The past few years have been difficult in my 30-year marriage to Adam. Menopause be damned, and the hot flashes and dryness that comes with it! Otherwise, Adam and I have a great marriage..
Neither has ever cheated, and we've made sex and good health an important part of our lives. But, my body has begun to betray me, and our sex life has been paying the price.
Sex has become nearly unbearable for me. I am so dry, and require so much lube, that we rarely do it anymore. Adam's size doesn't help either, as he is a bit more than average length and girth. Lately I just offer him a handy or a BJ whenever he has that look in his eye.
The worst part for me is that I married a really good lover. Adam always ensures that I cum as well; he is more than willing to go down on me, or use a toy or his fingers to make sure I am taken care of, as I have not been able to orgasm by way of penis-in-vagina.
We have been managing and carrying on like this for a couple of years now, but until last night, I thought that we were destined to a waning and sorry sex life. Yesterday, my younger sister came by with coffees.
Adam was just leaving for his Wednesday basketball game at the school when Lynn arrived. "Hi, Lynn. Nice to see you," he said, picking up his gym bag. "How have you been?"
My sister brightened right up, and answered, "I am okay, I guess. How about you?
"I'm good, thanks."
Adam bent down to tie his laces and Lynn added, "Enjoy your game!"
"Thanks, Lynn. I will," he replied, kissing me on the cheek. Lynn's half-smile faded again, watching Adam walk out the door. Lynn handed me the tray with two coffees and slid her shoes off, slipping on some knitted slippers she always carries with her.
"Don't worry about your shoes," I offered, albeit too late. We walked to the kitchen and sat down at one corner of the table.
"What's new with you, Lynn" I asked, hoping things were better between her and Darryl.
"Jen, I've gone from one problem to the next. We had the talk last night". Her eyes welled up.
"Oh," I offered quietly and waited for her to go on. What else was there to say? My sister and Darryl have had a good marriage as well but now that their daughter Sarah is off to college, she has found herself very lonely, and sexually frustrated. His legal business is booming but takes up most of his energy, and they have had zero sex in a long while.
"He says he has lost interest. I asked him to see a doctor but he won't. Darryl says he needs to focus on the business and maybe when things aren't so crazy that he might feel like it again. He told me it might be best if I were to take a lover. What am I supposed to do about that?"
"And you're sure he's not having an affair."
"No. I'm sure of that. I've looked for red flags and other than his lack of interest, there aren't any signs that anyone else is involved. I really think Darryl is telling me the truth. But, I feel so undesirable."
"You shouldn't feel that way. You are very attractive, Lynn. Besides, what does he even mean 'take a lover?' Are you supposed to have a guy waiting for you to call when you want some dick?"
"I know, right? And then he told me the only thing he asks is that I don't do it in front of him or in a public way... like I would bring some guy to our home just so I can get laid?"
"Hmm," I said out loud. I wasn't sure how to handle this. I mean, I had never thought of making an offer like that to Adam. I would probably be too jealous to let a strange woman have him, even for a night.
"I know one thing, I am not interested in hiring or dating some young guy. That isn't what I need from sex."
"Oh, I know what you mean. Sex is such a personal, intimate moment. I wouldn't want a gigolo either."
Lynn asked, "So, if I were to, as Darryl says, take a lover, how am I even supposed to go about it?" As she spoke, I had that moment of clarity. But, as clear as the idea presented itself to me, I knew that I could never just blurt it out.
"How about this," I began, "Why don't you come over for a girls' night on Friday and we can talk. Tell Darryl that we are going to drain my supply of wine, so you will be staying the night and returning home Saturday after we do some shopping."
"He's away for a convention anyway, but that sounds like a great plan! Is Adam away on Friday?"
"Yes, Adam has a card game Friday night."
"Alright then, I will bring some wine too."
Lynn and I talked for more than an hour, engaging in other subjects a little more upbeat. I had opened a bottle of wine by then and we had nearly finished that when I heard a car in the driveway.
The back door opened into the kitchen and in walked Adam, still in his basketball gear; his normally curly hair was soaked and stringy with sweat. Perspiration stains on his chest and armpits made his shirt wringing wet.
"No shower today, Honey?"
"No. There's a plumber working in the washroom so the water at the school is off until tomorrow."
It was while he was talking, that I saw Lynn gazing at my husband. Lynn has always been drawn to Adam; I saw it in her cute little face the day I introduced him to her when she was just 11. I was 20 at the time, and Adam doted on my little sister, which only made me fall for him even more.
And, what isn't to like about the guy? He's 6'4" and two hundred pounds of lean muscle. His wavy blonde hair and piercing blue yes were first to draw my attention. His loyalty and great lovemaking only sealed the deal.