While it was happening, I kept asking myself if there was something that gave me away. Was it something that I said? Or had he somehow interpreted or misinterpreted a look I had given him? Was it just a lucky guess on his part? How else could he have known? How else could anybody have known the private desires and fantasies I have kept locked inside of me for so long? What gave me away?
Let's back up a little and start with me. My name is Sylvia. I'm a 36 year-old housewife and mother of a nineteen year-old daughter. My husband, Jack, is an investment consultant. The same be said of the money he makes, and the time he spends away from home. There's lots of it. Am I happy with the money he provides for me? Certainly, but it doesn't make life any less lonely. Our daughter Shannon is away at college most of the year and the house seems so empty most of the time. I know, I know, you can spot the cliche a mile away: bored housewife not getting enough attention turns to someone else to fulfill her needs. But it wasn't supposed to be that way. I was perfectly content with my life, dull as it was. I never meant for anything like this to happen.
It started when Shannon came home for the summer. She wanted to throw a barbeque for some of her friends, and I readily agreed, excited for the opportunity to breath a little life into our home for at least one night. Her friends, a balanced mix of males and females began arriving around six that evening. About that time, Jack called from work to say he would be tied up for another few hours. I would say I was disappointed, but that would be a lie. This has happened so many times in our marriage that I've become numb to it. Besides it would give me the chance to be a little extra flirty with the cute college-aged boys. Nothing bad, mind you, just playful. I've always enjoyed being the "hot mom". Shannon has told me this is how some of her male friends have always thought of me. Sometimes, it's nice to know you're still thought of in that way. After Jack's call, I thought about changing into something more provocative, but I didn't want to go overboard. I already had on a short button-down blouse that exposed my belly and a kneelength skirt. I did, however, duck into the bathroom to remove my bra. I told you, I was just being playful.
And then Dean arrived. Dean lived down the street and had been friends with Shannon for as long as I can remember. Now they went to the same college, but I hadn't seen him since last summer. He had certainly made the transformation from skinny beanpole to handsome muscular hunk since I'd last seen him. The past year had been good to this now-sexy twenty year old man. It was strange to think of Dean as a man now, but that's what he was. All man. It was difficult to avoid staring at this scrumptious piece of meat. I wondered if Shannon had any romantic feelings for him. Good for her if she did.
I mingled with my daughter's friends and helped Shannon with the food. During the evening my eyes kept being drawn back to Dean and the sexy figure he cut. When he first saw me, he said "Hey, looking good, Mrs. Greene." I thanked him, and tried to play it casually, pretending to be busy doing something else. The evening continued, and nothing much of consequence occurred at the barbeque. So, having had my fill of cavorting with the youngsters and flirting with young men half my age, I decided to turn in. I told Shannon I was going upstairs, and said goodnight to everyone. I was slightly disappointed that I couldn't get one last look at Dean. I figured he must have left early as well.
I had entered my bedroom upstairs and shut the door behind me before I realized that Dean was sitting on my bed. Needless to say, I was startled.
"Dean," I said, stating the obvious. "What are you doing up here?"
I tried for a casual tone, not wanting to sound too parental, but I wanted to know what the hell he was doing in my bedroom.
"Waiting for you," he answered, and appended a confident smile.
"Oh? And what are you waiting for?" I decided to play along with his flirtatiousness for a few seconds longer.
"Mrs. Baxter, I'm very attracted to you."
I smiled warmly at him. I didn't want to hurt the poor boy.
"Dean, that is so sweet, really. But maybe you've had a little too much to drink tonight. You should probably go back and join your friends."
"I'm not going to do that right now, Mrs. Baxter, because I know something about you."
"Is that right? And what is it that you know about me, Dean?"
He flashed me that confident, slightly cocky smile again.
"I know that you will do anything I tell you to do."
I didn't respond immediately to his statement, because something inside of me clicked, or turned on. I'm not sure how to describe it. On some subconscious level I knew what he said to be the absolute truth. Over the years I had played out fantasies in my head of being completely dominated by a man. Fantasies of being told exactly what to do. Fantasies of being used, my body and mind being controlled, while I am reluctantly transformed into an instrument of pleasure. These long-held desires popped into my head now for just a second, but it may have been this hesitation that encouraged Dean.
"What do you mean?" I finally asked.
"You've thought about this for a long time haven't you?"
"Thought about what?"
"About giving in to your secret fantasies. About letting go and becoming what you've always wanted to be."
"And what is that?" I asked
"A slut."
Something else clicked in my head when he said that word, but I tried to turn it off and regain control of the situation.
"Okay, Dean, I think that's enough. I'm very flattered by your attention, but I'm a married woman and you need to be getting back downstairs."
"Lock the door." His voice had become stern, more mature.
"What?" I asked, but could already sense the reign his voice was beginning to exert over me.
He repeated his command slowly, speaking each word softer than before, but somehow with a greater firmness. "Lock. The. Door."
I'm not sure why, for there was no logical reason, but I turned back to the door and pressed the button on the doorknob to lock it. It must have been at that point that we both knew one thing. I was his to do with as he pleased.
I just stood there with my back to him for I don't know how long, afraid to face him.
"Turn around," he said.