Falling for Him (Stories of Serendipity)

by Conley, Anne

  She'd actually tried to get Bryan to go to marriage counseling a couple of years ago, when she thought that she couldn't handle the staleness of their marriage anymore. She'd thought maybe somebody could help them get the spark back, but Bryan had balked at the idea of spilling their problems to a stranger. So nothing had changed. And she cringed at the thought of him finding out she was talking to somebody online about it.

  Maybe Cool_Hand_Luke had some ideas that might help? She sighed, and figured she would go for it. Bryan didn’t care enough about her daily activities to check up on her anyway.

  Mommee_dearest: No. Life and kids happened, and love got put on the backburner. What about you? How's your marriage?

  Cool_Hand_Luke: *snort* It's alright. I'm not sure we're still in love anymore.

  Mommee_dearest: What happened to yours?

  Cool_Hand_Luke: Same thing as yours. Kids, life, neither one of us has any desire for the other one anymore. We're usually too tired to do anything, or too busy. It's just same shit, different day.

  Mommee_dearest: It's sad, isn't it?

  Cool_Hand_Luke: Yeah, I guess.

  Mommee_dearest: What would you like to see happen with your marriage, Luke?

  Cool_Hand_Luke: I would like to see her look at me the way she used to. Like I was the only person in the room.

  Amy paused. Didn't she wish for that too? Once upon a time, Bryan used to look at her that way. Now, she couldn't remember the last time he'd expressed desire in her, beyond "I need to relieve some stress, honey. Can you help me out?" Now, he didn't even say the words.

  Cool_Hand_Luke: There's something about talking to you online. I have no idea what you look like, or who you are. And for some reason, I feel like I can tell you anything, you know?

  Amy thought about that. Hadn't she already told him stuff that she wanted to talk to Bryan about? And she hadn't had the guts? Cool_Hand_Luke was her own version of marriage counseling, and she was already feeling lighter, and she hadn't even told him much.

  Mommee_dearest: Yeah, I know. I feel better talking to you, although for some reason, I feel a little guilty…

  Cool_Hand_Luke: Why? It's not like we're talking about sex or something. Although we could… JK

  Mommee_dearest: LOL. I know, but it seems like a conversation I should be having with my husband and not some stranger online. That's all. I do feel better talking about it, though.

  Cool_Hand_Luke: So what would you like to see happen with your marriage, Dearest? What are your wishes and desires?

  That was an excellent question, one she wasn’t sure she had the answer to. She knew what she wanted, but wasn’t sure how to get there. Taking a deep breath, like she was about to dive off a pier into murky waters, she began typing.

  Mommee_dearest: I would like to see him want ME and not just sex, laundry and dinner. I would like for him to do the things he used to do when we were first married, flowers, random little gifts for no reason, an occasional date, stuff like that. I'd like for him to tell me I look pretty sometimes. I'd like for him to make an effort to do stuff with the kids, with me, like a family. It's just little things…

  Cool_Hand_Luke: Have you ever told him that stuff? It seems like you've been thinking about it for a while.

  Mommee_dearest: No.

  Cool_Hand_Luke: You should tell him. He might be receptive to it.

  Mommee_dearest: A while back, I tried to talk to him, to tell him I wasn't happy, and he blew me off.

  Cool_Hand_Luke: Blew you off?

  Mommee_dearest: Yeah, he acted like it was no big deal.

  Amy remembered that day well. And he hadn't acted like it was no big deal, he'd gotten really mad. It was a Saturday, and both of the kids were gone, doing other things. Amy had sat down next to Bryan on the couch where he was watching a football game on TV. She'd had a hard time getting his attention, and when she finally did, during a commercial, he hadn't been happy about the interruption.

  "What Amy?" He'd turned his eyes to her, and the impatience there almost made her lose her nerve. Amy took a deep breath.

  "I just want to talk to you, that's all. We never talk anymore."

  "And you need to talk during the game?"

  "Well, there's not really any other time, Bryan." She hated that she sounded whiney and tried to deepen her voice. "Do you still love me?"

  "What the hell? Of course I still love you." He turned back toward the TV, even though it was still a commercial. Amy took the remote and turned it off.

  Spinning towards her, Bryan exclaimed through clenched teeth, "Okay, talk fast."

  Her hands were worrying each other, as she got up the nerve to talk. She really hated confrontation. "You just don’t ever do the things you used to anymore, and I don't feel close to you. We never talk about anything, and I don't feel like I know you anymore." The words came out in a rush, and not the way she wanted them to.

  Bryan ran his hands through his hair. "What the hell, Amy? We talk. We sleep in the same bed every night. You know me better than anybody else. I love you. Now can I turn the game back on?" His voice had risen.

  "But we don't talk about anything meaningful. Don't you see? We don't talk about our dreams anymore. We don't…"

  He interrupted her. "Dreams? My dream is to quit going to work sixty hours a week to provide for a family who thinks money grows on trees. I'm working towards retirement. That's all. Other than that, I would like a quiet Saturday afternoon, where I can watch the game." With that, he'd wrestled the remote from her hands and angrily switched the TV back on.

  Amy hadn't been able to bring up the subject of their marriage again. That was the second time she'd tried. The first time had been to ask if he would be willing to see a marriage counselor, and he'd completely blown up, yelling at her about pitting strangers against him. Amy just told herself that every married couple got this way, and she still loved him, no matter what. Besides, she'd taken a vow in front of God, her family, and everybody to love him forever.

  But forever was such a long time.

  Cool_Hand_Luke: Well, he sounds like a dick. You can talk to me anytime.

  Mommee_dearest: Thanks.

  Cool_Hand_Luke: When's the last time you've gotten ready for him? Dressed in sexy lingerie and tried to turn him on?

  Mommee_dearest: It's been a while…why?

  Cool_Hand_Luke: Why don't you try it today? Let me know how it goes. I can help.

  Mommee_dearest: How can you help?

  Cool_Hand_Luke: Well, I'm not trying to do anything personally with you, keep in mind. I'm taking one for the team here. But I could try to get you in the mood…

  Mommee_dearest: Um…no thanks. That might be overstepping a little bit.

  Cool_Hand_Luke: NP. LOL. It never hurts to try. I ain't nothing but a man…

  Mommee_dearest: I've got to go.

  Cool_Hand_Luke: I didn't offend you, did I? I really didn't mean to.

  Mommee_dearest: LOL, no. If that's what I'm going to do, I've got to go get ready…

  Cool_Hand_Luke: Oh. Okay. Let me know how it works, okay?

  Mommee_dearest: Okay. TTYL.

  She logged of the website and looked at the time. Bryan would be home for lunch in an hour. Amy couldn't remember how long it had been since they'd had a nooner, and suddenly the prospect was exciting.

  Amy hopped in the shower and shaved, everything. She blow-dried her hair and actually fixed it in a sexy, tousled style she'd seen in a magazine. Digging through her underwear drawer, she came out with a thong that had been a gift from Kathy that she'd never worn, and slipped it on. Then she pulled out a silky robe from her closet that had been a Christmas gift from Bryan years ago.

  Wearing panties and the robe, she waited for Bryan to come home. The thong was an odd sensation. And the constant presence of the fabric between her cheeks was a reminder of why she'd worn them, building the anticipation of seeing Bryan's face when he saw what she was wearing. She put on some soft music, and turned off the lights, letting the faint lig
ht streaming in through the windows be the only light in the room. As she walked around the house getting ready, she allowed the sensations of the silky fabric of the robe, caressing her bare backside to build up a hot desire inside.

  She quickly fixed Bryan a sandwich, hoping he would spend his entire lunch break in bed, and need something to eat on the run. The anticipation of his arrival home for lunch and possibilities of what could happen, had Amy so excited, she could feel the wetness between her legs. She throbbed. She honestly hadn't been this horny in years. It felt good. She planned to meet him at the door, kiss him senseless, then drop to her knees to give him a blow-job of epic proportions, before letting him take her on the floor in the entry way. She’d just mopped it yesterday.

  If today worked out like she was hoping, it might be something they could do regularly. Maybe that would put some spark back into their marriage.

  A text message on her phone interrupted her thoughts.

  Won't be home for lunch today. Client meeting.

  Disappointment surged through Amy in waves. She stomped into the bedroom to take off the thong and robe and put on her regular jeans and t-shirt. She was still horny and incredibly frustrated. She couldn't be mad at Bryan. She shouldn’t be mad at Bryan. He was just doing his job, but tears threatened to spill anyway. Amy pressed the heels of her hands against her eyes and sniffed hard, willing the tears to go away. Then she went to her bedside table drawer to pull out her bullet.

  If Bryan wasn't coming home for lunch, this was the only way she would be able to relieve the ache between her legs. She didn't try to enjoy the experience. Amy just held the vibrator on her nub until she experienced an intense orgasm that washed over her in waves. Quick and dirty.

  She went to the kitchen to eat Bryan's sandwich before going to the grocery store.

  Chapter 3:

  The next morning, after getting everybody off to work and school, she logged onto MovieTime to check in and see what she'd missed. A message awaited her from Cool_Hand_Luke. She sighed, not really wanting to tell the stranger about her failed attempt yesterday, but curiosity got the best of her, and she clicked on the message to see what he said.

  Cool_Hand_Luke: Well? How did it go? Did it work?

  Mommee_dearest: No. He didn’t come home for lunch.

  She sent the message, and waited for his response. Instead of staring at the screen, she got up and went into the kitchen to get chicken breasts out of the freezer for dinner. The braised chicken had gone over so well the night before that she was going to try a new chicken recipe tonight.

  She was trying desperately to bring meaning to her life by creating enjoyable food to feed her family, in an effort to get them to open up to her. Amy was tired of being the bad guy, the only one who disciplined the kids, the one who craved attention from her husband in more than a "did you iron my blue shirt" sort of way. All she wanted was someone to appreciate her, and if cooking good food was that way, then she would try it. She went back to her computer to see another message.

  Cool_Hand_Luke: That sucks. I'm sorry.

  Mommee_dearest: It's okay. I'll get over it.

  Cool_Hand_Luke: You seem like a really nice woman.

  Mommee_dearest: Thanks?

  Cool_Hand_Luke: Sorry, I was just trying to give you some validation. Not all men are like your husband. Some men appreciate a woman's efforts.

  Mommee_dearest: It's just that, all day long, I do things for other people, and in return, I would like some appreciation for it. That's all. It's frustrating.

  Cool_Hand_Luke: I can understand that.

  Amy was about to do something that made her nervous. This Cool_Hand_Luke seemed like a nice guy. Granted, she still didn't know anything about him, except he'd already complimented her more than Bryan had in a year. He seemed interested in her as a woman, and she craved that. She wanted someone to be interested in her. She hadn't felt like a real woman in so long, and this guy seemed like he might be able to make her feel that way again.

  Mommee_dearest: What do you like about women, Cool_Hand_Luke?

  His response wasn't immediate, but she didn't get up from the computer. She sat there and waited for the little ding to chime, letting her know he'd responded. Her heart thumped. He could take it as a come on, or he could take it as a general question. Amy's problem was, she wasn't sure how she meant it, herself.

  Cool_Hand_Luke: I like a woman who is real, who doesn't pretend to be someone else. I like a woman who is generous with her emotions, who is giving and loving, and a woman who can cook. I like a woman who can give as well as take. I like a woman who is sexy and feels that way to herself. Women who feel sexy give off a vibe that is such a total turn on.

  Mommee_dearest: Oh…

  Cool_Hand_Luke: Did I take that too far?

  Mommee_dearest: No. LOL. I was expecting you to say boobs.

  Cool_Hand_Luke: What do you like in a man, Dearest?

  Mommee_dearest: I like a man who desires me, who can make me feel like the prettiest woman in the room, just by looking at me.

  Cool_Hand_Luke: You're the prettiest woman in my room…

  Mommee_dearest: Haha! I'm probably the only woman in your room.

  Cool_Hand_Luke: Nah. I'm at work, there's other women here. But you should see them…*shudder*

  Mommee_dearest: You don't know what I look like.

  Cool_Hand_Luke: Fair enough. So tell me. What do you look like?

  For some reason, this wasn’t something she wanted to share. If she told him, he would reciprocate, and the mystery was part of the allure. If they had been on a site like Facebook or something, she would have already looked at all of his pictures dozens of times. The relationship they had though, was built on their interests and conversations. She didn’t want to know what he looked like.

  Mommee_dearest: I don’t want to tell you. It would ruin the mystery.

  Cool_Hand_Luke: Okay. Mind if I ask why?

  Mommee_dearest: I’m not sure I can explain it. I don’t want to ruin the mystery of you.

  Cool_Hand_Luke: You mean the fantasy image you’ve built up. Okay, you tell me what I look like?

  Amy bit her lip while she leaned back and thought. If she forced herself to picture him, the picture that came to mind had a not-so-vague resemblance to her husband. Probably because that’s who she wished she were talking to.

  Mommee_dearest: I’m not sure you would want to know…

  Cool_Hand_Luke: That bad, huh?

  Mommee_dearest: Not bad, just…not how you picture me imagining you. I’m not sure you would enjoy knowing that I picture my husband inside my head when we’re talking, because I wish more than anything that he would talk to me like you do.

  Cool_Hand_Luke didn’t respond for a while, and Amy wondered if she’d offended him somehow. Maybe he pictured her as his own wife? Where had they gone wrong in their own relationships that they were talking to strangers, imagining them to be their spouses?

  Cool_Hand_Luke: I can see your point. I’m probably doing the same thing. So, no physical stuff. Can I ask you something else?

  Mommee_dearest: Sure. Fire away.

  Cool_Hand_Luke: What are you wearing right now? Can we do this? Is it okay if I flirt with you a little? I'm enjoying your company, but I don't want to go too far if it makes you uncomfortable.

  Amy looked down at her pajamas. She still hadn't gotten dressed today and was a little embarrassed to admit that, although it wasn't as embarrassing as admitting to herself that she was feeling a little flirtatious.

  Mommee_dearest: I'm still in my pajamas.

  Cool_Hand_Luke: Will you describe them to me?

  She wasn't about to tell him they were a mismatched pair left over from her grandpa's estate. If she was going to flirt, she might as well make it good.

  Mommee_dearest: Black silk shorts with a matching chemise…Do you like them?

  Cool_Hand_Luke: Yeah, I do. They sound really hot. You're turning me on…

  Her breath caught at the idea that someth
ing she’d typed turned him on. Why couldn’t Bryan be that easy? Why did she constantly think about her husband? Because things had suddenly taken a dangerous turn with Cool_Hand_Luke. If she pursued this line of conversation, the relationship would no longer be friendly. Her purpose would be more sexual, and that qualified as cheating, didn’t it? Yes, it did. But that didn’t stop her from continuing.

  Mommee_dearest: Your turn…

  Cool_Hand_Luke: I'm wearing a suit.

  Mommee_dearest: Well, that's sexy.

  Cool_Hand_Luke: LOL. You asked.

  Mommee_dearest: Well, you could have lied. I did. LOL

  Cool_Hand_Luke: So you're not really a housewife wearing sexy lingerie in front of the computer? My fantasies are crushed…

  Mommee_dearest: LOL

  Cool_Hand_Luke: What's your favorite part of the male anatomy? Besides the obvious, of course.

  Mommee_dearest: The obvious?

  Cool_Hand_Luke: Never mind. I went too far. I'm not trying to be creepy.

  Mommee_dearest: The money-maker.

  Cool_Hand_Luke: The money-maker? I guess I was wrong about going too far.

  Mommee_dearest: Haha. It's the part of a man's abdomen, on the outside that's shaped like a "V" that leads down to the obvious.

  Cool_Hand_Luke: Well, you learn something new every day. I'm a breast man, myself.

  Mommee_dearest: What man isn't?

  Cool_Hand_Luke: LOL. What size are your breasts, if you don't mind me asking?

  Mommee_dearest: 34C

  Cool_Hand_Luke: Perfect.