Page 77 of Ripple Effect

“And he obviously did.”

I nod. “Yes. Eventually.” I rub my hand back and forth over our child knowing this miracle under my heart wouldn’t exist if he hadn’t.

“Would you attribute the lies as the single thing that almost broke your marriage?”

I think carefully before answering. “It’s more complicated than just lies. Cal’s lies led to a lack of communication which grew as the years passed. We went from being almost obsessively in love with each other—it was like I bloomed when I saw him—to having a best friend that I lived with and occasionally had sex with. The extraordinary was missing. I thought about ways to get it back while Cal would be away because I realized I was lonely.”

“When did it all start to fall apart?” Dr. Powell asks quietly.

“‘Seek and ye shall find,’ Doctor. Or in my case, seek and it shall destroy.” My lips twist in bemused irony. “One day, one moment, and my world collapsed.”

“You mentioned earlier you thought your marriage was over.”

“Oh, I was certain it was. After all, when you walk in on your husband kissing another woman, it’s a pretty good indicator. Isn’t it?” I murmur, “Because seeing is always believing, right?”

“So they say.”

“The problem is when you don’t know the truth—ah, yes, back to those pesky little lies—it’s hard to believe the truth when someone you love finally wants to tell it to you.”

“How hard was that for you?”

How hard was it for me to believe my best friend and my husband were having an affair? “It was like a tidal wave crashed over me and sucked me out into the darkest water.”

“Can you talk about it?”

“Due to a lot of intense therapy, I can.” I start from the afternoon of my sixth wedding anniversary, when one call changed our lives.

Irrevocably.

52

Elizabeth

Year Six - Five Years Ago from Present Day

“Sullivan.” I wake up to Cal’s inked back as he rolls over to grab his cell on the second ring. Instead of wasting the glorious vision in front of me, I decide it’s time to indulge myself in my husband’s body.

After all, it’s not every day you get to celebrate six years of marriage. It hasn’t been easy, but we’ve made it. And right now, we’re on a good stretch where I don’t feel like we’re so far apart emotionally. My heart sighs happily as I curl an arm around his waist. Snuggling up against him, I begin to run my tongue delicately along the lines between his shoulders.

Even though he shudders, it doesn’t distract him from his call. He’s all “Yes sir,” and “Of course.”

I decide to up my game.

Sliding beneath the duvet, I trail my mouth down over the dimple over his ass cheek before I get tough with him by rolling him onto his back. He instantly complies, though still manages to say, “I understand, completely.” But when I glance up at him from where I’m curled next to his hip, Cal’s eyes are on fire. His nostrils are flaring, and the muscles of his stomach are tense.

I don’t go for the head of his cock like I’m sure he expects me to. Instead, I scoot down lower and gently take one of his balls into my mouth, licking and sucking. The other, I roll tenderly in my other hand. My nose against inhales the musky scent of us still lingering on him.

When I hear him say goodbye, I release his tender skin and lift myself slightly to take the head of his shaft into my mouth, but I’m thwarted.

“Have to make this quick, baby.” He rolls and tucks me under him.

Before Cal can kiss me senseless, I slam a palm against his chest. “Why?” I ask suspiciously.

A look of pain crosses his face before he admits, “I have to be on a plane in…”

“It’s our anniversary, Cal!” I yell.

His head drops until it’s touching mine. “I know. If it wasn’t for the fact this deal could blow up at any moment, there’s nothing that could pull me away from you.”