Jim looked grimly at his reflection in the mirror. Time had sprinkled silver liberally through his jet-black hair leaving it with a salt and pepper look. Fine lines ran across his forehead and mapped years of smiling outward from his slate gray eyes. Shaking his head sadly, he wondered not for the first time why he couldn't have lost his hair rather than his erection.
Glancing up, he almost groaned. Laying on their bed in a lacy black nightie, Stella was every bit as hot and sexy as she had been when they had married almost twenty years ago. While she dyed her auburn hair to match its original color, her breasts were unaltered; still perky and firm as they had been on their fifth date. Working around the house and going to the gym had kept her buns and legs fit and trim.
Looking up from reading some romance novel she purchased from the grocery store, she smiled brightly at him as her eyes met his in the mirror. Closing the book, she set it to the side on the nightstand and flipped back the covers. Patting the mattress next to her, she beckoned him to join her. "Come to bed Jim, its getting late."
With a deep sigh of resignation, he shut off the bathroom light and made his way to the bed. Tossing his shirt on the chair, he left his boxers on, slipped between the sheets, and turned to his wife.
"I know you're still upset about what the doctor said." She said quietly, "But you have to know that it doesn't change anything between us."
"Doesn't change anything! How can you say that?" He asked, more sharply than he had intended. "It changes everything! How can our relationship stay the same when I can't even make proper love to you? You're my wife. I'm supposed to be able to pleasure and please you!"
He rolled to his side away from her, pulled the covers over his body and pretended to fall asleep almost immediately; deeply frustrated with himself for taking out his fear and anger on her.
Next to him, the bed shook lightly giving away her sobs of sadness. Something definitely had to be done. He didn't want to lose Stella; she was his reason for living. With their twenty year anniversary coming up next week, he had to think of something and think of it fast.
He rolled back over and gathered her in his arms. Kissing away her tears, he apologized for his gruffness and reassured her that he still loved her no matter what he could or couldn't do. Coaxing her to roll over, he fit her body to his spoon-fashion, rested his arm around her middle and cupped her breast in his hand like he had done almost every night for nearly twenty years.
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After a fitful night's sleep, Jim rose before the alarm and headed for the shower. Twenty minutes later, he was dressed and sipping a hot steamy mug of coffee as he skimmed over the morning paper. Finding nothing exciting or interesting, he tossed the paper on the table. Then, drinking down the last of his coffee he rinsed the cup and set it in the sink.
On his way to work, he turned up the radio and allowed his mind to wander just slightly. Thinking back only five years, he smiled at the memory of some of the more erotic trips he and Stella had enjoyed.
The nude beach they had visited on their fifteenth anniversary had made them both so horny that they hadn't left their room for over eighteen hours. The lovemaking had been spectacular as they subsisted on the delicacies of room service. Fresh strawberries and grapes had become sweet, tasty love toys. However, back in the day, his penis had played its part too.
Suddenly, an idea began to form. He skidded into a parking place, throwing on the brake before the car had ever stopped moving. Ignoring the sunshade, he jumped out of the car and flew through the double doors as if wings were at his ankles. Struggling not to race to his desk, he maintained some semblance of dignity as he made his way to his office.
Hitting the power button on his computer, he slipped out of his coat and hung it hastily on the door. Not liking the amount of time it seemed to take his computer to warm up; he escaped to the break room for a cup of coffee in hopes of soothing his nerves with caffeine.
Returning to his desk, he set the coffee aside and brought up the internet. Typing in the search engine, he input 'Colorado Cabin Rentals' and waited while the computer whirled away. As the results popped up, he looked carefully at each one wanting to pick the perfect setting for his seduction plan.
His wife had been right; nothing had to change between them. Sure, he couldn't get an erection anymore but that didn't mean it had to be the end of their passionate time together. He would have to improvise and try harder, after all - she was worth it.
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A week later, Jim came home from work early with a smile on his face. "Pack a weekend bag Honey, we're leaving town in two hours."
"But Jim, what's going on? What are you talking about? Where are we going?" She exclaimed, wiping her hands on a dishtowel as she emerged from the kitchen.
"What's going on is a secret. What I'm talking about is an anniversary trip. Does it matter where we go?" He gave her answers before asking a question of his own.
"Oh no Jim, it doesn't matter where. You just took me by surprise is all." Stella told him as she returned the dishtowel to the kitchen and headed off to the bedroom. "What should I bring?" She called over her shoulder as she pulled her suitcase from the closet.
"I'm taking you on a long past due trip, a romantic get-away if you will. So pack light." He spoke from behind her. "Maybe bring something nice to go to dinner but other than that, just the basics."
Turning to look at him, she rose to her feet and stepped into his embrace choking out a sob as he pulled her to him. "With everything that is going on, I was afraid to hope you had remembered our anniversary." She whispered into his chest.
"It is and always will be a special day to me. There is no way I could forget it. I love you Stella." His voice cracked as he buried his face in her hair.
