I've read a few stories involving free passes (a pass to have an extramarital fling). The generic story goes like this:
1. Groom offers the bride to be a free pass if she will marry him.
2. They marry.
3. Some years later, usually at a most inopportune time (a significant day like a birthday, anniversary, Valentine's day, or other holiday) the wife wishes to use her free pass, usually for an altruistic purpose (somebody is going to kill themselves, but getting laid by a good woman will save them).
4. Husband is not OK with it, but he gave his word, so he assents to her using the pass.
5. Husband keeps his word not to complain, accuse, blame or whine. However, he cannot prevent feelings.
6. Wife is surprised that marriage is damaged.
It is hard to make the story work with realistic motivations. So, this story skips the problematic part and focuses on the aftermath. The characters are Brad (husband), Heather (wife) and Mark (who needs to be saved). The event was the moment that Heather called Brad to tell him that she was safely with Mark (she thought that was the right thing to do). When the event occurred, Brad and Heather had been married 7 years and had two children aged 3 and 5. Mark and Heather were 27. Brad was 28.
The direct inspiration for this story was "Beth's Birthday Pass" by texxman, which did not have a happy ending and dealt realistically with the first two years of aftermath. My characters are not the same characters, and they have a different back story, but I recommend that you read his story, too.
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Event + 3 months
Heather
I don't understand why Brad is treating me the way he is. I didn't cheat or sneak behind his back. He agreed that it was a good cause. He gave his fucking permission. If he had asked me not to do it, I wouldn't have done it. He said that it would be OK. But he's not treating me like it's OK. He hardly looks at me. He only speaks when it involves the girls or things that need to be done like getting the car inspected. In the bedroom, he keeps his back to me. He sleeps on the edge of the bed with his back toward me. We haven't had sex since the event. He doesn't initiate and says he too tired when I try to initiate. He only smiles for the girls.
Brad
My marriage has died. I know exactly when it died. It was when she walked out the door to be with Mark. Before that, it could be saved. Now I have a zombie marriage. We function. We go to work. We take care of the girls. Or maybe it's a vampire marriage. It sucks the life and energy out of me. I used to live with my loving wife. Now I live with someone who looks like her, but she's not my loving wife. I don't want anything to do with her. Just talking to her is painful. I'm determined to stay here, for the sake of the girls and I gave my word that it would be OK. But that is not how I feel. I wish she would leave.
- - - - - - -
Event+6 months
Heather
I asked him if he wanted to stay together and he said, "yes; for the girls." Often, after girls are in bed, he goes into the spare bedroom and watches TV until he falls asleep. He even put an alarm clock in there. I convinced him that we should try to have sex. He consented, but it wasn't good. I could tell he wanted to be done as soon as possible. It is a start. I ask for that about once a month. At least he's in the same bed with me most of the time now.
I'm going to get us a marriage counselor.
Brad
Heather has suggested that we should have sex, even if we're not in the mood. I'm never in the mood. But I agree with her intellectually. We should have sex; maybe we can grow closer again. So far, it isn't working. Well, it works a little bit. It isn't as hard to talk or be in the same room.
- - - - - - -
Event+9 months
Brad
We've been going to a marriage counselor for three months. I expected the counselor to focus on me changing my feelings. But she said that my feelings are my feelings and would be unrealistic that I could change them. I've been able to express some of my feelings. I haven't revealed my darkest feelings, because I believe that if I did, we would never recover. I don't think that we will recover, but I'm willing to try. She gave us assignments to do something together each week, like watching a movie or going on a walk. It doesn't seem to make things worse.
Heather
I expected her to take my side, after all, I had permission. She said our circumstances weren't special; it's just an ordinary case of infidelity. I was annoyed at that and tried to make the case that I had permission. She asked Brad if it felt like infidelity and he agreed that is what he felt. At first, I tried to tell him that his feelings were wrong and I expected her to back me up. Instead, she insisted that I acknowledge Brad's feelings.
It's not what I wanted, but at least we are talking. She even got Brad to agree that he wanted to get our relationship back.
Today she gave us the three days to intimacy assignment. On the first day, we strip naked and give each other a full body non-sexual massage, but avoid genitalia and my breasts. On the second day, the same thing except do touch the genitalia and arouse each other, but no sex, no penetration, and no orgasms. On the third day, the same as the second day except we have sex. I've been looking forward to something like this.
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Event+9 months+ 1 Week
Heather
The three-day exercise was a fantastic success. I was so horny, and so was Brad. It was the best sex we have had since the event. I'm pretty sure Brad enjoyed it. We had sex again last night. I could barely wait to tell our counselor.
Brad
The three-day exercise was a sort of success. I really wanted to have sex on the third day. But it didn't matter who it was with. It just happened to be that woman that I live with who looks like my wife. I didn't say that. I only agreed that the sex had been good. I think the counselor wants me to say what is on my mind, but I'm not ready to say that.
- - - - - - -
Event +2 years.
Brad
I hate Heather's birthday. It used to be a wonderfully magical time. Now it is a time to put on the fake smile and say happy stupid things for the sake of the girls. I'm so glad when the day passes. I love her still, and I would miss her painfully if she were gone, but sometimes I imagine what it would be like if she died. It would be hard on the girls, but I think that I would feel better. The only time I don't hurt is when I'm buried in work and sometimes when I'm drinking. I used to hate alcohol. I thought it was a waste of time. The buzz doesn't last long, then your brain is fucked up for hours. Now, having a fucked-up brain is a blessing.
Heather
I hate my birthday. Brad becomes hollow as it approaches. I know better than to ask for birthday sex. We quit counseling about seven months ago. We are still having sex a couple of times a month. We've been married for 9 years. They say a slow down in frequency is normal. But I just turned 29, and my libido has never been higher.
On a happy note, Mark found love and got married. He sent us a wedding invitation. I told Brad. It didn't make him any happier.
- - - - - - -
Event +2 years + 3 months
Heather
I think he's hoping to die. He has let himself go. He quit working out. He's gaining weight. He's drinking more beer. He never gets drunk or abusive. He's always attentive. He responds ardently when I initiate sex. He initiates reliably every Saturday. But, he's not there. He used to smile every time our eyes connected. Now, he never smiles at me, except when he thinks that he is supposed to. Still, he is good with the girls and takes genuine pleasure in them. It is clear he would rather be with them than alone with me. I guess he thinks that if he keels over at age 55, he'll have done right by the girls.
I need to try something new. Maybe he needs to punish me.
- - - - - - -
Event +2 years + 6 months
Brad
Heather really surprised me today. It's summer. School is out. When I got home, it was quiet; no kids. I don't have to announce my arrival; normally, the girls torpedo me in the doorway. They were either immersed in something interesting, or they weren't there. I figured that either Heather was gone or she was busy. She always made a point of greeting me, but I would rather avoid it, so I didn't make any noise. If she was home, she probably heard the garage door close. I assume that no greeting meant no Heather. That was a relaxing thought. I went into the bedroom to change out of my work clothes.
I found Heather naked, tits down on the bed wearing a blindfold. Her hands were handcuffed together through a loop of rope that appeared to be connected to something under the bed. There were a paddle and a riding crop beside her. She had a black object in her ass. At first, I thought she had been assaulted.