Jessica's Epiphany
by uk_writer_53

~~~ Chapter 9 ~~~

A young wife discovers a side she didn't know she had.

Content, at least for the moment, I cuddled in against my husband and waited for sleep to take me.

Waking late the next day I took the following morning off, only coming in after lunch so that I managed to avoid Richard Danville.

At least that headed off any further disagreement with my husband for the moment. It also meant we even managed to have a reasonable conversation over dinner that night although he still steadfastly refused to discuss what had happened after my photo shoot.

The next couple of days passed calmly enough and by the Thursday morning I was misguidedly beginning to think we might be starting to weather the storm.

Checking through the mail I was sitting at my desk when Richard unexpectedly walked in through the door.

"Hello Jessica. I missed you on Tuesday, I hope you weren't ill?"

"Oh... err... hi Richard. No, I wasn't ill, I... err... I just had a few things to do at home."

"Good, good." He smiled and sat himself on the corner of my desk.

"If you're looking for my husband I believe he's in his office."

"Actually, I really called in to see you."

"Oh." I sat back in surprise, "Was there something you wanted?"

"You mean apart from me taking you to dinner tomorrow night?"

"I'm not going to have dinner with you, I'm a married woman Richard."

"That didn't stop you posing for me the other weekend." He smirked cynically, "Or sleeping with me."

"The sex was a mistake. It shouldn't have happened." I swallowed nervously, looking around to make sure no one could hear our conversation.

"As I recall Tom wanted you to do it and you hardly objected."

My cheeks coloured. He was right my husband had wanted to watch him fuck me but if I had really been opposed to doing it I could have said no.

"That's as maybe but it isn't going to happen again."

"I never said anything about sex." He gave me a disappointed look, "All I suggested was that we have dinner together."

"Anyway, I can't. I'll be at home cooking for my husband." I said rather tartly, "I'm sure you remember him?"

Richard grinned knowingly at me, "Somehow I don't think so, he'll be out tomorrow evening having dinner with Grace Cartwright."

"What.... how do.... he never said anything...." My mouth opened and closed several times as I tried to form some sort of coherent response.

"Grace and I go back a long way." He informed me, smirking, "In fact I was the one who suggested she contact Tom about her new campaign, and I understand that she's very impressed with him."

"Does he know you recommended us?"

"Of course he knows. Just like he knows about his arrangements for tomorrow evening." He leant a little closer and lowered his voice, "Now about our dinner?"

I sat in silence my brain in a state of turmoil, unable to believe how my husband and the man sitting in front of me had continued to deceive me.

Was there some reason Tom hadn't told me of his dinner arrangements?

'Perhaps he was intending to sleep with Grace?'

My stomach lurched at the thought and I felt a wave of nausea sweep over me.

Should I just give in and agree to have another meal with Richard?

"I.... I don't think so." Recovering a little composure I eventually managed to answer him.

He simply smiled back at me, "As you wish."

Watching him walk towards Tom's office I managed to keep the anger that was bubbling up inside me under control as I started to contemplate what was going on with my life and my marriage.

Getting up I collected my bag and started for the door.

"You going out Jess?" Our receptionist Melissa asked innocently.

"Yeah. Before I murder someone."

I snapped back at her before storming out of the front door, leaving her staring open-mouthed after me.

With no specific destination in mind, I headed to a nearby coffee shop, buying myself a cappuccino and finding a quiet seat in the corner where I could reflect on what Richard Danville had just told me.

It was a good hour later, with no resolution to my life's problems, I went back to work determined to speak to my husband and get some answers.

However, walking back into the office I was stopped dead in my tracks as Grace Cartwright breezed out of Tom's office with him.

"Oh, you are here Jessica. You don't mind if I borrow your husband for a couple of hours." Her gleeful smirk sent another pulse of anger surging through me, "I need to go over some things in the contract with him."

I glared angrily at Tom, "No, that's fine. I don't need him."

"I'll try not to keep him out to long." Her smile got even more exultant.

Standing looking sheepishly between the two of us he shuffled nervously and avoided my eyes.

"Well, have a nice time." I turned away biting back what I actually wanted to say.

The rest of the day was a total loss and I got very little done before leaving early and heading home to open a bottle of wine and have a glass or two as I made our evening meal.

To annoyed to have any sort of conversation with him it wasn't until we were sitting down to dinner that I finally spoke.

"What's going on between you and Grace?"

He snorted, "Nothing more than what you're doing with Richard."

"There's absolutely nothing going on between me and him."

"I'm supposed to believe that?"

I glared at him, "At least he isn't throwing himself at me like that old slapper."

"After what happened the other weekend and the way he keeps asking you to dinner I find that hard to believe."

I stared at him disbelief, "That was something that.... you.... you wanted me to do.... to do with him."

"I know but I got caught up with everything that was occurring.... You posing like that and.... and I could see how much you were into it."

"And you weren't? With Peta?"

Suddenly the conversation we had needed to have several days ago was happening but not as I imagined it. Instead of us calmly discussing what had happened and trying to sort out our future together we were screaming at each other in anger.

"She didn't exactly give me a choice and besides Richard was already screwing you."

"Whatever." I spat back at him, "It got you the fucking contract you wanted and saved your precious business. I hope you enjoy it."

Pushing my chair back from the table I threw my cutlery onto the plate and started for the door.

"And don't bother joining me in bed." Turning around I snarled irately.

"Don't worry I won't, I'll sleep in the spare room."

"Why not just ring your girlfriend. I'm sure she'll put you up."

"Now you're just being fucking stupid." Was the last thing I heard as I started up the stairs.

Lying in bed that night I sobbed in the darkness, trying to work out where everything had gone wrong. I knew it was because we hadn't talked but that was down to my husband, wasn't it?

Or was it because of my new found exhibitionist tendencies?

Did it all mean that Tom didn't love me anymore?

As the tears rolled unchecked down my cheeks and soaked into my pillow all I could do was think of questions to which I had no answers.

Sleep eluded me for ages and I watched the hours roll slowly by until I eventually fell asleep sometime after two o'clock in the morning. It meant I overslept and when I eventually woke up Tom had already left for the office and I had the house to myself.

Taking my time, I made myself a coffee and sat in the kitchen to drink it while I thought about the day ahead.

Trying to talk to my husband would be difficult given the way we had argued the previous evening but, if I didn't, how could I confront him about his dinner with Grace.

Mulling everything over I decided that the best thing to do was let events unfold on their own and wait to see what occurred. With that in mind, I put my empty mug into the sink and went to get ready for work.

Stepping under the shower I tried to relax; there was no point getting all worked up about things until I had a better idea about what was actually happening.

Stopping off at the sandwich shop on the way in to the office I bought my lunch so I could work straight through and eventually made it to my desk by a quarter to eleven.

"Must be nice being the boss's wife." Melissa grinned at me as I walked in.

"Not all the time." I smiled half-heartedly.

"What's up? You haven't been yourself lately Jess." Our receptionist asked somewhat perceptively.

I shrugged and lied, "It's nothing, it doesn't matter."

Even as I said it I wondered how everyone at work would react when they found out about my nude picture's appearing in Richard Danville's online magazine X-plicit.

A small shiver went all the way up my spine as I thought about the graphic photographs I had posed for and I felt a warm flush of arousal radiate out from my rapidly moistening pussy.

Still, I knew they wouldn't be published for a while so I had time to prepare myself.

"Well, as long as you're ok." There was real concern in her voice when Melissa said it.

"Thanks, I'll be fine." I forced out a smile and headed across to my desk with a heavy heart.

Having come in late I had a bit of catching up to do and I was completely focused on my work when a voice next to my desk startled me.

"Hello again Jessica."

Looking up I found Richard standing there, grinning at me.

"If you've come to ask me to dinner again the answer is still no." I told him firmly.

He chuckled, "Oh I don't believe in pressuring anyone although the offer's still there if you change your mind."

"What is it then? I'm busy."

"I just wanted to let you know." The debauched smirk on his face immediately concerned me, "Your photos are going out in this weekend's issue of the magazine."

"What!"

Stunned by his announcement all I could do was stare at him open mouthed.

"I thought you would be excited."

"But I.... why is it..... how...." Blustering I could feel myself starting to panic at the thought of the candid images of my body being on public display.

He grinned back at me, "Everyone at X-plicit was so excited when they saw your pictures that they decided to bump this month's centrespread and use yours."

"I'm not ready.... I need more time.... I...."

"More time for what? As I recall you were pretty keen to show everything to everyone when I took the photos."

Of course he was right. I was excited by the prospect of appearing in his online publication in such a blatant and uninhibited way. However, I hadn't given much thought to people I knew well; like my colleagues at work, seeing the pictures.

'How would they react?'

'Would they think of me as some sort of slut?'

The arousal that surged through me at the thought of my soon to be appearance on the internet was tempered by a concern at how some people might view me.

If I didn't have enough problems with my marriage falling apart around me I now had another thing to worry about.

'Grace Cartwright.'

Another thought suddenly sprang to mind.

If she didn't already know about what I'd done she would certainly find out soon enough and then how would she use it to manipulate my husband.

"Have you told Grace? Does she know?" I mumbled.

Richard chuckled almost evilly, "No, I haven't said anything but I'm pretty sure she knows. After all she's part owner of X-plicit with me."

"She's what?"

As I said it I glanced across towards Tom's office only to find him standing in the doorway glaring at me.

"She owns half the online operation."

"I think you'd better go." I hissed quietly, biting back my anger, my eyes fixed on my husband.

Turning to wave at him, Richard said a quick goodbye and, giving me a totally unexpected kiss on the cheek, walked out of the office. It left me feeling utterly flustered as I watched Tom go back into his room and close the door.

Could things get any worse?

Even though I had only been at work a short while I knew I needed to get out and clear my head so, picking up my bag, I made for the door.

"I'll be back in a bit Mel." I told our receptionist and hurried away before she could say anything.

Finding myself outside the nearby coffee shop I went in and bought a cappuccino before settling myself at a table in the far corner.

Sitting well away from the few customers that were in there I stared into my cup and considered what I was going to do. My marriage was falling apart around me and everything I did only seemed to make the situation worse.

Taking a sip of my drink I thought about my husband and Grace Cartwright. It was obvious to me she desired him and he was doing nothing to discourage her. But was that just to get her to sign a contract or was there something more to it?

Then there was the not insignificant matter of Richard Danville.

In the beginning I had been prepared to sleep with him to save the business. Instead, to my surprise, he had wanted me to pose for his new venture, an online men's magazine.

Spending a weekend at his large house he had taken some very explicit pictures of me and I had ended up having sex with him while Tom had spent the night with a very attractive brunette.

Now, with Richard's disclosure that he and Grace were actually partners, I began to wonder if this was just some sort of game to them or was it something more sinister.

Finally, there was my new found desire to show off my body. Where had my exhibitionism come from?

I had no clue as to why I enjoyed flaunting myself but the more I did it the more of it I craved.

By the time I finished my coffee and got up to leave I was still thoroughly confused with no idea about what I was going to do. The one thing I was sure of though was that I wasn't going to sit around and watch my marriage disintegrate.

Instead of going back to work I made my way home. I didn't want to be in the office when Grace Cartwright turned up or when Tom left to go to dinner with her.

The hours dragged slowly by, the afternoon giving way to the evening, and as each one passed I became more miserable. There was no phone call, no question as to where I had gone.

Where was Tom? What was he doing? Why wasn't he talking to me?

I made myself dinner, even though I wasn't particularly hungry, and opened a bottle of wine in an attempt to drown my unhappiness.

Unable to concentrate on anything I sat watching the clock and slowly got drunker as I waited for Tom to come home, finishing the bottle and opening another.

It was well past midnight when I finally gave up and, more than a little worse for wear, made my way up to bed.

Falling asleep almost instantly the sun was up, early morning shafts of light streaming in through the gap in the blinds, when I woke.

'Tom?'

My eyes were barely focused when thoughts of my husband sprang into my head.

I hadn't heard him come home. What time had he come back? Had he slept in the guest bedroom?

Slipping out of bed I pulled on a long baggy t-shirt and headed to the bathroom a little puzzled as to why I couldn't hear any noise from downstairs.

It was only seven o'clock. He must still be asleep. Surely he hadn't gone out already?

Checking the guest room, it was clear the bed hadn't been slept in and, starting to panic, I rushed downstairs.

Everything was just as I had left it. He hadn't come home, that much was obvious.

Making myself a much-needed cup of coffee I sat down and tried to work out what I was going to do next. Clearly my marriage was over and now I had a choice as to whether I should stay or go.

Hurriedly making up my mind I took my cup upstairs with me and started to pack. Cramming as much as I could carry into two cases I quickly showered and dressed before scribbling a note for my husband;

Tom,

I love you so much despite everything that's happened but it's very obvious to me that things have changed between us.

Staying and watching our marriage fall apart will break my heart so I've decided it's best for both of us if I just leave.

Please just be happy and get on with your life.

I'll always love you.

Jessica XXXX

PS: Please don't try to find me.

Placing the note on the table along with my car keys I collected my laptop and handbag just as my cab arrived.

"Where to love?" The driver asked once he had loaded my cases into the boot.

Unsure of where I would go I gave him the address of a small hotel across town and slid into the back seat wondering if I was doing the right thing.

It was barely an hour later, I had checked in and had just closed the room door behind me depositing my bags on the floor, when my mobile rang for the first time.

I declined the call without even looking to see who it was, only for it to ring again almost immediately. Not wanting to speak to anyone, especially my husband, I just turned my phone off and tossed it on to the bed.

With no idea where I was going to go I needed some time to think and I had a few things I needed to do; drawing money out of the bank, buying a new phone and anything else that came to mind while I was out.

By the time I had done everything I wanted to and got back to the hotel it was well past five o'clock and, once I was back in my room, I picked up my phone and turned it on.

There were at least a dozen missed calls from Tom and a similar number of texts, all of which I ignored. He had made his choice when he spent the night with Grace.

Deleting his messages unread I blocked his number and disconsolately threw the phone back on the bed before I went to take a long hot shower.

It was a good couple of hours later when, dressed and with my make-up on, I decided to head out to find somewhere quiet to eat. I had seen a small restaurant not too far from the hotel which, despite it being a Saturday evening, was half empty.

The meal was pleasant enough and as I sat there, alone, I found myself, once again, contemplating just what I was going to do. I had to get away, that much I was certain of. Staying to watch my marriage fall apart around me was not an option I was willing to consider.

However, I also knew there would be no way I could give up the embryonic exhibitionist streak I had so recently discovered in myself?

Finishing my dinner, I paid the bill and set out for nowhere in particular, just strolling aimlessly and thinking about things, when I found myself outside of a busy brightly-lit bar with the name Electricity above the entrance.

Pausing I read the poster on the window advertising a wet t-shirt contest that evening.

"Going to give it a go?"

A voice startled me and I looked over at the man by the door who had spoken.

"What.... no, I don't think so."

Even as I said it I felt a familiar flush of warmth between my thighs at the thought of what it might be like exposing myself to a room full of men.

"Why not darling. A looker like you." The way he eyed me up sent a shiver along my spine, "You might even win."

"I'm too old for one and second these..." I hefted my boobs, "... these are hardly big enough."

"You know what they say, more than a handful's a waste and you can't be more than what.... 22, 23?"

I giggled and blushed, "I'm almost 27 thank you."

"Well, you don't look it. So, you going to give it a go?"

"I err... I don't know anyone..."

He winked at me, "You know me. I'm Rob by the way."

I looked at him closely, he was casually dressed and I guessed he was in his mid-forties with short dark hair and rather penetrating green eyes.

"Jessica."

"So, Jessica what do you say?"

"Why are you so keen to get me to do it?"

My question bought a smile from him, "First of all it's my bar and secondly why wouldn't I want to see a gorgeous young woman like you in the contest."

"Is that all?"

He chuckled, "That and we only have a half dozen entries at the moment."

"Ok, I'll do it." I blurted out on impulse, regretting it the moment I said it.

Even though the idea of it turned me on I had been going to decline, after all I was a married woman, but then I realised that in my mind I wasn't any more. Tom didn't want me and I needed something to take my mind off my problems.

"Good girl." Opening the door, he ushered me inside, "Now let me buy you a drink."

"I'll have a white wine then." I said as I followed him up to the bar.

As I waited for my drink I took the opportunity to have a look around.

About half full, mostly with men, the bar was very modern, decorated in silver and black, with a long counter against one wall and a small stage on the opposite side.

There was barely time to take very much in when though. Just as Rob handed me my glass, the DJ announced that anyone who was taking part in the wet t-shirt contest should come backstage so they could get the competition started.

"Have fun Jessica." He grinned as I nervously walked away, wondering just what I was doing.

Making my way through the curtains with the other girls I found myself in a small changing area. There were eight of us all told, most around my age although a couple definitely looked younger, all of us clearly speculating on what was going to happen.

I was feeling more than a little apprehensive and thinking about quietly slipping away when Rob wandered in and handed each of us a cheap, rather thin, white t-shirt, with the bars name 'Electricity' on the back in red.

"Don't worry babe, I'm sure you're gonna show everyone how to do it."

Pausing when he came to me he whispered quietly in my ear, reassuring me with a wink, before moving on.

Taking a deep breath, I tried to suppress the feeling of panic that still threatened to engulf me, pondering again on just what I thought I was doing when, with the tops handed out, Rob turned and addressed us.

"Hello everyone, my name's Rob. I'm the owner and manager of this place and I'll be hosting the contest."

Almost in unison we all stopped talking and waited to hear what he was saying.

"Basically girls, there is only one rule, you have to wear the t-shirt I've given you and you have to be braless under it. Apart from that you can wear as much or as little as you want. Ok?"

There was an undercurrent of murmuring from the group as we all considered what to take off and what to keep on.

"There is just the one round and we have a decibel meter on stage so the winners will be determined on how loud the crowd is. Once the contest begins, I'll call your name and you then step forward onto the stage. You'll get hosed down and then have a few minutes to do whatever you want; dance, walk around or whatever. So, any questions?"

He surveyed his small audience for a moment, waiting for someone to speak, before continuing.

"The prizes for tonight are fifty pounds and a gift certificate for first place, twenty-five pounds and a certificate for second place and another a bar gift voucher for third."

Taking a large gulp of my wine I glanced around at the other contestants, noticing that most of them looked about as nervous as I felt.

"Alright girls, you have fifteen minutes to get yourselves ready and then we can get this competition going!" Rob finished with a broad grin and left us alone to make whatever preparations we wanted to.

Slipping off my jeans and top I stood for a moment in my underwear, pleased that for whatever reason I had chosen to put on a matching pale blue lacy bra and thong. Checking out the other contestants I felt a little encouraged, while a couple were definitely better endowed than me, most were not a lot different in the size of their chests.

Unfastening my bra, I dropped it with the rest of my clothes and pulled on the rather tight white t-shirt I had been given. It was just about long enough to cover my bottom while my nipples pushed out visibly through the thin material, and it was immediately apparent that, when it was wet, the flimsy top would become virtually transparent.

Waiting for things to get going I took the opportunity to peek through the curtains and was shocked to see that the bar was now virtually full.

While the idea aroused me the thought of showing most of my body to a room crammed with men also terrified me. Posing for one man and his camera, knowing my photographs were going to be posted on the internet and even flashing through the curtains of a changing room seemed infinitely safer than what I was about to do.

Not that I had much time to think about it, Rob interrupting my viewing when he appeared out front to announce the start of the contest to the bar.

After giving everyone a run-down of how the competition would work, I heard him announce the name of the first contestant.

A cute girl came forward, looking scared to death, and stepped onto the stage to a smattering of applause.

Peeking around the edge of the curtain I watched as Rob held up a soda syphon to the audience, who cheered when they saw it, then, turning back to the girl. he aimed at her front and everyone heard her loud screech as the spray hit her.

For a moment or two she stood completely still, the crowd roaring even louder, then she began to dance around on stage, gyrating to the music the DJ was playing.

As she spun around I saw why the t-shirts were so tight and thin. When they were wet they looked like they weren't even there, the material totally transparent, clinging snugly around the girls boobs just like clingfilm.

Could I do what she was doing?

The exhibitionist side of me said yes while another part simply urged me to turn and run.

I struggled with my internal conflict as a couple more contestants took their turn on stage and then, without warning, I heard Rob call out my name.

"Gentlemen please welcome our next contestant, the absolutely gorgeous Jessica."

My stomach clenched and I felt sick, hesitating for a moment before forcing myself to move.

There noise was deafening when I stepped through the curtains and onto the stage area, my eyes widening when Rob held the syphon up, grinning broadly.

"Ready?"

I saw him aim at me and momentarily froze.

"Ahhh....... shiiiiiiiitttttttttttttttttt!"

The ice-cold spray hit my chest and I gasped for air before screaming with shock as the glacial water immediately soaked through the material.

Almost instantly my nipples hardened into solid nubs, jutting out like pencil erasers as the wet t-shirt moulded itself to my tits like a second skin. The fabric of the top so lightweight that it became completely diaphanous when wet, and now the whole crowd could see my pert breasts and hard erect teats as I stood transfixed, looking like all I had on was my lacey pale blue thong.

For a second the cacophony of sound swallowed me whole and I totally forgot where I was.

All I could hear were men yelling for me while the feelings that surged through me were completely indescribable, all I knew was I felt more alive than I ever had.

Recovering quickly, I knew I had to do something so cupping my hands underneath my breasts I pressed them together, showing off the hard points as I started to gyrate my hips sexily to the background music.

With every passing second the sensations that had burst into life inside me intensified as I threw myself into my performance.

Blatantly flaunting my body at the crowd I swayed around the stage, wiggling my hips and lifting my arms above my head as I twirled around, enjoying the applause and the shouts of encouragement.

Wanting to give the crowd even more of a show I stopped dancing and slowly turned around, my back towards them as I bent over, my feet wide apart offering the audience a perfect view of my backside and barely covered sex.

Now I was totally in the moment and reaching a hand back between my legs I stroked a finger lightly along the length of my slit, teasingly rubbing the soaked material against my wet lips. The crowd could only see the outline of my hand moving but I knew they were all imagining what I was doing, and they loved it!

As the music started to come to an end their yelling got even louder, echoing around the crowded bar and I wiggled my bottom in response before standing up straight.

Facing the audience again, I hooked my fingers in the bottom of the top and, to a deafening crescendo of cheers, I peeled it off over my head, cheekily posing topless as my turn on stage came to an end.

"Give it up for Jessica everyone." Rob announced and I took a bow.

Breathless I waved as I disappeared back behind the curtain, my face flushed and my chest heaving now my time on stage was over.

Pulling my top back on I sat and recovered as the remaining girls each took their turn at showing off for the crowd. My panties were soaked through and I felt as turned on as I had when I posed for Richard Danville.

My heart was still pounding against my ribs when everyone finished and Rob started to call each of us up, one-by-one, for the audience to cheer for their favourite.

Still in my wet t-shirt I stepped apprehensively on the stage for the second time, my tits clearly on show, standing in a line with all the other contestants.

I had entered without any real expectations but now I was here I wanted to win.

Rob took up the mike again, "Gentlemen the results are in and in third place is the lovely.... Daisy!"

The cute nineteen-year-old brunette who had gone first stepped forward to collect her prize to another huge cheer from everyone.

"And in second place tonight is the gorgeous.... Jessica!"

Speechless I stood transfixed as the girl next to me nudged me forwards, "Go on, it's you."

"What.... I... I...!" Totally stunned I stepped up to collect the runner-up prize from the bar's owner.

"Well done gorgeous." He leant closer to me as he handed over the cash and the gift voucher, "We'll get that drink when we're done here shall we?"

"Oh well... I umm... I... err... sure." I managed to stammer.

I felt hornier than I could ever remember and I found myself guessing that he wanted more than just a drink as I stepped back into line.

Watching the winner collect her prize I couldn't help but smile when it turned out to be a young blonde called Stacey with what looked like an impressive 36DD chest.

With the presentation over we all trooped off the stage, getting one last ovation from the appreciative crowd, to get changed.

Pulling my clothes back on I saw Rob across the changing area and took a deep breath wondering what I was going to do.…