Briefly home from college, I babysit your kids for Christmas money. I only see you moments before you and your wife leave for dinner: pulling bills from your wallet, adjusting your tie - but during these encounters, I see how you glance at me. You scan my body, taking notes. At first I was offended - you're old enough to be my professor, if not my father. You may be well-kept, but I'm in my twenties. For a few more years, I can be with anyone. But I guess I started to look forward to your reactions, thinking: what will he think of this sweater? Will I be warm enough without tights? You like when I don't wear tights, I think - or better, when I wear stockings, adjusting them in the doorway when we both pretend you're not looking.
I stopped wearing bras to your house. I let you walk in on me in the den, wearing a tank top and panties at the end of the night, feigning sleep - I'd often fantasize about opening my eyes to find you stroking your crotch inches from my face, or gently tweaking my nipple through the fabric. Some nights I'd think about this and mute the TV and just take off my underwear, cumming on the couch minutes before you and your wife arrived.
In my favorite fantasy, your wife is elsewhere. I don't want her walking in on us; I'd rather not consider her at all. She's not the kind of woman I'd want joining in. No, she's back at the restaurant or drunk at your friends' - or maybe you two had a fight. You come home with your jacket off, your top button undone. I can tell you want - need - to relax. I get up to leave but you still me, say There's no rush.
You ask what I'm watching. I shrug. Just flipping channels. You sit beside me with your knees relaxed; one rests against mine. I tuck my legs up under me and you flip to a movie station. Suddenly we're watching something subtitled, but I'm can't pay attention. I'm focusing on my heartrate, wondering how long you'll let this go on.
When you get up abruptly, I figure our time is up, but you return just as quickly with an uncapped beer. You falter in front of the TV, ask if I want one. I shake my head. You come back to the couch and take a long sip. I wonder how much you've had already.
After what feels like a week, you ask if the kids are in bed. I nod, it's way past their standard bedtime - they tend to pass out soon after our frozen pizza/video routine. You nod back. Then, never moving your eyes from the screen, you ask if I'd like to sit in your lap. Your voice sounds strained and I realize, for the first time, something is really happening here. Something is taking place. I pause a beat, mouth open, and rather than answer, scoot up over your right trousered leg and settle in a ball between your thighs. I feel you exhale hard, then rest your left palm - so warm - on my skin. You finish your beer and we watch the film unfold in silence.