Married and Dating: 3 Book Bundle

by Claire, Alana

  He settles down in the chair next to me and looks outside. "This is my favorite spot in the whole house. I sit in here to relax every day," he says.

  "It is serene and beautiful," I reply. Then I think about what's happening next door and I cringe. Tim doesn't miss a beat.

  "Okay, now that you have calmed down, tell me what happened. It's not every day that my pretty neighbor runs crying out of her house like that," Tim says. His brown eyes are like liquid pools that I could just sit and stare into. He really is a handsome man. I've often thought that about him. I remember when he and Catherine, his wife, divorced. I couldn't understand why that happened because he had worshiped the ground she walked on.

  "It's embarrassing really," I say. When I think about what has happened I realize how bad it sounds. I really need to get a hold of myself and not allow others to see me this upset.

  "Look, we're friends. I care. Come on, tell Dr. Tim all about it," he jokes.

  "Depends, what's your fee?" I ask with a wicked smile.

  He chuckles. "It's negotiable. I can barter," he says and winks at me.

  But our lighthearted moment turns sour when I start to think about what I had just witnessed. I suck in my breath and launch into the saga. Might as well tell the man whose shoulder I had just dampened with my tears.

  "Bruce asked for my blessing so he could date others," I say. I look outside, trying to force the tears back.

  "What?" Tim asks, shocked.

  "Yeah," I say with a shrug. I relay the entire story of how Bruce has been unhappy for a couple of months and how he approached me about it. I told him about meeting Amber and then finished with how I had walked in on them fucking when he thought I had left for the day.

  "Do they know you saw them?" Tim asks. He keeps shaking his head.

  "No, I couldn't take it. I stayed until the bastard came. I heard every foul word that came out of their mouths, like how she's the best fuck he's ever had, the tightest pussy," I blurt. My face heats from the blush. I can't look Tim in the eye. It's like I just admitted to be a mediocre fuck with a loose pussy. I swipe at the tear escaping my eye. Damn tears.

  Tim smiles sadly at me. He reaches out and pats my hand. I want to grab it and hold it. "Let's go confront them," he says and proceeds to get up. "Come on, I want to talk to them."

  "No, don't you understand, I told him he could do this. I told him he could date other women," I say hanging my head in shame.

  "Date is one thing, Eileen. He's over there screwing her. Did you give him permission to cheat on you like that?" Tim asks, his face distorting with anger.

  "I did give him permission to date with benefits. I had no choice. It was an ultimatum. I either give him permission and we stay together or he would seek a separation in order to do this. In other words, he was hell bent on doing this. I stayed because of the kids. I stayed because I love him," I say.

  Tim sighs and shakes his head. "Eileen, you gave him permission; I don't know what to say," he says.

  "I gave permission, but I didn't want to. And I didn't realize how much this would hurt," I say and the tears finally stop.

  "So, what about you? Are you supposed to sit back and watch your husband date while you sit at home crying about it?" Tim asks a really good question.

  "He gave me permission to date as well," I say with a hint of giving up in my voice. "I don't have anyone I can date, Tim. It's not like I was out looking for it. I don't care to do that. I don't need more spice in my life. I was perfectly fine with Bruce. But now..."

  "Sounds like you need to date," Tim says, his eyes looking at me like it's a foregone conclusion.

  I smile. "I don't even know where to begin. I mean, I haven't dated anyone else in over sixteen years. In high school," I shrug. "Besides, who would I date? Who would be willing to date a married woman and one who would like to stay married?

  Tim just offers a sheepish grin. "Well, I know of someone who would love to date you with those conditions. Someone who has a strong shoulder and who would be honored to take care of you and show you a good time," he says.

  Chapter Two: Spilling the Beans

  And so it was when I returned home hours later Bruce and Amber were nowhere to be found. I could only guess they had a nice fuck and left the house while I was crying on Tim's shoulder. But Tim and I had a great talk and he offered to take me out on a date. Suddenly I saw the man in a new light and desire sprung up from deep within. Now I have to tell my husband about Tim.

  Bruce walks in after his morning shower, all smiles. "Hi sweetheart, how was your shopping day?" he asks. The man is clueless. I put my coffee cup down and look up at him, no smile on my face.

  "Shopping? Oh, I guess you didn't figure it out. I didn't leave before your girlfriend arrived. I had a call from my sister. By the time I went to the garage and opened the door another car was parked behind me. So I did what anyone else would do and went back in to ask her to let me out. But what I walked in on was something I didn't feel right interrupting; my husband fucking another woman. My husband telling said woman that she's the best fuck he's ever had. Yeah, that really set me up for a great shopping day. I, instead, ran out the door so angry and hurt and crying. I ran into Tim, our neighbor. He was kind enough to offer a shoulder to cry on, and well I spent the rest of the day talking it over with him," I say, my eyes never leaving his.

  Bruce's face turns white and his smile evaporates. He sits down at the table and swallows hard. "I'm so sorry you had to witness that. We thought you had left. I didn't plan on having sex with her under our roof, it just happened," he says, his eyes pleading with me to understand. "Please don't take what I said in the act as gospel. You know I will say anything at that point. I never meant to hurt you like that. I will make a promise never to bring her over here again."

  I look at him sitting there and feeling bad that I had seen it. Maybe he does still love me. Or he just doesn't like hurting me purposefully. "Well, I have to tell you something," I say as I take a sip of my coffee.

  "Yes?" he says giving me all of his attention. This is so different than it was in months past when he'd be reading his paper or obviously distracted in this thoughts.

  I smile. "I guess I'm going to start dating too," I say. Did I just see a glint of hurt in his eyes? It was a momentary passing, a slight taken aback jolt, but a fast recovery.

  "Really? That's great. I want you to go out and have fun. With whom?" he asks.

  "Tim," I say and can't help but smile when I say his name.

  "Tim? As in Tim Beardsley?" Bruce asks. I can see jealousy in his face.

  "Yes. After I cried on his shoulder he offered to take me out," I say while keeping the smile on my face this time.

  "I bet he did," Bruce says and looks out the window, his jaw flexing.

  "Look Bruce, you have no right to be upset about my choice of dates. I walked in on you fucking another woman. Something that had you told me a year ago, hell a couple of months ago, I'd be doing, I would have laughed in your face and called you crazy. So you have no right to be upset about my choice. I didn't get to choose your current fuck, you don't get to choose mine," I say.

  Again he winces at my words. "I had you meet her and talk with her before I ever dated her," he says.

  "Well, Bruce dear, what if I had said absolutely not. I do not give my blessing to date and fuck Amber. Then the ultimatum would have kicked in and I'd be kicked out," I say, blinking at him. He just smiles and shakes his head. "Would you like to go talk to Tim?"

  "No, that's pointless. It's just Tim. He's our neighbor. He'll always be our neighbor, unless he moves. He's someone we've known and someone we'll continue to run into on down the road," Bruce says.

  "So what? I'm not like you and looking for a stranger to hop in bed with. I rather like that I know Tim. I rather do like Tim; I've always thought he was a nice looking man, even sexy if you will. No, I never entertained the idea to crawl into bed with him, but thanks to you and your little experiment here, well yeah, I'm sort of gett
ing wet thinking about his hard dick plowing my pussy. Certainly, it hasn't been used in a while. And well, you know, not everyone can have a childless tight one like you have now," I spat.

  Bruce actually laughed. "Okay, okay, let's not start slinging mud at each other. I'll be okay with you seeing Tim. And I never thought of you as loose," Bruce said while shaking his head with a grin plastered across his face.

  "I will never forget that statement; you talked about her tight pussy and her being the best fuck you ever had. I'm your wife, for God's sake. That was hurtful," I say.

  "I'm sorry. I was just talking, heat of the moment. I don't think any less of you. It's just different is all. Please don't be offended by what I said. I love you, not her. I just need to do this right now and I'm so glad you're going to do this too, even if it is with Tim," Bruce says. I see the sincerity in his eyes. He moves over to me and takes my hands into his.

  I look down and allow him to hold my hands. "Okay, I get it," I say and take in a deep ragged breath. I will not cry again. "I'm just trying to deal with this, whatever this is. You've pushed me into a realm I never thought I'd have to enter. I don't want to date anyone else, nor do I want you to date anyone else, but you are. So I'm moving forward too. I don't think I would call this a good thing; I am surviving and coping."

  Bruce smiles and embraces me. I hug back, feeling the desire to be with my husband, but I stuff it back down. If that's still there maybe there's hope. I just can't give in to him so soon after he has cheated on me. It doesn't feel right. I rear back and offer a small smile and nod.

  "It's okay; we'll get through this, sweety. You can go out with Tim with my blessing. I think this will do both of us good," he says.

  "Good, bad, I guess it doesn't matter. I just know that while you're with her I won't allow us to be together. I won't share like that. You have to choose me or her," I say and the pained look enters his face again.

  I hold my hand up. "I know you're going to date Amber for now. That's fine. I'm dealing with it. You date her; you fuck her, whatever you want to do with her. When you're done sowing your wild oats you can then get back to me about us. Meanwhile, I'm going to find some way to have a nice life as well," I say.

  "Okay, I'm glad. I understand and I agree. We won't be together while we're dating others. This is only for a while," Bruce says and we move on separately with our plans to date others.

  Chapter Three: First Date

  Even though this whole thing transpired reluctantly on my part I'm actually looking forward to going out on a date with Tim. We didn't waste any time and he purchased tickets to a rock concert featuring several bands we both love. I haven't been to a concert in years.

  I put on a pair of capris and a tank top, brilliant blue to match my dark blue eyes. Tim opens his door before I can rap on it. He smiles big, raising an eyebrow in appreciation. "Well, don't you look nice and refreshed," he says as he shuts the door. We pile into his compact SUV and head to the city. Before we reach the coliseum we stop at a steak house for an early dinner.

  "Tell me about you, Tim; you know, all the dirty little details, and all I know about you is that you're divorced," I say before I cram a fork full of baked potato into my mouth.

  "Mmm, not much to tell. I was married to Katherine for ten years. We have two daughters, both grown now. She wasn't happy; she found another love and divorced me to be with him," he said as he chuckled. "And three years later, same thing happened again, she divorced him and married another. So far she's stuck with this one, but who knows." He shrugged.

  I feel sorry for him. He's been alone all that time, no woman to fill his ex-wife's shoes. I knew he had been desperately in love with Katherine, but he had no choice but to get over her. "It seems we are kindred spirits, damaged goods, so to speak," I say, voicing my thoughts.

  "Yeah, whatever. I'm over it, moved on," Tim says, smiling at me.

  I sit back, full from the steak dinner. The waiter hands us another drink. "So you never wanted to remarry?" I ask, hoping I'm not prying too much.

  "Naw, I don't like drama. I enjoy my bachelorhood, actually. I go out on the occasional date. I know how to have a good time. I don't trust women really, though. Katherine sort of broke me from that. Not that I don't trust you," he says.

  "But I'm safe," I say. "I'm married and you know there's no chance for a solid long term commitment with me. This is just two people going out and having a good time." I want to make sure he knows that.

  Tim smiles and nods. "It's all good," he says. "No worries. But I'm not a love ‘em and leave ‘em type. I realize you are married. I realize you will continue to be married. I just want to offer myself as a buffer until your husband finds his sense again."

  The meal ends and we head to the concert. It lasts for three hours and the crowd is a bit younger than we are. It's late and we head back home. Tim was a perfect gentleman during the concert. I don't mind that it seems we're more like good friends than two adults out on a date.

  On the way home, Tim reaches over and grabs my hand. He smiles as he maneuvers the vehicle with his other hand. "I had a great time with you, Eileen. But I have to say, this just feels weird. I mean, you're married and you're my neighbor. I've been friends with Bruce for years. It's just strange," he says.

  I just nod and smile and look out the window, the passing lights dancing over our faces. I figured as much, Tim is too nice to pursue a further relationship with me and I really don't blame him. I am married; I plan to stay married if I can get beyond this. I resolve to be friends with my neighbor, expecting nothing else.

  Tim and I got together a few more times, keeping our relationship platonic. Bruce sees Amber every single night. Many days I don't even see Bruce. I just exist in my lonely life and truly consider all that has happened to me. I long for affection and yet I don't pursue it, not from Bruce and not from Tim. I'm old school; I rather like being pursued. All things remain quiet until the following weekend when Tim asks me out on another official date.

  Chapter Four: Deeper Connection

  I have settled on the warm wonderful friendship that has developed between Tim and me with no expectations. Bruce had asked how it was going; he was fishing for information on whether or not we had slept together yet. I was vague at first, but I finally relented and admitted that it was just a friendship. Bruce seemed happy about that and it angered me that he was allowed to have physical satisfaction and I wasn't.

  This weekend, Bruce and Amber are going away to a resort on the other side of the state. I think he wants time to be with her without worrying over what I'm doing or not doing. I'm jealous, as he's taking Friday off to spend with her. I recalled how I had asked him to take me somewhere before this all came about. He left and I prepared for the date Tim had planned for us.

  I wear a cool cotton dress that hits a little above my knees. He has planned for a nice dinner at an outdoor cafe and a movie. We go to the cafe and enjoy fried fish and chips under the stars. Afterwards, we walk over to the outdoor shopping plaza that has the movie theatre. We stroll along the cobblestone walkways, enjoying the cool night air and our friendship. We are comfortable, relaxed. I look over at Tim and a yearning builds within me. He has never kissed me and suddenly I want to know what it's like to kiss the man. His full lips smile to me as his warm brown eyes look at me as if for the first time. I can't help but step closer; I want to breathe in his manly scent, the intoxicating cologne he wears drives me nuts.

  We make our way to the movie theatre. Tim’s hand brushes mine while we enter the dark theatre. Gooseflesh flashes up my arm. We find our seat and settle in for the romantic comedy. During the movie I keep my hands folded in my lap. I notice Tim glancing at me and I smile slightly, turning my eyes to meet his. We lock our stares and seem to speak volumes to each other without saying a word. My heart pounds within my chest; suddenly, I'm not sure what to do. Lean in and kiss the man, grab his hand, grab his crotch, or do nothing. I choose the latter and turn my attention back to the movie. Tim reaches o
ver and grabs my hand, finally. I smile and feel the desire pool in my abdomen. I want so much more than just a touch.

  At one point, Tim drops my hand and grabs my knee, giving it a gentle squeeze. I look at him and smile, sending an unspoken message that it's okay. After the movie we exit the theatre hand-in-hand like two teens on a date. Our interaction is light-hearted and fun as we walk along the plaza and find our way back to his car. He stands in front of the passenger door to open for me and when I step up he grabs me to him and our lips finally meet. Tim’s mouth is warm and soft, his breath of peppermint. I step closer to feel his body next to mine, he kisses me as his tongue explores my mouth, and I nibble his lips. He moans and pulls back and smiles, just a smile, as he opens the door and I slide in and take a deep breath.

  "What time will Bruce be home?" Tim asks as he steers the vehicle back toward our homes.

  I chuckle."He's gone until late Sunday night; the jerk. He can't find time to take his wife on vacation, but he sure found the time to take her to a resort for the weekend," I say.

  Tim smiles and nods as he drives, the rest of the trip home is quiet. I'm not sure what to think, as he hasn't held my hand again or said a word. He just drives while holding the small smile on his face. I want to know what he's thinking but perhaps the kiss and the hand holding was just a momentary lapse of sanity.

  We arrive at home, I exit the vehicle. "Thank you for a fun time, Tim," I say as I shut the door and proceed to walk next door to my home. Tim grabs my hand and shakes his head pulling me to him.

  He smiles and we walk to his front door. My heart picks up pace as a flush rides over my face. Sweet anticipation laps at the edge of the friendship as we enter his home. Tim turns and shuts the door, locking it for the night. I can't help but smile and shudder as the desire washes over me like a warm shower.

  He pulls me back to his bedroom and turns to me, taking me into his strong arms. I feel the abandon fall over me as I release all that's held me back up until this point. I know my husband is probably lying naked in a bed somewhere and working on top of his girlfriend as he tells her what an awesome fuck she is. I know that right now I'm standing in the bedroom of a man that I desire more than anyone else in the world.