It was the day before Christmas, and Santa's workshop was at fever pitch. The elves spent the day loading the sleigh to the limit and hitched up the reindeer. Mrs. Claus walked Santa to his sleigh. "Now, be careful, dear. You know how I worry." Mrs. Claus's name was Gertrude, but he called her Trudi. "Yes, Trudi. NORAD will have me on the radar to direct traffic around me. Will you be a good girl until I get back?" Mrs. C...

Erik was the newest member of a company that provided advisory services to the government. He was brought on to be the security training lead as a contractor in charge of a small team of 5 people that included Jacqueline. Everyone called her Jackie for short. She was in her mid-30s, naturally fit, and typically dressed conservatively. When Erik introduced himself during a virtual meeting on MS Teams, Jackie felt an unexpe...

Mary stood in the bedroom feeling numb. She had anticipated a moment like this for weeks. “I am sorry, Mary. I never expected this nor did I seek it out. It’s just sort of… happened.” Mary looked up and for the first time and saw her husband completely. He was completely full of shit. “Just sort of happened? You are a homosexual, Denis. You have been your whole adult life.” He went to answer, then nodded in silence. “And…...

“Theater is on your left, enjoy!” the elderly man said with a wink in his voice. I cringed and tried to bury my face inside the pink scarf wrapped around my neck. I recognized the ticket-checker from the town diner we ate at this morning. My husband’s hometown was a small one in Idaho. Less than a thousand people. The type of farmers’ town where everyone knows everyone. “Thanks,” my husband said and guided me to the left....

“Mom! Oh my God! I can get my whole hand in there. It’s so wet and snug!” “Umph! That’s the point!” I grunted at my son as I massaged oil into breasts. He had his hand inside the turkey, pushing in my mother’s stuffing recipe. This year, for the first time, he had asked if he could help. I think, having his own woman in his life was starting to make him think about the future, and domestic activities. “That was gross. I’m...

This particular October day was perfect. A cool breeze, leaves blowing around the park, well, as the song goes: “so inviting.” Despite the day, I had a bit of a knot in my stomach as I was taking a risk bringing Mia to the dinner. She really wasn’t supposed to come, most of the firm’s clients came alone, and spouses/partners were definitely not invited. Nonetheless, my attorney and I have similar faults and predilections...

Valeria couldn't stop thinking about the night she had with L. It was like nothing she had ever experienced before. L invited her to visit Hell to help her make a decision she didn't even know was an option. To stay in Hell with him, or to return to Heaven to live with God and the other angels. Deep down she loved what she experienced with L and to experience that again anytime she wanted was extremely tempting. Not only...

It all started just over a year ago. My wife and I had been married for over two decades and like many couples, our sex life began slowing down with time, slowing down a lot that is. Finally, after span of many dry months, we went on a short vacation where we finally re-kindled our intimacy and then talked about it for days afterward. As part of our talk, we for the first time ever, openly discussed some of our most covet...

K and B had been looking forward to their romantic weekend away for months. They had been married for five years, and between raising their two young children and managing their busy careers, time alone had become a rare luxury. So, when Tom suggested the once his employers left London after the summer and returned to India that they book a weekend getaway to a cozy country hotel in the south downs, K jumped at the opport...

The soft hum of conversations filled the air as I leaned back in my chair, a satisfied smile playing on my lips. The dinner plate in front of me, once a masterpiece of culinary art, was now empty, save for a few smears of sauce. I gently dabbed the corners of my mouth with the linen napkin, savouring the lingering flavours of the dish: a perfectly cooked Wagyu ribeye steak, seared to perfection and served with a rich, dec...