“I’m not discarding you. I wouldn’t. But can’t you see? You deserve so much more. You’re so perfect, so much more than I or any man could ever hope for, and I’m such an asshole. Cathy’s right.”
She looked at me, and I saw a great sadness in her. “Don’t you think I’m pretty any more, Jack? Don’t you think I’m sexy? Have you lost your desire for me already?” Her voice was soft and accusing. “Are you done with me now? Ready to cast me aside like everyone else has?”
“No!” I cried out. “I’d never do that. Don’t you understand? I’m shit. I’m a fucking heartless, unthinking asshole, who doesn’t deserve you.”
She released my hands and sat upright staring down at me. “Is it my body?” she asked softly, running her hands over her smooth stomach up to her breasts. “Am I too old? Has having a child made me hideous? Have I let myself go?”
“Hideous? You’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen.”
“I don’t excite you anymore,” she said dejectedly, her head bowed.
“Debbie! How can you say that? You could make a dead man stand up and dance,” I argued.
“That’s why you pulled out of me, and lost your erection. Because I’m so desirable.”
“Why would you even want me?” I asked plaintively.
“Because I love you. And I thought you loved me. I hoped you did.” I could now see the moisture in her eyes, and I felt my heart shattering.
“Of course I love you. I’ve never felt anything close to what I feel for you. And to know that I hurt you, seeing you hesitate to be with me, knowing I’d lost a part of you through my insanity, it’s destroying me. How can I do what I do to you? To you!” I leaned my head back and screamed “FUCK!”
Her hand struck my cheek hard enough to make me see stars. A second blow followed quickly and I welcomed it. I turned my cheek and waited eagerly for another.
“Stop it!” she yelled. “I hate it! I hate it! If you’re done with me, be a fucking man and walk away. But don’t use some kind of stupid excuse like I’m not good enough for you!”
“I’m not,” I whispered.
“Shut up!” she screamed. “What happened to you? Where’s my Jack? Where’s the Jack who would fight for me, protect me, worship me? Where’s the confident Jack who doesn’t have to prove anything? Who knows he’s different, better?” She leaned down and held my face in her hands. “Where is he? The man who gets hard watching me walk into the room. The cocky bastard who can fuck a room full of women into oblivion, and then take me in his arms and let me know I’m the most important thing in the world.”
She laid down on me. “Where’s my Jack?”
I wrapped my arms around her, holding her softly. “I’m sorry I hurt you.”
“Nobody has ever hurt me as bad as you have tonight,” she whispered sadly.
My hands caressed her soft back. My beautiful Debbie, who I knew was so fragile, and still acted without thinking around her. “I swear, Debbie, I’ll never hurt you again. Never again.”
I kissed her shoulder, and ran my hand down to her soft ass, caressing her. I pressed my lips to her flawless neck.
“You will. And I’ll hurt you. That’s life. But don’t turn away from me. Don’t throw away what we have.”