001: threesome

Allera's POV

What will you do if you came home after a sixteen-hour surgery to find your husband sandwiched between a man and a woman?

It's the kind of thing that only ever happens in movies, and those raunchy books I used to read as a teenager.

The scene before me doesn't feel real.

Our wedding bed. The one we've shared for three years. In that same bed is my husband, Carter, fucking a woman and getting fucked from behind.

The air swelters, thick with the smell of sex and sin. The sounds in the air are profane, skin slapping skin, loud moans, the woman is screaming for more, her voice like a poorly made porno.

In our bed.

Exhaustion eats away the corners of my mind. My eyes are shutting down. The entire drive home, all I could think about was crashing into bed and getting much deserved sleep.

Vomit rises in my throat. I swallow it down so hard it feels like swallowing stones the size of my fist.

Our marriage bed.

"Ah fuck—" Carter groans, throwing his head back. "I'm gonna cum inside you."

"Yeah, fill m-me up," The woman giggles.

Tears sting the back of my eyes. The sounds swirl around me like smoke, distant but close at the same time.

I can't deal with this now. They didn't even notice me, too engrossed in their vile act to care.

As I turn to leave, my shoulder bumps into the door. The sound is a dull thud, but one that registers.

"Allera?!" Carter calls behind me.

The woman screams, I hear ruffling and scrambling. The man curses, loud enough for me to hear.

"B-baby! What are you doing home so soon?!"

God in heaven, give me strength. More strength that I've ever needed.

Wet hands touch my shoulder, causing me to recoil and pull away. "Don't," I hiss, my voice coming out soft and small. I turn around, facing my traitorous husband. "Don't touch me."

He has the good graces left to look ashamed. But it doesn't help. His cheeks are flushed, his eyes misty with lust, his lips swollen in a way that I've never seen before. He breathes hard, sweat and musk slicking his skin.

I want to vomit.

"How...how did the surgery go?" He forces a smile, his cloudy blue eyes a tad too bright.

I scoff. "Wow. I'm surprised you even remembered, given how occupied you've been." I glance over his shoulder. The other two are still there, staring at us. The woman looks horrified, clutching the sheets to her chest. The man leans back, like he couldn't be bothered, not even covered up.

This has to be a dream.

Maybe I died on that operating table and this is my hell.

"Hey," Carter reaches out, his touch brushing my arm. "This...this is not what it seems like. I swear I can explain."

"Not what it seems like?" I echo, disbelieved. "I just had surgery, Carter! I called you! I needed you the most in that God forsaken hospital bed. And this....this is what you're doing? In our bed? Where is your shame?"

"I think we'll leave now," The man says, getting to his feet and throwing some clothes on. "Come on Cherry, let's leave the couple to their issues."

"Sorry," The woman whispers, casting guilty eyes my way before she gets up and hastily gets dressed.

Hand in hand, they leave. I don't miss the look the man casts at Carter. One that said "fix this shit and call me." Carter shakes his head, his eyes apologetic. The man scoffs, annoyed.

What the hell has my life turned into?

I inhale deeply, my fists clenching at my sides. I know, I've always known that Carter didn't love me.

I wasn't going to delude myself. I knew he had someone else in mind whenever he kissed me, or touched me. At night he'd whisper a name that wasn't mine. He'd come home reeking of a stranger's scent.

I knew.

It was one thing to know, and it was another thing to have the truth violently thrown in your face. Like a bucket of acid.

"Carter," I call, trying to sound brave. But my voice cracks, betraying my emotions. My head explodes in a dull ache, my legs scream for me to take a seat, dark spots encroach the corners of my vision.

"See you lovebirds later." The man says, and they're gone.

"I'm really sorry, Ally." Carter sighs, his eyes falling back on me. "But this, our marriage, it's not been working anymore. You know me, I love adventure and fun. Lately, everything has been stale. It's not my fault. I'm losing my mind, Ally. I can't take this anymore."

Wow.

Just wow.

"And this," I gesture to the messy bed, "is how best you thought to tell me?"

"I was going to tell you today." He says. "I think we should open our marriage."

I blink. Shock shoots through my veins like raw voltage.

"Excuse me? Can you come again? I'm sure I heard you asking to open our marriage."

He lets out a sigh, raking a hand through his light brown hair. His eyes dart around our bedroom before they meet mine. They're harder now. All traces of guilt gone.

"You heard me right. Those two will be joining us. That's—"

My vision swirls, I lose my balance and fall, grabbing the closest wall to steady myself. Carter doesn't take a step, doesn't offer a hand, just watches me stumble.

This can't be happening.

My life hasn't always been perfect, far from it. But what is this? It's like someone remembered my voodoo doll and is now using it for practice.

This can't be real. I'm asleep. Or I'm dead. There's no way that Carter, the love of my life, just asked to open our marriage.

"Allera. I have the documents prepared. All you have to do is sign it. You'll love them, I'm sure you will. Jonas may seem like a—"

"I don't want to hear it." I whisper. My voice shocks me. The sound of utter defeat. I look up at him, my eyes watering. "I will not open this marriage."

He sighs, a pitiful look on his face. "I'm sorry, Ally. I truly am. That's unfortunately not your choice to make."