Free Her Little Black Book by Brenda Jackson Page B

therapist had said and he’d gotten pretty damn bored just listening to it. When
Barbara had given him an ultimatum—they had to seek professional help or else, he had jumped at the idea, willing to do just about anything to save his marriage. But now that Ashira was back in his bed, or rather he in hers—and on a regular basis—he wasn’t all that committed.
    But he was cautious. This time he wouldn’t screw up. He had explained things to Ashira, and for once she hadn’t whined, sulked, and complained. She was willing to get him back on any terms, even if it meant playing second fiddle to his wife. She claimed she could handle that. But what she couldn’t handle or put up with was him dropping her again. She had done things for him, both in and out of bed that she hadn’t done for any other man, and wife or no wife, she was in it for the long haul. She didn’t mind being the other woman as long as he knew her place and provided her with the things she wanted. She liked her single life and had no desire to be any man’s wife. She actually relished the thought of being a man’s personal whore. Those had been her words and not his. But the more he thought about it, the more he liked the idea. His own personal whore. And a willing one. He shifted in his chair, feeling a boner coming on.
    â€œRon?”
    Barbara reclaimed his attention. He looked up at her. His wife wasn’t so bad, and she definitely wasn’t bad looking. In fact, he thought she was rather attractive. And when he imagined truly loving someone, he would immediately think of her. Over the years she had kept her body pretty much in shape. She always dressed nice and looked nice. Some men, probably most, would find her sexy, even
at fifty. In a way, he did, too. Until they got into the bedroom.
    She was too traditional to suit his taste. At first being traditional had been fine, until he’d gotten a taste of the wild side. It had blown his mind, given his pecker a whole new perspective, and made traditional unattractive. He liked the feel of a woman stroking him first with her hands, then with her mouth. He appreciated, loved, and simply cherished a good blow job, something his wife of almost thirty years still had never performed on him. Once, years ago, he had mentioned it and he’d actually watched her almost gag at the thought. To say she wasn’t adventurous in bed was an understatement. Oral sex was simply something she refused to consider. And after finding out about all his other women, not once had she considered that perhaps the reason he’d sought out others was because of her lack of being creative, spontaneous, and a little freakish.
    â€œBaby, I think the two of us going to Hawaii is a wonderful idea, but have you forgotten I’m teaching classes this semester and finals will be coming up soon?” he asked, hoping that would be an end to it.
    A little pout formed on her lips. “Surely you can take off two weeks, Ron. I bet Elijah would be glad to cover for you.”
    â€œI don’t know, Barb.”
    â€œThen ask him. You do want us to spend time together, don’t you?”
    To say he didn’t want that would start an argument, which he’d rather avoid. Lately they were getting along
just great. He could play the part of the doting husband as long as he was getting some on the side. And Ashira was really laying it on thick. “Yes, of course, I do.”
    â€œAnd you want our marriage to work out this time.”
    â€œYou know I do, sweetheart.”
    He saw disappointment settle in her eyes. “Courtney doesn’t think that it will.”
    He reached across the table and took her hand in his. “Courtney doesn’t know everything.”
    Barbara pulled her hand back and met his gaze directly. “She knows enough, Ron. Our daughter is the main person who’s been suffering through our marriage, when we couldn’t get our act