Page 90 - PENTHOUSE LETTERS 2018 Writer Of The Year Award Jim McCartan

CARNALCOPIA Jim McCartan

THE SUBSTITUTE a familiar climax, feeling his cream warm always seemed to be by my side,
me inside as he came as well. But as we offering help. I’d figured she was looking
aving been married for 15 lay together afterward I nudged him. for a promotion.
years, I thought I knew my “Rog...is something going on with Somehow that day her concern hit me
husband. I thought I knew you?” when I was most vulnerable. We were
myself, for that matter. But He got defensive, way out of alone in my office, and I started talking.
H even at the age of 44, life proportion to the question. He said he’d Then I couldn’t stop. Soon I’d babbled
can still have erotic surprises for you. If been busy at his own job and we just my suspicions about Roger.
you’re lucky. hadn’t been seeing each other enough. Amanda bit her lip and looked at
Exercise and sane eating habits had I let it go. the floor. I thought I had embarrassed
let me keep my fit figure into what was But we had been married a long time, her—and myself—but she said quietly,
now, undeniably, my middle age. I was and you get so you can sense things. “I’m afraid I know something about that,
proud of the shape I was in, my tits and Even though I knew Roger loved me, I Mrs.—Zoe. Can you come to my place
ass were still firm, though I wasn’t really wouldn’t put it past him to have an affair. after work?”
trying to impress anybody except Roger, The thought didn’t tear me apart with The moment was like something from
my husband. jealousy, but I did want to know the truth. a mystery novel. I got back to work and
I worked at a big advertising agency. I started to do some unaccustomed stayed at the office until evening. When
I was good at what I did, but sometimes snooping. It was distracting and even I left, Amanda was already gone from
it was awfully time-consuming. Even so, demoralizing. I actually found myself her desk. Curious, I drove to the address
I grew gradually aware that something caring less and less if Roger was fucking she’d given me and knocked on her
was off with Roger. He’d been acting some other woman. At some point, I just apartment door.
strangely. wanted him to come clean about it. She let me in, wearing a slinky robe.
We had a fine sex life. Roger had A young woman named Amanda, who There were candles burning and soft
stayed in good physical shape as well, worked in my office, noticed my mood. music playing. I was more puzzled than
and he could still get me wonderfully hot “Mrs. K, are you all right?” she asked me. ever as she had me sit while she stood,
and bothered with just a look. “Call me Zoe, Amanda.” looking nervous.
One night in bed, though, he seemed She smiled at that. She was a pert Finally, she said, “Okay. I don’t know
particularly distant, like his mind was thing, with nice tits, gorgeous hair and how you’re going to take this but...” She
elsewhere as he plowed me with his cock. a pretty face. I recalled she’d been bit her lip again, which gave her a cute
I enjoyed it anyway as I was swept up into working there about two months and “naughty girl” look. “But I’m the one your
husband has been sleeping with.”
I would have thought, under those
circumstances, that my response would
have been a lot more violent. Maybe 10
years ago it would have been. But I was
older and wiser. I eyed the attractive
woman who was probably half my age.
In a steady voice, fixing her with a cold
eye, I asked, “Why?” I wanted her to
have to explain. I wanted, at least, to see
her squirm as she told me why she was
intruding into my marriage.
But I didn’t see her answer coming.
Quite frankly, it stunned me.
Amanda said, “I slept with him because
it was as close as I could get to sex with
you.” She blushed.
My mouth dropped open. I don’t think
I’d ever been so shocked in my life. But
even as I reeled from that bombshell, I

88 Penthouse Letters