Priya Chopra watched the last children leave the gates at the end of the day and sighed, relieved that the working week was over. It wasn't that she didn't enjoy her job as a teaching assistant at a small Kingston primary school, nor did she have any exciting plans for the weekend to look forward to. No, Priya welcomed the weekend's arrival only because she needed space: space from the children and space from her colleagues.
But most of all, she needed space from him.
She returned across the playground to the old Victorian building. The February sky was threatening rain, and she had forgotten her umbrella, but Priya resisted the temptation to take the bus home. Instead, she vowed to undertake the twenty-minute walk to Surbiton on foot. After gaining weight, her New Year's resolutions had been to diet and take exercise regularly, and having stuck to both for over a month, it would take more than the threat of rain to dampen Priya's resolve.
As she walked along the corridor towards her classroom to collect her belongings, a small girl dashed out of an adjacent room. She ran towards Priya, wrapping her arms around her waist before burying her head in Priya's heavy bosom.
"You give the best hugs, Aunty Priya," the little girl said, her eyes closed as she nestled further into Priya's chest. She put her arms around the little girl and pulled her close.
Priya wouldn't usually encourage such displays of affection, much as she enjoyed them. Times had changed, and physical contact with the children was strongly discouraged. But Charlotte was the daughter of her best friend, Evie, a teacher at the school, and Priya and her late husband were Charlotte's godparents.
"And you give wonderful hugs, too, Charlotte. If I didn't get these lovely hugs from you, I wouldn't get any hugs at all. Then, what would I do?"
Priya wished she were exaggerating, but since her youngest son had left for university, Charlotte was the only one to show her any physical affection. She loved that the little girl was so demonstrative and lightly kissed the top of her head as she eventually pulled away.
"Are you coming to my birthday party tomorrow?" Charlotte asked, absent-mindedly playing with the gold embroidery and beadwork on Priya's wine-coloured kameez. "I'd like to show you my birthday presents. Please say you'll come?"
It was the last thing Priya wanted to do with her weekend, but she didn't want to disappoint the little girl. "I'll ask your mummy if she needs help with the party, but yes, I'd love to come and see all your lovely presents," Priya lied.
"I'm so lucky to have an aunty like you," Charlotte replied, flinging her arms around Priya's waist again. "I love you so much."
Priya looked uncertain as she hugged the little girl tightly.
**********
By the time Priya reached her apartment block, she was drenched. The rain had started soon after she left the school, and even her thick coat hadn't been enough to stop the dampness from reaching her skin. As she slowly climbed the stairs towards her landing, she felt proud of having walked home in such awful weather and decided to reward herself with a hot bath.
After hanging up her coat to dry, Priya went to the bathroom and turned on the taps before proceeding to her bedroom to undress. As she looked in the full-length mirror, she could see her shalwar kameez was blotted with large patches of rainwater, and her nipples were sticking out like thumbs under the damp fabric. She removed her dupatta, pulled down the zip of her tunic, and wriggled out of it. Then, she untied the drawstring of her soaking trousers and, holding onto the door for balance, pulled them off.
She looked in the mirror and winced at the sight of her enormous breasts spilling over the top of her undersized bra. Why, when she put on weight, did it always go on her boobs, hips, and bum? Perhaps the time had come to accept the weight gain, get herself measured, and buy some bras in the appropriate size. Priya's panties also seemed to be losing the fight as they tightly gripped her hips under her round, smooth belly.
Smooth, apart from the scar: that permanent reminder of all Priya had lost: her uterus, her cervix, and her chance to be the mother of a daughter. But it was also a reminder that she was lucky to be alive, and each time she looked at it, Priya reminded herself to make the most of every extra day she had been given.
Priya removed her makeup and jewellery and returned to the bathroom. She turned off the taps, took off her straining underwear and climbed into the steaming tub.
The hot bathwater was soothing after a long, hard week. Having untied her bun to release her shoulder-length black hair, Priya lay back and allowed the water to embrace her exhausted body. Her large, dark nipples were still stiff from the cold, so she lathered the soap and ran her warm hands over her breasts, closing her eyes as she tweaked her nipples between her thumbs and forefingers.
She had loved it when her husband, Suresh, had done that, often during a steamy shared shower or when he had come into the bathroom, supposedly to wash her back. Water play had always been an exciting feature of their sex lives, and Priya loved the feeling of the shower water cascading onto her back as her husband bent her over, squeezing her soapy breasts as he fucked her from behind.
With her palms planted flat on the shower wall, Priya had enjoyed submitting to her husband's lust-fuelled desires, all the time encouraging him with dirty talk and appreciative moaning. He had been masterful, often slapping her bum hard as he reached his climax, then either finishing off inside her or forcing her to her knees to empty himself over her face or into her mouth.
But it had been even hotter when they switched roles, and Priya had taken control. She had often driven Suresh wild with a soapy handjob, only to stop as his orgasm was tantalisingly close. After she had taken him to the edge several times, each time denying him his release, he had frequently carried her dripping wet from the shower before dropping her on the bed and fucking her where she lay. The look of desperate relief on his face as he flooded her with his pent-up cum would go with her to her grave.
God, how she missed him.
Thinking of these hard, carefree fucks led Priya's hand over her belly towards her pussy. She drew back her thighs and purred at the warm water's gentle embrocation of her sensitive inner labia. As her finger lightly rubbed her opening, Priya felt the wetness there was more viscous than water, and she realised how aroused her thoughts had made her. She pressed harder, allowing a finger to enter her as she massaged her sensitive inner folds.
As her breathing deepened and her finger strokes became firmer, Priya realised she was no longer thinking of the past and her dead husband. He had entered her thoughts as he frequently did, and now she imagined him between her legs, using his tongue to bring her the pleasure she had long been denied. She could feel his stubble, coarse and abrasive, against her inner thighs and anus as he clamped his mouth to her sex, and the warmth of his breath as he flicked her bead with the tip of his tongue.
She wondered how it would feel to take his thick brown hair in her hands, holding his head firmly in place as he probed deeper, eliciting soft moans as Priya's heart beat faster and her orgasm built under the ministrations of his skilled tongue.
Priya drew back her knees further, fully inserting her middle finger and rubbing furiously on her most sensitive spot while massaging her clitoris with her other hand. Before long, she felt the onset of her climax, and as her body released the week's sexual tension over her fingers, she could almost hear his voice whispering in her ear.
"Open your legs, Mrs Chopra. Now it's my turn to cum."
**********
Evie had jumped at the offer of help with the birthday party. She had told Priya that even as one of the children's teachers, she hadn't looked forward to being in sole charge as ten six and seven-year-olds ran amok in her house, and she was delighted to have Priya's assistance.
After the last child had been picked up, Evie poured two glasses of wine and slumped into an armchair as Priya watched Charlotte playing on the floor with the Lego she had given her for her birthday.
"Thank God it's only once a year," Evie said, taking a long sip from her glass. "I don't think I could cope with more than that."
Priya smiled. "The children had a wonderful time, but it is tiring, especially towards the end of a long half-term at school. I'm glad my days hosting children's parties are behind me."
"Lucky sod. But anyway, how has your half-term been?" Evie asked. "Ben Samson still seems to be settling in well. You'd never know he was a newly qualified teacher. You both appear to have formed a strong relationship in Year Two."
Priya didn't notice Evie's raised eyebrow and the hint of sarcasm in her voice.
"Yes, he has settled well. The children love him, Charlotte especially, and it has been a breath of fresh air having a male teacher on the staff again," she replied. "He's the only one who gets my filthy sense of humour."
"Yes, I've noticed you get on well together," Evie replied. "He's pretty hot, don't you think?"
Priya felt her cheeks redden as she finally realised Evie's questions were loaded. "Well, since I'm old enough to be his mother, I don't think I'm best qualified to answer that," she replied, trying to defuse the accusatory line of questioning with humour.
"Aunty Priya, when you and Mr Samson get married, me and Chloe Thompson want to be your bridesmaids," Charlotte chipped in without looking up from her Lego.
Priya almost choked on her wine. These sorts of comments from Charlotte and her mother were precisely why she had looked forward to a weekend alone. She needed time to reflect on her feelings for Ben Samson, not face questions and implicit accusations about them.
Priya laughed it off. "Charlotte, I have a son older than Mr Samson. We're not about to get married."
"Well, I think you should," Charlotte continued. "You love him, and he loves you. Even Alfie Broughton has noticed, and he's thick."
"Charlotte, you mustn't say these things!" Evie said, guilty of initiating the conversation. "Alfie isn't thick, and Aunty Priya and Mr Samson work together. They're friends and colleagues, that's all. That's right, isn't it, Priya?"
This time, the raised eyebrow and suspicious tone were unmissable.
Priya wished the ground could swallow her up. What had begun as gentle teasing from the staff in September over Priya's sexy new colleague had become more accusatory as the school year progressed, with veiled suggestions of sexual impropriety coming from all sides. And recently, even Evie seemed to be trying to tease out information to incriminate her.
Priya drained her wine, picked up her handbag, and prepared to leave. "That's right, friends and colleagues, nothing more. Now, I think it's time I went home. I have lots of washing to do."
Evie accompanied her to the door, apologising for Charlotte's indiscretion, but it was Evie with whom Priya was angry. How dare she perpetuate rumours about her and Ben! They weren't having an affair, and even if they were, why should it be deemed inappropriate simply because she was twenty-two years older than him? Had it been the other way around, the older guy would have received congratulations and slaps on the back for bedding a much younger woman, so why the double standard?
No, there was no affair, and the rumours were founded on nothing more than tittle-tattle, jealousy, and the vivid imaginations of the children. No adults apart from Priya and Ben knew what actually went on in their classroom, and even if anyone else had been there, they would have seen nothing amiss.
It was highly unlikely that they would have noticed Priya checking out Ben's tight bum or gym-toned pecs as he modelled the latest mathematical concept on the whiteboard, and even less plausible that they would have realised that she imagined him fucking her as she bent over the sink washing the paint pots at the end of the day.
And nobody had seen the moment when he had kissed her. Of that, Priya could be certain.
**********
Priya went to Kingston on Sunday for her regular hair appointment and decided to buy some new underwear while she was there. Having been measured in La Senza, she chose three matching lace bras and panties before proceeding to Marks and Spencer to purchase three more sets.
The size of her bosom meant Priya's choice was limited, but she was pleased with what she bought nonetheless. She wasn't sure she would get on with a thong, but she had decided to try one anyway. The spree didn't leave her with much change out of £250, and she thanked God for her husband's prudence and for leaving her with a house, healthy bank balance, generous pension, and considerable life insurance payout. Such spending would have been difficult on a teaching assistant's salary alone.
Walking home through the market, Priya heard someone calling her name. "Priya! I thought it was you! How are you?"
It was Nisha, one of Priya's former neighbours. Although they didn't see each other as frequently as they had when living close by, Priya loved Nisha's company and was delighted to bump into her old friend.
"Nisha! You should have told me you were coming to Kingston. How lovely to see you!"
"Oh, I just decided at the last minute. Chris has gone to the rugby, so I thought I might as well come here to shop after I dropped him off. I was about to give you a call."
"Shall we go and grab a coffee? It would be nice to catch up," Priya asked, keen to put off the walk home.
"Of course! Although, let's make it a glass of Prosecco. I think we deserve it."
The two women linked arms, walked to the nearby Druid's Head pub and settled down for a chat.
"Yes, I've been cancer-free for twelve years now," Priya said in response to the inevitable question about her health. "Of course, Suresh wasn't so lucky, and I still miss him terribly. But life goes on."
"So I see," Nisha said, nodding towards the La Senza carrier bag. "Dare I ask, is there a new man in your life?"
Priya prepared herself for the usual defensive rebuttals, but having considered Nisha's question for a moment and in the light of Evie's comments the day before, she decided to open up to her friend. She knew she would be discreet, and besides, if the rumours of Nisha's sexual proclivities were true, she was in no position to judge. Having had nobody with whom she could honestly discuss the situation with Ben, Priya desperately needed to vent.
"Jesus! He kissed you?" Nisha asked as Priya's tale neared its conclusion.
"Yes, after school when we were tidying the classroom. It was only once, two weeks ago, and he hasn't mentioned it or tried it on again since. He's still as flirty as before, but it's almost like the kiss never happened."
"God, I can see why it has left you feeling confused," Nisha replied. "And how did you react when he kissed you?"
"Well, I was shocked, obviously, but I didn't pull away. It was nice to get that kind of attention again, I must admit," Priya confided. "And apart from the fact that he's young and sexy as fuck, he's a really nice guy. I'd be lying if I said I don't find him attractive."
"But you say your colleagues suspect something's going on and disapprove?"
"Even the children have picked up on it," Priya explained. "We've always been a bit flirty with one another. For example, we jokingly address one another as Mr Samson and Mrs Chopra, even when the children aren't there. And some of the banter goes way beyond risqué, but we both give as good as we get. It's all just a bit of fun, but unfortunately, the other staff don't see it that way."
"I hope I don't seem flippant, but what's the problem?" Nisha said with a shrug. "It's none of their business! You're both adults, and neither is married. If the sexual chemistry is so strong that everyone has noticed, it probably means you're a hot match! You've been a widow for nearly four years, Priya; don't you think it's time you gave yourself a break? You know better than most that life is short."
Nisha's words made a lot of sense, but there were other things on Priya's mind. "But I'm still not ready for another relationship, and besides, although what I see in him is obvious, why would he be interested in a woman twice his age? Look at me! I'm not exactly a supermodel. Either he's a chubby-chaser, or he has mother issues, and neither scenario is particularly flattering."
Nisha laughed. "Or, there's a third possibility. Since he obviously is interested in you, have you considered that it might be because he finds your curves sexy, loves your smutty sense of humour, and sees you as the beautiful person you are? You're forty-four years of age, not ninety, and nobody could describe you as 'chubby'; in fact, I wish I had your hourglass figure, huge rack and sexy tush! You're a gorgeous woman in her sexual prime!
"And so what if it does turn out he has mother issues or that he likes curvy women?" Nisha continued. "Just allow yourself to enjoy some incredible, kinky sex with a hot young fuck buddy for as long as it lasts. Remember that your physical needs are as important as your emotional ones; you may not be ready to commit to a proper relationship, but that doesn't mean you can't enjoy a good shag from time to time."
Nisha's perspective on relationships was alien to Priya. As a young woman, Priya had never fucked around, and the idea of a relationship based solely on sex was not something she had ever considered advisable. But Nisha made it sound like the most normal thing in the world, and besides, having someone to take care of her sexual needs without making any further demands of her held a certain appeal.
"But tell me, is Ben the kind of guy who would normally do that sort of thing; kiss a woman out of the blue, I mean?" Nisha asked.
"Absolutely not! That's why it came as such a surprise. If anything, he seems slightly lacking in confidence around women. He only flirts with me because we work together and know each other well. Why do you ask?"
"Because I think I've found the root of your problem," Nisha said, lowering her voice conspiratorially. "I suspect he has lit the blue touch paper and is now standing well back."
"What do you mean?"
"Well, he's only young, and maybe having kissed you, he expected you as a mature, experienced woman to take control and move things to the next level. He may have backed off when you didn't, unsure what to do next. I think you need to be more assertive; unleash your inner cougar and seduce him! If you wait for him to make a move, you'll be waiting forever. But the kiss was a clear signal that he wants you to make a play for him, of that I have no doubt."
Bizarre as it sounded, Nisha's analysis made perfect sense.
"I think you should talk to him about it," Nisha said by way of a conclusion. "But if I'm right, and if you want some extra-curricular fun, I think you can expect fireworks!"
***********
Priya replayed Nisha's words as she walked home. She felt as though a great weight had been lifted from her shoulders and was grateful for a perspective from outside the incestuous bubble of the school.
It was true that although Priya didn't feel ready to move on from Suresh, she had increasingly felt the best years of her life were passing her by as she mourned him. Maybe she could compartmentalise her emotional and sexual needs, as Nisha had suggested. Regular, no-strings sex with a guy she trusted could be uncomplicated and fun, and it would help ease her loneliness, so why not enjoy it for what it was?
However, Nisha's suggestion that she should seduce Ben fired Priya's imagination most. The idea that after many years of pain and loss, she could reclaim control as a strong, sexually confident woman was exciting and empowering. Why should she wait for a guy to seduce her rather than proactively go after the sexual satisfaction she craved?
But did she even have an 'inner cougar' to unleash? Of course, she had frequently seduced Suresh during their marriage, but that had been easy. He was her husband, and they were young then. The question was whether she could repeat such brazenness now and with a much younger work colleague.
However, by the time Priya returned to her flat, she had already decided to follow Nisha's advice and speak to Ben about the kiss. With rumours about their relationship rife, she would need to tread carefully, but when the conversation happened, she would leave Ben Samson in no doubt that she was prepared to go much further than just a kiss.
**********
Emboldened by Nisha's words, Priya confidently walked to work the following day. Only five days stood between her and a week off for half-term, and she knew she could put up with the suspicion and gossip for another few days before enjoying the break.
The week was hectic, and although Priya stayed behind after work each night, ostensibly to fetch resources or tidy the classroom, the opportunity to speak to Ben didn't come. He was always tied up with meetings or after-school clubs, and getting him alone was difficult. Priya reluctantly decided the conversation would have to wait until after the holiday.
"Do you have any plans for the break?" she asked as she collected her belongings and prepared to go home on Friday afternoon.
"Not really," Ben replied dejectedly. "I have a shitload of marking to catch up with, and by the time I tidy the cupboards, do my planning, and put up fresh displays, I expect I'll be in here at least two days next week. Paul has said he'll open the school for me during the holiday."
Sensing an opportunity, Priya made a suggestion. "Why don't I come in to help? I can do the displays, tidying and other routine stuff, leaving you free to do the marking and other teacher bits."
"I can't ask you to do that," Ben replied. "You're hourly paid and won't be remunerated for your time."
"You know I don't do this job for the money, and I don't mind helping if it means you will get a decent rest. You look exhausted! Besides, I'll just be bored at home otherwise. Let's come in on Monday and finish everything in one day."
"Well, that's extremely kind of you, Mrs Chopra. And you're right, I am exhausted. It's been a tough half-term."
"Okay, I'll see you at ten on Monday then; we can have everything done by three o'clock, and then we can enjoy the rest of the week off."
**********
Priya was excited as she considered the possibilities Monday offered. She and Ben would likely be alone in the school, with few other teachers inclined to give up their holiday to come to work. Anything could happen after a day of flirting with one another in the classroom.
She decided to wait until the end of the day before raising the subject of the kiss. If she mentioned it in the morning, and the conversation became awkward, it would make for a long day. But if she left it until the afternoon and Ben's response was positive, with all their work done, she could set about the task of seducing him immediately.
The idea of having sex in school turned Priya on, and she wondered what it would be like to work there afterwards, knowing they had fucked on the desks where the children were working. Would she still be able to concentrate on supporting the pupils, or would she constantly have erotic flashbacks of Ben's face as he grunted another load of jizz into her? Priya was excited to find out.
So when Monday came, she made a special effort as she prepared for work. After showering and washing her hair, she carefully applied her makeup and sprayed on her favourite Penhaligon's scent. Priya decided it was an ideal day to wear her thong for the first time, and as she guided the thin string of black lace between her bum cheeks, she was thrilled at how sexy it made her feel. Looking over her shoulder into the mirror, she thought it looked surprisingly alluring as it bisected her large, smooth bottom.
Priya chose to wear a deep blue and silver shalwar kameez; the dark silk was flattering to her curves, and the low neckline revealed more than a hint of deep, tawny cleavage. Rather than tying her hair up, as she usually did for work, she straightened it and left it down; Ben had never seen her hair like that, and she hoped he would like it.
When Priya arrived ten minutes early, the school was unlocked, but there was no sign of anyone there. Paul, the caretaker, had likely gone home after opening up, relying on the magnetic lock alone to keep the school secure until Priya or Ben arrived to open the door with their fobs.
Victorian schools were eerie when empty, Priya had always thought. She imagined the generations of children, many of them long dead, who had once walked the corridors, and it reminded her of what Nisha had said about how quickly life passes and the need to grasp opportunities as they arise. Priya resolved once more that if the chance to seduce Ben came along, she wouldn't hesitate to take it.
The classroom was as Priya had left it on Friday, save for a thorough vacuuming by the cleaner. Having taken off her coat, she decided to make a start on the displays and began unpicking the hundreds of staples which secured the children's work to the wall. She had already completed one board when she noticed that Ben had arrived and was standing in the doorway. He looked refreshed and energised after the weekend.
"Gosh, Mrs Chopra! I almost didn't recognise you with your hair down. It looks beautiful! You look like an Indian Jennifer Aniston."
"Thank you," Priya replied, touching her shoulder-length bob. She was pleased Ben was feeling flirty and decided to reciprocate.
"I see you've made a start on the display boards - great!" Ben said. "If you're happy doing that, I might just crack on with the marking, if that's okay?"
"Of course. And if there is anything else you want me to do, just ask. Anything at all, Mr Samson." Priya fluttered her eyelashes outrageously, making Ben laugh.
"Hmm... I might take you up on that, Mrs Chopra. I have a large package which needs to be unwrapped and relieved of its thick white load," he countered, indicating a box of photocopy paper.
Priya soon cleared the low display boards, but the higher one was more difficult, and she had to stand on a chair to reach the staples at the top. Seeing her struggling, Ben offered to help.
He rose from his marking and stooped to hold onto the back of the chair Priya was standing on, meaning his face was only inches away from her bottom.
"Hey! You just wanted to check out my arse, you naughty boy," she teased.
"Why change the habit of a lifetime?" Ben replied as she stretched to remove the last few staples. Having taken somewhat longer than necessary to do so, she stepped down from the chair.
"Thank you," she said. "But while you're on your feet, perhaps you could hold the chair a little longer as I put up the fresh backing paper? And besides, your lecherous gaze is keeping my arse warm."
Again, Ben held the chair as Priya stapled the end of a long roll of yellow paper to the top of the board. She slowly bent at the waist as she rolled it down the display board before gently dropping it to the floor, hoping Ben enjoyed the sight of her bum straining against the fabric of her tunic only inches from his face.