On the Road to the Best Orgasm Ever
SUZY J BROWN www.suzyjbrown.com
Š 2014
First published in Melbourne, Australia 2014 Copyright © 2014 by Suzy J Brown This eBook is copyright material and must not be copied, reproduced, transferred, distributed, leased, licensed or publicly performed or used in any way except as specifically permitted in writing by the publishers, as allowed under the terms and conditions under which it was purchased or as strictly permitted by applicable copyright law. Any unauthorized distribution or use of this text may be a direct infringement of the author’s and publisher’s rights and those responsible may be liable in law accordingly. All the characters and events in this book are fictitious, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental. Version 1.0 ISBN-13: 978-0-9925788-0-0 Typeset by Suzy J Brown Formatted by PTP Ink www.suzyjbrown.com
Chapter One “You only live once, if you do it right, once is enough,” - Mae West Sarah loved her private orgasmic experiences, and every day they were getting stronger and wetter than she had ever imagined. But she did miss the intimacy of a man indulging in her. Sarah often took herself down to the mall to get a remedial massage from her favorite masseur Tom, a tall Chinese and very sweet therapist who knew exactly how Sarah liked to be touched. She felt a little like she was scouting for a gigolo with Tom, but it was an innocent massage, just so she could enjoy that feeling of skin-to-skin touch and the instant gratification of a gentle yet firm hand. It was a feeling she so dearly missed. Tom was like her fortnightly slice of nurturing, an indulgent yet compassionate hand letting her know everything would be all right. Sometimes she imagined she was blind, and Tom was a little more handsome and sexually confident than what he was, wanting to desire her as she lay on the table half naked. She had no inhibitions, no concerns only that Tom would tenderly look after her because he wanted to, because he yearned to, because he was in awe of her. She secretly hoped that her imagination would turn into reality and Tom would become comfortable with her and lightly graze the inside of her thigh intentionally, or he would wander his finger into the crease between her buttock and her thigh, tantalizing the wetness she had created from her private sexual episodes, out from inside her. She knew it was unprofessional, but a woman could wish. It had been so long since Sarah had been with a man; she knew it would be nice just to feel physically attracted to someone again. Someone who would yearn for her as she did for him. Someone tall, dark and handsome, as cliché as that sounded, but someone with beautiful brown eyes that were warm and mysterious, a man with a gorgeous smile that would melt her heart, someone she could never get angry with, and definitely a man who weighed more than her and appreciated her body for all its curves and imperfections. Johann, her soon-to-be-ex-husband, was the opposite… short, blue cold eyes and weighed ten-to-fifteen kilos less than her no matter how much weight she lost or put on and most days, Sarah couldn’t stand looking at him for his smugness and constant abuse. She was glad he was gone.
Over the past two months, since she started masturbating, Sarah began to look good and feel great about her physically for the first time in years. Her love of life had been reborn, and Sarah had a glow about her that just wouldn’t subside. She wanted to share it with someone, just a small piece of herself and her vibrant sexuality, just to feel that hot blooded passion she so desired, but the likeliness of it happening wasn’t ever going to be soon. Sarah went about her daily work as a real estate copywriter, visiting properties to write. It was a typical Tuesday morning. The sun was shining, as was Sarah and the smell of Spring was in the air. She had already been to two appointments for the day, and after this latest one, she only had one more before she could go home and enjoy her luscious body again. She truly felt ‘in love’ with her body. Masturbating was something that she couldn’t stop thinking about. It was like a light that switched on inside her, an awakening of inner faith, and an appreciation of her own beauty. All Sarah wanted was a chance to arouse herself, like she had an addiction to herself, but she knew her work had to come first. She looked at her clipboard to see whom she was meeting at the charming clinker brick gem she had just pulled out the front of. She had noted that she had made the time with a lady called Maggie to meet her husband Darren at their home. It was like the thousands of other properties she had visited over the past ten years; the conventional meet and greet, walk through the house describing it on her Dictaphone, being complementary to all the work they had done to get the home ready for sale and leave with a ‘good luck’ and a ‘lovely meeting you.’ It really had become routine. She rang the doorbell with no audible sound, so she knocked hoping to catch Darren’s attention. The door opened. “Hey,” said this tall, chubby yet very charismatic man with an Aidan from ‘Sex in the City’ look. Sarah was instantly attracted to him by his whimsical ‘hey’ and her secret infatuation for Aidan on her favorite television show. “Hey… are you Darren? I’m the copywriter from Mitchell Howard” Sarah asked. “No, I’m Darren’s friend. He’s asked me to do some work on the house. I just saw your shadow as I walked passed, so I opened the door, and there you are!” he said with the most irresistible smile. “Is it OK if I can come in? I just need to have a look at the place to write the advertising copy.” Sarah asked with a little more confidence than usual, playing on his overly friendly welcome. “Sure. Do you want me to show you around? I’d love your work, walking around houses using long-winded adjectives to describe the ‘fabulous stylings of Maggie,’” he said, describing the owner. “It’s all her! Her sumptuous style. I just get told to do what she wants and go for it,” he said as Sarah felt an undercurrent of him flirting with her. Sarah loved his enthusiasm, his playfulness, his groove… so she just went with the electric vibe that was surrounding them. “Yep! That would be excellent!” Sarah said, touching her ear in a seductive yet playful manner, then stopping suddenly realizing that she too was sending him sexual signals. They walked into the main bedroom.
“Striking monochromatic tones and patterns stylishly accessorize the master boudoir to create a romantic nest. The charming bay window looks out to the delightful bird bath in the manicured gardens, while the full length built in wardrobes provide endless space for both ‘him’ and ‘her’,” he said with exaggerated arm movements that somehow embellished his words. Her charismatic host had a small plumb in his throat as if he were narrating a BBC documentary. Sarah was in fits of laughter. “I don't go that far! All I need to know if it’s got a modern or period feel, the light that comes into the room, and what the room has in it, yes there are built in wardrobes, but there is also a ceiling fan and a window seat under the bay window,” Sarah said grinning, recording everything on her Dictaphone. Sarah hadn’t had as much fun doing her work in ages, and they had only been in one room. “Ok then, Ms Smarty Pants. You do the next room then,” he said as if he knew what he was doing. “Ok. Well this is the lounge room. It has a northern aspect, double doors from the hallway into it, and a lovely open fireplace making it an ideal winter room. The character of the home includes polished floorboards, high ceilings with ornate cornices and picture rails. There is some warm timber detailing around the architraves and windows, and there is ducted heating through the floor,” Sarah said more matterof-factly with a beaming smile to her new friend. She wished every house she went to could be this fun. “OK then; it’s my turn to do the dining room,” he said as if it were some type of competition. “The north sun gains momentum in the dining room making the polished boards sparkle with intensity. The room is perfect for a dinner party of eight, with space for a buffet to the side. Above the window, an air conditioner is discreetly placed to take the edge off the summer heat, and again, the room is immaculately styled by the lovely Maggie,” he said with a smile, proud of his accomplishments. “Thank you,” Sarah said, “for the accurate description of the room,” broadening her grin at him with her bright white teeth enhanced by her cinnamon red lipstick. Sarah could feel the energy was touching on something she wanted, but wasn’t prepared for. They wandered into the modern country style kitchen with its meals area to the side, and bi-fold doors that were slightly ajar exposing a continental laundry. “Hey, would you like a drink? I’m going to have a watered down juice, as I’ve kind of got a taste for it thanks to my three year old. He just loves to drink it,” he said. “Actually, I usually don't consider offers for drinks when I’m working, but yes, I wouldn’t mind a water.” Sarah said. “One water coming up! So, you seem to be overly happy right now, what is going on to make you come to life?” he asked, very perceptively. “Oh, I’ve just filed a petition to end my marriage after my husband left me a little over two years ago and I haven’t heard from him. I just feel like I’ve got a new lease in life!” Sarah said. “Oh really! Soon to be divorced, huh? So have you been seeing anyone since your husband left?”
“No, it’s been really hard, not knowing if he would come back. And between work and looking after my boys, I haven’t the time to be pursuing men.” You are beautiful; I’m surprised many men wouldn’t be knocking on your door,” he said with exuberant confidence. “No, I don't think so. Actually, I’ve lost about twenty kilos since he left, so I was quite the heifer,” she said, nonchalantly. “So you have kids? How old are they?” he asked inquisitively. “They are seven and five. We actually have been so much happier without Johann being around. I’m so ready to start a life without worrying about him. It's been really hard not knowing if he will ever come back or at least contribute to the boys’ welfare. Have you got kids? Oh duh, you already said you had a three year old,” Sarah said. “Yeah, I also have a five year old and one on the way,” the dreamy, sexy green-eyed man admitted. “Oh great, so are you married?” Sarah asked, understanding that he was committed on several levels. “No, well, we've been together for seven years now, but still not married,” he confessed. “I still don't understand why such a sexy woman like you hasn’t been laid for two years. How is that possible?” “Oh, I just shut off from it, was drowning in debt, school issues, and just existing. I just didn’t think I was worthy. But… I’ve been doing a little experimenting on my own over the last month or so, and I’m thinking I’m ready to get myself out there again. Knowing that my marriage is almost over is such a tremendous relief. I won't be doing anything with anyone until I know my marriage is over for good though, because I want to end my marriage cleanly without repercussions,” she admitted naively. “Really? Someone as hot as you, with your blood and juices pumping through your body, you sure you couldn’t be ‘encouraged’ to have just the smallest fling?” he asked with more cheek in his eyes than ever before. “No, not yet. I want it all above board,” she said surely of herself, but secretly enjoying his playful flirting. She knew the ‘old’ Sarah was stopping her from being in the moment – the ‘controlling, thinking of everyone else, especially Johann,’ Sarah. She had to dig deep and allow the ‘new’ Sarah to come out, the Sarah she had discovered in her private masturbating sessions, and enjoy what this mysterious man was possibly opening her up for. “OK then. Stand up and turn around. I want to look at your butt,” he said. And somehow the ‘new Sarah’ stood up. She felt compelled to do what he asked. She got up out of her seat, turned around, and poked her butt out towards him. “See, it’s still big, I have all these fat bits I need to get rid of before I let anyone near it,” she said pinching a lump of fat on her hip. She turned around, and this overly confident, sexy man, had stealthily got up off the table and was standing over her. She gasped, not used to a man being right in her personal space. She looked up at him feeling her dreamy eyes lock with his. He squeezed her butt. He caressed it lovingly, sensually, erotically, shocking Sarah with an overwhelming yearning that some how, his mouth met up with hers, and they
kissed with intense passion like they just couldn’t get enough of each other. Sarah felt a raw tingling take over her. It was something so intense; she couldn’t recall ever feeling such a powerful lustful desire ever before. It was like an awakening in her body allowing herself just to be… ‘be’ in the moment, ‘be’ with this sexy, confident man, just ‘be’ the person that’s screaming to come out from within her. They stopped for a second. His eyes fixated on Sarah like he wanted her so badly. Sarah felt her heart pumping hard under her grey camisole. She loved the attention, loved that someone could want her after so much time. She felt her eyes well up, like she was about to cry, but quickly closed her eyes and kissed him so he wouldn’t see. “Stand with your back to me up against the laundry door,” he said, pointing to the half-opened door to the left of them. She did what he said. She loved his authority. She placed her hands beside her body, letting him do whatever he wanted to her. He reached down for her hands and pulled them up to place her hands above her head against the door. Sarah felt as if she were in a Sharon Stone movie… hot-blooded and sensual. He put his hand between her legs over her linen trousers, rubbing her hidey-hole making it moist. Sarah moaned at that first touch she had felt between her legs in years. She melted her pussy into his hand wanting more. He reached up with his other hand caressing her left breast, grabbing hold of it like he wasn’t afraid. He reached under her cami, pulled out her breast, revealing her erect nipple that so longed to be sucked, nibbled, licked and handled. Sarah arched her back, letting her head fall back against the laundry door as she let his touch consume her, making her feel incredible. He squeezed her breast hard like he was massaging the desire to exude out of her and igniting more passion between her legs. He turned her around, and somehow while she had had her back to him, he had unzipped his blue jeans and revealed his magnificent cock. She couldn’t believe she hadn’t seen one of those in real life for over two years. It was so hard and erect. She felt so drawn to it, wanting to feel it, taste it, be devoured by it... Sarah’s seductive playmate kissed her intensely again, their tongues desperate to be together. He slid his mouth from hers down her neck, leaving a cool trail of desire behind as he reached her perky nipple, sucking on it sending ripples of ecstasy through Sarah’s body. Oh, Sarah couldn’t believe that she had only dreamt about this a couple of nights beforehand, and now she had a real live man in her arms. She loved the attention, submitting herself to his every whim. She reached down, as he sucked her breast, to hold his handsome manhood. It was so big, so much bigger than Johann ever had. His pulsating cock fitted perfectly in her hand, as she rubbed it up and down with determined thrust-like action. “It feels unbelievable. You’re amazing,” she whispered ‘but I have to get my work done,” knowing that she had a time limit to get to her next property, but desperate to keep enjoying the moment. “I want more of you,” he said, not wanting to give Sarah up. “I can’t, my next appointment is in twenty minutes. I have to finish this one,” Sarah said smiling as she enjoyed his tongue on her neck. Her mystery man conceded and packed himself back into his jeans. He looked beaten as if he noticed something in Sarah he desperately needed. Sarah felt a tinge of
confidence sweep over her, knowing that she could just leave him there hanging for more. He was undeniably sexy. To feel a man inside her again would be just wonderful, but she just couldn’t stop thinking about this man’s partner due to have another baby soon. It just seemed so wrong that he could even want her when his partner was in such a fragile state. Sarah couldn’t do it from a moral stance. She knew it was wrong, even though her body was telling her that this spontaneous encounter was ever so right. Sarah continued dictating the description of the rest of the house, and her affectionate helper followed her around closely. Touching her between her legs and rubbing his hard cock up against her backside between the rooms. They walked into one of the children’s bedrooms, and he dropped his pants. Sarah looked at him like she wanted him so badly. She looked at his erect cock, bit her lip and dropped to her knees, wrapping her lips around it thirsty for more. It tasted so good, tasting the little bit of the salty pre-cum that moistened his head. She pumped her mouth up and down a few times before he made her stand up again, kissing her passionately then turning her around. He made Sarah bend over, over the little boy’s bed, and he undid her trousers, revealing her wet juicy mound. He put his hand between her legs, feeling her wetness, rubbing her clit and tender pussy the way no man had done before. He widened her legs, making her fall further onto the bed, so her breasts were pushed hard against the mattress sending tingling sensations through her nipples. He kissed her butt cheeks, dragging his mouth down to dart his tongue inside her. ‘Oh my God,’ Sarah thought. ‘How utterly amazing does this feel? But I have to go,’ as she dazedly glanced at her watch, seeing that she only had five minutes before she had to be at her next appointment. She didn’t want to go, as he felt so good. She was torn between ‘controlling’ Sarah – being responsible and attending to her appointments on time, and having hot unexpected sex with this beautiful man who was lusting over her. She wanted him so bad, like a horse drawn to a contaminated dam. Like she wanted to taste the water, even though she knew it wouldn't be good for her. So 'controlling' Sarah reared her ugly head again. “I have to go. Please let me finish my work,” Sarah begged, unconvincingly. “Oh ok, but I’ll have to get you back sometime to finish what you started,” he said adding to his already cheeky demeanor. “Really? What I started?” Sarah said smiling. “Yes! You come in here with your extra confidence, fabulous smile and curvy ass, and you think you didn’t start it?” he said. “Well, I can easily just end it,” Sarah said with a smirk, as she continued to describe the house to her Dictaphone. She made it back to the front door, finalizing her notation. Her mystery man kissed her again, looking at her with his big puppy eyes willing her to stay with him. “I gotta go,” she whispered, enjoying their last kiss. “Do you masturbate?” he asked. “Yes,” Sarah said confidently.
“Can you masturbate about me when you get home? Coz when you leave, I’m going to masturbate about you,” he said, with his eyes so glazed from the excitement and his hand rubbing the outside of his jeans showing the hardness of his cock. “Yeah, I can do that,” Sarah said, trying to leave. He opened the door and kissed her, as Sarah tried to separate herself from him. “Will I ever see you again?” he asked. “No, let us just remember this for what it was,” Sarah said with one of her most radiant smiles. He looked disappointed. “By the way, what is your name?” he asked. “Sarah,” she said, ‘What’s yours?” “Marty. Can I have your phone number?” he asked. “No,” and Sarah just walked away feeling utterly satisfied that she could walk away from such a lustful experience and not be caught up with the particulars of wanting to make him a life partner, like she had so many other times as a teenager, even just after a first kiss. He was a fantasy… of another dimension. It was beautiful in so many ways – to feel desirable, to be touched, to be with someone who knew how to touch her, but also to realize that her own experimenting had released an inner confidence that had been yearning to come out. The ‘old’ Sarah knew it was so wrong in the fact that she didn’t even know this man; he was cheating on his pregnant partner with her and that Sarah was still married. But how could something that good be so wrong? Aarrggghh… he made her happy for a passing moment. That's all that counts. She was glad she enjoyed what she did and that she was able to stop it before it went too far. She was happy she took control of the overall situation and didn’t give all of herself to him. She got what she wanted, that little bit of excitement that she desperately needed from a man. She jumped into her car and turned around to see if he was watching her last steps. He wasn’t. He was gone. Her fantasy man had for a split second become her reality, and then disappeared, like it hadn’t happened at all. But Sarah knew she had him; she knew the lecherous desire he had for her, the same passion she had for him. She was thankful to have what they had, and she knew it would keep her going until Johann was out of her life for good. She knew she would keep her promise, and masturbate about him when she made it home. She knew, as her swollen pussy yearned for more.
Chapter Two “Darkness cannot drive out darkness, only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate, only love can do that.” - Martin Luther King Jr.
Three Years Earlier Sarah woke up with a jolt from an afternoon nap. She found herself in unfamiliar surroundings, trying to understand why she could feel a cool summer breeze from the wicker ceiling fan above her, the fan she could vaguely make out in the darkness of the room. She remembered she was on holiday. The first family holiday they had together as a family of four. An exotic family holiday in a hotel resort on the Coral Coast in Fiji that they were meant to spend together. She turned her head and saw her four year old son Alex and two year old son Ben in the bed next to her. She remembered that they had had a busy morning in the resort kid’s club and she had spent a relaxing morning, interweaving dips in the pool with lying on a banana lounge on the white sandy beach reading an inspiring novel about a woman’s quest for a new life. She looked beyond the boys sleeping hoping that her husband Johann was there too, but he wasn’t. She had no idea where he was. But it wasn’t something she was surprised about. As usually, he just wasn’t in the room with his family, and he hadn’t spent any time with her that morning. Again, he was missing in action, spending time with everyone else, except his family. This Fijian getaway was where she hoped he would renew his desire to actually spend time with his family. But her expectations again just turned into disappointments. He did exactly the same as what he did at home… spent the whole time being everywhere else except with them. It had only been since they had children that Johann’s detachment from her and their family commitments had become obvious. Sarah felt committed to their marriage, and did everything to make it work. Sarah did what she could to please Johann as that’s what she thought a marriage was all about. She wouldn’t cause a fight, she would clean up after him, she would allow him to sleep in while she looked after the boys, if he wanted to buy a more expensive car, she allowed it to happen, even if she knew they couldn’t afford it, she did it because she thought that’s what you do to make your marriage work. She gave him blowjobs even when she had painful lock jaw and was in incredible pain, and she faked each and every orgasm while he criticized her weight. She let it all slide - her support through his seven years of study, her support through his twelve months of unemployment and her financial and physical support when he decided to open up a retail art gallery
so that he could exhibit his talent. She encouraged him to get out of his comfort zone, both with his work and their sexual life, and she even made professional suggestions and spoke to experts in his field to make his business more successful. She just wanted to see him happy, because if he were happy, then she would be happy. That’s what she thought. And she felt that the times he wasn’t fighting against the world trying to earn a dollar, were the times that made their marriage worthwhile, and that’s what she was committed to. But lately, her comments, her efforts and her feelings seemed to be pushed under the covers. She couldn’t do or say anything right with him, unless it was feeding his need for luxury and high end resorts for him to ‘talk the talk.’ Had it always been that way, and she hadn’t noticed it? Or were the little things that she used to laugh off as his little idiosyncrasies starting to annoy her? They had been together for seventeen years, and Johann had only brought in a full time income for three of those years, the rest, she was nurturing his talents and dreams. Why was it just starting to annoy her now? All she ever wanted was a happy married life, to feel committed to her husband and children, and be loved. Being loved was what she wanted most, as she didn’t feel much love growing up, and Johann presented a pretty good case of feeling loved when they first met, showing her the tenderness, the warmth and the compassion she missed out on as a child. Sarah desperately wanted to have children to have a chance of rectifying the lack of love Sarah missed out on in her family life. She wanted to hold them, care for them, give them the best of herself to ensure they never lived through the loneliness, the fear and the physical and emotional abuse she went through when she was younger. Some say, she chose Johann as a ‘Daddy figure’ because he was eight years older than her and could nurture her the way that her ‘tough love’ parents refused to do. But those days had sadly faded away… Sarah felt that she was the only adult in their nuclear family of four, and trying to make Johann the responsibly husband and father he was supposed to be for her and their children seemed to be almost impossible. She thought back to her dreamy dream she had woken up from in a jolt. It was uncanny that the slender sultry southerner Matthew McConaughey appeared in it, as she often fantasized about him and other men when she gave into Johann’s play for sex. The reality of Johann’s efforts were nothing like the amazing feeling ‘Mr McConaughey’ gave her in her sensual dream. How she wished she had the courage to tell her selfish husband how to seduce her, how to make her body sing, how to truly indulge all her senses and make her really orgasm. Really set her body on fire with electric pulsations, constant quivering and breathless ecstasy. But how could she, if she had never experienced it before? How did she know that her body could actually achieve such a heightened pleasure? Was it just something dreams were made from or did it actually exist?
Sarah lay in a daze, as she realized that any half decent sex life couldn’t be possible with Johann. He was so into himself, that even if she tried to move his hand in a certain way to get a taste of more pleasure, he would revert back to what he had felt comfortable with over their eleven year marriage. He never showed Sarah that he wanted to please her sexually, it was all about what ‘she’ could offer him. Why did she do it? Why was she so dominated by him? Why did she allow him to control their lives so much, not just with sex, but finances too? Sarah knew in her heart that she did it for love… a love of feeling like she belonged to someone, that someone actually loved her. But was their marriage really based on love, or had it somehow turn into a business relationship? As it had been a long time since she’d actually felt any real love from Johann. Sarah felt stuck. Stuck in a little piece of Fijian heaven, which was more like an internal hell. There was only the dream of feeling good left inside her, as she really didn’t know what ‘good’ actually felt like. She felt broken. Broken and beaten into a person she once thought she wanted to be and a life she wanted to have: a happy family of four. She strived to make it happen in anyway possible for Johann, Alex and Ben, but no one seemed to care about ‘her’ happiness. She worked tireless hours to pay for Johann’s lifestyle, the boy’s private schooling and the rent, as Johann’s business efforts constantly didn’t make a cent and cost them their home. He had not one ounce of gratitude, not one pound of acknowledgment, not even a smile of acceptance to show Sarah that he was appreciative of all she did for him. Somehow, after they closed the gallery, all Sarah got from Johann was constant yelling across the kitchen table, slammed doors, stomping and bruises on her arms each time he hit her. And for the boys, they too were terrified of their father, so much so that little Alex wet the bed each night, only for Johann to be more aggravated with him, punishing him with belts across the backside, as Sarah looked at the sheer terror in poor little Alex’s face. It broke her heart. How could she have brought these beautiful little boys into a world with so much evil in their everyday life? She just didn’t know how to put a stop to it, except for feeding Johann’s luxury lifestyle and to make him happy by staying quiet. The reality was, she was in an abusive marriage. Having her feelings not considered was getting to her. If it wasn’t the abuse that happened behind closed doors, it was the ignorance in public. Every phone call, every person he met and every newspaper Johann read, all of it were always more important than having a conversation or a romantic meal with his wife. Sarah was tired of living in silence, tired of fearing his anger and tired of her boys being mistreated. For what? Love? Companionship? Feeling like she had a sense of belonging? Being labeled and grateful that she was a ‘married woman?’ The dream of the happy nuclear family lifestyle? It certainly wasn’t the dream of pleasure, compassion, togetherness, love and harmony she signed up for when she
signed the marriage certificate. She was getting angry at the thought that she had actually allowed her life to happen this way. She tried to remember times of happiness with Johann. The day he surprised her with a birthday dinner at her favourite restaurant with so many close friends and family made her feel special. Their honeymoon was so beautiful on their Club Med island on the Great Barrier Reef. She loved how the staff all spoke French, like they were in a foreign country, but they weren’t. The day he gave her her engagement ring, and she didn’t realize that he had the staff place the ring in a champagne flute and it wasn’t until she took the last sip that she felt the ring against her lip. She loved that he actually adored her in those first few years, but all the enjoyable times they had together had some underlying tone of resentment. As she paid for her engagement ring, he organized her surprise birthday but then offered to pay for all the guests (which in fact, she earned the money to pay for) and luckily, her honeymoon was partly paid for by their best man and his mother, but she spent most of the trip feeling sick with an aching spleen. She couldn’t remember a time when she was ever truly happy with Johann and the situation they were in. She had no highs to speak of, no breathtaking moments, nothing notable to store away in the memory banks as the best time she had ever had. Even the day that was supposed to be the ‘happiest day of her life,’ her wedding day, didn’t fill her heart with joy. It was a procedure, a goal reached. Nothing more, nothing less. Had she too succumbed to the conformity of the structured life of a woman that the novel she was reading on the banana lounge suggested? The door opened. It was Johann. “Why are you guys stuck in here?” his booming voice said. “Shh… the boys are asleep. Where have you been?” Sarah whispered. “Oh, I was talking to this couple from New Zealand. They love art, so I told them that I have an art gallery, and I’ve come up to get my computer to show them what I have to sell them.” Johann said, toning his voice down to a regular volume, but still loud enough to wake Ben from his sleep. Sarah went to Ben’s disillusioned rescue, annoyed that Johann couldn’t have tried more not to wake the boys, but also annoyed of hearing his lies. They once ‘had’ an art gallery, a gallery that almost made them go bankrupt, now he only had a library of artwork on a website and a storage facility full of badly treated canvases some would say were ready for the rubbish heap. “Do you think they might buy something off you?” Sarah asked cuddling into Ben. “I hope so. I described some of my artwork to them, as well as a couple of other artists, and they seem really interested. I’d better go, don’t want to keep them waiting.” “How long….” the door slammed shut, waking Alex. He truly knew how to infuriate her. Why doesn’t he understand that this is a ‘family holiday?’ Not an excuse to talk to strangers about his crappy abstract pieces. She hated hearing about the
artwork, she felt that his obsession with it was destroying them. She was stuck in a life she no longer wanted to live, stuck in a hotel resort room in Fiji looking after her sons and stuck in a loveless marriage. Maybe she could just dream that a tall, dark, handsome Texan, like Matthew McConaughey would one day sweep her off her feet and treat her with the respect she deserves.