Page 89 - Where the Dream Ends ebook

Staying On

nakedness was enough to stimulate his desire, she was there, in
front of him, tall and lean.

She was very young, and she lived alone in a bayside cot-
tage. She lived there year-round, except during the coldest
months. Often, in the summer, she left the island for days at
a time, she told him, preferring to get away from the crowds.
Autumn was her favorite season when the regulars were gone
and only the real beachcombers were left, the ones who loved
the quiet and the great expanse of ocean and bay.

Liam’s wife watched sternly as the young woman undressed
him — what is she doing here? — and instead of youthful ex-
citement and exuberance, he felt dirty and ashamed. When he
awoke and saw his wife lying next to him, sleeping, he was
embarrassed. How long had it been since he had a morning
erection?

The dream left Liam feeling muddled. It wasn’t often any
more that he wanted to have sex with his wife, but he was an-
gry with her for interfering in his dream. His erection quickly
subsided, replaced by an urgent reminder that he had to go to
the bathroom.

“What’s the matter with you this morning?” she pried, as
he scrambled out of bed.

* * *

Liam actually met the young woman in his dream, or at
least someone very much like her, a few days later at the mar-
ket. She was very young and very pretty, he thought. So what’s
wrong with flirting? He asked her name, where she lived. Ev-
eryone at the beach was like that. She said she’d seen Liam

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