Chapter 14 -- Finale
The time with Graham had been wonderful and in that night he completed her in a way, her fantasy had been fulfilled but in its completion she found a hollow victory. Yes, she had made love to an incredible man and he had been accepting, passionate, and a fabulous lover but he was not her Dominic the man that she had loved her her whole life. They knew they would never meet again and though they would share phone calls and emails on rare occasions their lives returned to normal. She never strayed from her marriage again but for many years she wore the guilt of her indiscretion like another scar, bravely bearing the mark so that she could still look back and remember.
Dawn returned home determined to do whatever she needed to in order to be worthy of Dom. They were happier than they'd ever been. They enjoyed a new and fuller life together; they kept fantasy night and shared a heightened more passionate sex life that they had only glimpsed before. Her fears about her body and scars gone she was free to be her self once again and revel in the joys of their love and their life together.
Several years later Dawns nemesis came back for her. The cancer had returned and this time she was angry. The first time she was strong and young she fought like a lioness, the second time was horrible and she had fought like a lamb, but this time she was just plain pissed and too goddamned tired to fight. She hated the doctors, she hated god, she hated every person around her as she stormed from the doctor's office. She started the car, turned the radio to full blast and screamed at the top of her lungs as she beat the steering wheel with her hands. Was this the price she was to pay for her night with Graham? Hadn't she already paid enough? If this was her punishment for betraying Dominic why did he have to endure this again?
A few weeks later as they lay wrapped around each other in her hospital bed she was weak and pallid, her body rebelling against the treatment and though she needed rest she couldn't sleep. Every time she closed her eyes pictures of her life flashed across the screen behind her lids so she tried to keep them open and the visions at bay but the meds were making it hard. Dom nuzzled her neck and pressed his lips to her ear
"Are you ok? Do you need something, baby?" she nodded and tried to smile remembering that night so long ago. He looked down at her and stroked her face lightly; their eyes locked in wordless conversation. She seemed so fragile as he helped her lay back he quickly brushed a tear from his cheek before taking her lips with his. His hand lingered on her face before sliding gently down her body to her heated center. His practiced fingers brought her to a quiet peak, her body barely moving instead of writhing as was her custom and yet her breath was ragged and her insides convulsed and contracted around his fingers. He whispered to her and cried with her as she came back down. As she struggled against the haze of the drugs she said softly
"Dom, I have to tell you something."
"Not now, sweetness, just rest."
"No, Dom... I need to tell you now." Her eyes lids were weighted with lead and she struggled to keep her mind clear. "I was... unfaithful once... and I am not worthy of the love you have given me." Her confession begun she told him everything about Graham the words poured forth as fast as her tears. Great sobs wracked her body and she tried to pull from his grasp but he held her fast and continued to murmur and coo to calm her.
