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Author's note:
While these characters may have been inspired by real people, they aren't. This is a work of fiction.
I'd love to know what you think about it. All constructive criticism is welcome. :)
Hope you enjoy it!
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The flight was no big deal. I've been privileged enough to do it before and I could navigate pretty well. Speaking English helped too. I wasn't anxious about the traveling itself, but I had never been outside of the country completely on my own before.
There was also the teeny tiny detail of meeting a man twice my age.
***
I never thought I would be doing this. I had a strict two-years-older-than-me cut off. Three if it was just sex. We met online and he was upfront about his age from the start. He made it very clear that he didn't care, but would respect whatever my wishes were. We only exchanged ages after a bit of flirting and erotica exchange. This was before I realized I could find all the smut I wanted online (porn yes, erotica no; somehow that made sense). Some of what he wrote was new to me, and I wanted to read the rest. He offered and I agreed, justifying it by stating that it was like reading erotica from an older author (pro tip: it's nothing like reading erotica from an older author). Of course it didn't end there and we continued talking. It was always wrong, and I loved it. Not because it was wrong, but despite it. I never liked the age difference. The whole "Daddy" thing creeped me the fuck out. I loved his always-respectful manner; I loved his open-mindedness; I loved learning about a different time and a different place. I've always been intrigued by foreign cultures and mindsets. I loved the way he patted my ego, which I later came to realize was not that at all. He truly believed I was all those wonderful things he said, and I now know it too. I loved playing at being an adult, a title that doesn't completely fit yet. I loved his experience β sexual and otherwise. I still love all those things, but I always did. I came to love the authority and power that came with the age difference. I came to love hearing about his life. I came to love him as a friend. We've shared so many concepts and intimate details of our lives, it's impossible not to. That's not to mention how much he's helped me figure out and deal with life. He was always supportive when I needed support and always counseled me to make the right decision for me. He's helped me deal with some of my strongest demons.
I'm honestly baffled that he's single at 38.
***
So here I am, six months later, scanning the faces at the airport in a hurried daze. I find your face and meet your eyes. You've obviously been watching me for a couple minutes. You have a calm smile on your face β as if you know exactly how this will go. Maybe you do.
A million thoughts rushing through my head. I trip and catch myself, standing up alarmingly quickly. I have practice. A woman to my right inquires to see if I'm ok, and I keep that interaction as brief as possible. I'm not entirely comfortable being seen in public with you, for fear of someone sensing the unnatural nature of our relationship.
I readjust the sweater in my arm and grab the handle of my rolly. I meet your eyes and give you an awkward smile. You lick your lips in an almost predatory fashion, then cover it up with a genuine smile. I squirm a little, moving my hips seductively. It doesn't go unnoticed.
I walk over to you and duck your kiss with a hug. I want to hold you tight, but not here. You don't share my inhibition. Is that your belt buckle?
"Hello" I say, our first real exchange of words.
"Hello buttercup", you answer, in your deep, masculine, English voice. I could melt.