I had been watching my wife and the stranger dance for quite some time now with uneasiness in my gut. Watching her embrace the man, observing the way they grooved and rocked their hips to the arousing rhythm of the Calypso music played by the club's live band. The way she seemed so unbound, so shamelessly happy. I could feel a tightness in my throat, and queasiness in my stomach that let me know there would be some surprises in store for me before the night was over.
This was a rare occasion I was watching, seeing Venus loosen up around other men besides me; it was akin to viewing a meteor shower. I should have known this was what to expect on our Caribbean trip. We had been here, at this beach resort for three days, and already it felt like a week. Venus had been casting her eyes around and making flirtatious glances at every single male she encountered. Nothing I could do except follow her lead.
It had been her suggestion we come here to this exotic island to get away for the summer. The same destination where we spent our honeymoon. Back then, it held a different sort of allure for us, at least for me it did. If you can't tell already, getting away for the summer was the last thing on my agenda. I had plenty of work sitting on my office desk, but Venus issued me an ultimatum I had no choice but to acknowledge: either make the summer holiday or watch her take it on her own and see about a divorce afterwards. True to expectations, she'd been giving me too much to be mindful about.
Venus and her evening date were dancing up close now, their arms wound around each other tight, the way we used to dance around the time we got married. How far back was that? Eleven years. Gosh, where had it all gone? Feels like the years just came and went. So many things we used to do then that we no longer do anymore. I can't even remember how recently we made love. I usually spend my days buried up to my elbows working stocks and interest rates while she stays home doing whatever. I suspect she's fucking somebody back home. I have no proof, neither have I confronted her yet, but seeing her with this guy, it was obvious she'd done this before without my knowledge.
They concluded their dancing then returned to our table, holding hands and laughing.
"Having a good time, darling?" she kissed me before sitting down in her chair.
"Yeah, pretty much. I was watching you both. Haven't seen you have such fun in a long time."
"I wish," she replied, trying to sound modest. She was sweating from the dancing and fanned her blouse to get more air. "Dalvin here is the expert. I was following his moves."
"And boy, what sexy moves you have," Dalvin complimented her.
They laughed once more, but I didn't join in. The uneasiness in my gut was growing tighter. It was like I'd stumbled upon a secret that ought to remain that way.
Venus sipped her cocktail, then got up. "I need to go powder my nose. I'll be back in a minute."
I watched her arse bounce in her jeans as she headed towards the hut opposite that bore the convenience rooms. Dalvin, too, was staring at her before turning to me.
"You have an amazing woman for a wife," he said.
"Yes, I'd like to think so too."
"Between you and I, I just want you to know I am going to fuck her tonight."
My beer was in my hand, and I was about to take a sip when he uttered those words that made me nearly tumble off my chair. I looked at him incredulously. He maintained his stare, letting me know nothing he had said was a joke or mistake — he intended to fuck Venus. In another life, I would have hurled my beer at his face and told him to go to hell. Maybe I should have done that, and the fact that I took a moment to reel from his words sort of diminished any chance I got to assert myself in his presence. As if stalling for time to make sense of his words, I dabbed at my mouth with my handkerchief and returned my beer to the table. The uneasiness I had felt all evening was now manifesting itself. It occurred to me that Venus had planned this tactic from the onset, hence why she left at such an appropriate time for Dalvin to work on me.
"Why would you want to do that?" my voice sounded like a croak, as if I was pleading for him not to carry out his intention.
"Because I want to," he replied. "And because she wants it, too. She hasn't said a word yet, but I can tell. I've been making moves on her since I first laid eyes on her. She's horny, and needs a man in bed with her tonight."
