The Wife

Sarah tried to hold back the tears of terror as she looked around the empty kitchen. She always feared that each rejection she gave could be the one that finally caused her husband to give up on her and leave, but she’d never expected it to be so sudden and inexplicable.

The surprise date had gone so well. Matt had got back from work early with a bouquet of flowers that still sat in a temporary vase on the kitchen table, then whisked Sarah away without giving her the chance to spend an hour worrying about what to wear and what to do with her hair. She’d been anxious about how she’d look in her everyday casual wear next to her husband still in his business suit, but if anything he had been the one overdressed as they had laughed and chatted through the live music night at a local bar.

Dinner had been Greek street food from a surprisingly nice food van, then more drinks and more music. Sarah had blushed and giggled at Matt’s flirting as they held hands and walked down the street looking for the next place that did interesting cocktails. She’d been in a good mood. Happy. She loved her husband, and he loved her. Then she had to go and ruin it when they got back home.

“Matt?” Sarah called out, but didn’t get any more response than the last five times. Her fingers brushed against the spot on her throat where he had lightly bitten her skin, recalling an echo of the sudden thrill and the harsh crash afterwards.

Once upon a time, Sarah would have been halfway out of her clothes by the time Matt started nibbling on her neck. He’d be taking charge, and she’d be fantasising about what he might have planned, wondering which toys they’d use, which positions he’d take her in, what orders he’d give her. Would he cum in her, or on her? Would they go for two rounds or three, or even four? How long would the delicious ache last over the following days, reminding her of their night of debauchery every time she sat down?

If only she hadn’t pushed him away when he’d tried again. If only she had gone along with it. If only she had been prettier, and thinner, and more deserving, then maybe he wouldn’t have vanished. Sarah recognised the thought was irrational, but that didn't stop her from believing it in her heart.

“...got the wrong guy.”

The distant voice caught Sarah’s ear and her head whipped around. There was still nobody there, but she had definitely heard Matt. Was he still around? Had she gone crazy, and he’d just gone into a different room than she’d thought?

“Matt?” she called out a final time, walking out of the kitchen and into the throne room of a castle.

“Sarah!” came the answering cry.

Sarah was flooded with relief and confusion at the same time. Her husband was there, but sitting on an ostentatious golden throne on top of a raised platform. Despite his position of prominence, Matt looked distressed, and started to rise from his seat only to crash heavily back down as though his legs had been knocked out from under him. She instinctively started to move towards him but found herself blocked by a small ginger woman, shorter than even she was, with yellow eyes. The woman stepped in front of her wearing a red leather jacket and a distressingly wide grin.

“Greetings to our first Contestant!” she announced with theatrical flair, far too loudly given how close she was, “Repeated explanations are boring, so let’s get you quickly filled in on the situation and then you can introduce yourself to the Audience.”

Before Sarah could complain or question anything, she felt a sharp poke as the tip of an orange quill was jabbed into her left breast. Her mind flooded with understanding: the show, the Host, the Audience, and the questions. She found her feet moving on their own, walking her over to the left-most chair and sitting her down in it. As soon as her backside touched the wood the answers bubbled forth uncontrollably.

“Hello, my name is Sarah Hawkins. I’m twenty nine years old and I’m an admin for an estate agent. I’m bisexual, and the last time I had sex was six months ago when I let my guard down on a quiet weekend and my husband made me cum until I couldn’t move anymore. I know the Master because we went to school together, and we’ve been in a relationship for over ten years and married for two.”

Matt had been watching Sarah from his throne with great concern, but when she’d answered the question about sex his expression had changed into that heartbreakingly familiar smile that didn’t reach his eyes. She went pale and looked away as she realised exactly what she’d said.

“You ‘let your guard down’?” he asked in a distraught whisper that only just carried across the distance between them, “Sarah, did I... did you not want me to do any of that? Did I **** you?”

Sarah wrung her hands in her lap, unable to meet her husband’s gaze. “You didn’t. You wouldn’t. It’s not that. I didn’t mean... I enjoyed it, I just...”

Perhaps seeing that Sarah wasn’t going to get anywhere with her fumbling attempts at an excuse, Scarlet spun back between the two of them, hopping a couple of steps up towards the throne and addressing the Audience once more. “Oooh, drama! It goes to show that partners and spouses don’t necessarily have an advantage in this game! Now let’s spice up the competition even further with someone who’d be much more willing to put out for the Master, if only he’d ask...”

Sarah blushed and Matt scowled, but Scarlet ignored them both, already gesturing with her quill to open another doorway.