Wife Swap: When you’ve married the carbon copy, what happens when the original reappears?

by Roz James

  Lou’s anger quickly dissipated, replaced by sadness. “I guess you never lied about Kara being your soulmate.”

  “No, I didn’t, but I’ll never stop caring about you either. Lou please don’t hate me, I’m not sure I could bear that.”

  Eyes as moist met hers. “I could never hate you Nat. I hate what you’ve done, but I don’t hate you.”

  “You’re right though, you do deserve your own soulmate. Just be sure she’s the right one this time okay... not a rebound.”

  They walked out the door together, meeting Kara and Viv standing not speaking in the entrance, their taxis waited. Lou kissed her gently on the cheek. “Goodnight Natalie.”

  Natalie hugged her. “Night.”

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  Later at Kara’s she reheated their dinners, and without asking poured Natalie a large glass of wine. The taxi ride home had been slow, seeming like hours, and they’d not spoken. Natalie’s eyes were red and heavy with crying, her colour still hadn’t returned.

  Kara put their dinners on the table. Natalie was already sitting there. “Well this evening didn’t go as expected.”

  Natalie began picking at her food. “I’m sure that’s an understatement, what were you expecting?”

  Kara sat, and began eating her lasagne. “Well it was the first night out Vivien and I had had since coming to Dundee. I was worried she might want to sleep with me after, and I wasn’t sure I could, not after all this time, and not since you.”

  Natalie laid down her fork, sighing deeply and putting her head in her hands. “Oh god, what a mess.”

  “I know we need to work through this Nat, but I don’t regret what’s happened, and I’m glad it’s out in the open; much as I’d have preferred a less public discussion. Viv and I were kidding ourselves and I love you Natalie, I always have, and I know I always will.”

  Natalie looked up, tears rolling down her cheeks. “And I love you, but we’re trying to build a future on the unhappiness of others...don’t you see that?”

  Kara knelt in front of her lover, holding her hands. “I don’t agree, maybe before tonight yes, but they love each other too, they said so and I could see it. I looked at Viv earlier and she was glowing, I knew it wasn’t about us, I thought it was about the job, but it was about Lou. When I saw them together it confirmed it.”

  Nat sat back, rubbing her eyes. “I’m so tired Kara, I need to lie down.”

  Kara nodded, leading her upstairs. She knew it must feel strange for Nat, she had never even been in her house. She opened the first door on the landing. “I thought we’d take the spare room.”

  Natalie walked ahead, then turned, starting to close the door behind her. “Kara please, I need some time to myself, some time to get my head around this.”

  Kara swallowed, trying to hide her upset. They were finally able to be together; Natalie had asked for this tonight and yet now she wanted to be alone. “Nat please, we don’t need to do anything, but don’t shut me out. Just let me hold you tonight, I need to be with you.”

  Seeing her expression Kara stood back, raising her hands. “Okay, I get it, I love you. The bathroom is across the hall, my room is next door, if you need anything just shout.” She kissed her gently on the cheek before turning and slowly walking away.

  Kara wandered back downstairs and cleared their dinner away, switching on the dishwasher, then sat in the living room finishing her glass of wine before going upstairs. She walked into her bedroom... her bedroom, until a few hours ago it was their room, her and Vivien’s. Viv’s make- up was still on the dressing table, the shirt she slept in still under her pillow. Kara wondered what Viv’s thoughts had been when she got ready earlier this evening, before the staged intervention. Although angered by her actions she couldn’t blame her, her own behaviour had been unforgiveable. Now the love of her life slept through the wall, but despite her assurances she wondered whether she and Natalie could ever move on from this, her guilt seemed all encompassing, and she was withdrawing more by the minute. She wanted nothing else but to go to her, to hold her...she couldn’t, she knew that, but it didn’t stop the pull.

  Kara quickly changed the sheets; she couldn’t sleep in this bed tonight with it still smelling of her ex. She turned out the light, lying awake in the dark and cool for hours, thinking of her love Natalie, so near but yet so far, terrified, wondering whether this would all be too much for her.

  She woke a few hours later, feeling a weight at the end of her bed. The curtains weren’t heavy, and light travelled through the thin blinds. It spoke volumes that this wasn’t a room they’d prioritised to decorate. In the dull light she could see Natalie sitting naked at the end of her bed. “Hey.”

  “I’m sorry, did I wake you?”

  “Yes, but I’m not complaining, I missed you.” She pulled back the covers. “You must be cold, come in and get warm.....no strings I promise, we can just sleep. Don’t worry I’ve changed the sheets.”

  Natalie crawled in beside her, her naked body wrapping itself around Kara’s, her need to be with her overcoming any thoughts of sleeping in the bed that had been Kara and Vivien’s. “What if I want strings? God Kara I’m sorry about earlier, tonight in the restaurant freaked me out.”

  “I know babe, it was a shock for me too. It’s where I wanted to be, but not how I thought we’d get here. It’s like a rug has been pulled out from under us.”

  “Kara I love you, you asked me this earlier, now it’s my turn. If we’re going to do this I need to know it’s forever.”

  “You don’t need to ask. Natalie I didn’t break up with you, you did, and while I now understand the reasons, I need you to know that I wanted to marry you then, and I still want that now. I even bought a ring, a ring I took to Australia, I carried it around the world in the hope you’d appear. Christ, can’t you see that the only other serious relationship I was able to have was with a replica of you. I know that sounds awful, Vivien is a wonderful woman, she didn’t deserve that. But if you really need me to say it, then yes I promise you forever.”

  Natalie smiled. “Well in that case, in the words of our song ‘Take me.... Kara, I’m yours’. I want you Kara, I need you, right now, I need you to make love to me. Please touch me.”

  Kara needed no further bidding, she pulled Natalie towards her, kissing her deeply, groaning with relief as Nat moaned into the kiss and removed her tee-shirt. She wasted no time, taking Kara’s hand, pushing it down into the wetness between her legs. “Please Kara, fuck me, I need to feel that this is real, that I belong here with you.”

  “Don’t doubt this Nat, you’ve never belonged anywhere else.” Kara responded immediately, Nat was soaking, she gently pushed three fingers deep inside her, her own core responding as her fingers were gripped by tight muscles. She lowered her mouth to Nat’s nipple, gripping the already hard bud between her teeth.

  “More Kara, give me all you have please.” Kara withdrew, pushing four fingers deep inside her lover. She quickly set a rhythm of pushing in and out fast, each penetration allowing contact with the spongy bit of tissue that brought her most pleasure. Her palm rubbing her clit with each thrust.

  Suddenly Nat’s fingers were inside Kara’s pyjama bottoms, separating her folds and pushing inside her. Kara groaned as Natalie pulled out and used her wet fingers to caress her clit. Already highly aroused by touching Nat, she knew it wouldn’t take much to push her over. She moaned into Nat’s mouth as she thrust herself towards her fingers, at the same time using her hip to push her own fingers even more deeply inside Nat.

  Nat groaned, knowing Kara was close. “Wait for me Kara, I’m nearly there.”

  Kara curled all her fingers, brushing Nat’s G-spot. “Come for me Nat.”

  Nat did, bucking hard against her hand as she moaned loudly, gently biting Kara’s neck as she did so, marking her as hers. Kara moaned as she too let go, losing herself to intense pleasure as Natalie clutched her fingers like a vice, then released and contracted again for what seemed like minutes. The
y were both breathing heavily as they held each other, their bodies sticking together from the light sheen of sweat. Tears rolled down each of their faces as they gently kissed.

  “I’m your now Kara, only yours. I always have been, and I always will be.”

  “And I’m yours. Sleep now darling, tomorrow will be a long and stressful day.”

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  When the taxi drew up at the 1950’s semi, Vivien remembered that she had never been to Louise’s home. For obvious reasons they hadn’t become friends as couples, which might have led to dinner parties. There was no need for her to come alone either, like Kara and herself Lou and Nat lived in the suburbs, so when she and Lou socialised they’d either gone out straight from work or met in town.

  She and Lou had never resurrected their one brief make out session either. Yet here they were spending the night in Lou’s marital home, where her wife Natalie had apparently grown up, brought up her brother, and returned to live after ending her relationship with Kara. Wife, no longer a word she was likely to use after tonight, not without an ex in front of it, that would be strange after so many years.

  “Come on babe, we’re here.”

  Vivien followed Lou into the house. Five months ago she had never heard of her, now she had to admit she was completely in love. She admired her as a teacher, loved her zest for life, and stupid sense of humour. As for her body it embarrassed her to recall how many times she had already pleasured herself thinking of her. Her favourite fantasy starting with their kiss in the school, progressing to them making love in the lounge in the sleepover room, the thrill of being caught adding to her pleasure. She’d drawn the line at pleasuring herself in the school during sleepovers though, it was only appropriate as a fantasy, and it wasn’t as though she didn’t have plenty of opportunity in her own bed, Kara ensconced in her office. Tonight, she’d left her wife for her, it seemed surreal, she was suddenly incredibly nervous.

  It had been months since she’d been with her wife, with anyone. Lou was younger too, would she impressed when she saw her body. She consoled herself with the fact that at 35 she was far from old and slightly younger than Lou’s wife.

  “Can I get you a drink, heat up the food?”

  Viv followed her into the open plan kitchen living room, all decorated in greys and cream. The kitchen modern and clutter free, probably how it needed to be when it could be seen from the living room. “Wine would be good, I’m not really hungry, maybe later though, my stomach is churning a bit after tonight. I’m not good with confrontation.” She watched as Lou put the containers in the fridge and poured them each a glass of wine.

  “Who is? Make yourself at home please Viv, I know this is weird, but I want you to feel comfortable here.” She lit some lamps and led them to the living area, sitting down on the grey fabric corner sofa and beckoning Viv to join her.

  Probably not as strange as it is for you, in your home with someone else, surrounded by memories of your life with your wife. The hallway had been full of pictures of them, with who she assumed to be Neil. “So how are you doing Lou, after tonight?” She watched as Lou took a large drink of her wine and then placed the glass on the smoked glass coffee table.

  “Honestly, I don’t know. I realise now I hadn’t thought beyond exposing them. What about you?”

  Viv sat back in the corner of the sofa, pulling her legs under her. “Me neither, I certainly didn’t expect this. I think I’m still a bit numb. I love Kara, she’s been a large part of my adult life, but I don’t think we’ve been in love for a long time, we were more like good friends. My feelings for you highlighted that. You and Natalie hadn’t been together as long, and you were still making love, I wonder if it’s harder for you?”

  Lou smiled. “Let’s not try and compare pain babe, I think this is going to be hard for us all. Just know though that I want to be with you, I want a chance for us. I love you Vivien.” She moved towards her, reaching for her and kissing her deeply.

  Vivien responded, moaning into her mouth as the kiss deepened, and quickly turned passionate. They kissed for some time, exploring each others’ lips and mouths before Viv began undoing Lou’s shirt buttons and began to gently push her down onto the sofa. She was surprised when Lou suddenly stopped her, her hands gripping her wrists.

  She pulled her close again. “Please Lou, we don’t need to stop this time. There’s nothing preventing me making love to you now, and god I want to.”

  Lou stood up. “I’m sorry Viv, I want this too, and I know there’s nothing standing in our way, as of now we’re both free agents. I love you, I’ve never felt this way before and this needs to be special.”

  Viv laughed. “I’m not an innocent virgin, I want you. I don’t need rose petals, champagne, I just need you Lou.”

  “I know, look I can’t say I don’t want our first time to be memorable because I do, but we both ended our marriages tonight and while I’m not one for dates, this will always be the day that happened. The first time we make love will be the anniversary of our first day as a couple, it can’t be the same day, don’t you see that?”

  “Bloody hell, yes, of course. God I never thought. I’m sorry, I just want you so much.”

  Lou sat back down. “Believe me babe I’m desperate for you too, I want to kiss and lick every inch of that beautiful body. I want to make you cry out my name as you come, and I will babe soon, trust me. We’ve waited this long; another day won’t kill us.”

  Viv squirmed. “You do know this isn’t helping, don’t you? What do we do tonight?”

  “Tonight, I’ll hold you all through the night, keeping my hands to myself, however difficult that will be.”

  They cuddled, kissed and watched a movie neither of them had seen, then reheated their pizza and pasta, sharing it between them. They also moved to the spare room and Lou gave Vivien a tee-shirt to sleep in. Soon they fell into a deep sleep, spooning each other.

  Vivien woke to Lou cuddled into her back, her arm around her waist, her hand resting on her stomach. She could feel her breasts against her back and hear and feel her soft breath against her face. Unsated arousal flooded her panties and she groaned, unable to prevent herself pushing her ass back against Lou’s pelvis.

  Lou woke, aware of Viv moving against her, her voice was husky with sleep. “Hmm, someone’s horny this morning.”

  Viv began to pull away, embarrassed. “I’m getting up, sorry I know you don’t want this right now. Its just its been a while for me, with someone I love I mean...”

  Lou held her tight and prevented her moving. She rolled her onto her back, kissing her gently. “Don’t go. How about I take care of this initial frustration, so you can enjoy me making slow love to you, every inch as I promised last night?”

  Beautiful brown eyes met hers. “But you said...”

  Lou silenced her with a gentle kiss. “I said I didn’t want our anniversary to be the day our marriages ended. What day is it?”

  “Saturday.”

  Lou smiled, kissing her again gently. “Exactly, its a new day. I woke about three, wanting you. I know how stressed you were about yesterday, and you were sleeping so soundly, I didn’t have the heart to wake you.”

  “I’m awake now, wide awake.”

  “I can see that.” She slipped her hand between Lou’s legs, her wetness evident from her soaked panties. “And I can feel how much you want me.”

  Viv groaned loudly. “Fuck yes, Lou please.” She bucked against Lou’s hand.

  Lou whispered in her ear. “Mm, well it’s time I did what I promised last night, I’m sure the first time will be quick, then I can take my time and savour you. Is that okay?”

  Viv groaned as Lou swiftly pushed her panties down her leg, her fingers returning to her soaked core. “More than okay. Fuck me Lou, I need you to fuck me....”

  “Viv look at me, I promise you’ll never have to manage your own frustration again, there’s a place for getting yourself off I know that, but not at the expense of this intimacy. I’ll n
ever deny you this.... never.”

  Viv groaned, reaching for Lou’s face, pulling her towards her and kissing her deeply. She arched towards the hand that was exploring her lips and clit. She moaned deeply as Lou entered her gently, clasping the back of her wrist and pushing her in further. “God, I want you deep inside me.”

  Lou pushed Viv’s tee-shirt up with her other hand, caressing her breasts and nipples before lowering her tongue to their stiff peaks, and then sucking one into her mouth. “You are so beautiful.” She watched as Viv thrust against her hand frantically, moaning loudly. It was all she could do to not lower her hand between her own legs, she was already dripping with arousal, she needed to focus fully on Viv.

  As she sucked the other nipple into her mouth, Viv came, her back arching as the intense sensations flooded her body. As the aftershocks lessened Lou went to pull out but was prevented by Viv’s hand again gripping her arm. “Please babe stay right there a bit longer, I love the feel of you inside me. I’d keep you inside me forever if I could.”

  Lou smiled, kissing her gently. “And I love being inside you. I’ve dreamt of this moment, many times. Some of them completely inappropriate.”

  “No regrets?”

  “None.” As she spoke she kissed her deeply and began to move her fingers again, pushing in deep.

  Instantly Viv moved against her, meeting her thrusts. “Oh god Lou, that feels so good. Please bring your body up here, I need to taste you as you fuck me.”

  Louise turned her body until her legs straddled Viv’s head. It felt incredibly intimate that the first time her centre would be touched would be by Viv’s mouth. She watched as Viv lowered her onto her eager mouth, immediately penetrating her with her tongue. “God that feels so good.”

  “Not as good as you taste babe.”

  Lou watched as Viv began exploring her lips and clit, flicking gently, then sucking before pushing her tongue deep inside. She lowered her body, tasting Viv for the first time. “I love how you taste.” She pushed her fingers in deeply causing Viv to speed up. Viv sucked mercilessly on her lips, tongued her clit and for the first time entered her with two fingers, pumping hard.