The Unbearable Game

All I wanted to do upon returning from my business trip was to head home instead of attending the celebration dinner. When my colleagues knew about this, they all teased me, saying that "absence makes the heart grow fonder."

I did not mind their teasing, though. If they had a stunning wife like mine, I knew they probably would not even get out of bed.

My wife, Leanne, was my first love and also my college classmate. Her beauty was striking, both cool and enchanting. With curves in all the right places, she was a truly devilish figure. She was the goddess of our school back then. I went to great lengths to win her over. In the three years I spent trying, I was practically the definition of a "persistent admirer" who finally got everything he wanted.

The day I got home, I gave her the gift I had just bought. "Honey, open it up and take a look."

Her beautiful face softened just a bit as she opened the gift box to find a delicate, cream-colored purse inside.

A joyful smile appeared on her face as she suddenly hugged me and kissed me on the cheek. "I've wanted this bag for so long. Thank you, darling."

I spent thousands just to get that smile from her, but it was totally worth it.

After two weeks apart, I missed her so much that, honestly, I had been feeling a little restless since I got back. The way she hugged me made me press right up against her, and I was pretty sure she felt it, too.

An intimacy hovered between us, so I slid my arm around her waist while the other found its way to her chest.

Just as I was about to kiss her, she suddenly turned her head away. "Honey, hasn't it been less than a month? You just got back, you must be tired. How about you rest a bit first?"

Although my wife is incredibly beautiful, she is also very traditional. She made me agree to three rules for our wedding: we could only be intimate once a month, only at night, and with the lights off. Not even anniversaries or Valentine's Day were exceptions.

In every way, she is perfect. I love her deeply and respect her. How could I not agree to just this small request?

So, if I ever felt the need, I would just watch a short film and handled things myself. I do not usually travel much for work, so even though we cannot go all the way every night, we can at least cuddle and kiss to feel close. However, after being apart for two weeks, I could not help but miss her.

My whole body felt heated as I buried my head in her neck, my voice thick with longing. "It had been two weeks. Didn't you miss me, honey? Just this once, could we make an exception?"

She looked reluctant, but after a bit of gentle persuasion, she finally agreed, albeit hesitantly.

Overcome with excitement, I finally ended our intense session about an hour later. Satisfied, I lay atop her, glancing at her expression. She still had that regal, alluring look, her face just slightly flushed but otherwise unchanged.

Then, she nudged me, reminding me to fill the condom with water to check for leaks, a routine we follow every time. Using protection was another part of our "three rules." However, when I reached over, I realized I had completely forgotten to wear one in my eagerness.

When I told her, I saw a flicker of panic on my usually composed wife's face for the first time.

I pulled her into my arms gently to calm her. "It's okay. If we end up expecting a child, we'll welcome the baby. We've been married three years, and my mom has been eager for a grandchild anyway."

My wife shoved me away, grabbed a packet of birth control pills from the drawer, and swallowed one without hesitation.

With a look of frustration, she said, "For the next two months, we'll sleep in separate rooms." Then, she slammed the door hard enough to make the doorframe shake.

Another two months.

With a frown, I lit a cigarette. She truly is perfect in every way, beautiful and talented. In everyone's eyes, we were the ideal couple. This particular aspect, however, has honestly been so difficult for me.

We have been married for three years, yet she has never initiated intimate moments. Sometimes, I even wondered if she disliked me touching her. Or perhaps she did not want to have children with me.

I went online to search for answers, and most of the results suggested that if a spouse acted distant the way she did, it could mean that they did not love their partner.

Who did she love if not me?

I thought back and recalled her having a boyfriend during college. He was practically the male equivalent of a campus idol, and they were together for two years before they suddenly broke up for reasons I never knew.

Why would she go through the trouble of marrying me if she did not love me?

Later, I came across an article with expert commentary describing symptoms that matched her behavior perfectly. It suggested that she might have a low libido.