Nadine Rabinowitz pulled her grocery cart up the cement steps to her front porch. She was very proud that at 68 she was completely independent and able to fully look after her own needs. That included, she thought lewdly, those needs, what with her dear Harvey gone these 15 years, aided by The Device, as she called it, tucked away in the nightstand by her side of the bed in the main bedroom upstairs.

She checked the mailbox, more out of long habit than anything else, now that everything from bills to junk mail was online…and froze. There was a handwritten note that said "I know you watch me. Please don't be embarrassed; I really don't mind, on the contrary. Call me, or text if that is easier." There was a smiley face and a cellphone number.

Nadine panicked and realized that he was aware of her newfound hobby. She wondered what he meant by 'On the contrary."

"He" was Danny, no, Dr. Daniel, Levitt, the oldest of three children, who lived right next door and who Nadine knew from before he was born. Michael and Miriam Levitt had moved into the house next door. The three Levitt children practically grew up in their house. Nadine could still remember Michael bringing Danny, then barely two, in the middle of the night when Miriam went into labor with Susan, their middle child. 

Michael and Miriam had long since moved to North Carolina. Susan and her younger brother were in Israel somewhere. Danny lived alone in the house while he went to Hudson University Medical School in the city and was now doing a first-year transitional residency at a local hospital. 

Nadine's and Harvey's own two, accountants both, like their father, and their families, lived upstate and in Boston. 

With only a narrow pavement separating the two houses, Nadine noticed, some years back, that her bedroom overlooked Danny's and that she could not only hear but actually see into the room, including Danny's bed. One hot summer's night, she saw him flop down on his bed naked. 

He had a sculpted form like mortal sin itself, as Jeannie Lombardi, one of the other math teachers at Blaine Elementary School where Nadine worked, used to say about men she fancied. 

Not only was he erect, but he was touching himself, rubbing, stroking and massaging until he made a face and groaned, and shot his fluids all over himself, and then he cleaned himself up and went to sleep. 

Nadine was stunned. 

Nadine was also moist, and felt stirrings in places that she had long since written off and had hardly paid any attention to since Harvey died. 

She went to bed but didn’t fall asleep until the stirrings had passed, which took a while. 

She caught Danny again the following week. This time he stood next to the bed, mesmerizingly erect, then flopped down face first and humped the quilt. He turned over at the last second and shot his fluids all over himself again, before cleaning himself up and going to sleep. 

Nadine was sopping.

She drew a bath, climbed into the tub and used the adjustable shower head on herself, hesitantly at first until she found The Right Place, then headlong until she moaned-shouted her first orgasm in many years while fantasizing that she lay under Daniel as he humped and certainly did not have to turn over to climax. 

As she dried herself she realized two things: One, that she definitely wanted to pleasure herself again and two, that she might not want to shower or draw a bath every time she did. The next day, after she came home from school, she went online, to a site that Jeannie Lombardi had mentioned, and ordered The Device. 

Danny didn't just pleasure himself. He had a lady friend, who also worked at the hospital, presumably, because Nadine always saw her in scrubs. During the time she and Danny were together, Nadine watched them do it all sorts of ways: Danny on top, her on top seated (facing toward and away from him), her on top prone, Danny behind her while she knelt on the bed and Danny behind her while she bent over the bed. Nadine would invariably watch what and when she could and then use The Device before falling soundly asleep. 

Nadine and Harvey had, in their day, tried most of the positions she saw Danny and his partner try. But Nadine also saw them use their mouths on each other, which she and Harvey had never done, apart from his kissing her breasts, which they both enjoyed. (She had tried, once, to initiate such contact and had kissed Harvey's erect member but Harvey, whom she loved dearly, but who – as she learned – could be prudish about certain things, asked her to stop, so she did; he never sought to reciprocate.) 

Nadine was beyond mesmerized the first time she saw Danny use his mouth on his lady friend, observing that the latter, judging by her squirming and moaning, appeared to greatly enjoy Danny's attentions. Nadine was positively transported when she saw the lady friend repay Danny in kind and take him in her mouth where he climaxed, to judge by how he thrashed about on the bed and moaned. 

Afterward Nadine threw herself on her bed and used The Device, twice. 

And so it continued until Nadine found herself on the porch with her grocery cart holding Danny's note. 

# 

Nadine went inside and locked the door like she always did. She put away her groceries, made herself a cup of tea, sat down at the kitchen table and reread Danny's note several times. 

She puzzled over his remark "On the contrary." Did he like her watching him (and his lady friend, whom Nadine actually hadn't seen in a while)? Despite the note, Nadine was far too embarrassed to actually speak to Danny so she texted: 

"Hello?" 

Danny texted back a few minutes later. 

"Hi Mrs. Rabinowitz." 

"Please, Nadine." 

"Hi Nadine. Please don't be embarrassed." 

"Embarrassed? How can I not be ashamed? I'm a 68-year-old woman." 

"Who's lonely?" 

Danny's frankness caught her off guard. She hesitated but eventually worked up the courage to reply. "Yes." Before he could reply, she posted: "Please forgive me." 

"There is nothing to forgive." 

"You're not insulted?" 

"No." 

"'On the contrary'. What did you mean by that?" 

"Bodies need what bodies need. Mine, yours. You obviously had a need. I helped you fill that need. Why should I feel insulted about that?" 

"You make it sound so clinical Dr. Levitt." 

"Do you still have that need?" 

"Do you?" 

"Touché." 

"Where is your lady friend?" 

"What lady friend?" 

"The one you were having sex with. The one in the scrubs, with the tattoos on her…" 

"She got a better job in Binghamton." 

"Oh." 

 "She was not my girlfriend." 

"But you…" 

"She was my fuckbuddy. (Please excuse my language.)" 

"Pardon me?" 

"We were certainly friends, I very much liked her that way, but ours was a sexual, not romantic, relationship." 

"Sex for the sake of…sex?" 

"Yes." 

"Because…bodies need what bodies need?" 

"You catch on fast…for a 68-year-old woman." 

"Watch it whippersnapper." 

" :-) "

"You and this woman are still friends?" 

"Yes." 

"Just not…fuckbuddies?" 

"Correct." 

"How utilitarian." 

"Quite." 

"So, you don't mind if I go on watching?" 

"On the contrary, I do mind, very much." 

"But you said…" 

"Nadine, would you like to be fuckbuddies?" 

Now he caught her off guard. She was shocked. "I don't need your pity." 

"I don't pity you. Why can't older women be attractive?" 

"You think I'm attractive?" 

"Yes, very." 

"Thank you." 

 "You're welcome. And you're a genuinely nice person." 

"Who's lonely." 

"Yes." 

"And who has needs." 

"Yes." 

"You have needs, that's obvious, but are you lonely?" 

Danny didn't reply right away. "Yes." 

"I think you're very handsome." 

" :-) "

" :-) "

 "You haven't answered my question." 

"I'm blushing like a schoolgirl." 

"Is that a yes?" 

"Yes. When…" 

"Now I must be clinical Dr. Levitt. Go to your pharmacist and ask for a good vaginal moisturizer, not a lubricant, we can worry about that later, and start using it according to the directions. You won't need a prescription." 

"OK. When do you think we could…?" 

"Not this week unfortunately, my hours are even more insane than usual." 

"Next week?" 

"It's a date." 

"I can't stop blushing." 

" :-) "

" :-) "

"Bye for now." 

"Bye." 

Nadine put her phone down and giggled. 

Later that evening before she went to bed, Nadine stood naked in front of the full length mirror on the inside of the bedroom closet door and looked at her body. She had a few extra pounds but was basically fit. (She walked everywhere, and for exercise, every day, did Pilates twice a week, and did not have a car.) Her full breasts sagged a bit but what 68-year-old's didn't? Her derriere was still round and trim, just right for Daniel to get his hands on, she hoped. Did Daniel, who was hardly more than one-third her age, really find her attractive? Could he really see, or appreciate, enough of her body, through the modest clothing she wore (only skirts or dresses, never slacks or pants), to find her physically appealing, to say nothing of arousing? She smiled. 

What are you smiling at? Old Lady in the Mirror sneered. He pities you. He thinks lonely old Nadine is an easy lay. 

Bullshit! Nadine replied. He could have, and has had, any woman he wants. So he's curious about my 68-year-old loins, so what? I can still please a man. Now get the hell out of here. 

Old Lady in the Mirror morphed back into Nadine. 

Lying in bed, she tried to remember what it was like to have an actual man, as opposed to The Device, inside her. Having never been with anyone else, yet, she leered to herself, Harvey was her sole reference point. And, as Jeannie Lombardi always said, men were like flakes of snow, no two were alike, especially in bed. Harvey had always been gentle, sometimes too gentle, Nadine recalled. She thought of using The Device but decided not to. Better to be as horny as possible. 

Nadine went to the pharmacy the next day and began applying the vaginal moisturizer according to the directions. 

Daniel texted her one morning the following week as she was about to leave for work. 

"I am free tonight." 

" :-) "

"I'll come around back, around 9." There was a wooded area behind their houses. Nobody would see Danny if he came that way. 

" :-) " 

"See you then." 

" :-) " Nadine closed her phone, and giggled. 

She had to force herself to concentrate at work. Old Lady in the Mirror (in the staff ladies' room) spouted some nonsense that Daniel could, and would likely, hurt her, however unintentionally but Nadine brushed her off. Daniel Levitt is a mensch and would never do anything to hurt me; go away. 

After work, she walked to the supermarket and then home. She ate dinner over the latest episode of Master Chef. She showered, applied the moisturizer and then puzzled over what to wear. Given the express purpose for which Daniel was coming over, what should she wear? She had never been keen on lingerie ("Why bother?" she told Harvey once. "It just gets in the way." He liked that), didn't have any and wasn't about to go buy any. She decided on a dressing gown over a simple bra and panties. 

Daniel knocked on the back porch door, which opened into the kitchen, just after 9. 

Nadine's heart raced. She let him in. "Hello." 

"Hi. These are for you." Daniel had brought a bouquet of flowers. He wore knee-length shorts, sandals and a Hudson University t-shirt. 

"Thank you." Nadine put the flowers in a vase, into which she poured water and a little bleach.  She put the vase in the center of the kitchen table, placed her hands on Daniel's clean-shaven face and kissed him, first lightly and then deeply, her tongue seeking his. She could see the surprise on his face. "Like you said," she whispered, in between kisses, "I have needs." 

Daniel smiled and kissed Nadine with equal passion, taking her in his arms. He reached a hand down to her ass. 

"Let's go upstairs," Nadine said. 

Daniel nodded and let her lead him upstairs to the main bedroom, where he kicked off his sandals. He untied the bow on Nadine's dressing gown and let it fall open and then off. He slid his hands into her panties and caressed her ass, kneading and squeezing it, while she ground against the bulge in his shorts. He let her go and pulled off his t-shirt. 

"You are so handsome," Nadine mumbled, hugging Daniel and kissing his neck and shoulders. 

"And you are beautiful." He slid his hands back into her panties and then slowly up her back to her bra straps. 

"Take it off, please." 

Daniel unhooked Nadine's bra and pulled it off, tossing it onto his t-shirt. "Dear Lord," he muttered, looking at her breasts. He scooped her up and gently laid her on the bed. He climbed up over her, on his knees and elbows, and kissed her mouth, her chin and her neck before reaching her breasts. He kissed each one in turn, all over, and gently sucked on the nipples. 

Nadine moaned, hoping that he would keep going. 

Daniel kissed her midriff and her tummy, reaching her panties. 

Nadine raised her hips. "Please, please, take them off, please!" 

Daniel pulled her panties down; Nadine shimmied out of them and lay naked on the bed. 

Daniel kissed her grey mound, exploring with his tongue down to her sex. He traced his tongue around her lips, darting briefly inside Nadine, before tracing it over her clit. 

Nadine gasped, "Omigod!" 

"Shall I stop?" Daniel asked. 

"No! God no! Go, go! Ahhh!" 

Daniel ran his tongue over and around Nadine's clit, faster, then slower. 

Nadine raised and lowered her hips as fast as she could, rubbing her sex on Daniel's face, writhing and moaning uncontrollably as she came. "Now, now, I need you," she cried, sitting up and pulling at him, "Please!" 

Daniel pulled his shorts and boxers off, but not before pulling out a small tube of CosmoGlide; his erect cock popped free. 

"Oh God, you are gorgeous," Nadine said laying back and spreading her legs. "Please!" 

Daniel smeared lube on himself and on, and in, Nadine. He lay over her, propping himself up on his elbows, and entered her. Nadine moaned. They kissed as Daniel took her in slow, gentle strokes. "I won't break," Nadine whispered. 

Daniel took her more vigorously. 

"Oh God, that's it," Nadine muttered, wrapping her legs around him. "Oh yes, yes!" She gripped Daniel's ass and shouted as she came a second time, rocking back and forth on the bed. She felt Daniel's cheeks clench and flex. He grunted and grabbed her shoulders, and looked into her eyes as he came inside her. 

They kissed, lightly. 

"Hey," Nadine said. 

"Hey, what?" Daniel replied. 

Nadine caressed his ass. "Mmmm…" She kissed him, deeply. 

Daniel made to slide off her. 

"No, no, stay up there. It's nice." 

Daniel kissed her face and her neck. 

"Can you stay here tonight? One of the best parts of sex is falling asleep in each other's arms afterward." 

"I couldn't agree more." He slid off her and lay on his back. 

Nadine lay her head on his chest and draped a leg over his. Daniel put an arm around her and held her close. 

They soon fell fast asleep. 

Nadine woke at 06:00 as usual. Daniel was not there. She checked her phone. 

"I was called back to the hospital. I will be in touch. You're amazing :-) " 

Nadine texted him back: "So are you.  :-) " 

At work later that morning, Jeannie Lombardi stared at Nadine over her bifocals as they had coffee before first period. 

"What?" Nadine whispered, blushing. 

"Good for you girl," Jeannie Lombardi chuckled, "Good for you." 

"Shhh!" 

"I just hope there's more where that came from," she muttered in a low voice, grinning. "You deserve it." 

Daniel texted later that morning: "How are you feeling?" 

"Sore but it's wonderful. Mmmm. When can we…again?" 

"That will depend on my schedule which, as a first-year resident, is not my own. I will be in touch." 

"I like surprises." 

" :-) (Please keep using the moisturizer)" 

The hospital kept Daniel busy for the next two weeks. One day Nadine received a text from him as she was walking home from work. 

"I'm free tonight. :-) " 

"Come on over  :-) " 

Five minutes after Nadine arrived home, there was a knock at the back door. She let Daniel in. 

"You're early." 

Daniel took Nadine in his arms and kissed her deeply. He turned her around, put his arms around her and pulled her blouse out of her skirt, kissing her neck all the while. He ran his hands up her back, unhooked her bra, and slid his hands back around to cup and caress her breasts; he ground against her ass. 

Nadine felt his hardness while he stroked her nipples. She moaned. 

Daniel hiked Nadine's skirt and pulled down her panties, which she stepped out of. She bent forward over the counter. 

Daniel pulled off his shorts, applied the lube to them both, and stepped up against Nadine, brushing the head of his cock against her sex; she moaned again: "Yes…yes…" 

Daniel slipped inside her, thrusting as vigorously as he had before while he reached around to stroke her clit.

Nadine bucked in synch with Daniel's movements. She felt him grab her hips tightly with his free hand as he groaned, spending himself, still stroking her clit with his other hand.

 "Yes, yes, oh God yes!" Nadine shouted, gripping the counter, her whole body shaking as she came.

 Daniel bent over her and caressed her tummy. "You said you like surprises," he mumbled.

 "Indeed."

 Daniel pulled out Nadine and put his shorts back on. "I must get back to the hospital." He kissed her back. "I'll be in touch."

 "You can touch me like that any time," Nadine said straightening up and turning around.

 He kissed her again and left.

 When Daniel next had an evening free, Nadine felt emboldened and greeted him at the back door wearing only her open dressing gown. She led him upstairs where they lay down on the bed. Nadine straddled Daniel, and ground down on his obvious bulge, bending forward to kiss him while he fondled her breasts.

 His breathing became labored; he began to shift his legs around and tugged at his shorts. "Umm, can we take these off please?"

Nadine nodded and slid off him and watched his cock pop free as he pulled his shorts off. She grabbed the base of his cock and kissed the tip. "Please don't in my mouth," she said.

 Daniel nodded.

 Nadine took the head of his cock and part of the shaft in her mouth. She closed her eyes and went up and down on him, slowly, savoring the feel of him until Daniel told her to stop.

She lubed her hand and stroked him, watching as he thrashed around on the bed until his eyes rolled up and he groaned. The first and second jolts splattered across Nadine's breasts, the third on her tummy. She stroked him until he was finished.

 Daniel reached for some tissues.

"No," Nadine whispered, pulling at his hand. "There is something I need first."

 Daniel slipped a hand between her legs and stroked her clit, lightly at first.

 Nadine shuddered.

Daniel continued stroking her with greater vigor; he leaned over and kissed her as she came, staying with her until she was finished and she pulled his hand away.

 #

Nadine and Daniel carried on as fuckbuddies for the rest of the latter's first year residency, having sex an average of twice a month. Toward the end of his program, Daniel was offered a prestigious pediatrics residency at a hospital in Providence, which Nadine encouraged him to take. Daniel's parents rented the house to a pair of young professors from Hudson University, whose children enrolled at Blaine Elementary School.

#

Daniel and Nadine lay in each other's arms after having sex for what they both knew would be the last time.

"It was, and still is, important to me, at my age," Nadine said softly, "that a man could want to be with me and that I could please him."

"My…pleasure?"

Nadine laughed. "Seriously, you reawakened a part of me that I had long since given up on. I thought my life would be children, grandchildren, and more grandchildren, whom I love dearly, but…"

 "You realized that you have other perfectly legitimate desires."

 "Because bodies need what bodies need. Someone taught me that."

 "Anyone I know?"

 "Seriously, thank you."

 They kissed.

 "When I'm in Providence…

 "…and when you meet someone and get married."

"Yes, that too, you're not going back into hibernation?"

"Not a chance, thanks to you."

"Good."

"Though I might look for companionship with someone a little closer to my age bracket, no offense."

"None taken."

#

Two years later Nadine received a wedding invitation.

Three years later Daniel and his wife did.