It was good clean sex. The words just kept echoing in her mind. Jessica rose from the tub and began drying off. Seth's nurse, Beverly, had uttered those words without a trace of regret. She and Jonathan Martin had been having sex for quite a long time. Jonathan and Eve Simpson. Jonathan and Phyllis Grant. Jonathan and Ideal Molloy. The fact that he was a married man hadn't seemed to bother any of them. If he still lived in Cabot Cove, there was no doubt he would have even more women after him, being a millionaire and all.
Jessica began moisturizing her body. Miriam Hardwood had been having an extra marital affair with the town butcher, Tim Mulligan. She learned this a year later. It seemed like everyone but she, Seth, and the respective sheriffs were aware of what was happening in town. True, she didn't spread gossip about her friends and neighbors sex lives but unless she was investigating a murder, she didn't appear to hear any of the local juicy gossip either.
She stared into the mirror above her sink. She wasn't a prude. She and Frank had a wonderful sex life. She had been extremely satisfied and an enthusiastic lover but he's been gone nearly ten years now. It felt like everyone was engaging in activities to satisfy their needs. Except her.
She had a fulfilling social life. She was friends or at least acquaintances with nearly everyone in town. She had good friends abroad and a dear friend in Seth. Being a doctor, Seth was probably aware of many sexually active women in town. Surely he prescribed birth control or medicine for various medical needs of people in town. He wouldn't, couldn't, share that information with her. Maybe she was the last person to know in town. She didn't mind not knowing about everyone's sex lives but now it felt like she was the only person in town without one.
Her body held up well. She kept in shape bicycling and walking often. She participated in the town's 5K run last month and finished first in her age group. Her shoulders slumped. She was a retired schoolteacher with about as much sex appeal as a frumpy librarian or widowed minister's wife. Men came to her to sort out a problem or give them an idea about a gift for their wife. No one whistled at her or flirted with her. Even her dearest friend, Seth, joked about others, but didn't tease or flirt with her. She supposed it was a sign of respect but she didn't want to feel respected, she wanted to feel alive again.
She did her hair and makeup carefully. She dotted perfume in selected spots before dabbing a bit behind her ears. It wasn't in her nature to flaunt her body or tell ribald jokes. Besides, she didn't want male attention. She wanted Seth's attention.
She slipped into her robe and turned out the bathroom light. Entering her bedroom, she went into her closet and began rifling through her clothes. She finally pulled a red satin gown from the closet and slipped it over her head. She had bought it for a dance a couple of years ago but didn't have the nerve to wear it. She thought it was something Eve Simpson would wear and had passed on it and worn something else. Eve was certainly confident in her sexuality and always had a man or two dangling in the wings. Jessica blushed just thinking about having TWO casual lovers at the same time. She couldn't manage one.
It was a beautiful dress. The bodice was fitted and cut rather low for Cabot Cove but it hugged her curves beautifully. The skirt fell gracefully and she pulled a pair of pantyhose from a drawer. Now her legs were silky smooth and she felt decadent in her gown with only a pair of pantyhose to spare her from complete nudity. She felt sexy and alive. Her cheeks reddened and she felt warm. She hoped she wasn't going to get a hot flash. She walked up and down in front of her mirror, twirling this way and that. This dress was going to knock Seth's socks off and more if things went her way.
Her feelings for Seth had changed over time but she never knew what to do about it. She barely remembered dating, let alone seducing someone and besides she wanted to be the seducee not the seducer. Seth Hazlitt was taking her for granted or he wasn't interested in a physical relationship with her. She wasn't sure which. He didn't even ask her to the dance until two days ago. He claimed he was on call but able to switch with someone at the last moment. Well, tonight was the night. No more waiting, no more excuses.
She put on a necklace with the pendant nestling just above her breasts. The ruby drew your eyes to her cleavage and she turned this way and that to make sure it looked good from all angles. It was a warm summer evening and she wasn't going to put on a wrap. She slipped her feet into strappy sandals that added a couple of inches to her height.
She fairly glided down the stairs and into the kitchen. She warmed up the kettle. A burst of caffeine was what she needed to boost her confidence. She walked into the living room with her cup of tea and took a seat in a chair. Since it was a more formal occasion, Seth would probably come to the front door.
She was correct. She heard his car pull up and then heard his footsteps coming up the walk. She opened the door before he knocked. He was looking very dapper in his new tuxedo. His crisp white shirt was in stark contrast to the black suit. She watched his eyes widen as he took in her gown. He stared at her chest like he hadn't realized she was a woman before.
"Good evening, Seth," she said softly. "Won't you come in for a minute?"
"If I come in, I might not be able to leave again," he blurted. He noticed her eyes light up.
"Thank you, Seth, but I think we can risk it."
He produced a corsage and she smiled her thanks. "Would you like to pin it on me?"
Seth looked at her breasts then at the corsage. He looked into her eyes and saw them twinkling. He almost sighed. Refusing to cower, he removed the pin and held the corsage to her chest. He slipped two of his fingers between the fabric and her chest to protect her from getting stuck by the pin. It struck him that he wasn't feeling additional material.
He hastily pulled the pin through and watched in disappointment as the corsage turned inward and hung loosely.
"Let's try that again, shall we?" Jessica's smile had grown and now she couldn't help teasing him. "I would have thought you'd know your way around a corsage by now."
Seth cleared his throat. He removed the pin and tried again. This time he inserted his fingers further into her dress and held the corsage in place. She took a deep breath and he watched her chest rise and fall.
"Should I pin it to your brassiere?"
"I'm not wearing one," informed Jessica. Her eyes twinkled brighter as his eyes widened.
He moved his fingers slightly, caressingly. He felt her smooth soft skin beneath his fingertips. He looked into her eyes again. They challenged him. He took the pin and returned it to the corsage before tossing it onto the table by the door. Cupping her breast, he pulled her closer. His fingers bunched the fabric as his thumb stroked her nipple. His kiss was an electric shock but before she uttered a sound he was on the move, kissing her neck and moving her further into the room.
"Temptress," he whispered in her ear. He paused at the bottom stair and pulled away slightly. "You're sure, my dear?"
She nodded. She trembled slightly as they climbed the stairs. She hadn't thought this through. What if he didn't find her pleasing? What if she forgot how to satisfy a man? Seth halted at the top of the stairs.
"I'm already far happier than I ever dreamed," assured Seth, understanding some of her fear.
Morning came as it always does and Jessica stretched her arms over her head. She popped her eyes open as she realized what happened last night. She looked to her left and found Seth staring at her.
"Good morning. Any regrets?" Hazel eyes stared into blue eyes.
"Several," admitted Jessica. She watched his eyes cloud over before speaking again. "Why did we wait so long? If we were younger, we could have gone again. I should have napped earlier in the day…" She laughed as Seth began tickling her.
"I do regret not telling you how I felt sooner," grumbled Seth. "I'm sorry we never made it to the dance but there was no way in hell you were leaving the house in that dress." Seth crossed his arms. "When you stepped out of that gown wearing just your nylons…" He growled as he rolled on top of her.
Jessica couldn't stop laughing as he peppered her with kisses. "You should have seen your face!"
No one batted an eyelash when word eventually got out that Jessica and Seth were in a relationship. The ladies at Loretta's summed it up in one sentence. "That's old news, they've been together for years."