This continues the next day's events as Stephen tries to come to terms with Diane's revelations. His emotions vary because of those. He loves her and realises the depth of her love for him. It's the beginning of their journey to build a better marriage with a more intimate sex life.
While there are sex scenes, there is more foreplay in terms of scene setting between the action which may not suit some.
Again, no adultery, no violence or abuse.
Chapter 4,
During the drive home, Stephen was trying to comprehend the unbelievable.
He had been shocked and extremely aroused when he saw Diane's attire the night before. He had suggested she dress a little less frumpy, okay more provocatively, on occasions, as she was absolutely gorgeous.
He had been stunned when she said she hadn't had an affair. If she hadn't said that he could have found himself thinking she had given her new persona. He was positive she wouldn't but her actions, so unlike her, had confused him. Her explanation this morning was a relief.
He had never realised she felt she sucked at sex. He had always tried to show he loved her and supported her. He thought she was just too reserved. He hadn't known until today that some boy had knocked her confidence badly.
On top of all that, learning that his staid wife, Diane, had willingly disrobed in front of others to support her sister was simple astonishing. He'd never seen Diane naked anywhere apart from coming out of the shower or in bed before today. She always picked up her robe before going to another room.
Where has this Diane come from?
On the other hand, he realised that her newfound confidence was still quite fragile. When she had told Kim, she was buying her work clothes, she was confident. When she had to begin the story, she was concerned about what he may think. She didn't trust he would think she had done the right thing. He suspected she feared he would be angry at her.
Was he?
In truth, he was beginning to feel angry with himself. Why had he never realised she felt so badly about their lovemaking. While it was somewhat vanilla, even restricted, if his friends' stories were to be believed, he thought that was all she desired. He thought he was a considerate lover as he kept within her boundaries and never tried to force the issue. Why had he never explored her previous sexual history? If he had he could have found out about her feeling inadequate and together they could have learned from each other, helped each other.
Yes, work had interfered -- badly -- but had he been more aware could they have overcome that?
How did he feel?
He felt conflicted. Friday evening had been all he had ever wished for. Breakfast still felt unreal. There was no doubt Kim's story had aroused him. The thought of Diane being nude in front of others was extremely arousing according to his little man. The downside was that he wasn't there to experience it. Not that he wanted to involve others in their lovemaking but he would have been so proud of her, her confidence, her enabling Kim. Okay, he would have loved to have seen all those in their working uniforms as well! As he now recognised, he would have enjoyed the reactions of others to her.
What more revelations about her work at Hydra would come out? Are there any? If there is how will he feel? Questions, Questions!
Diane meantime was becoming more concerned. Stephen hadn't spoken more than a few words since they left the mall. His face veered between a smile and annoyance. She felt she had made him angry which was the last thing she wanted. She had been going to tell him about Kim and other Hydra practices which she thought he would enjoy. Now, she was not so sure!
Stephen was jolted from his reverie when the car stopped at their house. As Diane parked, he opened the house and went inside without waiting for her. This dismayed her as it seemed to confirm her worst fears.
She found him in the kitchen.
She thought she would try being upbeat to gauge his reaction. "Stephen, I know you made breakfast, but can I ask you to make the sandwiches for lunch? I need to wash the bikinis and lingerie so they will dry and I can replace the ones I have packed later."
Stephen nodded and she thought she saw a smile.
As she went to hand wash the purchases, she decided she would probably soak her blouse, so she removed it. Once she had finished, she put them all on a rack and set the dehumidifier. She was about to put the blouse back on when she thought. What the heck! He didn't tell me to dress. If he's mad at me, I'll make him squirm - if he's aroused, well!
She stripped off the skirt and panties and quickly washed her pussy.
Stephen had placed the sandwiches on her plate and they were waiting for her. He was very pleasantly surprised at her appearance as he knew he wasn't making much sense with the way he was behaving.
She carefully moved the plate so his view wasn't obstructed!
Both tried to speak at the same time. Stephen told her to go ahead.
Her voice conveyed her concerns, "Stephen, I'm sorry I didn't tell you before and that it's made you angry. I didn't mean for you to find out about Kim and me that way. I was planning to tell you before now but we never had the chance to speak before yesterday. If we hadn't met Kim, I would have told you during our holiday, along with some other Hydra practices which up until now I thought you would be up for, though I thought you wouldn't believe me at first.
"Yesterday and this morning was all that I wanted. I love you and would never do anything to harm that love. If you feel you can't trust me at Hydra, I'll resign," she said emphatically.
Stephen's voice showed his pleasure, "Diane, everything which has happened since I came home yesterday was all that I ever wanted with you. Last night, I saw that confident, beautiful goddess which I knew you were under all your reservation. Did it surprise me? Yes! I kept wondering what had changed but my arousal was such I never could put those thoughts into words. I trusted you when you said you hadn't had an affair and I understood why you said that, when you explained the reason this morning. That psychologist was right, I would have suspected you had an affair though I know you never would.
"Being with you, seeing your reaction to those who observed you was wonderful. The park was my wildest fantasy. The words from the usual suspects at the bar about how hot you were, were music to my ears. You were mine, not theirs.
"You saw the effect trying those bikinis on and picking that lingerie had on me. I was living my greatest fantasy with the woman I love with all my being.
"When we met Kim, I was surprised at her lingerie items as I never thought she wore suspenders. I'm sure Phil would have been keen to share if she had. When she said it was her working clothes, I saw that look between you which said there was more to this than I envisaged. That both intrigued and concerned me. Were you required to wear suspenders and stockings? Why would that be? While I like the idea, I wasn't sure if I wanted you to if that was a requirement. What else is required? I never managed to get the threads of my thoughts together long enough to make a coherent thought.
"When you described going to the top floor and finding the female dress code, I was stunned. In my wildest dreams, I would love to have an office like that. My mind conjured up a fantasy in which you would strip off as well. When Kim described how you had stripped off to help her overcome her nerves, I was in fantasy heaven. When she said you had hugged each other, I almost came.
"I don't think that I would have believed her if you hadn't been so confident in the nude in this kitchen this morning. The only drawback was not being there to share the experience.
"I was caught between two strong emotions. The upside one. I love the confident Diane. The fact you didn't wear a bra today was unreal. The pink silk blouse sets off how beautiful you are. I love you in pink, as you saw when you held up those pink lingerie sets. I never thought you would come out of the changing cubicle wearing those bikinis but when you did you were so hot.
"Here was my fantasy woman making sure my desires were taken care off. I wanted to ask more about it but had trouble with my thoughts. Kim left and we started home."
His voice changed, to one of sadness, "That's when the second emotion hit me hard. If we hadn't gone out this morning so quickly after you told me, I'm sure this would have come up sooner.
"I'm sorry if my face said I was angry at you. I wasn't. I was angry at me. This morning you said that someone had derided your ability at giving a blowjob and that you felt you sucked at sex. That's why you didn't participate as fully as you obviously wanted to. I just thought you were reserved and didn't want to expand what we did. I never knew, I never asked you as I didn't want to embarrass you or worse make you leave me if I suggested something which was repugnant to you. If I had asked, we could have worked it out together. I failed you and us. I'm so sorry about that.
"I never thought you sucked at sex, I just thought you had boundaries so I respected those. Sex with you has always been good for me. Even those deluxe masturbation events you mentioned."
His tone changed to a more positive one as he continued, "I understand that working for Hydra has allowed more 'you' time which you have used to help you work towards what you wanted in our marriage and our sex life. I am three months behind you if Hydra has taken over my firm. I would like you to help me understand better how I can be there for you. How we can expand those boundaries safely. I want to be the husband who will be your partner in a sex life and marriage we both want."
Diane felt his angst and wanted to convey that she wanted that too.
"Stephen, I feel like a cloud has been removed from me. The confidence that Heidi, Emily Jane and others show in me has given me the confidence to try and be the wife I wanted to be since I met you. I don't know myself my journey but I do know I want that journey to be with you. You can't take any blame. Whenever you asked, I changed the subject.
"Together, we can explore our desires, build our love."
