Chapter One
As Lauren Fanshaw lay beneath Steven, her lovely eyes were wide and impartial, as
he pumped away above her. He was a muscular man and she was painfully aware of the weight
of his twelve and a half stones upon her body. She felt the coarse hair of his chest
against her breasts and the rhythmic trust of his loins on her pubic bone. What she
didn't feel was exhilaration.
She found herself scrutinising the cream drapes as she wondered, how long will he
manage to keep it up this time?
Pump, pump, pump, pump. At least his rhythm is good, she thought. Over the past
few months, his lovemaking took no longer than seven or eight minutes, from the first
fumbling probing to the last gasp of air. On this particular morning, it seemed likely to
be less as he was having difficulty keeping his semi-erection inside her.
He let out a sound, something between a sigh and a grunt, then collapsed by her
side, breathing heavily.
Another fifty five minutes and this could have been 'his finest hour,’ thought
Lauren, as she listened to the sound of his labour and, once more, examined the drapes.
Perhaps I ought to consider changing them? I wonder if a brighter colour would help to
cure my depression?
Somewhere in the distance, she became aware that Steven was speaking.
‘What's that Dear?’ she said, not turning to look at him.
‘I was just apologising,’ he said, ‘just one of those things, I expect.’
‘Mm! I expect so Dear,’ she replied, absentmindedly.
Maybe green? Yes, definitely green, she decided.
‘I'm sorry Lauren, I know it's not very good for you. I don't know
what's the matter
with me lately.’ Now she turned around and searched his eyes. They mirrored his
lie. Of course he knew what was wrong with him. He was never at home. Always off on
some business trip, and never alone.
‘Don't worry about it Dear,’ she answered, ‘I suppose it's all the stress
you're under.’
Steven rolled off the king size bed and made for the bathroom, agreeing with her,
from over his shoulder, ‘you could be right Lauren. But I'm sorry anyway.’
‘I'm sure it will be alright darling,’ she called, then added, quietly,
‘It'll be alright when you stop screwing that bloody bitch of a secretary.’
Steven's handsome face bobbed out of the bathroom.
‘What's that you say Dear?’
‘I said you are finding it hard at the moment Darling,’ she replied. Pity I'm
not finding it the same though, she thought.
His eyes took on a 'shifty' look and only his mouth smiled then, once
more, he disappeared from her view.
She was so frustrated. They never used to have a problem. In the 'old days,’
they often languished in the bath together, fondling each other and, finally, making love
right there in the bathroom. They cared little that the tiles were hard and the floor was
wet and slippery. They just had a constant need to be joined, each to the other. Over
the years, that craving, somehow, had diminished and finally, disappeared. Lauren would
never understand how it had all gone wrong.
The trouble was, she still wanted Steven to love her as he had in the early days
then, perhaps, she could love him with more passion. Now, after finding out about his,
most recent affair, she had given up trying. She had, for some time, tried to ignore the
‘other women’ but the whole thing was eating away at her, turning her into a bitch. For
the past couple of years, since finding out about Jan, she had even fantasised about
loving a man like Leo who was younger and more convivial than Steven and quite a catch,
but until recently he had been involved with Gillian,
her close friend and confidant so it had been out of the question, but she still
thought about him constantly.
She sighed, as she got up from the bed and made for the guest bathroom in the next
bedroom. She really didn't want to share with him at the moment.
Half an hour later, after a light breakfast of toast and honey, Steven was on his
way, briefcase in hand.
Lauren held up her face for the routine peck on the cheek and was duly rewarded.
She stood at the door to wave her 'goodbyes' and, as the BMW roared into
life, he raised his hand, calling out to her as he went.
‘Love you Darling.’
She smiled, as she returned the salute and watched the car disappear into the
distance. Suddenly she wanted to get even. She wanted this more than anything in the
world.
‘Well, two can play at that game, Darling,’ she announced to the empty driveway,
before re-entering the house and closing the door firmly behind her.
Almost immediately, the telephone rang. That will be Gillian, she thought, Right
on time as usual.
They had a regular Wednesday luncheon date but today's lunch was special. Her
vivacious blonde friend had a new admirer and she was going to divulge all the gritty
details.
Gillian was very beautiful, if a little scatterbrained, and had many admirers, most
of whom belonged to their own special group of friends. However, this one seemed to be a
newcomer.
Lauren lifted the ebony receiver, ‘Hi Gillian.’
‘Hi Darling. How are you?,’ came the silky smooth response, that was 'so
Gillian.’
Not waiting for a reply, she went on. ‘Has Steven gone then? How you put up with
him, goodness knows.’
Lauren smiled down the telephone, ‘I'm used to his business trips and I
understand.’
‘Well, if you ask me Darling, and I know you didn't,’ she began, ‘he is a
shit.’
Lauren laughed, ‘but I didn't ask you Gillian. He has the company to
consider. You don't understand.’
‘You're an angel and he doesn't deserve you, that's all I can say.
You know what I think? ... I think ...’
‘Oh do shut up Gillian,’ she cut in, ‘you really do have it in for all men,
don't you?’
‘Well, what do you expect considering the treatment I've had from the
chauvinistic sods?,’ she sulked, ‘they treat women as if they had only half a brain.’
Lauren sighed, ‘we're back to Leo now, are we?’
‘Yes we are. And why not? He's a rat.’
‘Oh Gillian, you don't mean that.’
‘Damned right I do and, as far as I'm concerned, the man is dead,’ she
stormed, ‘and you must promise me never to mention his name again. Ever!. Right?’
‘Right!,’ laughed Lauren, ‘I take it that we are meeting for lunch?
Raymond's?’
Gillian's attitude promptly changed, as she gushed, excitedly, ‘oh yes,
Darling, one thirty. I've so much to tell you. Tony is an absolute darling. You
cannot believe how gorgeous he is.’
‘Save it for lunch, Gillian. I'm intrigued and I want to hear all the
intimate details.’
Gillian giggled, like a school girl. ‘And you will sweetie! See you at one
thirty.’
Lauren sighed, relieved that her friend was, once more, bubbling with delight.
‘Bye,’ she said into the phone, which was already purring it's dial tone.
She glanced in the large, gold framed, mirror and examined her complexion.
Not bad for thirty nine, she thought. A little on the pale side but, nevertheless,
looking good.
The most beautiful halo of chestnut hair framed her face and the early morning sun,
streaming through the window, picked out the copper and golden highlights.
Heavily lashed eyes of blue, flecked with green, complimented the perfectly curved
mouth, and the small straight nose completed the picture.
Lauren was quite unaware of how lovely she looked, adorned as she was, in her Janet
Reger lingerie, of the palest silver grey. She plucked at her hair and wondered if she
should ring Paulo for a quick blow wave, but decided against it.
I really ought to shop for Steven's birthday, although Goodness knows why I
bother, she thought.
She turned from the reflected image, and walked towards the large patio window, her
finely shaped form unmistakable beneath the satin drapes of her negligee. As she gazed
out at the neat lawn and herbaceous borders, Lauren caught sight of Zak working by the
gate which led to the lower garden.
He paused to wipe his brow with the back of his hand and, for some reason, his eyes
turned towards the house. Lauren slid open the door, walking out into the sunshine, and
taking pleasure from the sight of her employee's strikingly beautiful body.
‘Good morning Zak,’ she called,
‘Good morning Mrs Fanshaw. Lovely day’! he replied, his voice full of youthful
enthusiasm.
Lauren walked towards him, aware that the sunlight behind her turned her negligee
almost transparent and feeling the tingle of excitement as she pictured his view of her.
‘Oh Zak, you make me sound so old. Why not call me Lauren?’
‘I don't believe I could, Mrs .. Fan ..shaw.! I mean it wouldn't be
right,’ he stammered, trying not to stare at the vision on view to him.
‘If I say you may, then it would be right, wouldn't it?’ She smiled into his
deep brown eyes, ‘well?’
Zak smiled, sheepishly, ‘Right’! he said, adding quietly, ‘and I could never
imagine anyone thinking that you were old, Mrs Fan ... er .. Lauren. I think you are the
most beautiful lady I have ever met .... I admire you so much... I........’
Lauren searched his face for signs of humour but found only a look of, almost
humble, sincerity.
‘Why Zak, that's very gallant of you. You had better watch yourself, young
man, for I may be tempted to put your admiration to the test.’
She smiled as she turned away and started back to the house. Then she heard him
speak. His voice was quiet but the meaning of his words were unmistakable.
‘I would consider myself privileged and honoured.’
Lauren turned, in surprise, as he almost bowed.
‘Do you mean that Zak?’ she asked, somewhat puzzled by his reverence. After all,
he was not only very young, but exceptionally handsome.
‘Mrs Fanshaw. I've gone too far,’ he stammered, lowering his eyes, ‘I beg
your pardon.’
Lauren touched his face, gently, lifting his head. ‘No Zak, please, don't
apologise. I'm flattered. Really.’
‘You're not angry with me?’ Relief lightened his voice, bringing with it, a
smile which lit up his tanned features and made her heart miss a beat.
‘No not at all Zak. And it's Lauren, remember?’
She hesitated for a moment then, as if she had made an important decision, she
curled her finger and purred, ‘come with me, young man.’
She took his hand in hers and led him to the shadow of the large willow tree, where
she pressed her satin clad body against the sweat of his own and lifted her face to his.
They kissed, passionately, both trembling with desire and Lauren could feel the
hardness of his longing which, for a moment, reminded her of her husband of long ago.
‘I have to go,’ she said, pulling away from his embrace whilst, visibly, quivering
with passion, ‘we will have to finish this some other time.’
‘Yes, of course,’ he said, his disappointment apparent in his voice.
He was painfully aware of the discomfort in his bulging jeans. The throbbing of
his erection threatened to burst through his zip.
‘Don't make it too long ... please? .... Lauren?’
‘Soon Zak, soon’!
Lauren ran into the house and upstairs to her bedroom. She closed the bedroom door
and leaned against it, her face alive with exhilaration. She could smell the sweat of his
body, on her negligee. Placing both trembling hands to her mouth, she laughed out loud.
My God! The gardener of all people She could almost still feel his hands
caressing her back.
Breathlessly, she thought how daring and wonderful the episode had been and
wondered why she had not thought of doing it before now.
| 
