As Angela looked at herself in the mirror, she thought about her husband and wondered if she was ever going to forgive him for cheating. Bren was a handsome man, fair hair, blue eyes and a slightly shy attitude in social circles. But, at age 37, Bren had no right to sleep with his secretary. Had this happened once, Angela would have forgiven Bren already. However, it later emerged that her husband had been cheating with that girl on multiple occasions for a long time. She felt so angry with him.
Angela had banished Bren to the spare bedroom. He continued to apologise and promised never to do it again but she didn't believe him. To make it even more hurtful, Angela could have cheated many times but didn't.
As she stretched her naked body in front of the bedroom mirror, Angela still had the same body-shape as when she was 18. She was now 35. Her breasts were firm, above-average size with prominent dark nipples. Her shapely legs were strong. She and Bren hadn't had sex since she'd discovered Bren's affair 2 months ago.
It was late afternoon and she must get ready. Soon, she and Bren would be attending a corporate function as guests, a boring event but luckily Luke would be there. She got in the shower and thought about Luke, her brother-in-law who was married to Angela's sister. Luke was only age 25, a few years younger than his wife. It wasn't a surprise to Angela how easily he fitted in with the rest of the family. Luke was from the Caribbean with slightly lighter skin than most on account of his white father. He was successful as the CEO of an import/export business and she knew he was used to getting what he wanted.
The evening occasion was held at a 5-star hotel with gardens overlooking the sea. Angela and Bren circulated and made small-talk with several acquaintances before Angela found herself detached from the crowd on her own on the terrace. The sound of the dark sea from the terrace relaxed her, while distant lights from the seaside town 3 miles away uplifted her spirits as she watched red and white car lights moving slowly along.
A hand from behind her came around her waist and squeezed. The voice was meant to be disguised but his aftershave gave him away, "Are you available tonight?" The scrape of his chin at the back of her neck produced goosebumps down to her legs.
"To play with a stranger?" She giggled and held his hand over her navel to hold their bodies together.
"My lady has to first confess what's on her mind."
"I don't think my sister's husband should know what I'm thinking."
He laughed softly. They released themselves, she turned into his embrace, and they kissed each other's cheeks. Luke spoke. "And how are you bearing up with your marriage?"
Most people in the family had heard of Bren's affair. Word had got around. "Our problems continue." Angela gave Luke a summary of the latest position, a husband and wife relationship going nowhere. But in recounting her thoughts and anxiety to Luke it seemed to lift a burden from her. Luke was a good listener, maintained eye contact and understood. He reached for her hand which felt nice to Angela. She trusted him.
"In my view, Angela, a person who has an affair is more likely to continue or have another affair unless ..."
"Unless what?" said Angela. She didn't realise she'd squeezed Luke's hand.
"Unless Bren can relate and understand what you have gone through. I don't think Bren is in tune with your feelings. Deep down, Bren has to experience what it's like to have the tables turned on him, to know his wife has been unfaithful, and therefore to feel what you're feeling."
"You think I should hunt for a man to take me to bed. I couldn't have an affair. There's too much at stake, too many lies. Besides, I've not had sex with any other man since we were married."
"I think Bren would get insanely jealous if he saw you kissing someone else. He would probably rush over and punch that man in the face."
She giggled. "He might do that. Although, after what he's done - screwed that tramp of a secretary multiple times - Bren would be acting illogically to stop me kissing somebody new." Angela shrugged.
"You're right. Which means Bren would swallow his pride and probably do nothing. Whatever you do, Angela, it has to mean a lot to Bren, enough for him to stop any more affairs. I'm going to send him a text."
Angela released his hand and took a sip of her red wine. She couldn't think what Luke wanted to say to Bren. After finishing his text, she asked Luke, "What did you say?"
"My text said, 'Your affair, of course, is hurtful to Angela. Do you mind if I seduce your wife to even up the balance?"' He gave a twisted smile which she thought was like a schoolboy who'd been caught breaking the rules.
She repeated the text to make sure she'd heard it right. Then she said, "Seduce me? No way, Luke."
He had a bottle of beer in his hand which he put to his lips. "We can pretend if you like. But as you've already said, Bren has no right to punch me. Let's make him realise how special you are ... and then he'll stop having sex with other women."
"I think he's only had one affair." She didn't know why she was defending her cheating husband.
The sea breeze ruffled her hair and Luke used his fingers to place a strand back behind her ear before he said, "Bren's had one long affair but you're not sure if he's going to stop?"
Angela had to admit to herself that Bren might well continue to have affairs. "What does pretending mean ... between you and I?"
He took her wine glass and put it on the low wall alongside his beer. "Put your arms around my neck." His authority sounded seductive.
"I'm not so sure about this." She played for time. "Bren hasn't replied to your text yet."
"Which means he feels guilty for bonking his secretary so many times ... and he can't object to his wife having some fun."
"Having some fun with my brother-in-law is extreme." She wondered what to do. "Just pretending ... right?"
Luke casually clasped his finger around the front of her belt and pulled slightly. "Clasp your hands at the back of my neck."
His finger stayed between her belt and her navel. It caused her to think what she was wearing - a black cocktail dress, low back, buttons down the front, the hem halfway up her thighs. Her muscles around her tummy fluttered, as she thought about putting her hands on him. "Around your neck. Like this?"
"Now move your body in contact with mine."
She willed her body not to move but after a few seconds, she shifted forward. Their groins touched. Although Angela was about to put her face alongside his cheek, Luke used the palm of his hand to cup her jaw and he kissed her lips. Initially, it shocked her that their embrace had them in a kiss but she kept her mouth closed and let Luke slowly move his lips back and forth across hers. She broke the kiss and found her voice, "That was nice but Bren still hasn't replied, so what's the point?"
"Bren has in fact been watching us."
"Oh shit. Are you sure?"
"As we kiss again, we'll move our bodies to give you a view of the open door at the far end of the terrace."
"Why doesn't he come over?"
"Get real, Angela. He's been a bad boy. He can't object to anything we do which is why he didn't text back."
