by Alta Hensley
Table of Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
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Traditional Love
Digital ISBN- 9781612580005
Print ISBN- 1612580009
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Copyright © 2011 Alta Hensley
Cover art by Bret Poinier
This book is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, or places, any events or locales is purely coincidental. The names, characters, places and incidents are products of the writer’s imagination and are not to be construed as real.
No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission from the publisher LazyDay, with the exception of quotes used in reviews and critical articles.
Dedication
To my Nana who always said, “I should.”
And to everyone who knows the real Alta.
Traditional Love
by
Alta Hensley
Chapter One
I knew what I was going to walk in to. I knew, and yet I continued on. I suppose that deep down this incident was inevitable. Not that I was excusing what was before me, but I understood it. A wife should never have to walk in on her husband having sex with another woman, but I wasn’t surprised by it. I should be mad, devastated, hurt, and destroyed. I should be shaking with fury wanting to kill the woman that was riding my husband wildly. I should scream or throw something at them. Shouldn’t I? Then why was I simply watching this woman give my husband pleasure?
She raised her ass slowly and then pushed down with a driving force. He, of course, just sat back and enjoyed the ride. She seductively grabbed her breasts with each hand and began to rub and slightly pinch her nipples. She separated her luscious lips to let out a soft moan, and angled her back to position his cock to reach just the right spot. Her creamy white skin glistened, and her wild hair cascaded down her back. She lowered her pink manicured finger to her dripping wet pussy and swirled it around her engorged clit. Her moan became louder, and her breathing became ragged. She began to ride his languid body with intense passion, thrusting her body down onto his ready cock, encompassing him with her soaking wet pussy. She worked unaided on her approaching peak.
She really was gorgeous, and she was doing an excellent job giving ecstasy to my selfish husband. By his moans and his tightly squeezed eyes, I could see he was close to orgasm. Of course he was close to orgasm. He was always close to orgasm! I actually felt sorry for this woman, because it was very likely he’d be finished long before she had her needs met. And with that thought, I decided to do to him what he so often did to me, and soon to this woman. I was going to stop them before he could reach completion.
Here I was, standing in the doorway of the bedroom I once shared with my husband watching him have lousy sex with another woman, and I was actually smiling. I crossed my arms smugly and leaned against the door jam and very calmly cleared my throat. My husband jumped up in surprise, and the woman quickly covered herself with a sheet. I was actually getting quite a bit of amusement in their embarrassment.
“Jesus Neely! What the fuck? How long have you been standing there?” He reached for a blanket to cover up. I found this funny. It wasn’t like I didn’t know what he looked like naked.
I smiled at him and smiled at the traumatized woman. I didn’t say a single word to either. I turned around and slowly walked out of the house, my house, for the last time.
This was what I needed. I needed to know for sure that I was making the right decision. Leaving my husband wasn’t something I took lightly. I believed in the vows I took. I believed in happily ever after. But I couldn’t have happily ever after if I wasn’t happy now. Seeing my husband having sex with someone else only gave me the closure I so desperately needed. I could move on knowing that he had.
My husband didn’t want the divorce, or so he said. He wanted me, he cried for me and he begged me. But what he never did was fight for me. His sensitivity and his gentle soul was everything I thought I needed until I realized that it made him seem weak. I had no respect for him. He was so intelligent and extremely kind, but it was never enough. I wanted something more - for him to be stronger somehow.
The sex was average. Average wasn’t bad, but it also wasn’t good. It got to a point that having sex was like a chore or duty. It lacked passion and fire. We lacked excitement and desire. Two years of marriage, and we no longer had sex. I was to blame as well, because I gave nothing. I couldn’t find anything to give.
So we separated. I left and got a place temporarily to decide what was next. He called, he visited and he cried. I didn’t. I came to the house today to come to an agreement. I could no longer stay in the limbo between marriage and divorce. Apparently, based on what I walked in on, he couldn’t either. He was ready to move on as well.
So yes, a woman should never have to see her husband having sex with another woman. But it allowed me to release my guilt somewhat. Seeing him naked beneath another woman allowed me to close the door. Today told me that the marriage was over. That it had been over for a very long time. I could move on and not look back. I could accept the job offer I got back in my hometown, and start over. I could move home and be surrounded by my closest friends and try to fix my broken life.
I got offered the job as a program director for the non-profit I wanted to work at. It finally seemed as if my luck might be changing, and I couldn’t help but be a little hopeful. After today I decided it was time to start letting my friends know I was returning home…for good.
I quickly called Coley, my best friend since high school. I had always been able to keep in contact with her even if we both lived in different states or countries. Coley had always been my constant. She was one of those girls who spoke her mind freely, sometimes a little too freely. She was spontaneous, fun and lived life to the fullest. She was a free spirit and let nothing get her down. She, too, had just recently returned home after writing stories in a café in Prague. Only Coley could have the courage to travel to the countries she did. She would travel with only a one way ticket and no real plan as to when she’d be returning. I loved Coley more than anything and couldn’t wait to tell her that I’d be seeing her in just a week.
I hurriedly dialed her number and was disappointed to hear, “Hey it’s Coley. You know what to do. Beep.”
“Coley, it’s me, Neely. I have excellent news! Call me as soon as you can.”
My next call was to Coley’s older brother, Caine. Caine meant more to me than any man alive. He had always been the protective older ‘brother’ to me, as well as to Coley. He was just as strong in his actions as he was in his physique. He loved with an intensity which could be annoying to a troublesome teenager, but was desired as an adult. I loved Caine, as a friend, or at least that was how we always kept it. Caine and Coley were the only family I had left, and I’m sure Caine and Coley felt the same about me.
My mom died three years ago from colon cancer after a long and painful battle. It was Caine who held me as I sobbed for days. It was Coley and Caine who helped me through one of the darkest moments in my life. My father was never in the picture so it was just me and my mom, and when my mom died, I was
alone.
Coley and Caine were no novices when it came to death and grieving either. They had lost their parents in a horrible car accident two days before our high school graduation. The car had somehow lost control going over a mountain pass and it went over the cliff. I can still remember how devastating the tragedy was. I stood at the grave site holding hands with Caine and Coley sobbing as they lowered their parents into the ground.
I paced the kitchen as the phone rang hoping I could catch Caine. I could never really be sure of his ever-changing firefighting schedule.
“Hello,” Caine’s deep voice echoed. It always amazed me how even over the phone, Caine seemed so strong and powerful.
“Caine, it’s me Neely! I have fantastic news! I’m moving home, I’m moving back to you guys! I just got offered a job today, and I start in a week!” I spoke so fast and so loud I’m sure Caine had to pull the phone back away from his ear. “I’m moving forward with the divorce.”
“I’m sorry Sweetheart, but I’m really happy you’re coming home to us. Does Coley know yet?”
“No, not yet, I got her voicemail.”
“So do you need any help packing or moving? What can I do to help? A week isn’t very long to make a move like this,” Caine inquired with his practical and protective tone.
“Honestly Caine, I don’t have it in me to fight with the divorce. So I’m just going to walk away with my clothes, some items that hold special memories, and my car. There is nothing to pack really.” I was losing all the excitement in my voice.
I could sense Caine was completely furious hearing this, and even more furious that my soon-to-be ex-husband could take out the fight in me. Caine never liked my husband and disliked him even more during the separation.
“Neely, why in the hell would you let that jerk get everything? You have more strength than to let that ass walk all over you!” Caine lectured.
I sighed. “Caine, please, I really don’t want to talk about it. It was a horrible time, and I just want to look ahead. No more talk about him, o.k.?” I made my voice perk up. “Now I’m free to return home and start my life over. I think I need to come as soon as possible to find an apartment. Do you mind helping me with that?”
“Absolutely not, there's no reason for you to find an apartment and live by yourself. I have a new three bedroom house, and I have a spare room you can move into. We can be roommates.” Caine stated rather than asked.
“Caine, I can’t do that. You’re living with Sara, right? I don’t think me moving in is what you two lovebirds want.”
I didn’t really know much about Caine’s new girlfriend. I knew she was one of many and that Caine had just recently moved her into his house. He rarely spoke of his girlfriends other than their name. He kept his love life private, and seldom shared that side of him. In all the years I had known Caine, I only met a couple girls, and I had never seen Caine in love. He had never been with anyone longer than a few months.
“Ah, she’ll be fine with it. Besides, I’m not comfortable with the idea of you living alone. You need people who love you around. My home is your home, period.” Caine’s tone made it clear the conversation was over.
I sighed. “Fine, but I insist on paying rent. And if you and Sara need alone time, you just need to give me some secret code to get out of Dodge.”
Caine let out a big laugh. “Neely girl, get your ass moving and come home now!”
I couldn’t help but giggle. It was nice to feel this excited and hopeful again. I was happy to be moving in with Caine. I was sick of being alone and having no one to come home to. I couldn’t imagine a better place to live or a better person to live with. I hadn’t felt so beat down in my entire life, and I realized I needed Caine’s strength to help me find my own.
“Caine I love you! And I’ll see you guys soon.”
I hung up the phone and felt the urge to laugh or scream. Instead, I cried. I couldn’t believe these past few years were soon to be behind me. I had a new job, new home, and old friends. I couldn’t ask for more…well maybe a new man.
I chuckled at the thought of bringing a man home to meet Caine. How would that go over? I would have to tell a possible love interest that I live with a man. I would have to deal with Caine’s fatherly behavior monitoring my dating life. I wiped at my tears and smiled at the thought of seeing Caine every day. I was done with my pity party. I was done feeling like a failure, and feeling alone. I was ready to take my life back. But more than anything, I couldn’t wait to get back home.
Chapter Two
Before I could even knock on the door, it flung open with Caine pulling me into his arms.
“Neely! God it feels good holding you and seeing you again!” Caine continued to squeeze, slightly lifting me off my feet. Being in Caine’s arms had a way of making me feel like a light, fragile girl.
I had to admit that it did feel good being hugged by Caine. His hard muscles were pressed up against me, and he smelled so good. Caine was the most handsome man I knew. He obviously worked out, and his profession as a firefighter helped him maintain his rock hard body. His smell was a mixture of smoke, soap, and cologne. No one smelled like him, and whenever I was close enough to take in his scent, I instantly felt safe.
Behind Caine, there was a woman who did not look happy to see me. I assumed the fuming lady had to be Caine’s new girlfriend, Sara. Sara was standing with her arms crossed obviously scoping me out. She was beautiful, not that I was surprised. Caine always had gorgeous women in his life. Sara had long brown hair, extremely skinny, and had large breasts. I smirked to myself, because all of Caine’s girlfriends had long hair, were skinny, and always had large boobs. Caine felt a woman should never wear short hair. He would throw a fit if Coley or I cut our hair. He categorically hated hair which he felt only belonged on a man. I was immediately happy I hadn’t cut my hair last month when I was getting antsy and felt like I needed a change. Caine would for sure have lectured me about it, and I wasn’t up for his disapproval. So I was happy my light brown hair still cascaded down past my shoulders.
Caine pulled away and turned to Sara. “Neely, this is Sara. Sara, this is my dear friend, Neely.”
Sara put out her hand and smiled. “It’s nice to finally meet you. I’ve heard so much about you.”
Even though Sara was extending her hand and giving a perfect smile with her perfect teeth, I could sense it was all for show. Regardless, I shook her hand.
“It’s nice to meet you too. Caine has told me a lot of good things about you.” Although I really couldn’t remember Caine telling me very much about Sara, I was going to throw that in to make Sara feel like I was no threat at all.
Caine opened the door all the way and said, “Let’s get your stuff into your new home. Sara, do you mind showing her which room is hers? I’ll go get your stuff.”
Sara smiled with her perfect white teeth again, and in her sweetest voice said, “Of course, Honey. Neely, follow me please.”
As much as I was excited to finally be back home, I did feel a bit awkward. I knew this living arrangement was going to take a bit of getting used to. I also knew the first thing I needed to do was to make Sara like me and not feel threatened.
Sara opened the door to my new room and sweetly said, “Here it is. Caine and I spent all last weekend shopping to furnish it. I hope you like it.”
I looked around in shock. The room had a queen size bed with beautiful bedding and throw pillows neatly placed. The night stands, armoire and dresser were all a matching antique white with soft white floral details. The curtains were a warm rose color, translucent enough to see through the window to a tree with a bird feeder hanging on a limb. The whole room had almost a princess feel to it. It was absolutely lovely.
I turned to Sara with wide eyes. “Oh you both shouldn’t have gone to so much trouble! This is absolutely gorgeous, and I…”
Sara cut me off and said a bit tartly, “Nothing is too much for you, Neely.” She smiled again and said as sweetly as before, “Insi
de the armoire is a flat screen television. Unfortunately, the house has only two bathrooms, so you will have to make the guest one yours.”
I looked at Sara’s tightly drawn mouth. “Sara, I want to thank you for all you have done. I know you don’t know me, and I also know that I am a female Caine cares about. I want you to know I love Caine like a brother, and I would never do anything to get in the way of you two. I promise you there is nothing, nor will there be anything, between Caine and me. I really hope we can become friends, because…”
Sara cut me off again and spoke between clenched teeth. “Just so we’re clear. I did not want you to move in. Caine didn’t ask me, he told me. He thinks you walk on water and you’re his perfect Neely girl. I am telling you right now that Caine is mine! You better keep your distance, and let us live our lives. I will pretend to be nice for Caine’s sake. But I don’t want to be your friend, and I don’t want you to be here. Are we clear?”
Before I had a chance to respond, Caine came barging in with boxes under each arm. He let out a huff and said, “God damn, Neely! What do you have in all of these suitcases and boxes? And who taught you how to pack a car? You couldn’t even see through your back window. You could have gotten yourself killed driving that way!”