Chapter 18: Family Connections

On Wednesday I walked into the kitchen, drawn by the scent of Mom’s famous lasagna. As I entered, I noticed a package on the counter.

“Andy, honey? There’s a package for you. What is it?” Mom asked, her eyebrow raised in curiosity.

My heart skipped a beat. “Oh, um, yeah,” I said. “Remember I told you about Alice and our massage session at Hidden Haven? She recommended these books, and when you showed interest, I thought it’d be useful to learn properly.”

I watched Mom’s eyes sparkle with curiosity. “Oh, really? Can I see?” she asked eagerly. I nodded and we huddled around the open box.

Mom picked up the book and started flipping through the pages. “This looks interesting,” she murmured, her face flushing. Suddenly, she fanned herself with her fingers, looking flustered. “Wow, this book takes the sensual part seriously,” she said, her voice tinged with excitement.

I glanced at the images Mom was pointing out. My eyes widened, and I felt a rush of heat to my face. “Whoa, maybe we should stick to the basics when I give you a massage,” I suggested, trying to keep my voice steady.

Mom chuckled, her eyes twinkling. “True, that might be pushing it. But don’t skip those parts entirely. You never know when those skills might come in handy - with Hazel or someone else,” she said with a wink, nudging me playfully.

I snuck the package up to my room, eager to dig into the massage lessons. Flipping through the pages, I breezed past the basic techniques. But when I hit the spicier sections, I couldn’t tear my eyes away. Before I knew it, I’d spent way too long ogling the steamy illustrations, imagining my hands gliding over smooth, bare skin. My face burned as I pictured Mom’s curves under my fingertips, or maybe Hazel’s perky breasts. I shook my head, trying to focus, but kept finding excuses to linger on the most provocative parts.

Later that evening I was lounging on the couch with Mom when her phone started buzzing. She picked it up, and her face lit up.

“Oh, it’s Cloe! Let’s see what she’s up to,” Mom said, swiping to accept the video call.

As the screen flickered to life, I nearly choked on my breath. There was Aunt Cloe, but not as I’d ever seen her before. She was practically glowing, her skin glistening with a sheen of sweat that made her look like she’d just stepped out of a steamy shower.

“Hey, you two! How’s everything back home?” Cloe’s voice rang out cheerfully.

I blinked, trying to process what I was seeing. “Hi Aunt Cloe! We’re good. How’s Mexico?” I managed to stammer out, my eyes involuntarily drawn to the barely-there top she was wearing.

Mom seemed equally taken aback, her eyes widening as she took in Cloe’s appearance.

“Oh, it’s absolutely scorching here!” Cloe exclaimed, fanning herself dramatically. She reached forward, presumably to adjust her camera, and I felt my face heat up as the movement gave us an even fuller view of her scantily clad body.

Her minimal clothing clung to her curves in a way that left little to the imagination. I found myself mesmerized by a bead of sweat that was slowly making its way down her collarbone.

“Sorry about the view,” Cloe giggled, seeming to notice our stunned expressions. “The AC in my hotel room is on the fritz. But enough about that! Let me tell you about this amazing waterfall I visited yesterday...”

As Cloe launched into a vivid description of her travels, I tried to focus on her words rather than her appearance. But it was a losing battle, my eyes kept drifting back to the screen, taking in how her sweat made her top transparent revealing her nipples clearly through the fabric.

A short time later I couldn’t contain my excitement any longer. “I’ve got some exciting news! I’m going to the Manga Con next weekend,” I blurted out, grinning from ear to ear.

Mom looked at me curiously. “You sound excited, Andy. What’s Manga Con?”

I launched into an enthusiastic explanation. “It’s this huge convention for manga and anime fans. There are panels with artists and voice actors, workshops where you can learn to draw manga-style, and tons of cool merchandise. I’m really looking forward to the cosplay contest too!”

Aunt Cloe’s eyes lit up. “That sounds fascinating, Andy. I’ve always been intrigued by Japanese culture. What else can you tell us about it?”

I went on, describing the different activities I was planning to attend, my voice getting more animated with each detail. Mom and Aunt Cloe listened intently, asking questions and showing genuine interest in my passion.

“You know, in Japan, they have a very different view on things like hentai. It’s just another genre over there,” Cloe said casually.

My eyebrows shot up. “Wow, really? That’s fascinating. I guess I’ll see some of that at the convention.”

Mom leaned in, clearly intrigued. “How do you know so much about this, Cloe?”

Aunt Cloe chuckled. “Well, I’ve done my fair share of traveling. Japan was an eye-opener. The openness about sexuality there is refreshing. Did you know they have vending machines for adult products right on the street?”

I listened, fascinated, as Aunt Cloe shared more about her experiences in Japan. The cultural differences were mind-boggling.

“Speaking of open-mindedness,” Aunt Cloe continued, “you should hear about my time in Thailand...”

“Thailand is even more open. People are so free and accepting there,” Cloe said, her voice filled with enthusiasm.

Mom leaned forward. “I’ve always wanted to visit Thailand. It sounds amazing.”

Cloe nodded, grinning. “Oh, it is! You wouldn’t believe some of the things I saw. There was this one beach where clothing was completely optional. And the massage parlors ... let’s just say they offer services you’d never find back home.”

I felt my cheeks flush as Cloe continued with more explicit examples, but I couldn’t help being fascinated. The atmosphere in the room shifted, becoming more relaxed and open as we all got caught up in Cloe’s stories.

As Cloe finished her tale about Thailand, she paused for a moment before saying, “But you know, Mexico has its own unique charm, but can be a bit more conservative, especially in public,” Cloe explained.

Mom nodded. “I’ve heard that. It must be quite a change from Japan and Thailand.”

“In Thailand, going topless on the beach is totally normal,” Cloe said. “But here, even a bikini can get you some serious side-eye in certain places.”

Mom laughed, nudging me playfully. “Maybe you should reconsider your choice of bikinis, Cloe?”

I listened intently as Cloe described the differences in public displays of affection, dress codes, and social norms. The conversation was lively, with Mom and I peppering Cloe with questions about her experiences.

As Aunt Cloe continued sharing her stories, a rhythmic thumping sound came through from her hotel room wall. The sudden noise caught all of us off guard.

Mom and I exchanged bewildered looks before bursting into laughter.

Cloe laughed, her eyes sparkling with amusement. “Well, maybe Mexico isn’t as conservative as I thought!”

I couldn’t help but chuckle. “Sounds like someone’s having a good time.”

The unexpected sound lightened the mood, filling the room with laughter. It felt like a shared joke that brought us all closer, breaking any lingering tension from earlier.

Cloe grinned at the screen, clearly enjoying the moment. “And it seems like the AC in the other room is working just fine!”

Her snarky remark sent us into another fit of laughter. The screen showed Cloe’s amused expression, and for a moment, it felt like we were all in the same room together.

As the laughter died down, Aunt Cloe’s expression shifted to something more thoughtful. She leaned closer to the camera

“Andy, have you thought about updating your passport? You never know when an opportunity might come up,” she said casually.

I blinked, caught off guard by the sudden change in topic. “My passport? I guess I haven’t really thought about it,” I replied, intrigued.

Cloe’s lips curved into a sly smile. “Just a thought. It’s always good to be prepared for adventure.”

My mind buzzed with possibilities. Was Aunt Cloe hinting at something? I glanced at Mom, who suddenly looked way too innocent.

“Speaking of being prepared,” Cloe continued, “did you know that in some countries...”

We chatted for another half hour. Cloe was too lazy from the heat to kick off any evening plans, and we were just happy to have a long talk with our favorite relative.

Eventually, it was time to wrap up. We said our goodbyes and well-wishes before ending the video call.

As the screen went dark, the room grew quieter. Mom and I shared a look, both still smiling from the unexpected humor of Cloe’s call.

The next evening, I found myself fidgeting with the massage book in my hands, my heart racing as I approached Mom in the living room. She was curled up on the couch, engrossed in a novel.

I cleared my throat. “Hey, Mom?”

She looked up, her eyebrows raised in question.

Taking a deep breath, I said, “After all that talk about being open-minded ... would you like to try out some of these massage techniques?”

Mom’s eyes widened slightly, and she hesitated for a moment. “I ... suppose that would be alright,” she said, her voice a mix of uncertainty and curiosity. “We said no false modesty, right?!”