A teaser from Who's Minding the Store?
10:00 PM
10:00 PM
Derrick and Jennifer changed into pajamas and got ready for bed. She washed Etienne and put him to sleep in his room after dinner, leaving Derrick to clean up the kitchen. “In this marriage we’re going to be fifty-fifty,” she said at their wedding reception eight years earlier.
Too bad that doesn’t extend to work, he said silently while putting away the food in the kitchen.
In truth Derrick felt pride Jennifer didn’t have to have a full-time job, instead being a full-time mother and wife. From time to time she took on a part-time job to keep busy in the afternoon, but raising a six year old boy was challenge enough.
As he climbed into bed he watched Jennifer wash and clean her face over the bath sink. She gained fifty pounds during pregnancy, but lost it in four months after giving birth. “I’m going to set an example for my kids by living healthy,” she told friends. As a result, exercise became very much part of their lifestyle.
Derrick appreciated this as he admired her shapely figure. When she climbed into bed he suddenly envisioned lying next to Sylvia. She too had an athletic, attractive body, and his imagination ran wild as she lay beside him in cherry red lingerie.
Sylvia said seductively, “I’ve wanted to do you from the moment we met.”
Derrick’s eyes bulged with excitement. “You’re kidding?”
Then he heard another voice. “No I’m not kidding.” It was Jennifer.
The image of Sylvia was suddenly replaced with his wife. “I’m sorry, honey, what was that?”
Jennifer rolled her eyes. “I said, I’m not kidding. You should go straight to human resources and demand a raise. After all, you got promoted to store manager and deserve one.”
Derrick froze, realizing he broke out in a cold sweat over his image of Sylvia.
“Don’t you?” she pressed.
“Of course I do.” He wiped clean his forehead. “I’ll take care of it tomorrow.”
She turned out the light and lay on top of the bed sheets beside him. “Are you all right?” Her tone was laced with concern. “You seem nervous.”
Derrick turned to face her. “Long day, is all.” He told himself, get a grip. You did nothing wrong.
Jennifer’s concerned look turned to something else when she cuddled up to him and ran her hand across his chest and through his thinning hair. “Has the Rogaine been working?”
He hated when she asked that. “Yes, our investment is worth every penny,” he replied, running a hand through thinning hair.
She sensed him nervous. “Don’t worry about it.” She leaned closer and added, “I love you all the same.” Then she kissed him hard.
Derrick’s eyes practically popped out of the sockets when her tongue slid in his mouth. Lately sex was routine versus passion, and a kiss was more of a peck on the mouth not all different from what a mother would give her child.
He quickly pulled back his head. “What’s wrong?” she asked.
Idiot! What the hell’s wrong with you? “Sorry honey, you caught me unexpected is all.” Stop acting like you’re guilty of something, he said silently. What happened in the office was an accident. He then added, I hope.
Jennifer leaned into him again. He wondered, what’s gotten into her?
“I’m proud of you, honey.” Her head rested on his chest. “You’ve worked hard to keep our family secure.” She lifted her head to look him in the eyes. “It means a lot to me what you do for us.”
He panicked. What do I say to that? “And you have the only tits I want to touch.”
Surprise swept over her face. “Is that so?”
Derrick grew desperate. “Yes, you do.” He asked himself, where the hell did that come from? He thought of Sylvia again and said, “Bitch.”
“Oh, so now you think I’m a bitch.”
“Not you, honey.”
“Not me? You mean you’re thinking of someone else?”
How in hell could she have known that? “Of course not, sweetheart. You’re the only woman I want.” That was corny.
They paused, staring blankly at each other. Derrick felt as though he was being cross-examined. Then Jennifer laughed. A moment later he did too.
“You are so corny,” she said, giggling like a teenager.
How did she get to be such a mind reader? “At least I mean well.”
“Yes, you do.” She slid her hand down to his crotch. “So you want to touch my tits.” She paused, searching his eyes. “Sounds like you want to play dirty.”
Derrick squirmed. “Honey what are you doing?”
“I’m playing dirty.” She kissed him hard.
He leaned back until his head rested on the pillow. A moment later all resistance melted away and he gave in, kissing her back equally hard. Their tongues swirled in each other’s mouth when suddenly Jennifer pulled away to wipe the saliva dripping down her cheek.
“You don’t have to be messy about it,” she said, sitting up.
“I thought you were playing dirty?” He knew he sounded stupid the moment after saying it.
“Being sloppy does kill the mood, you know.” She saw his depressed look and smiled. “You’re still that helpless little boy I know, aren’t you.”
“That’s all I need to hear,” Derrick said, shaking his head.
Jennifer laughed. “Don’t worry, honey. I’ll play dirty if you want.” She sat on top of him and removed her pajama top. Taking his hand, she said, “Touch me.”
He fondled her and smiled lustfully. “I see you like that,” she said, wickedly.
He nodded, never taking his eyes away from hers. “I should get promoted more often.”
Author's Note: When My sister in-law read my book she called my wife claiming I wrote about our sex life. I told her no, I had no intention of going there. This was pure writer's imagination I thought was necessary for my character. In most jobs a promotion would in fact grant a raise, although I have seen some person's placed on a temporary manager basis, thus requiring no raise at all. Should you get promoted I certainly hope you get that well-earned raise along with it. If not....I hope you enjoy yourself the way Derrick did just now.
Who's Minding the Store? is available in paperback and eKindle. It may be ordered through your local bookstore, amazon, or through the author's website at:
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