Beauty and Cruelty. Those were the two words which came into Bryan’s mind every time he had sex with his wife. She was utterly selfish, utterly uncaring, and never more so than when fucking her man. She wanted what she wanted and she just went for it. When she was on top, eyes closed, chasing her orgasm, it was clear by her expression that Bryan was just a cock to her in that moment. If, by some magical power, he were swapped with another man, she would just carry on fucking until she was done.
Yet there was something fascinating, even mesmerising, about being with a woman so ruthlessly intent on her own satisfaction. Bryan had been with much nicer women than Becky in the past, but he had never been happy with them. The problem with kind, sympathetic women was that they deserved kindness and sympathy in return and Bryan did not have all that much to give. Whereas with Becky, he was actually the less selfish of the two and he found that liberating–when he did want something, he could just take it without worrying that he was being unfair to his wife. Okay, two selfish people would always clash, but he saw that as a price worth paying. With his cock buried in Becky’s cunt and hips jerking as he ejaculated, Bryan couldn’t help feeling that the pros most definitely outweighed the cons.
Afterwards, they lay coupled together, man on top, woman with legs wrapped around man, for many wonderful minutes. Then Becky gave a deep sigh, her legs relaxed, and Bryan took that as a signal that it was time to pull out. But the moment he moved, the woman’s legs grabbed him, forcing him back in. Her arms tightened around his body and Becky pressed herself to him–all without saying a word.
Bryan held his wife close and thought, ‘This is why I love being with her.’ Because he knew Becky wasn’t holding his cock inside her for his sake… she was doing it for hers. And deep, deep down–as shallow as it was–Bryan wanted a woman who wanted his cock for her own selfish pleasure. They spent a few blissful minutes more in that position. Then Becky broke the silence with a whisper.
‘Bryan?’
‘Hmm?’
‘Do you really want that lamp?’
***
Becky couldn’t understand what she said that was so funny. Bryan was laughing so hard, he was mashing his face into a pillow so that he wouldn’t wake up Tara. He had pulled out and was kneeling, while Becky was sitting up at the other end of the bed. He still had an erection and it was wagging up and down as he laughed. Becky would have found it funny if she wasn’t so nonplussed.
‘Oh, my goodness, Becky,’ said Bryan, lowering the pillow. ‘I love you so much!’
‘Why?’ she said, flinging her hands out.
‘Because you are so gloriously, shamelessly self-centred!’
‘Oh. Thanks.’
‘Hey, it’s not a good thing; it’s not a bad thing. It’s just… who you are.’
‘Well, you’re just as self-centred as I am!’
‘I know.’
‘W–‘
Becky stopped. She was expecting a denial and Bryan’s agreement had thrown her off. Bryan smiled and rubbed one of her legs.
‘Becky, I think we both know that neither of us are good people,’ he said. ‘We’re selfish people trying to be good… and I think it’s the trying that’s important.’
Becky thought about that. She began to realise that she didn’t actually mind when Bryan said ‘horrible’ things about her, so long as he also applied them to himself. She put one of her feet on his lap as a peace offering.
Bryan smiled. It was so typical of Becky to regard giving her a foot massage as an olive branch. He could really fuck with her head by reacting, ‘Yuck! Get that disgusting thing off me!’ Still, he had seen what happened when a man successfully got a woman to doubt her own beauty and he didn’t want to go there. Besides, who was he kidding? He loved Becky’s feet. He began to run a thumb along the sole of her foot.
‘So…’ said Becky. ‘To get back to the bedside lamp.’
‘I don’t give a shit about the lamp,’ said Bryan.
‘Then why all the fuss?’
‘It’s the dishonesty I can’t stand.’
‘What dishonesty?’
‘Pretending that “we” are making a decision when in fact it’s only you. And you throwing a tantrum every time I point that out.’
Becky glowered at him. She tried to take her foot back, but Bryan had anticipated the reaction and held fast to her ankle. Becky pulled harder, but Bryan kept her leg captive.
‘Let go, you bastard!’
‘Not until I’ve said my piece,’ said Bryan. ‘And when I’m done, I’ll go banish myself to the spare room if you like.’
Becky scowled, but she stopped struggling. She put her other foot flat on the mattress and gave Bryan a haughty look, like a duchess who condescends to hear her chauffeur’s opinion.
‘Go on, then,’ she said. ‘Say your “piece”.’
Bryan cleared his throat.
‘In our relationship,’ he said, ‘I’ve noticed two kinds of decision-making. The first is when we have to make a decision as a mother and father. The two of us sit down, we discuss things, and I feel like both of us really listens to the other. It’s so obvious that we both want what’s best for Tara that even when we disagree, we never get into the kind of fights that we had today.’
Becky swallowed and looked down. Bryan gripped her leg and leaned forward.
‘Becky, some of my favourite moments with you,’ he said, ‘are those times we sit down and talk about our daughter.’
‘Oh, I love those too!’
‘They’re wonderful.’
‘They are! They really are!’
‘And yet,’ went on Bryan, ‘whenever we have to make a decision as a husband and wife, something else happens. I mean, we’re terrible at that!’
Becky laughed.
‘I suppose we are,’ she said.
‘We’re like a couple of kids fighting over which flavour ice cream to have!’ said Bryan. ‘And all the maturity and depth that we show when we’re talking about Tara just seems to fly out the window! Why is that?’
‘Well, maybe…’ said Becky, moving her knee to display her pussy, ‘…as a husband, you’re supposed to give me what I want.’
‘If you mean give you a good rooting, I’m all for that,’ said Bryan. ‘But wandering around the shops for three hours pretending to be interested in furniture? Not so much.’
‘Not even if it makes me very happy?’
‘Becky, do you want the kind of marriage in which the man has to earn sex?’
Becky started. For some reason, Dee and David came to mind and Becky straightened her free leg. Her pussy was still visible, but no longer on display.
‘You’re right,’ she said. ‘I don’t want that either.’
Becky looked over at her mother-in-law’s bedside lamps. They had been emanating light for twenty years, probably, but Becky still wanted to change them. And not with a pair of ugly snake lamps. She sighed and looked back at her husband.
‘So, what do you suggest?’ she said.
***
It was the following weekend and the sun was shining. According to weather reports, it was going to be a scorcher. Sally had stayed overnight at Tara’s house for a sleepover and after breakfast, Becky and Bryan brought the girls over to Dee and David’s. The Sandfords then went off to buy their bedside lamps while the Turners looked after the kids. The plan was for all six to have lunch together when the couple returned, assuming they got through that morning without another fight.