As I sat there, unable to move, and watched my devastated husband walk out the back door of our house. The tears flowed freely as I tried to understand how I had been so foolish, and to the real possibility that our marriage, which believe it or not, meant as much to me as it did to Early, may have been irrevocably harmed, and finished.

I thought back to the beginning of this week, a week that started as many others had in the past, but weeks that had never jeopardized our love. We had a strong marriage, based on our deep love for, and trust in each other. I don't think either of us had ever felt threatened, or given the other reason to be concerned about that love. In fact, I don't think I could have had a better husband, and I know he felts the same way about me.

As I headed to work that Monday morning, I was almost relieved that my husband, Early was away on business for the week, not that I was glad to be rid of him, but this week was a crucial week for me, career wise. I'm an attorney trying to work my way up to a partnership in the most prestigious firm in the area. It isn't easy for a woman, despite the changing times. Yet I'd been fairly successful to date, and was pleased when I was selected to head up the legal work in an extremely complicated business deal, worth millions to the respective parties and a very hefty fee to our firm. It was hinted that if I could pull the deal off to the satisfaction of our extremely finicky client, the partnership I desired would be mine.

Actually, to say I desired it would be an understatement, to me it would be my crowing achievement, what I had been pushing myself for since becoming an attorney. I believed that a partnership would tell the world that I'd arrived as well as providing a better lifestyle for us.

Early has always accepted the fact that my career often involves working extra hours to meet deadlines, but this week would be far more hectic than any other I could remember. I knew that I would have to put in extra hours, and that things would be quite tense, as our clients had called on Sunday to tell us that the timelines had changed, and that if the deal wasn't finished this week, it would collapse. With Early away, I would have no problem devoting my entire week to this project. Even though Early was away, I was comforted by the fact that we would talk every night, just as we always did if one of us was out of town. He had given me his meeting schedule, and I'd filled him in on my expected plans.

I was quite concerned, as negotiations hadn't gone as smoothly as I would've liked. Our clients indicated they felt that things weren't progressing to their satisfaction. I was afraid that I'd be removed from the file as some senior partners expressed doubt in my ability to pull it off.

That's when John stepped up. John Stickner was a senior partner and one of the sharpest minds in the office. He told the others that he'd be pleased to work with me on the file. He said he was confident I could pull things together for the benefit of the client and the firm. Once he said this, you could see the others back down.

John is about 15 years older than I am, and an accomplished lawyer. He is quite intense when he works, but very charming in relaxed, social circumstances. He has always been very friendly to me, flirting a bit, and making comments with a sexual innuendo, to which I responded in kind. Maybe the fact I knew he had been divorced for years, let me accept and respond to the sexual nature of his teasing. As well, Early and I often teased and joked in a similar fashion with our close friends, but doing it with someone at work was different.

Another person who would be helping me out this week, was my secretary, Jennifer. She has worked for me for a number of years and is always there to work any necessary hours to meet deadlines and never complains about the intense workload. I know I can always count on her to help me pull things off.

As the week went on, things were nuts. John was always there to offer advice and discuss ideas while letting me run things. When he spoke up during the countless meetings, he always left the impression that he was communicating on my behalf. I understood from others that he was giving me a lot of credit when talking to the partners. But I felt that without his experience and expertise, I wouldn't have gained the necessary confidence of our clients.

Every night, I made sure to phone Early at his hotel. While we discussed our day, Because I knew that his work was quite important to, and the fact I didn't want him worrying about me, I didn't let him know how worried I was about pulling this deal off.

On Wednesday matters reached an impasse. Lengthy meetings didn't resolve the major issues. When we took a supper break, I took the opportunity to make my call to Early. I indicated to him that I was quite busy and would be in the office the next day working on the file.

Then, just after supper a major breakthrough occurred. All the parties got together and worked on hammering out the details and signing the contract before anybody changed their mind. Following the meeting with the client, we got busy in putting together the necessary paperwork. John made countless helpful comments, pointing out little things that would enhance the agreement, while Jennifer slaved away tirelessly in producing the documents. Just before midnight we were getting too tired to think straight and agreed to go home and come in early the next morning to wrap things up.

After a few more hectic hours at the office, we produced a strong, enforceable agreement that met with our clients approval, and passed muster when reviewed by the attorneys for the other side. Just before noon, everybody met at our offices to sign the document. I had pulled it off!! Albeit with lots of help, especially from John. I realized that without him, I may not have pulled it off, but because of his help, I may get my partnership!

I looked at Jennifer, and realized the tremendous pressure she'd been under to get the document done with the strain from the extra hours she'd put in. I told her to take the rest of the week off, she'd earned it. While she argued a bit and told me it was okay, I could see that she was appreciative of the break.

As we were talking, John stepped in to say that he was going to take me for a celebration lunch and I likely wouldn't be in the rest of today. Despite my initial protests, he wouldn't take no for an answer from me, telling me that he'd let the receptionist and the senior partners know we'd be gone. Of course, after what John had done to help me, there was no way in the world I would have denied him my company for lunch. I felt it was the least I could do, after all, I was in the mood to celebrate. I knew that without his help, there was no way that I could have pulled off the deal, the one that should deliver my partnership.

We agreed to meet at one of the areas fancier restaurants. As I was stepping out of my office, I ran into Mr. Jensen, one of the Senior partners. "Susan, great job. I understand from John that you did a fantastic job, and the clients are thrilled. I'm sure that your work will be considered quite highly when the partnership committee meets."

As I drove to meet John, I couldn't help but scream with excitement, thankful for the closed windows of my car. When I got to the restaurant, I thought of Early and pulled out his itinerary for the week. "Darn, he's in meetings until after supper, I wanted to call and let him know that it looks like he'll be married to a partner. I'll just have to wait until tonight". I knew how proud of me he'd be!

John and I had a wonderful meal, but with a bit too much wine. He was glowing in his praise for the job I'd done, almost convincing me it had been all my effort. He told me I'd be a cinch to get a partnership out of this.

I knew better, "Come on John, we both know that without your help, your pushing and prodding, things never would've come together. I might get the partnership, and you know how much that means to me. But there is no way I would've been able to do it on my own. I owe you, and I owe you big time!"

Following that the conversation continued, but in a more relaxed joking way, and yes, it was filled with a lot of sexual innuendo. I'm sure the quantity of wine I'd drunk allowed me to carry on the way I did, finally saying "You know John, after what you did for me this last while, I'd do anything for you"

While I hadn't meant it in that fashion, I wasn't totally surprised, in light of the way that the conversation was being handled, when John responded with a bit of a leer, "Wow, that's a pretty inviting statement from such a pretty lady. It conjures up a whole lot of possibilities. I just might have to take you up on it."

"Well John, I mean it, I owe you big time!"

" In that case, Susan, will you spend the weekend with me?', half laughing as he said it.

I laughed, "While I did say anything John, but that what wasn't quite what I had in mind, though it might be fun."

The conversation continued in that vein, with John telling me how great it could be, and me telling him that he didn't know how good it could be. Then, it must have been a combination of the booze and the incredible high I was on, I said in a teasing way, "You know John, Early is away for a few days." I don't think I meant it, but John just lit up, telling me that it would be a dream come true.

He kept up like this for a few more minutes, and I started to think that after all his help, and what the partnership would mean to Early and me, how could I refuse him, especially after getting his hopes up.

Still, I couldn't believe it was me talking when I agreed to go with him. I told him I needed to stop home and grab a few things. He followed me in his car as I drove home. It was then that the first real doubt crept in to my mind, what was I doing? At the same time I rationalized, that just because I went there didn't mean that I was going to do anything, and if I did, I did owe John more than anything. Yet, I'd never been unfaithful and I knew Early hadn't either. We'd both seen relationships broken because one of the partners screwed around, and both of us vowed that we would never let it happen to us. But at the same time, I was telling myself that without John, I wouldn't be in line for this partnership, and I owed him more than I could ever imagine. After all, it was only sex, and Early was away, and he'd never know. And because of John, Early would be able to share the benefits of the partnership with me.

I got to the house and grabbed an overnight bag and filled it. I didn't take my sexiest negligee, that was for Early only! However, what I grabbed wasn't sackcloth either.

I looked at my watch as I got in my car to follow John to his house. It was almost 6:00, lunch had lasted far longer than I'd thought. As I drove behind him, I started to panic and almost turned around and went home. Part of me told me I shouldn't even be driving after all that I'd drank, but I followed John to his home and parked my BMW beside his garage. We were both quiet when we got in the front door. "Susan, you don't know how much this means to me, I have always admired you so"

"John, a large part of me tells me that I should run, I've never done anything like this before in my life, but I owe you so much. You know how much the partnership means to me, and because of you it looks like I'll get it. I may regret this, but I'm on such a high right now, this seems right. But remember, this is one time and one time only. I love my husband dearly, and always will. After I leave here, it's over and you can't ask me to do this again. But now, I'm here."

"I understand, but I want you so much." With that he put his hands on my shoulders and kissed me, ever so gently, then gradually as I responded, with increasing passion. My bag was left by the door, as we moved, still locked together to the living room, where we half fell to a sitting position on the large sofa. I remember how soft the cushions felt as we sunk into the sofa, and I vaguely remember the view as I glanced out the large picture windows, over the forest behind his home.

Our faces were pressed together, our bodies clenched more closely, as our tongues duelled with each others. I gasped as I felt his hand on my breast, I could feel my nipple harden. Without thinking I dropped my hand on his lap, and could feel his erection. I stroked it through his pants for a minute, feeling it grow beneath my hand. Then I pulled away from the kissing, my hand shaking as I unzipped his pants. I reached into his boxers, and pulled his cock out into the light. I looked closely at it, a drop of precum glistening from the slit on the purple helmet. Without thinking I leaned further over, and stuck my tongue out, running it over the top of the glistening head.

I took his cock in my hand, stroking it up and down, as I ran my tongue all around it. As I was doing this my brain was telling me "Susan, what are you doing, what about Early," but at the same time my pussy was telling me, "Keep this up girl, look how wet you're panties are."

I knew I shouldn't be doing this, yet I knew I had too, for I owed John more than I ever thought I could owe anybody anything. With that rationalization, I opened my mouth wide and slid it over the head of that cock. By now I was too far gone to stop, even though I knew I should. I sucked that cock, not quite deep throating it, I probably could have, for it wasn't as long or as thick as Early's, though it was big enough. I pulled my mouth off and ran my tongue down the shaft, then sucked his balls into my mouth, at the same time keeping a stroking motion with my hand.

I could feel his hands on my head, running his fingers through my hair, moaning softly as I ran my tongue up, and closed my mouth over the head. Up and down on it I bobbed, finally feeling John tense up, hearing him tell me that he was going to cum. When I heard that I just kept my mouth moving, sucking that cock as hard as I could, feeling that final tensing before he exploded into my mouth. Considering his age, he came quite a bit, but I managed to swallow all of it. Gradually I pulled my mouth off, extending my tongue to do a final clean up of his cock.

Surprisingly, we still had all our clothes on, though John's pants were open, with the necessary parts hanging out. For the next few minutes we lay like that, John leaning back, with my head on his chest. "Susan, words can not describe how wonderful that was, it has been a long time since any body has done that to me. But now its my turn to return the favour."

With that John sat up and kissed me gently, moving his hands around to my side, sliding down the zipper to my skirt. I raised my hips as he gently pulled the skirt out from under me, leaving me lying there in my blouse, panties and stockings held in place by a garter belt, a concession to one of Early's fetishes. I could see from the glow in his eyes that he was admiring the sight, and I was glad that I was wearing sexy lingerie, and not just a pair of cotton panties.

He gently started to stroke my pussy through my panties, and yes, my pussy had been right when it was telling me that they were soaked. I raised my hips a second time as he pulled the panties down, his breathing getting huskier as they moved past my thighs. As he pulled the panties off and dropped them on the floor, he gently started to stroke my lips. I groaned as his fingers first touched my clit, sending sparks throughout my body. Then I felt his tongue moving up my lips, his fingers pulling them apart as it delved into me, tasting my juices, moving up and down, flicking across my clit. It felt wonderful, though my brain tried to tell me that it wasn't Early doing this. Early, my husband, the man I loved, the only man who had touched me in that intimate way since we first dated back in college. I momentarily panicked, and was ready to pull away, when he sucked my clit between his lips and slid a finger deep into my vagina. At that moment I lost the ability to think rationally. I thrashed about as the feeling overcame me, until at last his fingers and tongue brought me to orgasm.

As I was coming down I felt something else, and looked up to see him poised between my thighs, his cock starting to push into me. I thrust my hips up to meet him, and felt him fill me up. As he fucked me, I thought of Early, and knew I shouldn't be doing this. But it was to late to stop. While I won't deny that it felt good, part of me knew it wasn't my husband making love to me. For one thing, it wasn't gentle and loving, as it was with Early, in fact it was a pretty hard fucking I was getting compared to what I was used to. But still I responded, for I owed it to John. Finally he groaned and came inside me. It was only then that I realized that I'd had unprotected sex. At least I was on the pill, for Early and I wanted to wait a little longer before children, but surely John was clean.

I couldn't help but laugh a bit as he pulled out of me. Somehow he had removed his pants, but the two of us were still fully clothed above the waist, save for his tie which was hanging undone around his neck, and a couple button undone on my blouse.

After a few minutes I told him I needed a shower. He led me upstairs, both of us quiet, and showed me the bathroom. I undid my blouse, and took off my bra, looking at myself in the mirror, bits of dried cum around my mouth, and cum dripping down my thighs. Thoughts of what I'd done kept running through my mind, guilt pouring over me as I stood under the shower.

I tried to rationalize things in my mind. I wanted the partnership, and without John's help I wouldn't be in line for it. I owed him big time! But at the same time, he wasn't my husband, the person I loved. I'd never been unfaithful, or for that matter, even thought about it. Yet I needed that partnership, and Early wasn't home, and thank god, would never know. I told myself that yes, I'd finish what I started, but never again! I loved Early too much to risk my marriage.

Looking back, I realize that I never thought of it in the context of hurting him, or even that he would be hurt. I only thought of it as being unfair to Early because of my love for him, and of paying John back for his help, and in that context convinced myself that it wasn't really cheating.

While drying off, I looked at my watch, it was after 9:00! "Oh god, I've got to phone Early! I should have called an hour ago." Panicking I pulled my cell phone out of my purse, and looked up the number of his hotel. My panic increased in spades when they told me that he'd checked out earlier today. "Please god, don't let him be home."

I tried his cel and breathed a sigh of relief when he answered, "Early, I was beginning to wonder if something had gone wrong! I called your hotel after dinner and they said you had checked out. Are you alright?"

"Yes, just a minor change of plans, where are you?"

My stomach settled back where it belonged, for he sounded ok, and not angry. I was safe! "I'm home, just finished cleaning up the kitchen. Its been lonely around here tonight." I held my breath as I asked him "Will you be home Sunday as scheduled? Where are you staying?"

"Well, I'll be home all day Sunday, no problem. We moved our negotiations to their company headquarters, you can reach me on my cel. Anything unusual come up today? I tried to get you at the office this afternoon."

I thought quickly, "Oh well... no, nothing special. I must have been tied up with John Stickner at the time. He got me through the mess on the Melrose account, I owe him big time for that." meaning that wholeheartedly. Now with some excitement I told him "Honey, after I was able to turn that disaster around it looks like I'm going to get that partnership! Mr. Jensen practically promised it to me. Isn't that great!"

Now when I look back I realize that my relief and excitement probably made me miss the lack of enthusiasm in his voice as he told me how wonderful it was, and agreed we would celebrate on his return. After some general chitchat, I hung up, thinking we should have been home together, sharing this career defining triumph. At the same time, the guilt I'd been feeling was compounded by the fact that not only had I slept with somebody else, I had lied to my husband, which was something else I'd never done before.

I walked downstairs, wearing a heavy robe I'd found over my negligee. John met me with a drink, "Susan, we probably should talk. I know you're feeling guilty, but this has been beyond my wildest dreams, and very special to me. And nobody's been hurt! I know that you'll go home to Early, but please, don't leave now. Stay with me until you have to be home for him."

He looked so happy, yet so sad, at the thought of being left alone. I knew that if I went home now, I would be torn apart, festering in guilt until Early came home. If I stayed, I'd be reminded of what I had done, but at least I wouldn't be alone. I made up my mind, "John, I told you this would be a one time thing, and I still mean it, but time isn't up yet, Early won't be home until Sunday, it's too late to go home now, let's see what tomorrow brings. After all, I did tell you that I'd do anything for you"

We sat in front of the fireplace, cuddling together on the sofa, but not making love again. Finally we went to bed. It seemed strange to sleep with somebody other than Early. Maybe that's why I'd trouble sleeping that night.