Many thanks to RoyalBabyGirl for first editing and improving this story.
Special thanks to editor extraordinaire and fledgling author
LovelyAnon
for later fixes and suggestions that challenged me to do better.
"I think we're pretty evenly matched."
Robin was wearing a tight Spandex workout suit that looked like it had been molded to her body. She was looking in the full-length mirror in our bedroom. I was taking off my clothes after coming home from a late meeting, and she getting ready to hit the shower.
"What do you mean?" I asked her.
"I mean physically."
Robin towered over me. I was five feet eight but next to my six-feet-three wife, I looked tiny, especially when she wore heels.
*************
As freshmen, we had several Gen Ed classes together. She was smart, good-natured, fun and serious about the future -- hers and the world's.
She was also the tallest woman on campus, with a voluptuous body. Every woman student hated her when she walked into a room. I devoured her with my eyes just like all the guys, but I didn't fantasize about her because she was way above me -- literally.
When she asked me out, I said that I was flattered, but she needed to pick on somebody her own size. She wouldn't take no for an answer, and I finally gave in after jokingly telling her I'd need some coaching in being the center of attention.
All eyes were us at the party, and whenever we walked by anyone talking to someone else, the conversation stopped. She didn't seem to care, so I pretended I didn't either.
In the lobby of her dorm, she politely told me that she had a great time and kissed me on the cheek. I didn't feel awkward, because I had mentally added the evening to my list of bizarre life experiences hours before it was over.
When I saw her in class, she didn't bring up our date, so I guessed she felt the same way about it as I did. When she called me a couple of weeks later to ask me out again, I almost dropped the phone.
"Didn't you have enough the first time?" I asked her.
"I didn't realize you were so sensitive about your height."
Maybe I thought she was amusing herself at my expense, because I lashed out at her.
"I do just fine. But you should ask yourself why you want to be seen in public with a man so much smaller than you. I like you, and I'm glad you like me, but you need to find a small guy who's more into exhibitionism to help you work out your domination fantasies."
"You know, Ned, you're a real asshole," she said and slammed down the phone.
The next time I saw her at a party a couple of weeks later I went over to her.
"I want to apologize, Robin. I have no excuse for flying off the handle, except you're probably right. I must be more sensitive than I thought. I'm sure you're just curious about smaller guys like I'm sometimes curious about bigger girls."
"You still don't get it, Ned. I've dated guys who are taller than me, who are my height and who are shorter. I don't give a damn how big they are. The only reason I asked you out was because I liked you.
"I admit that before I called you, I did think for a moment that it was too bad you were shorter than me. Then I realized how stupid that thought was. Anyway, that's the way I feel. If you ever get over the size thing, you know my number."
She got up and walked away.
That conversation did get me thinking and even fantasizing. When I finally called her three weeks later, it was her turn to be surprised.
"I gave up two weeks ago," she said.
"So, it's too late," I mumbled.
"Shut up. Yes, I'm free Saturday night."
During a quiet dinner, we exchanged life stories, likes, dislikes, opinions on politics and music and plans for the future. When I took her back to the dorm, she said her roommate had gone home for the weekend and asked if I would like to come up and talk.
We spent the next four hours bouncing off the walls, both beds, the floor and maybe the ceiling. It was like a living fantasy, me with this beautiful Amazon who matched my sexual frenzy.
When I finally left, I was staggering, and I was out the minute my head hit the pillow. I slept like I was drugged until noon the next day. Her phone call woke me.
"Want to have some lunch?" she asked.
At lunch, she was embarrassed.
"I have a confession to make, Ned," she said. "I accused you of being sensitive about your size, but I first thought about asking you out the second time I talked to you. The size thing stopped me.
"A girlfriend told me to check out how big your feet were, and your shoes didn't look that large. I didn't want to lose you as a friend, and I was afraid we wouldn't be able to satisfy each other, and you'd end up avoiding me.
"Then I met this girl you used to date who thinks you're a great guy. I shamelessly steered the conversation to men and their size -- and your size. She told me you were big enough that she was often sore after being with you. That's when I decided to call you.
"Also, all the deep thoughts I spouted out at dinner were rehearsed to impress you and keep you from realizing I'm really the biggest narcissistic airhead on campus."
"You really fooled me," I said. "But I fooled you, too, because what I told you took hours of practice until it sounded sincere. During our entire conversation, all I was thinking about was the size of my thing and the size of your thing."
"You're lying," she said and laughed.
"So are you."
"Only about rehearsing. The rest is true."
"No it isn't. You aren't self-centered and stupid."
"Thanks."
During our banter, I wondered again what possible interest she could have in me. She was already a legend as a freshman. Popular athletes and rich fraternity guys were lining up to ask her out. I wasn't in that league.
I decided to relax and let things take their course. She was amazing in bed and fun to talk to. I resolved not to invest my feelings into a relationship that had no future. I would just enjoy being with her until she moved on.
She didn't move on. We became exclusive our sophomore year, got married after we graduated and are getting ready to start a family.