Irene was true to her word and declined lunch with Robert, saying that it would be 'inappropriate' since she was a married woman.
Robert, however, was persistent, and sent her an e-mail every few days, just chatting like friends.
At first Irene didn't answer the e-mails, but she didn't delete them either, choosing to save them in a folder called personal. After Robert's third e-mail Irene answered, albeit quite briefly, just answering his question about her plans for the weekend.
Robert was thrilled with his little victory, but played it extremely cautiously, writing back to wish them a pleasant weekend.
Irene was keenly aware that she needed to tell Oscar that she had received messages from Robert, and let him persuade her to answer them, otherwise she would be keeping a secret which could easily explode in her face. She vowed to herself that she would tell him at the weekend, and in the event, it was easier than she had feared.
"So my love," Oscar opened the conversation, "have you heard from Robert at all?"
Irene's heart skipped a beat as she spotted her golden opportunity to clear her feelings of guilt.
"Actually, yes, he's sent a couple of e-mails, just general chat, you know, he hasn't asked me out again, or anything." Irene confessed.
"And did you answer him?" Oscar asked, really surprised at his wife's revelation.
"Of course not!" Irene protested, feeling really guilty about her lie.
"Isn't that a little rude?" Oscar challenged, sensing that he had the moral high ground.
"Well," Irene hesitated, "I did wonder about that. What do you think I should do? I don't want to hear your fantasy stuff, just helpful advice."
Oscar was ready to press his advantage.
"I don't see what harm there is in answering him, if it's just chit chat, and it's pretty rude to just ignore him, he hasn't really done anything wrong, has he?"
Irene thought for a moment.
"Ok, I'll reply, just friendly, nothing controversial."
Oscar was puzzled, why had she given in so easily, and then suddenly he understood, she had already replied to Robert, and she needed to cover her back. This was a very exciting realisation for Oscar, while he knew that she was just being polite in response to Robert's messages, but the fact that she had gone behind Oscar's back to communicate with another man was very exciting.
Oscar suspected that he might be going to get sex that evening, and as it turned out, he was right.
After a bout of fast and furious sex, during which both Oscar and Irene had quite explosive orgasms, they lay in each other's arms, cuddling and feeling close and content.
"Oscar, can I ask you something?" Irene asked, tentatively.
"Of course my love, anything."
"When we were making love just now, were you fantasising about me having sex with Robert?" Irene asked, a little more confidently.
Oscar was shocked and didn't know what to say, so he just went for the truth.
"Yes, sorry." He wondered what she would say next.
"It's ok, I don't mind, as long as you understand that nothing is ever going to happen."
Oscar was relieved and thought while it was going so well he would take a chance.
"You seemed very turned on, was that to do with Robert as well?" Oscar had his fingers tightly crossed, hoping he hadn't just screwed everything up.
"In a way, I suppose, it's just that being pursued is more than flattering, it has added a little bit of excitement to my life. I won't let anything happen, but the fact that an attractive man is trying to seduce me is just a bit intoxicating. Do you understand, please say you aren't cross with me, I will never be unfaithful to you." Irene wondered whether she had overstepped the limit.
"It's fine my love, if you aren't cross with me, I'm not cross with you, and it has spiced up our love life, and, I think, made us feel closer, do you agree?"
"I totally agree darling."
Oscar felt extremely happy, and fell into a contented sleep.
Irene, didn't feel sleepy at all, in fact, what she felt was horny. Some time later she did fall asleep, but woke several times in the night, plagued by a series of erotic dreams.
On Monday Irene received another message from Robert. He asked how her weekend had been, told her a bit about his weekend then he posed a question.
'Have you told your husband that we are communicating?'
He thought that was innocuous enough, but the answer might be enlightening.
After some time thinking about how she should answer, Irene replied.
'Yes, of course, I have no secrets from my husband'