Chapter 1 — Amy

Dr. Jack Reynold had lost his mind, and the university hospital's research assistant, Amy Taylor, was smart to send him away when he approached her after what had transpired the day before. Thoughts of what had gone right and wrong weighed heavily on her: Jack's fingertips had plucked her puffy pregnant nipples as she jerked his cock, almost causing the doctor to ejaculate on her desk. They had almost made out and only didn't because Amy had been called on the PA system to the first floor.

She was eight months pregnant and her verbally abusive cocky boyfriend, Frank Ramsey, worked at the city's best hospital down the road. Amy and Frank had had problems since she became pregnant, and Frank often left her for days on end, telling her he was away for work. Amy was not innocent either; she'd crossed the line with a few guys, flaunting her curves and teasing, but she hadn't been totally unfaithful. When she had the baby, she wanted to leave Frank. 

* * *

The sensual encounter came into play that night, when Jack Reynold was in bed with his wife of fifteen years, Kate. She reached over and Jack woke up.

"Come closer, honey."

Jack scooted over and began fondling Kate's breasts. He really wanted her, but now that she was seeing a woman as well, she wasn't his. Jack's cock rose, and Kate lifted her nightie for him to put it in her. Their oohs and ahhs could be heard, and after forty-five minutes, Jack was at the end of the bed, feeling unclean for having sex with his wife.

"You okay, honey?" Kate said, lighting up a cigarette.

"Yeah, I just have a headache."

"Come here. Let me make it feel better."

Jack laid back as Kate massaged his head. They fell back asleep until it was time for Jack to leave for work.

* * *

Jack stumbled through another day, his mind searching for reasons why he was still with his wife. He'd never had thoughts about another woman until that episode with Amy. He knew that he and Kate were only together for the sake of their son, Mark. 

Kate started seeing one of her friends, Marlene, while they were working at SmithKline and Beecham. Jack had been away for a month at a doctor's conference in Dubai, and Kate blamed her transgression on his absence.

Jack came home from work and took a deep breath before stepping inside. Mark was on the sofa, stretched out, reading The Odyssey.

"Hey, son, where's your mother?"

"She's outside, Dad," he said, waving in the direction of the back.

Kate was hanging the laundry out to dry. 

"Hey, Kate."

"Jack?" Kate said jumping.

"I'm sorry I startled you. I've been thinking—"

"Thinking about what, sweetheart?"

"About going out for dinner tonight, just me and you. I think Mark will be okay on his own for a few hours."

"Where?"

"Margaret's." He'd overheard Amy Taylor talking about Margaret's to her colleagues at work.

"So…you want to take me to Margaret's? What for?"

"I just want to spend some quality time with you—"

"I see…all right then. Did you make the reservations yet?"

"No, I haven't."

"Well, if you want to eat tonight, you should call them right away."

* * *

Nine o'clock was the earliest time, and Jack took it. "Be a gentleman," he said as he put on his best suit and noticed he hadn't shaven in weeks. Between the long hours at work, his son's soccer practices, and Kate's rendezvous with her lover Marlene, Jack had probably violated his hospital's grooming protocols. 

Yet, Amy likes it, his brain remarked, replaying the scene at the lab. Jack sighed, forcing the memory to go away as he showered.

When he came out of the bathroom, Kate was there, arms crossed. "Out, Dr. Reynolds, my turn," she said, pushing Jack out of the way.

"Okay, okay."

* * *

When they are ready to leave, they go to Mark who's playing with his Nintendo Switch in the living room. 

"Son, your mother and I are heading out for dinner. I trust you won't burn the house down while we're gone." Jack said looking in the mirror. "How do I look?"

"Nice, Dad."

"Hey, put that Gameboy down and read another chapter?" Kate said.

"Mom, it's not a Gameboy. It's called—"

"Whatever it's called. Please, son, make sure you finish your reading before going to bed. We will be back late."

"Ok, Mom."

"There's some leftovers in the fridge. Just heat it up in the microwave. Okay, Mark?"

"Yes, Mom." 

Kate kissed Mark on the forehead while Jack's already by the door with his coat on and glancing at the clock.

"Bye, Mom, bye, Dad!"

"Bye," Kate tossed her handbag over her shoulder and stepped outside.

"Bye, son," Jack said, "In bed by ten, all right? And make sure the door's locked."

"Okay, Dad."

* * *

This is the first time in five years that Kate and Jack went out to dinner. Kate walked ahead of Jack as he hurried to open the car door for her but doesn't manage to do so in time. Kate got in and Jack sighed, "Can I be a gentleman for once?"

"You move too slow? Just hurry before we're late."

During the drive, Jack spent time trying to remember exactly how to go out on a date. They arrive at Margaret's and are led to their seats. 

"May I take your coats?" The waiter said pulling out the chairs for them.

"Here and thank you," Jack said, slipping off his and Kate took off hers.

"Thank you!"

"You're welcome."

"Well, isn't this nice," Kate said looking around.

"Yes, it is," Jack choked, trying his hardest not to look at a woman in front of his table. Oh my God! That's Amy Taylor! Look at those breasts coming out of her dress. Jack hurried to open the menu almost reading every word.

"Sorry, ma'am," a man said plopping down in the seat behind Kate. It was the guy who came with Amy and Jack didn't recognize him. He looked harder and saw the hospital ID around his neck with the words "Frank Ramsey, Orthopedic Surgeon" written in bold caps on top. What the hell is Amy doing with that foot butcher?

"No problem. So…" Kate said turning to Jack, "Did you have a good day at work? Anything new?"

"Nothing special. How about you?"

"If the house looked the same as it did when you left this morning, then you know how my day went." Kate was bored to death working from home. She started writing contemporary romance novels three years ago and a few made the USA Today's Bestseller's list. 

At the table across them, Amy's date was blabbering about something, and Jack couldn't help but notice her looking at him every few seconds. He put his elbow on the table and rested his head in his hand so that he might do the same. God, she's beautiful. He began daydreaming about Kate and Dr. What's-His-Name vanishing, their tables come together and Jack and Amy start making love on top of them.

"Jack!" Jack flinched and looked at Kate. "What are you looking at? Do I have something on my face?" Kate took out her mirror to look.

"Nothing. Just something about work. That's all." 

The waiter came over to take their order after Amy and the butcher ordered first. Jack looked again seeing Amy smiling at him. The butcher snapped his fingers, getting her attention.

"Is there something on this menu that Margaret's known for, honey?" Jack said turning his eyes from Amy.

"If there was, I'd expect they'd mark it in red on the menu you were just memorizing—so you tell me?"

"Oh, I'm sorry. It's been a while since I've been out on a date."

"Well, get it together, Jack. This is my time, honey. Not the lab rats or the girl in the red dress with the big boobs."

"Honey, what are you talking about?"

"Jack, please let's just have a good time, okay?"

"Okay, honey."

"We'll have…," Kate started saying to the waiter.

* * *

They ate, and Jack continued staring at Amy's breasts during the course of the meal. Kate noticed but didn't say anything else.

"Would you like dessert, sweetheart?" 

"What time is it, Jack?"

Feels like it must be nearing midnight, Jack grumbled checking his watch, "A quarter after ten."

"No, it's all right, honey."

Suddenly, Amy stood up and started walking out with the butcher. He trailed behind her trying to pull her back. Jack then got up and told Kate he was going to the restroom.

"Ok, honey! Don't get lost."

"I won't. I'll be right back." Jack kissed Kate and headed in the bathroom's direction checking behind him to see if she was looking. Then, he snuck out spotting the surgeon and Amy's arguing.

"I don't want to go with you," Jack overheard Amy yelling.

"We go out to dinner and now you're not going back with me? For God's sake, I'm the father of your child."

Amy paces back and forward. "Not tonight! Leave me the hell alone!"

"Oh, now, we're playing like kids at school? Just get the hell in the car."

"No!"

The surgeon grabbed Amy and tried dragging her into the car. Amy swung her handbag and hit him in the face. The surgeon stumbled back and Jack ran to her rescue. 

"You okay, ma'am?" Jack said seeing the surgeon on the ground.

"I'm okay, Jack. Please leave."

"I'm not going anywhere."

"You hit on a pregnant woman and you think you're a tough guy, huh?" 

Jack hit the man with his cane and Amy tried pulling Jack back.

"Stop it, Jack!"

The surgeon covered himself and Jack grabbed Amy's arm. Amy flinched and said, "Don't touch me, Jack."

"Amy, please—"

"Just leave me the fuck alone!" Amy gathered her things and marched back inside Margaret's.

* * *

Jack came back in and walked right by Amy who was at the mirror fixing herself. Jack's wife, Kate was sitting at the bar having a Scotch.

"Oh, you're finally back," she said. "I thought you left me. Somebody said you were fighting outside over a woman."

"Well, that's fake news!"

"Well, baby. I need you to tell you something." Kate leaned in feeling tipsy. 

"What honey?"

"Sweetheart, I paid the bill so you can—"

"What?"

"Marlene's here to have a few more drinks with me."

"What the fuck? You're on a date with me, remember?"

"Jack, please not tonight. Marlene's right outside."

"Sweetheart, I told you to keep that bitch out of our lives."

"When you left me to go to Dubai to learn about taking out people's organs, I needed some attention. Remember?" Kate grabbed Jack's hand and he pulled away. "It will only be for a little while. I'll be home soon."

"Pardon me, pardon me," a woman said from behind Jack. She had on a black dress and walked right in front of him sliding onto the stool beside Kate. "Right on time, darling." Kate kissed her and put her arm around her.

"Would've been early if I could've gotten away from a minute sooner," Marlene said staring at Jack. " Oh, hi, Jack."

"Oh, Lord! You again…"

"I know, I know—don't listen to Mr. Grumpy," Kate said. "Good night, sweetheart. I'll see you when I get in." 

"Kate, you're so fucking wrong?"

"I said I'll see you when I get home, sweetheart."

Jack walked out and thought that Amy had left but she didn't.

* * *

Two days later, Jack spotted Amy Taylor walking down the university's first-floor corridor and stopped her.

"Good morning, Amy. Will you be available to assist me in a study later this evening?" Jack asked feeling a trickle of hope that maybe, against all reason, Amy will agree. That perhaps, afterward, she'll want to talk. They can grab a coffee and sort everything out. He can then apologize for his behavior, and explain his situation with Kate, and she will understand that his marriage is nonexistent except on paper. 

"I-I don't—"

"I'll be the guinea pig this time. I could definitely use you for this one."

"I-I don't know, Jack. You know the other night—" Amy stuttered.

"Forget about the other night. Are you free?"

"I am but not until after 8."

"Ok, I'll meet you at the lab—let's say around nine?"

"Ok."

* * *

Jack went back to his office to devise a plan on how he'll have to sneak out if Mark isn't asleep. Over the last few days, he's seen his wife only twice. She's been hanging out with Marlene in the evenings and coming home right before it's time for Mark to go to school and Jack to work. 

Jack dragged through the rest of the day anticipating what happiness he can get from coming home. When he arrived, he found Mark on the couch finishing The Odyssey. Jack talked about his son's favorite parts and how to tackle his book report. 

At eight, Mark went upstairs and twenty minutes later, Jack left.

* * *

Jack drove to the hospital dreaming about what happened inside that room, letting the memories soothe him until when he arrived. Once he arrived, he found Dr. Rothschild in the lab instead of Amy.

"What are you—"

"I know Jack this is odd but Amy Taylor had to excuse herself this evening. She said she wasn't feeling well."

"Oh my! I hope she's going to be okay." Jack cursed under his breath. 

"She'll be fine," Dr. Rothschild said bending down to wrap an Ace bandage around his ankle. 

"There, that's enough," he said feeling pain.

"Would you like a magazine to take your mind off of pressure?"

"Thanks but no, thank you."

"All right. You're ready to go," Dr. Rothschild said as she left the room to turn on the machines.

"Now, Jack. You'll be put in a sort of a dream in order for us to examine actually how the mind reacts to pleasure. It's okay to express yourself," Dr. Rothschild said in the speaker in Jack's room.

"Okay, Doctor."

"Just relax. It'll only take a few minutes."

Jack lay back and tilted his head to look at the door that Amy had stepped through that night, looking ridiculous yet adorable with her wires and electrodes and oversized robe. Jack's right leg bent unconsciously, and his heel pressed into the hospital bed, making pain creep further up his leg. He took a few breaths and stretched it out again, then squeezed his eyes shut and reconstructed his fantasy. Amy's fingers ran an inch below his navel before she removed her hand entirely. His sigh faded when she peeled off her robe, treating him to the incomparable sight of her nakedness. Jack might reach for her, but she'd grab his hands.

"No, no," his dream scolded him, "This is for you. Just relax." His left hand twisted in the sheets, while his right plucked open his robe, uncovering his cock. He used three fingers—the best he could do—to simulate. The look on Amy's face made his cock stretch longer. Amy's first jerk was tentative, and he tightened her grip with his left hand. She caught on quickly, and he was soon bucking up to meet her rhythm. His bad leg was bending, pain winding through the pleasure. Jack couldn't focus on stretching it back out as Amy increased the pace. He could only try to push the pain away. His apex was approaching; Jack was so close, his back arching, Amy's name on his tongue. Then his foot slipped, wrenching his ankle on the hospital sheets. Pain swallowed his pleasure, and Jack bolted upright. He griped his lower leg with both hands, unable to do anything to help.

Suddenly, the door opened and Mrs. Rothschild came in. "Oh my, are you okay?"

"No, I'm not."

"Let me try turning up the frequency. The machine has been acting a little weird these days."

"No, I'm done. Get these damned wires off me," Jack said, turning to the mirror. "Go find yourself another guinea pig, Dr. Rothschild!"

"My God, Jack! Calm down." Dr. Rothschild said as she removed the electrodes. "I think we've gotten some of the data that we need. That's the thing—even if it doesn't go as expected, there's still a sample of a result."

"What the hell are you saying?"

"I'll need you to come back for one more session at a later to complete the results."

"I'm done with this, Doctor."

"Jack, calm down, you were doing okay. What were you feeling as the machine stabilized?"

"Nothing. Are we done here, doctor?"

"Yes, Jack. You may leave. Thanks for coming."

"Never fucking again," Jack said as he rushed out the door.