Time: Wednesday night
Venue: Home
7.55 pm
I came out from my bath.
“Dear, dinner is ready. Come, let’s eat. You must be hungry.”
Dinner had been laid. 3 vege 1 soup. Claire was a very good cook.
I took my seat at the dining table.
Claire was just opening and reading through her letters. At this moment, she opened the green envelope and was reading it.
“Unusual colour for an envelope. No stamp. Who is it from?” I pretended to ask her.
“Dear why did you find this letter? It’s such a weird letter. See this.”
Claire passed the letter to me. I pretended to read it.
“I found this in the letterbox. Have no idea too.”
“Must be some stupid prank. Just throw it away.”
Claire said that nonchalantly and went back to her dinner.
I was so pleased with myself. My wife was such a nice girl.
9.15 pm
In my study. Told Claire I needed to clear some work.
I was just writing an email from “The Special Club” to Jenny, informing her that her nominee had agreed to join the club. Would inform her on the arrangement for the dinner and session in due course.
It was a god-send opportunity for me to fuck Jenny, thus I was anxious to ensure there would not be any possibility of Jenny dropping out.
I became so aroused just writing that email. I must release my heat. Quickly shut down my laptop and went to look for Claire.
Claire would usually be in the living room at this hour, watching the Channel 8 drama serial, but tonight, she was not there.
I walked to our bedroom. I thought I heard something, so I paused at the door and listened. Very faint, it sounded a groan. Shit, Claire must be sick and in pain.
I pushed the door open.
Claire was lying in bed with her right hand between her legs, her index and middle fingers pressing into her clit through her white panty. Her left hand was grabbing her left breast through her white tube nightie. The look on her face was of total embarrassment.
“Sorry dear, I didn’t mean to scare you. I heard a groan, I thought you are unwell.”
“No no dear. Sorry I am just feeling a bit frisky, but you seem busy, so I didn’t want to disturb you., so……I …..you know….” Claire’s cheeks were blushing in bright red.
I was actually very aroused by the sight, and I didn’t even know how these words blurted out from my mouth “Dear, why don’t you continue whatever you were doing.”
Claire stared at me with her innocent eyes, disbelieving what she had just heard.
“Continue dear. I have never seen you doing this. You look sexy. Close your eyes and do it again. Ignore me.”
Claire gave me a shy grin and closed her eyes. She leaned back onto her pillow again.
She lie on the bed with her legs slightly parted. Could see the glistening wetness of her white panty. She placed her two fingers on her mound and rubbed gently. Her fingers moved in a circular path around her pussy.
The circular motion started to get smaller and smaller until the fingers were closing onto her now dripping slit. She was now tracing her fingers up and down her slit through her panty, with each up and down motion pushing a bit and a bit more of her panty into her slit.
Her legs were spread wide open now, bending at the knees with her feet placed onto the mattress. While her fingers were pressing downwards into her slit, her legs were pushing upwards to lift her butt slightly off the bed, seemingly upwards to meet her fingers downward thrusting.
Her left hand was kneading her left breast, sometimes squeezing it into an awkward mound of flesh. Her white tube nightie was pulled down so that she could massage her naked breast and nipple. Her pinkish raisin was my favourite. I loved to suck on that. Her nipples were her sensitive spots. Never failed to send arousal through her whole body whenever I sucked on them.
Claire was totally in her own world now.
Her two fingers were almost inserted fully into her pussy now, pushing almost the whole of her panty in as well. Whatever that was left of the panty outside her love hole, they were completely soaked with her love juices.
Her mouth gave out an involuntary moan. She was trying to muffle her moan, possibly still conscious of my presence.
I walked to the side of her bed. My feet stepped onto a piece of paper under the bed. I squatted partially to look at that piece of paper. My heart stopped a beat.
It was the same piece of paper that I had printed out earlier in the day, brought home to Claire in a green envelope, and crushed it into a dump at the dustbin in our dining area.
I could still recognize it easily even if it was now crumpled. Claire had retrieved it from the dustbin and was reading it in bed just now.
That sent a new wave of arousal down my groin.
I put my face close to Claire’s and whispered softly into her ear, “Who is fucking you now?”
Claire half-opened her eyes to look at me, her fingers never pausing its relentless frigging.
“Claire, I want to fuck you. I am not your husband but I have always dreamt of fucking you. Do you want me to stuff my big cock into you? Have your hole ever been filled by a cock other than your husband’s?”
I was not sure what had come over me, but I was sure getting aroused by the idea that Claire was fantasizing about having another man fucking her.
I could see she was getting more excited as her hips was arched upwards in its highest position with her fingering of her hole increasing in intensity. I could see the strained look on her face as she was getting close to climax.
Her mouth let out another moan. This time, she completely let go and a series of moans and grunts filled the air.
The whole room was now full of Claire’s moans and the air smelled of her wonderful pussy. I knew Claire was getting close. She was now slamming her two fingers in and out of her love hole, with juices coating her hand. Her body was starting to shudder and squirm.
I could not hold back anymore.
I pulled her fingers out and replaced them with my fully erected cock.
She let out a pure moan of fulfillment. A cock would still be fuller than fingers no matter what.
“Claire, I saw you at the dinner function. I know you are married but I can’t stop thinking about you. I dreamt of you every night, wanting to insert this monster into your angel hole. Do you want this man other than your husband to make love to you?”
I couldn’t stop my dirty talking to her; I was imagining myself to be Raymond.
“I …. I ….can’t….” Claire groaned in her half-opened eyes, staring at me. But I knew I was another man in her eyes at this moment.
“So you want me to stop?” I pretended to pause my thrusting.
“No….ah…. no…..ahhhh , don’t stop. Fuck me. Use me like you have always dreamt of……”
With her consent, I regained my thrusting. This time, even faster, even harder.
“Claire, let this monster cock fill you. Is my cock bigger than your husband’s?”
Her body exploded. Hot juices came gushing around my cock.
I felt so warm. I cummed, shooting my hot jism to mix with her hot juices.
Never had we had such a powerful orgasm before.
Time: Wednesday night
Venue: Bedroom
10.10 pm
I was pretending to be reading a book in bed, tucked comfortably in my blanket and sitting up against the headboard by using the pillow and bolster as cushion. My body smelled nice from the bath I just had. Claire was still in the bathroom.
Claire was still in the same white nightie when she came out of her bath, drying her wet hair with a big white towel. That’s a beautiful sight. Claire looked so white, so pure. Her complexion was flawless white.
She sat down next to me on the bed and said, “Dear are you unhappy?”
I turned to look at my dearest wife. Had been thinking about this scenario for the last 15 minutes but when she actually asked the question, I didn’t know how to respond. It’s crucial how this conversation developed that would shape the things to come.
Slowly, I put my book on the side table and looked at Claire.
“Dear, I am not exactly unhappy but I am having mixed feelings now. It never occurred to me that you might be thinking of another man, even if they are just thoughts and fantasy.”
Claire stopped her drying of the hair and looked at me, “But it’s you who ask me to pretend you were another man.”
“Dear I saw the letter under the bed. You were really thinking about this, that’s why you started touching yourself, thinking about another man. So please don’t push the blame to me. You are fantasizing about other man.”
It seemed like I hit the nail on the head. Within seconds, Claire’s eyes reddened and she broke down sobbing.
“I am sorry dear. I really didn’t know what overcome me. I feel so ashamed of myself. I feel I am…..just …. like a slut…. I am sorry… I don’t know how to face you anymore….”
It hurt me to see my lovely wife breaking down like this. I was the bastard to put her through this.
I moved over to her side and hug her in my embrace. “Shhhh shhh dear, don’t cry. It’s ok. Everyone has fantasies. I also have fantasies, we are all human.”
Claire looked up at me in her innocent eye and spoke in her quivering, sobbing voice “Really? You are not angry with me?”
My heart softened at the sight, “I am not angry. I am also to blame. I also fell for the same fantasy, didn’t I? So who am I to blame you?”
Claire’s sobbing started to stop and she showed a mischievous glean in her eyes, “Dear, are you excited about other men lusting after your pretty wife? I thought I am no longer attractive in your eyes anymore.”
“How could that be? You are the most beautiful woman in the world to me.” I purposely skipped answering her first question as I didn’t know how to answer that.
“Ya ya that’s what men always said. I have seen how you looked at other pretty girls. Before marriage, you only have eyes for me. After marriage, I know you look at other girls too.”
“Where got?” I was really thinking so when I replied that.
“Got. I have seen the way you looked at Phoebe. And you always become more uptight in her presence. That’s a sure sign of you being attracted to her. I know you well enough, so don’t try denying.”
I was like being caught red handed. I better switched the topic fast.
“Hahaha ok I admit. Phoebe is really pretty. So who are you fantasizing just now?”
“What? No lah, no one in particular. I am just curious about the letter, so I took it from the dustbin to read again. Suddenly it just seems so arousing that there is someone out there who might be thinking about me, you know, and then things just happen.”
“So you want to join the club?” I was seriously unsure of my motivation behind this question. I had become unsure myself whether I wanted Claire to continue with the club. It started as a test but now it seemed arousing to me, especially after our exciting orgasm just now. Just imagine me fucking Jenny while Raymond was doing the same to Claire next door at the same time. That thought itself sent a gush of blood to my little brother.
“I don’t know. Maybe I will just go for the dinner date to see who that person is. I really don’t know. Do you want me to?”
“Ok maybe you just go for the dinner. I am curious to find out who that person is too. Then just make things clear and go away. That will end this curiosity as well. I mean, it’s quite worrying that there might be some sex-crazed man out there who might want to hurt you.”
“Ok I think that would be a good way to end this too. You can protect me in the dark as well in case it’s some sex maniac.”
I was getting aroused again at the thought of Claire turning up for the dinner with Raymond.
I looked into Claire’s eyes and kissed her on the lips.
Our tongues soon locked with each other and our hands roamed over each other.
We were soon fucking each other. Claire closed her eyes while we were fucking. I knew she was imagining it was another man fucking her. I didn’t care because I was imagining I was that other man fucking her hot pussy.
I could not imagine how good Raymond would feel when he shoved his dick into this wet, tight hole of my wife. Used to be 100% my property, but I was not so sure going forward.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
seebayjialat
Hey bro! Glad story you’ve going on here~ Just wanna chip in my 2 cents worth of thoughts.
I mean, you’re definitely a superb writer and I’m sure many will agree with me on this.
But it’s kinda sad to always read that your fictional wife gets jammed by other guys.
I mean, every time I read it, it’s kinda sad in a way because it’s like
I dont know maybe, it’s just like so disheartening to know that it’s happening.
Maybe you can change a little in your story, like letting your fictional wife get pounded?
Sorry if I offended anyone who’s enjoying the story. Just wanted you express my thoughts. /:
Thanks for your comments
I didn’t even realise it until you pointed it out. I guess it’s the genre of stories that I myself like reading, thus I tend to write the plot along a certain direction.
Any comments from the rest of readers? Just want a feel so that i can write based on what my readers like.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
diputs1269
When can l receive my green envelope?
This is a good one!
Quote:
Originally Posted by
DDAMn
Bro pls keep to ur style its ur trademark among the hall of SBF legend writers.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Coffeecans
I totally agree, each have their own style of writing.
Keep your style else it’s not going to work out for your fans out there
Keep writing.
Thanks bros DDAMn and Coffeecans, you are right. I was trying to change my style of writing just now and I met with a writer’s block.
I can never write like other good writers such as bros Coffeecans and ilikeoldchangke because we all have our own unique style.
Thanks for the advice! I know what to do le
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Xazz
Pardon my poor english but what’s the difference between the wife getting jammed by other guys and getting pounded?
haha i think the bro meant “not getting pounded”, missed out a “not” in his sentence
Quote:
Originally Posted by
GreatCockSuckrr
i had the same question, it may means this way
jammed - struck, cannot pull out
pounded - destroy, make a mess, break into pieces
wahahaha this is so funny. You really made my day
Thank you to all bros who have made their comments, be it whether supportive or not supportive of me including the fictional wife fantasy.
As a writer, the greatest joy is knowing that there are readers out there who appreciate the story.
Realise I can’t please the whole world so I shall continue writing the way I am most comfortable with, or else the output will not be satisfactory.
Had a writer’s block today; will be back tomorrow night with the next instalment.
Stay tuned!
Time: Friday
Venue: Office
Tonight was the night.
The night that Claire was supposed to meet up with Raymond. I had arranged for the date between Claire and Raymond first, before my date with Jenny the next evening. I surmised that I had better settled Claire’s case first before mine.
Me and Claire had discussed about this and she was too curious about this whole thing. We decided she would go for the date but with me around in the dark to protect her.
5.40 pm
I called Claire to confirm on the plan.
“Dear, you home from school?”
“Yep.”
“You really want to go for the date tonight?”
“Yes dear. I thought we decided on that.”
“We have decided on that. But we haven’t really discussed how far you would go with the date. Remember that part 1 is the dinner, and part 2 is the hotel room.”
There was a radio silence on the other end.
“How far would you let me?”
Her response stung me.
I mean, I thought I can handle this. I was the one who thought up this whole plan. I mean, I didn’t plan for it to happen to my wife. But since it happened, I was the one, who in a way, allowed it to continue, firstly with the fantasy while she touched herself, and secondly with a good fuck with both of us imagining it was another guy doing Claire.
I didn’t know how to answer her. Especially with the knowledge that I was going to betray her by going for my own date with Jenny the next day.
Before I could reply, Claire’s voice came over the other side.
“Don’t be silly dear. I am just joking with you. I know when to stop. You can trust me. At most it would be just some harmless flirting ok? I won’t proceed to part 2.”
6.15 pm
As the time drew nearer, I was starting to regret what I had done.
What if Claire found out that I was behind the whole Special Club thingy?
What if Claire decided to go with Raymond to the hotel room? Were I supposed to jump out from nowhere and stopped them?
I was a stupid asshole, I created this whole mess for myself.
I had been observing Raymond the whole day. Ever since he was informed of Claire’s acceptance of the date, he had been grinning to himself from ear to ear.
This bastard. Must be having all kinds of lewd thoughts about Claire, who happened to be the wife of his boss. He must be feeling lucky enough to get Jenny, the wife of his other superior in office, and now had the chance to get Claire, the wife of his direct boss.
I recalled Claire telling me at the Company D&D what a gentleman Raymond was and how good looking he was. She had a very good impression of him then, although that was the first and only time she had seen him.
Same thing for Raymond, I remembered overhearing some pantry talk between him and some other guys in the office, gossiping how hot the wives of their two VPs were, referring to Jenny and Claire.
The more I thought about it, the more upset I became with myself. Raymond must have been aching to get into her pants for the longest time ever, and now he had gotten the chance, would I be able to accept it if Claire allowed him to fuck her?
6.45 pm
Raymond left the office. The dinner was supposed to be at 7.30 pm at a celebrity chef restaurant at MBS.
I left for the designated place shortly after him.
7.30 pm
Claire met Raymond at the reserved table as planned.
She first appeared shocked, knowing the identity of the person who nominated her to be a colleague of her husband.
After a while, from the distance I was spying on them, I could tell that Claire was getting more and more comfortable with Raymond.
Claire knew I was spying on them at a distance. Initially she would steal glances at my direction to see if I was there. After a while, she seemed oblivious to my presence.
On and off, they were sharing private jokes, with Raymond leaning towards her to whisper into her ears, with Claire giggling like a little girl in love. She was enjoying his attention more than I had expected. Raymond was indeed a lady-killer like what the office gossip had been doing its rounds.
I was getting more and more worried. Would Claire fall for it?
8.15 pm
15 min more to go before they were supposed to proceed to the next event at the hotel room.
My stomach had to fail me at such a critical juncture. I had to run to the loo to do some big business. And the nearest gents was at quite a distance away.
I still had 15 min. Should be ample time.
I flew to the nearest gents. Under maintenance. God, why did such things always happen when we need them the most?
No choice, I had to make a big detour to go up to the next floor.
Finally did my business and rushed back to my position at the fastest pace possible, even though my legs were getting jelly from the loo run.
8.26 pm
Did it in 11 min. Should be good enough for a Guinness Book of record.
As I settled down at my original hideout, I got a shock.
Claire and Raymond were gone!
Shit, was I away that long? It was only slightly more than 10 min and they were gone.
Did Claire decide to proceed with part 2 while I was away?
I immediately ran up to the hotel. Checked with the counter whether the guests for the reserved room had checked in.
Negative.
Where would they be?
I dialled my wife’s mobile, “The number you just dialled is currently unavailable”
What was happening to Claire?
Time: Friday night
Venue: MBS
8.45 pm
I had lost sight of Claire and Raymond for almost 30 min.
Like a headless chicken, I was just running around aimlessly in search for Claire. All kinds of thoughts were racing through my head.
Would Claire be unfaithful to me?
How would I feel if Raymond fucked Claire?
What should I do even if I found them?
I must be the biggest idiot in the world to even let things proceed to this stage. What the heck was I thinking of?
I must keep calm. Think. Think. Think. I must remain my composure to think. I had achieved everything I had because of my brains. I could not lose it now.
Yes, Raymond drove. The carpark.
Ran to the nearest lift. Basement 2, 3 or 4.
Wilson, you must use your analytical mind to think now. Stay calm.
Today was Friday. Raymond came around 7 pm. By that time, the carpark should be quite full due to the gambling crowd.
I had parked at basement 4. He should be the same.
What car was Raymond driving? Use your brain to recall. Should be a black Honda City.
8.52 pm
Spotted Raymond’s car. No Raymond. No Claire.
All around me were cars. Full carpark. Not a single soul. I was going crazy.
Just at the moment my heart begun to sink, I had a strong gut feeling.
There was a green lighted exit sign at the far corner. It was one of those emergency exit staircase. No one ever used that because it was out of the way, non air-conditioned and stuffy.
Somehow I just walked towards it.
As I slowly approached the stairs, I heard voices. Very faint, but I was sure I heard Claire.
I crept towards the staircase and peeped through the small glass panel on the door. I saw Raymond and Claire’s legs. They were standing on the staircase landing half a level up. I hid myself at an angle, concealed from their sight.
“Raymond, I enjoyed the dinner with you but I can’t do this. You know I am your boss’s wife.”
“But look, Claire. You took up the Special Club invitation. That means you wanted to do this.”
“No, don’t get me wrong. I accepted the invitation out of curiosity. Nothing else.”
“Come on Claire, don’t tell me you don’t feel anything for me. I am not asking you to leave Wilson or anything. We are just having a little fling. Just let go of yourself for a moment and enjoy yourself. Wilson won’t know. No one would know. It’s only between you and me.”
“No, I really ….”
At this moment, Raymond pulled Claire towards him and kissed her forcefully.
Claire tried to resist him by pushing him away, but Raymond was too strong for her. His two arms wrapped around her body and pulled her up close.
Raymond was forcing his mouth over Claire’s, but she remained tight-lipped, not allowing him any gap in.
After 10-15 seconds, Claire let go of her mouth to catch a breath and Raymond shoved his tongue into her mouth.
His right hand moved in front and touched Claire’s left breast through her dress.
That was when Claire seemed to be lowering her resistance. Her eyes became half-closed and her mouth opened slightly more.
Should I rush in now to save my wife? Somehow I remained rooted. I didn’t even understand why.
Raymond’s right hand was massaging Claire’s breast more roughly and her spaghetti strap fell off her shoulder, showing her matching purple bra.
Claire was wearing a purple spaghetti dress, with frills at the bottom at her mid thigh level. I had always liked her wearing this dress because she looked very sexy yet elegant in it. Her hair was bundled up at the back with fringes in front set apart through the middle. Claire was beautiful.
“Ok enough”
Claire regained her consciousness and pushed Raymond away.
“I am going back. I can’t do anything wrong to Wilson.”
Raymond was not willing to let go of her so easily.
As Claire tried to turn and walked down the stairs, Raymond grabbed her arm and pulled her close again.
This time, Claire didn’t offer much resistance. They were locked in a passionate kiss.
“Raymond…..just…..kiss….only……ok” Claire managed to voice out these few words through their locked lips.
“Ok” Raymond replied non-nonchalantly.
They were kissing each other more furiously now, shoving each other’s tongue into each other’s mouth and exchanging lots of saliva with each other.
Raymond’s right hand moved down to Claire’s dress hemline, pulled it up slightly and got his hand under her dress. His whole palm was rubbing the front of her black panties.
“No….no…no …..just kiss….only”
Although those words came out from Claire’s mouth, her actions betrayed her. She actually spread her legs to allow Raymond’s hand to get to her crotch area.
“Uhhhhh….ermmmmm……urrrmmmmm….”
Claire was starting to pant more heavily and giving out soft moans. Raymond’s hand must be feeling good on her crotch area.
That same hand moved further north, reached the top of her panties, slit the fingers in and pulled down her panties to her thigh level. His fingers were now in naked contact with Claire’s naked pussy.
Claire let out an uncontrollable moan when he inserted two of his fingers into her.
Raymond was now finger-fucking her roughly now. Claire was squirming in ecstasy. I knew Claire won’t be able to withstand this for long.
Raymond broke himself from the kiss, used his other free hand to pull down her bra together with her front part of the dress, exposing her right breast. He cupped his mouth over the naked breast and sucked on her nipple. His sucking was done expertly, in a measured strength and used his tongue to flick her nipple, sometimes circling around it, teasing her and next moment, gobbled at it.
Claire had very sensitive nipple and his expert sucking was sending waves of sensation throughout her whole body.
My wife was now half nude, with an exposed breast being sucked on, and her panties pulled down to her thigh, and finger-fucked by a man in public. And she was moaning in sexual delight.
I knew Claire was going to explode in a matter of time.
However Raymond had other idea. He stopped his finger movement, and moved that hand away, trying to unbuckle his belt and unzip his pants.
His 8-inch dick came into view and Claire let out a gasp at the sight of it.
He tried to position his dick at her pussy entrance but Claire won’t have any of that. She closed her legs instantly and pushed Raymond away.
“Raymond, stop this. I can’t do this. I am married. I won’t betray Wilson. If you don’t stop, I am going to shout rape!”
This time, Raymond was taken aback by Claire’s firmness.
“But….but …Claire….I need to release this….if not I am going to die. Can you help me pls?”
Claire paused for a few moments, looking down at the erected cock, in deep thoughts.
“You promised not to force me to do anything which I don’t want to, ok?”
Raymond was looking confused and deprived now, nodding his head like a little kid.
I was also confused by the turn of events. What was going to happen next?
What happened next totally took me by surprise.
Claire reached out her hand and wrapped her hand around his large tool. Her cold touch made Raymond moaned.
Claire lowered herself down in a kneeling position and gave a gentle lick on the cock head with her tongue.
“Oh god, that feels good” Raymond moaned out in pure delight.
Claire opened her mouth and took in the whole 8-inch into her mouth.
“Oh fuck, your mouth feels heavenly….Claire….thank you….suck….”
Claire started her sucking action, with both her cheeks sucked in by the side.
Raymond began his pumping action, in and out of her mouth. Starting slowly, and getting faster and faster. Claire reciprocated by sucking it even harder. Some saliva drooled out from the corner of her lips.
Very soon, Raymond was groaning in ecstasy. He was grabbing the back of her head and pumping his cock roughly in that little mouth. Her mouth was now being used as a fuck-hole for his selfish pleasure.
Claire was gagging on his huge tool but Raymond could not care less, shoving in and out of her mouth in double-quick time.
In front kneeling was the wife of his boss, his masturbation tool for so many nights ever since he first met her at the Company D&D. His cock was nestled warmly in that pretty mouth. Her eyes, her nose, her face. Pure beauty. And he was fucking her mouth. Real mouth. Not just in his wet dreams and masturbate fantasy. A real, warm mouth that was sucking on his cock. It felt so warm, so real, so good.
That mouth. Which was just eating dinner with him an hour ago and talking to him throughout the night. He had kissed that mouth and sucked on that tongue. But to shove his own dick inside that mouth was another story altogether. It felt too good. Fucking good. He would have wished to fuck that mouth forever.
All of a sudden, Raymond stopped his pumping action. Both his hands grabbed the back of Claire’s head tightly and pushed her towards him, with his cock fully shoved into her mouth, almost reaching her throat, and froze in that position.
His body shuddered.
Claire’s eyes were wide open in shock but she could not do much other than to let the explosion flow down her throat.
Raymond had cummed in her mouth, and Claire had swallowed every single drop of his hot jism.
After he finished unloading, he let go of his hands and his cock fell out of her mouth.
Claire tried to spit out but most of it had already flown down her throat.
Raymond took a few steps back and sat down on the floor, exhausted and contented.
Claire pulled up her panties, adjusted back her bra and tidied her dress quickly, and turned to leave without saying a single word.
Raymond was too tired to react and just sat there.
I quickly moved myself out of my position and ran away from sight. I could not let Claire knew I saw everything, yet I did nothing to stop them.