A sexual escape. A tryst. Le Cinq à Sept is the ability to enjoy the act of sex and companionship without the complications of being in love.
*****
It had been a simple dream. Really rather unremarkable, except that he had been in it. Years had passed and although Kent had never disappeared from Emma's thoughts, she had carefully been able to suppress them. Strange that he would have randomly popped into her head while she slept, when he had never done so before. It was this unnoteworthy dream, like one finger tap in a pool of water, that set the ripples in motion.
For the next couple of days Emma thought about him. Kent had been one of her closest friends once. There was an unquestionable trust that they had once shared with each other. He called her out on her shit when necessary, listened to her bitch without complaint, was her secret keeper and put up with her even when she was being silly. Their friendship, for many years, was invaluable to her. The more she thought about it the more she wanted a piece of that back. It would not be possible to pick up where they had left off, but something would be better than nothing.
There had been moments of indiscretion in their past where the desire of each other had driven them to ignore public and social boundaries. Emma had cheated on every boyfriend she had with Kent, even her fiancé. She had lost her virginity to him at 17 and in what was intended as a joke, but became a reality - he claimed precedence to any who came after. Having staked his claim of being first. When she was married, she was determined to honor her vows. To be faithful. It wasn't out of love for her husband but more a duty to the oath she had taken.
For a brief time, Emma and her husband spoke about divorce. He moved out. It was without hesitation that she went to Kent no longer restrained by conventions. They fooled around, but didn't have sex. Her husband was still too much in her head and idiot that she was, she didn't think it was fair to Kent. Walking out of his apartment that night would be a thing she would long regret.
After reuniting with her husband, Kent made it clear what he wanted from Emma. He wanted to fuck her again like it was before she was married. It was this impasse that had severed their friendship. Emma, mother and wife, chose responsibility over pleasure.
But time had passed. Those desires were long forgotten. What harm could connecting with him on social media hold? When he accepted, she had every intention of maintaining a normal conversation.
The first week or so, it was as she had imagined. They messaged about their lives, families, careers. So many years to catch up on. Now in their forties, it felt like no time had passed in some ways, but in other ways they had missed so much. Emma was excited to have his friendship back. However miniscule it was to what it had been. And then one night the conversation took a turn. The sexual attraction had reignited. Messages that had begun with flirtatious undertone grew to boldly erotic
What was it about him? Years have been lost but the spark was almost instantaneous. Not the same, but more intense. Is it the absence, is it the change in them having gotten older? They were not the children they once were. With a word, a sentence, he could impact Emma in a way she had never experienced before. He drove her desire with no apparent effort. It is not love, it is carnal. It becomes a need that will not be denied. Her heart pounds, the heat grows. He tells her he owns her and she can only agree. The moments with him strip her raw. Emma had made the mistake of telling him no once and it was mistake she did not intend on repeating. Even the thought to do so had left her.
There were months of this. Sexually explicit content. Self-gratification in the absence of the physical presence of each other. There was safety in the 2,600 miles separating them. They could build fantasies and flex their imaginations knowing seeing each other to fulfill wasn't a possibility. But when a trip brought her within close proximity, the line between fantasy and reality had the chance to blur.
They made plans to meet for dinner at a restaurant near her hotel. It is innocent on the surface, two old friends catching up over a meal and a couple of drinks. It happens all the time. When they see each other, Kent cocks his head to the side, like he does and smiles his smile. Year melt away. Who they were and who they are dissolve into each other. They embrace in greeting.
But for them it is different. How could they have ever doubted that it would be anything but? An underlying current in every movement. Double meanings in the words spoken. The sexual tension between them. They flirt shamelessly. There is no harm in flirting.
Career. Spouses. Kids. Vacations. Bucket List. They tell each other the funny stories that have been amassed in the years apart. Laughter. It's easy. It's fun. It's like it was. No posturing. Just them. There are no topics too embarrassing. There is only ease of knowing each other again. They reminisce on their joint stories.
Kent places his hand on Emma's bare leg. This first proposition for Emma to accept or ignore. But Emma was ready to play tonight and raised the stakes. Covering her hand with his, she challenges him, "Don't start something you aren't willing to finish."
"And what if I am?" he asks. Non-committal, but still dripping with possibilities.
Emma is not shy, she moves his hand further up her leg, pushing her dress up, "Don't make promises you can't keep." There had been conversations and daring bravo over the months. Emma had been clear regrets were no longer an option for her. If he wants her, she was his to take.
He laughs as he does. They laugh together. But he doesn't move his hand.
The playfulness continues. The necklace Emma was wearing was unique. When he asks about it, she teasingly replies, "Perhaps later I will show you what it can do."
The heat starts to build at the possibility. Kent grabs her hand and puts it on his pants above his cock. He's hard and she wants him. Badly. Then he laughs as if it's a joke. That's just the way he is. A dare or a joke - it's for her to choose. She doesn't laugh. She touches. Rubbing him over his pants it makes them both hot.
When it is time to part, Kent walks her to her car. He reaches out to hold her hand. A gesture that would seem mild to those around them, but what has been building demands some type of contact. It is left unsaid between them, but there is a lengthy history for them of cars and parking lots.
When they reach the rental, she takes her hand back to go for the keys. Emma turns to him to say goodbye, he is closer than she expected. Without preamble his mouth comes to hers and takes. There is need for both of them. The wire has been lit. Their bodies collide and cannot be close enough. He pushes his into hers until she is against the car and she can feel his erection. Grabbing her ass he pulls her closer against his cock, using the car he pushes more until their bodies meld to each other. Their hands explore, getting used to the feel of each other again.
Emma knows she has never been this wet before. Her knees are weak with the want of him. The temptation. The desire. Moments. Minutes. Who knows what time has passed before they break apart panting. His forehead goes to hers and he says simply, "Hi." Because that is him, Emma can't help but laugh. "Hi," she returns.
She is putty in front of him. Desperate for his touch again. He knows she will not refuse him. If he wanted to take her here and now, on top of the hood of the car she would let him.
"I wish we had an empty room." And with that, he has said what was hanging between them.
Emma smiles, "I think you grossly underestimate my resources." An empty room, because she is traveling with her husband and the husband is not invited.
