This story doesn't have much sex. Like many of my stories it's about honest people who have run into dire circumstances. If that doesn't sound like your cup of tea you should move on instead of making yourself miserable, which is the complete opposite of what I intend when I post here. All three parts are written.
Like Kind Exchange
What the hell had she done? Sandy had always held herself to a higher standard. How had she made a gaff so lame it was laughable. Predictable mistakes were for someone else, Sandy had discipline, she had forethought. Lord knows she didn't go there looking to fall, or thinking she was in position to. This was so trite, and that was a word that had never applied to her ... before.
The word certainly applied to both her deed and how it played out. Sandy couldn't believe it: she'd cheated! She hated what she'd done. This was a hallmark movie, not real life. She'd gone to the company Holiday party at a prestigious downtown hotel ballroom and got drunk. Worse she'd fallen in with a guy mostly because of his looks. If she was going to fall, it should have been for some deep-rooted psychological issue that finally surfaced and kicked her in the teeth; something overpowering that she never saw coming. Something she could identify and guard against from now on. But she fell in with him because he was handsome? What was she, some desperate waif that threw herself at men she could never hope to keep? Sandy was formidable and good looking, frankly a head-turner even after three kids.
And dammit, the guy had more going for him than his looks. While Sandy always thought the younger man was hot, he was successful too. Sandy swore at herself. Great, now she was checking him out for husband material instead of being skin-deep shallow. The problem was she already had a husband and a damn good one. One that formerly fit the same descriptions she just applied to her most recent bedmate. Most recent? Dear God, how far she'd fallen! What was she going to do?
Sandy reviewed what she could remember. The situation had snuck up on her. She'd had a good year and was going to receive a nice bonus. Exactly how nice had been revealed to her earlier at the party. She was partying with abandon afterwards. Somewhere in the revelry she realized she could have this younger man. There was a bonus for her increasingly inebriated brain there too: a very hot commodity, he would be a big feather in her besotted ego's cap. Which made her feel even better! She felt great, just over forty she didn't think she'd lost her mojo, but this was proof she still had it!
Sandy was pretty sure the hazy time after that discovery was her downfall. She was already well into her cups. She normally would have stopped drinking, but the revelation on her mojo levels put steam in her stride, and she'd kept pace with the party. At some point the two of them were alone and he made the offer again. At the time she couldn't think of a reason why not. How could that be? How drunk had she been? Now all she could think of were amazingly good reasons why she couldn't go to his room. But at the time not being able to shoot down the idea made her feel so free. Why not indeed? This was going to be a treat! And damnit, she'd earned it.
Earn it she did! Sandy felt dizzy thinking of how she'd jumped to the challenge. She had a great time, and heaven help her, she insured her partner did too. That made her feel more guilty than anything. She'd been enthusiastic to please. She was good in bed and wanted him to know it. She was competing for rank in her younger lover's memory.
Hours later Sandy woke up feeling terrible. Her head hurt, her eyes burned, her tongue felt glued to the roof of her mouth. Suddenly she realized what she'd done. Matters became worse as she found herself still in bed with her new boytoy! She snuck off to the bathroom, sat on the toilet, and let the horror have her.
Mark! Oh God! What would her husband think? Sandy felt the bile hurl itself from her throat. She turned her head just in time to wretch into the shower. Some splashed back on her after exploding on the far shower wall. She turned on the water to wash away her misgivings. She stepped into the tub and crumpled to the floor to wretch again. Mark, this would kill him! He practically worshipped her. Sandy had thought that was a two-way street, she'd never met a man she respected more or made her swoon more than her Mark. Except Sandy couldn't imagine her husband taking advantage of some drunk coworker no matter how hot she was. The thought made her more ill than she'd been. So did her next few thoughts. This was the first time she'd been to a social event without him. Suddenly horrified she feared Mark may believe this was how she behaved when she traveled for work. This was going to fill Mark with doubts about her.
What of her choice of mattress workout partner: younger and hotter. Yeah, this wasn't just trite, it was vapid. This went beyond Sandy though; those were age-old threats to a mate. Mark always had a unique effect on her, taking her normal emotions to an entirely different level. She saw how she made him feel; she'd always taken Mark's breath away. His reaction to her made her feel completely exceptional, like a woman on a higher level, a goddess, a position she knew she didn't deserve, but thrilled at his honest reaction. How would Mark think his wife saw him now? Would he think she felt he was over the hill? Was she about to trade him in on a newer model? Was he no longer desirable? Was she merely tolerating him? The terrible questions just didn't stop. While her actions made her disgusted with herself, thinking of the impact on Mark made her feel much worse! Sandy loved her husband!
Mark normally would have escorted her to the party, but he was finishing out a project he'd been killing himself over for a bonus. Three kids and their mortgage had killed every hobby he'd ever dreamed of. Sandy had really wanted an old Victorian house that he'd warned was a money pit. Now facing college expenses, Mark was on a financial treadmill doing all he could.
Sandy checked her phone. She'd been efficient as usual; apparently, she'd destroyed all their lives by 2 AM. Mark knew she was at the holiday party. He knew it would run late but this was pushing credulity. Mark surely expected to hear from her before now. Sandy stepped out of the still running shower to quickly call home. Mark picked up on the second ring relieved to hear her voice. He could hear she was terribly relieved to hear his. Sandy explained she got drunk and used one of the company rooms instead of driving home. Mark confirmed she was alright now. Sandy confirmed she was sick but safe. Mark told her he'd been very upset saying he'd called the hotel. They told him his wife's company had booked several rooms, but they didn't know who was in them, meaning there was no way to confirm she was safe at the hotel. He was happy to hear she was safe having been sick himself with worry. Apologizing profusely Sandy explained she was sick with hangover.
Sandy managed to keep it together while talking to her husband. Hearing Mark's voice filled her sails, he'd always had that effect on her. She said a silent prayer of thanks; while she'd enjoyed her gymnastics last night her partner simply didn't have the effect upon her that her husband did. Right on que her husband thanked her for calling. She broke down explaining she was in tears for worrying him so, which was true though more for other reasons.
Sandy calmed herself after the call, stepping back into the shower to wash her hair and giving her body one more vigorous rub down. She turned the temperature to almost scalding. If she could have, she would have molted out of her unclean skin.
Then she walked out of bathroom and looked at the sleeping form of the handsome younger man she'd shared the bed with. Her lips trembled; tears fell from her cheeks onto her full sore breasts. Damn, he must have given them a real working over. A terrible thought occurred to her.
Sandy retreated to the bathroom to check herself in the mirror for marks. Her breasts were blushing, but they were also rubbed red. So was her ass. She wondered if he'd simply grabbed her there or actually spanked her; she couldn't remember most of their time together. Fortunately, the redness wouldn't last for more than a few hours. She checked assiduously for little hickeys, marks, or scratches, and found none. She restarted the shower. She hadn't stopped crying the whole time. She bathed again, rubbing herself harder than she'd probably been groped during the sex last night. Cleaning her sore private parts, she had no doubt she'd given her all. Other convincing evidence was the way the bed was torn up and the way the man stretched across it: they'd put in a command performance. The smile on his sleeping face was a tip too.
What was she going to do? Weighing her options Sandy found she didn't have many. She both loved and respected her husband except last night wasn't congruent with either. Although she'd never done anything remotely similar before, this single time would hurt Mark and change his love for her. She hated both notions. But she couldn't imagine keeping this from him, or the terrible result if she hid it and he found out one day. Sandy knew she had to face the music.
She picked up her phone again. She punched the button for her husband.
His groggy voice cleared quickly hearing his wife's voice. "Sandy? Is everything okay?"
"Listen Mark, I need you to do something for me. Call in sick today. We have to talk. Get the kids to school. We'll have time, all day, to figure this out."
"He was wide awake now. "Sandy, hang on. I'll be there as quickly as I can. I'll take care of everything. What's wrong, honey?"
"Me. I think I've gone wrong, Mark. My car is here. I'll be able to drive soon. I'll be fine by morning. The timing will work for us; you get the kids to school, and I'll be home before you're back. I'll explain everything."
He paused for emphasis, "Are you in trouble baby? I'll be there, I can take care of everything."
