Trigger Warning: This story involves two married people conducting an extramarital affair. No one suffers negative consequences of their actions. Everyone lives happily ever after. If that bothers you, please skip this story.
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Note to new readers: You should be able to follow this story even if you haven't read the first three parts. In the first three chapters of this story, the previously honest and loyal sheriff Tom Carson was corrupted by temptation. He now struggles to redeem himself.
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Sheriff Tom Carson continued to struggle with the lust Sara (his son's girlfriend) had awoken inside him. Until two months ago, he was a loyal husband and father. He had never cheated on his wife and wasn't even tempted. But since his brief but passionate affair with his son's girlfriend, lust consumed him. He carried out a month-and-a-half-long affair with his daughter's friend, Emma. She had left for college two weeks ago. Now, his lust searched for a new outlet.
No matter how much Tom wanted to return to being a loyal husband, he couldn't put his lust back in Pandora's box. He tried to focus it on his wife, Carol. She enjoyed the constant attention and renewed sexual spark in their relationship for a while, but the novelty began to fade. On top of that, she injured her back after a passionate round of sex on their dining room table a week ago. Tom's passion led to the table collapsing with Carol on top. She could barely walk and had no interest in sex.
Now, wherever he went, his mind evaluated every woman by her physical attractiveness and sexual availability. Their bodies were studied part by part. Their clothing was assessed for how quickly it could be removed or ripped off. Every smile and glance was evaluated as a potential invitation. No one was excluded. He lusted after his female colleagues, his male colleagues' wives, his daughter's friends, his wife's friends, the female members of their church, and total strangers.
It consumed Tom's every thought, and he hated it. He didn't want to be this person. He wanted to be Carol's trustworthy husband, Candice & Carl's loving father, the county's honest sheriff, and a decent man. He was all those things until two months ago.
This weighed on Tom as he got ready for work. He took his time as he shaved and dressed in his bathroom. He savored moments of isolation since they were the times when his lust was most under control. The sudden ringing on his phone spoiled the moment.
The caller ID identified Alexis Watson, his wife's friend, as the caller. It was unusual for her to call Tom, especially at 7:40 AM on a Monday. They didn't have a particularly close relationship, which concerned Tom. Something serious must have happened.
He answered. Before he could say "Hello," Alexis frantically explained the situation.
"Tom, someone's broken into the cafe. They broke a window. They stole my new equipment and trashed the place. Please, come quick," she trailed off and sobbed quietly.
Tom shifted into Sheriff mode. "Alexis, are you safe? Is anyone else there?"
"Yes, I'm alone. The burglar isn't here anymore."
"Ok, go outside. Don't touch anything. I'll be there in 10 minutes," he said as he walked out the door.
Alexis owned a yoga studio and the cafe next door. That is how his wife met her 10 years ago. She and her husband couldn't have children, so her businesses became her primary focus. She opened the yoga studio when she was 28 years old. After a few lean years, she had turned it into a thriving business. A year ago, she bought the shop next door and turned it into a healthy smoothie/bakery/cafe, hoping that most of her yoga clients would grab a treat after working out.
Tom pulled into the parking lot. It was empty except for Alexis. The studio and cafe were closed on Mondays. As he pulled in, his eyes went to Alexis. She was facing away from Tom, staring at the studio. Tom's lust honed in on her toned ass, perfectly highlighted by her tight yoga pants. He noticed the little heart-shaped gap between her thighs and pussy. Her dark hair was in a high ponytail. He noticed how her razorback top left her shoulders and the small of her back exposed. Her skin was a beautiful tanned brown from her half-Filipina heritage. Tom tried to stifle those thoughts. He was here as a law enforcement officer helping a person in distress, or he was supposed to be.
When Alexis heard Tom's car pull into the parking lot, she turned at the waist and looked over her shoulder, flashing her big brown eyes. Tom noticed how the way she twisted made her waist look slender, contrasting with her ample breasts. She gave Tom a relieved smile but was clearly upset. Tom's lust smelled an opportunity. Tom's sense of self cringed at the thought.
Tom got out of his squad car. Alexis hugged him and buried her head in his chest. He felt her breasts pressed against his stomach. His arms wrapped around her petite body. He rubbed her back comfortingly. He noted how soft and smooth her skin felt against his rough hands. His lust cataloged every inch of her body.
"Tom, thank god you're here. I can't believe it. I've worked so hard, and for what?! So some punks could break in and ruin everything?!" she ranted on the verge of tears as she led him toward the door.
"Alexis, let's try to remain calm. Things can be replaced. The fact that you're safe is the most important thing," he said, taking the opportunity to rub her toned shoulder. "Tell me what happened this morning."
"So I showed up around 7:30. We had a bunch of equipment delivered last week. I was going to unpack it and set it up."
"What type of equipment?" Tom asked.
"A new espresso machine, a couple of blenders, a mini-fridge for canned drinks, and, ironically, two security cameras."
"That's a bad break."
"Tell me about it. When I got here, I noticed the window was broken and the door was open. I guess the thieves broke the window, then reached around and unlocked the door from the inside."
Tom squatted down and examined the window. It was a long pane of glass that ran parallel to the door. It was broken right next to the door handle. He noticed shards of glass on the ground outside and carefully avoided them. It appeared as though there were some chips of black paint mixed in with them. He put on rubber gloves and opened the door. He took in the scene inside: chairs toppled over, paintings lying on the floor, a smashed napkin holder on the floor, and napkins scattered everywhere. A basket of gluten-free biscotti had been tossed from the register to the middle of the room. The equipment behind the counter appeared untouched.
Tom carefully walked around the debris. There were some stale pastries smashed on the ground behind the counter. The cash drawer on the register was open and empty. He made his way to the small hallway that ran to the back of the shop. A table was knocked over.
He opened the door to the office. It appeared to be untouched. The safe under the desk was closed and didn't appear to have been tampered with. He noticed some return labels in the garbage. There was a file folder marked insurance sitting on the desk.
"Is there anything missing from here?" Tom asked.
"No, I don't think so. Everything looks how it did when I left yesterday," Alexis said as she looked around the office.
