chapter 1

Candace sighed as she scrolled through the photos on Facebook. They had just had a party for one of their friends and there were plenty of pictures of her and Scott. She clicked to the next pic of the two of them standing together, smiling and slightly glassy-eyed from having a few drinks.

Candace sighed again. Three years ago on their wedding day they looked like a perfect match. She was a tight, toned 130 pounds with C cup breasts and nicely rounded hips. He carried a muscular 175 pounds on his 5'11" frame.

Now they didn't look so alike. Three years of wedded bliss had added a good 40 pounds to Candace. Her flat stomach had rounded out into a pronounced pot belly, her rear had expanded several inches behind her, and her hips had flared out so much that she now looked twice as wide as her husband.

Scott, however, didn't seem to be affected at all. He still sported a six-pack with a strong chest and muscular arms, his legs and rear toned by his regular runs. To his credit he never once complained about Candace's expansion, if anything their love life had only improved since their marriage.

And Candace didn't necessarily hate the way she looked now. She still exercised regularly and wasn't in terrible shape, but at some point she had given herself permission to eat to her heart's content and that had led to a steadily climbing number on the scale.

At least I'm not the only one, she mused.

Pretty much all their friends had let themselves go a bit. Marriage and kids and careers and slowing metabolisms ensured that no one stayed slim for too long. Emily was a tall statuesque blond whose thighs were now bigger around than her waist used to be. Aaron used to run marathons but now his gut was bigger than his wife Melanie's, and she was nearly eight months pregnant (and was getting chubby before that).

Erica used to lead a spin class and teach yoga, now she was incapable of turning down a slice of cheesecake and sported a spectacular spare tire. Her husband Rick was a total jock in college and now a steady supply of brews and home-cooking had gifted him with an almost stereotypical beer gut.

But then there was Scott. He never said anything mean about their friends, but it seemed obvious that he had noticed. Candace was pretty positive that he felt quite proud about being the only one who didn't blimp up. She had to admit, he was definitely hot. Just thinking about feeling his firm body was enough to have her squirming in her chair a bit.

However, some things have to be sacrificed for the greater good.

~Sorry babe~ she thought as she gazed at his picture on the screen. ~But I'm afraid I'm going to have to fatten you up a bit.~

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