Publish Novellas 22 January 2023
EPISODE 7 – CLOSURE
Heather celebrates a milestone in her relationship with Ryan, as she dangles bait for him to follow.
Mature content advisory
Honesty
On Monday Heather meets up with Ryan as usual. He confesses, “I received a phone call from my ex last week. Her voice rekindled feelings. But she toyed with my affection again.”
“This honesty is a milestone for us.” Extending her arms, Heather asks, “Can we hug?” Ryan moves in for the embrace. Heather pauses her lips within an inch of his… until he closes the gap.
“Yes, I guess you can say… you’re growing on me.”
“I guess this means I’m off probation. Can I tell anyone who asks that I am in a serious relationship?”
“What an interesting choice of words. Does this mean you’re ready to exercise visitation rights on the showpiece hanging in my home?”
“If I do… I’m old fashion. It tends to lead to a marriage proposal. Our relationship is still too fresh.”
“Then I’ll allow your feelings to continue flourishing. You let me know when you’re ready. Perhaps you should see me model at the college tonight. Students will be working on shading so the lighting will be dramatic.”
“Okay, I would like that.”
“The instructor said you can audit the class. I’ll give you the best view. It will be the closest thing to foreplay without touching.”
“I’ll try not to get too excited while sketching you.”
On the ride back after the class, Ryan comments on her form.
“This is a very different relationship for me. I mean I get to see you unclothed… in a large room with other people… but we aren’t climbing in bed.”
“Yes, it is odd that you have never disrobed for me. And you don’t say much about my body afterwards.”
“I still want to wait before getting intimate. But I would like to attend all of your modeling gigs because I love viewing you in the raw. You pose on that podium like an animated work of art. The lighting was perfect today. I wanted to snap photos but am certain that is not allowed.”
“Thank you for complimenting me as a work of art. You should be fantasizing about me in the nude. It keeps your mind off other women. You’ve seen me in my swimsuit and in my birthday suit. But you still resist experiencing my ecstasy. I practice nude yoga positions at home. Try to visualize that. The longer you wait to enjoy the ecstasy, the better it will be.”
Visitation
The couple attends an amusement park on the weekend. They branch out from the ramen and venture into sushi.
While licking and sucking sushi, Heather tells Ryan, “You know, depending on how you eat it, some sushi can be an aphrodisiac.”
“I can see that.”
“Do you know how to tell if it’s working?”
“Yes. Let me just say, there is a good thing we have a tablecloth here, or others seated across from the table would know it’s working.”
“Then sushi might just be our new favorite meal together.”
When Ryan drops Heather off at home, instead of his usual peck on the cheek, he says, “I was thinking about our conversation earlier this week…. I can’t get your nude modeling… and yoga out of my mind…. And the seductive way you eat sushi…. Forgive me for taking this long to make up my mind. If you would allow it, I’m ready to experience what I already admire.” He then softly kisses her on the lips.
“I also gave some thought to your words in that conversation. It’s apparent that you’re more than ready. I have been longing for you to beg for my art piece. Is that what you want? I could let you in and blow your mind with amazing yoga poses. Would you like that?”
“Pressing on the front door while kissing her neck, Ryan replies, “Yes, Heather…. Show me…. Let’s do this.”
“My beautiful man…. Since you’re prone to proposal, I’ll share another secret with you.” Hoping that the seeds she plants will sprout, Heather lies when telling him, “The object of your desire is still a virgin. So think how memorable it would be for you to enjoy all those positions in a suite on our honeymoon.”
“Ryan stops kissing to think. “Of course…. That’s apparently how you want to experience your first time. I wouldn’t want to deprive you of that opportunity…. Let me think about where our relationship is heading…. I had a great time…. Excuse me while I go home for a shower. Good night.”
At home, Ryan mulls over his predicament. He is financially prepared for marriage and raising a family. After a reasonable two-year waiting time, Brenda rejected his proposal. Now, after less than a month, Heather has guaranteed an affirmative reply.
Brenda is more attractive, but perhaps that’s her downfall to commitment. Heather is athletic, adores him, has a great body, which she is working hard to fine tune even further—and is a freakin’ contortionist! She is obsessive, but that may make her work harder to please him.
Ryan goes shopping in a jewelry store. He figures if he has the ring with him and the time is right, he will pop the question. On their next weekend date, Heather is nestled beneath his arm in the theater. He thinks, they have grown close to one another. This should be a good foundation.
Dinner
They stop at a jazz supper club afterwards and slide into a booth. Heather says, “As complimentary as you have been, there are three words you have never uttered. I’m in the mood for something light and refreshing, just some California rolls and a margarita.”
“If you change your mind, you can have a piece of my steak.”
“I liked the movie. It was very suspenseful.”
“Speaking of suspense, Heather, I do love you.”
“You have buried it within more than three words. I can’t tell if you’re sincere or guessing.”
“I love you! Is that clear enough?”
“I love you too. Always have, and have just been waiting for you to catch up.” She then kisses Ryan on the lips. “Most couples have a way of overcomplicating proposals. They feel it should be some grand gesture worthy of social media. I am a simple girl that doesn’t require anything over the top….”
Interrupting the chattiness, Ryan pulls out a ring box and asks, “Will you marry me, Heather?”
“I had no idea you already had a ring. It’s beautiful. Yes, my love, I will marry you and give you children if you want. But I don’t want to drag out a long engagement. A honeymoon is begging for this virginity.”
“How soon do you mean…?
“Next week. It doesn’t have to be large or fancy. We can go to a justice of the peace or to Las Vegas.”
“Las Vegas it is,” Ryan confirms.
Wedding
The brief ceremony precedes their rush to a hotel suite. Heather says, “I’m your wife now, so what happens between us in this room is sanctioned. To begin, I’ll lay here and let you fulfill any fantasy you have with my body. Then it’s my turn.”
After satisfying his first desire, Heather reveals a secret penchant. “I’m not your typical art school model. I can contort my body in all these wild positions where I imagine my husband making me feel incredible. Now let me show you.”
“I’ve never experienced so much ecstasy in so many positions. That was some of the most innovative maneuvering I’ve ever seen. Every moment of every hour in the honeymoon suite exceeded my imagination. Marrying you was the best decision I ever made!”
“I’ve been offering this to you since we met. How do you feel about all your delays?”
“It was very foolish of me. I had now idea what I was avoiding.”
“I’m glad you wised up. Now, I want to elevate your experience to the point of obsession. Let’s not leave Vegas until you experience exhilaration from the best love of your life. Become so obsessed with what we do together that you never leave me.”
“Heather, I’m begging you for more and there is no need for me to seek less pleasure elsewhere. Drinking in all you have to offer is a complete life.”
After doing more activities Ryan doesn’t expect, Heather says, “There are other women more beautiful, but does everything I offer raise my value above them?”
“It certainly does. I can’t get out of my head the things you do with your body—and to mine! I am obsessed with you. I will desire you every moment I’m with or away from you.”
“Oh, you said it. I knew it from the start. You are the perfect husband for me. Your obsession inspires me to perform even better. Obsessive love builds permanent unions. Just because we are leaving Las Vegas doesn’t mean the honeymoon is over.
“A wedding couple needs at least a full week of consummation to get the marriage off to a good start. There is no end to the list of things I have planned for you.”
“Why stop after one week. I’ll need to go to work. But the evenings are still ours.”
As if luring a beast into a trap by dangling meat, she entices her prey with the temptation of pleasure. She delivers on the promise, without his realization that nurturing an obsession for the meat is the snare.
When they return to Ryan’s house, Heather quickly removes the WiFi camera that she earlier installed in the bathroom. Then she joins Ryan for conversation.
“I had a great weekend, and it makes me so happy to have you as my husband. I have some imperfections but assure me that you will never leave me or entertain another woman.”
“We all have imperfections, but I’ll maintain my vow to you and have no interest in anyone else.”
“So you will forgive any mistakes I make and support me no matter what?”
“Of course. Every day with you is better than the rest. I realize there are so many things we haven’t discussed. We have two homes between us. Is it okay to live here? Should we phone your family?”
Heather stresses, “All I ask is that you remain faithful to me. Too many people suffer because of unnecessary infidelity. My father preceded my mother in death. As an only child, I inherited the house when my mother died. That’s the extent of my family before you.
“I want to disrupt your routine as little as possible. Living here is a dream. For sentimental reasons, I prefer to wait until my roses bloom next spring before deciding what to do with my property.”
“That home is yours to do whatever you like. We should though, move the showpiece drawing and whatever else you want here. I’ll rent a truck tomorrow.”
“While I prepare the most amazing waffle and omelette breakfast you ever tasted, could you go snip some rose buds from my garden? Put them in a vase with water on the breakfast table, please.”
“Sure sweetheart, I’ll be right back.”
Intent on purging the memory of Brenda, Heather declares, “ Later we will remove anything in this house that reminds you of your unappreciative ex. Then I’ll take you in the back room and recreate the lighting at the university. While in your favorite pose, discover a way to make love to your piece of art until I erase every memory of her from your mind.”
“You already purged her in Vegas. To me, you’re the perfect wife, and I Will hurry back for my artwork.” He then kisses her while stroking her curves.
“I need to hear that more often. Believe me, I’ll do everything in my power to make certain that nothing comes between us.”
Missing
A week later, police investigators inquire about Brenda, who has been reported missing. Heather answers the door while Ryan is at work.
Responding to their request to speak with Ryan, she says, “I am his wife. May I help you?”
“We would like to speak to your husband to find out if he has seen or spoken to a former acquaintance named Brenda.”
“As I have said, I am his newlywed wife. With the way he makes love to me and our recent marriage, he has no interest in rekindling former dalliances.”
“I understand ma’am. We do not want to stir up any marital difficulties. This is an uncomfortable conversation. A rental car company picked up her vehicle nearby.”
“Maybe she got lost or perhaps peered through our window and saw that Ryan had happily moved on. We can’t say what her motives were or to where she may have wandered.”
“Certainly, ma’am. Here’s my card. If Ryan can provide any information that would be helpful, please have him call me.”
“We will discuss it later and if he has anything to say, he will phone you in the morning.”
“Thank you, ma’am.”
Heather rips the business card up. When Ryan comes home from work, she tells him to delete all texts with her ex and to delete the contact card.
The police return within 48 hours to execute a search warrant on Ryan’s home. He wants to tell officers when Brenda stopped responding to his texts but Heather urges him to remain silent. After meticulous forensic examination, they find no evidence of Brenda being in or near the house. Ryan is bewildered by the whole situation.
Heather visits her home on a weekly basis to keep it tidy and to maintain the garden. On the anniversary of their wedding, she returns to her backyard for a ritual. Heather begins poetically speaking to her garden.
“Roses are in bloom. One life expires, providing nourishment for another to flourish. The perennial flowers from this garden represent life’s perpetual cycle.
“Father, mother, and Brenda, I will soon give birth to new blossoms. Jason, this child could have been yours, had you been faithful to me like my beloved Ryan. Maybe someday, my daughter will inherit this home and carry on the tradition.”
The End
Can you identify who was most gullible in this fictional story? Not everyone with obsessions is dangerous. Some people with obsessive compulsive personality disorder are very particular about the ways they do things. Disrupting their routine can result in agitation.
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