The Measure Of a Man Ch. 02

"You didn't answer me Carla. Do you?"

Carla seemed to ignore the question and started talking, "I've been living here, in this house for about four years now. I've had more men that you can shake a stick at," suddenly angry she turned to Marge and cried, "And do you know why? I'll tell you why, because I want to find a man that makes me feel the way he did. Every single day I miss him. I hate it here, I don't get to see enough of Katie."

She began to weep and Marge had difficulty making out her words, "When I did what I did I was only trying to get his attention. I was so desperately in need of something. Some clue that he still felt anything for me, that I went out and picked up two men I didn't know and brought them home. All I wanted was a reaction even if it was a damned good hiding. I just needed to know."

"Was that the only time you were unfaithful to him?"

"Yes. It was the biggest mistake of my life. We could have worked something out, I know that now. I can't believe I was so stupid. But we couldn't even say two words to each other without insults and recriminations after that."

"You still love him don't you?"

"Oh what do you think Marge? Of course I still love him. The best things that ever happened to me, John and Katie. I threw it all away because I was so stupid. And now it's too late."

Marge gathered Carla in her arms and patted her head soothingly. She said, "I'm sorry Carla. I didn't mean to upset you."

After a few minutes, Carla managed to get control of her emotions and wiped her eyes on her sleeve. Marge looked at her friend with compassion and said, "You need cheering up, why don't you come round tomorrow night. A quiet evening with friends, with real friends might be just what you need."

Carla looked at Marge and answered, "Thank you. I'd like that."

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Marge arrived home and found Terry sat in front of the stereo adjusting the CD player, he looked up and asked, "Well, did you get it?"

Marge smiled and nodded, "And you?"

"I think so. All we need now are the costumes and I can get those tomorrow morning."

Marge giggled.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++

On Monday evening, John was greeted by Terry at the front door. He was dressed in an old fashioned butler's uniform. John smiled quizzically, "Terry? Why are you dressed like that?"

Terry answered respectfully, "If sir would come this way, his table is ready." and led John through to the sitting room. There was a small table set up for two people. It was immaculately laid out and a bottle of champagne was chilling in an ice bucket next to it.

John was shocked when Marge appeared dressed as a maid. She curtsied and asked, "Would sir like me to take his coat?" Mystified, John could only nod and let Marge help him off with his overcoat. Then Terry said, "Would sir care for a drink while he waits for his guest?"

Laughing, John answered, "Erm, yes please," he waved his arm, "You know my usual Terrence."

While John was enjoying his drink, the doorbell rang and Marge said as she left the room to answer it, "Excuse me sir, I believe that will be your guest for this evening."

John heard a giggle from the other room and was a little suspicious, he knew that laugh even though he had not heard it for a long time. He watched as Carla walked into the room smiling, until she saw him there and her face then took on an expression of suspicion too, "What are you doing here?" she asked.

John replied, "I was about to ask you the same thing." he glanced over to where Terry was pouring a drink for the new arrival, "What's going on here, Terry?"

"It seemed to us sir, that neither of you ever talked to the one person that you should have. This is your opportunity to do so."

"I'm really not sure about this-" began Carla retreating slightly.

"No, neither am I," said John.

Terry straightened his back and there was a hint of steel in his voice, "This is something you both need to do. Me and Marge are sick of seeing you both in pain, unable to let go of the past. It's time you moved on with your lives and this is the best way to do it," he directed his stare at John, "I would ask you to trust us sir."

John didn't know what his friends had in store, but he had to agree, Terry was right, he had to trust them. He turned to his ex-wife and held out his hand, "It seems that we have been suckered Carla. They've gone to a lot of trouble to set this up, the least we can do is play along."

Carla too was intrigued about Terry and Marge's plan, so she accepted John's hand and allowed him to lead her to the table. She couldn't avoid an involuntary shiver when their hands touched. She remembered the last physical contact they had, was when he pushed her out of the way to pick up and comfort their daughter.

They sat down and allowed Marge to serve the first course, it was Vichy Soise. While they sat in uncomfortable silence, Terry popped the champagne and poured each of them a healthy measure, he said, "Just because you have much to talk about, you do not have to be uncomfortable doing so."

Once Terry was sure everything was perfect, he started the stereo and retreated to the kitchen with Marge.

Sounds of mellow music wafted around the sitting room, where John and Carla sat together. With a hint of a sad smile, Carla raised her glass and said, "Cheers." John raised his glass but did not reply, his head tilted to one side and said, "I know that tune." Carla listened too and then blushed, "It was the song we first danced to as man and wife."

Embarrassed, John looked down and picked up his spoon to eat, then he said, "I think I know what they're up to. If I'm right the main course will be Sea Bass..."

"And the sweet will be profiteroles," finished Carla, she giggled, "You're right, they did go to a lot of trouble."

Once the ice was broken, the couple managed to hold a conversation. Stilted at first, but as the champagne flowed they became more animated.

John thought to himself, what an idiot I was to ever let this woman go. I'd forgotten how much fun we had together. He sighed inwardly, it was too late now.

Carla thought to herself, Why did I hurt him so badly? Why did I throw it all away? She sighed inwardly, it was too late now.

After Marge had cleared away the dessert dishes and had supplied each of the diners with a small brandy she retreated back to the kitchen, where her husband waited impatiently.

"Well?" he asked.

Marge shook her head, "They are talking. Civilly, but they won't talk about anything important. They're skirting around the issue," she began to wring her hands, "It's not working Terry. I was so sure it would."

Terry took her in his arms and replied, "Don't worry, the coup de grace is coming up."

John swirled his brandy in the glass and looked across the table at Carla, she smiled tentatively back at him. They both started to speak at once and then laughed, he said, "You first."

Carla took a deep breath and began, "John... I...," her confidence gave out, "Nothing." She cursed her cowardice, all she had to say was sorry. One little word and it wouldn't come out. She knew that it could not heal the rift between them, but it was the one thing she had never said, and she desperately wanted to, but could not.

Both people sat back in their seats and suffered an embarrassed silence until Terry and Marge silently re-entered the room. Between them, they lifted the table and placed it at the side of the room. Then Terry reset the stereo to play the next CD and said, "Perhaps sir and madam would like to dance."

Terry and Marge melted into the background once again. This time they retreated to their bedroom and waited with fingers crossed.

John thought about what he had been about to say to Carla. He wanted to tell her he still loved her and he wanted her to come home. But how could he? After everything that had passed between them. He hated himself for his lack of courage. What if she said no? What if she laughed in his face? After all, the freedom she enjoyed now would be hard to give up.

Carla watched him quietly before saying, "Would you... Would you like to dance with me? For old times sake."

Why not? thought John and wordlessly held his hand out to Carla. They embraced lightly and began to move together to the music. He could smell her perfume and it's heady scent was intoxicating. It was her favourite, he knew that and it had always driven him wild. He held her close holding her hand in his and his other resting gently on her waist.

Carla let her free hand entwine round his neck and shivered as she felt his body so close after far too long. It was all she could do not to draw him into a kiss, but she didn't dare. She knew that would break the mood and she didn't want that to happen. She just wanted him close to her for as long as possible and think about the might-have-beens.

Suddenly, the mood was broken anyway. The music stopped abruptly only to be replaced by Terry's voice coming from the stereo. It said, "We wanted to thank you both for helping us. You both helped us with what you called the blindfold game, and we think that it's time you both took off the blindfolds yourselves. You just can't see what is obvious to me and Marge. We hoped that it would not come to this, but if you hear this message then the time has come for drastic measures. We know that the two of you never said the things to each other that you should have and in the process saved a lot of heartache for you both and for Katie as well."

There was a short silence. John and Carla looked at each other in shock. What were they up to now? Then the CD continued, John's mouth fell open when he heard his own voice coming out of the speakers.

"I didn't know where else to go... I suppose she was trying to get back at me... I wasn't totally blameless, Carla was lonely. I was never there, perhaps I should have been... She was beautiful... Forgotten how lovely she is... First person I thought of... so help me I still love her... I have been desperately lonely... I never met anyone who could measure up to Carla... I could forgive her now, but I don't know if she could forgive me."

Then it was Carla's turn.

"I was just thinking about John... Shame that we could never talk about our problems... I want to find a man that makes me feel the way he did... Every single day I miss him... I was so stupid... I still love him... The best things that ever happened to me... Threw it all away."

The final voice was Marge, "You talked to us, now talk to each other. Please."

Silence.

John and Carla looked at each other. Carla couldn't help it, she burst into tears and began sobbing, "I'm so sorry. I've wanted to say that for so long. I'm so desperately sorry."

John's heart went out to her and he gathered her in his arms. She buried her head in his shoulder as the sobs racked her body. He couldn't help but feel a sting in his eyes as he said, "I'm sorry too. I should have been there for you."

As Carla's weeping gradually subsided, she blinked back her tears and whispered, "Did you mean what you said? On the CD."

John pulled her even closer and answered, "Every single word."

They pulled apart slightly and looked into each other's eyes.

And kissed savagely. Their mouths locked together and their hands moved roughly over each other. John grasped Carla tightly in a crushing embrace. She forced her tongue into his mouth and thrust it between his teeth, he returned her passion and his own tongue started to grapple with hers.

Carla let her hand slip directly to his crotch and began to massage his growing bulge through his trousers. In return, he grabbed her skirt and bunched it up around her waist, before plunging his hand between her legs. Her cunt was red hot under his palm and he slipped a finger inside her panties to lightly rub her swelling clitoris. He could feel the wetness dripping from her bloated cunt lips. She moaned into his mouth as the warmth spread from her pussy and mumbled urgently, "Fuck me John. Fuck me now!"

Carla struggled briefly with his zip and in her haste had difficulty getting it open. John placed his free hand on hers, stopping her from continuing as he guided her backwards toward the sofa. He pushed her down and she fell on her back with her legs spread. her skirt had fallen back down her thighs covering her up again, so she just grabbed the hem and bunched it back around her waist with one hand, with the other she pushed her gusset to one side showing off her soaking cunt to John's lustful gaze.

Again she gasped, "Fuck me! Put your hard cock up my cunt and fuck me!"

Her face was flushed and she breathed heavily as she watched him tearing at his belt and fly, before he pushed his trousers and pants down so they fell around his ankles. He fell on top of her and jammed his seven inches of steel hard cock right up her soaking love channel.

She closed her eyes and almost screamed in ecstasy as she felt him buried inside her, "Oh fucking Jesus Christ... I need this...Make me cum... Fuck me... Fuck me you bastard!"

He couldn't wait. He began to thrust his hardened flesh in and out of her aching hole. Of all the women he had ever been with she was the best. It never felt like this with anyone else. He felt his balls begin to tingle with the familiar feelings of release, but he fought them down, he wanted her to cum. He wanted to feel her juices flood his cock. He wanted to watch her face screw up in ecstasy as she climaxed. The way she was writhing and shivering beneath him, he knew he wouldn't have long to wait.

Carla was in heaven. John had the best cock she had ever had. It was rasping firmly against her clitoris with every stroke and he filled her so completely that she thought she would burst with excitement. As the joyous climax began to build in the pit of her stomach, she started to thrust back at him, making their pubic bones slap together and stimulate her blood filled clitoris even more. She felt a tingle running up and down her spine as her womb became white hot with the sensations he was giving to her. Faster and faster, they thrust together. John started grunting with effort as he slammed his bone deep inside her and Carla started moaning and groaning, "Oh John!... Harder!... Harder!... Make me cum!... I need it!... Oh Jesus!... You're the best!... Oh!... Oh!... That's it!... I'm there!... I'm cumming!... I'M CUMMING!!"

And then they exploded together. John tensed and groaned as his balls released his boiling cum up into Carla's sticky cunt. She screamed as her own orgasm washed over her, filling her with a passionate heat that she thought would kill her. Her arms and legs stiffened and she screwed up her face with joy. John held her tight as he released pulse after pulse of cum until his balls were empty, and still his cock twitched, trapped as it was in Carla's soaking, tightly gripping pussy.

As they managed to get control of their bodies, John started to feel mild discomfort in his back. In her passion, Carla had grabbed a hold of his shirt and had dug her fingernails into his flesh. He looked into her face as she lay beneath him, her eyes closed and her mouth uttering a string of meaningless noises. He felt her cunt contract around his still firm cock once more, as though she was trying to milk even more cum from him.

Gradually their breathing slowed and John climbed off Carla. He pulled his trousers back up and walked back to the table and had to lean against it to stop himself from falling down. He took a big gulp of Brandy and then took a deep breath.

When he turned round, he saw that Carla's skirt had fallen back down her thighs, covering her up again. She was looking at him with a diffident expression. She sat up and asked tentatively, "So what happens now?"

He sat back down on the sofa next to her and putting his arm around her shoulders said, "Now you come home. Where you belong."