No Strings Attached

By Likegoodwinecopyrighted October 2011

Another short story for you. There is almost no sex to speak of in this short one. Enjoy!

Your votes and constructive comments are appreciated, as they will help me grow.

Thanks to hkf999 for his patient editing

*

The judge was sitting sternly at his desk. Without looking at anybody, he simply read his ruling. Going over the separation of assets, he finally looked toward my now ex-wife, Judy.

"I hereby grant the claimant sole custody of the three children and I also grant her an amount of $1,200 a month in child support," said the judge.

Judy jumped from her seat at that ruling, hugging her attorney and throwing a triumphant stare toward me.

"Yes!" I whispered to my lawyer. "I got her where I wanted."

Wonder why losing a case in court could be viewed as a success? Well, I need a few moments to explain.

Let's start at the beginning, when I first met Judy. I am Allan White, a 45 years old mechanical engineer. I met Judy when I was 28 years old at an automotive fair. I was looking at a nice Vanguard motorhome when I sensed somebody else looking over my shoulder. A nice looking young brunette also seemed to be taken by the inside features of the vehicle.

"Gee! It's almost as big as my apartment," I said to the brunette, grinning.

She giggled. "And probably cheaper too as the price of apartments goes nowadays," she said.

We looked at each other, grinning from ear to ear. I was hooked!

In a gamble, I offered her my arm. "Should we take a closer look at this wonderful home away from home?"

"I was about to ask," she said grabbing my arm, she had a smile that could melt an iceberg.

We moved toward the cooking area with its propane fridge and stove.

"Well, Dear, I love to cook, but it is a bit limited. Do you mind take out on the road?" I asked keeping in character.

"As long as you can drive the vehicle through the drive-thru, Honey," she answered tat for tat.

We proceeded to the small utilitarian washroom. We both peeked inside.

"Well," I said.

"It's good enough to keep ourselves clean."

"But it might be just a bit cramped to have a shower together," she replied.

We moved to the bedroom in the back of the vehicle. Just at that moment the salesman appeared behind us.

"Are you guys interested in this magnificent piece of design?" the salesman asked.

"You will see that there is plenty of room there for you and even a kid or two."

"Not too fast. We are simply looking at options for our honeymoon. The kids are yet to come," I said, winking at the young woman.

Playing with me, she answered: "Although we might start them there." And she giggled. She then took a camera out of a side bag she was carrying, remove the lens cap and handed it to the salesman.

"If you would be kind enough, I would like a picture taken of this magical moment," she asked.

The salesman happily agreed, and took a few pictures of us, even insisting on a kiss. Both smiling ear to ear, we complied with a simple friendly kiss, our lips barely touching.

We left the salesman with a business card and many good wishes for our upcoming wedding. Back on the fair floor, I didn't really want to part from that very attractive woman. But before inviting her for a coffee or something, I had to know her name. First things first!

"Hi I'm Allan. I think we forgot the formal introduction before the engagement," I said grinning.

"Well that's a change from my current situation," she replied, throwing a very cold shower on my mounting interest in her.

"I have a very well-known boyfriend that would probably disappear in a puff of smoke if I started to speak about engagement. My name is Judy."

We shook hands.

Should I ask her for a coffee despite knowing now that she had a boyfriend? Well, what's the harm in going for a coffee if she was already involved with someone? The worst that could happen I would fall totally for her and have to settle for a nice handshake at the end. I dove.

"Have time for a coffee?" I asked.

We found an empty seat at the small food court and sat down with our cups of coffee. We chatted for an hour, introducing each other. She was 25 years old, fresh out of University with a degree in Communications and trying to settle into her first job. She had a boyfriend that she met at university.

I decided to prod a bit. "So he has commitment issues?"

She let out a sad little laugh. "Well, on some matters. Brad is committed to his job - he finished University two years before me. He is committed to his friends. And he is committed to partying like if he was still living at the frat house."

She paused a few seconds. "He seems to have a hard time to think about settling down. So far, for him, planning ahead means what to do next weekend. Well... he is not where I would like him to be."

"Sorry to hear that," I lied.

The subject of Brad kind of killed her light mood though. She soon left, but not without taking one of my business cards, with my home phone number scribbled on the back, on a promise to keep in touch.

All the way back to my apartment, I figuratively kick myself in the butt for focusing the conversation on her boyfriend. Instead of doing a good sales pitch with a demonstration of my wit and nice personality -- she could see I was good looking (harrumph!) -- I had to poke at a weakness I sensed in her relationship. Very bad move! It simply fixed her mind on her boyfriend and her.

That delightful meeting wasn't totally lost however. Two months later, on a Friday at work, I received a phone call.

"Hello Allan! Judy's here! Your fiancée."

"Well, well! I though you had cold feet. I was about to call off the wedding." I answered.

We had a little laugh, a bit forced though.

"Well, I was phoning to ask if you had plans for tonight, if you could squeeze your betrothed in your schedule for a drink or two," she asked. I was sensing a little hesitation in her voice.

"Give me a second to consult my planner," I said.

"Is that a Cindy night? Nope, we broke up four months ago! Or is it a Marsha night? Darn! I didn't phone her back last month. That's out! Let see... I can squeeze you between Eve and Maria. Yep! I would be free to go for a few drinks tonight!"

I sensed a little hesitation at the other end of the phone line.

"At what time are you supposed to meet Maria?" Judy finally asked.

I refrained a giggle. "Around seven," I said.

"Oh!" she said, disappointment in her voice.

"On November 25th, for Thanksgiving. Maria, my Mom, is expecting me at 7 sharp. I might even be able to bring you if you are available. I hope one month notice is enough for you," I said, giggling.

"Ok wise guy. It's a date!"

We met after work at a pub midway between her place and mine. It was not a memorable evening. We had a few drinks, we spoke of about everything, but mostly about her and Brad, her boyfriend.

She was seeing herself well established in her job in the next few years. She was also thinking about having a couple of kids, raising them for a few years, and resuming her career. Brad saw himself rich, having a lot of fun in the process and with the proceeds, getting even richer and having even more fun. Kids were not in his vision of a good life.

She had spent the last four years trying to bring Brad around, to make him mature and be responsible. It wasn't working. Their spats were getting more frequent. He even didn't want to move in with her. He wanted to keep his apartment, his freedom. And that didn't sit very well with Judy. Very competitive, she sensed that she was losing the battle. But she kept her head high because she knew that she had fought hard.

My joyous mood had been flushed in the first hour. Nice guy, I kept listening to her, lending a sympathetic hear to her woes, but I was very glad when she told me that she was ready to go.

Outside of the pub, while waiting for a cab, she asked me bluntly if I wanted to go for a nightcap at her place. While saying that, she grabbed me and her hands were roaming over my body.

I am not a moron. I knew that I could probably fuck her that very night. It was tempting. I also knew that it would be a revenge fuck. She knew that Brad had decided to go partying with some friends and would probably end up in bed with another woman. I was a way to keep some balance in their fucked-up relationship.

No thanks!

I decided to be blunt with her. "Judy, I almost had a nice evening with you tonight. But the day I let you use me to get back at Brad is yet to come. Go home, suck it up, or do something else with your life. I was hoping that you had seen something worthwhile in me but the jury is still out on that one. I am glad that you could vent your frustration and have me listen to you, but girl, get your head straight. I am not the cock that you can use to relieve your grief."

Even a bit drunk, she was at first aghast by my comments then she turned all red, ashamed, a downcast look appearing on her face.

Without waiting for a cab, I left on foot, leaving her at the curb.

This time around, the wait was shorter. She phoned me the very next day to apologize for her behaviour that night. I felt that she was sincere, but I still was curt on the phone.

Two months later - after a thanksgiving where I had to explain to my mother that I was sorry I couldn't introduce her to the future mother of her grand children -- Judy phoned me back.

"Hi Allan! It's Judy. How are you doing?"

"Not bad! And you?"

"Good, very good!" There was a pause on the line.

"And that's thanks to you. I followed your advice. I broke up with my boyfriend last month. This month of solitude did wonders to clear up my head."

"Well, I'm glad to hear it. Really!" I said.

"I... I wonder if I could invite you again to go out for a drink, and I promise that I will not speak about my ex," she asked.

"It is a very tempting invitation, but I have to decline for this weekend as I have already a date. What about next weekend or even sometime during the week?"

There was a silence for a while. "Ok, next weekend will be fine with me! Hey, beggars can't be choosers. The way I acted on our last date I should be grateful that you even took my call."

I felt she was sincere so I mellowed a little.

"Don't sell yourself short, girl. You are very attractive and nice to be around. If I didn't have a prior engagement I would have been thrilled to go out with you again. We still didn't make a list of all our guests for the wedding."

A giggle was my only response.

"Ok! Next week, same place same time! Be there or beware!"

That date was very nice. Not a word was said about her former lover but she did asked about my current situation. I could sense that she was a bit tense when she learned that I was seeing a colleague from work. She was also relieved when I did let her know that it was nothing serious. It was just a nice and cozy friendship with benefits. She gave me a weird look when I said that but didn't pursue the matter.

This time, she didn't ask me to go to her place for a nightcap. She did give me a long and heartfelt kiss at the curb before jumping in a cab. The nightcap offer came the next weekend and there was no way that I would decline the offer.

All the way to her place, we kissed and felt each other. We were barely inside of her apartment when we had shed all our clothing. We ran naked to her bedroom where I dove between her legs, my tongue having its first taste of her very wet pussy. I was hoping to bring her to an orgasm, but she would have none of it. She pleaded with me to fuck her right away, pulling my head away from her pussy.

"Fuck me Allan! No foreplay, just fuck me," she pleaded.

Well I am a gentleman and a woman's desires have to be fulfilled. So I had my cock in her pussy in no time, filling her the way she wanted.

We fucked like that until the wee hours of the night, discovering each other's bodies and starting to learn how to please the other. It was a great weekend.

We met again the next weekend and ended up at my place. We spent the whole weekend getting acquainted even further, barely getting out of bed for a quick bite before jumping back between the sheets.

On Sunday afternoon, we were just finishing a late brunch when the phone rang. I answered. It was Eve, the co-worker that I date once in a while.

"Hi handsome! How was your weekend?" she asked.

I looked at Judy piling up the dishes, wearing only one of my shirts, not long enough to completely hide her nice buttocks. "Splendid! The weekend was just terrific," I said. That answer warranted me a radiant smile from Judy.

"Well, mine was shitty to tell the truth. I would certainly appreciate some nice company. What are you up to later today?" asked Eve.

"Oh, I am in the middle of something and it won't be possible. Rain check?" I said, lowering my voice a notch. At that, Judy turned her attention back to the dishes, but I could see that she was intently listening.

"You're with her?" asked Eve.

"Yep!"

"Ok then, I'll catch the latest gossip tomorrow at work." And she hung up.

Judy turned toward me. Her face was a rigid mask, completely devoid of emotion. I would quickly learn that it was her warpath mask as well. Being very competitive, she had learned to control her emotions when confronted by an unpleasant situation until the time to fight back came.

"And who was that on the phone?" she asked, going back to putting the dishes away.

"Oh, only Eve from work. She wanted to know how my week-end went," I said not totally truthful. Judy didn't comment.

Soon, we were back in the bedroom. Judy pushed me onto the bed and climbed onto me. She had an intense look. She was rubbing her mound on my now erect cock through the fabric on the sweat pants I use as PJs. She grabbed my arms with her arms lifting them over my head. Staring straight at me she said in a low-key tone. "You won't need her anymore. So no more rain checks! I will be all you need from now on."

With the way she was about to have me come all over my PJs just by rubbing herself on me, I wasn't about to argue.

True enough, over the next few weeks, Judy made my life complete. We were fantastic both in bed and in the world. I have all the pictures taken by Judy to vouch for it.

For the next year, we did all the crazy things that a new couple does, from wild sex to delicious intimate moments, without forgetting more wild sex.

Within a year we were married. I was 30 years old and she was 27.

As we had planned, we spent the first three years of our married life securing our positions. I was a mechanical engineer at T-Bolts Inc., and Judy was a creative assistant in a marketing firm. Soon, through hard work and dedication, we were both valuable assets to our employers. That's when we decided it was time to have our first child.

Two years into our marriage, Allan Jr. was born. Judy took a maternity leave, her old position being secure. She went back to work as soon as we found a nanny for Junior. She worked less than a year then Elisabeth, our second child, came along. She was named after my mother in law. Her maternity leave was short as we already had a nanny at home.

We thought we had all we needed as far as children were concerned. However, due to a miscue, Judy became pregnant again and we were blessed with little William. Soon after, Judy went for surgery to stop the family growing further. Three was enough.

Judy and I were still career oriented with a live-in nanny at home but our children were still our first priority. And that's how we lived our next six years.

Chapter 2 - Changes

The last year of our marriage has been strained. The kids were growing -- as could attest all the pictures taken by Judy over our marriage - we were well set professionally, but something was missing.

I still loved Judy as much as the first day we became husband and wife. On top of that, we had three wonderful well-behaved kids -- thanks to our Filipino nanny, Amihan. She had been promoted to maid as the kids went to school, the younger one now being in pre-school.

One evening, while watching a stupid series on TV with the kids and Amihan --Judy was at a late meeting at work -- it dawned on me. What was happening in our marriage? It wasn't the first time a late meeting kept Judy away from us. Hey! It happened to me too.

But I kept thinking about the last months. I first assumed it was the stress at work that made her seem so distant with the kids and me. I've been there and I know that sometime you really can't leave your work-related worries at the door. It keeps running in your head even in the most intimate moments of your family life.

However, I realized that she was curt with me but not as much with the kids or Amihan. I was sure that her relationship with me was the real problem. I tried very hard to think about what changes in my attitude or my behaviour could explain her distant disposition toward me. What did I do that warranted her frequent flares of temper toward me?

For instance, last week I asked her if we could go to the zoo with the kids.

She looked at me full of scorn. "My Goodness Allan! How more boring could our life get? An afternoon at the zoo! You can go with Amihan and the kids, I'll keep myself busy."

I was shocked by her show of contempt toward an activity that the kids always loved. "Honey, the kids love going to the zoo. Why would you say such a thing? Why, for that matter, are you so short with me all the time? There's nothing I say or do lately that you approve of. What's the matter?"

She stood up from the couch and headed toward our computer room. "I feel like a prisoner of our life, Allan. When I look at you, I don't see a husband, I see a warden," she said and left the room.

Well, she couldn't be clearer than that, could she? That last statement was revealing. Our marriage was in jeopardy if I didn't do something, and fast. She had complained plenty in the last year about the boredom of our life, but never in such an accusatory fashion.

Then it hit me. Is she on the way out? Worse, is she cheating on me? That she would be unsatisfied with our life was already hard to take but I knew that I would do anything to make our life better to save the marriage. But if she is cheating on me, that was another story. I would never accept that.

I had to be sure.

Sunday after lunch, I put the kids in the car and Amihan and me drove toward the zoo. Two blocks from the house, I pulled into a restaurant parking lot and asked Amihan to drive the kids to the zoo. She agreed, troubled nevertheless by my request.

As soon as she was out of sight, I jumped in a rental car I had left there the previous day. I was about to drive back home when I saw Judy's car going up the boulevard. I followed.

After 10 minutes, she pulled in front of an apartment building and went inside. Armed with my camera, I took a few pictures of her entering the building. I waited a bit then went to have a look. It wasn't very tidy; a wastebasket was overflowing with discarded flyers from the mailboxes. There was a series of buzzers with nametags. I read them. One name jumped out at me and almost floored me: Brad Johnson, Judy's old boyfriend.

Now I had a better understanding of what was happening. She has hooked up with her former lover. Still single and unattached, without kids, he was able to offer her the thrills that I couldn't, what with three kids, a house -- and the mortgage that goes with it -- and a demanding professional life.

I now had the answer to all the questions that I had for the last few months: my wife was cheating on me and my marriage was over. To say that I was distraught would be an understatement. Like a drunken man, I staggered back to my car. I didn't know for sure what was happening there, but only an idiot would think that she was just paying a friendly visit to her ex-boyfriend. But still, I needed to be sure.