Allison is blind-sided by her first lesbian experience.
I was just beginning to feel the effects of the wine. It was my second glass, and it rested on my knee as I sat on the plush leather sectional sofa. The sitting room was elegant-quiet and comfortable with a large window wall to my right, looking out into a small enclosed courtyard, tastefully planted and very private.
The Asian woman across from me was probably somewhere in her mid-40's, sitting with her bare feet tucked underneath, and holding her own glass of wine. She was wearing a short, white robeβand both she and her robe looked like they had been freshly laundered. She was certainly pretty, but not the kind of spectacular beauty that turns heads. I sat fully clothed, complete with slacks and heels and a nice linen blouse, starting to feel slightly dressy for the occasion. That would all change soon.
I suppose I should backtrack and tell you something about myself and where I was-and what I was doing there in the first place. My name is Allison, but it was all my little sister Andrea's fault, if fault is the right word. I made the mistake of confiding to her that I thought I was going through some sort of midlife crisis. I was still a damn attractive forty eight year old, I could honestly say-and I had just about everything any woman could ask for: a prestigious college education, marriage to a successful stock broker, two grown kids, beautiful home, nice cars, money to spend, the works. And I was unhappy as hell.
"Andy, I'm unhappy as hell", I said to her one afternoon over coffee, "And I'm ashamed to be complaining. Just look around. Most women would kill for this lifestyle."
"When's the last time you got laid?" Andrea gets right to the point.
"None of your business."
"I thought so."
"Well," I answered, defensively, "Jack is out of town a lot but it's not so much about frequency as it is about quality. I suppose it's an old story, but the spark...well, you know."
"How is he at licking your pussy?"
"Andy, now really!"
"So, now really answer my question."
"Not so good, if you absolutely must know. Jack is more inclined to get right to the main course. 'Big client meeting tomorrow,' and stuff like that."
"Poor baby. Hey, you want me to get Jason to come over and go down on you? He's terrific."
"Stop!"
That's how it all started. My headstrong, utterly shameless sister then proceeded to tell me more than I ever wanted to know about her own sex life. In spite of my slight discomfort with her candor I began fantasizing about taking her up on her offer regarding her husband. Not only was Jason financially well off, thanks to his chain of local sporting goods stores, he was also one sweet guy-and a hunk to boot. Andrea was lucky to have grabbed him and, kidding around or not, I couldn't quite shake the mental picture of the top of Jason's head between my thighs. God, I really must be going through midlife crisis.
Now, dear reader, if you thought this was going to lead to my bedding down my sister's husband, I'm sorry to disappoint you. It's not going to happen. But here's what did:
A week or so later Andrea called.
"What are you doing two weeks from tomorrow?" she asked.
"I dunno, let me look...that would be a Friday. Nothing, I guess. Jack will be out of town...again."
"I know. You told me. Take down this address and phone; they'll be expecting you." She read the information over the phone.
"Wait a minute, Andy, I can't just..."
"Yes you can. And it won't even cost you anything. Consider it an early birthday present from your favorite sister. Bye."
The name of the place was simply Spa, and it came highly recommended as being absolutely the place to go if you're an unhappy housewife with unlimited funds. In addition to offering up the usual therapeutic regimens designed to chase away the stresses of higher living, Spa prided itself in digging deeper into their guest's personal lives. What they did from there was unclear, and it was kept that way deliberately. Paraphrasing the advertising slogan: "What goes on here, stays here."
It was about an hour's drive-off the main road into a pretty wooded area that gave the impression of being more secluded than it actually was. It was late evening by the time I arrived and turned my car over to the attendant, who parked it and took care of my two small pieces of luggage. If outward appearances were any indication, the place was worth every penny of whatever exorbitant bill they would hand my sister. After checking in I'd planned to stop for a nightcap but I was more tired than I thought-I barely remember crawling into bed.
Now, after a wonderfully sound night's sleep and a late breakfast, I was sitting opposite the Asian in the fresh robe and bare feet. It seemed to be a sort of verbal orientation/get acquainted session. Her name was Lin and she was to be my personal therapist or some such thing, who would work toward banishing whatever anxieties I was harboring and send me home feeling like a new woman. It turns out Lin was Asian in appearance only. She was born in Oklahoma City, of all places and we laughed about her being about as Asian as I was. We chatted a long time about everything under the sun-our families, where we went to school, boyfriends and girlfriends, favorite movies...then:
"Allison, take off your blouse."
"I beg your pardon?"
"Your sister Andrea told me you were having some trouble with intimacy. We may as well start with your learning to feel comfortable undressed."
"That little snot! What? I'm supposed to just sit here and..."
Lin only smiled. And waited.
"Oh, what the hell!" I said finally, and began unbuttoning my blouse, remembering too late that the bra I was wearing was practically see-through.
"I love your bra. I love your nipples, too. Does this embarrass you?"
"Yes."
"Then we'll just talk some more, and maybe in a little while you'll decide to take off your bra as well."
So we talked some more, and she was right. Gradually, the more we chatted, the less uncomfortable I became-and the more personal the conversation got. Pretty soon we were talking about really private things-sex toys, fantasies, anal sex. I thought I felt my nipples getting hard, but it was probably just a little chilly.
"You have a terrific body for someone your...I should say our age. Nice full breasts-I have these little Chinese boobs."
"Thank you...I guess." I found myself wanting to look under her robe.
"Have you ever had sex with a woman?" Lin asked, suddenly. Holy crap!
"This really is getting personal, isn't it?"
"You're evading the question. Have you?"
"No, nev... Well, wait a second... Okay, this probably doesn't count, but ages ago when I was in college, the girls in our sorority were smoking a little pot and playing truth or dare. My roommate's dare was to lick my nipples for thirty seconds while all the other girls watched and counted off the time."
"So she did."
"Yes."
"And, did you enjoy it?"
"We were all being silly, of course, but honestly...yes it felt...nice. I think Beth must have been really good at it. I remember she and I made eye contact and smiled at each other when the time was up, and I gave Beth's boob a little squeeze as a sort of thank you. But that was as far as it ever got; we never followed up on it or anything...sexually, I mean."
"That's a nice memory. Do you think about it often?"
"God, yes. I think about it always...when I masturbate."
Lin and I looked at each other and neither of us said anything for what seemed like an eternity. Finally I put down my wine glass, sighed, and unhooked my bra.
That afternoon I was scheduled for a massage-after all, what would a Spa be without a massage? Except this one turned out to be one I'll remember forever. We were in the same room but a low partition separated it from the rest of the area, making it seem even more private. I was completely undressed now, of course, lying face down on the massage table with a little towel covering my butt. Lin was in her short robe, fussing with oils and such, a few feet away.
"Okay, here are the rules," she said. "The point of this session is to foster a comfortable intimacy-so touching is allowed. Both ways. I'll be giving you the hands-on massage you'd expect, but I'll also pay attention to some more intimate areas if you seem to be interested. I play it by ear, as they say. And, within reason, you can touch me as well. Does that surprise you?"