Cracking open the sauna door, a wave of humid heat slams into me. Two figures materialize on either end of the lone bench, their sculpted forms outlined by the dim glow. My throat tightens. Scrawny nerd versus these Adonis incarnates. Butterflies erupt in my stomach as I inch towards the empty space between them. Self-consciously, I clutch my towel, a flimsy shield against their gazes and the small bulge it barely conceals. My heart hammers a frantic rhythm as I steal a glance to the left, then right.
Lost in a familiar fantasy, I drift away from the sterile silence beside me. 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. 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. My eyelids flutter shut, a futile attempt to reclaim the stolen fantasy. The thought of his sculpted physique lingers, a ghost sensation against my skin. How easy would it be for him to lean in, to bridge the gap between us and claim me for his own?
Yearning claws at me, a yearning I never dared to name. The truth, a cruel twist of fate, arrived after I'd pledged myself to another. Years of being in a sexless marriage have stifled something within me, a truth I only recognized after the vows were spoken. The thought of betraying my vows, even in this stagnant reality, 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 myself might finally awaken.
Years of empty intimacy and mocking laughter echo in my head. Her words, laced with indifference, 'Do whatever you want,' hang heavy. Freedom, a twisted promise dangled like a carrot, hinges on the children leaving the nest. But why this charade? Why cling to a love that withered long ago? Fear, a cold serpent, coils around my heart. The threat hangs heavy: public humiliation whispers turning into a roar. The shame of not just infidelity, but the revelation itself. Yet, a rebellious ember flickers within. Is this the life I'm resigned to? Can a single, forbidden encounter truly shatter everything, or might it be the spark that ignites a new truth?
"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 back 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.
"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. 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."