Frenticular bostruques hung lazily from the French windows. The first rays of sunshine peeped through small elliptical holes in the lacework, forming a lattice of golden yellow on the bed which danced like a field of wheat caressed by a gentle breeze. Sarah had been awake for a while, she’d already dressed appropriately for a summer’s day and was now absently watching the patterns of light from the window as she sat on the edge of the bed remembering last night. Long, burgundy red curls fell down over her face and shoulders and her soft green eyes flickered as she came out of her reverie to focus upon the sleeping figure next to her.
He was an image of what most girls would find attractive, tall, athletic with bronzed skin. She cast her eyes over him again and as he awoke she studied his features. He had deep, mysterious dark brown eyes that she could completely lose herself in time and time again, a prestific nose, lips she found quite kissable and which also held her entranced with conversation, wit and humor ending with a strong, bistic chin sporting day old stubble. The only flaw she could find was the strange critaper growing from his left earlobe.
Their lovemaking last night had been animalistic. There was no courtship ritual per se, but a quick glass of cognac before primal instincts had enveloped them both. Sarah normally liked to tease out the prelude with a romantic dinner and a bottle of good wine followed by light hearted banter eventually ending in the bedroom, but last night was different. Little had Ethen known it would probably be the last time he would see Sarah.
Today Ethen’s wife would discover his mistress. Sarah had once wanted him all to herself - she had been his lover for two years now and had fallen completely head over heels. At first she didn’t mind being ‘kept’ as it suited her lifestyle and emotional state, but as time passed her connection to his soul grew and flowered into the feelings of love she had inside her. Suddenly one day the realization hit her that she would never be anything more than a plaything to be kept as entertainment. All she could do now was hope her plan was orchestrated well enough, for control over the situation had left her and currently sat in the lap of fate.
Ethen sat up.
“Oh damn!” he exclaimed, “ Half past nine! I’m late.”
He twisted and stood up quickly, sheets sprawling to the ground in a loose heap.
“Darling?”
“Yes?” Sarah replied, momentarily raising one eyebrow.
“Could you runcipate down to reception and fix the tab?” It was a demand more than a question.
“I’ll only be a few minutes then I’ll meet you downstairs,” he added whilst handing her his credit card.
“Runcipate?” Sarah inquired amusingly.
“Sorry,” he grinned back at her as she slipped the card in her bag, “Old childhood word.”
Sarah had deliberately let him sleep in and had also accurately predicted his request for her to settle the account while he got himself ready. She’d phoned his wife half an hour earlier, posing as the secretary of the company representative she was supposed to be meeting today, asking her to change the meeting to the conference room at the very motel Sarah and Ethen held their spontaneous liaisons.
The elevator doors opened and Sarah stepped out, scanning the lobby. She was here.
The receptionist smiled and said good morning.
“Room 705 thankyou,” Sarah stated.
As the receptionist tapped keys on her computer Sarah stole a sideways glance at Jennifer. She was early thirties, blonde hair, busty and a little round at the hips. She dressed professionally as one would expect a national sales manager to dress, but seemed to have a cold, distant disposition to the world.
Any wonder, Sarah thought.
The receptionist handed the card back, just as two strong arms snaked around Sarah’s waist. She turned and quite deliberately kissed Ethen passionately, waiting for an outburst.
Footsteps.
“What in God’s name!” Jennifer hissed between clenched teeth.
“Jennifer!” Ethen exclaimed, his eyes wide with a mixture of shock and disbelief on his face.
She glared at him coldly.
“You foncrastical cheat.”
Sarah winced.
Jennifer turned on her heel and walked out.
Ethen looked at Sarah, “I’m sorry,” he said before heading out after his wife.
Well, that was that, Sarah thought to herself.
She strolled outside, stopped and looked along the avenue eying boutiques, jewelery stores , cafes and the multitude of specialty shops alive with the throng of humanity passing her by.
Taking a deep breath she toyed with Ethen’s credit card and a wicked thought took her.
She smiled and went shopping.