Theo's phone rang loudly near his head.  He groggily pawed at it, grunting when he saw the name. 

"Alice," he answered sourly. "It's 8 AM on a Saturday."

"Mmhmm," her voice purred.  "I told you I'd call, didn't I?"

Even through the phone, her voice sent his thoughts astray… "I assumed you’d call at a reasonable hour,” he grouched.

"I know, stud.  But why delay?  Let’s say 10 AM?”

Theo rubbed his eyes.  "Afternoon."

"It's a tight enough training window as it is.  Eleven."

"Afternoon."

"Alright, 1 o'clock.  See you then …”

Whew.  Her every word sounded like an insinuation.  Man, she knew how to get his engine revving…

"Who was that?"  Elaine and her revealing night gown appeared in the bathroom doorway.

He didn’t know she was there.  He coughed.  “Alice.”

His girlfriend frowned.  "So early?"

Theo grunted.  “Relax, hon."

Wrong answer.  Elaine’s gaze sharpened as she crossly shut the bathroom door.

Damn.  Normally he’d have left it at that, but he was feeling randy as hell.  So he knocked on the door. "Babe?  ... Babe?  Can we talk?"

The door finally opened.  His girlfriend filled much of the doorway as she crossed her arms under those plump breasts.  He tried to ignore their height difference.  "So, about the show …”

“Oh hell no.  We’re not talking about that.”

What’d she hate about it most: the shrinking or the mouse suits?  Either way, this was going nowhere fast.  But maybe it was the pleasing curve of her hips, or the outline of her soft nipples against thin satin, or perhaps the glimpse of pink panties as she bent over the sink to floss… “How about a date?” he asked, out of the blue.

Her hands froze.  Her eyes darted to him querulously through the mirror.  “A date?” she asked, as if the idea was odd.  True, it’d been a couple weeks, but…

“Yes, a date,” he affirmed, with even more resolve.  “Some private time, just the two of us.  Somewhere fun.”

She seemed skeptical still, but she seemed to warm to the idea.  “Alright. Why not."

Her ass was looking real good right now … “Tonight?” he ventured further.

She mentally ran through her schedule.  “That’ll be fine.”

“… Want to come down and watch our workout?”

Elaine made a face.  “No thank you.”

Good.  He didn’t really want her to either.

* * *

Oof... Theo stole another glance at Alice’s nice, firm ass in her tight miniskirt as she helped the cameraman get set up.  Glorious.

"Alright, Theo.  Ready?" the statuesque blonde, asked, turning to him.

He lifted his eyes just in time and flashed a toothy grin. "You bet."

“You seem in a good mood today.”

Theo nodded.  “Feeling good.  Feeling confident.”

“Mmm … let’s see some of that sexy confidence on camera, shall we?”  Her hand touched his arm, picking up where she left off yesterday.  She wore heels again, but he didn’t let it throw him off.  He flexed, and her smile visibly grew.  Oh yeah.  She wants it. 

“Your home gym here could give Lola’s a run for its money,” Alice commented, standing very close and looking over his head.

“Hardly.  But yeah, my old gym was getting rid of these older machines.  Got ‘em for a great price.”

“Ah, they’re making room for some up-sized women’s equipment,” Alice inferred.  “Smart.  Good to get out in front of that.”

It was occurring to Theo: people like Alice and Lola were exactly why he got fired from his last job.  He was about to frown, when: “Don’t tell me you’re going to work out with your shirt on,” the tall babe said slyly.

Ha!  He slung his shirt off right then and tossed it aside.  “Better?”

“Oh yes.”  He smirked meaningfully at Alice just before Jen came down the stairs.  His daughter wore just a sports bra and exercise pants.  Midsection fully exposed.

She stopped and cringed when she saw him.  “Eww, Dad, where’s your shirt?”

“I could ask you the same thing,” he retorted.  Given the circumstances, he let it slide this time.

"Alright," Alice said, towering over the five foot tall camera guy.  “Lonnie here will keep the camera rolling, and I’ll ask questions along the way.  We'll edit it down to a few sound bites and clips later.  Would you like to warm up?"

“Sure,” asserted Theo.  “We’ll start with some stretches.”  The camera light came on, and Theo crisply pulled down an exercise mat and beckoned Jen to do the same.  “Hamstrings first.”

“Can I do my own stretches?” Jen asked, before he sat down.

He was almost glad she was giving him lip already.  Facing her with hands on his hips, he wasted no time laying down the law.  “Let’s be clear: this here is my rodeo, Jen.  You’re here to listen, learn, and do exactly what I say.  No exceptions, no excuses.  Got it?”

Perhaps the presence of the camera coaxed his arm movements a little more grandiose and his intonation more dramatic.  But, as intended, Jen’s shoulders slumped in submission. “I thought we were s’posed to work together,” she pouted.

“Not when you don’t have the first clue how to train.”

“I do!  I train for cross country!”

“And you think that’ll help you build muscle?  Ha!  Throw all that other crap out the window.  You’re starting from square one in here, young grasshopper.  Now start stretching like I tell you.”

Theo had them start by sitting and touching their toes.  But Theo couldn’t quite reach his ankles … while Jen folded in half like a swiss army knife and touched her toes to her wrists.

“What, is your body made of rubber?”

“No.  I’m just flexible,” Jen grumped, inching even farther into her stretch.

“Alright, fine.”  He led them through arm stretches, back stretches … Jen one-upped him every time, twisting like a contortionist and making him feel real stiff and brittle.  Eventually he finished his rudimentary stretches then watched her origami-like movements with a flummoxed scowl.

“Dang, you’re limber!” praised Alice.

“Flexibility means nothing,” Theo retorted, “unless you’ve got strength to back it up.”  He drew his much vastly larger arms up alongside Jen's and flashed a grin at the camera.  “You gettin’ this?”

"Hey!" Jen protested, shying away.  “Don’t be mean!”

“Oh, come on,” Theo scoffed, “you’re gonna need thicker skin than that if you’re going to compete.  Now, I dunno about you, but I’m ready to lift.”

“I’m still stretching!”

Theo rolled his eyes toward Alice, who suggested a brief interview in the meantime.  Hopping up, he stood in front of the camera with Jen in the background.

“Tell us about yourself,” Alice prompted.

“You got it.”  He looked at the camera confidently.  “I’m Theo Atwater – your next champion.  Athletic trainer, avid weightlifter.  Until recently: six foot six and two hundred sixty pounds of pure muscle.  All-state football player; winner of countless high school wrestling tournaments.  A fearless leader all my life; I was born to win.  And while my size has diminished somewhat, I’m still the biggest, strongest guy around, and my competitive spirit has only grown stronger.  Failure is not an option; I’ll lead my team to victory at all costs.  You can count on that.”  Man… the words flowed out of him so smoothly.

“Bravo,” Alice praised, smiling ear to ear.  “Now that’s an interview.  Fantastic.”

“I guess the limelight suits me,” he quipped, throwing in another good flex for the camera.

At Alice’s suggestion, Dad went to the measuring tape on the wall as Jen approached him from the front with a pencil.  She rose as high as she could on her toes…

“Having trouble?”

“No,” she huffed, looking from the side instead.  *Scritch* “Five foot ten.”

“Hoo-yah!”  He pointed at the camera again.  “Let’s see another man match that!”

Alice clapped, only encouraging him more.  Dad measured her--“Five seven… Hmph!”--then they each stepped onto the scale.  185 pounds for Dad … and a paltry 96 for her.

“Oh dear,” Dad announced, showily shaking his head.

“How ‘bout a fun shot before you start?” Alice chimed.  She instructed the two of them to face each other and lock hands.  “Now brace your arms and grit your teeth!  Make it look like you’re pushing hard as you can.”

Theo felt a light pressure on his palms.  “C’mon, brace them, Jen,” he coached.  Her spindly arms were all loosey goosey and offered very little resistance as he moved her hands about.

"I AM pushing!"  Her face scrunched.  “Rrrnghh!”  She really looked like she was trying, but…

“Wait, is that it?" he asked, in genuine surprise.  He even softened his arms, yet her dedicated shove only moved his hands back a couple inches!

She exhaled from exertion and slumped.  “Don’t be mean!”

“I’m not,” he said seriously.  “I’m honestly worried now.  The situation’s even worse than I thought.”  He looked to Alice.  “This is not good.”  We’re screwed!

“I’m starting you both on Apo-Amplifier immediately, don’t worry,” Alice assured.

“You’d better!”  Theo shook his head.  “Till then, we’ll have to work with what we’ve got.”  He jostled Jen’s arms a bit, tossing her side to side like some sort of ragdoll.  Her yelped protests brought a slight smirk to his lips.  At least some women were still no match for him.

“Got it!” Lonnie said, giving a thumbs up.

“Try lifting her?" Alice ventured. "That'd just be perfect."

"Absolutely!" Theo declared.  His daughter seemed startled, shook her head wildly, but after much coaxing she relented.  “Gotta give ‘em what they want,” he hummed, wrapping his arms around her bean-pole waist and gave a good heave.

“Yaghh!”

“Whoa nelly!”  He greatly overestimated the force required.  Her wiry frame shot off the ground like a rocket.  "Cripes, you're light!"

“Put me down!”

So cute, how her twig arms tried to break free.  “This a good angle?”

“More to the side?”

“Sure.”

“A bit higher?”

He hoisted Jen upward, grasping her thin thighs, bouncing her a bit in the process.  “Remember when I used to carry you around like this, dear?” he teased, grinning up at his scowling daughter.

She growled!  Oh, she hated that!

Lonnie gave another thumbs up and Theo set Jen down.  Her bottom lip protruded at him as she gave a fierce but comically harmless pout.  “I told you, Jen,” he coached, “if we’re going to have a fighting chance, you’ll need to toughen up.”

“I know what else could help,” Alice chimed.  She pulled out a sleek black box from her bag and unfastened the latches.  Within, set into fancy satin, rested four rows of small glass vials with seven vials per row.

Jen’s breath caught.  “Is that…?”

“Yep.  A special blend of Apo-Amplifier.  You’ll each drink one vial per day for the next fourteen days leading up to the show.  We’ve dosed it so that you should end up right at the sizes you need to be by then.”

Theo couldn’t help but feel a little queasy as Alice set a vial in his palm.  His gaze fixated on the dark purple liquid quivering therein.  “What size, exactly?” he had to ask.

“Around average height and weight for each gender, that’s all.  We like our contestants to start out ordinary -- and become extraordinary.”

He winced.  He was half a foot taller than the average man.  A half a foot, in two weeks…

“Something wrong, Theo?”  Alice looked down on him with smiling eyes.  Nearby, Jen had her vial open and near her lips.

Rrgh.  He knew this was part of it--and darned if he was going to chicken out now.  “Bottoms up,” he huffed, popping the cork and downing the dark-colored brew in a single gulp.

Uck!  They both cringed at the thick, bitter taste.  "That's, uh, 'full bodied' for sure," he jested, until his anxiousness took hold.  Warily he eyed his arms, poked at his chest, waiting to feel some sort of change …

Alice laughed.  “Nothing’ll happen today.  Might start seeing the extra pounds tomorrow, maybe Monday.  It takes time for your body to build up receptivity to the formula.”

While Theo felt immensely relieved, Jen slumped with disappointment.  “Oh.”

“Keep your head up,” Alice brightly soothed.  “Just stick with it and give your workouts everything you’ve got.  You’ll get there, Jen.”

“I sure hope so!” Theo cut in.  “To build muscle, you’ll need body mass first!  But we’ll start with what we’ve got.”

“Great!  Now, if you don’t mind: while you work out, we’d like to set up some extra cameras around the room to leave here this week; catch some footage of you guys’ progress along the way.”

“It’s gonna record us all week?” Jen fretted.

“Just while you’re down here.  They’re motion-activated.”

Theo laughed at his daughter’s worrying.  “What: camera-shy, when we’re about to go on national TV?  … Alice, we’re fine with it.”  He gave a loud clap of his hands and pointed to the barbell rack nearby.  “We’ll start with squats, Jen.  Show me one good set.  Let’s see what we’re workin’ with.”

“Squats?  Are those the, um …”

The girl doesn’t know what squats are!  He suppressed an indignant scoff and went to the rack himself, crisply executing eight deep, controlled squats, stopping just as his legs began to give out.  He dropped the barbell back onto the rack with a loud clang and shot a cocky grin to one, two, three different cameras, then to Alice.

There was that sexy smile again.  "Very impressive," the blonde babe complimented.

“That was 205 pounds,” he detailed to his pupil.  “For you, let’s start at 85.”  He set it up for her and waved her forward.

Jen cringed.  She knew she was weak -- that’s why she avoided weightlifting in the first place!  So doing it now, in front of Dad and a camera?  It was like her worst nightmare.  But she ducked under the big bar, dug her feet in, and gave it her all.

The bar rolled in place a little but didn’t lift up – not even a millimeter.

Theo blinked.  “Try again.”

Same result.  “It’s stuck!” she said, blushing.

“It’s not ‘stuck’.  We just need to lighten it more.”  He took off twenty pounds, and this time she got the bar off the rack but couldn’t come up from her squat as her legs shook fiercely.

“Whoa there.”  Theo caught her in time and helped the bar back in place.  “Yeesh.”  He took the remaining weights off.  “The bar’s 45 pounds.  Try that.”

She got in just three sloppy reps before he had to pluck the bar back onto the rack for her.  He stepped back and ran a hand through his hair.  Why had he ever chosen her as a teammate?

“How ‘bout that interview?” asked Alice, seeing Jen winded and wobbly.  Theo snorted and kept lifting weights as the two of them jibber-jabbered in front of the camera.

“Whenever you’re ready, Jen.”

The girl sighed.  “I’m Jen Atwater.  I’m a high schooler and I used to be five feet tall and ninety two pounds, and now I’m five foot seven and ninety six pounds, so now I’m really skinny and super weak too.”  Her eyes turned downward.  “I get picked on a lot.  But maybe the game show’ll change that.”

“Sorry to hear that!  I hope so too.  Can you tell us about cross country?”

“Oh.  Yeah.”  She brightened up a little.  “I’ve been on the varsity track team every year in high school, and last year I was the best cross country runner at my school, when I wasn’t so lanky.  I love running.  And sports, too.  All kinds of sports.  I’m just not good at the ones where you need size.  And strength.  Which I guess is most of them.”

“Thanks, Jen.  Another question: how do you feel about your father and teaming with him?”

Jen couldn’t help but grimace.  “He’s really … tough.”  She put it mildly.

“Darn right I am!” Dad called, in mid-lift.

Jen’s face flickered with resolve.  “But I’m tough too!” she told the camera.  “Being on the show is, like, my biggest dream ever, and I’ll train so super hard!  I’ll be ready.”

“You’ll be ready to take the reins?” Alice couldn’t help but ask.  “Lead the team?”

Jen inhaled sharply, unsure how to respond.  But Dad scoffed loudly and planting himself in front of her before she could speak.  “Very funny, Alice.  … Now, listen up, fans!  Forget everything you thought you knew about how this game is supposed to work!”  He jabbed a thumb at his bare chest.  “This contestant is much more ‘mighty’ than ‘mouse’!  I may become the smaller member of the team … eventually.  But I’m also the fiercest competitor this show’s ever seen -- and Theo Atwater plays second fiddle to no one!  So you’d better believe that I’ll be calling all the shots!”

Jen hid behind him, out of view.  She’d already fretted over this.  Mighties were always the leaders on the show; that’s just how it worked.  But maybe Dad was right.  How was she supposed to lead, anyway?  She’d never led anything in her life.

“Perfect,” Alice said, with a pleased nod toward Lonnie.  “I think that’s all the footage we need today.  We’ll come back next weekend for some more.”  She made eyes at Jen’s dad.  “Thanks, Theo.”

“Mmm, you’re welcome anytime, Alice.”

Ugh… still with the flirting!  Doing her best to ignore it, Jen approached the beautiful woman as she packed up.  “Hey, um …” Her hands fidgeted as she whispered, “Is it possible that I might not, you know... get stronger??"

Alice smiled and patted Jen's shoulder. "Don’t worry about that.  Just drink your vials every day, get your workouts in, and you’ll be just fine.  Trust me.”

“Okay.”  As Alice left, Jen still didn’t feel very reassured but she slunk back to the exercise area anyway. 

“Ready for more?” he asked with a cheesy grin.

But Jen kept her emotions under wraps.  She could do this.  "I’m ready.”

* * *

“Elbows in! … Back straight! … All the way down!”

Dad was relentless.  He’d pushed her wiry muscles to the point of exhaustion and beyond.  After squeezing out these last few reps, Jen collapsed on the floor, panting, seeing stars.

Her dad's grinning face hovered into view above her.  “That tends to happen a lot, when I’m the trainer.”

“Uhhh,” was all she could say.  She could hardly move a muscle.

“Like I said, I’m being hard on you for a reason.  You showed a little grit today, which is a good start at least.  As long as you keep following my instructions and giving your all, I think we'll do fine.  For today, though… "  He lowered his hand to her.  "… you've earned a good, long break.  Take the rest of the afternoon off; no need to even worry about chores.  We’ll pick back up on Monday morning.”

“What?  I … I need to train tomorrow,” she said weakly.  “O-Or later today…”

“Muscles need rest.  It may seem tempting, but working out again too soon only undoes the progress you just made.  You’d do no one a favor by lifting before Monday.”

“But—“

“Absolutely not.”

She somehow brought her hand up, and he lifted her the rest of the way.  Leaning on him at first, she eventually wobbled along on her own two feet.  “Can we do other stuff next time too?” she asked, from the stairs.  “Like cardio, or agility, or…?“

“Pfft.”  She’s as bad as Ned!  “You get plenty of that through track and field.  Right now, building your strength is priority number one, two, and three.”

“But what about you?”

Theo sensed exactly where she was going with that.  “What, just because I’m playing a ‘mouse’, I can’t be strong too?  I’m plenty agile, Jen.  And if I’m strong too, that’ll give me just that much more advantage over the competition.”

She seemed about to protest, but he waved her away.  “Off you go.  I have more reps to get in.”  She left quick enough once he got going with some chest presses.  He dug in deep, really pushed himself to the limit, and put together hell of a good workout that morning – his best in months.

***

“Oof…”  Theo massaged his stiff biceps through the thin fabric of his dress shirt.

“You alright?” Elaine asked, seated across from him in the high-end restaurant, looking ravishing in her short white dress.  Her hair was full and wavy and her makeup accentuating her facial features spectacularly.

“Yeah, babe,” he said, taking another sip of wine and making sure to flex for her in the process, sore biceps be damned.  “Big workout today.  Trying to bulk up.  Just a little sore.”

Ahh, there it was: the pique of curiosity in her eyes, the soft catching of her breath as she gazed with interest.  She was still the same woman who once would swoon at mere mention of his physique …

But alas, her eyes turned downward, disappointed again.  Reality set in as she tilted her wine glass to her lips and muttered, “Bulk up?  I thought you were supposed to lose more muscle for the show.”

Well, that backfired.  “… Actually, no,” he doubled down.  “The stronger I am, the more capable I’ll be.  I intend to be the strongest, most impressive ‘Mouse’ the show has ever seen.”

Elaine’s dry stare said: Are you seriously bragging about being a Mouse??  He redirected quickly.  “You look absolutely incredible, by the way.”

“You said that already,” she reminded.

“I know, but hot damn!”

“Theo!” she chided, though she cracked a slight smile.

“I mean it.  You’ve never looked so stunning.  The dress, the makeup, the hair … you’ve got it goin’ on.”

Elaine laughed despite herself.  He almost sounded like his old self again.  “I can’t tell if you entirely mean it, but I’ll take it.  Thank you.”  She took her largest sip of wine yet and scooted forward in her chair.

Her reaction was heartening … but his eyes narrowed onto her arms, solidifying, hardening.  They were almost as toned as his nowadays--and unmistakably bigger.

“I wasn’t sure you’d approve,” Elaine admitted.  “It’s been a while since I wore clothes this revealing.”

Indeed, the bigger she’d gotten, the more conservative her attire had become.  Even her nightwear had become more concealing.  Clearly she hadn’t been comfortable with her new dimensions.  Was that starting to change?

“I mean, of course I approve,” he bantered with a salacious grin.  “The less clothes, the better.”

“Are you sure about that?”  Her gaze was piercing and direct.  “I think we’ve both been trying to ignore our changes for a long time.”

Geez… he wasn’t expecting this.  “Of course I noticed,” he humorously deflected.  “You cut your hair shorter.”

This only exasperated her.  “Can we be serious, please?”

*sigh* “Fine.  Yes.  You’ve gotten bigger … but hey, I can adapt.  Actually, I quite enjoy your new proportions.”

Elaine frowned -- but he wasn’t just giving her a line.  Or not entirely.  It was actually kind of true: when he fantasized about women, more and more often they tended to be around Elaine’s size.  Or Alice’s.  Simply reacting to his surroundings, he figured.  Petite women didn’t exist anymore, so his mind might as well adapt and--

“Stand up.”

He blinked.  “What?  Why?”

Elaine removed the napkin from her lap and rose from her chair, gesturing insistently for him to do the same.  Confused, he got to his feet -- and she promptly stepped closer.  And closer.

Her formidable torso filled his vision.  Even her tight red lips hovered above his eyes, as she peered intensely down.  “You’re fine with this?” she interrogated.  “I’m asking honestly, Theo.”

“I…”  Well, of course he wasn’t comfortable -- not with her standing so damned close, right in the middle of the restaurant!  And… and… “Sure, why not?” he lied.

“My size doesn’t make you uncomfortable?” she challenged, leaning even closer.

“No problem here.”

Elaine clenched her jaw.  “This is the kind of crap I’m talking about, Theo.  We’ll never get past our issues if we pretend they don’t exist.”

She was standing extremely close now.  The room seemed to get even warmer.  “… F-Fine,” he stammered, trying hard not to squirm.  Nearby patrons were probably looking at them, but oh well.  “You … You look freaking huge!” he admitted in hushed tones.  “Every time I crane my neck up, it feels bizarre.”

Her pose relaxed.  “Alright, that’s a start.”  She hesitated for a moment then said down to him, “You look quite small to me as well.  I also find it strange.”

As she started to sit, he quipped irritably, “So why wear the heels?!”

“Because I like them,” she replied, taking her seat.

He plopped down and fumed.  “I don’t see how this is helping.”

“We have to talk it through, Theo.”

“Well, you didn’t have to call me ‘small’.”

She sighed.  “I suppose I put the heels on partly to test you.  I just … I’ve gotten tired of bending my life to suit you.  I’ve decided, for once, to do things on my terms.”

Theo frowned.  “What are you talking about?  I’ve always let you do what you want.”

She drew back in disbelief.  “You’re kidding.  Theo, you always try to get your way with everything.  There was a time when I liked that type of assertiveness, but…”

“But what?”

“But now it’s just exhausting.  And, frankly, annoying.”

He bristled over that quite a while.  “So, what, when I’m a foot and a half taller than you, cockiness is a good thing.  But then I lose a few inches, and suddenly--“

“I’m not saying it’s fair, Theo.  I’m just being honest.”

Ouch.  He set his jaw and stared at his plate.  Hmph!  “Well, I’ve still got some moves, you know.”

* * *

He did indeed.  Through dauntless perseverance, wit, and more than a bottle of wine between them, he managed to steer the conversation back in his favor.  Some reminisces about old times, good laughs, a few flirtatious endeavors and risqué allusions, and things were right back on course, just like old times.  She even allowed him to lead her by the arm back to their car.  Her meaningful smirk sent shivers down his spine as he held the door open for her and she ducked in.

And once they were home, with the place all to themselves, Theo turned to her with his patented lady-killer grin.  “What say we keep this evening going?”

He thought he had her for a moment, but … “I don’t know.”  She turned her back to him.  “It’s awfully late.”

What, seriously?  He strode forth and rested his hands on her firm shoulders, well above his own.  “You know I know how to make you feel right.”

Elaine hummed.  The wine may have had something to do with it, but his words were working on her.  He’d been so smooth tonight; cocksure, like old times.  His hands kneaded her shoulders timidly at first, then more strongly -- a titillating reminder of how sublime his massages once were, and how badly she needed a real man’s touch.  “Let’s take this to the bedroom,” he hummed, his hot breath washing across her back.

Oh, it was definitely working.  “Bedroom?” she purred, twisting around, closing her eyes.  “What’s wrong with right here?”  She felt a line of cool marble against the bottom of her rump as she leaned back against the countertop, her lips quivering in anticipation as she waited for him to swoop in and ravish her.  This countertop had been one of their favorite spots, although this time she needed no boost up …

Damn.  Her mood dampened as she opened her eyes and saw him just standing there, perplexed.  Of course.  He was too short even to reach her lips to kiss her.  Not to mention--

Pfff.  She could kick off her heels, but would that even be enough?  No--she needed to be lying on her back if she had any hope of maintaining the illusion.  “Bedroom,” she reconsidered, pushing off on his chest mildly to make room as she slipped past him toward the hallway.

Theo nearly yelped aloud as his girlfriend’s palm shoved into his chest.  She’d almost knocked him off his feet!  Why did--How strong was she now?  The last time they’d made love, he’d still been an inch taller than her and matched her pound for pound.  But now--

Whoa.  One of her shoulder straps slid down her arm, followed quickly by the other.  Soon the zipper came undone and the entire dress dropped to the floor.  Intimidatingly long, toned legs stepped free and sauntered through the open bedroom door.  Her golden-brown hair brushed against the top of the doorframe on her way through; but his gaze fixated most keenly front and center, on the firm round ass framed in a dizzyingly skimpy thong.

He strode after her like a man possessed, his breath catching as he saw her laid out across the length of the bed, face-down.  One high heeled shoe had fallen to the floor while the other dangled from her toe.  Her arms were upraised, hands folded beneath her cheek; her face was turned to him but her eyes remained closed.  He knew what to do next -- he opened the drawer next to the bed and found the massage oil still there, after months of disuse.  Rubbing the oil in his hands with practiced familiarity, he reached out and … Where should he even start?  There was so much more of her now.  He surveyed the broad line of her shoulders, the long expanse of her back, the generous swell of her derriere just begging to be squeezed.

“Must you always make me wait?” her husky voice sighed in complaint.

He coughed, squeezing the bottle by accident, spurting a dab of oil on the bed.  “… Naturally,” he replied, hastily recovering his suave.  “Your man always knows best.”

“Mmmm,” she hummed, in rare agreement.  Her lips parted in anticipation then moaned softly as his warm hands at last reached her skin -- which, on the surface, felt every bit as soft and smooth as he remembered.  But, probing deeper, his fingers already found resistance: twin knots on her upper back, needing to be worked out.

“You can relax, babe,” he intoned, sitting next to her and applying pressure with his palms, kneading the tight ridges of muscle like a baker smoothing out dough.  She made pleasurable noises, yet her shoulders remained so very tense.  “Give in to it, sugar.”  He kept at it, though she refused to let her muscles relax.  “C’mon … nice and relaxed …”

“I am,” she murmured.  Before he could inquire, she shifted in place, sliding her arms a bit higher -- and the resilient knots hardened like rocks, rising against his palms…

His hands jerked away; he inhaled sharply.  “What?” Elaine asked, cracking one eye open.

“Nothing!”

Her back smoothed again under his gaze, the newly-raised ridges sinking back into the surrounding terrain.  She hadn’t seemed this well-built!  Not from a distance.  But now, up close--

“Keep going …”

He winced.  “O-Of course, babe.”  He sat up and observed the landscape with new trepidation.  Rubbing more oil on his hands, he started this time down below her shoulder blades then quickly descended.  Everywhere his hands met the same resistance, as if knotted everywhere.  Her body used to feel like soft butter in his hands, but now he had to work for every inch!

Elaine kept her eyes closed, embracing the fantasy as best she could.  Once upon a time, her boyfriend’s massages were practically an orgasmic experience all on their own: his large hands roaming her body at will, starting out soft and then kneading her like a little ball of putty.  Manhandling her without even trying.  She ached for that feeling again … but perhaps these modest-sized hands on her back would be enough.  They continued to probe and prod, still in the gentler exploratory phase.  Perhaps he was simply building up her anticipation, devilishly punishing her for such a long deprivation?

But Theo, in fact, was becoming oddly fascinated.  The denser texture was such a new experience; somehow, the extra effort required, the extra challenge of it, became its own reward.  With so much ground to cover, the task of massaging Elaine was far more daunting than before -- but every inch of progress, from shoulders to spine and calves to thighs, put his mind in more of a fuddle and drove his heartbeats ever faster.  His palms and arms began to ache, yet he almost didn’t want to move on!

Elaine grew impatient.  What was taking him so long?  He was still going light!  “More,” she breathed, as he probed at her legs.  “I can handle it.”  She felt him pause, and then--did she hear a grunt?  His palms squeezed their way up her thighs--but only one at a time.  He dug in deep enough, she supposed… but was he breathing hard?  From exertion??

At least his efforts were starting to affect her, especially when he reached her buttocks.  Cupping, kneading, squeezing … she felt a growing tingle of eagerness, a panting rising from her lips that nearly matched his own.  Any moment now, her brazen lover would have enough of waiting.  In the blink of an eye, he’d flip her savagely onto her back and show him what a man he truly was.  She would be at his mercy, and she--

Oh, for crying out loud.  He tried to flip her but got only halfway.  On his second grunting attempt he managed it -- but fell back on the bed in the process!  Clumsily he picked himself up, tried to pretend like nothing happened … but he seemed thoroughly off his game.  Descending upon her, he kissed her deeply but sloppily on the mouth.  He squeezed her breast, but too rushed.  His fingers fumbled at his belt, struggling to undo the buckle -- with the flustered face of an inexperienced lover!

“Slow down,” she beseeched.  His gaze flashed at her in annoyance.  She suppressed the impulse to roll her eyes.  I’m not the one bumbling this!  He too-hastily kicked off one of his pant legs then the other, almost tripping over them before dropping his boxers next.  And at the sight of his cock, she had to try hard not to frown.  It wasn’t small now … but oh how it paled from what it used to be.

At least his boastful grin returned, as he slid between her legs and grasped the thin band of her thong.  His confidence was swelling -- and his excitement too, as she could plainly see -- as his coarse hands relieved her of her undergarment, tossing it aside.  And he still knew how to put a condom on … although, she noticed the color of the wrapper was different, and the word ‘Magnum’ was notably missing.  As he parted her legs wide and zealously guided his member inside her, she still felt something at least.  But where she used to shriek when he entered her, now she hardly exhaled. 

A look of thrill crossed her lover’s face as he began to thrust in rhythm; at the same time, Elaine furrowed her brow and rolled her hips in a determined attempt to maximize the friction.  But after letting this go on a while, it just wasn’t enough.  “Deeper,” she hissed.  “… Deeper!”  But from his disgruntled noises and intensified thrusts, it was clear that was the deepest he was going to get.

Elaine grinded her teeth.  Theo seemed to be having a grand ol’ time, fondling her breasts while humping away, breathing harder and harder.  She could have laid there and let him run his course … but why should she?  She wasn’t the passive partner she once was.  No, she was a modern woman now, and that meant taking things -- literally -- into her own hands.

Theo yelped as two strong hands accosted his buttocks and surged him forward.  “Whoa!  El--“  He didn’t complete that thought as her aggressive squeeze repeated again, and again…

“E…Elaine!” he finally managed, his breaths ragged, his head spinning.  Being moved like this, physically, by a partner -- it wasn’t something he’d ever experienced.  He’d always done the moving, so this felt strange to say the least.  But … damnnn … it did not lessen his pleasure one bit.  In fact--

With a sudden heave, Elaine rolled them both sideways -- and suddenly he was looking up at her from the bed!  She’d never been on top before.  The few times she’d tried, he’d just laughed and flipped her onto her back where she belonged.  He tried this now, but she saw it coming.  Her knees were too far apart, too wide a base.  And damn she was heavy!  She swayed only slightly but came right back.

“What are you d--“  His voice cut out with a groan as her pussy descended, sliding him inside.  Something about the angle… it felt incredible.  She began to bounce up and down, her quads working fiercely -- and he moaned.  And moaned.

Faster.  Elaine picked up the pace.  Faster.  She gritted her teeth.  Harder.  Her man was gasping for breath now, panting … but she wasn’t there.  Enough pleasure to keep her motor revving, but frustratingly little hope of making it all the way.  Damn it!  She looked around, wondering what else she could possibly try.  Theo just wasn’t doing it for her.  She held her gaze briefly on her bedside table, remembering the special toy she kept hidden away in there for the times when Theo was away.  The size of that, compared to Theo’s, should have told her all she needed to know.  She--

“Ohhh yes … Yes, babe … YESSS!!!”

He completed already?  He spasmed and finally collapsed, sinking into the bed, while she felt almost … offended.  Annoyed.  She hadn’t intended to let him finish by himself.

“Was that good for you, babe?” he asked, a minute later.

What -- seriously??  So wrapped up in himself he didn’t even notice her frustration?  He just assumed he could get her off every time without hardly trying, like in the olden days?

“I could use a little more,” she coaxed, trying to keep her tone light and upbeat.

… And he laughed!  “Well, that’s a first,” he hummed, caught up in the afterglow.  “I’ll get you next time, I promise,” he added, more sincerely.

Her brow tightened.  Her elbow prodded his side.  “Or you could help me out now.”

“Hmm? … Oh.  I could probably give it another go.  Just lemme rest for a bit, and I’ll go put on another condom and--“

“There’s other ways to get a woman off.”

He looked at her like she was speaking Greek.

“Forget it,” she huffed, standing up and marching to the bathroom, loudly closing the door.  Damn him for getting her all worked up then not offering to tend to her needs.  Maybe later she’d sneak off with her vibrator after all.  But she wouldn’t put up with things continuing this way for long.  Not anymore.