Chapter 4: The Husband
I woke up feeling better than I had in a long time. Last night had been fantastic. Everyone said sex was always the first thing to drop off when you settled down into the routine of marriage, but we had put that idea to bed, literally. Hannah, my lovely wife, was not only the most beautiful woman in the world--with her long, silky black hair, dazzling blue eyes, and of course her irresistible smile--but underneath the surface she was an animal in bed. Her lithe and supple body could manage just about any position, a fact she was happy to take advantage of, and I was happy to reap the rewards from.
After basking for some time in the memory of her luscious lips wrapped around my cock, I finally levered myself out of bed, and found Hannah in the kitchen, washing dishes. She noticed me entering, but kept her back to me.
"Honey..." she began.
My spine straightened, instinctively. "Is something wrong?" I tried.
"Well... last night was great, but I... I don't think I can do it again."
The bottom dropped out of my stomach. "What?! Why not?"
"I think..." she stalled, then the words came out in a rush. "I think I'm losing my sex drive."
Fuck. No. This couldn't be happening. Right when I was gloating to myself about putting my fears of a sexless marriage to bed, I was staring down the barrel. I couldn't think of what to say, or how to say it. "...Are you sure?" I managed.
She just hung her head and nodded. "It's nothing you've done, it just sort of... happened. I'm not as easily aroused as I used to be."
I folded my arms around her protectively, lovingly. "Oh, honey, I'm so sorry. Is there anything we can do to try and get it back?"
She fidgeted, breaking away from me to gather her thoughts. "Maybe. If I went to therapy or something like that, I could see how I felt."
"I'll support you every step of the way" I promised.
"Thanks" she murmured, resting her head against my shoulder.
A thought nagged at the back of my mind. I trusted my Hannah, of course, but this would be, well, sex therapy. I couldn't bear the thought of subjecting her to a man in that context. Who knew how many of them would be lecherous about it?
"I suppose," I said, "it might be best if you were to see a woman about your problem?"
Hannah thought about this for a while.
"Yes," she said, "I think so, too."
**********
It didn't take long for us to find someone. Not a dedicated sex therapist, but Hannah took particular note of the comments from women who said she'd improved their relationships out of sight. That was good enough for me. I wanted to come with her, since it was my sex life too, but the therapist--Stephanie, she said her name was--had insisted on seeing only my wife first.
On the day of the appointment, I'd just put the finishing touches on a presentation for an upcoming project, when Hannah called.
"Hi gorgeous!" I answered. "How was your appointment?"
"Hey honey" my wife answered. "I just got out of it. It was... interesting."
"Oh? Interesting how?"
"Erm," Hannah was apparently fumbling for the right words, "Dr. Stephanie wants me to... well, we're going to continue not having sex for a while."
I knew it would be foolish to expect instant results from just one appointment, but this was still not welcome news. "How long is a while?" I managed, trying not to let my frustration show. It wasn't her fault, after all.
"As long as it takes, she said" my wife replied simply.
I didn't want to sound like I was pleading, but the thought of being unable to touch my lovely wife for God knows how long was unbearable. "Is there anything we can do?"
There was a pause, then she said "I'm allowed to kiss you."
"If that's what the doctor ordered," I conceded.
We said our goodbyes, and I ruminated on this doctor's so-called treatment plan. Nothing beyond kissing? How long would that last? Weeks? Months? It was depressing just to think about. I stewed in this feeling for the rest of the day, until it was radiating off me like a heat shimmer. This was not a good state to go home to my wife in.
"Fuck this," I decided, "I need a drink."
None of my friends were available to hang, which wasn't too surprising. Fine by me. I wanted to be alone anyway, and this was what depressed husbands did when they were having marriage troubles, wasn't it?
I was halfway through my fourth bourbon when I realised that this might not have been the best idea.
"Hey there, handsome" a smooth, seductive voice purred in my left ear, "what are you doing out drinking all by yourself?
I turned to find a curly-haired blonde woman doing a very creditable Marilyn Monroe impersonation, updated for the modern day with an even redder shade of lipstick and even more cleavage.
Incredibly
large cleavage. I found myself briefly wondering if they were natural.
"Nuh-nothing" I slurred a little, "jus' not having a verrry good day."
"Poor thing" she cooed. "Bad day at the office?"
"Nah," I said, "bad day with the wife."
Her mouth opened into a neat little 'o' of shock. "Oh no! Is she mad at you?"
"Not really, jus' not looking forward to going home I guess" I replied.
"Empty bed?" she guessed.
"Might as well be" I grumbled.
She waited for me to finish my drink, then put a gentle hand on my shoulder. "A man like you doesn't deserve to be lonely, in a cold, empty bed" she coaxed softly. "Maybe I could keep you company instead."
I blinked, and for the first time, I really saw her. It took my brain a while to catch up, through the haze of misery and alcohol, but suddenly everything clicked. I knew exactly what she was here for, and I wanted no part of it. What kind of man would cheat on his wife? No man worthy of the name.
I had to get out, now. A cold, empty bed was better than this.
"I'm sorry" I blurted, standing up so fast that I knocked my glass to the side, "I think I should go. Home."
I thought I saw her pout as I turned around and stumbled out the door.
**********
My wife was nowhere to be seen when I finally got home, which suited me fine. Maybe I could get to bed without making more of a fool of myself. It's not like I was blackout drunk or anything, but I was exhausted and drained on top of being tipsy. I managed to brush my teeth and collapse into bed, where the alcohol took over. I was dizzy and tired, not in the mood to move for anything.
I drifted in and out of consciousness. Sleep was fitful and my dreams were unusually vivid. I knew I must have been dreaming because one minute my wife was not there with me, then I blinked, and she
was
there. I blinked again and suddenly she was kissing me with sexy, soft lips, telling me to relax and sleep for her. Her kisses made my head swim, just like the alcohol. Was I still drunk even in my dreams?
I briefly wondered if this actually was a dream, and if not, maybe I should be waking myself up and kissing her back properly, but as I tried to focus and pull myself out of the dream, Hannah's lips met mine again, and I found myself sort of... relaxing back into it. I got sleepier, and the dream got more vivid. Was that how it worked? It was too hard to think. Why would I be thinking anyway, when I could be having this wonderful sexy dream of kissing my wife?
Relax. This is all just a dream. You don't want to wake up
. Did Hannah just say that? It was true though... I didn't want to wake up...