Dear readers,
As usual this is a mixed genre story and could have been submitted under other categories. Since one of the characters discovers the thrill of exhibitionism and voyeurism I chose this one. Just a reminder that this is fiction and I may bend reality to make it fit, it's all in fun.
Enjoy
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Diane knew that this conversation with her husband was going to be difficult. She pulled up into the driveway of their modest home after a full day of work. Carl, Diane's husband of fifteen years was just finishing up mowing the front lawn. He lifted his hand from the mower to wave to her. She sighed and waved back.
She pulled the Chinese food takeaway bags from the back seat and pointed to them. Carl nodded that he understood and finished the yard, put the equipment away and went upstairs to get out of his work clothes.
Carl was a bit suspicious, Chinese food was a favourite of theirs but rarely was it ordered on a weekday. He and Diane had been distant, aloof, uncommunicative, cold, uncaring and probably a dozen more negative descriptives, that didn't bode well. He cleaned himself up and went down for their meal.
Everything was good and the two of them felt absolutely stuffed. They took their coffees into their family room. He reached for the remote control for the TV but Diane stopped him.
"Carl, can we have a conversation? We haven't had a serious talk in a long time. You and I have been so distant lately and it's starting to feel like it won't get better on its own."
"Whose fault is that? You're home late from work almost every day. I got here early enough to cut the lawn. We could have spoken then. It's been like this for ages, Diane. You get quiet, your need and desire to have sex with me is practically non-existent. If I wanted to live the life of a monk I'd have joined a monastery!"
"You are not exactly the epitome of openness either, Carl. It's hard to muster up passion for someone who barely acknowledges your existence. Anyway, let's not argue. I have taken steps, steps that I'd rather not have needed to take. I am taking a time out, a time away to sort out my mind, get away from all the negativity and detritus."
"What do you mean? Carl went from being argumentative to deadly serious concern.
"I have booked a week long cruise."
A broad smile appeared on Carl's face.
"Where are we going? You know, maybe this is exactly what we need, a week away on a cruise together. This could be really fun!"
The change in Carl's demeanour made her second guess her plan, could it be that simple? No, she had made plans and needed to see them through.
"No, the cruise is for me, not us. I need time away from everything, including you."
"What the fuck? You booked a cruise for yourself, leaving me here alone?"
"Yes, a week cruising the Caribbean. I got it at a remnant price because someone cancelled at the last minute. I'm paying from my own savings."
"Come on, Diane, seriously? Who are you taking with you? One of you men friends from your work?"
"As if it really matters. You haven't shown me any real affection for so long I really question why you'd care if I slept with someone else. I haven't and I won't. No one is going with me. I need this time away to consider our future. The cruise is in two weeks so I will have to get busy figuring out what to wear."
"I don't like this!"
"I didn't expect you to. I need time away alone. Maybe you should take that week to reflect on our relationship."
Carl was shocked but more than that he was pissed. How dare she go on a fabulous vacation and leave him to mope alone. Was she really considering leaving their marriage?
They went to bed that night but there might as well have been a ten-foot wall between them.
The following morning Carl had a brilliant idea. Two could play at that game! He called a travel agent and asked if there were any last minute cruises available. He made sure it wasn't the same ship Diane would be taking but it left that same day.
He toyed with the idea of telling Diane right away that he would be cruising as well however he relished the idea of springing it on her at the last minute.
On departure day Diane was surprised when she found Carl packing his own bags.
"What are you doing?"
"Packing for my trip."
"I told you, I am going alone."
"I know, that's why I booked my own cruise."
Carl's smile went from ear to ear. Diane's mouth fell open in shock.
"Don't panic, I am not on the same ship so I won't run into you or your boyfriend on the cruise."
"I don't have a boyfriend. I am cruising alone. Why did you do this and why didn't you tell me?
"You didn't need to know and you were busy with your own preparations. Look, I didn't want to stay here alone wondering about you. I can do that just as well at sea as here at home so why not?"
"When do you leave?"
"Same day as you Diane, we are cruising out of the same port and flying on the same flight to get there!"
Diane was less than impressed that her husband needed a tit-for-tat cruise. She thought about it and decided it was just another of his petty reactions and she wouldn't let it bother her.
Their seats on the plane were five rows apart.
Diane settled into her seat, a window seat. Two gentlemen were sitting beside her.
She saw Carl stand and walk back to where she sat. He stopped and spoke."
"Excuse me, sir? The woman sitting beside you is my wife, Diane, We weren't able to book seats together. Would you be willing to trade seats with me?"
The man looked at Carl and saw the sad look on his face and agreed to the seat swap.
Carl sat down and smiled at his wife. Diane looked daggers at him.
"Why'd you do that?" She asked. "You are cold as ice to me all the time yet today you need to sit beside me?"
"I just wanted to spend these last few hours together with you."
She was surprised, he sounded earnest. Maybe he was afraid of losing her. Maybe he cared about her after all.
He stopped a flight attendant and asked if they could have a blanket. He spread the blanket over them.
His hand rested on her thigh, it gently massaged her left quad. It seemed like such a tender sign of affection it confused Diane. This was unlike him.
Soon his gentle massage drifted to the inside of her thigh. Diane closed her eyes and enjoyed the sensation. Her time on the ship would be solitary so this little bit of comfort felt nice.
Carl's hand migrated from inner thigh up to her pussy. Over the fabric of her pants, he rubbed her crotch slowly. Her legs were held tight together but they slowly relaxed and eventually, she spread them.
She had lost the will and ability to question Carl's motives, she wanted this and she wanted more. She unfastened her belt and unzipped her pants, arched her back as if stretching and pulled down her panties and pants.
Carl was loving this. Normally if he tried to do this she would swat his hand away. Today she was welcoming his attention. His hand moved back to gently massage her pussy. He could feel how moist she was, he knew that if he tried to penetrate her with a finger now she would stop him, so he concentrated on being gentle and focused on slowly manipulating her clitoris. This went on for nearly a half hour until she turned her head and whispered.
"I'm almost there. I can't take much more. Be quick about it, okay?"
Carl's slow massage quickened and he increased the pressure, he even lightly pinched her engorged clitoris which caused her to climax. She stiffened and raised her ass off the seat in orgasm. She had only whimpered and not screamed, thank goodness.
"What brought that on?" She asked him.
"I love you, Diane. I may not show it effusively sometimes, but I do. I hadn't planned this, it just happened. I'm sorry if it was unwanted."
"No, it was very much wanted. I've needed that for a long time. I love you too."
Diane reached over and unbelted and unzipped his pants. He was hard and she took him in her hand and slowly pulled his cock until it was solid. She had a small tube of lotion in her bag. She put some on her hand and then resumed. It took a full half hour of slowly working him but he finally grunted once and ejaculated. He leaned over and kissed his wife as she pulled some tissues out of her bag and gave them to him.
The flight landed. Carl's ship boarded in 8 hours and Diane's in 6. They weren't sure what to do with those hours so they went to a hotel near the cruise port. They explained the situation and an understanding manager offered them the freedom to use their facilities if they paid for a night's stay. They agreed and were given a room.
They both needed a shower after their activities on the plane. They were still excited about their activity too. Instead of showering right away the two of them made passionate love to each other for the first time in months.
Carl absolutely loved the sex with her that day but all Diane could think was why now?
Why would he want to show love now, confusing her just when she was seeking clarity on their future? She enjoyed the sex that day but she kept asking why is he doing this now.
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Diane boarded her ship and waited to get into her room. It was a balcony room so she was happy she would have ocean views and fresh air.
The rest of that day was getting used to where everything was on the ship. She had enjoyed a lovely supper with a group of people at her table. She was surprised to find that one of the men that she dined with was in the cabin next to hers.
The evening was beautiful and she walked the decks outside until she was ready to return to her room. She changed into her nightie and walked out on the balcony. The seas were calm and the moon shone beautifully on it, creating diamonds on the water.
She leaned on the railing, staring at the water thinking about life with Carl and how stressed and forgotten she felt lately but then she remembered what happened between them that day and it made her smile.
She could hear sounds from a cabin above hers. The sounds of a couple making love. The sounds of fervent rutting and her grunts and groans, the occasional 'fuck' or 'shit' and then one voice called out louder, ' I'm cummingggg.'
Diane heaved a heavy sigh. She heard noises to her left. The gentleman she had dined with was leaned on his railing.
"Ah, the sounds of contented lovemaking, it stirs the heart doesn't it."
He was tall, slightly older, a bit of grey at his temples. He looked fit and he was well dressed at dinner. Now he wore what appeared to be a bathing suit or a pair of boxers. Bare chested, you could see his musculature. It was pretty impressive.
"The sound carries doesn't it?
"Yes, you're here on your own? He asked.
"Yes."
"Single?"
"No, married."
"Husband too busy at work to join you?"
"No, he's on his own cruise."
"Separate cruises? That's not a healthy sign."
