Chapter 1

You are Yuri.

You are staring at the unthinkable — at something that couldn’t have been invented, not even seen in a dream. You are staring at a reality in which your wife, standing in front of another man, lets the throw slip off her naked body. And that man — forgive the word when applied to Omar — is masturbating, on top of it all.

You are in shock. Ann ... your own, faithful Ann! How can she?!! The one person in your life you were always certain of — was her. She was the reliable foundation beneath everything you called your life. What does a person feel when the solid ground is yanked out from under him?

Now you know.

Ann, illogically — after baring herself — covers herself with her hands: her breasts and her pubic triangle.

She presses her springy legs together. There’s a tense thought in her eyes. She hasn’t changed — there’s still the same Ann in that look! You can see it!

Then why???

She says, her voice ringing with strain:

“Omar, I can see how much you’re hurting, how hard this is for you. And I truly want to help. You obviously need a stimulus to reach orgasm. Let my body be that stimulus. But only if you promise my husband won’t find out! He’s insanely jealous — he won’t understand this kind of help!”

My husband won’t find out.

Those words lodge in your ears. Ann remembers you — she hasn’t “lost herself,” she isn’t under hypnosis, she isn’t drunk. She is doing what she’s doing — fully aware — behind your back.

“How can you?!” you almost shout. “Years of marriage! I have been faithful to you — every day, every single day! I lived for you, spoiled you, gave you everything you wanted — and after all that, you’re standing naked in front of this immigrant?!”