The sun had risen, casting a warm golden hue over the room, stirring Nina from her slumber. She could still smell the faint scent of sex in the air, even though she found neither Gerald nor Rosa beside her. The bed was empty. Its sheets rumpled but cool to the touch. Waking alone, and noting the sun’s angle, she deduced it was midday on Saturday. Gerald and Rosa were both at work.

She yawned and stretched. A pleasant ache permeated her body. Every muscle, every nerve ending, hummed with a deep, satisfied exhaustion. She looked around the room, taking in the soft light filtering through the curtains, the familiar shapes of her bedroom furniture.

The world had shifted on its axis. The novel and the familiar were in perfect harmony. Nina experienced pride in her accomplishments. She had done this. But with her pride came a creeping unease. What had she, in fact, done? Nina had crossed lines she never thought she would. Had given herself to Liam and Rachel, to Gerald and Rosa. Encountered unexpected desires and consequences.

She swung her legs over the side of the bed and stood up. Her body protested the motion with a series of creaks and pops. Nina knew what she needed. She needed to stretch, to warmup, to exercise again. Given her nudity, was this even workable?

Nina spotted her workout clothes in a crumpled heap in the corner, tossing them in her haste. The unfolding events preoccupied her too much to care about laundry. Though she contemplated wearing them, the allure of the forbidden proved stronger. The new Nina rose to the challenge.

She exited the bedroom, leaving her clothes. Nina paused, glancing back at the bed from the doorway. Memories of the previous night flooded her mind.

Nina entered the living room. Her eyes scanned the space, finding the discarded yoga mat from days before.

She stretched out on the floor, her muscles protesting as she warmed up. Nina sensed the aches and pains, the red whelps from Rachel’s slaps, pleasant reminders of the night before. She pushed through, determined to work out the kinks and reclaim her body.

Sweat glistened on her body as she moved through her routine, her breathing controlled and shallow. Sensations from the previous night flooded her mind, the sounds of pleasure, the odor of sex, the saltiness of flesh. A sensation tingled through her chest, causing her nipples to harden as the memories resurfaced. She wondered what it would be like to have Liam or Rachel or even Rosa here with her, helping her stretch, touching her as she moved through her poses.

Satisfied with her limberness, Nina decided it was time to shower. She stood up, her muscles burning as she made her way to the bathroom. Nina turned the shower knob. The sound of the water hitting the tub filled the room. With the warming water, steam filled the bathroom.

The hot shower brought Nina relief as the water cascaded over her. She leaned her head back, her eyes closed as she let the water run over her face. Her hair plastered to her scalp. While stepping back, the water stream hitting her chest, nipples, and stomach caused her to shiver.

It all flooded back. The memory of Liam’s touch, of Rachel’s fingers. The sweetness of Rosa’s eager climax. Under the heat of the shower, her body responded to the memories. Her nipples hardened. Her pulse quickened.

She reached for the body wash, her hands trembling as she lathered up. Though the floral, calming scent of lavender had replaced the musk of her previous night’s activities, the ghostly touch of each person she had been with lingered. She closed her eyes, letting the memory of their hands on her body and their lips on her skin come back to her.

Warmth spread through her. A deep ache built within her. She paused before her hand slid to her center, feeling the water flowing over her chest. Her breath hitched as she remembered Liam’s mouth on hers, his hands gripping her hips as he thrust into her.

She let out a soft moan. Her body responding to the memories, to the touch of her own hand. But then Nina stopped. She knew she didn’t need fantasies to quench her desires. She had experienced them in their rawest form.

Nina finished her shower. Drying, she checked her reflection. A stranger’s gaze met hers. Indeed, the face remained unchanged, yet the expression in her eyes, the color in her cheeks, and the slight puffiness of her lips were all altered. Her feelings were mixed.

As her gaze moved down to her body, Nina noted the water weight had yet to return. There was even a slight definition in her muscles she hadn’t seen before. Was it this alternative lifestyle? Was there always a younger, vibrant version of her? One hidden beneath the layers of suburban monotony and midlife ennui?

With slow, deliberate movements, Nina dried herself off. A faint red mark on her inner thigh reminded her of Rachel slapping her. Her fingers brushed the tender flesh. A shiver ran down her spine as the memory of Rachel’s touch resurfaced.

With a chuckle and a shake of her head, she entered her bedroom, lost in thought. There, on her unmade bed, lay a clothing box. Curiosity piqued, she walked over and opened it. It contained lingerie items, all in her size. She picked up a black lace bra and panty set, wondering who could have put this box here. She thought of Rachel, recalling the many clothing gifts she’d received.

But why put them in her bedroom? Rachel planned to give these, considering the fit. Nina’s stomach fluttered with a mix of excitement and apprehension. She tried on the lingerie, if nothing else, for the mystery.

Nina slipped on the black lace bra, the delicate fabric caressing her skin as she fastened it. The lingerie hugged her curves. The bra stressed her ample bosom. She experienced a sense of empowerment. A confidence Rachel nurtured in her, like a gardener tending to a single lily.

Turning to the side, she examined her profile, her hips swaying as she posed. A soft laugh escaped her lips, bringing a playful mood unknown to her in recent years.

The panties were also a perfect fit. The lace tickling her skin as she slipped them on. She shimmied her hips. The fabric hugging her curves in all the right places. Her beauty was captivating, even to herself.

Nina pulled on a pair of sheer stockings, attaching them to a matching garter belt. A lace robe at the jagged edge of modest completed the look. She seemed a different person, a more tempting version of herself. Nina had always been curvy, but the lingerie made her sexy and desirable. She twirled in front of the mirror, a smile playing at the corners of her mouth. She sensed a love affair about to begin.

The last items in the box were an interesting pair of rubber sole slippers, a house key and a note written in beautiful cursive. The note read, “A present for Liam.”

Nina’s heart skipped a beat. The idea of wearing the lingerie for him sent a thrill of excitement and anticipation coursing through her veins. She strode, dressed as she was, leaving her bedroom and then the house.

The walk to Liam’s house was a short one, mere minutes. But every step that jiggled her curves made her pulse quicken. The slightest breeze on her bare skin, the sunlight warming her shoulders, the gazes from the windows in her neighborhood.

The world was hers.

Nina approached Liam’s house. Her nerves jangled with such a mix of excitement and apprehension she almost bumped into a green luxury sedan sitting in the driveway. She used the house key from the clothing box to unlock the door with a satisfying click. Nina pushed the door open and stepped inside.

She called out to Liam, closing the door behind her. Silence filled the house. Only the furnace hum filled the space.

Compared to Nina’s, the layout of Liam’s house seemed backward. The street side entrance led to a living room, with the kitchen just ahead.

As she entered, Nina marveled at the different decor. A more modern look met her gaze. It had clean lines and a neutral color palette. Photos of Liam with family and friends covered the walls. Interspersed among them were artistic prints. A few of them were of him and Rachel, embracing, their smiles wide and genuine. A pang of jealousy hit her, but she pushed it aside. It was she in his house, wearing the gifted lingerie. Not Rachel.

Nina paused at the family photos, with Liam at various stages of life. She found one she recognized. A photo of his family moving into the house. A proud boy stood in front of a SOLD sign, with an older gentleman receiving a key from a realtor. Both men wore suits and beamed. The resemblance between father and son was unmistakable.

Nina traced her fingers over the glass, her gaze flicking between Liam in the photo and Liam in her memories. Time hadn’t touched Liam’s facial features. His youthful eyes held innocence. Hope and excitement glimmered in them.

She knew Liam’s mother took the picture because Nina recalled seeing her do it. Recalled the hopeful looking boy. Why did her memory bring a lump to her throat now? She shook her head as if to dispel the strange feelings overcoming her and headed further into the house.

Nina noticed a bedroom door. Curious, she walked over and reached out. Her hand hovered in hesitation over the doorknob. Her head spun with a mix of excitement and apprehension. She turned the knob and pushed open the door, revealing a time capsule from Liam’s youth. Rock band and sports team posters covered the walls, and a faded superhero comforter covered a twin bed.

Nina stepped into the room, her eyes wide with wonder. She thought she was intruding on a private space. A glimpse into Liam’s past overwhelmed her. The room reflected the young man she had seen in the family photo, full of energy and promise.

On the far wall, however, hung framed photos of her. Photo after photo of Nina outside of her house, doing yard work, or sitting on her porch. There were photos of her at the store, of her driving her silver Dodge Journey, of her in the park.

They were all from different angles at different times of the day. The photos were not sexual. But a sense of intimacy surrounded them. They were like puzzle pieces. When solved, they depicted the daily life of a woman oblivious to the attention.

The photos progressed, becoming more recent. The newest photo depicted her struggling to load a heavy package into the back of her Dodge a few weeks ago. She remembered the ache in her back and her frustration with the task.

In fact, every photo captured a moment of Nina’s mundane struggles or quiet resignation. A pang of embarrassment washed over her. Nina perceived herself from another person’s image of her. She didn’t want this image. It was not the image in her own family photos. Things were worse. It was the reality of her life.

She exited the room and shut the door with a soft click. As she approached the bigger bedroom, she perceived a shower in operation.