The Hourglass (UNEDITED)

Chapter 1

Katherine Anne Swinton had the eerie feeling that something was not right. Something just was not right at home, she could just feel it. It all started when she woke up this morning and reached out in the covers to find the other side of the bed empty.

When she opened her eyes, she looked to see Jace, her husband, by the balcony of their bedroom smiling like a Cheshire cat, staring at his phone. Katherine got out of the covers and walked up to him and wrapped her arms around him from behind. She kissed his back and laid her head on it, her hands moving up and down his torso.

“Why am I waking up without you beside me,” she asked him softly, placing small kisses on his back again while her hands went lower. Jace put his large hand over both hers, stopping them from reaching his pants. He turned her around and kissed her softly on the lips. Katherine took this as a sign for a morning session and immediately deepened the kiss. She buried her fingers through his hair and pulled him ever closer; coaxing him to do the same to join in what will be a passionate morning. Jace responded after some coaxing, which bothered Katherine as to why it took him some time to respond in the first place. Usually, within second, he would be taking over. But she was not complaining now since Jace took control of the kiss, (explain later). Katherine pulled him as she backed away and pulled him until her back found the wall and urged him to continue, to heat up this moment farther.  Her lips left his and sought his neck, her hands going under his shirt to feel every plane of his body. While her body was heating, his was too, but Jace was being to slow, he still had not taken control of the passion. Something was definitely odd. Katherine stopped kissing Jace’s skin and pulled away to look up at him, her eyebrows furrowed. Jace stared back at her as though he was expecting something, didn’t even protest to her pulling away. They stared at each other for a long moment. Her gaze made him uneasy and he decided he’d be the first one to break the silence because killing.

“Sorry honey, I just have a lot on my mind. I know I’m not in my game, but at least give me until tonight,” Jace said, trying to explain the lack of action while Katherine was obviously initiating (I think we know). Katherine remained silent, holding his eyes, trying see through and find answers to question Jace wished he knew she was asking. He broke the stare and walked further in the bedroom.

“I have to get back to work. Just going to take a shower,” he smiled sweetly at her, lifting the t-shirt over his head and heading to the bathroom. As Katherine watched him, her face curled into a slow smirk.

“Can I join you,” she asked seductively, leaning on the wall in such a way that he’d find her body enticing enough to cross the room and take her. Katherine’s body went warm and cool at the sound of his chuckle. He gave her the most devastating smile, the one got so many girls in trouble.

“Sweetheart, I’d love nothing more, but if I let you join me. I might never get to work.”

“Maybe that’s not such a bad thing. Come on Jace, you’re missing out this,” she seductively gestured to her body, her eyes hooded. For a moment she saw Jace’s resolve just about to give in, but Jace simply smiled and said again.

“Babe, I promise, tonight,” answered Jace. And then he disappeared into the bathroom, closing the door behind him. When he was gone, Katherine immediately resigned from plastering the smile that was on her face. It was the fourth time this week Jace had rejected her. Last week they hadn’t made love. At all. That was just not normal, they usually were always like randy teenagers. Deciding to use the other bathroom in the house, Katherine briskly walked out of the bedroom, fighting with all her might to keep the tears from coming.

A knock on the door snapped her out of her daze and Katherine answered for the person to come in. When the door opened, Katherine smiled when she realized her colleague and friend, Peter enter the room.

“Hello Kathy-Anne,” said Peter, dropping papers on Katherine’s desk before settling on the chair opposite her. Katherine groaned, it could only mean rest was not to be had.

“More reports? Sure but I kind of have a date with my husband, and these things are going to spoil my mojo,” she chuckled when Peter did. She took the papers and began sorting through them. She decided since it was Friday, she would try and seduce Jace since he pretty much said no this morning. It upset her, but she wouldn’t wallow in her sorrows. For crying out loud, she just to push for what she wanted and Jace would give it to her.

“Don’t worry too much about those. I can wait till Monday,” Peter said kindly. It caused Katherine to beam because she stopped sorting through them and put them aside.

“thank you. You know me, I will have them for you done by Monday.”

“I know that. It’s because you’re so good at what you do you get to have some leeway around here,” chuckled Peter and Katherine laughed too, knowing that it was true and that she was good at her work. When they quieted down, Peter leaned back in his chair.

“so, clearly all is still pure bliss in the Swinton paradise.” The smile on Katherine’s face remained, but it was no longer genuine. She really didn’t know how to respond to that statement. The state of her marriage was not dire but paradise was an inappropriate word to use. Peter noticed this, noticed her lack of reply and offered it himself.

“Maybe not,” he said, narrowing his eyes at her. Katherine stared at Peter and failed miserably to force another smile. So she settled for shrugging her shoulders.

“What can I say? I wish I listened when they said work can take a toll on your marriage,” she said. And then quickly added, “but not that there’s anything wrong with Jace and I or something like that. I just miss him a lot. But he tends to get so busy with his work and all these big accounts he keeps bagging.”

Peter nodded at what she’d said and made no comment at the sadness that suddenly came over her face. It pained Peter to see her like this; Katherine was an incredibly beautiful woman who was so gentle and mild, you’d think you’d break her by just touching her. Although in her 5’5 stature and almost skinny body made her seem frail, she was strong and resilient more than anyone would believe. She’d always been athletic and a health freak so she was never out of shape, always held her own. Peter looked at his watch and beamed when he saw the time.

“Its lunchtime, why not come and grab a bite with me. We’ll even steel in time for window shopping,” Peter suggested, getting up from the chair. Katherine chuckled.

“Peter, sometimes I get the feeling you don’t like to work very much, hmm,” she teased. Peter turned away when his face turned rosy and laughed to himself. He swung his arm to gesture that she come.

“That is not a conversation I am ready to have with you. Come on, I’ll even let you buy me a healthy smoothie. With wheatgrass and all.”