After the first "in-office" visit with my therapist Denys, we continued sessions virtually as before. A few weeks later, he mentioned a seminar he planned to attend in the same city as my office. We exchanged the dates and agreed to organize something more explicitly off-hours.
It was a fun countdown to the date that we would mention in each weekly session. I tried to focus on the serious discussions but some days I was so excited to see him, I'd spend 30 minutes or more prepping to be on camera. Searching for something low-cut or trying on sheer shirts without a bra to decide which one kept my nipples most visible.
The week before, we agreed to a pseudo role play. Neither of us had done that before but it felt easy to pull off in a big city. We agreed to meet in the hotel bar, outfits predetermined. I was excited to go shopping for something just for him.
That Friday evening, I slipped into the dress he requested, looped heels around my ankles, applied my favorite lipstick and took the elevator down to the hotel bar. Each time the bell chimed to stop at the next floor, I nervously wondered if he might climb on. Once downstairs, I casually made my way through the lobby, enjoying a few glances from men at check-in and others at high-tops in the bar area. I first saw Denys from behind seated at the outside corner of the half-occupied bar. I walked past him to show him the dress I had chosen then turned back and grabbed the chair opposite him at the corner.
"Anyone sitting here?" I asked as I nervously gripped the leather seat. Seeing Denys in-person again I felt the same rush of adrenaline. His eyes, his lips, the freckle above his collarbone. I now knew the other freckles beneath his collar, and I felt the surge of heat and moisture between my legs immediately.
"You are." He met my eyes after briefly running his down my body and slyly smiling in approval of the outfit. He took a sip from the glass in front of him and extended his hand toward me "Denys."
I placed my hand in his, "Lauren."
"Lauren. What's got you here Lauren?"
"Work, of course... you?"
"Work. The event at the convention center this week, I've been in town since Tuesday. Haven't seen you here before though."
"No," I subtly raised two fingers to the bartender as he walked toward me "No, tonight's different." I tried not to smile as I ordered a Godfather.
"Wow. That's quite a cocktail for a young woman, isn't it?" Denys laughed with genuine surprise.
"Somethings I like are a little more mature than you'd expect, I suppose." I picked up the coaster the bartender set in front of me and tapped the corner on the bar top as I waited.