This is a work of fiction and does not relate to actual events. Any mention of a person, place or thing is coincidental and should not be taken as an accurate portrayal of that person, place or thing. No one under 18 engages in sex.
Author's note: My usual practice is to finish a story completely before I upload it for publication, something I'm not doing this time because I want the first part out of my queue. I'm working on other stories and am not sure when I'll get back to this one.
This part is stand alone with no cliffhanger. The second part will include a summary that won't require reading part 1.
Sometimes the biggest changes in a person's life begin with a small act. On this snowy day in January, a simple event signaled major changes ahead that I never expected.
I finished drying off after my shower, put on a robe and hurried to dress for my job at the public library. As I opened my panties drawer, the plastic packet of an unopened burgundy panty-bra set came into view.
After pulling the package out, I slammed it on the top and brought out my normal white power mesh control panties and white D-cup reinforced bra from separate drawers. Each type of underwear has a separate drawer. All items inside a drawer are folded properly and sorted by color and style.
My husband should know better. I muttered in frustration as I dressed.
I finished with a set of light thermal underwear, a pair of dark blue dress pants, a white blouse that buttoned to the neck and a jacket that matched the pants. Temperatures outside read between 20 and 25 degrees. I would grab my full-length overcoat with a hood before I went into the garage to get into my car.
At 44, heading for 45 in less than three months, I issued a "stop" order on Paul buying any more jewelry and lingerie when I passed 40. I had too much.
Before our daughter, Taryn, went to college last fall, she and I went through my jewelry box. I let her pick out what she wanted. We gave over 98 percent of the remaining items to a charity in Barberry, the city in which we live.
I took four legal size boxes of lingerie to the recycling center. Each box contained something different. Depending on what the box included, a company can remake it into other materials.
My name is Danielle, but most people call me Dani. I'm the associate director of the county library. The title is a fancy way of saving that I'm the person who does what no one else wants to, like work when an employee is stick and we can't find anyone else. That is why I'm on the evening shift today.
The shift is from noon to nine at the main library. It looks like I'd be working the same shift tomorrow.
Both our children, Rory and Taryn, are back at university. My thoughts recently centered more on missing them than showing my sexy side to my husband.
I wasn't sure if he cared what I wore as long as he remained happy. No, that isn't right. Paul loves me, but at nearly 45, the pizzaz left a long time ago.
I work hard to keep in shape, but time and age is against me. Paul always says he loves my hourglass figure, but the sand gathers more around my hips than my boobs.
He works as assistant vice president of finance for a large international financial corporation. Rumors suggest he is in line to move up to VP within two years. He travels two or three times a month, but seldom longer than two or three days.
He's a morning person while I'm more of a night owl. That's why I was surprised to find him still up and fully dressed when I arrived home around nine-thirty.
By the glint in his eyes, I could tell he wanted to talk. I went to our bedroom, changed clothes and picked up the plastic covered panty-bra set, intending to chew him out.
I had my speech already prepared before I entered the room. The air of excitement and the sparkle in his eyes stopped my harsh words.
"Dani, I have a proposition for you." It wasn't the words, but the way he said them.
When he says something like this, he usually means a different place to eat or a weekend trip to someplace new. But this was more. His next words sent a tingle through my body.
"Good. You found my gift to you. We've had several conversations about how our life is the same old, same old. With the kids gone most of the time, I'd like for us explore more."
When Paul first advanced the idea of me sleeping with another man last fall, I nearly took off his head. How dare he suggest I have sex with someone else. He's not my pimp.
But life is never static. I've been thinking about it more and more lately due to what's been happening with our good friend Jacob.
"Jake and I have talked about him coming over Saturday evening. I can order in."
He paused and looked at me with his eyes full of hope. I sank into a chair to think. Maybe he was right.
Jake Albrecht. The mere mention of his name causes my heart rate to rise, my nipples to tense and dampness to develop between my legs.
"I bought that set of underwear hoping you'd wear them for him. I want him worship your body the way it deserves," he said with his eyes full of love. "I want him to make you quiver with desire before my eyes. I'll love that so much."
As Paul's words sank in, a flush covered my body. I love my husband, but after 21 years of marriage and another two years of dating and sleeping together, boredom set in. We still had sex, but not as often. We are comfortable with each other like an old pair of shoes. Maybe it was time to bring the excitement back.
Thoughts of our joint history raced through my mind faster than a herd of stampeding cattle. He would be perfect because I already knew him almost as well as my husband.
Jake and Paul met in college on the wrestling team. Paul is taller and leaner. A former swim champion in high school, he keeps his body swimmer trim. He can finish a complete lap before I hit the turn.
Jake is maybe an inch shorter. Both are handsome men who command the room when they enter.
Paul's eyes are electric blue and his hair is lighter than his friend's. Jake's eyes are gray and smolder with desire when he looks at me. His gaze causes funny things to happen to my body. His jaw is square and his lips sensual with perfect teeth when he smiles.
A girl always has fantasies and Jake is mine. I love my husband immensely. The thought of sleeping with Jake never seriously entered my mind until the past few months.
Over the years our families became close. Jake and Paul served as each other's best man at weddings on consecutive weekends nearly 21 years ago.
Jake and Marilyn were already dating when I went to the same university. Because of family finances, I attended a local community college for my first two years.
Jake and Marilyn started their family before Paul and me. Their daughter, Beth, is a year older than Rory, our oldest.
We took our master's degrees before Paul made me pregnant with Rory. Taryn joined us 19 months later. After she started kindergarten, I began work on my doctorate in library science.
The eight of us stayed close until this past fall. Marilyn told Jake in September that she wanted a divorce which blindsided all of us, but especially Jake. He said he didn't suspect a thing. Later, he said he realized her ambition overtook her and she lost respect for him.
Their son, Cole, graduated from college last spring and is attending law school. Beth spent more time here since the divorce was filed than she did at their home.
They went through counseling without resolving their differences. Based on what my husband said, she only hardened her position. In early October, Marilyn filed for divorce. It is still being hashed over in the courts.
Jake spent many hours talking with Paul. While my husband didn't share everything, the main issue in Marilyn's mind is Jake's lack of ambition.
