Bree had always prided herself on being an exceptional judge of character. Whether meeting new neighbors or potential suitors, she could read people within moments of an interaction. Aside from George, her track record served near perfect, which is how she found herself to be grappling with the things she had started to feel towards Karl. It was a feeling that had started to brew and bubble during their first meeting in his office, his lack of personal space and conniving smile only pulled her in more. Karl had never been someone she would have thought herself to be attracted to, much less be the man she was willing to have an affair with.
She could remember when he and Susan had first moved onto the street, a newborn Julie hanging in Susan's arms. Even then Karl's eyes had devoured her, as they seemed to do with most attractive women that crossed his path. Bree shook his hand politely and smiled as she always did, directing the conversation and though Karl listened to her rather intently, it was only Susan who gave the answers. Once Rex jumped in he and Karl began a natural banter and the two had remained quite close until Rex's death. When Susan had come to Bree about Karl's cheating she comforted her friend, her and the girls remarking only to each other how they hadn't been surprised, but glad Susan had decided to divorce him.
When he had started dating Edie, Bree and the others had thought it may have been some sort of match, but Karl was Karl and wanted what he couldn't, or shouldn't have, as he seemed to throughout his life. Though Bree had been disappointed in Susan for her role in it all, she was beginning to understand it more and more. Karl had never shown her any sign that he was a good man, in the way Rex had been and Orson had in what felt like a very distant past. Despite the man he was, Karl made Bree feel alive in a way she never had felt before. He was lewd, immoral and she was starting to think he might even be a bit insane, so why did she crave more of him - parts she didn't want to admit to herself let alone say out loud.
Karl's reputation as a lawyer was much like his with women - he was good at saying what someone wanted to hear and covering up what was best kept hidden. Bree had gone into his office knowing what she was there for - a divorce lawyer who would help her keep what was rightfully hers by whatever means necessary. He had been surprised to see Bree step foot in his office, never suspecting she would be one of his clients - believing in the facade she had so carefully crafted of having the perfect marriage. As they prepared for her divorce, Karl saw a different side of Bree, one he was sure she didn't show to many - there was a conniving thrill seeker buried under the skin of the Stepford wife she had come to live in.
He had always found Bree to be attractive but it was never something that weighed on his mind. As they started to spend more time together, including the burglary of her house, he was finding it harder to get her off his mind. At first he thought it was just a passing thought until she would look at him in a certain way, making him question if his feelings were really one sided. Her presence was unlike any woman he had been around before - demanding his attention with a sharp yet soft manner he found himself enjoying being captivated by.
They had been playing a dangerous game from the moment she stepped foot in his office, and Bree found herself enjoying the time they spent together more as the time went on. The witty retorts that would come from Karl seemed to ignite something in her, as though they were a battle cry for a game Bree couldn't help herself from playing. It was stimulating and seductive for both her body and soul, igniting flames within her she had never sensed before. The fury she felt stepping into his office didn't seem to diminish the heat between the two - she hadn't expected a divorce to involve physical violence, though with Karl she was coming to learn she never knew what to expect.
"What's your beef?" He asks smugly from behind his desk.
"My beef is that from the minute I walked into this office, you have pulled me deeper and deeper into your moral cesspool - that is not why I hired you." As the words leave her with frustration and exhaustion, it feels more to convince herself than Karl.
"Please. That is exactly why you hired me. Face it. You were tired of being a good girl. You knew it was time to play dirty."
"I wanted to protect what was mine. You have turned me into someone I don't recognize."
"And you've loved every minute of it."
"No, I haven't."
"Yes, you have! And so have I. Because the truth is, I think you're the most fascinating woman that I have ever met." The game has stopped, his eyes looking to hers in a gaze filled with honesty and temptation.
"What? Karl...If I have not been clear about how I feel about you, I apologize for any ambiguity. Understand this... I detest you." She turns her back and creates space between the two of them as he inches closer, worried what she might do if she lets him too close.
"No, you don't. I can see it in your eyes. You want me to walk over there and pull you up against me and kiss you until your knees buckle."
"You're fired." She hisses through gritted teeth.
"Good. That keeps this from being a breach of ethics."
Before she can respond, Karl closes the distance between them, his lips meeting hers with a force that leaves her breathless. Sparks ignite through her body - her purse drops to the floor mindlessly, as she finds herself both frozen in place and melting into a pool all at once. His tight grip on her feels like it is the only thing to keep her standing and as he pulls away he takes her breath along with his lips.
"Mmm." She sighs with contentment,taking a moment before looking at him - devouring him in a single glance. "My knees haven't buckled yet."
He kisses her again with the same fervour as before, Bree unable to think rationally as her body takes over, kissing him with lust and longing and unable to feel any remorse for doing so. Her mind is drawn blank as to when she last felt such passion in a kiss, aching for something more, her sinful thoughts bring her back to reality - kissing Karl Mayer in his office.
"We can't do this. It's adultery."
"Luckily, we're both adults."
"Mmm. Stop! I'm married."
"Yes, to a man who's blackmailing you. Don't you think making love to your divorce lawyer would be a nifty way to get back at him?" Now that he's kissed her he doesn't know if he can survive without doing it again. He lifts her without a second thought, placing her down gently on the couch as he continues to kiss her deeply.
"Mmm. Oh, Karl. No. No! No."
"What now?"
"If I'm gonna break a commandment, I don't want it to be for a quickie on this couch."
"Who said quickie? I've got 40 minutes before my ten. And thou shalt get sweaty." He chides, working the buttons of her blouse.
"I wanna do this. I do. But not here. I need to feel special."
"But you are special."
"Are you saying You've never made love to another woman on this couch?"
"Not a special woman. Okay. All right. I get it. I get it. I want this to be nice for you. I'll find us a hotel."
"Call me later when you've set something up." Her formal tone returns as she stands and attempts to gather herself.
"Done."
"And just so we're clear, this visit was not billable." With that, she's out the door.
She gets to her car and feels the religious guilt overflow, and though she knows she must pray for forgiveness, though it was a forgiveness she wasn't certain she deserved—or wanted. Sitting in her car, Bree replayed the interaction in her mind, her body betraying her with the same reaction each time. Bree wanted to sleep with Karl Mayer. She chastises herself for having thoughts like this, she wasn't an adulterer - she couldn't be, but in that brief moment when Karl's lips were pressed against hers she wasn't Mrs Van De Kamp or Mrs Hodge - she was a woman filled with desire, letting the feeling the overtake her entirely. It helped that Karl was an amazing kisser, though she couldn't say that really surprised her. What surprised her the most was how good she felt doing something she wanted - rules and expectations be damned. It isn't until she's pulling into the driveway at home does she feel any true remorse for what she had done, knowing she will enter the home she shares with her husband - one filled with memories of a once happy and idyllic life, now turned sour, well past its expiration. She feels as if he'll know the moment he looks at her - making her more mindful of what she says and how she behaves, her mind reeling and driving her insane. He couldn't possibly know by simply looking into her eyes, though that was how the ache in her chest made her feel.
Within 24 hours of their rendezvous in his office, Karl books them a room at one of the best hotels for later that week, hoping to exceed her standards. Bree gets to the hotel with ample time, the valet parking her car as she enters into the hotel lobby. She had been to the hotel before for various luncheons and even catered a few events, but never as a guest. It was an impressive spot, and she noted the level of quality Karl had looked for when booking a room for them - knowing her more than she would admit. A woman known for punctuality, Bree arrives early and finds herself a seat in the lobby as she waits for Karl, looking around as people walk by. It's not long until she sees a familiar face, prompting her to leave as quickly as she came. Just as she leaves the front door she comes face to face with Karl, who wears a smug smile as he catches her in his arms.
"Eager to get upstairs are we?" Karl jokes.
"Helen Rowland is here." Bree says with frustration.
"Oh… so?"
"So, I can't be seen going in and out of a hotel with you, what will people think?" She takes a step back from him before turning her head around, looking to see if she would be spotted.
"If we're fast maybe no one will see us." He attempts to lean into her, Bree's hands resting forcefully against his chest. "We aren't going upstairs, are we?"
"No we are not. Do you think you could book us another room? Preferably one where I won't run into any familiar faces."
"It's not going to be nice if you don't want to see anyone you know."
"I'm sure you'll be able to find something half decent."
Karl delivers on Bree's request and she knows when he sends her the address that even if she did see anyone she knew, it was unlikely to be mentioned as nobody could be up to any good on that side of town. Unfortunately it wasn't until the middle of the following week when they were able to meet at the Shangri La motel, Bree busy with her business and keeping Orson out of her hair while Karl was swamped with clients, claiming it was the "season of divorce".
Bree arrives early once again, anxious and excited as she waits in the car for her lover to meet her. She's not there long before Karl pulls into the empty space next to hers, throwing her a wicked grin before getting out of his car. He opens her door and guides her into the lobby of the motel, eagerly checking in and making their way to the room. He enters the room with gusto, not noticing Bree's immediate distaste, though she wasn't sure what she was expecting, this was definitely not it.
"I cannot believe we are finally going to do this. You're not an easy woman to pin down, but I sure am going to enjoy trying." Karl saunters over to the bed, making himself comfortable as Bree stands back attempting to take in her surroundings. "What?"
Bree returns home after yet another thwarted attempt to pursue her affair with Karl. His words played on a loop in her mind, like a broken record sputtering out the same piece again and again. He had been right in a lot of what he had said to her while out shopping for sheets, except her not wanting the affair at all. A year ago she would have agreed, having an affair was not something Bree ever foresaw in her future - Rex's affair destroying the entire memory of their marriage. To her, she was no longer married to Orson, her marriage ending the second it became out of blackmail, no longer holding onto the vows they had taken. It was a justification she found necessary to tell herself, though it didn't seem to subside the guilt that came to the surface every time she felt herself pull closer towards Karl. She wished nothing more than to be free from the charade of her marriage - she lays in bed alone and she thinks of Karl, the way she feels when she's around him - how much she wants to be around him. If the kisses they had shared held any foreshadowing of what was to come, she knew she would be in trouble.
She had been to his office on a weekly basis since the motel and shopping fiasco, but Karl seemed to have more or less behaved himself - staying behind his desk and avoiding prolonged eye contact. Their conversations were kept to her divorce, though he couldn't help but tease her every now and then, keeping her on her toes. Bree behaved herself despite having constant fantasies of letting him take her on the desk.
Bree busies herself over the next few weeks with Susan's wedding, helping her with the catering and minute details she knew Susan wouldn't have the forethought of. It was a much needed distraction from the burning building her life seemed to have become. She had hoped for some time alone, but Orson appears at the church - Bree wanting to make sure everything was up to par for the following day. She knew it would take enough of her time that when she got home the rest the day would be spent cooking the food for the reception. It ensured a day without walking into Orson, or so she had hoped.
"Katherine said you were here. And I thought, since you were already in church, we might see the pastor and schedule some counseling sessions." His voice tells her he believes every word, as if it can ever repair her love for him.
"I don't need counseling, Orson. I need a divorce." She responds as if stating a fact.
"Don't tell me we don't need counseling. You've been sleeping in the guest room for weeks. It's not right." He says and Bree worries maybe he does know about Karl. She had moved into the guest room after kissing him in the office, knowing she couldn't fall asleep next to Orson after her transgression.
"I agree, and if you had an ounce of chivalry, you'd have given me the master."
"You might think that withholding sex will make me give up on us. But I can be very patient. You do realize in prison, I went three whole years without any sex."
"No, but thank you for clearing up a question I never quite knew how to ask." She chides.
"Bree, eight years ago, we stood at an altar like this, and we made a vow before God to love each other."
"Do you think I haven't struggled with this? I've struggled with this in ways you can't even begin to imagine." She looks at him with heartbreak. She had thought he was the love of her life, a man who she could trust and would never hurt her - yet here they stand.
"Then let me help you. I can make you happy again."
"How? By blackmailing me? I'm not your wife anymore, Orson. I'm your captive. Don't you feel any remorse at all over that?"
"Of course I do, but sometimes guilt is a small price to pay for happiness."
Those words are how she finds herself perfecting the set where her affair with Karl Mayer is about to begin, finding herself thrilled at the idea. After her interaction at the church with Orson, she had driven down to the motel and booked the room, fresh flowers and bed sheets in tow. The freshly laid sheets were tightly fitted into each corner; she had even taken the liberty of adding a few accents around the room in true Bree form. The bathroom was thoroughly cleaned with products she had brought from home and she stopped on her way to purchase a new silk set for herself, not wanting to take any from home on the off chance Orson happened to notice.
When she sees him pull into the parking lot at the wedding she can't resist going to find Karl for a moment, eager to tell him of her plans for the evening. Ever since their kiss in his office, Bree couldn't get the man out of her mind. For the first time in her life, Bree found herself being motivated by her sexual desire, and she was sure it would be well worth it. Bree finds herself craving him more as he pulls her in for a heated kiss - a promise of what's to come. She leaves his car with only minimal guilt as she finds her way to Orson inside the church. She can't help but turn during the ceremony to catch a glimpse of Karl sitting behind her.
The reception is long and full of stolen glances with Karl from across the room. The moments are brief, when Orson would leave her side for his next drink, her eyes would search the room until they found Karl, and he would already be looking her way. His eyes looking to devour her, sending waves of electricity through her veins her and making her heart pound against her chest, leaving her nearly breathless. She's brought back to the present when Orson returns to her, the smell of liquor on his breath filling her nostrils as he drunkenly asks her to dance for the third time that night.
By the time she takes him home he's stumbling to get through the front door, his arms wrapped tightly around her as she guides him upstairs to the master bedroom he had taken as his own. He sits on the edge of the bed and Bree helps him with his shoes, Orson laying back on the bed staring up at the ceiling. She looks at the clock on the nightstand and sees it's already 9:30 and wonders if Karl is waiting for her, or if he thinks she's going to bail on him again.
"Weddings are always so fun, don't you just love weddings, Bree? Do you remember ours?" His words slur from his mouth.
"Ours ended in a morgue with your ex-mistress, how could I forget?" Her reply is brusk and unwelcome of the nostalgia Orson seemed eager to revisit.
"Don't you miss what we had, Bree?"
"We aren't those people anymore Orson." She replies sadly, as if finally acknowledging where they were, and inevitably were heading.
"Why don't you spend the night here, in our room. It's lonely without you…"
"I, um, I told Susan I would help clean up after the reception. I was just bringing you home before I had two messes to clean."
"You're a good friend to Susan, she's lucky to have you. Just like I'm lucky to have you as my wife."
"Goodnight, Orson."
Somehow her conversation with Orson only fuels her desire for Karl, hesitating briefly when getting in the car, her hand hovering over the keys in the ignition. She knows what driving to the motel means, and what a night with Karl means, and yet she turns the car on. The drive to the motel goes by in a blur, the flash of streetlights illuminating her reflection in the rearview mirror, one she couldn't bear to look at, instead shifting her focus to the clock on her dash, reading a precise 9:57. She wonders if she's too late, if Karl had left thinking she wasn't coming - unloading Orson has taken longer than she had expected. Usually when he drinks at weddings he's nearly unconscious by the time he finds his bed at the end of the night, but tonight he was different. She could see the sadness that was painted over his eyes, unable to see anything else. She knew she would always love him, in some way, but as she found herself coming closer to Karl it only made her more eager to get away from Orson. She heaves a sigh of relief when she sees Karls car in the parking lot of the motel, pulling up beside him and throwing him a wicked grin.
"You came." He says as they leave their cars and find their way together.
"You waited."
"You're sure about this, Bree?" His voice is filled with want while also holding a place for being turned down.
"If the anticipation of this affair is any indication of what's to be expected I don't see any reason to stop, do you?" Bree replies, "I want this, Karl."
The moment they close the door they fall into each other, Karl pulling Bree towards the bed as he begins to shed his coat, her fingers start to undo the buttons of his dress shirt, his fingers quick to work the zipper of her dress. Karl brings his hands to cup Bree's face to pull her in for a hungry kiss, deprived of the feeling for far too long. She moans at the contact, the sensation of his lips against hers feels primal and natural - a feeling she couldn't get enough of. She loses herself in the kiss, her arms mindlessly draping themselves over Karl's shoulders, her fingers twirling the edge of his hair. She pulls him in closer to deepen the kiss, her tongue beginning to tease him eliciting a groan from Karl. His free hand toying with the zipper of her dress, his other still cupping her face wanting - needing - her to be closer to him.
"You're not as good as I think you are, are you?" His voice teasing in her ear.
"I guess there's only one way to find out." She replies in a sultry tone.
"You said you cleaned the bathroom, right?"
"Yes but what does that have - oh!" The sound of her surprised laughter fills his ears as he picks her up and carries her to the bathroom counter, a delighted shriek leaving her as she's placed down. "What are we going to do here?" Her voice is playful and lustrous.
"Whatever you want baby," he breathes out as he begins placing heated kisses down her neck.
"No," Bree grabs his face, forcefully pulling him eye to eye. "No pet names - I want to know it's me you're thinking about."
"Whatever you want, Bree." Karl grins smugly as he emphasizes her name.
"The bathroom counter? Really?"
"We have all night to make it to the bed, don't we?" He resumes his attention to her neck, Bree releasing her grip and mindlessly resting her arms around his shoulders, moaning and sighing each time his mouth makes contact with her skin - it's enthralling for her body to be ignited in such a way.
His hands work the zipper of her dress - the tips of his fingers caressing her back while Bree finds herself toying with Karl's belt, eager to get underneath. She had been craving this moment since the day he kissed her, all too eager to see what else he was capable of. His lips move seamlessly from her neck and up her jaw until he's nibbling the lobe of her ear, his breath causing goosebumps to bubble across her skin and a satisfied moan slip past her lips. She kicks off her shoes and digs her heels into his thighs, unable to resist pulling him closer - her hand sliding into his pants to grip his member, eliciting a groan from Karl. He brings his attention back to her mouth, his one hand cupping her face tightly, the other loosely placed against her throat, she strokes him steadily as he grows hard in her hand. The tips of his fingers leave her neck to dance across her thighs, inching closer to her centre with each stroke, she moans into his mouth - urging him towards where she needed his touch. Her free hand grips the back of his neck when she feels the tips of his fingers against her slick folds, continuing to tease her by circling her entrance. She brings herself forward, chasing his touch against her clit, a shriek of pleasure escaping her lips at the contact.
"I think we've had enough foreplay, don't you?"
"Eight weeks worth." Karl teases between passionate kisses and teasing hands - she's breathless as he answers, her mind unable to think of anything aside from the ache between her thighs.
He takes half a step back, reaching into his pocket to pull out a condom before stripping in front of Bree. She took in the sight of him, unsurprised he was more well endowed than her previous lovers, her centre beginning to throb at the idea of him - repeatedly. Bree brings her eyes to meet with his, lifting her hips as she shimmies her underwear down her thighs, rolling up the edge of her dress. He's quick to wrap himself and step forward, lining himself up with her core,
"Can this dress be dry cleaned?" His breath hot against her mouth, his tip pressed against her entrance - she nods in response and leans forward to capture his lips with her own.
"Oh my god, Karl." Bree gasps in pleasure as he fills her, her thighs find their place around Karl's hips as her walls ripple around his member, pleasure taking over her body completely. He begins a steady pace, circling his hips which each thrust - Bree uses her hands as support on the counter to match his eager pace. Karl takes her ass in his hands as he drives into her harder.
Bree's body is overcome with a sensation of sexual ecstasy she had never felt before. She loved the feeling of Karl filling her, sliding in and out of her wet centre, feeling herself begin to drip down her legs. She matches his thrusts - each harder than the last letting him know what she wants. She finds herself succumbing to her body and the moment, each thrust stretching and filling her so fully her eyes roll to the back of her head. The pads of his fingers knead against the soft skin of her ass, slamming her into him - her moans urging him on. Her fingers claw at his shoulders, gripping him as if he were the only thing keeping her tethered to earth.
"More." The words are barely able to escape her lips as she loses herself in pleasure.
"I thought you'd never ask."
He pulled back just enough to shift her, guiding one of her legs over his shoulder. The change in angle was devastating—deeper, sharper, unrelenting—and Bree let out a cry, a sound so raw it barely felt like her own. Karl's grip on her tightened, one hand fisted in her hair, the other splayed against her thigh, holding her exactly where he wanted her. His free hand finds its place at the back of Bree's head, taking a fistful of hair and pulling back to expose her neck. His pace is hard and fast and Bree is unable to help herself from the loud pleasurable cries that come from her body. He licks up and down her neck as he glides in and out, nearly fully leaving her wet core before pushing back, reaching her hilt. She can feel the heat build through her body, her walls twitching and tightening as her climax builds, she brings a hand to the back of Karl's neck gripping tightly. His mouth makes its way from her neck up to her lips, nipping and biting to her delight, his hand releasing his grip in her hair finding their way to the crook of her neck - their mouths meet for sloppy, passionate kisses in between open mouth gasps. He slows his pace slightly but continues the same strong thrusts, her moans becoming higher, his name on her tongue sounding like a prayer.
"Oh Karl," she screams in ecstasy.
The sound of her voice nearly finishes him off, his fingers loosen their grip on her thigh to inch their way down to her clit. Bree can't hold back the scream that comes from her at the contact. His pace becomes incredibly frantic, pounding into her with a desperation that sent her spiraling. Every stroke was a command, every movement dragging her higher and higher until she shattered beneath him, her orgasm tearing through her like wildfire. She gasped his name—a plea, a prayer, a curse—her body convulsing, tightening around him as pleasure consumed her. Karl isn't far behind, his thrusts becoming quick and erratic before he spills into her - he releases his grip on her hair and gently lowers her shaking leg before collapsing into the crook of her neck. He pulls out of her slowly, disposing of his condom and returning to the warmth of her arms.
"I can't believe we just did that." She says breathlessly.
"I hope it was worth the wait." He mumbles into her skin as she mindlessly strokes her fingers through hair. "I had no idea you were so flexible."
"Pilates."
They stay wrapped in each other for what feels like hours, finding an unexpected yet natural comfort within one another. Bree hadn't expected to feel more drawn to Karl, hoping it was just an itch she had to scratch - though she knew now it would happen again. It couldn't just be a one time thing, not with how he made her feel. . Karl was in his own disbelief that Bree had actually gone through with having an affair, he had convinced himself it was just a fantasy for her, a break from the reality of her life with Orson. As he lay against her chest, he felt a closeness and a need for her he hadn't felt before.
"We're doing this again, right?"
"Tonight?" Bree responds in shock.
"I meant it more like will I be seeing you again? You don't really strike me as a one and done woman, still, I like to know what I'm dealing with." He looks deeply into her eyes as he speaks, shivers running down her spine. "But tonight works too."
"You want to keep seeing each other?"
"Hey, if tonight is all you want I can make it a night you'll never forget. But I'd be lying if I didn't admit to how much I enjoy your company, it's almost as good as the sex."
"I have to say, I agree with you." She smiles as she replies, admitting to herself she hadn't had enough of him. "And if we're going again tonight I expect it will be on the bed."
"If you insist." He picks her up in his arms and carries her bridal style towards the bed.
"I didn't mean right away." Bree unable to contain her playful laughter at the gesture. "Don't you need some time to, well…"
"Bree I've been sporting a semi since you walked into my office, I feel like I'm fifteen all over again."
"Well isn't that….endearing." She feigns a smile as he settles her on the edge of the bed, taking his place beside her.
"You say when it all becomes too much and we can stop."
"Are you like this with all the women you take home?"
"You've seen the women I've been with Bree, you're in a league of your own."
He takes the pause in their conversation to begin kissing her neck once again, there was something that drew him towards it each time they had kissed, whether it was the tender touch of his fingertips or his soft lips. He feels her laugh come up her throat, her fingers coming to toy with his hair.
"Are you ever going to take off that dress?" He mumbles against her neck.
"You're voracious." She can't help but smile at the feeling of being so desired.
"You're hard to resist, Freckles."
"I thought we agreed, no pet names." She pushes him away for a moment, giving him a stern yet playful eye.
"You know that one's special for you." He defends, though it doesn't stop her from standing up from the bed wordlessly. "Bree…"
She stays quiet, turning around to face him as she slides her dress down her body, stepping out of it when it reaches the floor. Karl soaks in the sight before him, Bree standing naked before him devouring him with only her eyes. She walks back over to him slowly, his hands naturally finding their place against her ivory skin - the pads of his fingertips ghosting against her curves and his lips paperlight as they begin to kiss the freckles painted across her body.
"You did bring more than one condom, didn't you?" Bree asks, Karl pulling away as he chuckles.
"Please, look at who you're talking to bab… Bree." He corrects himself when he sees the knowing look appear in her eyes.
"Well, where are they?"
"Jeez, even when it comes to sex you're uptight. Or is that what you're into?"
"No! Karl!"
"Can't hurt to ask. Breast pocket in my jacket, by the way."
Bree walks over to his discarded jacket across the room, reaching into the pocket thinking she'll find one or two more - instead pulling out an entire length, holding it up and looking at Karl with an open mouth and wide eyes. "Really?"
"What can I say, it never hurts to be prepared."
"What exactly were you preparing for? The end of days?"
"You know I'm really enjoying all this dirty talk but I think I preferred it when you were screaming my name."
"I don't recall screaming… cries of pleasure maybe, but I wouldn't say that it was screaming." She teases.
"Is that a challenge?" He asks with excitement and allure.
"If you want it to be." Bree replies, the teasing in her tone seductively dripping off each word, tossing him the row of condoms as she makes her way back over to him. "Now, where were we?"
Karl grins up at Bree as she stands in front of him, transfixed by the look in her eyes, the curve of her breasts, the freckles that covered her body - all of her. She makes her way back to him with a seductive look in her eyes, and as soon as she's within his reach his hands stroke up and down her thighs softly, surprising her when he pulls her in by her knees, her legs coming to rest on either side of Karl's hips. Bree's arms drape around Karl, basking in the warmth of him against her breasts. She can feel his tongue beginning to explore her exposed skin between her breasts, his hands caressing the curves of her body - lost in her entirely.
Bree wakes in the early hours of the morning despite being up half the night, not that she minded - her night with Karl had left her feeling satiated and satisfied in ways her body had been deprived of for too long. She finds herself to be slightly alarmed at the comfort she feels with Karl's arm draped mindlessly across her waist, she sighs at the warmth of his body pressed against hers. She didn't realize how much she missed waking up in the arms of a lover - though she knew attachment could be dangerous. Thoughts such as these were ones meant for another time, when she would find herself missing the contentment of this moment. The world outside the four walls of their motel room have become nonexistent since they had shut the door - Bree allowing herself to be lost in the moment entirely, something she had never let herself do before.
As Karl begins to wake, his hand drawing up her chest, pulling her back towards him, feeling an odd sense of normalcy in the moment. His breath hot against her neck as he burrows himself into the comfort of her skin. Her fingers interlace with his, drawing him closer and she turns her head slightly to face him. As he wakes she can feel him grower hard against her, knowing once won't be enough to satiate her newfound lust for Karl - though she hoped it would hold her over until their next rendezvous. She grinds against him slightly and he begins to nibble against her skin, working his way from the crook of her neck to the tip of her ear.
"Mmm, good morning." Bree's voice filled with satisfaction.
"You know what would make it even better?" He teases.
"I'm sure I can get creative."
She takes charge of the situation, turning over and hooking her leg across Karl's hips and rolling them over until she hovers above him. Her signature hair curtaining her face as she gazes down at him, eyes filled with hunger - unrelenting desire. His hands drift across her milky skin, from the end of her calves and up her sides, grazing her breasts. His movements are soft and unhurried, enjoying the feel of her skin against his and the satisfied smile that spreads across her face under his touch. She leans down to capture his lips in heated need, she wondered if she could ever get enough. His lips against her somehow felt more natural and passionate than she remembered, igniting her body with the same heat from the night before - raw and unfiltered passion coursing through each kiss, each touch.
"Do you trust me?" He asks.
"Yes," she replies without hesitation.
"Grab the headboard, and hold on."
He slides out from underneath her and takes place behind her, Bree looking over her shoulder with wide eyes and slightly horrified expression. His hand glides up her lower back to her neck, easing her mind with each inch, she turns herself towards the wall and grips the headboard with both hands, arching herself into Karl. She jolts when it's his tongue she feels teasing her core, gliding in and out lazily making her grip on the rails already begin to tighten. She rocks herself in rhythm with his movements, feeling the ache for him inside her begin to overwhelm her body - he pulls away in that moment, as if sensing her need.
"You look so good like this," he murmurs, his voice thick with desire.
Bree swallows hard, her pulse pounding in her ears. She hated how much she liked hearing him say that, how her body responded to his touch without hesitation. She was always so composed, so in control - with Karl behind her, all of that restraint had melted away into a fiery passion. His hands drift lower, gripping her hips firmly as he presses himself against her, teasing her with just enough friction to make her whimper. She pushes back instinctively, wordlessly begging for more. The tip of him glides through her slick folds, but going much further south than she ever expected.
Bree turns her head slightly, just enough to shoot him a glare. "Don't even think about it…"
Karl can't help but chuckle darkly though he didn't argue. Instead, he brings himself to her centre and begins circling her entrance - teasing her, testing her patience.
"Karl…" she gasps, gripping the headboard tighter as she pressed back against him.
"What's that?" he teases, slipping himself fully inside her before pulling it back out. She bites her lip, refusing to give him the satisfaction of begging, but when he pushes into her again in one slow, deliberate stroke, she's unable to contain herself, letting out a sharp gasp of pleasure.
"Oh my God…"
Karl let out a strained groan, his hands gripping her hips as he stilled inside her, letting her adjust, savoring the way she felt around him. "Jesus, Bree…"
She exhales shakily, her body stretching to accommodate him, the pressure sending a deep, pulsing heat through her. He stays stagnant for only a moment before pulling back slightly and thrusting forward again, setting a slow but deliberate rhythm.
Bree let out a quiet moan, arching her back as she met each of his movements, her body quickly surrendering to the pleasure. She felt his hands slide up her torso, one settling at her waist, the other trailing up to her shoulder, pulling her back against him as he moved faster. She couldn't think, couldn't focus on anything except the way he felt inside her, the deep, steady thrusts pushing her closer to the edge. Her nails dug into the headboard, her moans turning into quiet, breathy cries as the pleasure built higher, tightening in her core.
Karl leans in, his teeth grazing her shoulder before biting down just enough to make her gasp. "You feel so damn good," he mutters against her skin, his voice rough with need.
Bree gasped, her legs shaking as he reached around to find her clit, rubbing slow, teasing circles that sent her spiraling. She was close - so close she could barely hold herself up.
"Come on, Bree," Karl urges, her core tightening around him as he thrust harder, deeper. "Let go."
The words sent her tumbling over the edge, her entire body tensing as the pleasure ripped through her, her moan muffled as she pressed her forehead against the headboard. Karl followed soon after, groaning her name as he found his release, his fingers gripping her hips so tightly she was sure she'd have bruises.
"That... was amazing." She collapses on her back breathlessly.
"Yeah. Who knew you were such a wild woman?" Karl makes himself comfortable at the head of the bed, gazing across at Bree.
"I'm not. I've never done this before."
"Well, you are a fast learner." He can't help but come closer, drawn to her.
"No. I mean, sex for me has always had to have an emotional, romantic or even spiritual dimension. I can see now you can take all of that away and it's still...Marvelous recreation."
"The best there is."
"Except, of course, when you actually tried to…"
"I'm sorry."
"I mean, really."
"Well, some people like it."
"You've done this a lot, haven't you?" She doesn't know why she asks, already knowing the answer.
"You don't stay this good by skipping practice."
"God, you're a pig. Kiss me." She melts into him once again, unable to help the giddiness that soars through her body - her legs coming to lift as she finds herself lost in Karl.
"Hold that thought." He pauses reluctantly, a confused look washing over his face upon looking at his phone. "Well, that's weird. It's Mike. Hello? What do you mean something happened? Attacked…what do… what hospital? Okay I'm on my way." Karl scrambled from the bed and hastily dresses. "Bree, I'm sorry I have to go, it's Julie…."
"Of course."
He gives Bree a quick, mindless kiss before wordlessly leaving in disarray. She sits on the edge of the bed in a state of shock - her thoughts immediately going to Susan and the turmoil she must be going through. She readies herself and cleans up the room before checking out at the front counter. She takes her sheets with her, folded and tucked discreetly in her trunk before she makes her way home.
The guilt of her sins don't settle into the pit of her stomach until she enters her front door, Orson's heavy aura filling the air of the house. Bree had come to dread coming home, and after spending the night in bed with another man, the feeling had only worsened. She rushes upstairs for a quick shower, hoping to wash away her previous night. Orson may have been home, but he never came out nor let his presence be known, much to Bree's relief - she knew seeing him now would only make her feel guilty or perhaps even remorseful. Instead she thinks of Julie being taken to the hospital, Bree's natural sense of nurture coming to the forefront. Once she's freshly dressed she heads to the hospital to check in on Susan and Julie.
Walking into Julie's room she finds not only Susan, but Karl. She greets him meekly, barely able to look at him. When she does all she can think about is how his hands felt against her skin and the taste of his lips against her own - how he made her feel alive. It wasn't until Susan spoke up did she remember the two of them weren't alone. She knows how Susan feels about Karl, it's how any woman who knows Karl feels about him, but even still it doesn't seem to deter Bree as much as she wished it would. She has started to convince herself she can live with the guilt of what she's doing - the payoff was beginning to show her a whole new side of herself. Maybe Karl was her mid-life crisis, or maybe that was an easy excuse to use.
Bree regrets the first words out of her mouth being about their affair staying a secret, but is soothed when Karl talks of wanting to see her again - the two of them alone after Susan leaves to talk to Lynette. She's taken aback but relieved when he talks of wanting to see her again. She looks at him with eyes full of understanding and compassion, he finds himself lost in her gaze, unable to resist leaning in to taste her lips; not knowing when they'll have another moment to themselves. He pulls away as he feels Bree stiffen and pull back, following her widened eyes to see Julie awake in bed.
"Dad?" Wide eyed Julie stares back at him with an unreadable look.
By the time they returned back with a doctor, Julie had fallen back asleep. Bree's head swirled with thoughts, relieved Julie had woken up but thankful for the brevity. What could they have possibly said? Their affair had teetered for weeks, but had only started to blossom the night before, and Bree worried it would come to an end all too soon if Susan found out. She scolded herself for even considering it, especially now. But deep down, she knew she was losing touch with the woman she thought she was. She can't help but feel what happened to Julie was a sign from God, the consequences of her actions. She knew morally what she had done was wrong, it went against not only her beliefs but those she had been raised with. How could she go to church with her husband on Sunday when her mind would only be thinking of her lover, her only prayer for forgiveness until she would inevitably sin again. Even still, the possibility of Julie remembering what she saw was all too real, she wasn't sure how to bring it up to Karl - his worries rightfully elsewhere.
The day she spends in the hospital is done for both a friend in need and to atone for her sins - and a small part of her stays to soothe Karl's mind when he has to leave for a couple hours. She and Susan sit in semi-silence for the majority of the day, Julie's doctor coming in and out every few hours and Susan calling Lee to check on MJ nearly every hour - not that she could fault her. Mike had jobs lined up throughout the day that Susan insisted he follow through on, leaving Bree and Susan alone. Bree looks at Julie and sees the little girl who grew up across the street, the girl she often wished her daughter would have been more alike to. She couldn't fathom anyone wanting to harm such a nice young lady, but the fact it was Julie just tugged at a certain place in her heart, as if it was one of her own children. She does leave briefly when Mike is able to come between his jobs, whipping up a batch of biscotti to bring for Susan - suspecting she may want something beyond the food served in the cafeteria; it was one of Julie's favourites growing up, something not lost on Susan. As they talk about Katherine and Mike, she can't help but bring up Karl, as if to test the waters - regretting it as soon as she did.
She is left to her thoughts for the majority of the day and she thinks of how she came to be where she is. She remembers the beginning of her and Orson, how he had been so loving and romantic - a soft hearted and kind man. He reminded her of Rex in small ways that she had always loved, like his taste in wine and his old fashioned sense of morality - but the way he loved her was entirely different. When they had married, the thought they would one day end up in a bitter, blackmailing marriage would have nearly shattered her, and it broke her heart the more she reflected on their past. Maybe that was why she found herself so enamoured with Karl, he was the antithesis of the men she was with, those who ultimately broke her heart. With Karl she knew where she stood, though she felt she was beginning to lose her footing.
Karl returns at the end of the day, drained from the anxiety surrounding Julie and his afternoon meetings with clients. He knows he shouldn't have even bothered going into work, but he didn't feel right sitting around and waiting for her to wake up - especially with Susan, and apparently Bree by her side. He feels a weight lift off his shoulders when he sees her sitting beside Susan, who leaves the room to check on MJ once again, though he isn't sure why.
"This has been the longest day of my life. I thought I needed some time to myself. I was wrong. I... I need you. I booked our room at the motel. Here's the key. If you could come by, even for just an hour... Well, it would mean a lot to me. Please. I... I don't want to be alone tonight." His solemn honesty tugs at Bree's heartstrings, a crack in his hard and polished exterior revealing the unbridled vulnerability that hid beneath.
She looks through the glass window at Susan, wondering what continuing this affair would do to their friendship, but as Mike comes into view and she sees the two of them together, the worry dissipates. Of all the years she could remember Karl and Susan together, they had never looked at one another the way Susan looked at Mike, lighting up as if he were the only other person in the room with her. Despite what Susan had said to her earlier about Karl, Bree can't help herself from wanting to continue to see him, regardless of the consequences. She finds herself yearning for the sight before her, to be looked at and loved in such a way - to feel the heat of her lover's eyes ignite her body into flames. She hadn't realized just how much she missed having that feeling with someone, nor how long she had gone without it. She doesn't want to be alone, not if she doesn't have to be.
"Neither do I." She takes the key from his briefcase, her eyes never leaving the sight in front of her, wondering to herself if she will ever find a love like theirs.
Karl hadn't been fully forthcoming when saying to Bree he didn't want to be alone that night - though it held some honesty, the truth was he didn't want to be without her. There was an undeniable shift in his feelings for her after their night together, something he was having a hard time piecing together for himself. His barrier for falling for the women he bedded was well built and few had ever been able to penetrate beyond his control. Bree was different from any woman he had ever met - challenging, smart and fiery hot - but there was so much more, and he was enjoying learning all she encompassed.
Bree leaves the hospital shortly after taking the key to the motel, stopping at home to pack a bag of clothes and something for them to eat if Karl got an appetite. She wasn't gone for more than a half hour, returning to find Karl in the same chair she had left him in, Susan seeming to have gone home with Mike. He looks at her with a small smile as he sees it's Bree, she walks over to him and stands before him, her hand coming to cup his cheek gently as he gazes up at her.
"Come on, I'll drive you." Bree says softly, Karl's eyes immediately looking at his daughter. "I'll drop you off first thing in the morning, but really Karl, you need some rest."
Karl sighs and thinks it over for a moment, looking to Julie once again before closing his laptop, he takes Bree's hand that sits gently against his cheek and pulls it towards his mouth, kissing her palm tenderly. He stands and places his hand against Bree's back, his other resting against her neck as he leans in for a kiss - Bree sighs softly at the contact, losing herself in him. As he pulls away he smiles for the first time all day, he and Bree making their way out of the hospital room.
"The doctors seem optimistic about Julie, she's doing much better than she was this morning." Bree says clinically, her eyes staying tightly focused on the road. He doesn't respond and she can't bring herself to look at him, knowing the vulnerability that lay painted across his face would be staring her back. Instead she takes one hand off the wheel to find his, which he grabs onto like a lifeline.
"Who would want to hurt her?" His voice breaks when he asks the question, though he knows she won't have an answer to give. The emotions of the day coming to the forefront, Karl no longer able to contain the tears he had so bravely tried to push away. Her thumb caresses over his hand in quiet comfort as he looks out the window and she gazes at the road ahead - his silent tears turning into sobs, the reality of what had happened finally setting in.
Karl mumbles something about a shower as they enter the room, placing a quick kiss to Bree's cheek before heading to the bathroom. It was the first time he had truly been alone all day, and all the anger, the sadness and regrets started to spin around his head. He felt he didn't do enough to protect her, like he somehow should have known it would happen - then he wonders when he has ever shown up for his daughter and that unleashes a monster of its own. It becomes too much, he turns the water of the shower ice cold in an attempt to snap out of it.
Bree takes the time to change into her silk night set, remaking the bed with the sheets from her car while she waits for him. She does her best not to think of how domestic it all feels, a home away from home. As Karl enters their room he finds Bree sitting on the bed, continuing the same piece of cross-stitch she had been working on all day at the hospital. She peers over the top of her glasses with a softness and compassion he so desperately needed after the day he had had.
"Feel any better?" Bree asks.
"A little." Karl answers with a pained smile. "Sorry about losing it in the car, I don't know what came over me. "
"You have nothing to apologize for."Bree stands from the bed and makes her way to Karl, fingertips gently coming to hold his face as her eyes meet his. "I'm so sorry you're going through all of this. Julie will be okay Karl, she is a strong girl."
He looks at her wordlessly as he nods, tugging at her waist to pull her in closer, wrapping his arms around her and finding comfort in the crook of her neck. "Thank you for coming tonight."
The words fell from his mouth so faintly she could barely hear him - but she was happy she did. She cradles his head against her body, closing her eyes and losing herself to the moment.
"Of course, whatever I can do to help, I can't imagine what you must be going through." She replies softly.
"I can't tell you what it means to have you here."
"Orson's already asleep, I can stay as long as you need me to."
"Is this offering to spend the night?" He asks, his tone perking up. "What do you say to a little sympathy sex?"
"Really, Karl?" She says appalled, holding him at arms length to look at him in slight shock.
"I want to be able to forget what I'm going through, and spending a night with you sounds like a pretty good distraction."
"Are you sure you wouldn't rather talk?"
"Is that a no?"
"It's not a thrilling yes. I just don't see how you could be in the mood after a day like today." Her hands slide from his hands up to cup his face gently. "I'm here if you do need me."
"I do need you, but what I need more than anything is a distraction from everything that's going on."
"Okay." Her answer is tender and filled with understanding, leading him towards the bed.
Distraction seemed a fitting name for what they had started, beginning as a need to escape their world outside the four walls of the motel now finding a solace in one another. It seemed going in with no expectations had broken down silent emotional barrier the two had carried, unbeknownst to themselves, into previous affairs they had been in. Bree is thankful to take her mind off catering plans and the struggle of her divorce and Karl with the recent events of his daughter. Distractions, however, can only steer away from the truth for so long before it becomes impossible to look away from.