Chapter 8

I shook my head. Then I remembered his physical condition. “Oh,” I began, stiffening on the bed. “But you were... I mean, did you need to...” I waved my hand toward his crotch and reddened deeply again as I remembered I wasn’t supposed to know he was aroused.

Oyin met my eyes evenly. “I’m fine, Sally. It’s nothing for you to worry about.”

“Oh.” I hated the thought of sending him on his way when he was still erect. “You can, uh, take a shower or something if you want.”

“Thank you. I might do that.” He hesitated, as if he weren’t sure whether I wanted him to take the shower now or not.

“You can go ahead. I’m not going to be up for anything else this evening.”

I stretched out more comfortably when Oyin shut the bathroom door. I heard the shower running, and I figured he’d take care of his erection under the spray. Then I remembered the pile of cash in the envelope on the table. I got up to recount it, pulling out the amount i’d included for intercourse and putting that back in my purse.

I was in bed again when Oyin reemerged, looking composed, relaxed, and suavely dressed once more. To my surprise, he didn’t grab the cash and run. Instead, he sat down and leaned forward a little, clasping his hands. “Did you have any other questions I can help you with? Other concerns?”

I thought for a moment, taking the offer seriously. How often would I have the benefit of such an expert? “Do you have any suggestions for getting myself off more effectively?”

Oyin frowned, but I could tell it was because he was reflecting on the question. “What have you tried?”

“Just my hand. Rubbing, mostly. I can get there, but it’s never all that good. I figured I was just doing it wrong.”

He gave me a few, detailed suggestions about techniques for manual self-stimulation. Then he added, “You should get a vibrator.” At my expression, he gave a half smile. “They’re not nearly as tacky or embarrassing as you’d think. I can bring you a good one next time if you want.”

“Thanks,” I said, smiling in surprise at the offer. I’d considered buying one myself I’d even found discreet websites through which she could buy one but I’d been worried I’d be too self-conscious to actually use it. “How far in advance are you booked up?”

“Usually at least three weeks. Beyond that, it depends on the day.”

“Three weeks?” I’d been hoping to meet up with him again a lot sooner than that.

Obviously catching the disappointment in her voice, Oyin tilted up one corner of his mouth. “I occasionally have cancellations. I can let you know. Otherwise, I think my first available evening is two weeks from next Wednesday.”

Sally thought quickly and couldn’t think of anything I had scheduled for that evening. And I figured I better snatch the day while I could since obviously Oyin’s time was a hot commodity. “I think that would work. Let’s schedule it then.” Feeling a prickle of curiosity, I asked, “Do you work every evening?”

He shook his head. “I keep certain days to myself.”

I made myself get out of the bed and walk over to the table. I slid the money over toward him without meeting his eyes. “It should be the right amount for tonight.”

He didn’t count it. Just slipped it into his pocket and picked up his case.

“Thank you for tonight,” I said.

“You’re welcome. I’ll see you on the twenty-eighth.”

“I’m looking forward to it,” I said as I watched him walk to the door lean, upright, and infinitely cosmopolitan. Cool and competent. A quintessential businessman with a very particular business. I wondered why he was bald. And wondered how he’d gotten into this line of work to begin with. Wondered what was up with him and his father.

I hadn’t done everything I’d intended to do tonight. I hadn’t had intercourse. But I’d had a good orgasm, and that was excellent progress. I was fairly satisfied with myself.

As Oyin closed the door behind him, I realized maybe I actually was looking forward to their next engagement.

              

                         *. *. *. *  

BY THE TIME TWO WEEKS from Wednesday rolled around, I had worked up a fair amount of excitement.

After my weird awkwardness immediately following my first session with Oyin, Sally concluded that the encounter had been a real success. I wasn’t looking for a fantasy. I was just looking for a way to rid herself of my virginity, a way that was easy and hassle-free. Oyin was talented, accommodating, thoughtful, and very attractive. And his professionalism made the first engagement exactly what I ’d been looking for.

I couldn’t imagine the second engagement would be a problem. It would likely go the same way, only with intercourse rather than oral sex. Because I had such a good impression of my first session with Oyin, I began to anticipate the second one.

I was still nervous. But as the days progressed, my excitement became stronger than my fear.

So Sally arrived at the hotel at six o’clock on the scheduled Wednesday. I followed the same routine as before: took a bath, shaved, applied lotion, counted cash, drank wine, and sat in a chair waiting for Oyin. My belly was fluttery with nerves.

But I was pretty sure I wasn’t going to be sick.

I’d been a virgin for twenty-six years. And I’d spent many of those years looking forward to not being one.

And now it was finally going to happen.

When Oyin tapped on the door, I

  walked over to let him in without even the slightest impulse to hide in the bathroom.

Tonight he wore all black black trousers, black dress shirt, and very expensive black leather shoes. He smiled at me, exactly as I’d expected him to. Urbane, sensual. Infinitely practiced.

“Hi there,” I said cheerfully, leading him back into the room. “You look all cool and stealthy tonight.”

Oyin blinked and looked down at himself. “Stealthy?”