I have always loved to write. I've thought about writing a book, but I have yet to find a topic I was interested enough in to devote that much time to. Besides, I once heard that no one should write a book until they are over fifty—that they can't possibly know enough—have experienced enough of life to have anything interesting to say until then. At twenty nine, I have a long way to go, so I have contented myself with writing short stories—erotica to be more specific.
I found a website called Literotica, and I fell in love with it instantly. By obeying a few simple rules, one could upload a story, and others could read it, rate it—and even comment on it. After posting my first story, I became frustrated at how few readers actually took the time to rate it, and only a small percentage of those posted public comments. I thought, "How rude of them."
Still, I loved watching the number of readers roll by. Over the weeks after posting a story, the numbers were staggering—5K, 15K, 30K, 75K. I became addicted to trying to imagine so many people from all over the world, sitting in front of their computers and reading the words I'd written. Did they masturbate while reading it, or maybe afterward? Did their spouse enjoy the passion or lust my story invoked?
I had made the decision early on not to stick to the lighter genres like "Romance" and "Erotic Couplings". I wanted to explore the limits of my own imagination. I posted stories in genres that were so foreign to me, I could barely comprehend that it was me typing the words. I wrote about group sex, fetishes, incest, anal sex, exhibitionism and much more. I'd never experienced any of those things, but I loved imagining them and describing my fantasies of them in great detail.
While typing the words, I would feel as if I were actually doing those things. It always made me wet beyond my own belief. I almost always masturbated after writing a new chapter, sometimes for days afterward. On more than one occasion, I had to pause writing long enough to masturbate before I could continue typing.
I had chosen to let my readers see my email address—the Yahoo email I'd set up for the sole purpose of receiving feedback from Lit readers—PlainJane, the same as my Lit username. That username described me well. Very, very few took the time to send an email. I responded to those who did, thanking them for taking the time. And I gladly took to heart their criticisms and suggestions for future stories.
I was working on my fifth story when I heard the famous yodel. I was excited, knowing it was Yahoo notifying me that I had new mail. My excitement, though, was dampened quickly as I read it:
"Dallas:
If you write another story, you should give the main female character your real name.
Your Secret Admirer"
My jaw dropped and I struggled to breathe. No one on Lit could possibly know my name is Dallas. Hell, Yahoo didn't even know that. I'd used a fake name to open my Yahoo account. How could they . . .?
* * *
For the entirety of the following week, I could think of little else. I couldn't concentrate at work. As the manager of a national chain restaurant, I needed to be able to concentrate—to always be cheerful to both customers and employees. I needed my happy mood to infect them, and I'd always been great at it—until now. The customers didn't know the difference so much, but the employees surly did, more than one asking me what was wrong.
I couldn't write a word, couldn't think straight, and I barely ate. I did manage to sleep for two or three hours almost every night—with the help of alcohol and exhaustion.
I was tempted to call the police, but what would I tell them? I was sure they would blow me off once they found out I wrote and posted sexually explicit stories on the internet. I'm sure they would think to themselves, "Duh! What did you expect?" I could live without that embarrassment.
After eight days, I finally gathered myself and my nerves. I opened my Yahoo email, clicked on the message that had disturbed me so greatly, and clicked the "Reply" button.
I typed simply, "Who are you?" and hit "Send" before I could change my mind.
* * *
It was three days before I got a response. This time, the email was a bit more informative. I sensed that the sender somehow knew how much their email had disturbed me and was making a futile attempt to put my mind at ease.
"Dallas:
Two things: First, you have nothing to fear from me. It is very important for you to understand that. I am not a stalker. I don't follow you around taking pictures of you—spying on you. I don't need to do that. And secondly, I will never approach you—unless of course, you ask for a meeting. Again, please believe me. You have nothing to fear from me.
Your Secret Admirer"
Wow! If they were trying to put my mind at ease, they had failed miserably. Their words, "I don't need to do that", kept echoing through my brain. What the hell did that mean?
* * *
"What do you want from me?" And then I clicked the "Send" button.
Again, it was three days before I got a response.
"Dallas:
Conversation—that's all. All I want is an open and honest conversation with you, nothing more.
You Secret Admirer"
I responded immediately, "What kind of conversation? If you want Cybersex, you can forget it. I'm not into all that fake shit. I don't care how badly you need to jack off." Send.
I was surprised to get their response the next day:
"Dallas:
Lol, I don't need you for that. If I need to get myself off, I can manage that quite nicely without your help. I want to talk about your stories. You restrain yourself too much. You don't set your fingers free to type what is inside your mind. You are writing for your readers—not for you. Your readers need you to delve into your brain. Take a flashlight in there with you and shine it into the darkest corners. Sweep away the cobwebs, and then write about what you find there.
Your Secret Admirer"
What the . . .? How could anyone possibly know what was in the darkest corners of my mind? I didn't even know what was in there. I read that email over and over and over, shut off my computer, and didn't return to it for several days.
* * *
"Maybe I don't want to know what is in there." Send.