Two weeks later, I was staring at my phone. Call made, not received. Unknown number. Time and date: heaven, or facsimile thereof. My husband was on the road, adjusting farmer's agricultural damages after a hail storm for their insurance in the Midwest. It was Friday night. I had drank a few glasses of wine, trying to pass the lonely evening. I had looked at the number before, thinking about calling it, then thinking about how crazy and silly I was. Now, emboldened by the alcohol, alone and lonely, I was glad he had made a call with my phone instead of putting it into contacts so it couldn't be deleted. I might have if he had done so. Dial. Ring.
"Hello."
That penetrating voice. Deep, masculine, exhilarating. Oh my god, what do I say? I'm petrified.
"Hello?"
A whimper, "It's Riley. From the grocery store?"
"Of course, Riley. How's your husband?"
His confidence never wavers, he's never ashamed. He puts the biggest stumbling block out there like it's nothing but an anthill, so casual. "He's ok. He's on the road right now."
"Bummer, baby. You thought about our little time together."
Not a question. "Yeah."
"And you liked it."
Also not a question. Hesitation, swallow. "Yes."
"So you must be lonely."
"Yeah."
"'You can't be calling me only one you're lonely. If you're gonna fuck with me you have to understand I will have you when I want you. You'll call me when I tell you."
"Ok."
"'Ok, Daddy.'"
I hesitate a split second, realizing what I'm doing. Then make my decision "Ok, daddy," I say, realizing I now am more obedient to this man than my husband of two years.
"Little girl needs to be fucked I take it?"
"Yes." It feels strange, being so subservient to this man, but it also makes my stomach fill with butterflies and my skin feel hypersensitive.
"Tell me you need me to fuck you." His voice is like velvet pulled over every inch of my skin.
No hesitation now. "I need you to fuck me, Daddy," I whisper.
He asks for my address. He says he'll give me some time to shower and do myself up nice. Put something sexy on. Eleven o'clock.
I spare no small detail. Make up, lotion, perfume, curling my hair and putting it up, constantly watching the clock. I feel like one of the chefs in those television shows, trying to make the most enticing dinner in the time allotted. I'm about to put in the diamond earrings my husband gave me, but instead go with drop silver onyx earrings to go with my dress I tell myself. I look at my nails miserably, wishing I had thought ahead and got them done beforehand. I search through my lingerie, nothing seeming worthy of my new lover, but select a bra that pushes my breasts together nicely, and matching black panties. I top it off with a black dress that fits to my figure nicely, with thin shoulder straps, and my best high heels. Giddy with excitement, like a girl going to prom, I change the sheets on the bed, fold the duvet down and arrange the pillows nicely, and light a few candles in the bedroom.
The doorbell rings and I freeze. The buzz from the wine is gone now from the rush of activity and focus. He's here. It's for real. Answer the door, I tell myself. Move. Answer the door. Move. I'm paralyzed with fear. The door rings twice, insistent. I break away and rush down the stairs, now afraid he'll think I chickened out. I open the door a little breathless and flustered.
"Hi," I say, and the world seems to close in a little at the edges.
He doesn't say anything. He looks down at me in all his terrible majesty. One hand going to his meticulously groomed goatee and stroking it as he looks me up and down slowly. Everything so perfect about him, jeans, leather coat, a single golden ring set with diamonds glittering as looks me over.
It seems like an eternity. Did I do something wrong? Does he like my dress, how I did my hair, my makeup, did I take too long and make him angry. Will he just walk away?
His eyes meet mine, his face set and stern, eyes hard. "'Hi, Daddy.'"
I stop breathing.
His face folds into a smile and he chuckles. I melt as he takes me into his arms and he kisses me deeply. Yes, these are the arms I fantasized about, at first trying to pretend my husband was him, then giving up, and only imagining them while I would touch myself after my husband was asleep in bed next to me. He picks me up a little, our bodies pressed up against each other. I know I shouldn't here, in the doorway, but the danger makes it so much sweeter, and I pull a leg up to his waist as our tongues dance in each other's mouths.
"I'm sorry, Daddy. I'll try not to forget," I stammer when he lets go. It feels awkward now, calling him that in person.
"It's ok, baby. You'll get used to it. Don't worry." He walks into my home taking in the decoration (my husband's and my home). Looking around. I had put the jazz station on the satellite radio, unsure what music I should play.