who would know, Dan. So who will tell them? It will just be our little secret."
"Famous last words," he grumbled, "nothing good ever comes from secrets."
"Look. We'll go and stay for half an hour. Walk around and see what it is like, and then, if you want to, we can leave."
"This is stupid, we already agreed we weren't going to go, and yet here we are having the same conversation. Why can't anything just be decided and done with?"
I could tell that Dan was running out of objections and that this was a last-chance effort to try and put me on the defensive, still hoping I would apologize for bringing it up and let it go. But I had come too far to back down now.
"Dan, are you really going to sit and accuse me of always bringing things back up to get my way? You know I never do that. We almost always do things your way, and I'm fine with that. But just this once, I'd like for us to go to the club together."
"I just don't understand why this is so important to you, and the other night, asking me to choke you? Where the hell did that come from anyway? Jesus, it's like you are turning into a different person or something."
I had been worried the other night would come up again, but now Dan's real issue was clear. He was afraid of losing me. If I could reassure his fears, I knew he would say yes to the weekend. I walked over to him, putting my arms around his shoulders.
"It's still me, Dan. I'm still Abby, the woman who loves you and wants to marry you. I... I don't know. I just want to live a little bit. All my life, I've been so sheltered. I just thought we could do something like go to this together for fun. It doesn't change who we are. It's still just you and me against the world."
Dan looked up at me, and just for a moment, I thought I detected a hint of longing sadness in his eyes before he smiled at me.
"Maybe you're right, Abby. OK, I'll go, but if it's awful, we are leaving."
"I promise," I smiled. "Thank you, Dan!"
***
Later that night, as I lay sleeping peacefully next to Dan, I dreamed again of the wolf. It was nighttime, and we lay in the still forest as I looked up at the clear night sky, curled beside him, feeling his warmth penetrate me.
