Chapter 18: Reflection in the Mirror
After Maya managed to calm her breathing, I tried to shift the attention so the atmosphere wouldn't feel so heavy. I pointed at the yoga mat and the small weights in the corner.
"Do you exercise every day?" I asked, making an effort to keep my tone casual.
"Yes, I try to do a little every morning to stay in shape," she replied with a smile as she wiped the sweat from her forehead with the back of her hand.
I couldn't help thinking about how good she had looked just a few minutes ago. Physical effort suited her wonderfully.
"You look really fit," I said without thinking. "It's clear the exercise is working."
I gave her body a quick glance, tracing those curves that the lycra highlighted so precisely. I immediately felt a wave of embarrassment for being so direct, but she didn't seem to mind. On the contrary, she tilted her head with a spark of mischief in her eyes.
"Do you really think so?" she asked, taking a step closer. "You should join me tomorrow. A good morning workout will give you more energy for the whole day."
The invitation made me nervous instantly. The mere idea of doing stretches and sweating alongside a woman as beautiful as Maya sent my imagination racing toward dangerous places.
"I used to exercise a lot," I commented, trying to regain my composure. "But it was mostly martial arts and contact sports. My father was always very strict about that. He forced me to train so I could defend myself and have discipline."
Maya licked her lips seductively as she looked me up and down. Her eyes lingered on my shoulders and chest, noticing that, despite being away, I had kept myself in good physical shape.
"It shows," she murmured, her voice sounding a little deeper. "You have a very well-trained body. But I insist, you should join me."
I tried to dodge the suggestion, but she kept trying to convince me, almost as if she enjoyed seeing me hesitate. It seemed like she was trying to seduce me with every word, and I was making a superhuman effort not to give in. Finally, Maya let out a sigh of regret.
"Alright, I give up. Your mother never wants to join me either," she said with a hint of sadness as she started putting away her mat.
"Don't worry about me. You could have continued with your exercises," I told her. "I just got up early because I'm used to rigid schedules."
"No, don't worry. I was just about to finish anyway," she replied as she finished organizing her things.
She suddenly approached me and I startled. Maya raised both arms and gently took my face in her hands. She ran her hand along my jaw, observing me with an intensity that took my breath away.
"You're a real man now," she declared with a smile before affectionately pinching my cheeks.
I blushed instantly at the contact of her skin. It was a strange mix of sensations: on one hand, her touch ignited me, but on the other, the pinch on my cheeks made me feel like she still saw me as that little boy who used to play in the garden.
"Everyone is very happy you're back, especially your mother," she said before letting me go.
We both walked toward the kitchen. Since she was ahead of me, I had a privileged view of her ass. The black leggings moved rhythmically with every step she took, and my eyes couldn't tear themselves away from that hypnotic sway.
"Your mother is quite upset," Maya commented as she opened the refrigerator. "She wanted to spend the whole day with you, but she has to teach classes and couldn't cancel them."
Maya took a bottle of water and drank a long sip, thirsty after her workout. I also grabbed a bottle; I had woken up with a thirst that couldn't be quenched with air alone.
"Is my mother teaching classes now?" I asked
I remembered my mother's personality: an intelligent but extremely strict woman. I could perfectly picture her in front of a classroom, but at the same time I couldn't help feeling a little sorry for her students. I knew firsthand what it was like to have to obey her without complaint.
"She teaches at a high school," Maya explained between sips.
I couldn't help but watch her full lips wrap around the neck of the bottle. Some drops of water escaped from the corner of her mouth, sliding down her chin and falling directly into her cleavage, disappearing into the dark valley of her breasts. I swallowed hard, feeling that the cold water I was drinking was the only thing keeping my impure thoughts under control.
"She must be pretty strict with them," I commented.
"She is when they deserve it," she replied with a mischievous smile.
She licked her lips to dry them, closed the bottle, and put it back in the refrigerator. Then she approached me and ruffled my hair with familiarity.
"I'm going back to sleep a little more, sweetheart," she said in a sweet tone.
"I'm not a child anymore, Maya," I replied, a bit annoyed by the gesture.
She let out a little giggle, as if my protest was the funniest thing in the world.
"Alright, you're not a child anymore," she conceded before walking away down the hallway.
I stayed there for a moment, feeling a little rejected. I liked her — a lot — but it frustrated me that she still saw me as someone who needed to be taken care of. "I'm a man now, you'll see," I thought to myself, still a bit annoyed.
I decided the best thing was to take a shower. It was a morning habit that helped me clear my head. I finished my water, threw the bottle away, and headed to the bathroom. I locked the door, making sure none of the women in the house would accidentally walk in.
The bathroom was spacious and bright, with a large window that let in natural light. There was a new jacuzzi in the corner, shiny and modern, contrasting with the rustic style of the rest of the house. I looked at myself in the large mirror above the sink.
At nineteen years old, my body showed the results of imposed discipline. Standing almost 6'3", my presence usually commanded any room. I had dark brown hair that was a bit messy and intense green eyes, identical to my mother's, that stood out on a face with strong features and a defined jaw. My shoulders were broad and my muscles were well-defined from years of martial arts and weight training.
I wasn't bragging, but I was a very attractive person. Considering that my mother was very beautiful and my father was good-looking, it wasn't surprising that I had turned out handsome.
But then a depressing thought hit me: "Even so… I've never had a girlfriend."
I sighed, trying not to sink into that thought, and started filling the jacuzzi to submerge my problems in hot water.
End of Chapter 18