Mom chuckled. She actually chuckled.

Pete’s face heated and he looked away.

“I’m flattered,” she said, “but you know we can’t.”

He shrugged. “Yeah. Sorry.”

“It’s okay.” When he looked back, she was smiling again. “We’re just two ships who collided in the night.”

“With one helluva collision.”

“But neither of us sank.” She smirked.

“But one of us went down.”

She grinned and rolled her eyes. “Let’s not stick with this metaphor, okay?”

“Yeah, because we sure weren’t bumping uglies.”

She laughed. “Stop, okay?”

“Sure.” He smirked because he couldn’t resist. “What do you want to eat?”

“That’s enough, Buster.” She paused and pursed her lips. “Maybe we should dine in the restaurant after all, so you’ll behave.”

“Actually… there’s this place in town you might like. They specialize in traditional Scottish foods.”

She smiled. “That sounds nice.”

***

The strolled slowly back from the hotel, tired and satiated. The conversation had flowed smoothly, mostly about the conference, and the vibe was close to one of the dinners when he visited home. They fell quiet for most of the walk. Mom seemed lost in thought, while Pete realized he had nothing to say.

“Say,” Mom said when they were in sight of the hotel, “you never told me why you broke up with Karin.”

“That was months ago.”

“I know. But you were vague. ‘It just didn’t work out,’ if I recall.”

“It just didn’t.”

“Uh-huh.”

He grimaced. “It wasn’t one thing. More… a bunch of small things that added up, you know?”

“I understand the concept. It just seemed so sudden.”

“That’s because you only saw the outside.”

“Oh.”

The walked in silence for a couple of minutes. As the hotel neared, Mom turned to him.

“Did anything ever happen with that girl from the restaurant?”

“Restaurant?” Pete’s mind raced, trying to remember what he’d told her.

“A few weeks ago you mentioned going to that fancy French restaurant.”

“Ah. Bethany.” At breakfast the next morning, they’d discovered they had nothing to talk about. “No, nothing came of that.”

“Mmm.”

“I’ll find someone. Eventually.”

She smiled. “I’m sure you will.”

***

They strolled into the lobby to find several of Mom’s coworkers standing and talking in a cluster. A tall, slim man with a salt-and-pepper beard pulled back a step, smiled, and waved at them.

“That’s Tom,” Mom said quietly.

“Handsome.”

“You think so?” She smirked at Pete.

“A guy can notice.” He returned the smirk. “Even if he’s straight.”

She chuckled. “Good to know.”

“That a guy can notice, or that I’m straight?”

“Both, of course,” she teased. “Well, you being bi might be hot.”

“You want to watch me with another guy?”

“Well, maybe not.”

Tom pulled away from the crowd and walked over.

“Diane,” he said when he closed. “Glad I caught you.” He extended his hand to Pete. “You must be Pete. Nice to meet you.”

“Likewise,” Pete said as they shook.

There was a warmth and confidence in Tom’s eyes. He smiled at Mom. “I’m glad I saw you. Several of us are going to a whiskey tasting room and I’d love it if you could join us.”

“Well,” she began, “I’m not much of a whiskey drinker…”

“Oh, go, Mom,” Pete urged. “Be adventurous.”

She smiled at Tom. “Sure. Why not?” Then to Pete, “Don’t stay up.”

He laughed and watched as they walked off.

***

Pete thumbed through the Netflix directory. Nothing looked interesting. He pulled up some games on his phone, but quit after about fifteen minutes. He couldn’t sit still on the couch so he finally gave up.

Mom was out on a date. Well, it wasn’t really a date. Not in a big group like that. Still… he couldn’t stop thinking about it. About her.

Was he jealous?

No, actually. He pictured Tom screwing Mom. Her writhing in ecstasy under him. He smirked. He didn’t have to imagine that last part. And he wasn’t jealous thinking about Tom doing it to her.

What he wanted to do was talk to someone. But who could he talk to about screwing his Mom? Especially when he didn’t feel guilty at all.

Nobody he actually knew. And he didn’t trust the internet at all. Too many ways to dox a guy. Especially on something like this.

In the end, he decided to go for a walk.

***

Pete finished the last of his whiskey and slid the glass back across the bar. The bartender spotted him and strolled down.

“Another?” he asked.

“Beer.” Pete wasn’t driving, but he’d already had two doubles, and he didn’t want to fall on his face.

The bartender grabbed a glass mug and held it under the tap. When it was full, he placed it in front of Pete.

“So who was she?” the bartender asked.

“She?”

“The one that broke your heart.”

He snorted. “She didn’t break my heart.”

The bartender raised an eyebrow.

“I just shouldn’t’ve slept with her."

“Ah. One of those.” The bartender grabbed a towel and started wiping down the bar right next to Pete.

“But…,” Pete said, “I don’t regret it. I… I liked it even.”

“Mmm.”

“Yeah.” Pete sipped his beer. He could feel the tingle throughout his body from all the alcohol.

The bartender finished wiping the bar and hung the towel over a brass rail.

“I should regret it,” Pete said. “But I don’t.”

“She married?” The bartender asked.

“Oh, God no. That was the other one.”

“Other one?”

“Yeah. The first one. I don’t regret her either, but…” He waved his hand. “She’s history.”

“And the second one isn’t.”

Pete shook his head, which actually made him dizzy.

The bartender grimaced, and then poured a tall glass of water. He set it in front of Pete.

“Here.”

“Thanks.” Pete pushed his beer away and grabbed the water. After a sip, he sighed. Then he smirked.

“She’s gonna be around for a long, long time,” he said.

“The second one.”

“Yeah. She’s…” He wasn’t drunk enough to say my mom. “She’s someone I’ve known for a long, long time.”

“Does she regret it?”

“I don’t think so.”

“Then what’s the problem?”

Pete had no answer to that.

***

Pete awoke, cotton-mouthed and needing to pee. It wasn’t much past midnight, so he stumbled out of bed and took care of his necessities. He tried to remember where the ibuprofen was. That’s right. The little table in the main room.

He shuffled out, wondering if Mom had had a better evening. Tom seemed like a nice guy. There was low light coming from under her bedroom door. Was she still awake? Or had she just left the light on?

He’d love to talk to her if she was up.

He found the ibuprofen on the counter near the breakfast table. He was close enough to Mom’s door to listen.

He couldn’t hear anything. Well, not much. There was… something, though. Quite faint.

He crept up to the door itself and cocked his head.

Buzzing. He could hear a faint buzzing.

He smirked, but immediately felt guilty. Things must not have gone as well with Tom as she’d hoped.

***

Pete awoke late in the morning, long after his mom had left. Next to last day of the conference and he had no idea what he wanted to do. Way back when, when they were planning this trip, he’d gone through some tourist guides for Edinburgh. A lot had sounded interesting, but now…

He kept thinking of the bartender’s question. What was the problem?

Yes, it was incest. But they’d already done it. Already crossed that barrier.

So why not cross it again?

His pulse quickened at the thought.

He just couldn’t come up with a good reason other than she’d said no.

He’d never leaned on a woman for sex. If they weren’t interested, or if they changed their mind at any point, he’d backed off. He knew too many women who’d been scarred by guys who didn’t. He wasn’t going to be one of them.

It was too bad she’d said no.

Not that he could blame her. She couldn’t exactly tell the world her son had fucked her. Even if she’d apparently enjoyed it as much as him.

He sighed. He needed to get on with his day.

***

Pete sat alone in the hotel restaurant eating a Shepard’s Pie, which was quite tasty. The gravy had richer flavor than he’d expected and the pastry was downright buttery. He rinsed his mouth with a little stout. Beer at lunch was okay, wasn’t it?

He froze when a soft hand landed on his shoulder. He’d had his back to the door and his head down over his phone.

“May I join you?” Mom asked.

“Sure.” He gestured to the seat across from him.

“How are you doing?” she asked as she sat down.

“Fine.” There was something in her tone that made him furrow his brow.

“You were dead to the world when I got back to the room last night,” Mom said.

“Drank too much.”

“Oh.” Her tone was flat. The corners of her mouth turned down.

“Oh! No. Not because of that. Well, because of that, but not for the reason you think.”

Her eyebrows rose.

“I don’t regret it,” he said quickly. “I just… wish it could happen again.”

She leaned back in surprise, her eyes wide, her mouth open.

“I know…,” he continued. “I know I’m not supposed to. I’m supposed to feel disgusted. But I don’t. And I’m not. And…”

She gestured for him to go on.

“It’s the best I ever had.” He forced himself to look her in the face.

She was clearly stunned. She crossed her arms, and a moment later closed her mouth.

“Sorry.” He shrugged.

She finally regained her wits. “The best?”

“Mmm hmm.”

“Coming from you, that’s… a lot.”

He shrugged. Mom had a rough idea how many women he’d slept with, even if she didn’t know the particulars.

“Wow.”

“Sorry if I embarrassed you.” Now he couldn’t keep eye contact and looked down at his plate.

“No… it’s just…” She leaned forward. “I was worried about you.”

He chuckled. “I’m fine. Or at least I’ll be fine. No scars.” He looked up at her and smirked. “Well… except for the scratches on my back.”

She squawked and then quickly looked around. No one was in earshot, thankfully. Then she leaned forward and pitched her voice low

“I really am sorry about that.”

“So next time, don’t use your nails.”

“What makes you think they’ll be a next time?”

He smirked. “A guy can always dream.”

She laughed and rolled her eyes.

***

“You look great!” Pete said.

Still, Mom couldn’t help primping in front of the mirror. She did look great, with her hair up and her makeup perfect. The formal black dress ended at her knees and hugged her hips enough to show off her ass. The top was loose, with conservative cleavage, but it showed off her breasts well.

She looked amazing.

“You really do,” he said.

“You’re my son,” she said with a smile. “You have to say that.”

“I’m a man, too. And I know what a gorgeous woman looks like.”

“Well… hopefully Tom agrees.”

“He’s a smart guy.”

She smiled, then checked the clock on the wall. “The banquet starts in five minutes. I should go.”

“Have fun,” Pete said. “And good luck.”

Mom nervously nodded. She smiled at him, and then, spontaneously, gave him a hug.

“Thanks,” she said.

“You’ll do fine,” Pete reassured. “Knock ’em dead."

***

Pete’s eyebrows went up when he heard the key in the room’s lock. He set his book down on the couch cushion beside him and checked the clock. It was much earlier than he’d expected. He took his feet off the coffee table. He glanced at the glass of whiskey sitting there and decided Mom wouldn’t mind. He slid to the edge of the seat just before she came in.

Mom looked…worn. She gave him a half-hearted smile and then almost sagged as she stood, the door closing behind her.

“How’d it go?” he asked.

She shrugged and walked toward him, wavering and unsteady as she did.

“That bad?” He stood.

“No…” She furrowed her brow. “It wasn’t… bad. The champagne was very nice.”

He frowned. “Tom?”

“Yes,” she sighed. She reached the couch and plopped down next to him. “Tom…” she shook her head.

“Do I need to hurt him?”

She snorted softly and smirked at him. “No. He…” She sighed again. “He didn’t do anything.”

“Mmmm…?”

She sighed again. “He’s… not interested.”

“What?” Pete exclaimed in mock outrage. “Is he blind?”

Mom gently laughed.

“He’s gotta be blind. Or stupid. Or blind and stupid.”

She chuckled, and her smile grew.

“Yep,” Pete said. “Blind and stupid. Or something else. There’s gotta be something wrong with him if he’s not interested in you.”

“Oh, please,” she protested, but a spark had returned to her eyes.

“If you weren’t my mom,” Pete continued playfully, “I’d be all over you.”

“Ha! You were all over me! Two nights ago!”

“Exactly.” He nodded in mock solemnity. “And if your own son can’t resist you, then there’s clearly something wrong with Tom.”

She laughed, loud and relieved. Her smile spread from ear to ear. Then she patted his knee.

“You’re good for me.”

“I want you to be happy.”

She sighed. “I am. I am.”

He put his hand on top of hers and squeezed.

She smiled. Then she took a deep breath. Shakily, she stood. “I need to get out of this dress.”

“Okay.” He stood as well. “Love you, Mom.”

“Love you, too.”

She slowly walked to her bedroom.

He watched her go. Okay, he might’ve been staring at her ass. But that just added to it. Tom was an idiot for not wanting her.

His gut clenched, but only a little. Yeah, he was lusting after his mom. But so fucking what? She was a gorgeous woman…

“Pete?”

“Yeah, Mom?”

“Unzip me?”

He bounded to his feet. When he entered her room, she stood at the foot of the bed, facing the headboard. When she heard him, she smiled back over her shoulder.

“You really are beautiful in that dress.”

She smiled. “You’re just saying that.”

“No I’m not.” He stepped behind her and reached for her the zipper.

He paused. Standing so close, he could feel her body heat. He inhaled the faint scent of her perfume. Instead of immediately reaching for her zipper, he placed his hands on her shoulders. When she didn’t flinch he began to massage them.

She softly moaned.

“You really are,” he said softly. “Beautiful. Smart. Sensual.” He rubbed out, along the stops and down around the edges of her shoulders.

“That feels nice,” she sighed.

“You’ve worked hard. You’ve accomplished so much. Any sane man would love to be with you.”

“You’re flattering me.” She rotated her neck in a circle, so he moved to massaging it.

“No. You know I think you’re sexy.”

She stiffened.

He froze. His heart raced. He’d been just going with the flow, trying to make her feel better. Had he screwed up?

Without looking back, she reached up and took his hand.

“Pete…” Her voice shook. “Will… will you call me Diane tonight?”

“Yes, Diane.”

She let out a long slow breath. But when she let go of his hands, she spun around. Instinctively, he put his arms around her. Their faces, inches apart their eyes met.

Hers were wide. Vulnerable. Filled with longing and a hint of fear. Then… desire?

She moistened her lips.

He did the same. He couldn’t help it. Right then, she was… just a very desirable woman.

He slowly puckered his lips and bent his head.

At the last second, she turned her head, and he ended up kissing her cheek.

“Not that,” she murmured. “Anything but that.”

“Anything?”

She slowly nodded. “Anything…”