Author's note: A survey in 2017 of over 11,000 women and men found that women are more than twice as likely as men to lose interest in sex. Even though they were in a relationship, 34.2% of the women and 15% of the men reported lacking interest in sex.
Excuses were - too busy, really bad at sex and the novelty has worn off.
This story is about one couple who used an unconventional way of overcoming their problem.
PART 1.
Oscar sat with his wife on the beach looking at the late afternoon sun. The heat of the day had gone to be replaced with cooler air. They had brought with them a cold bottle of wine and some olives. It was Friday evening.
''How was work?'' asked Oscar as he topped up Irene's glass. ''Is your boss still a pig?''
Irene gave a short laugh. ''Yes. Fucking woman. She's such a pain in the neck.''
Oscar roared with laughter. ''It's so good to let the language flow. Say what you feel. Get it out of your system.''
''That would be the wine,'' said Irene. ''It loosens the tongue.'' She stretched herself and sighed. ''Are you happy, Oscar?''
Oscar looked at his wife. After 12 years of marriage and 2 children, Irene still looked good. Her curves were sexy, full breasts and nice legs. Her wavy reddish-brown hair came to her shoulders which she used to hide her shyness sometimes. ''I'm happy on one level,'' replied Oscar. ''The only thing I struggle with is our sex life as you already know.''
''I know my darling. But it's life. Children change a marriage. Their demands sap our energy. There's less time for us, less privacy. My job is a stress. I try and get enthusiastic about sex but it's a problem.''
''Could it be a problem that I'm not manly enough in your eyes?''
''Well, it doesn't help that you like to have your entire groin area shaved bald as a baby.'' Irene stretched her hand to touch her husband. ''I love you as a father to our children, as a provider, a confidant, reliable. But I'm no good at sex anymore. I don't have the lust to suck you or have deep orgasms like I used to. My love for you is still there but it's matured.''
Oscar wanted reassurance. ''You don't mind me fantasising out loud when we have sex?''
She smiled. ''You like to imagine I have this lover, a big man, a big thing between his legs. I know it gets you excited so I'm ok with it because it's fantasy, unrestricted imagination. When you describe these things you come easily. I suppose I get a small orgasm sometimes but generally, you come too quickly and not leave me enough time to get ready.''
''It's not completely satisfying for either of us,'' said Oscar. ''I have an erection just from thinking what your lover would do to you.''
''Fantasies, my darling.''
''Can we have some sex tonight?''
Irene nodded.
Later, with the children asleep, Oscar watched Irene get into bed alongside him. They kissed. He sensed correctly that she wanted to say something. ''When you first told me of this fantasy, for me to have a lover, I was a little shocked. But over time I can see it does get you aroused. I want to be sure, though, that you love me. I need to know you will never leave me. Because I love you.''
He kissed her and waited for more thoughts from Irene. ''And if I feel secure,'' she said, ''then I can go along with your play-acting, your wandering mind, your desire to keep our sex alive.''
''I promise I will never leave you. You and the children are my family. I will always love you. I suppose I have these sex imaginations to stop myself getting into a sex rut where my curiosity is extinguished. I like to push the boundaries because it's more exciting, even if it is weird. But I assure you, when we talk of sex games, you are safe in our marriage.''
Irene pulled away the bedsheet. ''Your shaved penis looks so small without any hair. Let me see how large it can grow.'' She put her hand over his cock and manipulated it.
Oscar felt his cock go hard. He whispered, ''Your lover would have a bigger cock.''
''Yes, he would. Bigger in length. I think my lover would also be fatter around the girth of his cock.''
This sort of conversation always got Oscar aroused. ''What would Irene do with her lover's big cock?''
''Oh ah. He would take longer to get fully erect. Not like this little thing in my hand. My lover would make me masturbate him. Maybe I would have to lick the tip of his cock.''
Oscar knew his wife didn't like licking or sucking. ''Your lover might be too big to get in your mouth?''
''If he made me,'' murmured Irene, ''if this mystery lover of mine pushed my head down I would have to do it.''
''In reality, Irene, I would agree to you having a lover, one only, to enjoy sex with him.''
''But I might want lots and lots of lovers.'' She giggled to say she was joking and would never have sex with anyone else besides her husband. But she carried on the acting, the mystery while she masturbated him.
Oscar said, ''You don't have to have lots of lovers. One man outside our marriage is enough, darling. I wouldn't make many conditions when you find someone.'' He was close to coming now.
Irene pulled him on top of her and he easily penetrated her pussy. She used her fingers to caress her clit. She whispered in his ear, ''And what conditions are you making?''
As Oscar began to fuck, he said, ''After each date with him you must tell me all the detail, everything he and you said, everything you did to each other.''
Irene moved her hips in a rhythm to make him come. ''Oh, so you want all the details? His power and size? How he claimed me? The big orgasm I had. Yes?''
A few seconds later, Oscar shuddered and came. The thought of his wife embracing wild sex, doing things she has never done before, she coming harder than ever - made him orgasm.
After he withdrew his cock, Oscar lay next to Irene and looked at her as she caressed her clit. This was often the way his wife completed her orgasm. He said, ''Think about your new man and his cock.''
''Oh yes. I'm thinking you'll want to hear what I've done with my new big man. All the detail of what he's done to me. Will that make you aroused?''
''Yes. I would be aroused but we would still love each other.'' He kissed her as she moved her legs wider and increased the speed of her fingers on her clit. ''You like to masturbate, don't you,'' he said. ''Who are you thinking about?''
''Someone I've seen but never met. An actor perhaps or a man I've noticed on the beach or in a restaurant.'' Irene shut her eyes as if in a dream.
It was natural, thought Oscar, to have sexy thoughts and he was pleased to see his wife enjoying herself. She had told him previously that her dreams were not as detailed as Oscar's. She focused on the eyes and face of the man, his leg muscles especially if the man had worn shorts or swim trunks.
She completed her orgasm in silence because she needed to concentrate.
They cuddled as Irene talked, ''You mustn't think I shall do anything like this, to have sex with another man. But I am happy to play these games. To pretend because you get fun from it.'' She kissed Oscar. ''And I know you want sex more frequently than I do but I'm too busy and not very good at sex. I like just the missionary position. It's boring for you but it doesn't excite me to have it any other way.''
These thoughts from Irene were well known to Oscar. He tried to change her mind but the novelty of sex had worn off which is why he wondered if the situation would change for the better if she had sex outside the marriage. He had voiced these thoughts many times. Irene had never rejected them as stupid or outrageous. Instead, her opinion was that it would damage their marriage because she couldn't have sex for lust only. Sex with someone else would need a connection with the man which would lead to some kind of love from Irene for that man.
Over the months, Irene never closed down conversations about this topic. Oscar would usually mention it first. Irene had the view that her husband would be jealous if a lover spent some time with Irene. However, she did agree that if she were made to give all the details of a lover it might lead to more sex with Oscar. Just the act of recounting events with another man could be sexy in the telling. And therefore both Oscar and Irene might have more sex together and the sex might be more adventurous and new.
Some changes did occur with Irene. Her comments about other men were interesting. There was one occasion at the beach when they stood at the edge of the surf and Oscar whispered to his wife, ''You see that guy coming out of the sea?'' It was someone who probably went to the gym. ''Look at his trunks.''
Irene glanced sideways a little longer than necessary, looked back at her husband and mouthed the word ''fuck'' before she said, ''It looks very big down there.''
''He's too big for you,'' responded Oscar.