temptation

It was one of those nights... They both sat in their places. Bored looks of contentment played on their faces.

The children slept soundly in their beds. Dreams of ghosts and goblins danced in their heads. Candy wrappers were strewn carelessly on the floor, evidence of the stolen treasures snuck into their rooms.

Despite the hour, a steady stream of kids still came to the house. Teenagers in various stages of "costume," lugging their heavy pillow cases full of loot. Each time the doorbell rang, they would report back who came to the door - a devil, a football player, a princess.

When the trick or treating traffic slowed, Charles retreated to his laptop to begin preparations for an early morning board meeting. His attention was so focused on sales figures and statistics, he never noticed that Jennifer's jeans and sweatshirt had turned into something far more racy. She had pranced in front of him in a barely there slip, straddled his lap for a passionate kiss, but her efforts were - once again - rebuffed.

Wrapping herself in a warm robe, Jennifer sulked on the couch. She too was lost in another world. One where the sands of time had reversed to a time where she was so much more than the blond trophy wife. One where she was wanted. Needed. Loved.

She longed for the man she fell in love with. He had been so much fun, so full of life. He had swept her off her feet with romantic gestures. Jennifer was never thought of herself as one of those silly women who believed in love at first sight, but she had fallen hard for Charles, almost instantly.

They had their differences, but they seemed to compliment each other so well. There was no hesitation when he finally asked her out - and, in that moment, she would have said yes had he proposed instead. Years later, he was burned out by work though blind ambition continued to force him forward. The passion between them had fizzled, their encounters far too infrequent and brief. While they still had great fondness and affection for each other, perhaps still loved each other, there was no doubt that the relationship had fundamentally changed and not for the better.

She longed for the man she married. The man she loved. The urge for that man was so strong, she cried herself to sleep at night missing him.

And yet her heart also cried out for another.

Eric. A man who would never fully be in her past. The man that all others would be measured against and be found wanting. He meant more to her than she was ever able to express. They had been close friends, passionate lovers and fought bitterly, wounding each other like no one else could. Beneath it all was a love that never faded, not with time, distance, other partners.

No doubt about it, Eric had laid claim to her heart years ago and she never really got it back. Oh, how she ached for him. For what could have been.

The door bell rang, snapping her out of her reverie. She opened the door, fake smile plastered on her face. "And what do we have here?" she asked sweetly taking in the stranger on her doorstep. He was wearing all black and a mask... and clearly too old for trick or treating.


A big cock, she thought to herself then silently chastised herself for the inappropriate thought.
Jennifer held out the bowl of candy to him. "Well, rooster, help yourself. You're probably our last taker of the night."

He reached out and took hold of her wrist. Jennifer gasped as he pulled her to him. Holding her firmly against him, he slid the mask down his face with one hand. She could hardly believe her eyes.

Jennifer shook her head, trying to make sense of what she was seeing. Her heart pounded in her chest and, for once in her life, she found herself incapable of words.

Eric? Here?

He pressed his finger against her lips. Her flesh burned under his touch while the rest of her body screamed for more.

"I had to see you," he whispered. "Meet me tomorrow." He slid a piece of paper into her hand, which she knew would hold an address and room number. Her hands shook with the effort it took not to reach out for him, not to kiss those lips. It took all of her self-control to step back into the house and close the door.

Charles called out from the other room asking who was at the door. A tear rolled down Jennifer's cheek before she composed herself and responded honestly.

Temptation.

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A belated Magpie and Theme Thursday.