Day 1

“Who else, honey? Come on, get up! It’s late.” Mom’s voice drifted through the fog of sleep, pulling me reluctantly back to consciousness.

Shit, that was mom! The realization hit me like a cold shower. The voice that had been so seductive in my dream was now back to its familiar, maternal tone, and the contrast made my stomach churn with guilt.

My mother stood in the doorway wearing a bathrobe that did little to hide the curves that had featured so prominently in my vivid dream. Her dark hair was slightly tousled from sleep, and her concerned expression was so different from the predatory nurse of my subconscious fantasy.

“Uh ... yeah. Just give me five more minutes,” I mumbled, pulling the covers higher to hide my morning arousal.

“Breakfast is getting cold, come on. Up!” She clapped her hands together with maternal authority, her breasts bouncing slightly with the motion. The sight sent another unwelcome jolt through me.

“All right, all right. I’m coming,” I groaned, sitting up reluctantly.

As she left, I was alone with my disturbing thoughts and the vivid memories of what my mind had created during the night.

It was her. The nurse outfit, the huge tits, even her voice. Only she was thinner, at least at the start.

I actually fucked my mom in my dream, and I liked it as well.

I should have felt disgusted, but all I could think of was mom’s sexy nurse outfit and her warm body as she fucked my brains out. I tried to work those images out of my mind, but the more I tried, the more they resurfaced from the dream.

One moment she was on her knees in front of me, the next, she was riding me like there was no tomorrow. Did she know I was her son?

I shook my head violently. What a stupid idea, of course, she didn’t know, she was just a part of my subconscious, a manifestation of something buried deep inside me.

It still felt wrong to have dreamt it at all, but I gradually convinced myself that I wasn’t to blame. How can you be at fault for something you didn’t voluntarily do?

And it couldn’t be my fault if mom walked around the house dressed so provocatively as if no one else lived with her. Besides, it’s not like I’d actually do something like that.

As my mind wandered, I glanced at the clock and realized I was late. I slipped a fresh shirt and trousers on and hurried down to the kitchen.

The scene that greeted me was a study in family dynamics. Lucy’s face lit up the moment she saw me, waving enthusiastically with her mouth full of food. Mom was still in her robe, the fabric doing little to hide her enormous breasts, while Helen sat rigidly upright, looking at me as if I was a cockroach that had crawled out of her cereal.

“Did you have to come when I’m having breakfast, Alex?” Helen’s voice dripped with disdain, her dark eyes narrowing as she glared at me over her plate.

“Good morning to you, too,” I replied with forced cheerfulness.

“You two. Stop it.” Mom’s intervention was swift and tired, the voice of someone who’d refereed countless such exchanges over the years.

She set a plate in front of me with motherly care, her fingers briefly brushing mine as she handed me a fork. “Eat up, Alex, dear. I’ll need to clean up and go to work soon.”

“What did the coach tell you about the team, Helen? You didn’t tell me anything about it.”

Helen’s posture stiffened, and she lowered her head over her pancake, muttering reluctantly, “All fine, mom.”

“Did you get on the team?” Mom’s voice carried a note of hopeful expectation.

Helen’s silence was answer enough, her shoulders sagging slightly as she avoided eye contact.

“Helen, did you ask him properly!? I told you; you have to be polite, or no one will ever listen. And remember to thank him after -”

“Jeez, mom!” Helen’s voice cracked with frustration. “I asked him as nicely as I could! But he said he couldn’t see me playing for the team yet.”

Mom’s face fell, her protective instincts kicking in immediately. “How is this not a big deal? No, I won’t have it. When’s your next training? I’ll come with you, it’s time I had a word with this coach of yours.”

Helen glanced desperately at Lucy, her eyes pleading for rescue from Mom’s overwhelming concern. Lucy quickly wolfed down her food and cleared her throat with exaggerated politeness.

“Uhh ... by the way, mom, how are things at work? What was it about...? Did your coworker need some help?”

Mom’s attention shifted gratefully to safer topics. “Oh, Stella, yes. I didn’t have time to help her out yet. It’s been very busy at the hospital recently; a new virus by the looks of it.”

“Who’s Stella?” I asked, genuinely curious about this new addition to our family’s social circle.

Lucy grinned mischievously. “You’ve missed the latest developments. Mom got a new friend. Right, mom?”

“Yes, Stella moved to our town a month after you left, honey.” Mom’s voice took on a warm, fond tone. “She’s a hypnotherapist, we work in the same clinic. She’s a really nice person and a great colleague.”

“A great colleague that drinks wine with mom on Saturdays,” Lucy added with a knowing smirk.

Mom’s cheeks turned pink. “We only did it once!”

“Ok, ok. Sorry.”

“Anyway,” Mom continued, her embarrassment fading, “I wasn’t able to help her because new cases are popping up every day, and we’re overstretched. And Stella needs help with her hypnotherapy, so I’m a little out of my depth there.”

“Hypnotherapy? Is that even a scientific ... thing?” Helen’s skepticism was evident in her scoffing tone.

“Yeah, hypnotherapy is used in psychotherapy to treat anxiety, depression, eating disorders...” I replied, drawing on my psychology background.

Mom’s eyes suddenly brightened as an idea struck her. “Oh, honey! Why didn’t I think of this before? Maybe you could help Stella. I mean, you’re a psychology major. I think you’d be a better fit for her than me. Or would you like to rest more after your trip?”

“But I’ve been working in a pizza joint for the last few years. I don’t think she’s gonna be okay with that.” Self-doubt crept into my voice.

“But I can always try. What’s she looking for?”

“She needs an assistant. Something like a right-hand man to handle her clients.”

“Like an apprentice?”

Helen couldn’t resist cutting in with her trademark sarcasm. “What a sight to behold – a pizza delivery boy hypnotist!”

I felt the familiar surge of anger at her condescension. “Still more than what you’ve achieved so far.”

Helen’s eyes flashed dangerously. “What!? You know what, Alex? No one cares about your stupid -”

“Kids! Helen! Stop it!! I don’t want to hear it anymore!” Mom’s voice rose to a near shout, her patience finally snapping.

The kitchen fell silent except for the clink of silverware on plates.

“And, Alex,” Mom continued in a calmer tone, “you don’t have to be a hypnotist. I think it’s more about helping out with the paperwork, maybe making client appointments...”

“She’ll be at work today. Why don’t you come with me after breakfast? I’ll introduce you. You can talk it out with her and see if it suits you.”

“Really? Thanks, mom.” The opportunity felt like a lifeline thrown to a drowning man.

“Okay, then ... Oh, look at the time! We’ve got to run!”

“Lucy, can you clear the table? We really have to go.”

“Sure, mom, don’t worry about it,” Lucy replied cheerfully, already gathering plates with practiced efficiency.

“Thank you, sweetheart.”

We arrived at the hospital shortly after, Mom’s aggressive driving having turned what should have been a calm morning into an adrenaline-pumping race against traffic. Mom came to a screeching halt in the parking lot, and we hurried out, walking quickly down a sterile corridor until we stopped in front of a door marked “Dr. Somnus, Psychotherapy and Hypnotherapy.”

“Knock-knock,” Mom called out in her characteristic sing-song voice.

A warm but professional voice responded from within, “Cathy! Good to see you.”

The door opened to reveal someone completely different from the old, shriveled woman I’d pictured during the ride to the hospital. Instead, the person who shook my hand was a relatively young, attractive woman with shoulder-length hair and intense hazel eyes that seemed to look right through me.

She wore a blouse that left her chest quite exposed, the professional facade not quite hiding the sensual woman underneath. But I’d barely registered her revealing outfit when she took my hand firmly and held my gaze with those penetrating eyes.

I think I must have forgotten I was holding her hand because she abruptly let go, a slight smile playing at her lips.

“My pleasure, Dr. Somnus,” I managed to say.

“Please, call me Stella,” she replied, her voice carrying an authority that made me want to please her.

“Uh ... ok.”

Mom beamed proudly beside me. “Hello there, Stella! How are you, darling? I’ve brought my son; he might be able to help you with your work.”

“I’m very well, Cathy, busy as usual.” Stella’s attention turned fully to me, studying me with professional interest. “Alex. Pleasure to meet you.”

“Let me be quick,” she continued, her business-like demeanor taking over. “I need someone competent to take care of some clients while I’m away, including managing my schedule and calls, as well as some hypnotherapy work. Do you think you can do that?”

“Alex got his degree in psychology in the capital a year ago, and he’s been living and working there since. I think he’s ready for this job,” Mom interjected before I could respond.