Jennifer offered to do her friend a favor. Chris had two cats that she couldn't take with her as her family moved to the Seattle area, but once she was settled in her home, she could take them back. There was a gap of about a month when she had nowhere she could keep her cats, and boarding them for that amount of time was prohibitive. So, Jennifer offered to house (or find homes) for the cats for the month period, and then drive them up in early February.
She called another friend, Misty, and asked if she was up for a road trip. Then she checked her calendar and found a week that was more or less clear - they would leave around noon on Friday, February 3rd, and return by Thursday or Friday the next week. They made plans to see the Space Needle, the beautiful surrounding lake areas, and a few friends that lived up in Seattle.
The drive took all of Friday and Saturday, and Jennifer and Misty met Chris on Sunday. They stayed the day with Chris in order to visit and sightsee. Once they had dropped off their cargo at Chris' house, they selected a motel to stay in for the few days.
On Monday, Jen left Misty relaxing in the room while she took off to meet one special friend in particular for lunch. She wore a form-fitting black silk T-shirt, with a slight turtleneck, over a beautiful flowing lavender and black paisley printed skirt, which came down to her ankles, flaring at the hem. She had on warm black woolen tights (against the chill Seattle winter) and adorable black zip-up ankle boots with a solid two-inch heel. Her hair was lightly curled, and fell gracefully over her shoulders. She wore contact lenses, and her makeup accented her gorgeous green eyes. She was a-twitter with anticipation. She would be seeing "an old friend" from Claremont. "An old flame" was a more apt description for Donald. They worked together once upon a time at the college computer lab, and were drawn together almost magnetically from the first time they met. They were a perfect match for one another - their needs and desires were in constant concert. Now, nearly 25 years later, they would be meeting over a 'harmless' lunch. She knew she had to meet him in public, in a safe environment, or risk throwing herself at him and ripping his clothes off in a fit of passion.
She entered the quiet, dim-lit restaurant and shrugged off her warm mantle and scarf, hanging them on a coat tree she found near the entrance. The maitre-d' greeted her and inquired as to whether she'd be dining alone. "No, I'm meeting a friend...do you know if he has arrived? The name is Donald," she replied.
Peering over the rim of his glasses, he consulted his seating list. "Actually, yes, he arrived a few moments before you and is waiting at the bar. Right this way, madam."
Jennifer nervously tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and followed the man. He directed her toward the bar, and returned to his post. She wove her way through several small tables and approached the bar. As she neared, a gentleman seated at the bar swiveled on his stool and caught her eye. He stood and immediately walked to her. Smiling, he took her elbow and said, "Hello, Jennifer...you are as beautiful as ever," and kissed her on the cheek. His arms enclosed her in a fierce, tight embrace, and they stood there for a moment, clutching each other and rocking slightly. The bar was nearly deserted, and they were disturbing no one.
She heard his voice softly in her ear. "Care for a drink before lunch?"
"Absolutely," she purred, pulling away a little. "But don't think you can ply me with liquor...I intend to keep my wits about me today!"
He chuckled lightly and said, "You misunderstand me, darling. I'm as gentle as a lamb. No need to fear." But the light in his eyes belied his words, and she shivered with arousal. As they took their seats at the bar, she leaned into him, lightly stroking her breasts against his arm and arching slightly. "I'll have a long island ice tea," she murmured in his ear, "and you'd better order a second one for me right away."
While they waited for their drinks, he leaned close and whispered in her ear, "It is so good to see you...nothing's changed, don't you know that?" He stayed close, breathing in the scent of her hair and nuzzling her cheek with his nose. She placed her hand on his chin, directed his lips to hers, saying, "A proper hello kiss is called for, don't you agree?" and gently pressed her lips to his. Then she took his bottom lip between both of hers and stroked it with her tongue. His mouth opened slightly, and they shared a 'first kiss' of sorts, with all the chemistry and electricity and promise of newness.
Donald pulled back and stroked her hair, looking at and searching her eyes. "I missed you so much. Jennifer, darling, please don't ever leave me again." Jennifer was speechless as she looked at him, observing the way he drank in the sight of her like a thirsty man in the desert.
"I...still live a thousand miles away, Donald, and trips like these are next to impossible to manage...I...I guess I need to know what you want of me..."
"I know where you live, and I know who you are. It just matters to me that your heart is open to me and that you will never close me out again. It matters to me that you still want and crave me as I do you. It matters to me that you feel safe with me, and that we understand one another."