Cheating and Rivals Pt. 77-81

"Okay," Mike said, but he wasn't sure. Jen snuggled back into his arm. Mike absentmindedly played with her long blonde hair, twisting silky locks in his fingers.

After a few moments he said "I read they're thinking about giving Ricky another Medal of Honor."

"Yeah I saw that too," Jen said softly.

"You haven't talked to him?"

"Not lately," she said evasively. It was true. She'd hadn't talked to Ricky since the hospital.

"It's a big deal," Mike said. "It's rare to get 2. I would've thought you would've talked to him."

Jen shrugged but didn't say anything. They lapsed into silence.

Finally Mike said "You can talk to him if you want."

Jen got up on her elbow and looked into his face, as if studying him. She said, "We'll see ..."

"The papers say he was really brave," Mike said.

Jen shrugged again and said "A lot of people were brave. Frank and Hugh protected Anna. Lou protected me. Yeah Ricky was brave, but they were brave too."

Mike remembered what Colonel Banks said. "You know, I've never fired a gun."

Jen got up on her elbow again. "Of course you haven't. That's not you," she said consolingly. "But you've brave Mike. You're the bravest man I know."

Mike nodded and gave her a weak appreciative smile. They lapsed into silence again. Eventually Mike said "But you think Ricky's brave too."

Once again Jen rose up and looked at her husband. "Baby, what do you want me to say?" she asked.

Mike shrugged, not answering.

Jen affectionately stroked his cheek. "Oh Mike, you're so complicated," she said with kind, understanding smile. In a soft voice, she said "Can I tell you something? About LA?"

"Yes," Mike said.

"I think about it sometimes," she said. "It gets confusing in my head. Because sometimes when I remember, it's you not Ricky."

"What?" Mike said not understanding.

"Like, remember I told you about going surfing? In Lunada Bay? When I think about it sometimes, it's you not Ricky. It's you teaching me to surf. It's you saving me after I wiped out."

"I don't know how to surf," Mike said, still not understanding.

"I know," Jen said, hugging his arm. "I mean, I don't understand myself. But sometimes when I think about it, LA feels like a pretend trip. Like an adventure. But with you, not Ricky."

Mike stared at his wife, trying to understand, trying to figure out how this new information fitted into the complicated jigsaw puzzle of his emotions.

Jen took off her white nightie and VS cotton panties. She pulled down Mike's boxers. He was hard. She kissed his lips and said in a soft, husky voice, "Yeah, Ricky was brave. He was freaking awesome. Is that what you want to hear baby?" She felt his body shudder with lust.

Jen got on top of Mike and guided him into her pussy. He was so hard. She kissed him as she slowly rode him. "But you're still the bravest man I know," she said as she made love to him.

********************

"What have you found?" JJ demanded.

"Mike definitely uploaded something to our computers," Big said. "We can't see what, because of his cloaking device. But you'll remember the cloak isn't entirely invisible, if you know what to look for. There's definitely a blob of code in our computers."

"This is an unacceptable situation," JJ said tersely. He looked angry. And scared.

"I don't get it," Allen said looking thoughtful. "I thought we'd turned the corner with Mike. Everything was fine. Why did he do it?"

Later JJ pulled Big aside. "We implemented the Independence protocol," he whispered. "Mike found out. That's why he went AWOL."

Big's eyes widened. A chill ran down his spine. Independence. They'd actually been willing to kill the President's daughters. "I see," he said. He managed to keep his face neutral but inside he was horrified.

"I need you to neutralize the virus," JJ ordered. "Whatever it takes. Flush the computers if you have to. I don't care. Just get that virus out of our computers."

Big nodded slowly. "And after I do that ... what happens to Mike?"

"You take care of the computers. I'll take care of Mike," JJ told him.

Cheating and Rivals Part 81 of 82

Jen's iPhone rang. She looked at the caller id and frowned. Moving into the bedroom, she pulled her long blonde hair to the side and brought the phone to her ear. "Hi Ricky," she whispered.

"Hey babe," Ricky said. "You haven't been around."

"No ... we brought Anna home," Jen whispered.

"She okay?"

"Yes, but, well ... first she has to heal. They'll be operations. Then PT," Jen said her eyes downcast.

"She'll be okay," Ricky assured her. "She's young. I've seen a lot worse. She'll get better. It's just a process."

Jen nodded but was uncertain. She was just as worried about Anna as Mike. But she had to be upbeat, because otherwise she feared Mike might fall over the edge. Her husband was like that. Moody and brooding. Self-reflective to a fault. Prone to letting his imagination and "what-ifs?" run wild and get the best of him, and if he fell into the abyss then Anna might follow because the 2 were so close. She had to be positive and optimistic for both of them. But inside, she was scared for her daughter. Anna was all about energy and athleticism. Now it was going to be a struggle - a major challenge - to just walk again. How would that affect her?

"They're releasing me in a couple days," Ricky said. "Can you pick me up?"

"When?"

"Wednesday I think."

Jen hesitated, then said "Okay. I'll see you Wednesday."

On Wednesday, Jen and Mike took Anna for a followup doctor visit. When they got home they had lunch, then Anna took a nap. She was on pain pills so she would sleep until dinner.

"So I've got an errand," Jen hesitantly said to Mike. "... if that's okay."

"An errand?" Mike asked looking at her.

"Um, yeah, an errand," Jen said looking back at him. "If that's okay." They looked into each other's eyes, silently communicating. And not communicating. That's what Mike wanted. He didn't want to know anymore.

"Yeah, okay," Mike said looking away. He felt tortured inside. Jealous, hurt, disappointed. But excited too. The conflict showed on his face.

Jen saw it. She affectionately caressed his cheek. Then she kissed him and said "I'll be home by dinner. I'll make spaghetti and garlic bread." It was one of Anna's favorites; and Mike's too.

"Okay," Mike agreed, still not able to look at his wife.

Jen kissed him again. "I love you Mike," she said. Then she left.

Mike's insides were churning. It was like his heart was in a death grip. Their game was different now. It was more than just physical attraction. More than just infatuation. Jen was pregnant with Ricky's baby. So they were bonded forever. And Ricky wasn't an ass like Colin, Drums and Scott. Physically he was everything Jen wanted. But he wasn't a jerk like those other alphas. He was a good guy. On top of that he was a Real American Hero.

Mike had a choice. Share Jen with Ricky, her body and her heart, in a poly relationship, and lose his soul and whatever he had left of his manhood. Or leave Jen, and lose the only girl he ever loved - would ever love - in his life. What a choice. Lose-lose. He also knew that even if he picked Option 1, it might turn into Option 2, and that would be even more painful as he slowly lost her completely to Ricky.

Mike forced these dark thoughts away. He had something more important to think about. Anna. He had an idea. He got his computer and started working.

*******************

"So how's it going?" Ricky asked when they got to his new apartment.

"It's going," Jen said with a shrug.

Ricky hooked his finger in the waist of her skinny jeans above the zipper and pulled her to him. "You hear I might get another Medal of Honor?" he said with a proud grin.

"Yeah. You'll be the 20th person to have 2" she said with a grin back at him. "That'll be awesome Ricky."

"It probably won't happen," he said with a shrug. "They changed the rules. You can't get two anymore."

"Yeah but just being nominated is a freaking awesome honor Ricky," she gushed. "I'm really proud of you."

Ricky grinned at her. "You're following this?" he asked, clearly pleased.

"Well that's all CNN's talking about," Jen said smiling back at him. "You were really brave Ricky. You deserve it."

"Thanks," Ricky said, his eyes sparkling. "It makes me feel good to hear you say that. I want you to think I'm brave." With his finger still in her jeans he pulled her closer.

"Well of course I think you're brave," Jen said with a half laugh, trying to pull away from him. But Ricky held her close and she didn't try to fight it.

"So what's this?" he asked with a grin, rubbing her flat stomach with his thumb.

Jen pulled her top up a few inches, exposing her sexy flat stomach. She was wearing pantyhose under her jeans. The nylon waist stretched to just above her belly button.

"It's getting kinda chilly," she explained.

"Football season," Ricky said, his eyes on the nylon. "I'm glad," he said, still caressing her with his thumb.

"Why? Because football?" Jen asked.

"No. Because you're wearing this," Ricky said with a chuckle. He was hard in his pants. Like Mike he had a major leg and stocking fetish. And no one was sexier than Jen; she had the best legs in the world. The prettiest feet too.

Looking in her eyes he said "You're the prettiest, sexiest girl I've ever met." Then he wrapped his arms around her and kissed her. He pushed his tongue into her mouth. Jen kissed him back and twirled her tongue over his.

Their kissing quickly became passionate. Ricky picked her up and carried her to the bed, their lips never parting. He quickly undressed her, pulling off her skinny jeans. Jen looked achingly delicious with her long sexy legs encased in nude nylon. She was wearing a thong though, not a g-string. "You'd be even sexier in a g-string," he joked as he kissed up her neck.

Jen didn't answer. She had a major cum face on and her hands were on his pants, urgently working on his belt and zipper.

Ricky pulled her pantyhose and thong down to her knees. Then he roughly pushed her onto her hands and knees and fucked her from behind. He fucked her hard and Jen shrieked as she came on his cock.

Ricky continued to relentlessly pound her pussy. Finally he came, penetrating her to the hilt and ejaculating jets of hot cum into her willing pussy. Jen gasped and cried "Oh god Ricky yeah cum inside me!" as she felt him hitting her walls, the exquisite sensations so intense she shuddered with a series of mini-orgasms.

Afterwards Ricky tried to snuggle (like they usually did) but Jen wiggled from his grasp. She untangled her body from his and quickly dressed. "I've got to go," she said pulling up her thong and pantyhose, and then wiggling back into the skinny jeans.

"You just got here," Ricky said, clearly disappointed. "It's not even 3."

"I've got to go to the market, for dinner," Jen explained, reaching behind her to fasten her bra, and then pulling her blouse back on.

"You got room at the table for one more?" Ricky said with a grin, inviting himself to dinner. "We'll go to the market together. It'll be fun."

"No Ricky," Jen told him. "We've got to be careful with boundaries now."

"Why? Because you told Mike about LA? Because Anna's hurt?"

"Because of everything," Jen said. She put her hand on his shoulder for balance to put one pointy toe flat on. Then she switched hands and put on the other black Mia flat.

"And because you're pregnant too, right?" he said.

"Yeah that's a big one," Jen said with a half laugh but it was without any humor.

"But then that makes no sense," Ricky said, pulling her to him. "We should be spending more time together, not less."

"Ricky god, you don't really believe that," Jen said incredulously.

"You said I'm brave," he reminded her. "You're proud of me."

"Yes you're brave, I can never thank you enough for what you did," Jen said, giving him a kiss on the lips. "But do you know Mike saved the President's girls? He found them."

"I didn't know that," Ricky said with a thoughtful frown. With a shrug he said "I never said Mike wasn't a smart guy."

"He's way smarter than smart," Jen said pulling away from his arms. "And he needs me." With regret she said "I shouldn't even be here."

Ricky pulled her into his arms again. "Then why are you?"

"I have no freaking clue," Jen said with another humorless half laugh.

"Yes you do," Ricky said. "Because we have chemistry. And we love each other."

Jen looked into Ricky's eyes for long moments. Finally she pulled away. "I really have to go." She kissed him on the lips. "I'll see you Ricky." Then she was gone.

************

Jen was home by 5, holding a big bag of groceries. "Is she still asleep?" she asked.

"Yeah," Mike said his eyes downcast. Jen noticed he didn't ask about her "errand."

"Hey," she said softly, bumping up against him. She hugged him. "I missed you."

"It's only been a couple hours."

"I still missed you," Jen said. She held Mike tight so his face was pressed in her hair. She imagined what he was smelling. The vanilla and strawberry of her shampoo. The floral scents of her perfume. And the musky sweat of sex? The masculine scent of Ricky's cologne?

"You should shower, before Anna wakes up," Mike said. His voice was barely audible, hoarse. Jen heard a lot in it. Sadness and hurt, yes. But excitement too. A lot of excitement.

"I don't think I have time," Jen said. "I'll start dinner."

Jen felt Mike's eyes on her as she sautéed the onion and garlic and diced the tomatoes. She got on her tiptoes to reach for oregano. She felt her blouse raise up, revealing her stomach.

"Let me help," Mike said, moving next to her. He wasn't that much taller but he was tall enough. With one hand he reached for the spice. He put his other hand on Jen's back, right above her ass, on the nylon of Jen's pantyhose.

"Thanks baby," Jen said as he gave the oregano to her. Mike's hand was still on the waist of the pantyhose stretched tight up to her belly button. He was looking into her face, as if asking a question. She said "Remember? I'm wearing hose again."

Jen moved a half step closer so their hips touched. Mike continued to caress her back over the pantyhose with his thumb, just as Ricky had done not too long ago. He didn't say anything but Jen could see the excitement in his eyes.

Jen moved her lips up his neck. She breathed into his ear "Do you want to hear about my errand?" She was purposely using his fantasies against him. She wanted him to be interested again. Their game took 2 people, both of them. If Mike wasn't involved, then it wasn't a game. It was just her fucking another man. That was bound to drive them apart.

Mike abruptly pulled his hand away, moving away from her. "I told you I don't want to know," he said suddenly annoyed, glaring at her.

"Okay, okay, I'm sorry," Jen said hugging him. She was alarmed, disappointed, and her eyes watered up. Her marriage, her relationship with Mike, it was broken and she didn't know how to fix it. She was paying for all the lies. All the broken promises.

They heard Anna stir. She couldn't walk, couldn't even get out of bed by herself. "I'll get Anna," Mike said pulling away.

"Okay," Jen said, wiping the tears from her eyes. "I'll take a quick shower."

They ate dinner and played board games and puzzles with Anna. Then they gave Anna a bath and put her down for the night. After they sat on the sofa and watched TV. Jen was snuggled into Mike's arm. The Mets were on.

"How are they doing this year?" Jen asked.

"They suck," Mike said disgustedly. Then with incredulity in his voice he added, "But they made the playoffs."

Jen slowly nodded. Then she got up and sat on Mike's lap, straddling his thighs. She wrapped her arms around his neck and hugged him tight. "You know you said you have a Jen Meter?" she said. "I have a Mike Meter and it needs filled up."

"Okay," Mike said. He hugged her back but there was still sadness there.

Jen sensed his sadness. She was sad too. It felt like they were worlds apart. "This isn't right," she said. "We play the game together. If I can't tell you about it, it's not our game."

"It hurts too much," Mike said.

"But why?"

"Because I don't know how it ends," Mike said. "Because now Ricky's part of you." He was talking about the baby inside her.

"You're the father," Jen insisted.

"You know it's more complicated," Mike said. "You love him. And don't say you'll end it. It'd just be another lie."

Jen grimaced like Mike had hit her. "Mike, god, I wish you could see inside my head," she lamented, laying her forehead on his shoulder. "You'd see my feelings for Ricky. A tiny little dot. Then you'd see my love for you, a big huge balloon. You'd know I'm telling the truth."

"But if Ricky walked in here now, you'd fuck him," Mike hissed bitterly. "Even with Anna here. Like at the ballroom. Like today."

Jen winced again, knowing he was right. He was right, and he didn't even know about the blowjob at the hospital. In her head she heard the chants again. SHAME! SHAME! SHAME! "I don't know why I'm like this," she said helplessly.

"You're always like this," Mike said.

"But then it eventually goes away. It always does," she said, hoping she was convincing him.

"Not this time," Mike said.

"Why?" Jen said frustrated.

"Because you're pregnant with his baby!" Mike said with exasperation. Why couldn't she see this?!

Jen started weeping. She wasn't getting through to him! It seemed hopeless! "Baby please make love to me!" she begged as tears ran down her pretty cheeks. She clutched him, not letting him go. "I need you Mike! Please!"

They made love. Afterward Jen held Mike tight. "Mike?" she asked in a little girl voice. She sounded uncertain. Desperate. Scared.

"Yes?"

Jen hesitated. Then she said "Maybe I should get an abortion."

Mike pulled away and looked at her. "We can't do that," he said horrified.

"I just want us to be right again!" Jen said, crying again. "I'll do anything!"

"It would kill us," Mike said.

"No it won't!"

"Because you'd hate me," Mike told her. "And you'd hate yourself." Now they were both crying. They held each other that way, weeping long into the night.

*********************

Big approach Maria. "How's it going?" he asked.

"Mike's virus is a fucking nightmare!" Maria snarled, angry and frustrated. She looked like she was about to pound the keyboard. "It's slippery! I can't get a hold of it!"

"JJ wants to purge the computers and reboot from secure storage," Big said.

"That might work," Maria said with a shrug. She thought about it. Yes, that would work, but it would take a lot of time. "Should we do it?"

Big sat down next to Maria. He put a small black box next to her keyboard. "What's that?" she asked looking at it.

"Neutralizes bugs," Big said.

"I sweep for bugs every day," Maria said.

"You won't find these bugs," Big whispered. "JJ's bugs. He's everywhere. Big Brother."

"What are you saying?" Maria said, a chill running down her spine.

Big looked into her eyes. He whispered, "I'm saying, the moment you destroy the virus, that's the moment Mike Andrews dies."

*******************

"What's wrong?" Jen asked Maria. She called an hour ago and sounded frantic. Now they were in a Starbucks.

"You need to talk to Mike," Maria said, nervously looking around the crowd. She sounded scared. Terrified. "He's not answer my calls. I don't think he trusts me."

"Wait Maria, slow down," Jen said frowning. "What happened?"

"We don't have much time," Maria said, laying Big's black box on the table. She looked around nervously, as if expecting big scary men in dark sunglasses and black suits to burst into the Starbucks at any moment. She was paranoid and scared. "The Ballroom Battle. That day." she whispered frantically. "Mike uploaded a virus. Into all the computers."