Hot Sex

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I've recently rediscovered my webcam and realized that while I would never think of myself as an exhibitionist, I definitely have a parakeet approach to my own image. It's amazing how distracting it is to see myself on my screen, to tilt my head this way or that, to lean forward to show cleavage or back to emphasize the curve of my hips.

And it's a heady feeling when you have an audience and you swivel just so and you see someone catch his breath and suddenly no one can type well because their fingers aren't working right.

A webcam flattens what you want to stick out and bulges what you want to keep flat. It also shortens you -- I am least four inches taller in real life, I'm certain of it -- and highlights anything that stands out against your skin tone, like moles and pimples and veins.

It's especially unkind if the image freezes while you're moving and displays 20 seconds of hippo-in-a-tutu or is-that-a-potato-or-your-nose instead of your truly gorgeous self.

And yet, thousands of women earn money performing on their home webcams. Millions more -- male and female -- take turns as exhibitionist and voyeur in video-chat communities and instant messaging.

Seska Lee (NSFW), a sex educator and performer who has seven years of professional experience on webcam, makes love with her husband James every Tuesday evening in front of a chat room audience of 100 to 150 people.

The shows are an integral part of her relationship, not just a paid performance. She indulges in a ritual beforehand -- bath, scrubbing salts, moisturizing, "everything that makes me feel sexy for myself" -- and looks forward to Tuesday each week.

"Some people don't like scheduling sex, but I don't feel trapped by that. It's where I give myself one hour of 'me time' with my partner; it's very focused, and I really appreciate setting aside that time," she says.

"On the other hand, I like to think about the audience and that I'm on camera, specifically. I have done burlesque, it's fun, but there is something fun about the camera. And this audience that is somewhere else. That's a turn on."

Seska recommends stockings for covering up leg bruises or blemishes (along with turning on every straight guy on earth). She also suggests a little bit of makeup to bring out your features, although webcams don't pick up enough detail to make it worth spackling your face like you would for television.

"If I'm feeling bloated, I wear something that will cover up my tummy so I don’t have to worry about sucking it in," she adds, shocking me with the thought that a woman as gorgeous as Seska would ever feel like she needs camouflage.

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