I sat with Aaron on the couch, my head on his shoulder. We watched TV in relative silence only to let out a soft giggle or smirk at what we saw. I saw Carson and Sharon again four days ago and the experience was so intense I felt I needed a break. Not only had the sex been extremely intense, erotic and boundary pushing, but emotionally I was all over the place. I felt things when I was with them that I didn't understand, I didn't even know how to interpret. I also was nearly caught or found out. As I left the hotel, I ran into a friend from church that was very curious what I was doing at a hotel in the middle of the day. I managed to lie my way through it but I wasn't convinced that she wasn't suspicious that something was going on. I couldn't help but wondered if she could somehow tell that I had been face fucked for at least an hour while the man's wife watched and masturbated. The truth was that I needed a break from all of it. I wasn't being careful anymore. I had been very lucky with the different people I had met in that all of them seemed to be looking for some version of what I was looking for. But in the run in with my friend, suddenly things came back to earth. Not only was I at risk of seeing someone I knew, but also I was less careful in who I was willing to meet. It could be dangerous.
I resolved to take a break, making promises to myself that I needed to stop things for a while and more than that, I needed to be more careful with anyone I did decide to meet. I sent a text to Jim explaining my thinking and to my surprise he simply responded with: "Ok, keep in touch when you are ready." I had not been expecting that from the man that never took no for an answer. I was relieved but also disappointed in a way. More relieved though if I am honest.
I needed to reconnect with Aaron somehow. Our sexual relationship continued to improve but everything else just seemed to be flat and stale. We talked about church and household stuff but not really intimate things. I didn't have a sense of where he was in his head anymore and if I was really honest, I wasn't sure if I cared. He was my husband but he was now more just a roommate that had sex with me from time to time. Based on all honest accounts of marriage I think we had it pretty good.
So now I sat on the couch with him. He had his arm around me and we watched TV together silently. I felt ok like this. Comforted. Maybe it was time to stop all of it and just focus on being here with my husband. Of course I had dabbled with these thoughts before, but this time it felt like I might be ready to stick with it. Maybe. The more I thought about it the more I felt just a good long break was what I needed.
I got up to get a drink when I felt my phone buzz from a text. Suddenly my heart jumped. It was Tim: the lonely husband I had met some time ago. I didn't keep many of the numbers anymore. I felt that I had too many and it was overwhelming. But I couldn't delete his: the sad man from the drugstore parking lot. There was something tender about him.
Tim: Are you still out there?
I hesitated. Was I still out there? My heart skipped another beat. Not five minutes ago I was thinking of walking away from all of this. Suddenly I couldn't stop looking at his text. Without thinking I typed and sent: Yes.
Tim: Can we meet tonight? Sorry for the short notice.
I looked up at Aaron. He had not turned to see what I was doing, he just laughed and watched the TV. I had no idea how or if I could even get out of the house tonight. But suddenly I really wanted to.
I quickly typed: I think so. Depends on where.
"Who are you texting?" Aaron.
"Just Claire," I lied. "She is going through some stuff and she may want to talk tonight." Perhaps I could come up with a way to sneak out.
"Is she ok?" Aaron asked. He truly didn't care about girl drama, but he tried.
"I think so, but sometimes she needs to talk it out, you know?" I said.
"Isn't she on a trip?" Aaron asked.
My heart froze. "Yeah...I think so," I said. My mind raced.
Tim: Where are you? I can come to you.
I stared at the text. I was wet with desire but stuck. I had never given anyone an idea of where I lived and I had no intention of starting now. Even if I did, there was no way I could sneak out of the house at this point. I held my phone and just looked at it. Lust can make you do stupid things.
I typed and sent my address and then added: I need to be sneaky so you cannot come in or knock. Just let me know when you are close.
My heart pounded. I waited for Tim to acknowledge my text and then I started to think. I opened the fridge, got out a drink and tried to keep watching the TV. What was I going to do? This is stupid. I couldn't think about anything else. I just wanted to be out of the house. Or did I? I watched Aaron rather than the TV. He seemed like a stranger to me.
Suddenly my phone buzzed again and it was Tim: I will be there in 15 minutes.
My hands shook as I acknowledged his text. I took my drink and did my best to nonchalantly walk back to the couch and sit down. I resumed laying my head on Aaron's shoulder. I tried to watch the TV but I couldn't. Tim was on his way. What was I going to do? I should just tell him this isn't gonna happen tonight. There would be other nights. Aaron was gone more often now so it's not like I couldn't do this on a different night. But I didn't want another night. It was like the thought of stopping had left a void in me and suddenly the thought of seeing someone was something I had to do to fill that void. I was an addict.
We watched TV for a while and Aaron put his hand on my knee. Suddenly I felt my phone buzz again in my pocket and I knew Tim was somewhere nearby. What was I going to do? I got up and went into the bathroom. I brushed my teeth and looked at my phone.
Tim: I am around the corner.
I went into the bedroom and peaked out the window. It was dark and I couldn't see the street from here. I sent a quick text: Wait.