He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not

by Iris Morland

  My little wife was demanding. I wasn’t complaining.

  “Are you wet for me? Dripping, needing me to fill you up?” I didn’t break eye contact when I pushed her panties aside, finding a soft patch of curls. I cupped her, her wetness seeping from her pussy onto my palm.

  “Oh my God.” She bucked and tried to find that friction, but I wasn’t going to give it to her. Not yet.

  She deserved to suffer for making me suffer.

  “You act like you’re such a good girl, but you’re not. You want to be bad. Your pussy is telling me the truth about you.”

  Mari sighed as I parted her folds and stroked a finger from her clit to her slit, teasing her. I swiped my thumb across her aching clit. She arched and squirmed.

  I palmed her ass with my other hand, realizing she was wearing a lacy thong. She was going to fucking kill me, and I wouldn’t regret it one bit. “Good girls don’t wear panties like these,” I growled.

  “That’s just stereotyping,” she said, her voice breathy. “I can be good and wear a thong.”

  I spanked her for that remark. She inhaled.

  “Good girls don’t wear thongs when they know their husband is coming to their room.”

  “I didn’t know you were coming.”

  Her cheeks were flushed, her eyes glassy, but she sounded so defensive I laughed.

  “You’re full of shite, but that’s fine.” I thrust my index finger inside her pussy and began to rub against that spot that would drive her wild.

  It took about five seconds for her eyes to start rolling back inside her head. I rubbed her clit at the same time I rubbed her g-spot. The sound of her wet pussy along with her moans and gasps had my cock aching so much I was half-afraid I’d burst inside my trousers. I hadn’t done that since I’d see my first pair of bare tits in a dirty magazine as an eleven-year-old.

  “You’re gonna come all over my hand,” I said into her neck. “Fuck yourself on my finger. You’re so tight and wet.”

  I licked her throat as she moaned, the moan getting louder as she began to contract around my hand. Then she came with a screech that made me chuckle.

  Mari, Mari, quite contrary. What was I going to do with this girl?

  I petted her for a while longer as she came down from her orgasm. She’d collapsed against my chest, breathing hard. When I finally took my hand away, I caught her gaze as I licked my hand clean. She tasted tart, just like her tart, sassy mouth.

  I kissed her lips, letting her taste herself. She was a languid, happy woman, and I wanted to sink inside her and fuck her so hard she’d be sore in the morning.

  “That, wife, was definitely not just hormones,” I whispered into her ear.

  It was as if somebody lit a fire under her arse. In a rush, she scrambled from my lap, pulling her panties back in place before throwing on her robe.

  “You need to leave,” she bit out.

  “Most women like to cuddle after I make them come. Maybe make out. I’m the big spoon, in case you were wondering.”

  “Please leave. I shouldn’t have let you do this.”

  “Ah yes, I’m so cruel, making you come so hard your eyes rolled back inside your head?” I stood up and grabbed her hand, pressing it against my cock. “You really gonna leave your husband like this?”

  She sniffed. “Your penis is not my problem.”

  “Oh, I would disagree. Entirely. Since your pussy is my problem that I already solved.”

  She flushed. “It was a mistake, just like last night. That’s it. Now, please leave. I have to get up early for my flight tomorrow.”

  I wasn’t going to beg to stay. Angry and exhausted, I couldn’t help but leave with one last parting shot.

  “You’re welcome for the orgasm, wife.”

  Chapter Seven

  Mari

  My eyes glazed over when I ended up reading the same line in this wastewater management manual for the third time. Rubbing my temples, I glanced at the clock on the wall across from my desk.

  11:45. I still had five more hours of work. A workday had never moved so glacially as today.

  I didn’t hate my job. As a technical writer at a large engineering firm, I received a good salary and benefits. I had regular hours. I could take vacations; I had sick leave. We could even invest in the company’s stock options, if we felt so inclined.

  I’d been fortunate enough to get this job right out of college. I’d been told how lucky I was, given the economy and that I had little work experience. Be grateful you found full-time work right away.

  I’d seen my friends and peers struggle to find jobs while I started making a cool fifty thousand a year. Not a fortune, but enough to support myself.

  “Mari, have you finished editing that manual?” said my boss, Leslie, as she stopped by my cubicle.

  “Not yet. Probably by the end of the week.” If I could pay attention to it long enough to edit it.

  “I know you were on vacation, but we can’t get behind on this project. I told Tim you’d be done today. Is there any way you could stay late to finish it tonight?”

  I had at least two hundred more pages to edit. But being a good girl and not wanting to disappoint my boss, I compromised. “I can get it to you by Wednesday.”

  I worked until eight o’clock that night on that manual—one nobody would actually read. It was simply policy that there be a manual for every wastewater treatment plant the firm built and maintained. My job was simultaneously crucial and utterly pointless.

  But what did it matter? It was a good job. Or so people liked to tell me over and over again.

  Yet with each day I spent in that cubicle, editing manuals, I felt my life passing by. And now that David and I were over, I had nothing to look forward to. I couldn’t use marriage and having a family to distract myself from work. From how mundane my life had become.

  I think marrying a stranger is a pretty big distraction and hardly mundane, I thought wryly as I drove over to Dani’s place.

  Mundane? Hah. I’d tossed that out like a flaming hot potato straight through a glass window. And then the potato hit someone on the lawn, gave him a concussion, and now I was on the hook for potato-related assault.

  Sometimes I still thought about becoming a makeup artist, but that job would be a huge risk. If I worked for myself, I wouldn’t have benefits or stock options. There was no guarantee I’d have steady work. I could have a glut of clients and then a dearth. What if I didn’t make enough during the glut to support the dearth? I’d have to come back to my old job, tail between my legs.

  And now I had to consider how much money I’d drain annulling my marriage to Liam. It wouldn’t be nearly as expensive as a divorce, but I could hardly consider leaving my job right now. My life was in too much limbo.

  By the time I arrived at Dani’s place, I briefly considered texting my sister to say I was too tired to come inside. But I needed to talk to somebody about all of this. Dani was the only one who knew—well, Dani and Jacob.

  “Mari!” Dani hugged me five seconds after I entered her condo.

  “Jacob isn’t here,” added Dani as she saw me look around. She then handed me a large glass of red wine. “He had to do flowers for a dog wedding today. Apparently it’s a pug marrying a bulldog, which sounds like the ugliest puppies ever.”

  “People have their dog marry another dog?”

  “According to the owners, they—the dogs, not the owners—met at a dog park and fell instantly in love. It was like straight out of a Hallmark movie. But probably with more humping.”

  Kevin, Dani’s three-legged, one-eyed cat, circled around my ankles, meowing softly.

  “Maybe Kevin needs a wife. Or a husband,” I said.

  “And cheat on me? No way.” Dani picked up her cat and gave him a loud, smacking kiss, which resulted in Kevin yowling in protest.

  It was then that I noticed Dani was wearing a ring on her left hand.

  Dani saw where my gaze had landed, and she turned pale. “Shit. I forgot to take it
off.”

  “Why? Are you engaged to somebody other than Jacob?” I tried to say it jokingly, but my voice was strained.

  “Ha ha, no.” Dani set Kevin down and ushered me into the living room. There were still boxes that had yet to be unpacked from their recent move. Kevin, for his part, began to rip up some packing paper with violent gusto.

  “I wanted to tell you at a later time, but I was distracted tonight so…” Dani winced. “I’m sorry.”

  My sister was engaged, and she was apologizing to me. I was the worst.

  “Why are you apologizing to me?” I took her hand and inspected the ring. “I’m happy for you. Why wouldn’t I be? Just because my life is a dumpster fire doesn’t mean yours has to be, too. Tell me everything about how he proposed.”

  It didn’t take much to convince Dani to recount how Jacob had proposed, down to the minute detail. I’d never seen my sister positively gush before. It was almost nauseatingly heartwarming.

  It was also soul-crushing, because I was selfish and terrible. My sister had found love and was getting married to her soulmate.

  And my supposed soulmate? He’d cheated on me.

  To compound things, I was now married to the wrong man and had to get that marriage annulled.

  Clearly, marriage and I just did not get along. When had I become a walking Friends episode, with me being the Ross Geller of the group? Nobody wanted to be Ross.

  How wrong can your latest husband be when he made you come harder than your ex ever did?

  I pushed that thought aside. Just because Liam had magic, clit-rubbing fingers did not make him my knight in shining armor or my soulmate. Sex was one thing; love was another.

  “Well, you can totally use all of my wedding stuff. You could even wear my dress, if you wanted,” I said to Dani.

  Dani gave me a weird look. “I can’t do that. Besides, your dress would be way too small for me.”

  She was right, and I blushed, feeling foolish. I was never the one out of sorts. Dani had always been the weird sister. It was strange that I’d never consciously thought about those roles we’d always played until they’d been reversed.

  I really was turning into Ross. Next I’d be yelling WE WERE ON A BREAK! at random people on the street.

  I shrugged. “I have tons of other things—favors, centerpieces, stuff I can’t even remember buying. I won’t be using them.”

  Dani seemed incredulous. “Never? Really?”

  I stared into my wineglass like it would reveal my future.

  “One called-off engagement and one annulled marriage is probably enough for a girl, don’t you think?”

  Dani clucked her tongue. “That’s dumb, and you know it. David was all wrong for you—you can’t disagree with me there. Now, this Liam guy…” She slanted me a sly look. “You haven’t actually told me anything about him.”

  “It’s not like you’re going to meet him.”

  “Still. What type of guy would cause my well-behaved older sister to throw caution to the wind? He sounds fun, at the very least.”

  Fun. Wicked. Sexy. Dangerous. There were a lot of words to describe my new husband. Which was why I had to get him out of my life as soon as possible.

  “I threw caution to the wind because I was wasted. So wasted that getting married sounded like a great plan.” I groaned. “I still can’t believe I did that. How could I be so stupid? Things like this don’t happen to people like me.”

  “Oh no, Mari is human and makes mistakes. Call the police.”

  I rolled my eyes. “This isn’t just a mistake. It’s a gargantuan situation. It’s the mistake to end all mistakes. It could go in the Guinness Book of World Records.”

  “Wow. Sounds like you should get a trophy or something. It’d say something like, Marigold Wright: First Prize for the Dumbest Mistake Ever in the History of the Universe.”

  I groaned again.

  Dani laughed at me, which just made me mutter, “Why are you laughing?”

  “Because what else can you do?”

  “You’re annoying, and I dislike you greatly.”

  “That’s what younger sisters are for.”

  “How did I end up being so lucky as to have two younger sisters?”

  “You’re just blessed, sister dear.” Dani’s expression turned more serious, which made my stomach knot in anticipation. “Is it weird to admit that it’s almost…nice to see you like this?”

  “Nice? Seriously?”

  “I mean, don’t think I’m enjoying this, but for the longest time I thought…” Dani chewed on her lower lip, clearly realizing she’d already put her foot in her mouth. Being the older sister, I just cocked an eyebrow and waited for her to get herself out of this mess somehow.

  “You were always so perfect when we were growing up. You had perfect grades. You had the perfect boyfriends. You were gorgeous, tall, and smart. It seemed like you could never do anything wrong.”

  I stared at my sister in utter shock. I’d had no idea she’d thought of me like that.

  Perfect? Me? I was holding on to my reputation by the skin of my teeth. I was flailing around like a turtle stuck on its back. There was nothing about me right now that was perfect, and I’d never been perfect. I’d worked hard to seem like I was perfect, though. The thought that my shiny exterior was losing its luster was depressing.

  “But I realized within the last few months that since I’d put you on this pedestal, I didn’t stop to consider how you really felt, which was shitty of me. I’m sorry.”

  I blew out a breath. I didn’t know if I should be offended, relieved, or just confused. I was probably all three: a big, messy jumble that mirrored my life right now.

  Yet I almost hated that Dani had seen through my facade. I’d always tried to put on this composed face. My life was planned, practical. I didn’t do impulsive things like Dani or Kate. I was steady. I’d had to be at a young age: I’d had to keep my sisters safe when our parents had almost fallen apart.

  Neither Dani nor Kate knew our parents had briefly separated when we were kids. I’d been nine, Dani seven, and Kate an infant. Our mom had told us she’d gone on a business trip, but our dad had let slip to me that our mom was unhappy and had left with only a vague explanation as to why.

  I’d always remember what my dad had said to me two days after my mom had left: She needed to find herself. She’s been working too hard, with you guys, the new baby, the business. It’s been too much.

  At nine, those words had translated to you haven’t been good and if you’d been good, she wouldn’t have left. I’d sit in the window of our living room, waiting for my mom to return, terrified I’d never see her again. I’d helped my dad with Dani and Kate, becoming Kate’s mom for the two weeks my mom was gone. I’d tried to cook but had burned everything, because I was only nine. I’d bandaged Dani’s knees when she’d fallen off her bicycle. I’d made sure Dani got on and off the school bus, or that she didn’t eat too many Oreos and make herself sick. I’d changed Kate’s diapers and had given her her bottle when she’d been hungry.

  Then our mom had returned, and no one had said a word about the separation ever again.

  I’d never told Dani and Kate because they would’ve been devastated knowing our mom had left because we kids had become too much to handle. So I’d shouldered the burden. I was the oldest. That was my responsibility. And it was why I preferred to keep everything in my life secure and safe and within the lines.

  A man’s voice broke through my reverie. “Mari, hi,” said Jacob after he’d greeted Dani and kissed her. He wrapped an arm around Dani’s waist. I couldn’t help but notice how perfectly she fit there. “How are you?” he added.

  “I’m assuming Dani has told you everything?” I said.

  Jacob smiled, and if he weren’t my sister’s fiancé I would’ve swooned at his feet. He was all golden boy charm, and based on the way Dani gazed up at him, she still felt swoon-y around him.

  Yet that golden boy charm did nothing to me like Liam�
��s darker, almost sharper, handsomeness. Jacob was all charm while Liam was all masculine assertiveness. Jacob would charm your pants off with sly wit; Liam would simply rip them off before you could say yay or nay.

  Jacob sat down on the oversized chair with Dani on his lap. She curled against him like a cat.

  If she started purring, I was out of here. A girl could only take so much PDA from her sister.

  “Pretty much everything,” said Jacob, answering my question. “Dani’s not exactly great at keeping secrets.”

  “Excuse you! I do, too,” said Dani, almost squawking in protest.

  “I distinctly remember you telling me Anna swore you to secrecy about her latest Tinder date, and yet you told me every single detail.” Jacob grimaced. “Most of which I never needed to know.”

  Anna was Dani’s best friend who’d she’d known since elementary school. Anna had a rather colorful dating history, even compared to my whole drunkenly-marrying-a-stranger-in-Vegas thing.

  “Don’t listen to him,” said Dani to me, “he’s just mad that I wasn’t interested in having sex in a church. Which is where Anna had sex with her date, I should add.”

  “A church? Does she want to go to hell?” I wasn’t even religious and I was about to do the sign of the cross at the mere suggestion.

  “Right? Besides, pews are so uncomfortable. What happens when you bash your elbow against one? No, thanks,” said Dani.

  Jacob sighed. “Anyway. Have you contacted the lawyer I talked to?”

  I blushed, because I’d been putting off going to a lawyer. I told myself it was because I’d just gotten back to Seattle, and I’d had to work, and…

  Yeah, they were flimsy excuses. I was dragging my feet because I was dumb as a sack of bricks.

  Orgasms have clouded your brain. Don’t let a guy’s ability to make you come get in the way of what’s necessary. Did you forget he tried to blackmail you?

  “I will,” I said, “it’s just been crazy lately.”