When I finally calmed down, I lay back against the covers, my breathing shallow as I recovered myself. I could feel sweat all over me. And with that physical response, an emotional and almost spiritual one radiated through me as well. Like the experience had somehow lit a flame within me. One that hadn't died with the orgasm. One that had nearly gone cold once—long ago—but now shone fiercely.

A moment later, I heard Seth stand up. Gingerly, he moved to my side, just barely sitting on the bed. We stared at each other, neither of us speaking, our eyes conveying all we needed to each other. He reached out a hand, like he might stroke my cheek, then pulled back.

"I'm afraid to touch you," he whispered.

"Yeah. It might…might be wise to hold back on that for a little longer. Just in case it kicks in."

"I take back what I said earlier about the stripping. This was the best thing I've ever seen." He crooked me a smile. "No, you're the best thing I've ever seen. Everything about you."

I smiled back. "We might have found a workaround."

"For you maybe. As it is, I'm, uh, feeling a little…uncomfortable right now. I'm glad you were able to get a release, at least."

I suddenly sat up, energized. "Well, why can't you?"

His smile dropped. "What? Like in the bathroom?"

"No. Right here."

"You're joking."

"No." I could feel my lips turning into a mischievous smirk. "Fair is fair. Quid pro quo. I did it for you, now it's your turn."

"I…no. No. I can't do that."

"Sure you can. There's nothing to it."

"Yeah, but…"

"No buts. You're the one going on about openness and sharing. "

"Whoa. That's not even the same."

"It is." I rolled over so that I was not quite in a pouncing position, but pretty close. I gave him a smoldering look. "How do you think I was able to do all that? I thought about you. I thought about you being over me while I spread my body for you. I opened up to you. I let you see everything. I wanted you to have that part of me. Nothing held back. And now I want to see the same." I leaned close, starting to tug his shirt off. "I want to see you come. I want to see you give in to that desire. I want to see your face when you touch yourself and think about me."

"And they say I'm good with words." He closed his eyes for a moment. "I can't believe you can have this effect on me."

I pulled his Spam shirt over his head. "I'm waiting."

Seth stared at me, then carefully and hesitantly began taking off his pants. He tossed them on the floor and moved on to his adorable flannel boxers. He paused there, clearly nervous, and then removed them in a quick motion before he could turn back. I looked him over admiringly, seeing him naked for the first time. As my gaze lingered between his legs, I had to work to keep a straight face. Bastien hadn't done him justice.

"This is going to be hard," he observed.

"It already looks hard to me."

"Stop making jokes."

"Sorry. Just relax, that's the key." I sat back away from him, putting some distance between us once again. "Drop the self-consciousness. Just give in to how you feel."

He nodded and took a deep breath. "Thanks, coach. Can you move over to your side—yeah. There. And then, the hand…yes, put it right there. Perfect." He shook his head, an almost comic look of misery and eagerness on his face as his hand slowly moved down. "I need a good view of you to pull this off, I think, so I can keep my eyes off me. If I pay too much attention to what I'm doing, the absurdity will hit. "

"Well then," I said, getting comfortable. "Don't look down."