So many people want this to be untrue. It was unexpected and yes, I never imagined it could happen. But I can vouch for its truth because I was there. We were travelling home from a visit to distant friends and spent the night in a large modern hotel by the main road. The place was busy with a business awayday. Tired execs filled the bar before dinner, the men all dressed in the same navy business suits and relating their dreary adventures to one another. I took one look and suggested we rest on our bed until ready to eat. Julie insisted on having a drink.
"They look like a fun crowd. I wonder who they work for."
I went to the bar while Julie searched for a free table. It took a while to get my drinks and when I found her, she was seated at the end of a table shared by others.
"Guess who they work for?" she said, adding her throaty chuckle. I shook my head and she gave the name of a multinational internet company.
I was feeling tired and apathetic. "Management doublespeak and boys with their toys. How did you find out?"
"I asked someone."
I'd call Julie shy. She didn't usually speak to strangers unless she had to. "Who did you ask?"
"It's that good-looking young man over there."
I glanced over at the man. He was in his late twenties with all his own hair and he was staring at us -- or Julie -- in a careless, conceited manner.
"I bet he's in marketing," I said to dismiss him.
Conversation dried up. We had little to say to one another at the best of times. We'd had a busy night and day with the family of an old schoolfriend of Julie's -- enjoyable but exhausting because they'd spent the who time bitching and insisting that we admire their new furnishings. The friend had a wealthy husband, a big house and three young children. Julie had none of these. I sipped my drink quickly, wanting to get away. Julie fiddled nervously with her martini.
"Let's get to bed early," I suggested, thinking she might welcome the idea.
She looked surprised and glanced round the bar as if seeing it for the first time. "We've paid for the hotel and it looks rather splendid. I intend to make the most of it."
"There's not much we can do at this time of the evening except have a meal."
"You think so?" I saw a look of mischief as she suddenly smiled. "Just watch me. Maybe this is just a game, so don't get upset. I'm going over to have another chat with Grant. I think he's lovely."
"You what?" I jerked properly awake. "Who's Grant?"
"The boy I spoke to. He's over there looking at me now. Admit he's very sexy."
I looked from Julie to the man at the bar. He had a beer and was watching her. Julie was alive with energy all of a sudden.
"But...but, you can't go and chat up a stranger in a bar."
"Why not? Surely you don't resent me having a bit of fun."
"But hang on, you mean go up and flirt with him?"
"Who knows? That's a very prurient way of putting it. I think you'll be proud to have such an accomplished wife." She looked challengingly at me. "Of course Grant may not be interested and I may have to be very persuasive. Or he may be a dutiful husband with a pretty wife at home who demands to know about every woman he's spoken to. But if he likes me there's no harm in getting to know him. Go to bed if you're tired and I'll join you later."
"No way."
"Then you'll have to watch."
I'd thought it was only words, but she slipped from her chair and went across to the irritating young exec, who seemed unsurprised by her coming to talk to him. I watched dumbfounded as they turned their backs and he bought her another drink. Then they moved further down the bar so that they were partly hidden. But I could see laughter and eager conversation. Grant was staring hard at the cleavage revealed by Julie's loose shirt and she was gazing deep into his eyes. Furious with her and with myself, I turned away and stared at my drink. Whatever she was up to, I wasn't going to play.
The minutes passed and I couldn't make sense of what was happening. I'd say that Julie was averagely interested in sex. She didn't often initiate things between us, but she was mostly happy to go along with whatever I wanted and seemed to enjoy herself. But she'd never revealed any interest in other men even to joke with me. She was a conformist in most things -- she didn't dress sexily, but then she had a trim figure from exercise and liked to show off her legs in a skirt. There's an old word -- comely -- I'd use to describe her. She certainly didn't stand out in a crowd. She's the sort of person you appreciate the more you know her. It was her smile that hooked a man, as I knew to my cost.
I mostly refrained from looking towards the bar and was sunk in my thoughts when Julie eventually flopped beside me and gave me a kiss and a happy grin.
"Yes, don't say it, I've been really naughty. But it was so much fun talking to Grant. He's intelligent and kind and it was interesting hearing him talk about what he hopes to do with his life. Mind, he can only talk about himself, but that's because he's young."
"A narcissist..."
She put up her hand to stop me. "I haven't finished. I have a confession. He put his hand on mine and I let him."
"Oh." I was shocked and slightly embarrassed, as if I'd inadvertently walked in on two lovers. "What about me? Does this friend of yours make a habit of seducing wives in front of their husband?"
"He didn't seduce me. And in any case, I told him you were my uncle."
"You what?"
"Aren't you proud of me? He really likes me. But that's not all. Don't get cross because this is just a game and -- admit it! -- you're as curious as me to see what happens. Grant's invited your straight-laced wife to have another drink with him after dinner. I've accepted. I told him you were tired and would go to bed after we'd eaten. Come on, admit that's exciting and that you didn't think I had the nerve."
"Yes I'm shocked."
It was an understatement. I sat there unable to come up with anything to say. We went to dinner and it was difficult to ignore Julie's preoccupation. No doubt I was subdued, processing the idea of Julie going for a drink with a stranger. It seemed out of character, unbelievable even. I remembered what she'd said about Grant looking good. Was this some weird expression of sexual chemistry, that after years of marriage Julie had been turned on by the interest of a younger man, a man she couldn't resist?
Curiously I didn't feel angry or jealous, but apprehensive and anxious to know what would happen. There were obvious flaws in our relationship and this was something new. At lot of the time we had little to say to one another, few interests in common and unsteady tempers when we were tired or stressed from work. Was Julie walking away from all this -- literally? It was as if we'd stepped into an alternative world where we lived the lives we wanted instead of the one that held us trapped.
I dallied over my coffee as long as I could. Eventually Julie checked her watch impatiently and told me she had to go.
"Do I look okay, or do I need to freshen up, change into something more sexy?"
"You know you look great. You've already snared this impressionable Grant."
"That's kind of you to say so. Now I don't want you getting in the way so go to our room. I don't suppose I shall be long. Half an hour -- or an hour at most."
"What are you going to do?"
"Sit in the bar and talk I expect. I just love to be with him and he's so appreciative of my company."
"You'll not go to his room."
She looked startled, then laughed. "Is that what you want? You think your sedate and proper wife might slip off with a stranger to his bedroom while your back's turned? It's a thought, but it's not going to happen. Now do what you're told."
I left the restaurant but didn't do as I was told. Earlier I'd seen that there was a dark terrace beyond the glass doors at the end of the bar where one or two of the execs went for a smoke. After trying a few doors, I found a way onto the terrace without going through the bar and positioned myself in the darkness, well back from the windows.
It didn't take long for the lovers to appear. They sat at the bar, Julie with her legs crossed and showing to advantage, the young man laughing and at ease with the situation. At one point he tapped her knee. It looked proprietorial rather than lascivious. Then she patted his hand and he leaned forward and kissed her on the lips. There was no missing the feeling behind this -- and for me it felt like I'd been shot by a crossbow. The game was moving fast and I wondered whether I should walk in on the couple -- or maybe walk the other way, collect my things and leave.
Before I could reach any decision, the pair got up and I thought they were going to his room. But they came towards the windows and I realised that they were coming outside. I retreated into the further darkness, horrified that they might see me. But they passed without a glance, absorbed by their own company.
I lost sight of them for a minute, then crept back towards the light from the hotel. They were leaning against a tree on a small lawn beyond the car park, a spotlight throwing garish colours across their faces. I was breathing hard as I watched them kiss, arms round one another. I should stop them. They crushed themselves together until after an age I was shocked to realise that Grant's hand was on Julie's breast. Then it was on her thigh, then pressing her skirt between her legs. Even more shocking was to see her hand rubbing his crotch as she looked down to examine the bulge in his trousers.
What had this man done to her? This wasn't my Julie and I watched in disbelief as she let him put his hand under the hem of her skirt. She was leaning against the tree, knees weak, head thrown back. Her skirt was rucked up and I guessed he must be fingering her. The scene continued for ages.
Had Julie gone mad, or had Grant driven her to the point of excitement where she'd lost control of her senses? I was rooted into the shaded flower border where I lurked, deprived of action by the sight of my wife lost in animal sex. I'd never seen her like this before. It seemed that a long time passed. Then I saw that she'd released his cock and had both hands round it. She's going to fuck him, I told myself. I have to stop this.
But I remained in the shadows, unable to move. Instead I watched her rub him. After an excruciating age she knelt in front of him. The thing was in her mouth and I could see her rocking backwards and forwards on her heels. He put his hand in her hair to steady her and added to her motion with thrusts of his pelvis.
I could feel it. It was as if she was doing it to me. I groaned and thrust my hand against my mouth. I had to get away. Released suddenly from my border, I more or less ran through the undergrowth back to the terrace, and from there to my room. In a panic I hid my earthy shoes, flung off my clothes, showered and jumped into bed.
The rush was unnecessary because it was ten minutes before Julie pushed her way into the room. Her hair had fallen out of its pins and her makeup was smeared but she had an eager smile and looked pleased to see me.
"Still awake? Not so tired after all?"
"You okay?"
"I'm great. I hope you weren't bored waiting."
"You fucked him then."
"I didn't. You wished I had?" She gave me a reproving look. "I should have done because it's what he wanted. In any case, what we did is nearly as bad. You may not believe this but I sucked him off. It seemed the least I could do for making me happy."
