Update & Story Excerpt

Hi all,

It has been a while since I last posted. Health and real life have been an issue. That said I'm back to writing full time again and the new story is coming along well.

I am working on narrowing the next idea down for the next cheating story. I shall be picking an idea tonight and start planning it tomorrow. For all other updates on the other story I am working on, The Groupie Ch. 2, please follow my Twitter for update information and regular postings of how it is going.

That said, I have another excerpt for you. This one is an intro piece from a story I was working on 9 years ago. I plan on getting back to this story - it is a reluctance-turned-cheating story - soon, so expect to see more of this probably after The Groupie Ch. 2 is finished. I hope you enjoy the little teaser. And the little Easter egg that is in it. Can you tell what it is?

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The crystalline summer’s day that filled the great metropolis of Shorehaven with light and warmth was one of those days that were perfect in nearly every way. The bright summer’s sun stood high in the sky and bathed the City and its inhabitants with a heat that was neither hot nor warm, but perfectly in between. The vibrant blue sky was filled with small white clouds that drifted lazily on the high breeze, occasionally blocking the brightness of the sun for a few moments before once again its glorious fingers fell like stroking rays upon the illicit inhabitants of the City of Taboo Dreams.

Many of the City’s people were at work or university, while others were going about their daily business, generally enjoying the peaceful weather and the relatively calm roads of this early Thursday afternoon. Still others were just relishing in a calming sit in one of the parks, while others happily walked or drove down the streets heading to or from some errand or just shopping for things that took their fancy as the rays of the sun slowly blinked over them.

One of those rays burst forth from behind a particularly fluffy white cloud in the vague shape of a dog as it sleepily drifted passed the golden ball and shone brightly down amongst its brothers into the open-roofed L'Emporio di Regali Passionate mall in Downtown. The Emporium, as most simply called it, sat snuggled against the lapping current of the River Aphrodite, with its river-front walks and coffee shops with their tables and chairs lining the cobbled stone streets, and was one of the more ‘up market’ malls in the City…or so its consumers claimed anyway.

That warm ray fell brightly between the walls of the large shopping mall, covering everything that dwelt within in gorgeous sunlight; from the trees and fountains, the statues and designer-clothed shoppers, to the stalls and shop fronts. That warm light also fell softly on two women as they stepped out of the glass-fronted clothes shop that they had just overspent in, bathing the beautiful slender forms of Bryony Elsworth and Zoe Webber in its relaxing caress.

Today was Bryony’s day off work, and Zoe’s too, and so the slender brunette had decided that today she and her blonde friend would treat themselves with a day of shopping and pampering. Well, that was part of the reason anyway, the shopping wasn’t all fun and games as Bryony had to buy herself a formal-looking dress for the meal and dinner party that she had to go to tonight at her fiancé Owen’s work. It was apparently a big deal of some kind for her handsome fiancé, as if Owen could secure the deal then the bonus he would receive, as well as the pay rise, would more than pay for their upcoming wedding in just over a month, not to mention set them up on a wage that would make the rest of their lives far more than comfortable.

The problem was that being a corporate world, Owen was competing to get the contract with several others of his colleagues, and so tonight was extra important. Not that Bryony was worried – Owen was very good at what he did – but she had to admit that she was still a little concerned, as the others in his office hadn’t made it to the same level without being equally as good. The problem was that if Owen didn’t secure the contract Bryony had no idea how they were going to pay for the wedding. Owen had told her not to worry about that, of course, as he would find a way to get the money and give her the dream wedding that she had always wanted – he was very resourceful like that – but Bryony just couldn’t see how.

What made it more troubling was that, despite having her heart set on the whole fairytale idea, Bryony wouldn’t have minded a smaller wedding if they had to, but everyone had already been invited, the church booked, the catering ordered…and Owen had to keep up appearances in his socially-judging corporate world where even the make of your socks showed not only how successful you were but also whether a new client would trust doing business with you! Why did the price you paid for socks matter!? The devil was in the details, Owen had always told her, and so here she was trying to find the nicest dress that she could so she could impress all of the people and this new potential client and show just how it was Owen LaFollette, and no one else, that had everything that they needed for this big deal. Bryony just had to make sure that nothing went wrong tonight. Owen, and they, really needed this contract.

“Are you worrying again?” Zoe suddenly asked in a caring, and gently reassuring tone, as Bryony stood frowning over her thoughts. “Bree? Bree!”

It was the sharp jab in her arm from her blonde friend’s finger more than her name that stirred the beautiful brunette from her thoughts, and she turned to smile at Zoe as she smoothed her worried expression.

“Nope, just thinking about which dress I like the most.” She replied and smiled at her friend’s dubious expression as she linked her arm through Zoe’s.

“You’d look great in all of them.” The stunning blonde said finally after looking at her for a moment – Bryony had no illusions that she had fooled her friend, but there really was nothing she could do about it all right now, she just had to make sure that everything went well for Owen tonight. “Though I still don’t think any of them had that something…special, that you’re after.”

Bryony nodded at that as the two of them began to walk arm-in-arm down the paved courtyard towards a finer looking store that had white marble pillars holding up a stone canopy in front of the elegantly made windows.

“The pink one was nice though.” Bryony replied absently as she frowned and thought about the night ahead. Damn but she hoped that Owen could get that contract – her stomach fluttered at the thought in gentle nervousness – it would be so nice to finally not have to worry about it all.

“The pink one made you look like a stick of candyfloss.” Zoe said with a friendly smile, prodding Bryony in the ribs gently as she laughed softly “Something you would have recognized if you weren’t worrying all the time.”

Bryony smiled at that before looking to Zoe with an apologetic smile.

“Sorry Zo’, I just really hope that Owen gets this tonight, it would take a lot off my mind.” She replied honestly, feeling that gentle flutter of nervousness play in her flat stomach once more.

“I know, Bree.” Her blonde friend replied warmly, rubbing her arm as they reached the pillared-store front. “But Owen’s good at what he does and even if this doesn’t work out you know he will pull something off, he always does, and there’s no way that he would let one set back stop him from making the big day all that you both want.”

Bryony nodded at the reflection of her own thoughts. Owen would make sure that he thought of something, she knew that. In fact, her loving fiancé was so confident that whatever happens he would find a way that Bryony hadn’t seen any concern from him at all. How he remained so confident, and what he could possibly think of this close to the wedding if this contract didn’t work out, Bryony had no idea. Still, it was comforting to know how sure her sweet groom was, and it made the gorgeous brunette wipe her concerns from her mind as she focused instead on doing her part for the night ahead.

“Alright, no more worrying.” The slender bride-to-be said with a more meant smile.

“Good.” Zoe replied with a twinkle of playful fun in her large emerald eyes “Because everything is going to be great for both of our weddings and today we are going to have fun. Ok?”

Bryony’s smile was honestly brighter at that – Zoe always had a way of making everything seem better – and she gripped her friend’s arm tighter.

“Deal.” She agreed with a wider grin, as she pulled open the elegant brass and glass door. “Speaking of weddings, how’s Kevin?”

“He’s fine.” Zoe replied as she followed Bryony into the store and they began to look around at the stylish wooden racks and shelves “Though he wasn’t happy that I have today and tomorrow off and he only has tomorrow.”

The two attractive women laughed at that as they looked around, shifting coat hangers as they peered at, then discarded, tops, skirts, and dresses.

“I’m sure you’ll make it up to him tomorrow.” Bryony said with a very insinuating smile and gleam in her eyes that made her blonde friend laugh gently.

“Maybe, though Will’s coming over tomorrow so I’ll probably just get some sunbathing done until I get Kevin to myself.” Zoe replied with amusement that turned into a mischievous smile at the end.

Bryony shared the same expression as her friend as she laughed softly and picked out a dress that she quickly replaced after looking it over.

“Sunbathing while Will Harvey is around? Are you asking for trouble, Zo’?” She asked jokingly.

“Ah Will’s harmless if you don’t pay him any attention. He’s just a man-slut. You just ignore him and he soon runs off after some other woman.” The beautiful green-eyed blonde replied with a dismissive gesture of her hand and Bryony couldn’t help but hide a small smile.

Only Zoe Webber would be so nonchalant about William Harvey, a guy that they had both heard so many tales about. Of course, Zoe was immune to any guy’s attentions other than Kevin’s in such a way that had Bryony and all of their friend’s practically gaping. Not that she would succumb to Will’s charm herself, Bryony admitted, but Zoe didn’t seem to even notice that Will was hitting on her whenever he was around, as if Will hadn’t even said anything to her. How the other woman managed that without even apparently trying Bryony still couldn’t understand.

“You know he’s always had a thing for you though, right?” Bryony asked as she walked towards another rack of dresses.

“Will has a thing for every woman.” Zoe replied, giving more attention to the blue dress that she was turning around in front of her – something that Bryony thought was definitely the blonde woman’s style. “Why are you so worried about Will Harvey anyway? I thought you’d be more concerned about Raj tonight.”

That last was said with a playfully teasing smirk and Bryony felt her cheeks heat gently as she glanced around the shop for some unknown reason.

“Zoe don’t.” The gorgeous brunette shuddered as she felt her skin crawl. “That’s not even funny. You know what a creep he is.”

Despite her best intentions Bryony couldn’t stop herself from visualizing her fiancé’s weird co-worker. Raj Shah was only of average height – just a little taller than her – and whatever good-looks he had were severely blemished by the fact that he was as slimy as a slug’s stomach. Not only did the well-dressed Indian man ogle every woman that he came across, but his hands wandered as much as his eyes; just like his comments. Bryony had even heard of one time when he had trapped a waitress against a wall while no one was looking and almost had her undressed before he had to walk away as a couple had entered the hallway he was in! Whenever he was around her Bryony couldn’t help but feel as if he were not only trying to undress her with his eyes, but just waiting for an opportunity to try the same thing with her as he had with the waitress. How he had become successful was painfully obvious from his devious, snake-like nature, but he was a creep enough to make any woman’s skin crawl.

Zoe, however, found the whole thing rather amusing – but that was probably because the beautiful blonde had never met Raj, and she knew that Bryony never left Owen’s side when the Indian man was around. Still, Bryony’s friend nodded at the brunette’s disgust and was about to change the subject when a smile lit her gorgeous face.

“Now this one is perfect!” The emerald-eyed beauty said suddenly as she walked passed Bryony to stand in front of a mannequin that was wearing the most amazing green silk dress. “You wanted something elegant yet sexy, to impress Owen and the client tonight – this is it Bree.”

Bryony walked over to where Zoe stood fingering the material of the dress and looking over its design and cut, before she too began to look the garment over. The same smile that Zoe was wearing crossed the beautiful brunette’s lips as she looked over the dress…at least until she saw the price tag.

“Zo’, have you seen the cost of this thing?” The attractive fiancée asked in muted shock as she saw the four digit number on the tag.

“Yep, but it is gorgeous Bree, and it’s perfect for tonight.” Bryony’s blonde friend replied warmly before she turned to smile at her. “Besides, if Owen gets this deal, you won’t even notice the price, and you did want to look the part for tonight. Just think of it as an investment.”

Bryony felt her stomach flutter at the thought of paying so much just for one dress that she probably wouldn’t wear again. But then, Zoe was right. It was more of an investment and she did want to do her best to make sure that Owen won the client over, and turning up in something as stunning as this dress would help convey her and Owen’s success and commitment to not doing anything by halves; that and Bryony knew that she would look quite good in the dress, which always went down well at these company parties.

“I don’t know Zo’…” The brunette girlfriend said hesitantly as she looked the dress over. It was a gorgeous dress, but so expensive…

“Bree, you know I’m right, and you know it’s the right choice.” Zoe replied caringly as she turned to take Bryony’s hands and smile reassuringly into her large blue-grey eyes, before adding with a playful wink, “And besides, you know Owen will love you in it.”

That last made Bryony laugh and slightly settled the fluttering indecision in her stomach down a little as she turned back towards the dress. Hesitating in thought for a moment, the beautiful brunette fiancée finally looked back at Zoe and smiled an excited smile.

“Alright, but don’t tell Owen how much it cost!” She said in a tone that matched her smile before quickly turning to look for an assistant that could help her try on the dress.

And so it was that half-an-hour later Bryony Elsworth was walking out of the expensive store with the gorgeous green dress that had fit her as if it was made for her. Zoe had bought a couple of things herself – though she had no intention of telling Kevin about the price of those either – and so the two had had a giggle about that before they headed towards a nearby outdoor coffee shop to grab a little something to eat while they continued to talk happily about what Owen and Kevin would think of what they had bought. Time flew as the two women laughed and talked in the warm summer sun, until after a good hour of sitting at one of the round tables that had seemed more like a couple of minutes, Bryony glanced at her phone and her eyes shot open in surprise.

“Is that the time?” She asked sounding as shocked as she looked.

“Time flies when you’re having fun.” Zoe joked as she sucked her red fruit ice drink through a straw. Bryony thought that that took considerably more effort than just simply taking the plastic lid off and drinking it normally, but Zoe always did like to use the straw…she always teased Bryony about ‘enjoying the practice’; something Zoe would use very effectively the next day…though neither of the two gorgeous women knew that right then of course.

“True, though if I’m going to make it home in time for tonight I’m going to have to fly Zo’.” Bryony replied apologetically as she grabbed her phone and bags. “Sorry Zo’, but we could do something on the weekend?”

Bryony’s blonde friend smiled and waved a hand as she sucked harder on the straw, hollowing out her cheeks before she almost burst out laughing from the amused smile and shake of her head that Bryony gave her. Fortunately the attractive blonde managed to swallow before she did laugh, though she did need to gasp for air before she could speak

“That’s ok, I have a couple of things I need to sort out before I get back to Kevin anyway.” She said as she tapped her chest and grinned at Bryony, the unspoken jest plain on her face grew more obvious as Zoe tossed an unopened straw beside Bryony’s empty cup as she added amusedly, “Something to make Owen smile.”

Bryony smiled a little embarrassedly back as she shook her head and stood up; Zoe was hardly the overly flirty type – though she did have her moments – but she did know how to make Bryony blush, and the blonde woman did enjoy embarrassing her. Not that Bryony was innocent of course, definitely not…she was just not as…open…about everything as her blonde friend; something Zoe found amusing to pick on every now and then.

“I’ll see you on the weekend.” Bryony said trying to appear as unflustered as possible as she backed away slowly.

The other woman nodded and waved goodbye and so soon Bryony was heading back to her car with her goods in her hands.