Four
PEARL
I look at Colton, sitting in front of me at the dinner table.
He’s exactly like I remember him. Square jaw, big arms, and a handsome face.
He fidgets in his seat as he eats and talks.
I think for a moment he might know who I am.
But how can he? He’s never seen my face, and I feel like I have a relatively generic voice.
“Yes, I remember,” Colton replies to my dad, who asks him a question.
He sounded so hot. I knew it was Colton on the phone from our first phone call.
I memorized his voice when I was younger, and it stuck with me.
The only ID I get on my phone is my company's title, Red Velvet.
So I didn't know it was him until he started talking.
I was surprised since my dad paints him as a clean-cut teacher.
I didn't understand why he would call a phone sex operator, but I’m glad he did.
I usually pick up the phone and start talking because I know a caller is waiting in line. I was giddy when he asked me for my extension so he could call me again. I look forward to our Friday nights together.
I look at Colton, who looks at my father as they talk.
I love the richness in his voice. I like the games we play.
He was the reason I stopped dating boys.
Because they were boys. I knew from the first time we talked that I needed a man, and he was a man.
He was the man. I want him. I still imagine him as I touch myself and daydream about our wedding.
I’m brought back to reality when Colton looks at me and asks me a question.
“So, how’s school going?” he asks. I hesitate for a moment but then answer.
“Well, I’m going to the University of Chicago. I'm taking English.” I stuff more potatoes in my mouth, and Colton grins at me.
I have a habit of stuffing food into my mouth. It makes my parents laugh. I might have a similar face to my mom, but my personality is all my dad. My height, my hair, and the same eating habits. We’re always hungry. Due to our size, we can each eat a lot of food.
Colton’s smile makes my insides warm, and I realize that’s what I like the most about Colton.
His smile. I remember his smile most of all.
He would grin and laugh at my dad’s jokes.
I sometimes saw him on the couch at our house reading a book and grinning at the pages with his finger against his lips.
The feelings I have for Colton are so great I don’t always know what to do with myself. Should I say something to him? What will happen to him and my dad? My dad has never been possessive when boys came to the house, but I don't know if it being Colton would make a difference.
Hell, I don't even know if Colton likes me. I know he likes my voice since he keeps calling back, but would that mean he likes Minx if he doesn't know it's me?
“Are you enjoying it so far?” he asks, and I nod.
“Yes,” I reply confidently.
“What kind of books are you reading now?”
“Oh, well, right now we’re reading Jane Eyre. But more thoroughly than we did in high school. They want us to compare it to other books from this century,” I say.,
“That's nice,” Colton replies with a smile and returns to his meal.
I forget about Minx and focus on Colton. He’s here now. In my—well, my parent’s—house and talking to me. And he seems genuinely interested in what I have to say, which fills my belly with butterflies.
We chat and eat dinner, and it's lovely. I tell him I want to write, and he suggests several excellent books about writing. He also suggests schools that specializes in writing.
I pick up my wine glass and stare at Colton as I drink. He looks back at me with those same eyes I dream about every night. His mouth hangs open, and when I put the glass down, he closes it and clears his throat.
Maybe it’s not a good idea to seduce him. Especially in front of my father, but I can't help it. Colton brings out the dirty in me, and with how I feel about him, it's hard to contain myself when he’s here.
I continue to seduce him with little things. His eyes follow my fingers as I pet the rim of my wine glass. He watches me eat my beans and carrots as sexily as I can. Being new to the more hands-on approach of seducing a man, I feel proud I got his attention.
My dad says something, capturing Colton’s attention, so I stop. Either Colton is an easy man, or there’s a chance he likes me. I feel myself smiling at the possibility and hang onto that.
As the night goes on, I wiggle in my seat, feeling my soaked panties. Colton has done it again. His voice and his smile turn me on. I can do nothing about it now but plan to after dinner. With Colton fresh in my mind, I feel as though I’ll have a great time tonight taking care of myself.