Ascending Lauren Ch. 27

Don't you DARE let this ruin us, Lauren had admonished him when he confessed to his latest proclivity. As a woman, she understood that matters of the heart were fickle.

Nevertheless, she truly had a soft spot for Alex, which meant there was only one thing to do.

Go shopping for a new dress.

+++++

That evening, Corey greeted his wife with a glass of wine and guided her to the sofa, where he tenderly massaged the knots from her tired feet. As usual, he had returned from Dale's ahead of her and had prepared a steaming pasta dish, which they shared at the dinner table. After some light conversation over a delicious Spaghetti allo Scoglio, Lauren smiled uneasily.

"Alex called me today," she revealed.

Corey's heart skipped a beat, but he tried to remain composed, handing her a tissue. It seemed she had suddenly developed a runny nose. "I see. And how is he?"

"Good," she replied.

They both took a few bites of their meal, chewing thoughtfully.

"He wants to meet me for dinner. To catch up," Lauren continued.

"Catch up," Corey repeated skeptically.

"Yes."

Setting down his fork, the conflicted husband took a sip of wine. Lauren dabbed her mouth with a napkin and reached out to hold his hand.

"This is what you wanted, right? It's nothing new," she reassured him.

"No, you're right, it's not."

"But..." Corey's thumb gently caressed her knuckles. "Do you have feelings for this guy?"

Lauren smiled compassionately. "I do."

"More than the others?"

"I care for him, if that's what you mean."

"More than Zane?"

She straightened in her chair. "The physical connection with Zane is... incredibly intense. But he's one of our oldest friends. When it comes down to it, I value our friendship above anything else."

"But Alex...there could be something more?"

Lauren squeezed his hand. "Yes."

She wasn't lying. While part of her motivation was to ignite his kink, she genuinely believed that the ex-rancher could be more than just a friend.

Corey's emotions churned. He knew that all of this had started with him. And yet, until now, the only thing he had to be jealous of was the size and stamina of her other lovers. However, Alex Cartwright was different; the big-hearted Texan seemed to be the first genuine competition for his wife's affections. While the idea of his wife dating other men was thrilling, it was also terrifying. Indeed, Alex had the potential to ignite a flame that could jeopardize their marriage.

A smile returned to Lauren's face. "I need a new dress. Would you like to come with?"

Corey seemed momentarily lost in his thoughts, then shook them off. "Of course, yes. Um, when?"

The petite executive rose from her seat and began clearing the dinner plates.

"Just as soon as we get these cleaned up."

+++++

As Corey observed his wife of twenty-eight years browsing through dress after dress, a wave of jealousy began to consume him. Each outfit she picked up and discarded served as a painful reminder that she would be wearing them for someone else. While he had often fantasized about this scenario, seeing it unfold in reality was an entirely different story.

What would Alex think when he saw Lauren in the dress she ultimately chose? Would he be as captivated as Corey was when they were dating? Would the Texan experience the same rush of emotions? This man was different from the others, posing a threat from an emotional standpoint. He wasn't just a mere boy toy. Cartwright had principles, and his views on marriage bordered on the Victorian. How a temptress like Lauren managed to disrupt his moral compass remained a genuine mystery. But she had succeeded, even to the point of having the travel agent toss out feeble insults aimed at humiliating Corey.

Boutique after boutique, the couple searched for the perfect outfit. The more they looked, the more aroused Corey became, especially when Lauren began seeking his opinion. There was something deviant about a man helping his wife choose clothes for a date he wouldn't be a part of, and it twisted his kink strings with a torturous delight. Finally, in a small dress shop, Lauren spotted a dress that caught her eye. It was a white, ruched, sleeveless number with delicate spaghetti straps.

"This one," she exclaimed excitedly, holding it up for her husband to see, "is perfect."

Corey clenched his teeth, recalling the advice from his best friend. Embrace it. Get off on it. Own it. Unable to tear his eyes away from the dress, he could already envision Lauren wearing it, dancing with Alex, their bodies moving in sync to a slow rhythm.

"It... it is perfect. He'll... he'll love it."

"You think so?" she gushed with the enthusiasm of someone going on their first date.

"Of course. Try it on."

Lauren disappeared into the dressing room and slipped into the dress, admiring herself in the mirror. The fabric hugged her curves in a very flattering manner. Alex would be absolutely mesmerized when he saw her in it. Taking a deep breath, she emerged to show off her selection. Corey's eyes widened. The outfit looked even more stunning on her than he had imagined. It clung to her body like a second skin, accentuating her natural curves and making her appear ethereal. Emotions ran high as he envisioned her wearing it for another man.

"Wow," he breathed, barely above a whisper. "You look amazing."

Lauren blushed at the compliment, feeling reassured. Though initially nervous about the dress, she now felt like a million bucks wearing it. She playfully spun around, allowing the fabric to flow around her toned physique.

"Do you really think so?" she asked, radiating excitement.

"I do," Corey confirmed with a troubled nod. "It truly is perfect. Especially for... for Alex."

A pang of guilt surfaced at the mention of the hesitant bull, but the brunette pushed it aside and walked back into the fitting area. This was what they both wanted -- for her to be noticed, to allure and attract. And the dress certainly achieved that. Ten minutes later, they stood outside the store on the sidewalk, with Lauren clutching the wrapped garment.

"Now what?" she inquired.

Across the street, a neon sign from a nail salon beckoned.

"Perhaps a manicure?" Corey suggested, half-jokingly.

"Hmm. I like the way you think."

It was almost comical how quickly his face fell.

+++++

There wasn't but one other customer in The Sophisticated Cuticle, so they were able to take Lauren as a walk-in. Nearly empty, Corey was able to take a seat in a booth nearby and watched with fascination as the manicurist removed old nail polish, then made sure the surface was free from any oils and dirt.

"Special occasion?" the girl - Babs, according to her nametag - asked as she trimmed excess skin with the nippers.

"Hot date," Lauren grinned. "Right, babe?"

Corey blinked with a blank look on his face. "If you say so."

Babs glanced surreptitiously at the older man before returning her eyes to her customer's hand. Whatever the couple had planned, it didn't appear he was too excited about it. "What color are we thinking this time?"

Lauren scrunched up her nose in thought, then deferred to Corey. "What do you think Alex would like? Anything goes with white but make it something sexy."

Babs remained expressionless as her eyes went back to the woman's husband. A bit odd she referred to him the third person, but whatever.

"What'll it be, Alex? We can do classic red, a nice rich burgundy, maybe a shiny emerald?"

Corey coughed. "I'm...I'm not Alex."

The girl cocked an eyebrow.

"Alex is my date. That's why we're here," Lauren explained bluntly.

Julie's gaze alternated between the two before sighing. Nothing about Miami surprised her anymore.

"So, um, not Alex. What color?"

++++++

Sporting a fresh coat of metallic blue nail polish, Lauren slipped her hand through Corey's arm as they walked leisurely down the boulevard back towards the Majestic Summit, occasionally stopping to window shop or for her to wipe her nose. Those sniffles seemed to be getting worse.

"You like him, don't you?" he asked, trying not to show too many jitters.

"I do," she replied quietly. "There's a lot to like. He's kind, respectful, and cares what I think. Alex actually wants to get to know me. He listens to me and cares about my thoughts and opinions. It's refreshing, you know?""

"Oh."

Lauren leaned into him, smiling. "What?"

There was a deep breath, trying to suppress his growing unease. "It's just...I have to admit, I thought you'd say you like his cock or something. I didn't realize you had...feelings...for him."

The fetching office manager raised an eyebrow, a smirk on her lips. "Are you jealous?"

Corey frowned. "I...I'm sorry. Forget about it."

"Are you afraid I might run off with him?"

"No...yes...I don't know."

"Do you want me to?"

"God no!"

Lauren stopped in the middle of the busy sidewalk and pulled her husband close. She could feel his erection pressing against his slacks. "But you like to think I might, don't you? Get on his boat and sail away."

"Laur..."

Leaning over, the back of her hand brushed his groin as she whispered in his ear. "Admit it."

Corey glanced around as pedestrians walked around them. "It's...it's kinda hot. That someone else would want to make you his."

"He's a great guy."

"I thought I was too."

"But he's got a big cock."

More people broke their stride to navigate around the couple.

"Yeah?"

Lauren's eyes shifted up and down the street before locking on Corey's. "Huge." She cupped his crotch and squeezed. "A helluva lot bigger than this, I can tell you that. He makes me cum. Every time."

An almost imperceptible shudder of bittersweet angst rolled across the project manager's body.

"I can't even begin to tell you about all the things Alex does to me. The way he touches me, kisses me...and how it feels, deep inside. Deeper than you will ever get."

A sparkle twinkled in both her eyes, as she herself began to get aroused. The mix of emotions on her malleable spouse's face was intoxicating, a blend of jealousy, desire, and a hint of resignation. It thrilled her to know that she had the power to provoke such strong reactions in him. As the walk light turned white, they crossed the street, their bodies still pressed close together. In some ways Corey felt relieved. What his wife had described was physical attraction, not emotional. Any reassurance, however, was short lived.

"So that's it," he asked. "Just sex?"

Reaching the other side, Lauren couldn't help but notice the way Corey's chest was rising and falling rapidly. It was quite obvious he was in turmoil.

"No," she shook her head, pulling him aside. "It's more than that. We have a connection."

Corey's face fell and a shiver ran down his spine as the implications of Lauren's words sank in. It was obvious her interest in the guy went way beyond the tip of the El Pasoan's cock. The doleful husband's dick was hard but heart heavy. "A connection? What does that mean?"

"I don't know. Just like you can't describe your...thing, neither can I. He doesn't care how I live my life. What we are, whatever that is. He just...gets me."

Corey's eyes narrowed, uncertainty clouding them. He couldn't deny the excitement that surged through him at the thought of his wife connecting with someone else on a deeper level. And the fear of actually losing her to another man was an unbelievable turn on. The tent in his pants, even in the midst of the busy avenue, make Lauren laugh. She could see the exquisite suffering his fetish was putting him through. Time to give him what he wanted.

"You really are fucked up."

"Huh?"

"You heard me.

It was a strange, twisted emotion, one that he had never expected to feel. But as he stood there, his heart raced and his blood pumped faster, fueling the fire of a fetish that would not leave him alone. Corey couldn't understand it but couldn't deny it either.  He was afraid of losing his wife, but also turned on by the idea of her being desired by someone else, and potentially being replaced.

"I know."

Lauren giggled, running her fingers through her husband's hair as they continued walking to their apartment. "Thank you."

Corey exhaled heavily. Jesus, he was horny. "For what?"

"For being a girlfriend to me when I needed one."

"Say again?"

"This. You know. Girl talk and stuff. Nails, dating, clothes, hot boyfriends."

"Is that what this was? Girl talk?"

"You're cute, trying to act like it wasn't."

Standing waiting for the walk light to turn white, the analogy hit Corey hard.

"Lauren, I don't think it's fair to compare me to..."

"A girlfriend?"

"Yes."

Instead of crossing the street when it was time to walk, the fiery brunette forcefully guided her husband into a narrow alleyway between two older downtown buildings. The space was dimly lit and covered in grime, only wide enough for them to stand sideways, their bodies pressed tightly against each other. Above them, an iron fire escape from a bygone era loomed. Casting a quick glance over her shoulder, Lauren ensured that no one witnessed their discreet retreat into the small enclave. Satisfied with the privacy, she slipped her hand down his pants, suppressing the urge to sniff away a hint of nasal mucus, her eyes filled with a wild intensity.

"What the hell, Corey? You choose a dress and nail color for a date you won't even be on. I open up about my feelings for another guy, and now you're getting hard, for God's sake."

Corey winced. She was right. Every word she said hit home, making him feel even more insecure. He could almost visualize his man-boobs expanding as his head gently thudded against the rough brick wall behind him.

"You're driving me insane."

Lauren's eyes gleamed mischievously. "That's the plan," she growled, her hand delving deeper into Corey's pants. "It's always been the plan."

"Oh, shit, Laur!"

"Yeah? You like that?"

Corey's face contorted with pleasure as her fingers wrapped around his less-than-impressive penis. He leaned against the coarse brick, stealing glances at the street just a few feet away from their hidden darkness. Passersby rushed past, completely unaware of their presence.

"Fuck."

Her hand moved skillfully up and down his shaft.

"Are you my bitch?" she asked, eagerly awaiting her husband's response. It was something she had come across online. This was textbook behavior.

"N-No."

"No? Because you're certainly acting like a bitch. Do you have sexy pumps for me to wear?"

"What? No!"

"Tips on how to style my hair?"

Lauren's grip tightened around Corey's throbbing member as she quickened her pace. With a wicked grin, she leaned in closer, her lips brushing against his ear.

"I'm going to fuck him, you know. Fuck his humble, big-hearted, Lone Star brains out."

Corey's body trembled. "I-I-I know."

"He likes me, babe. Likes me a lot."

Pressed against the wall, the Iowan transplant's face contorted, signaling his impending release.

"I like him a lot too."

"No, Lauren."

"Who knows? Maybe someday..."

"No..."

"He and I will run away, be together, just the two of us."

Corey's hips began to quiver. Drops of pre-cum moistened Lauren's hand beneath his boxers, increasing the slickness around his member.

"NO!"

"Will you set me free, Twisty? Set me free to be me?"

With his mouth agape, a guttural moan escaped Corey's lips, growing in volume and intensity until Lauren had to cover it with her hand.

"Do it, bitch. Cum for me. Cum for me, my cuckold."

Corey clenched his eyes shut, overwhelmed by the sensations coursing through his body. His tortured member spasmed, releasing its pent-up desire in a sticky eruption that coated both his hand and his underwear.

"Fuck, baby. Look at you, shooting your pathetic load all over yourself," Lauren taunted, her voice dripping with scorn. "You're such a weak little cuck, aren't you?"

As the tremors subsided, she withdrew her hand from his pants, using his shirt to wipe away the opaque evidence of his climax. Leaning in closer, her voice laced with condescension, she continued, "You know what's even hotter? Imagining that's Alex's cum. You know, the man who can actually satisfy me."

Without saying another word, Lauren picked up her shopping bag and turned to leave. Stepping out onto the bustling sidewalk, she flashed a gratified grin and composed herself. Slowly and sensually, the mature seductress embarked on the remaining two-block journey home, never once glancing back. Behind her, Corey stumbled under the glow of the orange vapor streetlights, adjusting his trousers, his gaze fixed on their apartment. He caught a fleeting glimpse of her hips swaying in the crowd.

"Things can get pretty weird on the Gold Coast," Dale had warned.

No shit.

======================

Saturday, April 14th

======================

The Millers made their way to the rooftop of their building just as the afternoon sun burned off a bit of Saturday morning fog. It was the first day the pair had wrangled enough time to visit the pool as a couple since the move, and spending a little time together before Lauren's date that night seemed the thing to do. As they exited the elevator, Corey watched intently as his wife strutted her stuff along the pool deck in her barely-there black bikini. Her long, flowing black tresses cascaded down her back, adding to a goddess-like entrance. The contrast between her sun-kissed skin and his own pale complexion, a result of the harsh Iowan winter, was stark. As Corey glanced down at his pudgy body, a wave of self-consciousness washed over him, reminding him of why he despised going to the pool.

During the seven months they had lived in this place, Lauren had managed to befriend many of the so-called "beautiful people" who frequented the poolside bar. It seemed that this was the go-to spot for residents to unwind and engage in casual conversations. As Lauren strolled near the pool, warm smiles of recognition greeted her, and she reciprocated with nods of acknowledgment to the familiar faces. Corey couldn't help but notice the attention she received, realizing that some of these connections went beyond mere platonic friendships.

Standing waist-deep in the water, engrossed in conversation with a buxom blonde, was Tommy Myer, the college football player who had once pleasured Lauren on his couch while Corey watched. He then noticed a group of bodybuilders who raised their glasses in salute as Lauren passed by. Even a skinny, unassuming figure beneath a large umbrella watched her with rapt attention. Must be the nerd from apartment 15b. The hundred-pound weakling with an anorexic build. If that was indeed the case, Corey couldn't help but wonder how desperate Lauren must have been on that particular day. And as they made their way to the other side of the water, Corey spotted Jack Carter, the wealthy penthouse dweller who had also enjoyed the pleasures of Lauren's company. It was a virtual cornucopia of men from the building who had screwed his wife, and they were all watching her intently.

Remembering.

Feeling the weight of their gazes, Corey's mind raced with thoughts of what they must be thinking. Here was the slut's chubby husband, well aware of what each had each done to his wife. Were they mocking him with those shit eating grins? Did they see him as weak and pathetic? So inadequate that she had to fuck other men to get off? The awkwardness of the situation made his palms grow sweaty and the insecurity began to gnaw at him. And yet as awkward as it seemed, he couldn't deny that the knowledge of Lauren's past encounters with these guys made him feel a strange sense of arousal.

After settling into lounge chairs along the poolside, the couple applied sunscreen and began to bask in the warm rays of the sun. Soft rock melodies floated through the air, creating a relaxing ambiance on the rooftop. Every now and then, a resident would pause and strike up a conversation with Lauren, their smiles carrying an undertone of recognition towards Corey. Even the dweeby milquetoast happened by to say hello, albeit nervously.