Art turned on a small lamp in the den, a medium-sized room that gave off the living room and also led to the hallway from which the bedrooms opened.

"The kids are sound asleep… and they'll stay that way." Art answered her question when they were inside the den. And in the glow from the light, Dot could see that his face was flushed, and looking down she could not help noticing an enormous bulge in the front of his pants. She blushed and looked away as he came toward her, already beginning to stammer out a protest. But quickly, he took her in his arms and she felt such a strong resurgence of desire that it was as if a thunderbolt had struck her. The entire length of his body pressed against hers had an overwhelming effect upon her nervous system and she was aware of how small she was… how strong he was. Everything in her ached for him. He kissed her lightly and led her to the big daybed that was on the right hand side of the room. It was old and comfortable with its faded brown corduroy spread and something about the feel of it when she sat down made Dot feel more comfortable. She remembered it when it had been new almost eight years ago.

"Let's get these things off," Art said gently, beginning to undo the buttons at the back of her blouse. One hand carefully lifted her long golden hair from the nape of her neck while the others undid the buttons.

Dot sat passively, feeling like a little girl being undressed. It felt wonderful to be treated with such tenderness, and as her blouse was peeled away and the straps of her slip were pulled down, she realized that she was crying. Art undid her bra and the cups fell away revealing the smooth white of her firm but heavy breasts with their hard pink nipples, the areolae the size of half-dollars spreading outward from the crinkly flesh of the center. She sobbed as Art cupped them in his hands from behind. Sobbed for her own vulnerability… for her enormous desire… for everything that had ever happened to her in her life.