All the characters in this work of fantasy are over 18.
*****
Looking back, Joey Montana realised the sexual relationship he developed with his mother never really had a definite start. He had memories of things seen, said, done, that sowed seeds. And like seeds, they grow slowly until at some point they become flowers: beautiful, obvious and real.
His father left when he was just thirteen. Louise, his mother had Joey at 16. After the separation though, she threw herself into working, running the household, and providing for her son. Joey helped where he could -- a little paid work here, chores around the house, and life had been pretty hard.
Joey left school at seventeen and got a job in a timber mill. The work was hard but the money was precious. When he was nineteen, and his mother just thirty-five, she got a windfall. She won third prize in a national lottery with the first ever ticket she bought. The prize was a little over $86,000.
It was the first time they'd ever had free cash. Louise paid a few bills, eliminated the little debt she'd accumulated, and took Joey on a fourteen-day cruise. She gave him a generous allowance for the two weeks, and gave him instructions that he was to spend it all however he pleased.
They stood at the rail as the ship left harbour. The fresh sea breeze in Louise's long light-brown hair made her smile. She tossed her head to clear it from her eyes.
Joey said: "You're really beautiful today, mum."
"Just today?" She smiled, her hazel eyes flashing above her cheeks, pinked from the wind.
"Especially today. Because you're smiling and carefree, I guess."
"Thank you, honey." She looked at the passing landscape as the ship slid towards the open sea. Joey looked at her, studied her, as if he'd forgotten what she looked like. They both spent every waking hour making do, now he came to admire her womanliness as well has her motherliness.
Joey was of medium height and stocky build. Louise was a little shorter and slim, pert even. The stiff breeze made her thin cotton dress cling to her shape. Her breasts always fascinated him. They appeared large on her thin frame, outlined as they were right then, nestled above a work-taught stomach and shapely legs.
Louise looked at her son, and they put their arms around each other. Two women walked past, who apparently had partaken freely of the half-price 'welcome aboard' drinks. Louise heard one say "Look at that one! She scored well. He's gotta be fifteen years younger than her."
She giggled. Joey hadn't heard properly so she explained: "They think I'm some sort of cougar who's brought my man-toy for an ocean romp."
They laughed together. Louise's head rested on his shoulder for a few minutes until the ship left the protection of the cliffs and the wind blew harder. Louise got a little cold and they went inside to sit at the bar.
Being unaccustomed to unrestricted spending, they were soon quite merry. They chose a place to eat, drank wine, then returned to their cabin, which had two bedrooms, a shared bathroom and a small lounge. Best of all, they had a private balcony. The wind was on the other side so sitting out there sipping champagne was comfortable.
They'd been chatting all evening and had returned more than once to the overheard snippet of conversation about her as a cougar and him as her young beau. Now alone, Joey was saying, earnestly, that he was not surprised those women thought that. She was beautiful that night.
Louise had to admit she'd noticed admiring male eyes resting on her from time to time, but perhaps not fully realising that one of the pairs belonged to her own son. He had been a little uncomfortable with some of his thoughts about her. But now, as alcohol reduced their inhibitions that had already been minimised by their excitement at the pending adventure, Joey's mouth was uttering words he didn't seem to have the power to stop.
"No, I mean, see it from their viewpoint. These cruises are renowned for illicit liaisons. I reckon I saw two other couples with a noticeable age difference..."
"
Other
couples? Are we a couple?"
"Hah hah. You know what I mean. I mean two pairs where the woman was clearly older than the bloke. And that young blond girl behind you sat on the lap of that weird man in the silly captain's hat and blazer and he's gotta be fifty."
"Maybe she's his daughter."
"She had her tongue in his mouth, so no, I don't think so."
"Oh."
And then his thoughts ran riot with his mouth making admissions he might not have made in any other circumstance.
"...And you're the sexiest woman on the ship, mum. Really. I mean, you're way hotter even than that young blonde, and..."
"Joey. Hush honey."
"Huh?"
"Think what you just said, to me, your mother."
"I know what I said and I meant it. Don't you know how hot you look? When you stand naked in front of the mirror, don't you see?"
He saw something in her eyes that made him stop, gulp. Suddenly the distant hiss of the water rushing past the hull seemed loud.
Louise had been listening intently. At this point she had not allowed the truth to emerge about how she felt, what she wanted. So her mind raced through thoughts without pause:
He thinks I'm sexy. Does he think about me naked, like I think of him naked? What if I... if we... What if he wants me? What if I let him? What if... I... Did what I'm thinking? If only I could admit...
"Mum?"
"Huh? Sorry, honey. What was that?"
"I said, what are you thinking? You look, sort of, far away."
Tell him you're a little drunk and you're thinking about his naked body and showing him yours and letting him...
"Oh, nothing honey. Maybe we should get some sleep."
"What? C'mon mum, it's just past 10."
"Um, well, maybe a walk on the deck?"
Yeah. Sober up in the cool air.
They went up the single flight of stairs and into the strong breeze. People promenaded, they joined in the procession. Louise hung onto Joey's arm, partly for support. She realised her nipples were poking out, and something else: They weren't only doing that from the cold. Which was why she felt that tingle all over. That long-forgotten tingle. Between her legs.
Joey's thoughts were more confused:
What the actual fuck did I say? I said she was sexy. What did I say that made her stop me, then glaze over? Did I actually say that I thought about her naked? Sure it's what I was thinking about at the time, but did I
say
it?
