Chapter 1

"You're going to have to start eating oysters," Sharon announced as she swept in the Wednesday after Easter.

"What for? Why?" asked Richard, totally bewildered.

"Spring cleaning, so I'm coming over two days a week for the next two weeks after Louise starts school again next week."

"So?"

"You'll need your libido and stamina built up."

"Oh, come off it, Sharon. I don't need building up to make love to you twice a week. I'm still in my forties and you're lovely enough to make an eighty year-old get a hard-on."

"Oh, Mr H, you do say the nicest things."

She flung her arms round him and gave him a toe-curling kiss.

"Whoa! Steady, my pet! Later!"

"Yes, Sir," she said, releasing him. "It's just that being without you for a week I now want every moment I can get."

"I know, my pet, but we can't just give in when there are things we both need to do, apart from each other."

"Yes, Sir. I know but I can't resist a quickie when I can snatch one. Nor can you for that matter."

Richard grinned. He had grown into stroking, pinching or lightly smacking her bottom whenever he caught her bending over. Or he would come up behind her when her hands were wet in the sink, put his arms round her and play with her boobs.

"Touché!" he said.

She kissed him softly.

"I'll be a good girl, for the moment, and get on with me work".

"OK, my pet."

It was now six months since Sharon had astounded him by offering herself as his once a week mistress to counter his monkishness following the death of his beloved Rachel. Rachel had asked her to snap him out of prolonged grieving and Sharon had offered herself a year after Rachel's death. She had not found it easy and Richard had had a hard time deciding whether to accept her offer. He had accepted and then found that Sharon was totally ignorant of what making love entailed. Basically, she had been abused. Her husband, who had left twelve years ago, had treated her abominably, using her to satisfy his own often drunken lust without any feeling for her.

Richard had coaxed her gently but dominatingly into making love. He had also shown concern for her when her daughter, Louise, was suddenly taken frighteningly ill. The upshot was that Sharon, knowing that Richard would never fully reciprocate, fell head over heels in love with him. She promised him that she would never stand in his way if he found a replacement for Rachel but warned him that if the girlfriend did not match up she would let him know in no uncertain terms. Richard was aware of how aggressive and tenacious Sharon could be. He was actually quite glad that he had a protector.

Over the six months Richard in his turn had become very fond of Sharon. He was not in love with her. On the other hand he looked forward to their weekly love-making after she had done her cleaning job each Wednesday and he had allowed himself the odd bit of extra-curricular groping. She had happily allowed it too but had not copied him. She felt he might think she had overstepped the mark. It helped prevent Wednesday mornings becoming a routine fuck.

At eleven o'clock Sharon knocked on Richard's study door, something she had never done before. She normally left him undisturbed.

"I've made you some coffee, Sir."

"Thank you, Sharon. That's kind and totally unexpected. Is there something behind it?"

Sharon blushed and dropped her eyes.

"Yes, Sir."

"Sit down then, my pet, and tell me."

Sharon did so but sat there, still not looking at him and twisting her hands. A couple of times she took a breath as though about to speak and then said nothing.

"Tell me, Sharon," Richard said gently.

Sharon took a deep breath.

"I've never taken any precautions," she said.

"I'm not pregnant though," she added in a hurry. "My periods 'ave been dead regular but I've not been thinking an' I've let you down, Mr H, by not warning you or doin' anything about it meself. I'd love to 'ave your child but that's not part of the arrangement.

"I'm so sorry for deceiving you," she whispered.

"Sharon, my pet. First of all there's no panic. After we'd had the boys Rachel and I decided I would have the snip so I'm firing blanks. You didn't knowingly deceive me. You just went ahead with your plan to fulfil Rachel's wishes and forgot about the safety aspects. It's not as though you've had a baby for some years. Don't worry. I'm not cross or anything. If truth be told I'm just so pleased that you talked me."

"Oh God!" she breathed. "I'm so relieved and thankful. It would've killed me to have had to tell you I was pregnant and would 'ave to get out of your life."

"No, Sharon. That would never have happened. If I had fathered a child on you I would have been proud of both of you and loved it as if we'd been married."

Luckily Richard had put his coffee down because a dervish landed in his lap, hugging and kissing him.

"Oh, Richard! My darling Richard! Why do I deserve a man like you? I love you, love you... so much. I know you'll never fully return it but that won't ever stop me loving you."

Richard held her. There was nothing more he could say. All he could do was comfort her.

They sat there for another ten minutes or so while Sharon got the tears and kisses out of her system, after which she suddenly straightened up and got off his lap.

"I'm not earning my pay," she announced. "And I haven't been honest with you. I need to be punished, Sir."

"A whipping, I think, Sharon, don't you?"

"Yes, Sir," she said meekly but her eyes were dancing.