I'd been ill throughout that December. My son-in-law had been a treasure helping with everything from ironing to cooking my meals. But I could never get him to wear an apron. My intended present was a joke apron and my card said, 'why is it that men never see the need for one of these? I'm not being a nag but you really should wear one you know. Many thanks for being such a help, my daughter is a lucky woman.' But when Justin opened his gaily wrapped present it wasn't an apron but a bra! My son-in-law isn't fat, but his immediate reaction was to look down at the soft flesh at his chest.

My daughter, who can be cruel at times, touched him through his shirt saying, 'the truth is Mommy, Justin likes having breasts, he loves it when I play with them - don't you?' I was stunned. And it was far too late to say it had been a mistake. Justin actually thanked me! A few drinks later my daughter told me everything. About a husband who played being the housewife in the bedroom and paid for it - in the kitchen. Suddenly she was talking about a girdle for him - and even a dress!

With Ryan's mother coming for lunch Sophie knew that there would be no help from her husband in the kitchen. 'The minute she leaves I'll take over and you can put your feet up,' he promised. But Sophie's mother-in-law decides to stay the night! Faced with the kind of housework normally dealt with by Ryan, she uses blackmail. 'Want to know what I've bought for you this year? You know, my special present - it's a bra and panty set in pale blue satin -' she whispers. 'And if I'm faced with any more housework, I'll hand it to you in front of your mother!' Ryan dons an apron - explaining to his bemused mother that he always does the housework over the holiday! Sophie's first use of blackmail and her husband's abrupt surrender tilt the balance of power between them. And the next time Ryan's mother pays them a visit; Ryan is wearing his bra and panties!

'It was so nicely wrapped I didn't check it for mistakes.' Explains Ava, 'They were meant to be men's silk pajamas - in black, they came as ladies in pink with lace at the neck and wrists! But it was the card I enclosed with them that caused all the trouble: 'wear them tonight, I'll wear something special too!' I was so busy concentrating on my own sexy outfit I never gave a thought to Tyler's pajamas. I vividly remember his face as I stepped out of the bathroom wearing shimmering satin. 'You're beautiful Ava,' he whispered. Then he looked down, at his own incredibly pretty outfit. 'Are you sure this is what you want?' Later, staring up into the darkness after we'd made love, I knew I'd probably made a huge mistake. I only had a few seconds to decide you see. I knew instantly what had happened, the store had given me the wrong pajamas, and my note gave my new husband the wrong idea. I saw his face, frightened, hesitant and yet curiously happy. All I had to do was tell Tyler the truth. But where would that have left him? The sensual mood I'd created would disappear and my husband would feel foolish and worse. I told Tyler how special he was for having the courage to wear such an outfit. I switched off the lights and I made love to him. It was lovemaking of a kind I'd never experienced before. Tyler was soft and tender and passive. As I caressed him through the pink silk fabric of his ladies lingerie my husband turned into a girl!

They weren't real gifts; more like stocking-fillers, jokey kind of presents handed out at the end of the day. Everyone had gone home, we were alone and getting ready for bed. I shoved one small packet into his hands saying, 'if you're going to do the washing-up then you wear these. No arguments. No excuses - just wear them!' I was a little drunk and grimly determined to have my way. Christopher ripped open the paper and I blinked. Instead of the bright yellow rubber gloves I thought I given him, he was holding a pair of nylon stockings! As I tried to work out what had gone wrong - the tights were meant for my mother - it never occurred to me that Christopher didn't know it was a mistake. He looked at them for ages. Just as I was about to explain he said. 'Don't I need a belt or something,' he muttered softly, 'you know, to hold them up?' Long pause. 'Try one of my girdles,' I said. And he did!

Only in: MEN AS MAIDS! Next month!

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