I had been preparing for this day for weeks. Luckily, I didn't have to work. He did. He has a physically active job so I knew he would be tired when he got home and his muscles would be sore. So I had the bathroom all ready for him. I hung up freshly laundered towels and spread out a new, plush bathmat on the floor. On the hook on the back of the door was a thick and thirsty terrycloth robe so I could wrap him up as he stepped from the tub so he wouldn't catch a chill. A basket of fresh rose petals sat on one corner of the tub and some rose scented candles on another corner. Just outside the door was an ice bucket keeping a bottle of his favorite beer chilled and beside it sat a bottle opener.
It took me days to get the filling for the chocolates right. I knew that he was fond of some peanut butter filled ones that used to be sold at the candy counter of a fancy department store that is sadly no longer there. These candies would melt on your tongue the minute they hit it, flooding your mouth with a mix of sweetness and delight. I had tried batch after batch until I got it to taste just like I remembered it.
The chocolate was imported and expensive, but he was worth it. I smiled to myself as I used the paintbrush to gently stroke the dark chocolate into the heart shaped molds, holding them up to the light to make sure I had them fully covered. And after that set, I carefully put in the filling then gave them a little blanket of more dark chocolate. I pictured him in my mind, lifting the lid of the red, heart shaped box then plucking one of the plump little hearts out of the gold foil. I pictured how excited he would be when he realized that I had managed to recreate his favorite candy.
Dinner was mostly ready. Of course I would have to wait to make the steaks but those wouldn't take long to cook. Twice baked potatoes were already made and being kept warm in the oven. The salad had been tossed and put in the fridge to keep crisp. The dough had been rising overnight and was now baked up into cute little rolls, just waiting to be buttered.
I decided to make him a little light snack before dinner because he always came home ravenous! So I got out the vintage Wexford cut glass plate and filled it with an assortment of cheeses and fruit. More beer waited in the fridge. I felt my heart flutter with anticipation as I pictured him walking through the door. What a night we were going to have!
Just picturing his face in mind makes me happy! I tried to remember when I first met him, and yet, I could not. Yes, I remembered the day and the month but even way back then, I felt like I had known him forever. It was as if our spirits were one. We were there for each other. To lift each other up and help each other through the dark times. I knew that I loved him the moment I laid eyes on him. And his love flowed through every ounce of my being. Every cell in my body! Even when he was not there in the flesh, I could feel him loving me, nurturing me, protecting me. It was as though he was wrapping me up in ethereal angel wings and holding me close. But I needed to stop daydreaming. He would be home soon! I had to blink my eyes rapidly to clear his image from my mind. And when I looked in the mirror I could see that I still had a dreamy smile on my face!
I didn't need to do too much in the mirror. I don't wear makeup. I feel that I look better without it. And I like people to see the real me. I've also found that most men don't like sticky lip gloss and my guy is one of those.
I did run my fingers through my hair to fluff it up a bit. And I lightly applied his favorite scents, frankincense and myrrh but also added just a touch of rose. To me, roses are the scent of love.
I quickly peeled off my clothes and slipped into a new black satin chemise. It had a fitted bodice with a lace panel in the front and a short, flirty skirt. It was embellished with tiny pink ribbon roses. Black ballet shoes adorned my feet. I know that a lot of men love to see women in high heels but I love to dance and my guy loves to watch me dance. The ballet shoes make me feel more free and relaxed. I took a deep breath and saw my reflection in the mirror and I knew he would like what he saw.
I double checked the bedroom. I had turned down the bed and put some lightly scented massage oil on the table next to it. The salt lamp on the dresser lent a soft orange glow. I couldn't wait for him to get home! And suddenly I was shaken out of my little fantasy world when I heard the front door open and close.
Quickly, I ran to the living room, but I felt more like I was floating. Ballet shoes are so light on the feet that they make me feel dainty and graceful! I wasn't so dainty and graceful though when I crashed into him, nearly knocking him over. It was like this pretty much every night. I was always so excited to see him that I couldn't contain myself. He chuckled and wrapped me in a hug, being used to our collisions by now.
We both moaned softly as we hugged each other, drinking in the scents of our skin. He had a rather pungent aroma of sweat but it smelled delightful to me. Made me remember how masculine and strong he was. We let our hands stray briefly, gently massaging each other's backs and pressing ourselves closer together. I nestled into that nice little area between his shoulder and neck, turning my head towards him and allowing my lips to lightly graze his neck.
That didn't last long! His hand cupped my chin and he turned my face towards his, gazing deeply into my eyes. I felt a shiver run down my spine, then down my legs and right into my ballet shoes. Looking into his soulful eyes and seeing his joyful smile just filled me with such bliss and passion. We admired each other like that, moving slowly, ever so slowly closer together until our lips met. And our tongues began to dance together as I stepped backwards, guiding him towards the dining room.
"I'll have dinner ready soon. But first, here's a light snack while I go run your bath!" I popped off the cap from his beer and nudged a strawberry into his grinning mouth.
By the time I returned from running his bath, the Wexford plate sat sparkling and clear. He had eaten everything! I helped him up from the chair and led him towards the bathroom. We walked side by side, arms around each other, giving each other random hip bumps and giggling. I grabbed the beer and the opener on the way in.
The bathroom was lit only by the candles and the nightlight. Everything looked soft and soothing. I slowly removed his clothes, lightly running my hands over his soft bare skin and noticing how tight his muscles felt beneath my fingertips.