Obscure

Well, I knew this day would come eventually. But that still doesn't make it any easier to swallow.

Natalie sure didn't give me much notice. She broke the terrible news to me one hot Sunday morning.

"I was talking with Luke yesterday," she said archly as I handed her the Sunday paper. "He's intrigued with you, Brian. He can't understand how you can be such a wuss." She flashed her teeth at me. "He says it turns him on."

She scanned her paper for a moment while I stood there like a mule. Finally, Natalie turned her attention back to me.

"Anyway, I was talking to him about it, and we thought it would be nice if he came over for dinner tonight. He wants to get to know you better, Brian. Do you think you could whip up something nice for dinner tonight?"

My mind reeled. I felt like I was going to throw up!

"C'mon, Brian. It's not exactly like this is a surprise or anything. Besides, I want you to accept Luke. You just have to get to know him better; he's really a sweetheart!" she giggled.

I felt I had to fight this somehow. "Natalie, please don't make me do this," I croaked.

She curled her lip. "Listen, I'm not making you do anything. You could've walked away from this a long time ago, Brian. But if you don't want to see Luke tonight, that's fine with me. Pack up and go! I'll have Luke draw up the divorce papers Monday!"

I couldn't say anything. She'd won again, and we both knew it.

Finally, in a defeated voice, I mumbled, "I'm sorry, Natalie. Please don't do that...I'll try to make you happy. I don't mind if....if he...comes over tonight."

"Oh, it won't be just tonight," she shot back triumphantly. "You can plan on Luke spending a lot of time over here from now on. A lot of time..." A secret smile crossed her pretty face as she folded up her newspaper.

"Well, Brian, now that we've got that out of the way, you have a lot of work to do. I want this place spotless by the time he gets here tonight. I want everything to sparkle! He'll be here around 7, so I suggest you get moving."

* * *

I was exhausted. I'd spent the entire day scrubbing down the whole house, and every joint in my body was sore.

But I felt even worse inside.

I've known about Natalie's infidelities from the start. How could I not have known? She's flaunted her extracurricular activities all along.

But tonight was going to be something new altogether. I kept hoping that maybe I was in the middle of some crazy dream, and that I'd wake up.

Natalie didn't help matters much. She was in a great mood all day. She told me that she had been looking forward to this for a long time, and she acted like a schoolgirl on prom night.

She had me give her a long foot massage before she took a shower. While I knelt at my wife's feet, we had a long, serious discussion about our relationship.

"Does it make you sad that Luke is coming over tonight, Brian?" she teased as I vigorously rubbed lotion into her foot.

"I-I don't know," I stammered. "Uh, yes...it does make me very sad, Natalie. I don't understand why...why things have to be like this."

Natalie leaned back in her recliner and studied my downtrodden face for a moment. After a long pause, she spoke.

"You knew I was an evil bitch when you married me, Brian," she began. "And, besides, I know you like it! Otherwise, you'd have left me a long time ago. You don't fool me, Brian. I've had you figured out from the start! You're a person who enjoys being used and abused. And I'm just the kind of bitch who will do it to you! So quit complaining - you ought to be happy I keep your sorry ass around!"

I didn't respond to her cutting words. I just lowered my head and continued massaging my wife's foot as she sat back in her chair with a dreamy look in her eyes.

Our conversation ended as Natalie turned her attention to the television.

After about a half-hour, Natalie dismissed me. "That's enough. Go get my clothes ready. I put my outfit on the bed; it needs to be ironed. And make sure the candles in my bedroom are lit, Brian, and put the silk sheets on the bed - I want tonight to be totally romantic."

While I ironed the miniskirt Natalie was planning to wear, she called Laura and chatted for awhile. I strained to hear her conversation from my post in the laundry room. She was telling Laura all about her plans for the evening.

"Guess who's coming to dinner?" I heard Natalie say. "Yeah, I'm having him over tonight! I just told the creep this morning," she added proudly.

"Hell no, he didn't say anything!" she continued. "He knows better than to say anything - his loser ass will be out on the street in a heartbeat!"

She continued talking to Laura for awhile. Finally, at about 6 o'clock, Natalie hung up the phone and started getting ready for her lover. I heard her turn on the shower, then she began singing tunelessly over the sound of the running water. My soul ached. Did she have to be so goddamned happy?

When Natalie finished her shower, she hollered down for me to put in her Madonna CD and turn it up. While the buoyant, fluffy songs rang out mockingly throughout the house, Natalie finished getting ready for Luke.

I stood in the hallway downstairs, staring at myself in the mirror. I looked deep into my own eyes and tried to find an answer. I had no idea what was going to happen tonight. Why was she doing this? How did my life get so crazy? Why do I love her so much?

Why does she hate me so much?

At about 7:30, the doorbell rang. I was trembling. The witching hour was at hand!

"Go get that," Natalie called from upstairs. "It's probably him."

With my heart stuck in my gills, I opened the front door. My wife's aristocratic lover stood in the doorway.

"Well, hey there, stud-boy," he jeered, brushing past me into the house before I even had a chance to invite him in. "How's it hangin'? Where's my little luv-bunny?"

I gulped. "S-she's upstairs getting ready. Uh, do you want something to drink...or something?"

Luke cocked his head flashed me a look of triumph. "Yeah, Brian, you can run and fetch me a cold beer, if you have one." His tone of voice indicated that he already knew where he stood in this relationship. I scurried off to the kitchen to get Luke's beer, thinking that it sure didn't take him long to establish his turf!

When I returned, cold beer in hand, Luke was sitting on the couch. After he took the can (without thanking me), he leaned back on the couch and took a long, invigorating drink. I stood by the couch, unsure of what to do next.

Then Natalie made her grand entrance. I gasped audibly - I'd never seen her look so gorgeous! The sexy red minidress I'd ironed earlier pinched her supple frame perfectly. Her matching red "fuck-me" pumps clicked musically across the wood floor as she flashed Luke a sensuous smile and started walking slowly down the stairs.

Luke let out a loud wolf-whistle. "Wow, you look FAN-tastic, Natty!" He jumped up and met Natalie at the foot of the stairs. He grabbed the back of her head forcefully and stuck his tongue in her mouth. My wife melted.

I felt like an intruder in my own home. I didn't want to just stand there and watch, but what else was I supposed to do? At first, I tried to avert my gaze, but I kept looking back up at Natalie and her boyfriend, passionately French-kissing on the stairs. He was rubbing his hands all over her back, down her dress, over her butt, back up through her hair. My temples were pounding as I watched this man touch Natalie in a way I've never known.

Finally, they broke their embrace and walked hand-in-hand over to the couch. After they sat down, they turned their attention to me. I felt naked as they both stared at me with conspiratorial smiles on their faces. I just stood dumbly in the middle of the living room with my arms plastered to my sides, hoping to die.

Luke was the first to speak. "Brian, I was talking to your wife the other day...we were talking about you, as a matter of fact. We were wondering something: doesn't it bother you that I'm fucking her, and you're not?"

Natalie giggled and snuggled closer to her lover. They exchanged bemused glances.

"I just want her to be happy," I answered in a dull, defeated voice.

Luke put his arm around Natalie possessively and smiled at me. "Well, Brian, that's a lofty goal. It's good for you to want to make your wife happy. It's awfully big of you, I think."

Natalie purred like a cat and put her hand on Luke's muscular chest. She looked up at her lover. "He's really a good little hubby, Luke. He's so faithful....and loyal..."

"Yeah, Brian, Natalie tells me you're a real sweetheart!" Luke said to me. "She says you even iron her panties before she goes out on a date with me!"

"That's not all he does - is it, Brian?" Natalie smiled evilly at me, then turned to Luke. "He even washes out my underwear AFTER we go out!"

They both cackled. Then Luke looked up at me and smiled arrogantly.

"Brian, you might as well get used to it: me and little Natalie-poo here got a thing goin' on, and we don't plan on stopping anytime soon. I know you're a spineless little wimp, so don't even try to hide it. This is how it's going to be from now on, Brian, and if you don't like it, you can leave - you got that?"

I lowered my eyes and whispered, "uh-huh. I-I understand." I wasn't even sure what it was I was agreeing to...I just knew I didn't have the strength to try to fight this man. Natalie guffawed loudly at her boyfriend's effortless control.

Luke continued laying down the law. "I want you to get one thing straight: there's only room for one man in this household from now on - and you're looking at him. The only reason Natalie doesn't divorce your ass and marry me is that we think it's more fun this way. She likes having you around to do all her housework, Brian, but make no mistake about it: she doesn't love you. She loves me." He turned to Natalie. "Tell him, honey," he said. "Who do you love?"

"Well, what do you think?" she asked coyly. "Baby, I've been in love with you since the first time I saw you!"

Luke shot me a smug look as my wife scooted up to him to give him a kiss. "Love is a many splendored thing, Brian," he said, draping his arm around Natalie's shoulder. "Aren't you happy that your wife has found that special someone to share it with?"

Then, without waiting for an answer, Luke delivered the knockout punch.

"I might as well tell you now, Brian: after I finish this case I'm working on, I'm going to be moving in here. Your wife and I have talked about it a lot, and that's what we both want. We have big plans for you, Brian. From now on, if you want to keep Natalie happy, you're going to have to work very hard to keep me happy, too."

I was horrified! I looked beseechingly at Natalie, praying she would tell me this was some kind of joke. But one glimpse at my wife told me this was no joke. I felt my stomach churning. How could this be happening? They'd obviously been planning this for some time. How could she do this to me? The worst part is, I had to hear it from Luke!

Natalie clucked her tongue. "Awwww, don't look so sad, honey. Just think: When Luke moves in here, I'll be really happy - and that's what you say you want most of all...to make me happy. Isn't it?"

I could tell by the gleam in her eye: she knew I was defeated.

"Don't you want me to be happy, Brian?" she repeated.

I started to cry. "Y-yes, Natalie. I want to make you happy," I blubbered. "I want to make you happy..."

She leaned back and smiled mischievously. "Well, then, Brian, here's what I want you to do. I want you to go kneel in front of Luke and ask him if he'll please make me happy by moving in with me!"

I managed to drop to my knees in front of the smirking Luke. "W-will you make Natalie happy and...and move in?" I intoned.

"Will I make her happy and move in...WHAT?" Luke demanded.

I caught on. "Will you make Natalie happy and move in...sir?"

"That's right. Always call me sir," Luke said firmly. "I demand respect, wimp, and you damn well better give it to me."

"Yes, sir," I answered quietly.

Luke sat up and clapped his hands. "Okay, then! I think I'm going to grant your request, Brian. After I've finished with this case, I'll be moving in here. It'll be about a week or so. I think this is gonna work out," he said, caressing my wife's ******* thigh. "From what Natalie tells me, someone has to keep her company at night!"

They fell over each other laughing.

"Al-righty, then," Natalie said after their tittering died down. "Why don't you go check on dinner, Brian, and give us a little privacy in here?"

As I turned and shuffled off to the kitchen, I could hear their wet victory kiss behind me.

As directed by Luke, I stood in the corner with my hands folded in front of me while my wife and her lover enjoyed their romantic, candle-lit dinner. Luke obviously got off treating me like a slave: from the moment he entered our home, he took the reigns firmly in hand. I guess he sensed immediately that I was totally intimidated by him.

Natalie was breaking my heart. All through their meal, she sat staring at Luke, enthralled...laughing at his jokes...hanging on his every word. I stood there like a sap and watched my wife fall in love with another man right before my eyes.

Finally, when they were finished eating, Luke looked up at me. "Brian, did you put nice, clean sheets on the bed before I got here? It's time for me and Natalie-poo to go make a little boom-boom, and I don't want to have to make love to this beautiful woman on dirty sheets!"

"Y-yes, sir, I just put clean sheets on the bed this morning," I said sadly.

Suddenly, without warning, Luke stood up and scooped my wife up into his muscular arms. Natalie kicked her legs and squealed as her burly lover held her close to his body.

"Time for bed, you sexy little bitch!" Luke said to my wife. She threw her head back and reveled in her lover's control.

"Don't wait up for us," Natalie called over her shoulder as Luke began carrying her up the stairs. "We'll call you in the morning for our breakfast!"

Luke stopped halfway up the stairs, and looked over the banister at me. "Come on up here, Brian, and give your wife a good-night kiss," he ordered.

I approached the stairs apprehensively. "Come on, she won't bite!" Luke taunted. He was still holding her effortlessly in his arms. I tiptoed up the stairs and kissed my wife lightly on the cheek.

"Thank you, Brian," she cooed sweetly. "You're such a good little puppy!"

Luke laughed and blew me a kiss. "Now, you go on to bed, little fag," he told me. "Don't you worry about us: I believe we've got matters well taken care of."

"Y-yes, sir," I mumbled. I watched in anguished silence as Luke turned away from me and carried my wife the rest of the way up the stairs. He carried her into the bedroom and closed the door behind him.

BE SURE TO TUNE IN FOR PART 5, IN WHICH OUR HERO GETS USED TO THE NEW LIVING SITUATION!