1) This story includes a wife who has sex with man who is not her husband, and potentially carries his baby without her husband's knowledge. If these concepts trigger you, don't give me nasty comments or bad ratings, just move on to something more to your taste.
2) This story includes broad caricatures of Evangelical Christianity and Russia. And, as you can see from the category, it is also a nonconsent story. If any of these things offend or irritate you, please choose a different story.
3) All characters are over the age of 18.
4) This work is sheer fantasy in all respects, and is intended for the purposes of erotic entertainment only. In real life it is incumbent on all of us to ensure consent in any situation, and to show respect and empathy to those around usânot just with regard to sex, but in every aspect of life.
5) I love to receive positive feedback and constructive suggestions. I hope you enjoy it.
The problem of good and evilâ
Philosophers and theologians have wrestled with it for millennia. Yet, for Abigail Jones, it had been an abstract question until today. Her life had been so fortunate, so providential, that there simply wasn't much evil in it to quibble about.
And although Abby would not have said it aloud (or maybe even to herself), it seemed to her that really, she had earned this divine favor. She was born-again, and a good Christian. She had genuine faith, and daily communion with God. She tithed, and had never strayed from the straitlaced morality of her upbringing. And, she kept her mind pure by shunning secular movies, television, music, and novels. For all these reasons, she had unswerving confidence that Heaven would continue to shower blessings upon her.
(Nowâyou might think the Book of Job would have raised a few questions on this point; but Abby usually skipped over it, and sometimes wondered whether it belonged in the Bible at all.)
The strange and disturbing things that had happened today, however, had thrown her smug self-assurance into question. And that was whyâas she stood there in the busy airport terminal, hands above her head and feet spread wide, waiting for the security guard to finish sliding his magnetic wand all over her bare skinâshe found herself pondering why bad things happen to good people.
She reflected, for example, on the loose-fitting bandeau top which dangled limply around her waist. Why had it fallen down just now, exposing her breasts for everyone to see? Was that just the result of chance interactions between molecules and physical forces? Were we all no more than pawns in the hands of a random universe? Or did God have a grand purpose for everythingâeven for something as simple as her top falling off?
And then her mind shifted to her crotch, where her hot-pink vinyl miniskirt had ridden up to expose her pussy. She knew every passer-by could see not only that she had just had sex, but that she'd enjoyed it, physically at least. The dampness of her snatch, the way her labia gaped open, the way her engorged clitoris poked outâthese could leave people in no doubt. And, of course, she herself knew that it was true. But she was wracked by the question:
should
her body have found sensory pleasure in intercourse with a strange man? Surely this must signal some deeper frailty, or corruption, or wickedness in her soul? And so, by extension, perhaps all the day's events had really been divine punishment for some inadvertent sin of hers?
Next, a drip between her feet reminded her of the Russian oligarch's semen, which was slowly dribbling out of her vagina and splattering on the airport floor. If, as she feared, she was going to carry that brute's baby, then that would be true, in part, because she was so faithful to God's strictures regarding the sanctity of life. So perhaps this was all a testâa trial to see if she was strong enough and dutiful enough to obey Him even in adversity? Maybe this entire ghastly day was a result of some wager between Devil and Creator. She believed she could find solace in the idea...
And as she considered these weighty topics, and as the security guard continued to caress her flesh with his wand, she found herself trying to trace the chains of cause and effectâto understand why it all happened, and how she had been brought so low. But where to begin? What was the exact moment that all of today's mayhem had actually been set in motion?
It must have started last night, she thoughtâat that gala dinner at the embassy. Gosh, could it really have been less than 24 hours ago? It seemed like years... She recalled, especially, an unpleasant scene from early in the evening. People had been mingling in the ballroom, and she'd been standing awkwardly in the wings, trying to look as if she belonged there. And then... hmm, yes, maybe that was when it all began...
Abby hated fancy events, but Steven had said it was important that they attend the embassy banquet. After all, this whole trip abroad was really about raising Steven's profile and making useful international connections. Well, (she corrected herself) it was mostly about doing the Lord's workâbut those other things were important too.
An embassy staffer noticed her stewing in the corner, and bustled over to her rescue. Although Steven was, as yet, just the pastor of a major suburban mega-church, his endorsement had been critical to the President in the last election; and, with his growing media presence, he could help to secure the Evangelical vote for decades to come. So, word had come down from on high: the US diplomatic team was to treat Steven and Abigail Jones like VIPs.
"Mrs. Jones," the aide said with a broad smile, "I'm glad you could join us tonight! I don't think we've met before. I'm Tom Douglass, an assistant to the Ambassador. I'm guessing you don't know too many people here."
"Please, call me Abby," she said. "I'm afraid Steven abandoned me. He's around here somewhere, button-holing people about his plans for the foundation."
Steven Jones was a lucky man, Tom thought. The staffer was struck immediately by how comfortable he felt in Abby's presence: as if he'd known her for years. The woman appeared to be in her early-30s. She had worn a conservative gown this eveningâdark burgundy, with ankle-length hem, three-quarter sleeves and a high necklineâbut it was tailored enough to reveal a trim, alluring figure beneath (well, perhaps a little hippy, Tom nit-picked). Really, though, with Abby, one's gaze was drawn upwardâto her wide, animated blue eyes; her broad, open features; her petite nose, delicate lips, and appealing, understated jawline. All of it framed perfectly by her long, wavy chestnut tresses. She was no runway-model, Tom mused, but some would say that her particular mix of physical attractiveness and kind, approachable, giving demeanor made her even more desirable.
"Well, I'm sure we'll run across your husband. But for now, please allow me to escort you." Skillfully, he drew her out into the flow of people and conversations. "Our briefing book said you and Mr. Jones have two children. Did they come on the trip with you?"
She was slightly taken aback by this, being unused to the idea that she was important enough for a stranger to bone up on. "B-briefing book? Hmm... Um, yes, we do have twoâEsther and Mark. They are 9 and 7. We didn't feel it would be a good idea to bring themâthey're staying with my mother-in-law."
"You've been in Russia for a couple of weeks now, right? It must be hard to be apart for so long." Being a diplomat, Tom was good at feigning empathy.
She frowned slightly. "Yes, I can't wait to see them again. Zooming isn't the same." She felt a twinge of melancholy at the thought. For a while nowâwell before the big trip to Russiaâthe kids hadn't really needed her as much anymore, and that made her life seem a little empty. Maybe when they got back home they should think of adding to their family. It would be fun to have a baby around the house again. But it was a big decision, involving a lot of stress and disruption. Steven might need some persuading...
Seeing her glaze over, Tom realized he'd steered the conversation poorly and sought to change the subject. "Look at all these fancy people, eh? Russia does have its problems, but there sure is a lot of money and glitz here as well."
As he gestured out across the crowded ballroom, one man caught Abby's eye. He was middle-aged, and not especially tall or particularly distinguished looking. He did have a barrel chest, a quick, decisive bearing, and (as even she was able to recognize) a terribly expensive suit. But he had something more than that about him, something indescribableâa vigor, an energy, that seemed to radiate from him. And it was clear from the dynamics of the throng that they were drawn to that vitality like moths to a flame. Even amid the chaos of people talking and moving and mingling, some imperceptible combination of signals made it clear that he was the center of attentionâthat throughout the entire hall, it was his words and opinions and preferences that really mattered.
"Who's that?" she asked, pointing.
"Ah, you ought to be a diplomat, Mrs. Jonesâyou have an eye for the important people. That's Yevgeny Brosaev, one of the country's leading businessmen. You might call him an oligarch, if you prefer. And if we're talking about Brosaev, well, he's practically
the
oligarch. You name it, he's into itâoil, uranium, rare metals, weapons... They say that the Premier always takes his calls, day or night."
The group of people who surrounded the man was made up mostly of greying men in business suits. However, there was one who stood out: a gregarious and extremely glamorous platinum blonde, 22 years old perhaps, in a revealing dress of dazzling white. The woman also dripped with a fortune in furs and jewelry that Abby had no doubt were real. "So..., that must be Brosaev's wife?"