Previously

It was raining but that was nothing new. It was always raining in Seattle. Fern Summerville was reaching for the lamp in the living room when she heard her husband's voice. Her hand went to her heart. Whatever he felt came out in his voice and this time was no different. His voice was raw with emotion. "I love you sugar. No matter what happens I'm always gonna love you and that's a promise. You better not forget it neither. You call me if you need anything okay?"

The conversation ended. Brent put his phone under the couch and reached over the back for his wife. Shiraz flavored the kiss and her tastebuds tingled as she swirled her tongue around his. He shoved her bra aside to taste what lay beneath. Her nipples shriveled. His hands straddled her hips. His right hand crept inside her panties. She moved to accomodate his fingers. He tickled her intimately before withdrawing. Clothing fell like rain around them. 

The diamonds in his ears beckoned. She nibbled his earlobe and kissed the twinkling studs. Their hands explored each other. Bare skin moved against the leather covered couch. A cashmere throw fell across her face. He played peekaboo with her thoroughly enjoying the fringe that flirted with her tiny breasts. He grabbed the backs of her knees and gave her a wickedly seductive smile. She was so damn beautiful.

Fern's foot rubbed against him. His hands parted her thighs. His nostrils flared as her scent registered. The heat of her was a living growing thing. It burned his brain and scorched his soul. Mindless noises hung in the air as her labia parted. A slow massage spread moisture over her clitoris. He flicked his tongue against her hidden self. Her legs quivered. Sensation ran through her. She grabbed his head and screamed. When he was done he rubbed his sticky thumb in the groove between his first two fingers and licked her nipple through the V that brought her left breast forward. She tasted divine.

"This is it Fern, you ready?"

Her nod was barely there but the legs around him were an unmistakable invitation. Seconds later he collapsed against her still breathing heavily.

"I love you, you okay?"

She nodded against his shoulder. It was slightly salty when she licked it. He smiled and licked the side of her face.

"You taste so damn good. Did you have an orgasm?"

Her jade green eyes widened. "No."

God damn it, not again. His necklace fell forward and she touched the tiny gold cross that hung from the thin gold chain.

"I had like two or three orgasms. In a row."

The soft curve of her lower lip was the only area he kissed. "You're a brat. Must be why I love you."

"Why are you sad tonight?"

His heart sank. There was a sick feeling in the pit of his stomach but he smiled anyways. "Come on Fern. I just got a beautiful girl to give it up to me on a couch she paid for. Why would I not be in a good mood?"

"What's the matter?"

Brent bit the side of his lip before he realized he was doing it. "Lana wrote a short story that's going to be published. Guess what it's called?"

"What?"

"Big Sleep Seattle. Some chick loses her virginity, in our bed."

"In our bed?"

"Yeah. She's a foreign exchange student. The punch line,..." He pulled his jeans on. Tears stung the back of his eyes. His nose hurt so he rubbed hers knowing she would understand. "You're not going to believe this. Gretchen stopped by today. I, she's pregnant."

White hot fury shot up Fern's powerful arm. Her hand flew out to slap him. His cheek hurt but he welcomed the pain. Her shaking fingers closed over his wine glass but his hand was quicker than hers.

"Don't throw it. Don't slap me either."

"Is it yours?"

His smile was no longer warm and sensual. "The real question my darling is whose baby did you lose? Tell me the truth once and for all. Did you fuck Brad on Jim and Rita's pool table or not?"

Fern was so mad she wanted to spit in his face. His hand was light around her wrist but it was still there. He always had the power. All the power and all the control. She was sick of it. "I fucked Lana on the pool table. Too bad you weren't there to watch."

"Shut the fuck up you little bitch. Lana was in the best fucking mood of her entire life when she called. How do you think I felt having to tell her that her whore of a sister is pregnant and my idiot brother is the one who knocked her up. I don't give a fuck what he does. I am never going to talk to Brad again. Gretchen told me that he slept with Lana. That's basically what Lana's story is about. Little foreign exchange student meets another student. They shack up at her host family's house and she gets pregnant. It's completely her sleeping with Brad. I can't believe Lana's timing on this. Next time I see Brad no dentist in the world will be able to put his fucking teeth back together again. I'm going to rip his balls off too."

"Brad slept with Lana?" Fern was sure she couldn't have heard him right.

"Seems like everyone wants a night with him doesn't it Fern? He and Lana hooked up in British Columbia. That's the second time they've had sex actually. The first time was after her graduation party only he was so drunk she doesn't think that he remembers it. He does by the way. I am going to kill him."

It was hard to breathe. Fern desperately needed air and understanding. This couldn't be happening. "Brad told you that?"

"Gretchen told me about it and before you get all bent out of shape..." he stood up and walked over to the window. "Brad just fucked three people over. Himself, Gretchen and Lana. Four if you count the baby and I do."

"How long have he and Gretchen been going out for?"

"Who even knows. I talked to her in Florida. She told me she was going to ask him out and she asked if we could be friends. No I didn't fuck her either if that's what you were going to ask next."

"I never had sex with Brad."

"I don't give a fuck what you did. You'd rather have him than me or you wouldn't be writing about him slamming you up against the pool table now would you?"

"Brent..."

"Fern..."

"It wasn't... I didn't mean it."

"Like hell you didn't mean it. You get pregnant and you tell him and not me. You have a fucking miscarriage and I find out about it from Lana. You're the one who's always threatening to leave me...

His empty wine glass shattered against the fireplace. Bare feet covered the living room in three long strides. A sob tore her chest apart. The garage door opened and she heard his car start. She ran to the mudroom. His shoes were gone. The hook for his keys was empty. His headlights cut the night. She stuffed a fist in her mouth as she watched him back down the driveway.

All he left her was alone.

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