A night not quite

He couldn't believe the luck in finding her the first time.  God bless Classmates.com  It had been a whim and they had enjoyed talking and catching up.  She was on her way back home and he happened to be in town.  They planned lunch but work called on them both and it was cancelled.  His life moved quickly forward without her.  But sometimes he thought back on her face; her smile. He swore sometimes he could hear it in her typing.


Growing up, she had always adored him from afar.  He was the one that made her too shy to talk, too nervous to pursue and so she dreamed of him.  She laughed at herself for keeping a picture he'd given her in kindergarten.  He was her first "love".  She had wanted to marry him before that meant anything other than chasing him around the playground.  She wrote his name and drew little hearts and stars beside it.  It was the first time she had ever written "Mrs." Anyone.  Disappointment was heavy in her heart when he cancelled their lunch but with that came the confession that she was petrified to actually sit with him. The thought sent a flush to her cheeks and a race to her heart.  Their second reunion was thanks to the advent of social networks. He seemed closer; within reach.  Their conversations were filled with reminiscence and expectations for their lives so far apart and separate.  They were both happy and content.  They were doing well in their businesses; over congratulating each other for success.  It surprised her how well their humor melded and their lives paralleled.  She was surprised to hear the invitation when she mentioned a trip to a nearby city.  They made arrangements to meet for dinner. He recalled the restaurant in her hotel was nice; not too romantic but not too loud so he made reservations. He had remembered her favorite color and wore it well.  He had debated about flowers and decided on wine instead.  They had a common love of it and had fallen back to it when lost for words; the correct ones at least. He spotted her the minute he walked in.  It was a dress they had laughed about before, but he wasn't laughing now.  She was more beautiful than he remembered.  He cupped his mouth and stroked his goatee. Did he hug her? Kiss her cheek? Shake hands? Now he seemed choked with formality and uncertainty.  His skin pricked with a nervous perspiration. She turned...


And saw him.  Instantly she smiled.  His dark eyes seemed to swallow her.  She stood and opened her arms, hugging him warmly and as he helped her return to her seat, she caught the bartender, ordering a bottle of wine to be sent to the table.  They remained and had cocktails; talking innocently of the trip for both of them.
 She chose a dress that was sexy but left something to the imagination.  She had alluded to it in a brief conversation they'd had online one day.  She arrived early, stopping in the ladies room a dozen times to check and recheck her hair and make up.  Her stomach fluttered with a million butterflies.  Her skin tingled at the anticipation of his touch. Would he hug her? Shake hands?  Her heart thumped as if she had run a hundred miles.  She saw him at last from across the lot; tall, handsome.  This was cause for one more mad dash to the bathroom.  Nope.  It was all still the same.  When ready, they were seated.  he sat close to her offering his jacket.


"Are you cold?"


She laughed and rubbed her arms carelessly. "No. Just nervous I guess." she shrugged and smiled.


"Nervous?" he asked in surprise.


"Quit." and she nudged him playfully. "You know that I am."


"You don't seem it. Don't be. It's just me."  and he laid his hand across the back of her chair.


She leaned back and let his had softly trail along her bare flesh.  The shiver that ran through her caused them both to look at each other and giggle.


"It was never "just you"." she said quietly, sipping from the wine glass in front of her.


"Now it's my turn to be nervous."  he confessed.  "It IS just me. Not bigger than life. Not more than a man."


Her eyes softened over the candle at their table and his mouth went dry as she grinned into her glass.
It took them both by surprise; his kiss.  He bent, gently touched her chin and barely brushed her mouth with his.  The wine tasted better on her lips. She lingered only long enough to catch his eye and bite her lip. Pulling away with a nervous giggle.


"Where are you going?" he prodded and kissed her temple.  He breathed in the swirl of perfume, shampoo and desire that surrounded them.


"Absolutely nowhere." she breathed and touched his face.  She looked deeply into his eyes.


"Wow." he said catching his breath.  "I like this."


"Me too." she said, willing her knees to stop knocking under the table. Her entire body was on fire.  She wanted to climb into his lap and whisper all the thoughts, all the wants she'd hidden for so long; for a lifetime.  She wanted to touch and kiss every inch of his body because it was perfect to her; as it always had been.  


He must have read her mind for he reached under and lightly drew along the back of her leg.  She closed her eyes and almost drowned in the pleasure his hands brought to her. Her cheeks grew warm but she did not pull away or stop him.  Carefully he teased the hem of her dress relishing the tension that grew between them.  She was taken by surprise when the waiter came to take their order; glancing away mildly embarrassed.  He ordered for her and whispered against her shoulder that although she looked wonderful, he wanted to see the dress on the floor.  He kissed her lightly.  The soft pressure on his thigh confirmed a similar feeling.


It was her turn to catch off guard; her hand daintily wandering along his leg.  Reaching what she wanted, her fingertips became more insistent, curious; running the length of his body and smiling innocently.


"What do you think you're doing young lady?" he whispered heavily shifting his body in his chair. She only batted her eyes and smiled softly.


"Nothing.  What did you do today." she cooed.


"What?" he couldn't think.


Her hand caressed him a little more firmly. "What did..."


"I don't know." he confessed in a heated rush.


She giggled. "Good. I'm glad I have your attention." and she leaned in to tell him a secret.  He felt her breath warm against his neck as she whispered that she wanted him.  Her tongue and lips nuzzled his earlobe and his body responded instantly to her touch and passionate words of need and wish.


He actually turned to speak but found her hungry, full mouth instead.  She sighed quietly and asked to go. She pouted only a little and kissed him once again.  He couldn't have agreed more.  The bill was settled and they headed for the door. 


"Would you like to come up to my room?" she asked, sliding her hand into his and giving it a tug.   He wanted to pick her up and carry her off.  He wanted the rest of the night to disappear in skin and sex.  He didn't speak but followed her to the elevator.  Once inside, he quickly ushered her to the back corner.  His mouth was firm and eager.  His hands slipped around her waist to cup her backside. Feeling her legs part, he slowly traced her hips, her thighs and cautiously explored her body.  He felt her begin to shake with anticipation.  He kissed her chin and neck almost growling her name as she pulled selfishly at his clothes.  Her breath came in gasps and giggles. He found her mouth again tasting her tongue and lips.  He pushed against her as his belt and trousers jingled playfully; lifting her up, he ached to feel the tightness of her body.


"Oh God. Please...." she began and moved against him. She whimpered and asked him once more. "No. Wait. We can't..." she huffed suddenly.


"We  can't?" he pulled away to make sure he'd heard her right. Her hair was disheveled but she continued to kiss him. He weighed in again with a new barrage of words and touch against her silky skin.


~I can't.


"Why?"


~I can't make it.


He read the typed words again and sent his response.


WHY?


~I have to work and won't make the flight.


Take a later one.  


There was a blank screen.  He could hear her thinking.  He kept sending his selfish thoughts.  He wanted to see her; hold her; have her.  He knew she felt the same.


~I can't.


I want you to.


~I want you too.


Please.
As he typed it, he knew the answer.  His heart sank in disappointment. He read the words with a different ache in his chest.


~I'm sorry


They danced around their pain and frustration.  They joked about another rendezvous. They agreed to chat the next day and the next...  But in the end, as always with their conversations, it ended with lights out, worlds apart.  Two lovers left to dream of what would never be.