Can Alex and Emily reconcile with their fundamental differences? |
Author Notes: - This is the first 3 chapters of something I didn't realize was going to be this long. - Chapter 1 introduces our characters, and chapters 2 and 3 juxtapose each other. - 18+ due to some sexual scenes (relevant for the plot) - Enjoy! --- Chapter 1 In the quiet suburbs, where the rhythm of everyday life mirrored the steady hum of routine, lived Alex and Emily - a couple that seemed, from the outside, to have mastered the art of being in love. They navigated the intricacies of their 20s and sailed into the mid-30s life with a seamless blend of companionship, shared laughter, and affectionate glances. There was an almost imperceptible magnetism to their love for each other. It was in the way their hands touched and how their gazes locked as they listened to each other talk. The couple seemed inextricably bound in a shared journey, both emotionally and geographically, as they slowly grew as one over the years. It was hard not to be drawn to this couple, their love seemed to resonate so deeply with everyone that they encountered, often getting remarks of, "I wish I had your love!" In the hushed moments of nightfall, when the moon and stars were their only audience, Alex traced patterns along Emily's back, savoring the warmth of their shared bed. They shared the space and silence between them with comfortable ease. "I wish you were mine forever," Emily said wistfully. "But I am yours. And you are mine," Alex responded. Yet, beneath the veneer of domestic bliss, an unspoken yearning lingered. The room cradled whispers of promises and tender touches, but somewhere out of view, a subtle disconnect loomed. Emily, an environmental scientist with an unwavering connection to all things wild, felt keenly the desire for more. In the gentle embrace and soft kisses that punctuated their love, she sensed a rhythm too predictable, a melody too familiar. There were days that she longed for a wildness in love that had grown too comfortable, too safe. She often wondered what it might feel like to have love that pushed her boundaries and swept her off her feet. Alex's love was undeniable, his affections unwavering, yet too gentle. For Alex, every touch carried the weight of devotion. Every word he whispered was a testament to his love. He lived his days trying to find ways to make her laugh and his nights were spent seeking her pleasure. She was his entire universe and he lived with the intensity of one that knew what it meant to love beyond his own existence. His work was tedium, a means to an end - to be able to afford their lives, unfulfilling. In the evenings, he would retreat into their bed and breathe her in. In her touch and kiss, he would find purpose, meaning. A dull ache throbbed inside Emily as she moved through the motion of a dance made too predictable by time. No matter how genuine Alex's love, she longed for their passion to spark and swell into an uncontrollable fire. Chapter 2 While Emily's work agenda is as erratic as the wilds she studies, offering her large swaths of liberated time, Alex finds himself tethered to the metronome of corporate life. Stuck beating to the march of someone else's drum. Emily walks Alex to the front door, handing him a coffee in his favorite mug. She kissed him and, like the good wife she aims to be, said to him, "I love you, drive safe!" Watching Alex walk away and climb into his car, fading into the horizon, became a daily ritual for Emily during her off-season. The creak of the door closing marked not only the separation of their physical spaces, but also a silent echo of her solitude. It was a routine she endured, not one she savored. Emily grabbed herself a coffee and shuffled into their bedroom. Her hand instinctively moved towards one of the romance books on her bedside table, but she caught herself before reaching . She took in a deep breath, "It's such a beautiful day today," she thought to herself. "Maybe I can take advantage of the warm weather." She went through her closet looking for a bathing suit, but her hands settled on a set of lingerie that has been sitting unused for the longest time. Something broke in Emily when she found a piece of her futile attempts to appeal to Alex. She took it back to the bed, held it in her hands and sobbed softly. Hurting, knowing how good she looked in it, and how it crushed her self esteem when he didn't seem to care or react any different. It went on the floor as quickly and as unceremoniously as every other piece of clothing. Emily felt shame at how her desire to be loved and desired has been tainted and mocked by this very piece. She chucked it on the floor violently, and stormed to her bookshelf. It was unfair. She deserved to be desired and lusted after like the protagonists in her novels. The pages were worn out, their spines broken by the force with which she held on to these love stories. These books became her lifeblood - the tales of desire that was beyond words and love that burned beyond physical existence. Read over and over and over. Every word and turn of phrase seared into her memory. Her own story seemed paled in comparison to those within the covers. Emily tossed herself into the bed and flipped to the pages she has dog-eared. The edges of the pages are as weathered and tattered as her own heart. Her tears left wet blotches on the pages as she read through them. Alex appeared in the doorway, his body leaning against the frame. Something had shifted in his demeanor. There was an energy about him that Emily could not place. She didn't even remember hearing him come home. The sun is still out, far too early for him to even be home. In the twenty years Emily had known Alex, he never once dipped out of an engagement early. She blinked at him and the man walked towards her, taking the book from her hand, closing it with the gentlest touch, and setting it down on the bed. "Come with me," he said as he grabbed Emily by the hand. "Let's go." His grip on her hand was firm and insistent, pulling her through their hallway and out the front door. Emily was too taken by surprise to protest. "Wait! Where are we going?" He led her to the passenger side of his car, and opened it for her, guiding Emily to the seat, and gently yet firmly closing the door behind her. She had never seen him this way. His expression was still and intense. His body moved with the determined stride of someone with a mission. Emily was afraid and excited all at once. As soon as he climbed in the driver's side, the man gunned it to the freeway. Speeding towards an unknown destination, he only offered Emily a small, but mysterious smile, when she asked where they were heading to. The landscape blurred around her, a whirl of colors and shapes that she couldn't focus on. His face melted into a look of contentment and certainty as the sped towards the evening sun. The sky is painted in bright shades of pink and blue when he finally pulled the car over and turned the ignition off. The view was breathtaking. "This wasn't a part of the trip, but it's too beautiful to not stop." The two sat there for what felt like hours and watched the sun set on the horizon. They took each other's hands in the comfortable silence and basked in the shared warmth. The beauty of the scene before them was transcendent and yet, it was the warmth of their joined hands that spoke to the love Emily so craved. "That's not everything. C'mon, let me help you back in the car." He opened the passenger side door and helped Emily in. The car once again sped off , their destination still unknown, but Emily had relaxed. She was invested. She leaned her head against the headrest and watched the landscape fly by. "So where are we going?" She asked him. "And why didn't we bring dinner with us?" He smirked but didn't look away from the road. "Trust me. It'll all be worth it." He winked as the car pulled up into a hotel parking lot. "Are we going on vacation? I don't understand." The man chuckled at that and stepped out of the car, again offering a helping hand to Emily. He led her through the hotel lobby, waved at reception, and stepped into the elevator. "Don't we have to talk to reception?" He pressed the button for the topmost floor and said "All sorted." Pulling his keycard out from his wallet and waved it at the elevator, the door slid open. The corridor was decorated with art and soft music played. "Our suite is ready," he cooed with unwavering confidence as he walked past the rooms and pulled open the door. The entire back wall was glass, and could see out for miles into the city. It was almost as though they were floating on a cloud in the sky. Emily, as wild as she was, had never been enamored by the concrete jungle as much as in this moment. Pressed against one of the windows and drinking in the view, he slid up behind her. "Like the view?" he asked. His breath on her neck sent a chill down Emily's spine. "I've never seen you so excited to be in a city." Emily didn't know what was happening but the atmosphere in the room was electric. This wasn't a side she had seen before, only dreamed of, but he had this quiet confidence, a firm grip and a glint in his eye. He grabbed her arm with one hand, and flipped her around and with a gentle force, pushed her into the glass, a hand on her back to make sure she didn't get hurt. Her face flushed red with surprise. "You don't know how much I've thought about doing this." His voice was steady and certain, it had none of the shyness she was used to. Emily felt something stir within her that has been dormant for too long. "I want to see you naked," he whispered as he let go of her arms. The authority in his voice took her by surprise. "Right now?" she stuttered, looking over her shoulder at the city below. "Right here, right now." He was firm in his command. His words made her legs weak and she pressed her weight onto the window to hold herself steady. Alex stepped back as she slipped the sundress she was wearing over her head. She held his gaze, her body exposed. "Those cute underwear too." The hint of a smirk on his lips sent another thrill through Emily's body. She wanted nothing more than to feel him in that moment, his breath on her body. She pulled her panties down with both hands. The man cocked his head to the side slightly and nodded with a smile that betrayed the confidence and control he had asserted over her. His movements were certain in a way that she hadn't experienced before. He moved in, still fully clothed, and embraced her naked body. His touch was different than she had experienced, he moved his hand slowly over her skin, a caress, yet she felt a strength behind the gesture, the authority to take what he wanted from her. Unsure of how to react, she fumbled for his zipper. "Let's get these pants off of you," she managed. His hands stopped her. "Not yet," he said, power behind his tone, stopping her in her tracks. She was stunned by his assertiveness. "But-" "You heard me." The man moved his hands over her naked body once more, and settled on her hips. He turned her back away from the cold window towards the bed. He guided them three steps closer, until he was certain that they would land on it if she fell back. He pulled her close, parting her legs, sliding his hand up her inner thigh, slowly and steadily, as his other arm held her back from the force of it. She gasped as his hand grazed her lips, slick and wet. The man bent forward and kissed her collarbone, pushing two fingers between her lips and slowly up inside of her, making her moan in pleasure. His fingers were deftly skilled. She felt them inside of her, twisting and curling to make her shiver. He added his thumb on her clit, drawing little circles. He pushed deeper with his fingers and pressed down with his thumb, pushing her closer to the edge. She clung to his shoulder with one arm and moaned with the sensation. He pressed his forehead to hers as he worked her body to its peak, holding her gaze. She couldn't help but notice the bulge in his pants, a physical testament of how he craved this too. She moaned in his mouth as he pushed deeper inside of her with his fingers. The man stepped back, stopping Emily from achieving the release she desperately craved, and guided her to her knees. She knelt on the floor, naked and panting with unbridled arousal, her heart still beating in her chest, staring up at him, waiting for the next step. He looked down at her, with a sense of purpose she had never seen on his face. She immediately understood and without hesitation grabbed at his belt buckle with both hands, trying to steady her shaky hands to pull his pants and boxers down, letting his erection breathe. She stared at it, so thick, hard, and ready, she couldn't wait to put it in her mouth. He guided her head towards his crotch. Her lips parted to accept him. His cock was smooth as velvet. She looked up at him as her head bobbed. It felt different from all the previous times. The power he radiated made it a whole different experience, his hand guiding her, pressing on the back of her head, the rhythm of her movements dictated by him. Her hand found the base of his cock and she stroked it as her lips sucked him further and further down her throat. She had never been so wet. Emily wanted this moment to go on forever. He pressed his cock to the back of her throat, her lips on his abdomen and moaned as she swirled her tongue. "How wet are you?" He asked. Emily wasn't sure, she had never experienced the kind of arousal she felt in this moment. All she could manage was a nod in agreement. "Stand up and show me." He didn't wait for a response. He guided her to the edge of the bed, her lips still coated with precum and her own saliva, and spun her around, and bent her oven. The man stepped out of his pants and stood behind Emily, pushing himself inside of her without hesitation, groaning in pleasure as his cock slid into her. She let out a sharp cry at the sudden entry, instinctively pushing backwards into him. He moved in and out, rhythmically, expertly. "Fuck me, please," she moaned. "Fuck me hard." He stood her back up, and turned her to face him. He picked her up with unexpected strength and tossed her effortlessly into the bed. She was in air for what felt like hours. Her body felt weightless, until it didn't. As Emily landed into the bed, she was jarred to hear a loud slamming sound. Then she realized. "FUUUUUUCK!" She screamed in agony, fists slamming into the bed. It had only been a dream. She was once again trapped in her predictable, passionless, unfortunate reality. Chapter 3 The door swung open, Alex calling out in a sing-song tone, "I'm home!" the weight of the workday still clinging to him. When Emily didn't greet him, he stumbled through the house looking for her. "Honey, I'm home," he called again, walking through the bedroom entry to find her in bed, staring blankly at the ceiling. Alex glanced around the room to piece together what he could. Some old clothes were strewn about, and there was a book haphazardly tossed on the floor. "What happened?" he asked softly. "You feeling okay?" He walked into their bathroom and started fussing for a thermometer. Emily sat up and let out a sigh. She pulled her hair into a messy bun and turned to Alex with an unconvincing smile. "I'm okay. I think it was something I ate." Alex climbed in the bed and reached for her. He tucked her hair behind her ear and placed the palm of his hand against her cheek then her forehead, "You have a fever." He kissed her on the forehead and asked, "Can I do anything for you, love?" A couple of tears broke loose, poised to land on the bed. He quickly brushed them away with his thumb, and planted a soft kiss where they had rolled down her face. "I know the perfect remedy, get yourself cleaned up. I'll have a nice hot bowl of pumpkin soup waiting for you in the kitchen." As Alex turned to head downstairs, Emily found her voice. "Thank you, you're too kind," she called after him. Emily glanced at the book on the floor, its spine broken. A dream come to life was always going to be just a dream. Downstairs, the aroma of simmering pumpkin soup wafted through the air as Alex stirred the pot, his mind replaying the awkward exchange with Emily. He couldn't shake off the feeling that something weird happened, was she too embarrassed to tell him? The distance between them seemed deeper than Emily's sudden and mysterious ailment. When Emily finally joined him in the kitchen, she was wrapped in one of his bathrobes - swimming off her body, her eyes weary but appreciative. Alex gave her a small smile, and placed a bowl of soup in front of her, a hint of worry etched across his face. "You should eat. It'll make you feel better," he said, his eyes searching hers for any sign of reassurance. Emily stared back at him and gave a faint nod, as if to say that everything was fine, before slumping onto the dining room chair. They sat in silence at the kitchen table, Alex's eyes fixed on Emily as she pushed soup around her bowl with a spoon. She noticed he was watching her, gave him a weak smile, and spooned some soup into her mouth without much enthusiasm. The soup warmed Emily up and filled her belly, but it could not comfort her aching heart. The air, heavy with unspoken words. Alex pushed his chair away from the table and cleared his throat, "Em," he began, his gaze fixed on the table as though the words were written on it. "Something isn't right." Emily snapped her gaze to him, trying to quickly dismiss that claim. "It's just a tummy ache. I'll be fine." Her eyes pleading with him to let it go. "No. I think there's more to it than that." He shifted his eyes towards hers. "Then what is it? You seem to know everything," she snapped back. The words stung like venom, her tone venomous. "I - " Alex hesitated. His brow furrowed with frustration. "It's just a feeling." Emily shook her head. She sighed loudly and pushed her soup bowl away from her, signaling the end of this discussion. Alex stared at her and frowned, he reached his hands towards hers on the table. Emily found her composure, and apologized. "I'm sorry. It's not your fault. I just had a weird dream and it's put me out of sorts, that's all." Alex chided, "That's okay! We all have bad dreams," then he kissed the top of Emily's head. "Let's get you into a hot shower," he suggested, trying to put an end to the day's events, knowing it was probably better that he left things be for now. "After all, you stink," he teased, poking at her playfully. Emily leaned into his touch. He led her to their shower and waited as she disrobed. He stepped in, adjusting the water to her liking and guided her in to join him. The heat from the water began to relax her, her long locks cascading down her shoulders. She turned around to let him wash it, and leaned against him as his hands massaged the shampoo into her hair. She sighed at how good his touch felt on her skin, how after her dream any touch was better than none. Alex's hands lingered, soaping up her body, kneading at the tension in her muscles, massaging her with gentle strokes. She turned to admire his body, soft and round - not the chiseled abs her books spoke of, but familiar. His softness felt like home. She began to feel guilty again, fantasizing about a man Alex could never be, while discounting the man he is. "Alex, I - " she began, her hands running down his sides and coming to rest on his hips. "What is it, love?" he whispered back. He leaned forward, pulling Emily into his embrace, her back against his chest as the hot water ran over them both. She closed her eyes, leaned into him, and enjoyed the feel of his touch. His arms wrapped around her hips, she placed her hand on top of his, guiding him slowly up to her breasts. He began to squeeze them with a firm grip and play with her nipples, getting them hard and erect, tickling the palm of his hand. He bit gently at her lower neck. Her heart started beating faster as she felt the familiar stirring between her thighs. "You know, this might just make me feel better," she whispered back at him, pushing her butt back against him and gyrating back and forth. Alex chuckled as he continued to run his fingers over her breasts and tease her nipples. Her breath quickened as she continued to rub her ass against him, his cock becoming harder. He pinched her nipples gently as her breasts swayed with each movement. She was so focused on what she was doing that she didn't even realize he had moved her leg up onto the ledge of the tub, giving him unfettered access to her, her ass still teasing him. Emily moaned and Alex ran a finger across her lips and began to play with her clit, rubbing it in a circle while she continued to rock her body against him. Her knees buckled under her, and they both fell to the floor of the shower in a tangled heap of arms and legs, laughing in the process. They stared at each other and Alex planted a kiss on her mouth. "Let's take this to the bed," Alex whispered to Emily, and the two got up off the shower floor and quickly dried off as best they could muster. They stepped out of the bathroom into the cold air of the bedroom and quickly dove for the warmth of the bed. Emily couldn't help but chuckle, remembering the man in her dream who commanded her. "Alex, can you be a bit more like - " She caught herself in mid-sentence, knowing full well she might as well just throw in the towel. He's the man she has in front of her, no need to complicate it, right? It fell on deaf ears though, Alex missed her plea. Emily closed her eyes to clear her mind of all things impossibly unrealistic and took in a deep breath. He reached his hands toward Emily, and pulled her close, pressing himself against her body, and began kissing her softly on the neck. All too familiar, she allowed it to happen. She instinctively wrapped her legs around Alex's waist as his cock pushed against her opening. Emily guided Alex inside of her, and she moaned, performatively, as she felt him penetrate her. Emily clung onto the man in front of her as he slowly moved himself in and out of her, working himself to a climax, thinking he's giving Emily what she wants. Alex's face buried in her shoulder, kissing her and moaning with a gentleness that Emily couldn't help but wonder what it would be like to have him dominate her. His thrusting intensified, the familiar tightening in Emily's chest telling her he was about to cum. Emily sighed at how easy it was to read his every cue and the disappointment that this was as close to her fantasy as she'd get. Her hips gyrated slowly in circles as her mind wandered again, noticing all the different shapes and faces should find in their popcorn ceiling. He reached for a nipple, bringing his face down to kiss it. He panted and moaned loudly, signaling to Emily he was close. For her part, Emily was pleased she could get herself wet enough to make Alex happy. That was a small consolation she felt like. She reached down, her hand cupped Alex's balls, massaging them in her palm as he pushed into her with short thrusts. She smiled, her eyes half open and searching his face for the answers to life's questions as she played with him in her palm, a small giggle escaping. This made Alex smile at her and then moan. "Fuck," he whispered in Emily's ear. "I'm going to cum soon, where should I cum?" "Where do you want to cum?" She asked halfheartedly. She wanted him to finish in his hands so she didn't have to clean up and deal with it. "In you, Em," he panted in a whisper. Emily gave a halfhearted "Cum in me, then," urging him to finish inside of her. Alex pounded into her with a few final thrusts before finishing deep inside. "I love you!" he panted. Emily responded in kind with "I love you too." The room grew still, the silence thick and palpable. "Well," Emily said as she ran a hand over Alex's chest and planted a kiss on his lips. "I'm going to go cleanup." He looked up at her, and kissed her back. "Do you want me to get the water going?" She looked at him for a moment and sighed. She got out of bed and walked to the bathroom, "No, but thanks." --- |