As the alarm clock screamed, I rolled over and toyed with the idea of just hitting the snooze and going back to sleep. But now that my sweet dreams had been so harshly interrupted, I opened my eyes.
The dream was a becoming a bit foggy and slipping from my mind, but the raging hard-on was not. These are they days I missed my ex the most. We didn’t have much in common anymore, but the one thing we still shared, until she left, was a pretty regular sex life.
Regular, in all senses of the word. I don’t even think we ever actually did it in the daytime, or with the lights on. But a warm body was better than no body, and right about now I would have been happy to prove that.
But, time waits for no man, and no erection. So, after a few minutes of palming myself just a bit, I decided to roll out of bed and jump in the shower. A little soap, some warm water, and the crisp memory of the woman I had met for drinks last night helped me along.
She had been very attractive, in a middle-aged sort of way. But, as with most of the women I seemed to be finding lately, there was that subtle hint of desperation. She seemed to be trying too hard all night. A little too much makeup, the skirt a little too short, the shirt a little too tight. Too easy to laugh at my jokes, and I swear that she had never even read a newspaper. By the end of the night, I found myself feeling sorry for this woman rather than wanting to take her home. So, after exchanging pleasantries and a platonic hug, I walked her to her car and said goodnight.
A few women had made it home with me in the last several months, and it had been nice to have the company. None of those women had been all that remarkable, but a few made encore appearances in my bed. I find it ironic that when you’re young, you buy girls drinks in a bar and beg them to suck you off. Give it ten years, and the divorcees buy them for you, and beg you to let them.
I stepped out of the shower and strolled into the closet. I grabbed my pants, a crisp pastel dress shirt, and one of my many ties. The complete middle management ensemble. This morning I had another one of those interminable ‘coffee with the mayor’ meetings. There’s nothing quite as inspiring as crotchety old men and women with nothing better to do than interrogate you about the goings on in town.
As town manager, I have to make an appearance, even though I am sure my department heads and the mayor could handle it. So I show up, smile, and defer most of the questions to my employees.
I arrived at the building, parked in the back lot, and made my way in. I proceeded to my office, and grabbed my morning cup of coffee before heading off to the boardroom. There, we all took our assigned seats, and I scanned the room. Most of the same faces month after month, with the average age being over seventy-five, as usual. These people really need to find another hobby!
The meeting began, and introductions were made throughout the room. The mayor started reading off his agenda, and discussing all of the events and news for the month. While he did so, I nodded along politely, and my eyes traveled over the audience, trying my best to not look disinterested.
They happened to alight on her. She was looking down at something- probably her phone. I think she is one of the local real estate agents who make an occasional appearance at these meetings. Auburn hair, always dressed professionally, attractive but not obvious. Doesn’t speak up much, but when she does she’s very articulate.
She’s probably not planning on speaking today though, because she’s wearing her civilian clothes. Tee shirt, cardigan and leggings. She abruptly crossed her legs, and the action brings my eyes downward. Knee high boots. Supple brown leather, and laced all the way up the front. Not overtly sexy, but somehow bondage-adjacent. Interesting.
I looked back up, just as she did. Our eyes caught for a moment, and she held my gaze. I don’t recall if we’d ever had a conversation, or even shaken hands. I can’t imagine I would have forgotten those green eyes though….
Perhaps my thoughts bounced around a little longer than I realized, because she appeared to flush a little and look back down. I tried my best for the remainder of the meeting to avoid spending too much time looking her way, and for the most part I was successful. I ran my eyes over her a few times when I was confident she wasn’t looking, when she was distracted and I was in the clear. In between, I answered questions and at least acted professionally!
The meeting officially adjourned. We all stood to leave and I contemplated my exit. When she stood, I quickly noted that she must have spent some time in the gym, because she was curvy but toned. Those pants wouldn’t hide much. As I stood there surreptitiously sizing her up, one of my management team approached her to say hello. She turned to face him, and they shook hands. That ass! Leggings were definitely a flattering choice.
Should I be hitting on women at work in my position? No. But I probably shouldn’t be ogling them either. I shook a few hands, and slowly made my way out of the room. But I just couldn’t help myself. As I passed by her and my colleague, I caught the light scent of her perfume. I placed my hand lightly on her elbow (That should be a safe enough spot-nothing remotely sexually harassing about an elbow), and said, “Don’t believe anything this guy tells you!” and walked out.
I sat down in my office. What the FUCK was that? Seriously, I’m a little old for being ‘smitten’. Chalk it up to lack of sleep, a little loneliness, and an excess of late night porn and move on. The rest of my day kept me busy, and while she crossed my thoughts a few times, for the most part I didn’t dwell on my schoolboy behavior.
I left work and made the drive home with music blaring in my ears, drowning out any residual thoughts I might have about my work day. But when night time came around, and I sat watching some random television show, she ghosted through my thoughts.
What was it that I found so attractive about her? It’s not like she was a twenty-year-old supermodel or anything. Something had just clicked in that moment when she looked up at me. Even now I could feel myself stiffen a little thinking about her. Something raw and unguarded was in that look, and I couldn’t place my finger on it. It was just, well, unexpectedly hot.
A week or so passed, and I couldn’t let it go. I did a little internet recon and found her email address. It wasn’t very hard to find a valid excuse to email her either. She was a real estate agent, and I had been toying with the idea of selling my house, and perhaps doing a little investing in some rentals. My neighbors were a little too invested in my comings and goings, and I was tired of the questioning stares when women left my home early in the morning. It’s not like I had a press release when I got divorced, so I probably come off as some philandering asshole. Not even close, but I don’t really owe them an explanation. Time to start fresh.
So I crafted a well-written, thoughtfully prepared email that did not include one reference to her leggings or her perfume. Or bondage. And then I waited.
True to her reputation, she replied promptly and inquired about coming to take a look at my house so that she could prepare an accurate market evaluation. After a little back and forth regarding schedules, we settled on Friday afternoon. Nothing in her language gave me any indication that this was anything but business.
But every time I thought about her, I pictured her eyes when she looked at me. I pictured them under me, and looking up at me, and from a dozen other positions. Maybe that was what I saw in her... desire? Or maybe I saw my own reflected. Or maybe I was just a indulging a little flight of fancy with infinite possibilities.
On Friday morning, I decided I just didn’t feel like letting work infringe on the anticipation I was feeling. I phoned in to my assistant and informed her that I would be answering emails and handling a few things from home, but that I would not be coming in to the office. Since I had no scheduled appointments there, and much of my staff enjoyed leaving early on Fridays anyway, it wouldn’t be a problem.
I completed a few reports that weren’t really due until late next week, and then tackled my emails. Apparently the good weather was keeping the citizenry off their computers, which made my life a little easier. I straightened up my desk, made the bed, and ensured that everything around the house was in its place.
My ex and I had bought this house together before we were even married, and it still held some reminders of her. The throw pillows, for instance. No self-respecting man is buying throw pillows for his bed. But they did look nice; I’ll give her that. That, in addition to what I’d already given her: half of ‘our’ furniture and a big check.
I replaced the furniture she took with the help of a local decorator. I wanted classy, but comfortable. Clean lines but not sparse. I like to think that it is like me. I think she achieved it, and I am happy with the look.
I was not really sure what was appropriate to wear for an appointment with an agent in your own house, so I opted for some khakis and a button down shirt. I grabbed some socks, but I never wear shoes around the house really. Honestly, who does?
She rang the bell at just past noon. Show time. I answered the door and greeted her with a broad smile and a handshake.
I waved her in, and she proceeded into the foyer. I closed the door, and turned to take her full measure. Wow. That little fantasy I had been entertaining in my head had not done her justice. For as good as she looked in her casual clothes, it definitely added an element of ‘forbidden fruit’ to see her in her business attire. She wore a green blouse that set off her eyes, a black skirt that ended just at her knees, but clung at just the right places, and black heels. The peep toe heels allowed her dark red nails to be just visible. All together, it fell somewhere between naughty librarian and Vogue ad
“Thank you for coming,” I said. “I’m thinking that I may want to put this house on the market and move to one closer to the water. I would also like a little bit more privacy, as my neighbors are just way too close.”
“Not a problem,” she said. “I was very flattered that you contacted me, and I am looking forward to servicing you”.
Hold up… servicing me? There is no way she really meant that as I heard it. My mind raced at all the lewd innuendo I immediately attached. Okay, be a gentleman.
“When would you like to start?” I asked. “Do we need to look at the market reports you brought first, or contracts, or did you want to walk through and see the house?
She advised that perhaps she could take a look at the floor plan and any improvements, and then we could talk. She was carrying a black shoulder bag, and I motioned for her to drop it in the family room to her left. She did so, and I walked her through the house.
She remained at a comfortable distance, and as we walked through she commented on room sizes, wall color, etcetera. I received a warm smile here and there, a few joking comments, and we shared small talk about the weather, the neighborhood, and what I might be looking for in my next home.
We ended our tour in the kitchen. She walked to the patio door and placed both hands on her hips as she surveyed the yard. Yes, definitely naughty librarian.
“So, what do you think? Do I need to make any changes, fix anything, hire a decorator…?” I asked jokingly.
“No, it’s a lovely house. I think that if you decide to move forward you’ll do well. You have good taste and I can’t imagine it won’t sell quickly.”
“Well, with you in charge I can’t imagine it wouldn’t be fast.” It was out of my mouth before I realized how it sounded. Granted, I meant it just exactly as it sounded. But, I was walking a fine line here!
“I’ll need to go back to the office to put together the proposal on price and marketing, but if you’d like, I’d be happy to show you the reports I brought and we can talk about the process,” she stated matter-of-factly.
Not a welcoming reception on that comment evidently.
“I have plenty of time.