Free Hard Choices by Theresa Ellson

hadn’t earned it] was the only other guy I’d been with at that point – and god knows that douchebag had no clue what to do with a woman. I had no idea sex could be so… uninhibited. So much fun! J.J. owes that guy a debt of gratitude, let me tell you!”
    I took that in, and was silent and thoughtful for a moment. Then I relived Aaron and my last handshake and felt a thrill of excitement course through my body again. “Great sex with a billboard model. Yeah, I think I can give this a shot!”
    “That’s the spirit! To Lyssa!” Molly held her wine glass aloft. “May Big Ed get a much-needed vacation as she releases her inner cougar! Rarrr!”
    We laughed and clinked glasses, and I tried to tell myself that yes, this really was OK.

Chapter 6
     
    As the weeks went by, it was clear: Aaron was on a mission. He didn’t mess around. His emails were short, sweet, and tantalizing.
    He started with friendly, first-date-type questions like, “What’s your favorite restaurant in town?” and “Have you seen that new movie?” that quickly gave way to: “What are you wearing right now?” He’d started asking me that every day. At first, my answers were short and unoriginal; he’d ask what I was wearing, and I’d say something boring like, “Black pants.” I just didn’t know what to say! But it didn’t take long for Aaron to teach me my first lesson in email sex.
     
    What are you wearing today?
     
    My favorite red suit.
     
    Is it as hot on you as that red dress you were wearing when we met? Only problem with that dress: it was way too long. I want to see the rest of those legs.
     
    Play your cards right, and you’ll see my legs all the way up.
     
    Oh my god, you are killing me.
     
    On another day, I started our text conversation:
     
    You know the problem with you in a men’s suit coat? It’s really hard to see your ass. I got a hint that it was spectacular, but just a hint. I’m looking forward to a better view.
     
    Why just look? I do not have a “look but don’t touch policy.” I really hope you don’t either.
     
    I knew what he was getting at: all this online flirting was great. But when the time came, and we actually saw each other again, he wanted to know if I was going to chicken out. I didn’t know either.
    After a few days, he asked again:
     
    What are you wearing?
     
    This was after about six weeks of flirty emails. I don’t know if it was the phase of the moon, or warm spring weather, but I finally got creative.
     
    I’m wearing a short, black skirt. No one can tell, but underneath it, I’m not wearing anything.
     
    I don’t know what got into me. I felt like I was coming out of a cocoon. All those years of being staid and safe. This guy made me feel sexy. I don’t think I’d ever really felt sexy. I’d had kids when I was barely out of my teens, and then spent years in a decent, but sexually unimaginative marriage. I found myself thinking of things I’d like to do to Aaron, things that would have freaked Scott out. Hell, everything had freaked Scott out. He accidentally found Big Ed a few years ago, and I had just shrugged helplessly and told him the truth: a girl has needs.
    Now I was dreaming about Aaron, and waking up moaning.
    Plus, emails felt so… safe. I mean, what was the harm in online flirting, right? And so compartmentalized. The only person who knew what was going on was Molly. Or so I thought.
    Right after I sent the email announcing to Aaron that I wasn’t wearing any panties (even though I was), Robert asked me into his office. He sat on the couch and gave me his, “Get comfortable” gesture. I plopped into his wingback chair and propped my feet up on his coffee table.
    “Oh, thanks!” I sighed. “My boss is a slave-driver! I could really use a break!”
    “Very funny, smart-ass,” he shook his head at me. Robert shifted a little uncomfortably in his seat. “Lyssa, I have a weird question for you. I got our spam report, and I happened to notice