Out Of The Mouths Of Babes

Six

Six

 “You know this is way too risky, don’t you?” Steve said, pushing her up against the door. He kissed her roughly on the lips, but she wriggled free of his grasp.

“Maybe we should call it a day then,” she said, her eyes challenging him to agree.

“Don’t be daft, I was just saying it’s risky. I didn’t say I’m not prepared to take the risk, did I?” He pulled her towards him.

She sighed and moved away again. “When I’m with you, it’s like I’d do anything to keep seeing you.”

He smiled and moved closer to her.

“But,” she went on. He huffed impatiently and looked up at the ceiling. She didn’t notice, “when we’re apart, I can’t help but wonder if it’s all worth it.” She pulled herself up onto the work surface.

“Oh, thanks!” he said. “Well, if I’m not worth the effort…”

“I didn’t mean it like that. It’s just… well, it’s much easier for you. Let’s face it, you’re an old hand at it. But I’ve never slept with somebody else’s husband before. And it’s not a nice feeling.”

“Okay, maybe I haven’t always been entirely faithful,” he admitted, “but she’s not entirely clueless. Sometimes, I think she suspects and just turns a blind eye.”

“What! How can you just turn a blind eye to the fact that your husband is committing adultery?”

“Please! Let’s not use the ‘A’ word; it’s just a bit of fun. She likes her life. We’ve got Lucie, a nice house, plenty of cash, a good social life and she doesn’t need to work.”

“So,” she said, slightly bemused, “she ignores your infidelity, in order to maintain her ‘pleasant life‘?”

“Possibly.” He was fast losing interest in the conversation and moved towards her again.

She jumped down from the work surface. “But don’t you feel guilty about the fact that she has to put up with you sleeping around, just so she can have a nice life?”

“Look, of course I feel guilty. Maybe she knows, maybe she doesn’t,” he said with clear exasperation. “It’s never easy, cheating on your wife, no matter how many times you’ve done it. But when all’s said and done, it’s just sex. It’s not like I’m going to leave her; not for you, and not for anyone else.”

She fell silent.

Shit, he thought. I think I’ve said the wrong thing.

She shook her head. “You really are something else,” she mused.

Bollocks!

She considered him for a moment before breaking the silence. “Maybe that’s what intrigues me about you.” She indicated towards the stairs. “Come on. We’re not doing it in here - I’ve cleaned all the surfaces.”

 “So, go on, how did she take it?” Adrian asked.

Ben made a pained expression. “I’m not gonna lie to you, mate. It’s gonna take a hell of a lot of work.”

“Look, you’re not doing a flaming MOT. Just tell me what she said.”

 “Okay, put it this way, when she realised I was lying about where I was, she thought I was having an affair. And I don’t think she was overly relieved when I enlightened her. She thinks you’re a total tosspot.”

“Tell me something I don’t know,” Adrian said, mounting a cross trainer. “I don’t suppose she believes I’m off the drugs?”

“To be fair, you can hardly blame her,” Ben panted. It had been about three years since he’d last been to the gym, and his body was really letting him know about it.