The whole matter began shortly after Andee's 38th birthday. She had made one of the biggest decisions of her life and cropped her long brown hair into a cute "pixie" cut. It was a drastic change in her mind, and not long after she began to feel that she wasn't being "noticed" as much as she had been when her hair was long.
"Men prefer long hair," she complained to her husband one night, not long after she made the dramatic transformation. But despite his constant reassurances, she still felt the need to turn up the heat. Feeling sexy was important to her, especially as she aged and became more acquainted with her own sexual desires.
It was from these conversations that the little bet came about.
"I think you are missing what the guys are really looking at," he said one night. "I bet more guys are looking at your hot body and killer legs than your hair. You're just too focused on your new hairstyle to see that they are lusting after you like they always have."
"Are you trying to tell me that I'm just not noticing being noticed? I'm pretty sure you're delusional about your thoughts on what other men think about your wife," she retorted. "No one, except for you, is lusting after me."
"Let's say we put something on this ... a wager, so to speak," he said to her. "A simple bet that will prove once and for all that you are still the same gorgeous and delightful distraction you have always been -- short hair or long."
And so the deal had been set: for one week she would carefully take note of any untoward flirting, blatant ogling and outright compliments. The magic number was set at a grand total of 12 different men in her life. If Andee won the bet -- meaning less than 12 guys made any kind of flirtatious remark or obvious glance her way throughout the week -- her husband would have to plan one the most romantic weekends away, no children allowed ... but if she lost the bet and more than 12 different men said anything about her looks, she would have to leave her panties in a certain coworker's office that she had been lusting after for some time. How she managed to get that far would be entirely up to her. In her own mind, she figured either way she would be winning in some sort of fashion.
Come Monday of the start of the bet week, Andee complained to her husband that the whole thing was silly. Over breakfast, she explained how she could easy manipulate the outcome, or outright lie about what happened each day with the men she encountered throughout the day.
"But what fun would that be," he asked. "If you cheat, then what's the real point? Don't you want to see the results -- bet or not? Besides, I think you're too competitive to take the easy way out this."
Andee had to concede that her husband had a point: it wasn't so much about the consequences as it was about finding her sense of "sexy" once again ... and she had the opportunity to exploit it, with permission. And she was extremely competitive.
She made it through the week, and had managed to clock in an honest 10 points in the bet without having to resort to any exceptionally naughty tactics. During afternoon break on the Friday, she was feeling a little let down despite knowing that if she won the bet she was still getting an amazing adults-only weekend with her husband. Her friend Paul noticed that she wasn't being her usual self and asked what was going on.
Without letting on too much about the conditions to her bet, she told him a bit about what had been going on all week and why.
"I guess my compliment may only get you one closer to winning, but you do look amazing -- you have all week and I know that a lot of the guys here do think you are incredibly sexy," he said. Paul gently stroked the back of her hand with his, sending an electric buzz straight through her body. She had long relished his touch and often flirted madly with him, but this time he initiated the sincere gesture. She watched his nice ass as he walked away, and was suddenly struck by the irony of the moment -- here she was ogling him from behind and he wasn't even aware.
She got up from the table and ditched her coffee cup into garbage can before heading back to her department to finish her shift. As she walked towards the elevator, she passed by a couple of the guys from finance.
"You look very lovely today, Andee. What's the occasion?" one of them asked. Andee smiled and politely replied, wondering to herself that she might have just been set up by her coworker, to whom she had just confided. That compliment was 12 for the week, the magic number.
Andee stepped into the elevator and waited for the door to close. One of the hospital porters jumped in at the last minute and smiled politely, pressing the button for one of floors and sidled up the back of the lift, just slightly behind Andee. As the elevator slowed down as it reached her stop, she felt him lean very close to her ear.
"Forgive me for being so forward," he whispered. "But you look so fucking delicious for a Friday ..."
Andee blushed and smiled as she stepped from the elevator, knowing she had been had. She knew the man and he had never spoken to her like that before.
Later that night at home, her husband seemingly avoided saying anything about the day or the bet in general. As they were getting ready for bed, Andee asked him if he was even curious about how things had gone. He explained that it wasn't so much about winning or losing, long hair or short, but that she came to realize that she was still the desirable woman she had always been.
"And 13 men agree," she said bluntly, signaling defeat. That night, Andee and her husband fucked like they hadn't in years; and again in the morning.
On Sunday night, her husband broke the feigned silence around the consequences of the bet and asked if she had given any thought to how she was going to make good on her debt. Then, without hearing much of what she had to say in defence, opened the closet door and handed her a hanger of clothes. It was a new dress, some thigh highs and a pair of black lace panties with matching bra.
Monday morning couldn't come fast enough ...
As Andee rode in on the commuter train the next day, she could feel the excitement building within her. She intentionally let the hem of her dress slip open when she crossed her legs and carefully watched as some of the men sharing the train car were mesmerized by her legs. Andee couldn't tell if any of the lace tops of her thigh highs were showing, but she was secretly hoping that a small hint was revealed to those who were looking. She was beginning to really feel sexy ... and brave.
Walking the short few blocks to the hospital, anyone who knew her might have noticed the extra little spring in her step, and that her mood was definitely more upbeat than it had been in weeks. Andee looked like a woman on a mission -- and she most definitely was. She just hadn't figured out how it would all play out. In her mind, for quite a long time, she had created a little office seduction fantasy with her coworker -- and even confessed the details to her husband during some of their steamier bedroom moments.
After being distracted by the idea all morning, before lunch she slipped out a few minutes early from her department and caught her friend Paul in the hallway. His eyes almost popped out of his head when he saw her. He gave Andee a thorough once-over with his eyes before telling her how incredible she looked.
"You look stunning. New dress?" he asked.
"Among a few other things," she purred back. "Meet me in your office for afternoon break if you would like to see the rest of it."