The Housecleaner

Mark stood in his living room, surrounded by the aftermath of what had once been a tidy home. Dirty dishes were piled in the sink, clothes were strewn across furniture, and dust had settled on every surface. A year after his divorce, he was finally admitting defeat.

"This is ridiculous," he muttered to himself. He'd always shared household responsibilities with Stephanie, but her departure had exposed his inability to maintain the house on his own while balancing his demanding job as a software engineer. Working long hours from home didn't help either--he was always in the mess but never quite finding time to clean it.

After browsing local Craiglist listings in the Services category, he settled on someone using the name Spotless Cleaners. Their ad said they were judgment-free and eager to help in any situation. It was owned by a woman named Erin, and the company had good reviews online. Mark felt like they'd be able to tackle his messy home without feeling too embarrassed about how bad he'd let it get. The listing said to text them, so Mark sent the message and waited.

The response came two hours later. "Hi, Mark. Thanks for reaching out! I'd be more than happy to come help you with your home. I'll get it whipped into shape in no time. My hourly rate is $35 and I usually like to spend a few hours my first time at a home, depending on the situation. I'll know better once I get a better feel for the space when I see it. Does tomorrow at one in the afternoon work for you for me to come take a look? -Erin"

He replied, "Absolutely, thank you so much!"

The next morning, Mark looked over his home again and just shook his head, embarrassed at the sight. He spent a half hour trying to pick up a little bit to try to lessen the embarrassment, but it didn't help much. He was still strangely nervous about having a stranger see his home in this state for the first time.

When the doorbell rang at exactly 1:00 PM, he took a deep breath and opened the door.

He wasn't sure what he'd been expecting, but it wasn't the woman standing on his doorstep, bringing with her the faint scent of fresh air and citrus. Erin appeared to be in her mid-thirties with auburn hair pulled back into a practical ponytail. She wore simple jeans and a fitted gray t-shirt with the "Spotless Solutions" logo on the chest. Her smile was warm and professional, with a confident efficiency that suggested she took pride in her work, but Mark couldn't help noticing how attractive she was.

"You must be Mark," she said, extending her hand. "I'm Erin."

"Nice to meet you," Mark replied, shaking her hand and trying not to stare. "Come on in. I'm sorry about the mess."

"Don't you worry at all. That's why I'm here," she said as she looked around the house. "I've seen a lot worse than this. This is actually pretty tame."

As she continued to check out the house, Mark couldn't help but notice her beauty, the way her jeans fit her, the way her ponytail bounced, and the way she carried herself from room to room. She moved with purpose in a way that was intensely attractive. Mark was struggling not to ogle her, surprised by how strongly he was responding to someone he'd just met after months of self-imposed isolation.

Mark felt like he had to say something to snap himself out of it, uncomfortable with how quickly he'd become distracted by her presence. "The house hasn't really been as clean as I'd like it since my ex-wife moved out a year ago. I get so busy with work, the last thing I want to do at the end of the day is clean, and I guess I don't really know where to start now. I appreciate you coming to help."

"Don't you worry. No judgment here. Like I said, that's why I'm here. Let's start with a deep clean and then I think we should set up a bi-weekly maintenance schedule. How does that sound?"

"That sounds great to me," Mark replied.

They talked about her rates again and discussed scheduling. Mark found himself agreeing with all of her suggestions, surprisingly eager for her to become a regular part of his routine.

"Great," Erin said once they'd finalized the details, her organizational efficiency a stark contrast to the chaos of his recent life. "I'll see you on Friday morning to get started!"

"That would be perfect," Mark replied. "Do you need me to be out of the house, or...?"

"Not at all. I'm used to working around people, especially since so many work from home these days. Just do your thing, and I'll work around you."

--

On Friday morning, Mark found himself oddly nervous about Erin coming to clean. He picked a little more, doing his best to make what improvements he could before her arrival. When the doorbell rang precisely at 10:00, Mark opened the door to find Erin standing there smiling and holding a caddy of cleaning supplies.

"Good morning!" she said. "Are you ready to see the magic happen?"

Mark laughed. "Absolutely! Please come in. I'll try to stay out of your way. I'll be in my office, so feel free to start wherever you want. Does that work?"

"Perfect. I usually start in the kitchen and work my way through, if that's okay."

"That sounds good to me. If you need me for anything, just let me know." Mark grabbed his cup of coffee and headed to his office.

Throughout the morning, Mark found himself distracted from his work, his attention repeatedly drawn to the sounds of Erin moving through his house, each footstep a gentle reminder that he wasn't alone anymore. Occasionally, she would appear in the doorway of his office with a quick question--"Where do you keep your mop?" or "Is this vase okay to move?"--and each time, he found himself lingering on her presence a bit longer than necessary.

When it was time for lunch, Mark paused his work and walked out to the kitchen, blinking in surprise at the transformation. Sunlight streamed through newly clean windows, highlighting a space he barely recognized as his own. The living room and kitchen were spotless, as clean as the day they moved in. He'd forgotten what a woman's touch does to a home and he was a little overwhelmed by it.

"This looks amazing!" he said. "I can't believe how great it looks!"

"I'm glad you like it," she replied. "I told you I've seen worse. It won't take me long to finish up today, then we'll start our maintenance schedule to keep it looking just how you want it."

Mark said, "I'm about to make some lunch. Can I get something? Nothing fancy, just a sandwich."

Erin hesitated, "That's not really necessary."

"I insist," said Mark. "It's the least I can do."

She seemed to consider for a moment and then said, "Yes, that would be very nice, actually. Thanks."

As they ate at his newly clean kitchen counter, Mark found conversation flowing easily. Erin told him she'd started her cleaning business three years ago after leaving a corporate job that had burned her out.

"Best decision I ever made," she said. "I'm my own boss, I get to work with my hands, and there's something satisfying about creating order from chaos."

"I spend all my time on code, working on software processes, procedures and functions," Mark replied. "Sometimes I miss work that produces more tangible results."

"That's why you need hobbies," she said, gesturing with her sandwich. "What do you do for fun?"

Mark realized with a pang that he didn't have a good answer. Before the divorce, he and Stephanie had enjoyed hiking and cooking together, but those activities had fallen away in recent months.

"I guess I've been focusing so much on work that I've forgotten what it's like to have fun," he admitted. "Pretty pathetic, huh?"

"Not at all," Erin said. "Starting over is hard. But maybe it's time to try something new."

After lunch, Mark found it even harder to concentrate. He kept thinking about her comment about hobbies, but he also kept remembering her smile, and the way she'd tuck her hair behind her ear when she was talking, the curves of her body as she moved about his kitchen.

When she finished around three o'clock, the entire house was transformed. Surfaces gleamed, the floors shined, and light reflected off things without them showing a thick layer of dust. The air smelled fresh with hints of lemon and pine, making the house feel alive again.

"This is incredible! I can't thank you enough. Really,", he said.

"No problem! I'm more than happy to help. See you in two weeks?" Erin asked, gathering her supplies.

"Yep, and I'll do my best not to undo all your hard work," Mark said, laughing.

"That's not a problem. A home should look like there's someone living in it, right?" she observed with a gentle smile.

After she left, Mark couldn't get over how great of a job she had done, but he found himself missing her presence and was looking forward to her next visit.

--

For the next cleaning session, Mark made sure to shower and put on a decent shirt before Erin arrived, something he'd rarely bothered with during his work-from-home days. When she appeared at his door, he noticed she'd applied a light touch of makeup, something he hadn't seen the first time.

"The place looks good," she commented as she entered, smiling as she looked around. "You've been maintaining."

Mark felt an unexpected surge of pride, realizing he'd been making an effort not just for her approval, but for himself too. "I've been trying. Didn't want to undo all your hard work."

Mark worked from his office again while Erin cleaned, but this time he found himself looking for reasons to leave his office more frequently, whether it was to offer Erin some water, see if she needed anything, or just to check on her progress. During one of these excursions, he found her struggling to reach something on a high shelf.

"Let me help you with that," he said, reaching over her. As he did, his body pressed lightly against hers. He caught the scent of her shampoo--something floral and subtle. He felt her tense up before relaxing into him.

"Thanks," she said, as he handed her the duster. When she turned, they were standing close enough that he could see the light freckles across her nose, the flecks of other colors in her green eyes.

For a moment, neither moved. Then Erin cleared her throat and stepped back. "I should finish the living room."

"Right, of course," Mark said, returning to his office but finding it impossible to focus on his work.

At lunchtime, he once again invited her to join him, and this time she accepted without hesitation. Their conversation flowed even more easily than before, touching on favorite books, movies, and places they'd traveled.

"So, have you thought about dating again since the divorce?" Erin asked as they finished eating.

"No, not really," Mark admitted. "I think I needed some time to myself first. To figure out what went wrong and what I want now."

"And? Have you figured it out?" she asked, while taking a bite of her sandwich, watching him closely. There was something in her tone that made Mark look up sharply. Was she flirting with him?

"I think I'm starting to," he said carefully. "I'm learning what I appreciate in a person."

Mark felt a little giddy, perhaps from the glasses of wine they'd had with their sandwiches. He said, "You know, I look forward to our conversations. Maybe more than I should."

As soon as the words left his mouth, he regretted being so forward so soon. "I'm sorry, that was inappropriate. I didn't mean--"

He could see a glint in Erin's eyes. She smiled and said, "It's alright. I look forward to them, too."

"You do?" he asked, his face flushing warmly.

"Of course," she said, gathering their plates. "I like talking with someone who sees me as more than just the cleaning lady."

After she left that day, Mark found himself replaying the conversation over and over in his head, wondering if he'd imagined the sparks flying between them. For the first time in months, he felt genuinely excited about something other than work.

--

For the next two weeks, Mark found himself thinking about Erin more often than he cared to admit. He'd catch himself remembering her laugh during a boring meeting, or wondering what she might think of the book he was reading. He cleaned the house thoroughly before her next visit and even picked up fresh flowers for the kitchen table--something he told himself was just to make the place look nicer, not to impress her. Even as he arranged them in a vase, he couldn't help laughing at his own transparent excuse.

When Erin arrived for her third visit, her eyes immediately went to the flowers, a soft smile spreading across her face. "Those are lovely," she commented, reaching out to gently touch a petal.

"Just thought the place needed some color," he explained.

As Erin moved through her cleaning routine, Mark worked in his office with the door open, occasionally glancing up to watch her. There was something graceful about the way she moved, efficient but not rushed. At one point, she bent to pick something up, and Mark found himself admiring the curve of her body before quickly averting his eyes, feeling like a teenager.

Their lunch break had become a ritual now, and today Mark had prepared more than just sandwiches--a simple pasta salad and fresh fruit. Erin's eyes widened appreciatively.

"Wow, you went all out," she said, taking a seat at the counter.

"Cooking for someone else is more motivating than just for myself," he admitted.

"It's a good thing you're my last client today," Erin said, glancing coyly at Mark. "This wine might be going to my head."

They talked for a while longer before Erin reluctantly returned to her work. For Mark, these lunches were the high point of their time together and Erin seemed to be feeling the same way.

When Erin finished cleaning, Mark offered her another glass of wine. She accepted with a smile, letting her hair down from its usual bun. The auburn waves fell past her shoulders, catching the afternoon light streaming through the windows.

"You look different with your hair down," Mark observed, handing her the glass. Their fingers brushed during the exchange, sending a jolt of electricity up his arm.

"Good different or bad different?" she asked, taking a sip of wine while maintaining eye contact over the rim of the glass.

"Definitely good," he replied, settling beside her on the couch. "Really good."

They sat closer than necessary, the space between them charged with unspoken tension. Their conversation flowed easily, touching on past relationships and future hopes. With each sip of wine, they seemed to drift closer together.

"Can I ask you something personal?" Mark said after a comfortable lull in conversation.

"Sure," Erin replied, tucking one leg beneath her to turn more fully toward him.

"Do you ever mix business with pleasure?" His heart hammered in his chest as he waited for her response.

Erin studied him for a long moment, her green eyes unreadable. Then, without a word, she leaned forward and pressed her lips to his.

The kiss was tentative at first, a question more than a statement. Mark responded gently, his hand coming up to cup her cheek. When they pulled apart, Erin's eyes were wide, searching his face. The sound of their quickened breathing filled the space between them, mingling with the faint scent of wine on their lips.

"I probably shouldn't have done that," she said, her voice a husky whisper.

"Why not?"

"Professional boundaries," she replied, but she didn't move away. "You're a client."

Mark set his wine glass on the coffee table. "What if I wasn't a client right now? What if I was just a guy who thinks you're incredible?"

Erin smiled slowly. "I could work with that."

This time when they kissed, there was no hesitation. Mark's arms wrapped around her waist, pulling her closer as her hands moved to the back of his neck. The kiss deepened, months of built-up tension and loneliness dissolving in the heat between them.

When Erin pulled back, her breathing was uneven. "I don't usually do this," she said.

"Neither do I," Mark replied. "Not since my divorce. Not with anyone."

She searched his face. "Are you sure about this?"

Mark kissed her again, then looked her directly in the eye and said, "I'm more than sure."

He held her hand as he rose from the couch and led her to his bedroom. As soon as they passed through the bedroom door, they were locked in another passionate kiss, their hands eagerly roaming each other's bodies. Mark slid his hands down her back, touching those curves he had admired for weeks. Erin moaned into him as their tongues explored each other's mouths.

To Mark's surprise, Erin began to unbutton his shirt. She glanced quickly at him with a look of hunger and impatience, then pulled his shirt off as fast as she could. Mark returned the favor, undoing the two buttons on the polo shirt she used for work, then pulled it over her head, unveiling her gorgeous breasts still hidden behind a bra more sexy than he expected someone to wear while cleaning houses.

She smiled and said, "I wore it just in case." She then reached behind her and undid the latch on her bra, letting it fall to the floor, exposing her breasts to Mark. He took in the beautiful sight, her hard nipples making Mark's mouth water at the thought of sucking on them.

Hurriedly, she unbuttoned her jeans and slid them off, then attacked the buttons on Mark's pants, nearly ripping them off of him. She traced the outline of his cock with her finger. She grinned at him, then fell to her knees, hooking her fingers inside the band of his underwear, and pulled them down in one swift motion. She looked up at him with a serious smile, then engulfed his hard cock with her mouth.

"Oh, fuck," Mark gasped, his head falling back. "That feels amazing."

Erin ran her hands over his lower back and butt, then cupped his balls gently while she continued to suck hungrily on his cock. She moaned and the vibrations almost sent Mark over the edge already. He hadn't touched a woman since long before Stephanie had moved out. It had been too long. He needed this, but he didn't want to come too soon and the sensation of her warm mouth on his cock was almost too much.

Mark gently guided her back to her feet, her lips parted and glistening. He captured her mouth with his own, their tongues meeting as he turned her toward the bed and eased her down onto the mattress. "Allow me to return the favor," he said as he slid her panties off. Mark slipped his hand between her legs, letting his index finger glide between her lips.

Mark kissed her again and said, "You're so wet for me." He began to kiss his way down her body. He let his lips linger on her neck, then allowed his tongue to trail down to her hard nipples. She gasped as he took a nipple into his mouth and began to suck. He gently tugged at her other nipple as he continued to suck, playing his tongue across her nipple, and sometimes gently nibbling on it with his teeth.

Mark continued his journey down her body, kissing his way from her breasts all the way down to her hips. She tensed in anticipation and Mark could tell. But he wanted to draw out the suspense, so he began kissing his way down her leg, his tongue leaving a trail down the inside of her thigh. He kissed the inside of her knee and then spread her legs further. He switched from her left leg to her right and began to very slowly kiss his way up the inside of her thigh.

She moaned. "You're being very mean to me," she said, but her tone betrayed her enjoyment.

Mark's mouth was tantalizing close to her waiting pussy, but Mark wanted to make her wait a bit more. He kissed his way around her pussy, feeling the heat radiating from her center, his lips brushing the sensitive junction where her thigh met her lips on his way to just above her swollen clit, without touching it directly. The scent of her was driving him wild, as well, but he wanted this to last.

He kissed his way around her pussy, just above her clit, without touching it. She was writhing in pleasure, but very clearly anxious for him to get started.

Finally, when he couldn't wait any longer, he slipped his tongue just inside her pussy, tasting her nectar for the first time. It was intoxicating.

"Oh, fuck, yes!" she yelled as his tongue explored her every fold. Mark thought he'd surprise her, so he pushed her legs back a little further and slid his tongue down to her asshole. She gasped and moaned and he licked around it, sometimes dipping his tongue just inside.

"I've never had anyone do that before... but don't fucking stop!"

Mark's tongue eagerly explored her asshole and pussy. He was almost drunk on her taste. At last, he found her clit and began to suck on it. "Oh, jesus fuck..." she said, grabbing the back of his head and pulling his mouth harder against her pussy. A wave of pleasure pulsed through her body. Her breathing was more panting now. "Just like that. Don't ever stop."

As Mark continued to suck on her clit, he slipped a finger inside her. He started making a "come here" motion, working to find her g-spot. He knew that he had found it when she clutched the sheets with both hands and her entire body tensed. "Oh my fucking god..."

He slid a second finger inside her, continuing his "come here" motion, moving with the rhythm her gyrating hips were making. He sucked harder on her clit while rubbing it with the tip of his tongue. His fingers were slick as he slipped them in and out of her. He could feel her tensing up, getting tighter around his fingers.

"Oh fuck... don't stop.... I'm going to come..." she panted, the words catching in her throat as pleasure overtook her.

Mark added just a bit of pressure with his fingers and picked up the pace just a little. Right as he felt her climax building, he sucked harder on her clit and that sent her over the edge.

"OH FUCK! Oh my God!" Her orgasm overtook her. Her body was wracked with spasms of pleasure. Her legs locked his mouth into position. He stopped fingering her, but kept the pressure on her g-spot and kept sucking on her clit until her climax began to subside. His face was soaked with her fluids and he loved it.

When she was done, he very gently kissed around her thighs and pussy, being sure to avoid her most sensitive spots. Reversing his earlier moves, he made his way back up her body, licking her nipples and kissing her neck on the way by, before slipping his tongue into her mouth.

"Mmmmm," she said as she grabbed the back of his head and pulled him into her again, this time tasting herself in his mouth. "I really liked that a lot." She was practically purring.

"I'm glad," said Mark as he kissed her chin and neck while running his hands along the length of her arms and across her stomach.

"Mmmmm," she said again. "But I want more. I need your hard cock inside me, right now."

Mark moved on top of her, his eyes locking on hers as he placed the tip of his cock at the entrance of her pussy. The scent of their arousal filled the air around them, primal and intoxicating. The soft, wet sounds of her readiness sent a shiver down his spine. He kissed her chin, her cheek, her mouth, and then slipped his tongue deep into her mouth as he plunged his cock inside her. Her pussy welcomed him in.

She moaned against his mouth as he began to fuck her slowly. He held her shoulders as he slid his cock in and out of her, a little deeper each time. His hand began to explore her body, grasping her neck, then sliding down to her breast. He cupped it firmly, lightly pinching her nipple as his cock thrust into her pussy. He let his hand wander across her stomach and around to her hip, then around to her butt.

He laid down on her, kissing her as his hand found her asshole, gently circling the sensitive ring of muscle with his fingertip, feeling it contract and relax as he continued to thrust into her with deep, measured strokes. Erin loved this new sensation. No one had ever touched her there while fucking her, and she loved every second of it.

She held the back of his head with one hand. She was panting again. She moved her mouth to his ear and whispered, "I love the way you fuck me."

Mark groaned, overwhelmed by how right this felt after so many months of emptiness. His own pleasure was building. He thought of her mouth on his cock and how amazing it felt. It was nothing compared to the pleasure of his cock inside her pussy, the connection he'd been craving without even realizing it. He knew he wasn't going to be able to hold back much longer. His climax was already building and there was no way he was going to be able to stop it now.

"I'm going to come. I--should I-- I mean, where do you want it?" he asked, not sure if it was safe to come inside her.

She felt another orgasm building inside her. She was aching for it, and longing to experience his.

"I want you to come inside me. I want to feel it. All of it."

Mark picked up his pace, his breathing becoming erratic, as was hers. Neither of them spoke. Neither could speak. Their mutual pleasure was an oncoming train that couldn't be avoided.

Finally, Mark burst out, "I'm coming!" His cock tensed and he flooded her pussy with his cum. As soon as Erin felt it, her own orgasm overtook her. She didn't even cry out. She couldn't. She pulled Mark in tightly against her as his cock continued to pump cum into her tight pussy. Her body shook uncontrollably.

At last, they were both spent. They laid that way for a while, hardly moving, just breathing hard. Mark stayed inside her, still feeling the walls of her pussy quivering around his cock.

After some time, Mark rolled off of her and lay next to her, kissing her cheek and shoulder while gently running the tips of his fingers over her body. It was a loving motion. He tried not to overstimulate her.

She rolled toward him and nestled into him, her breath finally calming.

She threw her leg over his"That was... unexpected. But wonderful."

"I agree completely," he replied. "I never expected that, but I have to admit, I've been thinking a lot about it for a while."

Her face broke into a satisfied smirk. "Me, too, Mark. Me, too."

He laughed at that. This felt special.

"I hope this isn't a one-time thing," he said, his voice carrying a vulnerability he hadn't intended to reveal. "Because I could seriously get used to having you around."

"It definitely isn't a one-time thing." She giggled. "Now aren't you glad that cleaning isn't my only skill?"

"Oh, yes. And aren't you glad that I can do more than make good sandwiches?"

They laughed, kissed, and fell asleep in each other's arms.