Casting the dismal memory of Marina aside, he looked at his watch. Nine o'clock. Much too early for bed. Or at least, for his own bed. He turned to the back pages of his contacts book and made a few calls. After three invitations to leave a message after the tone and one sorry, I'm washing my hair, he gave up. He knew of one or two watering holes where his acquaintances would be but a night out with the guys didn't appeal. He was hungry. No point in looking in the fridge: it was due for restocking. In desperation Harry went to his car, drove to the nearest multiplex cinema and bought a ticket to the first screen that had vacant seats. Surprised, he enjoyed the movie and set off home in a better mood.
Remembering he still hadn't eaten and his refrigerator was empty, he made a detour to his favoured supermarket. It was a good time to drop in. Most people were still out enjoying their Saturday or heading for home while the serious night owls wouldn't arrive for another couple of hours. Staff stacking shelves almost outnumbered shoppers. In little over thirty minutes, Harry had filled his trolley with more than enough unsuitable foodstuffs to see him through the coming week. The checkouts were quiet, too. Harry began to unload his purchases. When he handed over his credit card, the woman at the desk said, "That should keep you going for a bit."
Harry grinned and nodded. "Anyway," said the woman, "if you don't mind my saying so, it's a bit of a surprise to see a good-looking single man out on his own on a Saturday night. No girl friends?"
"Not tonight." Harry shook his head. "But how did you know I was single?"
She indicated the items she was packing into a carrier for him. "Frozen meals, ready for the microwave? You're no husband, that's for sure."
"In that case, thank heavens for the microwave. Otherwise I might starve. At least it won't take long when I get back."
The woman laughed. "Far to go?"
When he told her, she put a restraining hand on his arm. "Could I be very cheeky and ask for a lift? I'm finishing now. I had my till balanced half an hour ago, so I won't be long." She placed a Checkout Closed sign across the end of the conveyor belt. "It's my direction and after midnight you can wait for ages for a bus. Drop me off where you can and I'll get a taxi from there."
It would have been churlish to refuse and, in truth, he was in no great hurry. "I'll be in the car park," he said. "A blue sports car."
"Nice," she replied. "And thanks."
Waiting, he wondered whether the woman's employers would have approved of her taking a bit of a liberty with a customer but he could understand a woman not wanting to wait around on her own late at night. Beryl was the name on her ID tag. Middle to late forties, he guessed. Almost old enough to be his mother. His train of thought was broken when the passenger door opened and she slid in.
They made comfortable conversation while he drove, small talk, the weather, the traffic. He told her about the film he'd just seen. She said she only did the two late shifts at the week-end because she and her husband put the money towards a holiday. And she had a part-time job in the mornings, Monday to Friday. They were planning a cruise this year. He asked where she lived and, when she told him, offered to take her all the way. It was only an extra couple of miles, he said, and the microwave could wait.
Her house was in a suburban avenue like thousands of other suburban avenues. A light could be seen behind partly closed curtains at an upstairs window. "John's probably gone to bed already," she said. "He won't be expecting me this early. Anyway, thanks for the lift. It was really kind of you." She unfastened her seat belt and leaned across to kiss his cheek.
Impulsively, Harry sought to give her a return peck but suddenly they were face to face and she was looking into his eyes and smiling. "Would you mind if I kissed you properly?" she said.
Harry realised that he wouldn't mind at all. He drew her to him and put his hand behind her head as she opened her lips. When they parted, both gasping for air, Beryl said, "I don't do this sort of thing. I don't know why I did. I'm sorry."
"No need," said Harry. "It was good." They sat in silence for a while, looking at each other, unsure how they had arrived where they were or what should happen next.
"I'd better go," Beryl said.
"Please don't. Just for a couple of minutes."
"You know what will happen, don't you?"
"Yes," said Harry and kissed her again. This time he couldn't resist the temptation to let his hand discover her breast. She put her hand on his and made to move it away, then pressed it against her. He could feel the nipple hardening under the material of her blouse. Beryl's resistance crumbled. While Harry massaged her tits more vigorously, she reached for his crotch. He paused for a moment to open his zip for her. She had difficulty extracting his cock, already semi-erect. It sprang into her hand. "Oh," she breathed, "you're very big. Nice."
Glancing through the car windows to ensure that the street was empty, she said, "A good thing we're beside this tree. It's quite dark, so I don't think we can be seen." Reassured, she bent her head to Harry's purple cockhead. Precum was already oozing. She licked slowly, first across the top, then underneath the knob. Soon, unable to resist, she opened her mouth and took in as much shaft as she could cope with.
Harry groaned. "That's it. Just like that." He looked down at the bobbing head of this middle-aged checkout lady who was giving him a blowjob of such subtle intensity. Unable to contain himself, he put his hand against the back of her head and began bucking himself to meet her, fucking her sensuous mouth, willing her to add friction with her tongue. As if reading his mind, she responded. Harry recalled that a few hours ago his hand had taken him all the way but now, under this expert stimulation, there was no sign of fatigue. His cock was throbbing and Beryl was showing no sign of easing off. He had to warn her. "Careful," he whispered. "I'm nearly there."
She released him just long enough to say, "It's all right. Just come." Her mouth descended again, her lips fastened round his shaft, her hand cradled his balls. Little by little, she increased her speed, gripped more firmly, sucked more greedily. Harry bit his tongue to prevent himself from crying out as he let himself go, feeling her suck the spunk that emerged in fierce jets deep into her throat.
When it was over, she licked him clean, though almost no residue had been allowed to escape. Harry lay back in his seat and looked at her as she sat up. "Do you know something?" he said. "That was absolutely amazing. Fantastic." And then, remembering himself, "But it's all been me. What can I do for you?"
Beryl kissed him lightly on the lips. "Nothing, I'm afraid. Not just now. It's not that I wouldn't like it. I know I would but ... " she glanced up at the lighted bedroom window. "John may be awake still, and he - well, you know." She smoothed down the skirt that had ridden up round her thighs and refastened her blouse. "I'm glad it was good for you. It was for me, too. But I really have to go now."
As she prepared to leave, he caught her hand. "Another time, then. Next Saturday?"
She shook her head. "I couldn't, not here, not every Saturday night."
"What about one afternoon? You only work mornings, you said." Harry suspected he might have only explored the surface of a very sexy lady and he was fearful she would escape.
"I'll think about it," said Beryl.
Harry took his business card from his wallet and thrust it into her hand. "Please do. Think about it. Give me a ring."
She took the card, smiled and disappeared up the path to the house. He watched her take a key from her handbag. She gave him a little wave and went in.
Each time his phone rang during the next few days, Harry snatched it up expecting - hoping - it would be Beryl. Disappointment gradually gave way to resignation. Two weeks passed. He thought about calling in at the supermarket on a Saturday but it would be unfair. If she'd really wanted him, she would have rung. A memorable one-off but a one-off for all that. Put it down to experience and move on. And then she called.