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Click hereAs we lay there basking in the sun she whispered, "I envy you living out here, at least that was one good thing that came from the divorce."
"I love it here as well, every day I thank my lucky stars, but nothing good came from our divorce Shell."
Later we went back to the house for coffee before she hit the road.
It took months but our time together became easier and easier. We talked more freely, and the conversations matured into frank and open dialogue. We even got brave enough to tackle the hard topics. Of course, she kept apologising and eventually the little kisses as she left grew longer, deeper, swirling tongues, closed eyes, passion until one day when she was about to leave, she whispered, "Could I stay?"
God damn it I wanted that more than anything, but there was still the huge question mark, "What about Paul?"
She shrugged, "He isn't here, why should we talk about him?"
I stepped back, my eyes never leaving hers, "Because, he is the reason we separated, if you're still seeing him, this isn't happening."
Her eyes rolled back in frustration, "Why? Look Tom I'm not talking about anything other than I want to stay the night, make love, sleep in your arms. Who cares about Paul?"
"I do damn it, just tell me, are you still seeing him?"
She nodded reluctantly, "Yes, we are friends, I see him all the time."
"Don't be glib Shell, are you having sex with him?"
She nodded again, although this time it wasn't hesitant, it was firm, challenging, "Yes, alright, we have sex occasionally, what's the big deal? Do you ask the women you date if they are having sex with anybody else? Of course, you don't. Tom, we could do this, I want you, I need you back in my life, and not just as a friend."
What was I going to say? I couldn't hide the erection that was prodding her tummy as we embraced, her arms coiled around my neck, her breasts crushed against my chest and her hot mound grinding against my dick.
She stayed that night. Then I stayed at her place and we went back and forth until one weekend she arrived with a bag. As I helped her unload it, she saw my confusion and smiled, "I'm moving in."
I enjoyed her company and when she wasn't here, I missed her, but there was still the question mark hanging overhead...Paul.
As she started unloading, I put my hand up and muttered, "Stop right there Shell. You are not moving in with me until you can prove to me that it's all over between you and Paul."
She tried to wriggle her way into my arms, "Why is that important? The last few weeks have been amazing. I want to be with you, forget Paul."
"Sorry Shell, but it's not happening, I would love you back in my life, but I'm not sharing with Paul."
She smirked, "You're sharing with him now, what's the difference?"
"The difference is now you are cheating on him with me. Now we are lovers and he's the shmuck."
She smiled, "I'm not cheating on him, he knows where I am, and he knows what we are doing. He's not jealous or resentful, he is just happy that we are seeing each other again."
I shrugged, "Then let's leave it that way, we can remain what we are friends with benefits."
She almost stomped her foot as her tantrum took hold, "Why does it matter!" She bellowed in a frustrated wail. "Bloody hell Tom, things have been great between us lately, wouldn't it be nice if we could share that every day?"
I nodded, "Yes actually it would, I miss you. My only covenant is you get rid of him."
She stormed off, slammed her car door and drove off in a shower of stones.
It took several weeks before we fell back into our lunchtime catchups and evening calls. That of course grew and she ended up back at my place and she stayed the night.
In the morning she sucked in a deep breath, "Tom, what if we made a deal...We move back in and live together, I won't see Paul unless you agree to it?"
Confused I mumbled, "You mean you will stop seeing him altogether unless I approve?"
"Well not quite, Paul and I work together, we are still friends, what I am suggesting is, I will not have any intimate contact with him unless, at some point in the future you agree."
I laughed, "Shell, there is no point, I will never accept that."
She shrugged, "Then I would never see him again, I would be sad, but I am prepared to accept that."
"How do I know that you wouldn't just keep seeing him behind my back the way you did when we were married? How can I trust you?"
She flinched a little, her lip quivered, "I cannot keep apologising for my mistakes, what I did was wrong, I admit that and I have suffered for it. I can't change the past, what's done is done, what I can do is make you a solemn oath, a guarantee that I will never without your implicit permission so much as hold his hand, we will be nothing but friends."
"I would like to believe you, but with what happened with him in the past I'm struggling to believe you."
She sighed, "Tom you must feel the same way I do, our visits have been incredible, loving, warm. You must want it as much as me, if that's the case, at some point if we are going to have to make this work, we have to learn to trust each other."
With a deep resigned sigh I snorted, "OK Shell, you're right, I do want to try again, but I warn you if you see him then it would be the end."
She scowled and snapped sadly, "I understand, believe me I got it."
- COMMENTS
While I’m in favor of love, Shelby is acting horribly. The fact that she admitted that she needed a month to consider whether she would leave her husband is a bit cruel. People do make mistakes. But this is very harsh. We have a sensitive and kind character and his wife just won’t love him. It’s sometimes hard to read things like this. I am in favor of forgiveness, but she is very blithe to sensitive subjects. I do not believe your critics when they make spurious accusations, but this story makes it hard to defend you.
Why stay married? She’d get half of his profits …Just stay FWB, why bring in the liability of marriage? Any rational man would keep her for sex and companionship; however, she’s proven she can’t be trusted ..
"Tom why the divorce? Why couldn't you wait one measly month so we could talk?"
====> what a delusional woman. She wanted that month expecting that she might want Paul and leave Tom after 20 years. When he gave her the ultimatum, she made light of it and he filed for divorce when she left for the workshop. She realized she couldn't live with Paul, but still wants him in her life, but her husband divorced her. What a surprise. Especially since she told him why she needed the month. "Measly" my a$$. She is a head case. And btw the divorce rate for open marriages is over 92$. That is open marriage of any type. Including poly or swapping, and then the garbage she is proposing. I know it is a plot element near and dear to the author's heart but the statistics don't lie. Anecdotes about "friends" making it work means jack all. Wait five years.
At least the daughters were sensible about the character in his book. Shelby did behave abysmally. Like many LWs written by Cagivagurl, Shelby thinks an apology is all she needs to fix things. And this wasn't a sincere one given her conditions to keep seeing Paul as part of an open marriage. Can you say nutjob? Head case? Too many bays in the belfry?
Too many missed opportunities to throw her lack of respect, herself independent decisions when she's calling him on not being mature enough, and she has not acted at all in that manner, nor according to her wedding vows.
She is not trustable.
Your male characters are all written as if they were immature women. None ever seem to be able to live without the woman that is emasculating them publicly.
The reconciliation is tough to stomach in this story. :( the ex-wife is stubborn and refuses to accept or acknowledge the ex-husband's pain and discomfort.
Well written engaging story about a marriage with two pussies and one guy hanging around the edge.
Your writing is very good. But I think Shell is too demanding, selfish, and manipulative. That's fine. Some people are that way. But I'm not sure that a man who is like Tom is depicted--strong, intelligent, reasonable, balanced--would take the crap she dishes out and hang with her as much as he has. I'm not a burn-the-bitcher, but I think he's taken too much. She's had more than enough chances to come correct (as the homies would say). I think he should cut her off permanently. Will he do it? We're about to find out.
The MC has lost the thread, nothing has changed, she's even more bold with her BS. She's getting her way, she has both of them and he just rolls onto his belly like a placated puppy?
I agree she is dilutional. However, he is stupid, moth to a flame. He should server all ties with her because she will bring him into her world. He needs to be a 'wall' to her. She will not change from wanting an open relationship and she will ensnare him by going on a bout it. I feel the author is playing with their readers and its making me exasperated to continue reading this car crash. I am not sorry to say tat if people like this then they are shallow people.
There is no way that someone that is used to spending his days writing would think that it's possible to cohabit without the other person discovering their passion, or for that matter discovering the award. It just isn't going to happen, the house is too small and limited compared to the flat in the city and Shelby has a job in the city. It's a no win situation that neither would be interested in making permanent when all the benefits exist without the moving in to a squalid cramped hovel.
It's so terribly obvious what is going to happen that it makes me want to just stop reading. There is no reason why he would take her back, having an ad-hoc friends with benefits relationship is one thing but making a commitment when all the evidence points the opposite way is just plain suicide. It also makes no sense that Shalby would want to do this, she has nothing to gain and everything to lose. It's almost as if the writer is setting the scene for the finale, without realising that it all feels contrived.
Great storey, so well written. To the naysayers below, treat it as a storey, it’s nothing else, if you don’t like it don’t read it. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
God what a stupid bitch.
How does a writer as talented as this just write so many stupid, selfish and clueless women characters over and over and over?
Listen stupid. He packed your shit. Sold rhe house out from under you. Served you with divorce papers and moved out once before over you cheating and fucking Paul before. What the hell makes you think k he's gonna put uo with it now? You want an open marriage? Find some other schlub who'll accept sloppy seconds from your nasty cooch and move on.
Good lord! 9,000 words without advancing the story at all until the last sentence?
Can not believe that Tom would accept her back. She is a cheater and will never change. He is a very weak character Wimp
Seriously delusional drivel.
No way a man like Tom even entertains the idea of letting her move in with him.
I can see him fucking the stupid slut. He's described as an attractive character in the story. He could be dating actively. Bedding Bedding few women. And if the ex wanted a good fuck? OK. But when we are done you are headed home. No spending the night. No snuggles. No romantic dates.
Just "hey let's grab dinner and then fuck for a few hours."
If rhe ex wife whore couldn't live with that? So the fuck what? She's a world class delusional slut moron of a character as described anyway.
She wants an open relationship? I'd give her one. Just I'd never fuck her skanky hole without a condom ever again.
Stupid cunt.
Why do I feel like I read this story about 12+ years ago on this site. In it, the husband moved out to a farm house (I thought), in the USA, and the "Paul" guy was a manic depressive (who lived in NYC), who needed Shelly to "prop" him up and help him write his novel. They got back together again, only for her to leave and help Paul get his other 2 books written to fulfill his contract for the money he was advanced. In the mean time Tom finished his 2nd book, and started a 3rd as a continuation of his 2nd book. While working on his 3rd book Shelly has another "writers workshop in Tom's home, and has a young lady stay there working on her own book, while Shelly is helping Paul on his. Around the time Tom finishes his 4th book,Shelly finally figures out that Tom is the mysterious writer, and tries to cut off Paul, Paul then falls into a depression, and Shelly tries to help him out of it. Later on in that story, Paul jumps out a 10 story window and commits suicide since he can't have Shelly full time. Then her and Tom get back together with her "helping" him write another book.
Note: I've only read the first 2 chapters of this story, and don't know how it ends, which is why I'm reading it.
So far I have to give it a 4.5, as his wife seems to take Tom for granted, and only values herself and other literary people in high regard. The back and forth between the people in this story seems "wooden" and almost "robotic", as they don't really seem to have any real conversations (a flow issue). The repeated back and forth of chapter 1 seems to have settled down for now, and I'll just have to wait and see how it all shakes out.
Shelby is going to make a solemn oath? Didn't she do that when she said her wedding vows?
Until she finally understands why Tom doesn't trust her there's no way anything between them is going to work.
Would really like to see Tom continue dating and keep Shelby at arms length.
Not great at all. This author always tends to lean towards the female letting them go off and be selfish sluts whilst making the husband miserable and feeling all the pain. As a female this is a horrible representation of our gender.
Enjoyed it. You did a great job of describing the painful dynamics of the recently divorced
2 of the 3 pages of this chapter was simply a rehash of Chapter 1. This author constantly bludgeons her readers with repetitive dialogue. It’s unfortunate because she is a good writer.
I LIKE SMALL DICK CUCK BOYS THAT SUCK CUM OUT OF DIRTY PUSSY ITS THE BEST KIND OF UNLOVING WIVES STORIES. KEEP THE BETA CUM EATIING CUCK SHIT CUMMING... YOUR #1 FAN
Its good to see that your M/C hasn't altered or morphed into a man somewhere between Chapter 1 and Chapter 2.
He is still a brainless spineless gutless embarrassment to all males.
He makes me ashamed to be called a man.
Is it impossible for this author that two people to have a clean break after they divorce instead of having a sordid relationship. Every time he has to have them bonking again in some twisted way usually against the the person who did bot commit the adultery moral ethics. This author is one twisted sick puppy. If this is what happens in there real life I hope I would never get involved with them.
The MC is just too pathetic to even sympathise with. Been there, done that, and I never looked at my ex as worthy of my time, let alone have feelings of fondness. She is a selfish slut and he's a sad wimp. Couldn't read after the 1st page.
This is my second time reading this series, The story is really good, the pace well thought out and the timing works with length of this series.
I don’t mind this is about reconciliation, but what gets me is Shelby’s selfishness and Tom telling us about his rage, but neither of them every really deal with it. I don’t know that Shelby ever truly regrets her affair, I don’t know that she ever gets the disrespect that she gave to Tom.
As I said I have read this series before, and I did enjoy it, I even get the process of reconciliation that we are being taken though. But, its a hard read, well for me it is, even if I enjoy it :)
This as the makings of a wimp story.I hope he doesn't take the conniving bitch back,as she will hurt him again.
The writing is good, but the actions don't work. How does Shelby know where he is the first time she drives down with the kids? She dances around getting rid of Paul so why does he allow her to stay? As a matter of fact, why let her even stay for dinner when she's obviously manufacturing a way to see him? She wants an open marriage and he wants monogamy. They are definitely NOT a match.
As always great writing, I can see Tom’s place in my head. But Sheldby’s disrespect is so out there. She wants Tom back but sleeps with Paul, She has no idea how poo that is. And the whole Open Marriage thing is a shame. She was already sleeping with Paul for six months before it came out, thats not an open marriage as it hasn’t started on equal footing. She is selfish and in all honesty she comes across as a very ugly person. Tom was wrong to let her be a friend with benefits as she has shown absolutely no remorse. Sure she said she has said she is sorry but she is not giving up anything.
In a reconciliation of any type, there needs to be both remorse from the cheater and forgives from the cheated, but more than that, the cheater needs to make amends, in this case she is making no amends and is treating Tom like a doormat. I hope in the next part he throws her out and exposes her for the selfish woman that she is. He needs to stand up and take hold of his destiny, and if it moves towards reconciliation let it be on his terms, not hers…
Thanks for writing, you have me all churned up and emotional right now!
MR CUCK COULD NOT EVEN COLLECT HIS OWN BOOK AWARD!! PATHETIC EXCUSE FOR A MAN
Jesus are ALL your male characters indecisive wimps????? I mean I like your writing but the male leads? Not so much.
This male character is a dumb shit.
This female character is a delusional cunt.
They don't belong together. But knowing this author. They'll end up reconciling.
What a load of horse shit. 2 stars.
Here we have moral outpourings worthy of not very bright middle school girls: "Mum, I'm not judging, but the woman in this story carried on a long running affair with another man behind her husband's back.... She behaved abysmally."
Selwyn interjected quickly, "Mum we aren't criticising, or blaming, all we want is for you to be happy."
The rest of the story is absurd.
Some of your "critics" get stuck on macho shit and porn. Don't pay them any mind. I'm sure that you do not do that anyway. Although this story isn`t Dostoevsky, it is quite well organized with a good sense of necessary tension between the characters. It is necessary for food fiction to have strongly presented characters. I'm glad they show strengths and weaknesses that must excite and at the same time get the readers pissed off. I continue to turn the pages to determine whether or not the narrative will agree with my prediction. The story also suggests an autobiographical twinge. I look forward to the conclusion.
Certainly an emotional roller coaster. One of those rides where your stomach turns upside down. And when you are done you are left trying to decide if you liked it or not.
Tom is portrayed as a weak person. Someone that behaves like Shelby should not have received any considerations as friends with benefits. I will continue to the end being as it is a slow day and there is nothing on the TV
Couldn't even finish this crap. Pissed me off so much, how pathetic you kept making him and when she said she wanted him back but wouldn't give up her lover, he still shows no bloody anger. Horrible story.
you author, must have strong contempt for men. All you do is emasculate your male MC, every. single. time. I can't stand this, I'm out. I wonder if you are reflected in the despicable female characters you write?
Shelby played the field to see if Paul would be better than Tom, and decided to keep Tom -- for the time being.
This is a re-read for me, and so (SPOILER ALERT) I know that things get worse before ultimate reconciliation. But, as I noted after part 1, Shelby is nothing more than a cruel, selfish and lacking any moral refinement, and author demonstrates here that Shelby is going back to Tom because he is her current best option, and not because she is genuinely sorry about what she did or that she has changed into a good person. This is why the ultimate reconciliation is so unsatisfying -- Shelby does not have anything good in her. I still see nothing in Shelby (other than sex appeal) that could rationalize Tom's unfortunate infatuation with her and his continued forgiveness for her craven betrayals.
Ok, it's one weird post-marriage relationship they seem to have, with the husband readily giggling around the woman who valued him so little that she wouldn't even consider giving up her side piece to get him back. Even if you take that away, Shelby is such a blah character, entirely self-involved and unwilling to escape the orbit of her own massive ego. Their conversations are just rehashes of the same ones they had in the first chapter, which makes the whole thing an exercise in tedium.
I HATE the direction, but I am ‘sucked in’ ….. 5*
Apparently STD’s are no longer an issue.
Sorry to be a ‘Male of the species’, I would harm Paul.
Please stop this Cuckold ramblings.
Males are not now nor will they ever reconcile with a fucking dirty cheating skanky slut that thinks the sun shines out of there arse.
This 6 page monstrosity could be boiled down to a 3 page 5 star story How many fucking times are we going to read " Please Tom the possibilities ".
1 star because we can’t give a 0
Why can't he just move on and try to replace her. I get they had a long marriage but their morals are not in sync. Hope he at least gets his own lover to even the score
won't finish the story... not worth my time! (could see it from 1st chapter, just had to be sure (masochist, maybe))