Competition

Thirteen

'You had better learn to be discreet Howard,' I said as he held my hand. He kissed my neck. 'You may as well just tell everyone we're together.'

'I can't help it,' he replied. 'You're just so...just so.'

'Where are we going?' I asked.

'That's a surprise,' he grinned. He squeezed my hand and a tingly sensation shot up my arm.

I couldn't help by grin like a school girl. I was so happy with Howard and I loved being with him. Being with him was like nothing else. It was risky, dangerous and thrilling. I felt my heart beat for every second I was with him. This feeling was so exhilarating and I didn't care about his wife or about her heart I would be breaking if she ever found out. Howard and I had something special. It may have been wrong, but it was still special all the same.

We walked into Burlington Jewellers and my mouth dropped.

'Howard,' I said. 'What are we doing here?'

'I wanted to get you some jewellery,' he replied. 'But I thought you would like to come with me this time.'

'Those earrings you got me before were beautiful,' I said. 'You really don't have to...'

'I want to,' he replied. 'I want to know what you think about this.'

He showed me an eighteen karat white gold half-hoop, set with seventeen baguette diamonds and twenty six brilliant cut diamonds.

'Howard...'

'What do you think?'

'I think it's very expensive,' I found myself saying. 'Why are you buying me a ring?'

'Because I want to,' he replied. 'I want to know that you can wear something every day that will remind you of me.'

'That would be kind of hard to forget,' I replied gazing at the ring. 'I love it.'

Howard nodded. 'That's excellent.'

He spoke to the jeweller, paid with his credit card and within the hour, the ring was on my right hand.

'What do you give her?' I asked curiously.

'I don't give her diamond rings if that's what you're asking,' he replied. 'I don't give her anything.'

'Why not?'

'I don't know,' he replied. 'It's a complicated thing. We don't do anything.'

'When was the last time you saw her?'

'Yesterday,' he replied.

'Are you still sleeping with her?'

'Shouldn't I be?'

I wanted to laugh in his face mockingly then maybe slap him, but instead I just smiled and shook my head.

'We can get some lunch if you want,' he said.

'Another fancy restaurant?' I said. 'I'm not really feeling so hungry.'

Howard nodded. 'I don't mind not eating.'

'We could go back to my place,' I offered. 'I'm feeling like a little rub-down.'

Howard grinned. 'I wouldn't mind doing the honours.'

We lay in bed, me on Howard's chest, his fingers running up and down mine. His breath tickled the fine hairs on my body and his heart massaged my back. He kissed my forehead and my lips.

I held up my right hand and inspected my new ring. I smiled as it gleamed and kissed Howard again and again. The kisses led to more kisses, and those kisses led to caresses and sex.