Mercenary

"Finally, some modicum of truth", I thought. Up till now she had been weaving a tale not borne out by the facts as I knew them. I continued to play along.

"Well I can't blame him. You gave him the fucking green light for almost two months. Why wouldn't he feel entitled?"

Somehow she was making this affair a referendum on my ambition or lack thereof. I realized then that I had continued to underestimate Paige. Just like years ago when I thought she was naive about money. The opposite was true.

She was VERY savvy about money. She knew my earnings had been growing steadily every year. Last year I made close to six figures, and this year I had already passed that mark. I made more than most of the first line managers in my office.

My wife signed our tax returns each year. At first I thought that she never took the time to actually read them. She not only read them, she analyzed them. I had thought that Paige had a lot to learn about business...and people. I was wrong.

While she pondered the effect of what she had just told me I decided to probe further into her plan to trap Lindenhall. "When did you find out that Lindenhall had worked with Dana?"

My interruption seemed to hurt her concentration. She wasn't expecting that question. She rebounded well. Had I not known her as well as I did I would have thought that her response flowed seamlessly, perhaps indicating she was being truthful. However, I saw the wheels turning before she spoke.

"Oh, I told Dana about Richard right after that first time we were together. When I mentioned his name she was shocked and very nervous that it might come back on her. Richard's father is a senior partner at her firm. She told me to stop what I was doing with him, but to let him down easy so as not to cause any problems with her job or my marriage."

"Oh", was all I said, leading her to think it was safe to continue. Inside I was seething. I refused to let her see my complete disgust with her behavior.

"I knew it was wrong Peter. I never once stopped loving you, it's just that I ...I needed Richard too. That's the truth though I hate to admit it. But every time I was with him I thought of you and that's the truth too. The guilt kept building each time. So I ended it."

"I realized how selfish I was. The thought of losing you was something I couldn't imagine. I've reviewed what I did over and over in my mind. I know that the initial relationship with Richard could have continued without sex. I screwed it up. But you must believe me, I do love you. I'll do anything to get you back. I know you still love me; I can see it in your eyes. Perhaps if we went to counseling we could..."

"Counseling won't work for us Paige. I don't trust you. Even now, you can't be straight with me. You say you love me? Why do I doubt that? You were with him the last time I saw you. I expect you're still with him."

"No, I've told him repeatedly that we're finished."

"You've told him repeatedly", I repeated with a touch of sarcasm. Then suddenly his behavior made sense. I couldn't help from smiling at her predicament. I should have guessed. In his calls he was almost begging her to resume the liaison, and then he showed up at my office with her. That too was probably unsolicited. Mr. Lindenhall had turned from lover into stalker. I needed to test this hypothesis so I prodded her further.

"Well Paige you slept with the guy and carried on a relationship for what, a couple months or more? You even had him over to our apartment. You fucked him in our bed. Shit, he probably thought he had guaranteed access."

She scowled in response to that last statement. I think she was beginning to understand the futility of her position.

"Why did he come with you to the last time we met? I don't buy that 'protecting his family' bullshit. His presence was unnecessary. Surely you both knew it would screw with my head and keep us from having any meaningful conversation."

Paige hesitated. "Richard wanted to meet you. I had told him when you confronted me about seeing another man. He kept asking if you had said or did anything after that day. I told him no. I thought you might have dropped it since you didn't seem willing or able to confront me again. He thought you were a pussy for letting it go."

"Then you had me served with divorce papers and sent copies with pictures to his wife. He was furious. When we met he told you the truth, in part anyway. He did come with me because of his wife, but not to talk with you. He was hoping to goad you into a fight, beat you up and eliminate you as his competition once and for all. He wants us to be together. He wasn't prepared to tell his wife just yet. You complicated his plans."

I was beginning to understand Lindenhall too. He wasn't satisfied with sleeping with my wife and precipitating our divorce. He wanted me humiliated to prevent any possible reconciliation. This idiot thought he was in love with her.

"So I spoiled his big performance in front of you by kicking his ass?"

Paige nodded. She stopped as she saw me standing up from the steps and brushing off my bottom. I moved a few feet in front of her and began to casually adjust my coat. This had been a very well told story up to that point. I admired her creativity. I particularly liked that 'arrangement' angle. There was no such 'arrangement'. I wondered if she made that up on the fly. She could do well in marketing. Unfortunately, the last 10 minutes had been riddled with lies; thank God I had the transcripts to prove it.

"I suppose I surprised you too. Though I didn't know you were the prize in that fight. So now I'm man enough for you? Does that explain your being here today? No, that can't be it can it? Because I'm supposed to remember that you love ME right? You really, really love me."

"Yes Peter, I do love you."

"And you can honestly say that after having two abortions?"

Her eyes grew wide. It was obvious she wanted to say something but was at a loss for words. She slumped back onto the steps listening intently.

I knew the one secret she closely guarded above all others. She was obviously shocked that I knew. She kept blinking at me involuntarily as I continued. I too expected my knowledge of the abortions to remain a secret. I was prepared to use it only as a last resort if she refused the financial settlement. That didn't matter now. I had another way to exploit that information.

"Does he know? Does Lindenhall know that you aborted his kid too? No he doesn't does he? I don't fully understand this yet. You wanted to hook this guy, you've got the perfect means but you break up with him instead? If I didn't know better I would think you had a change of heart. But it's simpler than that. You didn't want a kid ...under any circumstances."

Paige sat staring at me wide-eyed, clearly shaken and unable to speak.

"You know, when I read the PI's report I was heartbroken. They transcribed your conversations with the clinic; and low and behold, there was the appointment for the mifeprex. By the way, did they tell you which drug gave you the reaction, that nasty rash? Was it the mifeprex or the misoprostol? You really need to find out. That's the second time it's happened. "

"Hmm, I think last year was the first occurrence, wasn't it? Was that our baby then Paige? I can tell by the look on your face that it was. You never told me. You never gave it a chance to live or even gave me a chance to persuade you to keep it. Perhaps an abortion would have still been the outcome, but at least I would have known. There might have been a chance. "

"You killed our child Paige, my child. For that...for that I don't forgive. And the story you just told was brilliant, a work of art. I know about the scheme between you and Dana. She selected Lindenhall for you based upon some 'profile', just like you selected me seven years ago. You're a real piece of work."

I paused to catch my breath. She simply sat glaring at me. Gone now were the tears. I saw not fear nor remorse, but another emotion she had never unveiled before ...indifference. So what if I knew.

However, having encountered her twice at her insistence, I wanted some assurance that this was to be the last time. "Oh, one more thing, don't contest the divorce or fight the settlement. Let it go. Don't even come to court. Just sign all the papers. All anyone has to know is that we had irreconcilable differences. No reasons need to be disclosed.

However, if you give me or my lawyer any problems I'll make all of this very public. You don't want that." I didn't wait for her response; I turned and resumed walking.

I noted the lack of footsteps in the background. When I reached what was now my car, I saw that she was nowhere in sight. I drove off and began trying to recover the emotions that consumed me prior to her visit.

After my first read of the investigator's report, before I knew anything about Dana and Paige's plot, I had learned of her abortion. I couldn't fathom how she allowed Lindenhall to impregnate her. I was struggling with that when I stumbled upon the rest; that it wasn't her first termination.

When the investigators wrote about her having the appointment I almost lost it. I put two and two together when they pointed out the method she used. I didn't know anything about RU-486 so I performed some research into the subject. One of the side effects caught my attention.

The bug on our phone picked up that last piece of the puzzle; otherwise, I would never have known it was her second abortion. In fact, she was the one who reminded the clinic about the prior problem she had with the rash! That was the end for us.

For Lindenhall it was more complicated. She targeted him. She caught him. Then inexplicably she threw him back. If my deductions were correct she found some problem with him. My guess was that he WAS a bit too aggressive for her like she said. During sex they neglected to use condoms. That omission was probably at his insistence and resulted in her pregnancy.

I recalled the photo of his hand around her throat as they rutted in the library. I doubted that she found autoerotic asphyxiation pleasurable. Knowing Paige, it probably scared her shitless. Now she had all but told me the fool was stalking her too. Well, that was her problem now. She brought it all upon herself. I simply wanted to be rid of her.

Had Lindenhall met her expectations she would have likely continued her affair until graduation. I would have supported her, paid her tuition, and obligated myself financially for years. She would have dumped me and used him until a wealthier replacement was prepared.

You marry one person and you divorce another. In my case I saw one face but married another. Now she had been unmasked. I was fortunate to be divorcing the REAL Paige. She was one dangerous woman. That is why I got away from her as fast as I did. My energies needed to be focused in a completely different direction now.

A few minutes later I was ringing Noelle's doorbell. It opened in seconds. I don't know what I expected: a broad smile, open arms, and a hug with a kiss that would leave me breathless? That was not to be.

Noelle was dressed in a tank top and shorts and had obviously been working out before I came. There was a sweatband around her head and perspiration stains in her arm pits and around the neckline. She jerked open the door like she were chasing a burglar. I was caught looking upon a face that was little too angry.

"You have the nerve to come here this afternoon?" She all but spat in a tone I rarely heard her use. It was a voice I would endeavor never to hear again directed at me. For the second time that day I found myself adapting to an irrational female, but this time it was one I loved dearly.

"Are you going to invite me in?"

She stepped back from the entrance to allow me to pass. I moved into the living room but remained standing only a couple of yards away. When she turned after closing the door she seemed caught off guard by my stance.

I smiled my sincerest smile before turning serious as I calmly cut the distance between us to less than an arm's length. Comeback lines; the one asset I never seemed to have enough of was comeback lines. This situation required me to say something, yet sweet words would be inadequate.

I was here for one reason and one reason only, to lay claim to the woman who I knew instinctively that I could trust with my heart; and whose heart I needed to own. I continued to move towards her backing her into the door.

There was fire in her eyes but she kept silent during my approach. When she could move no further my arms came up to bracket her shoulders. My head tilted slightly as I leaned in nose to nose. I held that position waiting for her to protest. Seconds passed.

"We need to get a few things straight. First of all, I love you and only you. I am a one-woman man. That's all I know, and you are that woman. Second, I will not lie to you EVER. I expect you to reciprocate. Third, I will have no secrets from you and I expect the same. You knew about Paige before I did. I know Tim told you. We need say no more about that."

Noelle's expression softened when I said that. Her eyes grew watery as they probed my own.

"I requested a transfer. I'm here to tell you that. I know you're upset but we can't be married and be in the same office."

Then she kissed me.

My hands moved from the door to her sides then quickly encircled her as I pulled her body into me. Whatever resolve she'd voiced at my arrival was now replaced with pure passion. She held me as if she were clutching to life itself.

My eyes closed as I concentrated on the form and feel of her. When her hands began caressing my back I knew what she wanted. I eased back, took one hand and moved it under her tank top and over her breast. As I gently palmed her softness I felt her sigh hotly into my mouth.

With no one there but us we could make this kiss last much longer than the previous night. Our mouths opened and our tongues danced across our teeth. She startled me by sucking my tongue when it entered her mouth. That was more than I could handle.

I disengaged. A look of surprise mixed with disappointment met my stare. It was to last but a moment for I scooped her up into my arms and made my way towards her stairs, a gallant gesture but poorly planned. The stairway was not wide enough to accommodate us in that fashion.

I felt her body vibrate before I recognized her gentle laughter.

"Please put me down. We can walk Tarzan." Then she took my hand and led me up the stairs and to her bedroom, carefully closing the door before giving me yet another heart stopping kiss.

"I need to shower first. Join me?" she added.

She backed up pulling me by the hand till she reached her bed. Again I drew her to me and we kissed. It was gentler, less urgent this time, as we relaxed with one another. My hands roamed over her back and flanks before I slipped my handed under her tank top and lifted it above her head. The sports bra went next.

Stepping back I admired my handiwork. Noelle was a woman of exceptional curves and muscle definition. I'm a leg man, but I was reconsidering my preference after seeing her breasts. They were two pendulous beauties probably in the 34C range, with large well defined areoles and prominent nipples. Yes, I learned to appreciate her other accoutrements that day.

Moving my gaze to her face I saw my woman smiling at me, obviously happy at my approval of her endowments. With that invitation I moved my tongue over her left nipple then began a gentle sucking. While one hand cupped that breast the other moved inside her shorts stretching the elastic to aid in pulling them down, along with her panties.

Mission accomplished I again stepped back to look at her nakedness. I began memorizing the curve of her hips, the strength of her thighs, and the small protrusion of tummy above her public mound and the triangle of her dark bush. The gentle in and out movement of her belly was beginning to hypnotize me as her arousal increased.

Noelle interrupted my exercise by removing my clothes, careful to kiss each hidden place as it became exposed. When my briefs were taken away she carefully cupped my balls as she bent to kiss by rapidly growing dick.

She quickly realized she had inadvertently started the launch sequence when I reached over her to pull back the bed covers, then shifted again to straighten her up prior to scooping her up in my arms and moving us both to the bed. As she lay below me we found we couldn't leave the other's gaze.

She smiled.

"I really should shower first", she said though she made no attempt to move in that direction.

"We'll shower later."

I heard her move then felt her legs spread forcing me in position between them. A hand behind my head drew me down for another soft kiss. I moved back slowly but felt her hand trying to hold us close. This time she whispered.

"I'm on the pill...for now."

That did it. I moved in position, resting on my elbows my hands slipped behind her shoulder blades as my dick found its target. We were kissing again.

She sighed into my mouth as I moved in a couple of inches very slowly, and then I held there. Her pussy was well lubricated but the journey those few inches was difficult. Noelle was tight, probably from lack of practice. Of course, I might have been little thicker than normal too. That last thought fed my ego.

I paused so that she could adjust. When she hunched her pelvis against me I took it as time to resume. My dick was moving slowly in and slowly out, over and over again until she had taken my full length.

"Hmmmm...hmm...aah...right there...there....hmmmm....oooh"

Her breathing was increasing. I heard short breaths as I sped up while varying my strokes. Her nails pressed unto the flesh of my buttocks as her vaginal muscles contracted forcefully, yet I continued on.

All of a sudden I felt her lower body lift me up, I responded with a full body embrace, with her breasts mashed under me.

"Peter", she exhaled.

Then there were legs and arms wrapped tightly around me. I kept moving. It was more difficult now but more of my own strength was going into each thrust, until I was literally pounding her into the bed....and then, and then a release so hard I closed my eyes and saw stars.

I was trying to catch my breath. I attempted to ease my weight off of her, but she was having none of that. Truth be told I was enjoying lying upon her, feeling her nipples poking my chest and her pubic hair tickling my groin. I could lie here all day. Making sure I had her securely, I twisted my body pulling Noelle on top of me. She gasped in surprise as I felt her settle in to the new position.

Fingers tickled my flanks causing me to squirm under her.

"Why did you do that? I wanted to stay where I was."

"It was too much weight for you."

"Too much weight? You don't weigh an ounce over 180 pounds. I can bench press almost 150 pounds. Next time I'll tell you when it's too much weight."

"Hmmm," I thought "I better start working out or this 125 pound beauty might one day bench press me." I smiled at the thought which she must have misinterpreted because she started tickling me in earnest then.

Eventually we did separate. As Noelle walked to the shower I couldn't help but admire those legs again, those thighs, the dimples on her ass, and when she turned around ...that gorgeous smile.

"Stop it; you're beginning to make me feel self conscious. We're supposed to be taking a shower."

Well, my admiration made for lovely thoughts, ones which I've had every day since.

After we showered neither of us wanted to get dressed. We ended up back in bed, me propped up on a pillow, she lying partially on me with her head on my chest.

"I need to tell you something" Noelle said as she moved to lay side by side. Her expression once again turned somber.