Cracking open the sauna door, a wave of humid heat envelops me. Two figures, sculpted like Greek gods, sit on either end of the lone bench. My throat tightens. Scrawny nerd versus these Adonis incarnates.
Butterflies erupt in my stomach as I inch towards the space between them. Self-consciously, I clutch my towel, a flimsy shield against their gazes and the bulge it barely conceals. My heart hammers a frantic rhythm as I steal a glance to the left, then right. I take a deep breath and settle myself between them, closing my eyes and letting myself drift away from the sterile silence beside me and sink into a familiar fantasy.
In my mind's eye, I'm sprawled naked on the couch, a flickering TV the only witness. Hunger pangs lure me to the kitchen, where a vision explodes into view. A breathtaking specimen of prime masculinity, the most magnificent man I've ever seen, sits brazenly in my chair, a slow caress dancing across his arousal. My breath hitches, a delicious blend of fear and desire. Feigning nonchalance, I reach for the bread, a floorboard creaks, footsteps heavy with intent. Strong arms wrap around me, lifting me off the ground in a dizzying rush. I'm deposited on the countertop, a gasp escaping my lips. A finger, warm and knowing, traces the forbidden bud between my legs. A whimper escapes me, a plea for more that hangs heavy in the air.
A jarring noise shatters the fantasy.
My eyes snap open, the steamy haze momentarily blurring the lone figure remaining beside me. His eyes, like emeralds, hold a spark of curiosity and amusement. His tanned, smooth hairless chest glistens with a sheen of sweat. His brown hair, slightly damp from the sauna, frames his face perfectly.
Should I scoot away, maybe try and break the charged silence? A glance downward betrays the heat simmering beneath the flimsy towel. A flush creeps up my neck as I shift uncomfortably, praying the Adonis beside me hasn't noticed.
The thought of his sculpted physique lingers, a ghost sensation against my skin. I glance at his chiselled features, imagining the Adonis leaning in, bridging the gap between us, and claiming me. My hand twitches, longing to reach out and touch him.
Yearning claws at me, a desire I never dared to name. After years of a sexless marriage, I now recognize a truth I had buried. The thought of betraying my vows repels me, yet a spark flickers in the desolate landscape of my marriage. Divorce, a distant hope, whispers of a future where a hidden part of me might finally awaken.
I recall the hollow intimacy, the mocking laughter. Her indifferent words, “Do whatever you want,” echo painfully in my mind.
It was supposed to be freedom, but it's a twisted promise, dangling like a carrot. Why maintain this charade? Why cling to a love that has withered long ago?
Fear coils around my heart like a cold serpent. The threat of public humiliation, whispers turning into a roar, terrifies me. Not just the shame of infidelity, but the revelation itself feels like a looming catastrophe.
The guilt gnaws at me, preventing me from fulfilling my fantasies. I want to be with someone else, to feel desired and alive again, but the weight of my vows and the remnants of our past hold me back.
Is this truly the life I'm resigned to? Can a single, forbidden encounter truly shatter everything, or might it be the spark that ignites a new, liberating truth? Perhaps it's contingent on me finally accepting that our marriage is emotionally over and that I deserve to seek happiness and fulfilment elsewhere.
"Fuck it," I mutter under my breath, a surge of defiance battling the years of ingrained caution. The truth is, with our separate bedrooms and non-existent sex life, who would even know? Besides, the faint whiff of sandalwood that clung to him wouldn't exactly raise eyebrows.
Steeling myself, I take a deep breath and turn towards the Adonis beside me. My mouth opens, a witty quip dancing on the tip of my tongue... only to find itself inexplicably dry. Silence hangs heavy in the air, broken only by the hiss of escaping steam. He glances over, a hint of amusement sparkling in his eyes. My cheeks burn like embers, and I can't seem to force a single word out. The carefully crafted words dissolve like mist in the hot air. Damn it. Brave in my head, a bumbling fool in reality. I hang my head in defeat, the heat threatening to melt me into a puddle right there on the sauna bench.
Squeezing my eyes shut, I retreat to my earlier fantasy. The fantasy of the strong, naked man in my kitchen, having his way with me, his touch a phantom heat against my skin, sends a delicious shiver down my spine.
A low rumble disrupts the silence, pulling me abruptly from my fantasy world and back into reality.
"Hi, I'm Adrien,” a deep, smooth voice with a hint of an accent cuts through the steam.
My eyes fly open, and a jolt shoots through me. Adrien has shifted his towel, offering a tantalizing glimpse of his treasure. I catch sight of a small, well-kept bush, adding to the allure of his sculpted form. Desire wars with awkwardness as a moan escapes my lips, barely audible over the hiss of steam.
"H-hi, I'm D-Daniel," I stammer, throat suddenly parched.
"Hey Daniel," Adrien's voice is warm, a stark contrast to the sudden inferno scorching my insides. "How you doing?" His casualness throws me off guard, momentarily calming the frantic storm within.
"I'm... I'm okay," I manage, the words tumbling out in a rush.
"Yeah, me too,” Adrien replies, a hint of a smile playing on his lips. "When I saw you come in, I was hoping the other guy would leave. Kinda glad he did."
My gaze flickers to his, a question hanging unspoken.
"Wanted to be alone with you," Adrien continues, the air thickening with unspoken desire.
"Why?" I blurt, the word tumbling out before I can stop it.
A faint blush creeps up Adrien's neck.
"Well,” he hesitates, "I think you're cute. Wanted to talk.”
Panic threatens to engulf me. "Y-you think I'm c-cute?" I stammer, my voice a pathetic squeak.
Adrien's smile widens, his eyes twinkling with amusement.
Before I can stop myself I blurt out, "I, uh, I've never, well, you see..." My cheeks burn like embers. Adrien's smile falters for a moment, a flicker of surprise crossing his features.
"Oh no," he mutters, a hint of concern in his voice. "Are you not into men?"
Panic grips my throat. "Actually," I blurt, "I, uh, I've, uh, always found men attractive. I mean, really attractive. But I'm married...” My voice trails off, shame heating my cheeks. "We haven't been intimate in years," I whisper, my voice trembling with a mixture of longing and vulnerability.
(Damn it, Daniel, why can't you just be smooth about this?)
As if sensing my turmoil, Adrien slides a little closer. His hand, warm and surprisingly gentle, grazes against my thigh. A jolt of desire shoots through me, a stark contrast to the emptiness I'd grown accustomed to.