8 comments/ 15739 views/ 0 favorites A Question Of Trust By: magicalmouse She considered it a relationship, although, to some other people it wouldn't have merited the title, especially since she had never actually seen her significant other in the flesh even once. The feelings were real though, the butterflies she got in the pit of her stomach every time they chatted told her as much. Her friends had told her frequently that she shouldn't go pinning her hopes on the impossible, she was being gullible and that there was a great likelihood that she was being duped. Their words fell like water off a duck's back. "Do you trust me?" Her fingers had been resting gently on the keyboard, but drew away sharply at the question. He had never asked before, and although she had never been given reason to distrust him, she still had to ponder on the question before answering. Was it possible to trust a person that you had never seen in the flesh? It was an undeniable fact that he made her feel emotions that she had never though possible with just the words he typed on the screen. Added to that, there were times that they typed the same things at the same time. Her stomach somersaulted as soon as she saw him signing into his messenger; she couldn't say the wrong thing now, there was too much to lose as far as she was concerned. "Yes, I think so." She typed in response and waited. "Enough to consider meeting me? It's Valentine's soon, I was hoping to spend it with you." The question of them meeting had arisen a couple of times, but she had always assumed, that it was just that – talk. Still though, it being Valentine's added weight to the argument, and she certainly didn't want to spend it sitting in her bedroom waiting for him to come online. Her heart seemed to beat louder than ever in her chest as she contemplated her answer. "I don't think I can." She typed with reluctance, this, she couldn't promise. Reality had to figure somewhere when it came right down to it; there had been stories recently on the news about the nasty side of online chatting. "Can't or won't Eilidh? We've been chatting on here for months; we've had more highs and lows than some couples go through in an entire marriage, are you not curious to see if the spark we share on here is the same in reality?" She stilled and the silence felt overwhelming as she thought about what he had said, what she would say next and how she would get out of meeting without upsetting him. "Do you think that what we share just now would carry on in the same way if we did meet and there was no physical attraction. Our friendship means so much to me, I'd be a fool to want to risk that; perhaps foolish too for not wanting to take that leap." She closed her eyes, not wanting to see what he would say in return. Jack had been the first person that she had had a proper private conversation in a chat room with; the only one that she had dared to share any of her thoughts and dreams with and the only one she had ever exchanged photos with. He had been there whenever she needed someone to talk to, no matter how mundane the problem; he understood. Then there was cybering; she had had to plead ignorance when the other people in the chat-room had mentioned it in the passing. Jack had introduced her to a whole new world with that one and she looked forward to the late evenings spent exploring each other, setting out scenes that were far removed from the drudgery of real life; sometimes ending the onscreen chat with a quick phone call where he coaxed her higher than she dared believe, leading her into a mind-shattering release. His words were unhurried, erotic and sensual, giving her something that she had never found with any one of her previous boyfriends. "You could spend a lifetime dreaming of what might have been if you don't take a chance Eilidh; the spark might not be there in reality, but what if it is? We could take the time to explore some of these fantasies of yours. We could be a real couple this Valentine's night. Imagine what it would be like to be romanced and taken care of the way you deserve to be, made love to like you need to be." Heat flooded her face as she thought of the more explicit fantasies that she had shared with him. There was her desire to be watched by complete strangers while she had sex and group sex, even a gentle brush with another woman. Her mind was turning to mush with all her wandering thoughts, and it was doing nothing to settle Jack's request. "I'm not sure Jack." "You said you trusted me, do you think I'd do anything to jeopardise that? Believe me when I say I wouldn't." Although she was in turmoil, she realised one thing; this might me the man that was meant for her, and maybe this Valentine's night, she wouldn't be made to feel like the only single person on the face of the planet. "Well, alright, but you have to promise me one thing. Nothing on here changes if things don't go the way we expect when we do meet; our friendship mustn't suffer." There was no going back now; she was resolute. "I'm sure what we share is strong enough to survive whatever happens when we meet. I'll take a few days off and we can share a long weekend together, I can stay in a hotel, that way you won't feel obliged to put me up." She was powerless to stop the nerves she felt as they discussed what they would do when they met and she realized quickly that fantasy and reality were worlds apart. In the end, it was agreed that to begin with, they would just meet for drinks; if all went well then who knew what would happen. With only six days to go till she met Jack, and just seven until Valentine's she found that the days were dragging slower than ever. During working hours it was impossible not to think of him, she couldn't wait to get home to her computer in case he was there waiting for her to log on, only settling when she saw him online. The drive would take him the best part of four hours, but he didn't mind in the slightest. He'd already managed to book a room in a hotel near to where she lived, in fact if she craned her head far enough out of her bedroom window, she could see the roof of it in the distance. The one thing she hadn't given him as yet, was her private address, nor would she until she had met him and she was absolutely sure that she was doing the right thing. The following Thursday she logged on and waited somewhat impatiently for him to sign in to his messenger. Her palms were sweaty, her mind racing through the possibilities of what might happen the next day when they would meet for the first time. Time ticked by slowly, but at last he appeared, offering his apologies for being a bit late; he had spent his time packing for the trip. This she took as a positive sign of him not backing out and it pleased her immensely; she needed assurances, however small they might be. As they chatted, she found herself relaxing more and more, her attention diverted by his suggestion that they explore one of her favourite fantasies. "There are lots of people that share your fantasy Eilidh. They meet up in specific locations just to indulge themselves. Imagine what that would be like. Lots of people watching you being fucked, close to you, not touching you until you say it's okay; you could close your eyes but they would still be there watching, getting turned on by what you're doing." She was slipped a little further down in her chair at his words, the slightly rough material of the seat creating a friction against the backs of her bare legs, reminding her that she had forgotten to pull her shorts on after her shower. Her eyes wandered from the screen, to the side of the monitor where the phone sat; her fingers itched to pick it up, to call him, but it was too soon. The calls they shared were always better when they had turned themselves on so much that typing legibly was completely impossible. "I'd love to watch other people having sex while I do; the more cautious people, fucking with their clothes on, giving everyone the briefest glimpses of flesh, watching as they struggle to hold back their screams when they climax." She typed. She felt a small tingling throb start between her legs and knew that even although they had barely started, she was getting wet. "Would you be the cautious type Eilidh? Would you let me strip you naked and bend you over the bonnet of the car so that your tits are mashed against the cold metal? Would you let me spread your legs wide, letting everyone see your dripping gash just before I fucked it? Or would you prefer to be inside the car, letting me play with you through your clothes, having to pull your g-string to one side so that I could fuck you?" She thought about his questions and knew if she was being totally honest with herself that if he were with her, then either would be good. "I'd love to have you watch me play with myself, not being able to touch me, even when I start to cum and am screaming out for you to fuck me. I would love to be watched, to know that there are people within arms reach that want to touch me, but they have to hold back, I want to know that they are getting turned on by what I'm doing, I'd love to know that what I do excites them and then... when I'm coming down, you take charge, dominating me, stripping me bare, forcing me to take your cock in my mouth, pushing me to my knees..." Her breathing was growing shallow; the throb of her clit was growing more insistent, begging for her touch, her nipples were like hard little pebbles pushing against the thin silk of her bra. "You want me to call you, don't you Eilidh? You want to hear me tell you how I would drag you out of the car, making everyone circle us as I strip your clothes off you, forcing you to your knees in front of me, pushing my cock against your mouth, grabbing handfuls of your long hair in my hands. Would your moans be louder with an audience? How would you react if there were someone else there to hold your head as I fuck your mouth? Would you struggle and try to get away, or would you be begging for their touch too?" Her thighs parted and she slid her hand down over her stomach, to her neatly trimmed pussy, pushing her index finger through the slightly puffy outer lips, finding the hard little nub of her clit, slippery wet and slick. "I'd love to feel the grass under my knees, my mouth filled with your cock, looking up as you look down at me. I would love to feel someone behind me, another woman, naked like me, her nipples brushing against my back, whispering in my ear as I suck on you, her hands cupping my tits, playing with my nipples, touching me the way only another woman knows how to. I need to know what you taste like Jack." What she needed now, was something that words on a screen couldn't give her, even if they were from Jack, she need to hear him. She leaned forward and pulled open the desk drawer, her hand delving inside, fist closing around the shaft of her favourite vibrator, watching the screen for his next words. "God, just think Eilidh, it could all be ours tomorrow, what I wouldn't have given some nights to be able to touch your skin, or the nights when we've chatted and I could almost feel you here with me." Her mouth felt dry, as she spread her thighs, her eyelids heavy as she slid the head of the vibrator along the sensitive skin of her inner thigh, gasping softly as she let the cold phallus pause briefly at her dripping hole. She was powerless to stop the shudder of pleasure that ran through her body as she plunged the entire length straight inside, muscles clamping and grasping at the long thick invader. Letting go of the base of the vibrator for a few seconds, she placed her fingers on the keyboard, typing only two words. "Call me." -- As she stretched beneath her duvet, Eilidh forgot for a moment that this was the day that she would be meeting Jack for the first time; glancing quickly at the bedside clock as the realisation that what happened later that day could possibly be the culmination of months of sometimes very erotic chat. She felt herself blush as her glance fell on the computer sitting in the corner of the bedroom, chair pushed back and her vibrator left neglected on the desk like some kind of novelty mouse. Jack had taken her higher than ever before with the call the previous night, maybe because reality was so close; her cries and moans had been louder, her whispered words dirtier, said with more passion than before, hearing his release alongside her own had been a final affirmation of his feelings. It was seven o'clock, the dawn chorus had been sung hours before and the sounds of traffic on the street outside were beginning to penetrate, along with the clanking of milk bottles on the doorstep and the thud of mail on the mat behind the front door; it was a momentous day for her, but by the sounds of it, the world hadn't stopped in recognition of it. By nine o'clock she knew that Jack would have already left his home, but they wouldn't be meeting up until later that evening. It meant that she had enough time to nip into town to choose a present for him; not that she had anything firm in mind for him. Truth be told, she had never been in the position of having a partner of any description on Valentine's Day. The shops where all outdoing each other in the gaudy and tacky stakes; the cheesy hearts and flowers displays were definitely not her cup of tea. She would have to be a bit more original. She dressed quickly and drove into town, parking near a small jewellery shop at the far end of the high street. It seemed to take forever but she soon found a ring in heavy antique silver, an intricate Celtic design that she was sure he would like; far better that than an oversized bear or something impersonal like aftershave. Finding an appropriate card proved to be more of a task, she didn't want it to be too gushy, not overtly sexual, but sincere enough to convey the feelings she held for him. With her purchases stowed away in her bag she made her way back to where she had parked the car, noticing just how many couples filled the streets, as if Cupid himself had turfed them out of their homes, to crowd the streets on the eve of their special day. Certainly the advertising alone made you feel like a leper if you were alone. Back home she managed to swallow down some toast; breakfast had been forgotten in the rush to get into the town, but she barely tasted it and discarded the crusts quickly before heading up the stairs to her bedroom. The contents of her wardrobe lay scattered over her bed scant minutes later, most of it discarded as unsuitable for the occasion. When it came right down to it, she had no idea what she would wear, apart from her underwear that was; that part had been easy, she had spotted the matching black lace push-up bra and g-string a couple of days before and had bought it on impulse. It would be perfect should their meeting progress to a more intimate level. In the end she settled for an almost demure black skirt that grazed a couple of inches above her knees, a tit-hugging little black top, sheer black stockings and a pair of leather heels. Very sombre looking, but she loved the way wearing stockings made her feel and the way her legs looked when she wore her heels. Day to day, she only ever wore flats, more practical from a work perspective. After throwing the discarded clothes back into the wardrobe, she laid her chosen outfit on the bed; there were hours until she would need to get dressed. Instead she went back downstairs and threw herself into cleaning up the house, making it look respectable enough to receive guests, not that she had made up her mind to let Jack back to the house or anything, but there was always the possibility, however remote. He would already be halfway into his journey, only two hours way and all she wanted to do was call him, but the last thing he would need would be her distracting him from the road. As the hands of the clock inched round, she stood by the lounge window, looking out onto the leafy tree-lined street and further into the distance towards the town, and the rooftop of the hotel that he was booked into. She was sorely tempted to go over to it, hiding within sight of the main entrance, maybe catching a glimpse of him as he arrived, but the thought was dismissed quickly, she wasn't a stalker. To take her mind off matters she turned on the radio, losing herself for a time in the upbeat music that was playing. When at last the call did come, she hesitated for four rings before picking it up, breath held, she knew it was him before anything was said, but as soon as she heard his voice, relief flooded through her. "I can't quite believe I'm here Eilidh, somehow it doesn't feel real." His voice was soft, tinged with a slight nervousness that she felt mirrored in herself. "I know what you mean hun, but it is and I hope you're feeling at least half as nervous as I am right now." Her voice wavered and there was nothing she could do to stop herself shaking. "Sweetheart, you have no idea, my hands were shaking on the steering wheel all the way up, lord knows why, I mean, what's the worst that could happen? We're friends and nothing will change that." What he was saying definitely made sense. "I guess you're right Jack, if we have nothing but friendship at the end of the day, then we haven't really lost anything by this at all have we?" She would have to focus on that fact, if they weren't going to take things further, but she felt that he completed her in a more intimate way, even just online. It might have been wrong of her, but she had kind of taken for granted that it would be the same for them on a physical level. "I know I shouldn't do this, I don't want to rush you but do you think we could meet a little earlier than we planned, I can't wait till tonight. I'd be spending all afternoon watching the clock." He said in a rush, as if he had been holding back. "Okay, how about meeting in an hour? We can meet in the hotel lounge." Her heart started to beat so loudly at that point that she felt sure that he must have been able to hear it too. "Can you get here that quickly hun, I never stopped to think about how close you might be to here, I know you're somewhere in the vicinity, but that's all." "Well, from where I'm standing I can see the rooftop of the hotel and it's only about ten minutes walk away so it's safe to say that I can make it for an hour, just gives me enough time to jump in the shower and dress." In her mind she was running down the checklist of things she would have to do to prepare. "So you're standing there naked right now? Lord, just give me your address and I'll be right over, we'll skip the preliminaries and we'll get right down to it." He laughed and she found herself laughing right along with him. "Well hell, of course I'm naked, I always am when I know you're going to call love! But I think we'll stick to the new plan and meet in an hour." As tempting as it would have been to drop her guard and give him her address, she knew it wasn't the wisest of ideas. A couple of minutes later, after a battle of wills to see who would hang up first, she replaced the receiver and sprinted up the stairs, switching on the shower while she stripped out of the raggedy t-shirt and shorts she had been wearing, loosening her long hair from its tight binding, shivering as the long red-gold strands tickled their way down her spine, settling halfway down her back. It was only when she stepped beneath the hot pounding spray of the shower that she gave into the thoughts she had firmly placed to the back of her mind when they had first arranged to meet. What would his first thoughts of her appearance be? Did he have a thing for redheads, pale skin and freckles? She certainly hoped so; not that her hair was the reddest of reds, it was more of a strawberry gold, but she had the sort of freckles that the best of concealing foundations could not cover and she had always felt that her eyes looked a little large for her face, people often commenting on how their startling blue looked a little on the icy side. After shampooing her hair quickly she tilted her head back and let the bubbles rinse away, watching as her breasts were thrust up high, the rosy tipped nipples tightening painfully as a picture of Jack appeared in her mind. A Question of Trust I tapped him on the shoulder and when he turned I hit him with everything that I had. I brought the punch up from the boot tops with all two hundred and five pounds behind it. I felt his nose crunch and the blood flew and when his hands went up to his face I sunk my fist into his gut and got a loud "oof" out of him as he doubled up. One more smash to the side of his head and he went down to the ground. I debated kicking the asshole a half dozen times, but then thought: "What the hell, he got the message." I turned to Darcy and said, "I think I broke his nose. Maybe you can kiss it and make it better" and then I turned and walked away from the woman who was wearing my engagement ring and the man who had been my best friend. x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x It had been a birthday party for Darcy's sister and it was being held at Barney's Roadhouse. We had pushed a bunch of tables together and we were drinking and dancing to the live band and everyone was having a fine time. We had been there a little over two hours when something caught my eye. My girl Darcy was dancing with my best friend Mark and while that in itself was nothing new what caught my attention was when his hand slid down her back and came to rest on her ass and she didn't push it away or say anything to him. Then I noticed Mark's leg pushing against Darcy's leg and again she did nothing. The two of them had my interest by then and I moved so I could keep an eye on them while appearing to talk to the others at the table. The music stopped and it was seconds before they realized it and broke apart. They came back to the table, and though sitting on opposite sides and four chairs apart I caught them constantly looking at each other. The next set I danced with Darcy and as I held her I asked: "Everything all right?" "Yes, why?" "You seem a little distant tonight. Like your mind is someplace else or you have something weighty on it." "It is just your imagination baby; I'm okay, honest." We stayed on the dance floor for three songs and then went back to the table. A couple of minutes later Mark asked Darcy to dance and I kept my eye on them. Once again they danced close and his hand ended up on her ass. This time Darcy must have said something because he quickly jerked it away and cast a quick glance my way. Half an hour later Darcy got up to go to the bathroom and a minute or so later Mark got up and headed toward the bathrooms. I'd seen enough that night that my suspicions were aroused so I waited a couple of minutes and then got up and headed for the johns. Mark wasn't in the bathroom and since we would have passed each other if he had headed back to the table that meant he must have gone out the back door. As I reached for the door handle I suddenly realized that if Mark and Darcy were up to something my coming out the back door would alert them and give them a chance to split apart and then tell me that they had just come outside to get away from the cigarette smoke and get a breath of fresh air. I went back through the bar, went out the front door and then, moving as quietly as I could I circled the building. When I came around the northeast corner of the bar I saw them. They had their arms around each other and were kissing. They were so into each other that they never heard me come up behind them. x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x I had just finished putting everything of Darcy's that was in my apartment into trash bags when I heard someone at the front door. The key going into the lock told me that it was Darcy. I didn't look up from what I was doing as she came in, but I said: "You are just in time to carry this shit away. I was just getting ready to toss it out into the parking lot." "Can we talk about this?" "No. I saw enough tonight to tell me all I need to know." "It wasn't what you think." "It doesn't matter Darcy. I saw what I saw and it was enough." "You broke Mark's nose and dislocated his jaw." "He's lucky. I should have kicked him half a dozen times and broken a rib or two." "I've never seen you violent before." "Sometimes it is good not to see things. Now will you please just take your stuff and leave?" "Please Rob, I made a stupid mistake. I had too much to drink and I wasn't thinking clearly." "Yeah? Well it is a good thing that I caught you making that kind of mistake before marrying you rather than after." "Please Rob, it didn't mean anything, honest." "Once you said yes and put my ring on Darcy you were supposed to become a one man woman and that one man was supposed to be me. You just showed me that I can't trust you. Just take your stuff and go." Tears were running down her cheeks as she started to take off her engagement ring. "Keep it" I told her. "I don't want it around to remind me of you. If you keep it Mark won't have to buy you one. Consider it my wedding present." She picked up her two trash bags and headed for the door. She opened the door and turned to me and said: "I'm sorry Rob. I love you; I really do love you and I didn't do what you think I did." And then she was gone. She called me the next day and asked me if I was ready to talk with her and I hung up on her. She made a half dozen more attempts, but I always hung up and eventually she finally gave up. Over the next month Mark made a dozen attempts to get me to talk to him and I finally told him that if he came within arms reach of me I'd put him in the hospital for a month and he finally got the message and stopped calling. Eight months later Darcy and Mark got married. I had to laugh when I got the invitation. Maybe I was supposed to be the 'something old.' x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x As a geologist working for an oil company I got to travel quite a bit and some of the trips were lengthy. Shortly after Mark and Darcy's wedding I was sent on a trip to Alaska to investigate the possibility of developing a new oil field. It took me out of town for almost eleven months and since I didn't have anyone to come home to I stayed the entire eleven months up in that area. When I did take some time off I went sight-seeing in either Alaska or Canada. Did I think about Darcy on the cold nights? Yes I did. I thought about her a lot. I had loved her with all my heart and had been certain that she felt that way about me. We had met by accident - literally. I hadn't been paying as much attention to my driving as I should have been and I backed into her car in a parking lot. She wasn't around so I put my name and office number on a piece of paper and stuck it under her windshield wiper. Three hours later the receptionist buzzed me and told me that there was a woman there to see me. "She says you are expecting her." I checked my calendar and didn't see any appointments for that afternoon, but I wasn't doing anything important so I told Fran to send the woman to my office. Two minutes later my office door opened and in walked the most beautiful woman I had ever seen. If there is such a thing as love at first sight it is what happened to me right then. "Mr. Ellison? I'm Darcy Miller and I'm here to take you up on your offer." "My offer? I'm afraid I don't understand." "Oh? Wasn't that an invitation to dinner that you left under my wiper blade? Although I do think that running into my car is a little extreme as a way to meet me." "An invitation to dinner?" "I suppose that it was probably just meant as a way for me to get in touch so you could give me your insurance information, but I saw the look on your face when I walked in so I chose to treat it as an invitation to dinner." It was all a little too fast for a guy like me, but I wasn't brain dead so I finally managed to get myself together enough to say: "Are you free tonight?" She was and three days later when I walked her to her door after a date she gave me a kiss that left me weak in the knees and then she took hold of my tie and pulled me into her apartment. "I don't know if you felt what I felt when I walked into your office," she said, "But your facial expression said you might have and I don't want to wait for another dozen dates while you try to work yourself up to trying to get me into bed." We lay there holding each other and relaxing in the warm afterglow of magnificent love-making and I asked: "What size ring do you wear?" "My ring size? Why would you want to know that?" "I want to buy your engagement ring in the morning and I need to know the size." "Are you proposing to me?" "Hey, you are the one who didn't believe in wasting time. I'm just following your lead." "Five and a half." We set a date, but before it could happen there was the night at Barney's. x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x It wasn't until I returned home that I found out that Mark and Darcy's marriage hadn't lasted all that long. It turns out that Mark had a hidden side that no one knew about. He was abusive. After the fifth time he had sent Darcy to the hospital emergency room she decided that she'd had enough and she smacked him in the head with a cast iron frying pan and while he was in the hospital with a fractured cheek bone she moved out and filed for divorce. I found all this out while I was having dinner with my cousin Richard and his wife Dee. "Are you going to call her" Dee asked. "Good lord no! Why would you even ask?" "Because in a way you are responsible for what went on between the two of them." "How the hell could that be? I haven't even been here for eleven months. Hell, I was gone out of town before they even got back from their honeymoon." "Every fight they had was over you." "Oh come on Dee; both of them were out of my life for a good eight months before I even went to Alaska. How the hell could I have been a part of their problems?" "Mark is a loser Rob. You either overlooked it or accepted it because he had been your best friend since third grade, but he is a loser. He can't hold a job and he can't do anything right and every time he came home after getting fired or quitting or screwing something up Darcy would shake her head in disgust and say something like: "And I lost Rob for this." "The last time he sent her to the ER they were in the Elks club and he had just lost another job. It is unclear whether he quit or got fired, but he was whining about how the foreman had it in for him and Darcy told him to stop whining like a kid and be a man for a change. Mark made a smart remark that she wouldn't know a man if one bit her on the ass and she said: "That's where you are wrong. I had a real man once and I fucked it up." "Throwing Rob up at me again?" "On his worst day he was five times the man you could be on your best day." "You bitch!" Mark screamed and back-handed her so hard that she fell backwards in her chair and hit her head on the edge of the next table. It knocked her out and she was rushed to the hospital. Two days later she used a frying pan on him. From what I hear she hasn't been on a date since she moved out and filed for a divorce." "That's all very interesting, but I believe I'll take a pass on saying hi to Darcy." "Haven't you ever made a mistake Rob?" "I've made some doozys, but the thing about mistakes is that you are supposed to learn from them and what you are supposed to learn is how not to make the same mistake again. Darcy was a mistake and I won't repeat it." And I meant it. I missed Darcy and there wasn't a week went by that I didn't think of her half a dozen times. I still carried her picture in my wallet, but I had no intension of seeing Darcy or even talking to her on the phone. She was history and even though I could not get her out of my mind she was going to stay history. But sometimes what you want to do or don't want to do just doesn't mean a thing in the grand scheme of things. x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x It had been a long day at the office and I stopped at Ernie's Sports Bar and Grill to tip a few longnecks and relax. I stopped at Ernie's because I was seeing Juanita, the waitress. We'd had a thing going for about a month; nothing that was going to go anywhere, just good bed buddies. I was sitting in a booth sipping my beer and watching the Rockies/Giants game on the big screen TV when Juanita set another beer in front of me. "Compliments of the lady at the end of the bar." I looked over at the end of the bar and I almost said, "That's no lady, that's just Darcy" but I didn't. But I didn't refuse the beer either. Darcy took the fact that I didn't refuse the beer as an invitation to join me and a couple of minutes later she slid onto the seat across from me. "How have you been Rob?" "I've been okay." "How was Alaska?" "Cold." She was silent for a couple of seconds and then she asked, "Have your feelings toward me mellowed any?" "In what way?" "Do you still hate me?" "I never hated you Darcy. Was I disappointed in you? Yes I was, but I never hated you." "I'm sorry for what happened Rob, I really am. I've really done some stupid things in my life and Mark is right up there on the list. But I swear to you Rob that there was never anything between Mark and me except what I thought was innocent flirting. I didn't know that Mark was looking at it as something else. You know Mark. He has always been a touchy-feely person and yes he did put his hand on my ass a couple of times, but I know you saw it and you didn't say anything and it wasn't hurting anything; it was just Mark being Mark. He was being the way he always was." "That isn't what I saw in the parking lot Darcy." "You never let me tell you what happened Rob; you just assumed the worst and turned away from me." "How could what I saw be anything other than what I saw?" "I got up and went to the bathroom and when I came out Mark was waiting in the hallway for me. He said he had something that he needed to talk with me about and he asked me to step outside where it wasn't as noisy. When we got outside he told me that I was making a mistake in marrying you, that you couldn't possibly love me as much as he did. He told me I should break up with you and be his girl. I laughed at him and told him he was crazy. "He grabbed me, took me in his arms and kissed me and that's were I got stupid - I kissed him back. I don't have any excuse other than I'd had a lot to drink and my ego was stroked by knowing that he wanted me and besides, what was a kiss? And then you were there and my life turned to shit." "You married him eight months later." "You might be surprised at how many friends you have. You threw me out so the word went out that I'd done you wrong and no one would have anything to do with me. Mark wanted me and no one else even cared so when he asked me to marry him I said yes. Another stupid mistake. I sent you an invitation in a vain hope that you would show up and stop the wedding." "How would I have done that?" "When it got to the part where the minister asks if there is anyone who knows why the union should not take place I was hoping you would be there to speak up and say: "Yes, I do, because she doesn't love him, she loves me." "But you didn't do that. It would have been true Rob. I knew even as I said "I do" that I loved you and always would. I knew in my heart that I was making a mistake in marrying Mark. I should have turned and run from the church when they got to the "Do you Darcy take Mark" part of the ceremony, but I didn't have the courage. I wasn't lying when I told you that I loved you that night when you tossed me out of your apartment." "So why are you telling me this Darcy?" "I want you back in my life Rob. Even if we never get back to where we were I need you to be a part of my life, if only as a friend." As I sat there looking at her and listening to her I thought about some of what she'd said. Mark was a touchy-feely kind of guy and she and Mark had flirted a lot, but then Darcy flirted with a lot of guys - it was her nature to flirt. It was the kiss that bothered me. The image of Mark and Darcy with their arms around each other sat in the back of my head. Suddenly I realized that it wasn't the kiss itself that bothered me. It was the arms. It was the way their arms held each other. I'd gotten carried away a time or two, especially at Christmas parties when there was mistletoe to play under, but I'd never wrapped myself around the women I'd kissed. I'd never held them the way Darcy and Mark had held each other. Then again, was I reading too much into it? Was I really clear on what it was that I saw? I was angry and in a rage and in my anger did I read more into it than was there? Could it have happened the way that Darcy was claiming? Darcy sat there waiting for me to say something, but what could I say? I knew that I still loved her. I knew that I missed her. But the question was did I dare take a chance. That kiss, those arms, were always going to be with me. The only thing I knew for sure was that I didn't know what to do. So I took the easy way out. "You have given me some things to think about and while I'm not quite sure that I'll ever be able to bring myself to accept your version of what happened I will think about it. Maybe I'll give you a call in a couple of days." I saw the disappointment on her face, but she said, "At least that is something. It is more than what I had when I came in here tonight and saw you sitting here. My cell number is still the same. Feel free to call me any time day or night. I mean it Rob; I still love you and I really do want you back in my life." She got up and left me sitting there watching her leave. x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x I was waiting when Juanita got off from work and I was driving her home to her apartment when she said: "Do I need to start looking for a new playmate?" "Why would you wonder about that?" "I saw the way you were looking at that woman who joined you in your booth. What's more, I saw the way she was looking at you." "She is just someone I used to know." "Bullshit Rob! There was something strong going on between the two of you and it was obvious to anyone who can read the signs. Be honest here sweetie, how long have I got?" "I'm not going anywhere." She was silent and just looked at me for a bit and then she said, "Yes you are sweetie; you just don't know it yet." She slid over next to me, unzipped me and worked my cock out as she said, "But I still have you for a while" and she bent her head and started sucking my cock. Once inside her apartment she quickly stripped and said, "Hurry sweetie, I want as much as I can get before you are gone." "Stop saying that. I am not going anywhere" I said and wondered why she was so sure that I was. As I stripped I also wondered why Juanita and I had never clicked except as fuck buddies and almost immediately knew that I already knew the answer. She was fun, she was a sexy looking lady and she loved to fuck, but I just didn't love her. I liked her; I liked her a lot, but I didn't love her. "You know what I want lover" she said and I did. She liked what she called, "Half and half" and her favorite place to get 'half and half' was leaning forward over the back of the sofa. The first half was sliding into her already sopping pussy and fucking her while using my thumb and fingers on her asshole. The second half came when she would cry out, "Now baby, now" and I would pull my cock out of her pussy and push it into her ass. I was buried in her butt and pounding hard just the way she liked it and she was moaning and urging me on when I had the strangest thought. I wondered why Darcy and I had never tried anal sex. Just as I had that thought Juanita screamed and shook with an orgasm and that triggered mine. After I'd gone limp Juanita led me into the bathroom, washed my cock and then sucked me hard again. After one more romp I kissed her goodnight and headed on home to my place. A Question of Trust x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x As I drove I wondered why I had begun thinking of Darcy while having sex with Juanita. I'd never done that before. There had been half dozen women whose bed I had shared since breaking up with Darcy and not once had thoughts of Darcy intruded. Then, since Darcy was back in my mind I started thinking about what Darcy had said earlier at Ernie's. Was it true? Could I believe her? In my anger that night did I read more into what I saw than was really there? If we got back together would I always wonder and as a result always be suspicious of her? That is really what it all boiled down to - trust! That is what a relationship required - trust. A relationship could not work if every time you were apart you wondered what the other person might be doing. It could not work if every time your significant other came home late you wondered where they had been or what they had been doing. It could not work if the other called and cancelled a date and left you wondering what they were doing instead and maybe with whom. That was the question before me as I thought about Darcy and what she had told me. Could I trust her? Even as I asked myself that question I knew that there was only one way to find out. x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x I slept the usual worn out and exhausted sleep that I always did after an evening with Juanita. I stopped at Bob's Big Boy on the way to work and had breakfast and when I got to my office I picked up the phone and called Darcy and asked her to meet me at Barney's Roadhouse at six. She said she would be there. I was already sitting at a table when she came in and I saw a look of hopeful expectation on her face as she walked over to me. As soon as she sat down I cut right to it. "So what is it that you want Darcy? To date from time to time?" "That would be nice Rob, but you know what I want. I want you back in my bed where you belong. No strings attached. Dinner and dancing would be appreciated, but the bottom line is that I want you back in my bed." "So what you are is suggesting a "friends with benefits" relationship?" "Call it whatever you like Rob, but I need you back in my life." "No strings?" "None." "What would be a good time to call you this week?" "No time like the present Rob. My apartment, your apartment, a motel, your backseat or mine, but now, right now is a good time." I dropped a ten on the table and stood up and followed Darcy out of the bar. I have no idea how it is going to turn out. It is all going to depend on whether I can learn to trust her again. It might take a while for it to happen, if it ever does, but we are both young so we have the time. A Question Of Trust He had sent her only three photos of himself, but she knew after seeing the first one that she found him more than a little attractive, his being ten years older added to the attraction, she had always been drawn to older men. He stood a few inches over six feet, broad shouldered with a faint tan, dark lashes thick around chocolaty brown eyes and he was completely bald to boot; another personal preference. She sighed with regret, realising that she didn't have the time to indulge a little personal pleasure and turned the shower off, stepping outside the steam filled stall to towel her body and hair dry quickly. Before going through to the bedroom she took a few minutes to rub in some of her favourite moisturizer, inhaling deeply on the heady musk. Her hands were shaking as she pulled the first stocking on, groaning in frustration as she snagged the nylon with the edge of a nail, creating a ladder that was beyond redemption. After schooling her breathing she pulled a new pair from her underwear drawer and took her time sliding the stockings up over her knees and thighs. It had occurred to her to go with the hold-up kind, but on her, they very rarely did what they said, besides, wearing a garter belt always gave her a thrill and she hoped that the meeting would get to the point where Jack would see the trouble she had taken and appreciate it. Before pulling on her skirt and putting on her top she took a brief moment to look at her reflection in the full length cheval mirror she usually used as a coat stand and what she saw pleased her, she had left her hair hanging loose; Jack had often said that he loved women with long hair, but she knew that even if she was happy with her appearance, that didn't mean that he would be. When at last she was dressed, and she had slipped her feet into her black leather heels, she hurried downstairs and retrieved her handbag from the hall table; pausing for a moment as her eyes lighted upon the ring box and card. They could stay there for the moment, if she spent the night, then she could give him the present in the morning and if she didn't, then she could always give it to him the second time they met. She picked the little box and card up along with her mobile, keys and purse; the enormity of what she was doing only hitting her as she pulled the front door shut behind her. Her legs were shaking as she walked down the short flight of steps to the pavement and she had to pause for a moment, schooling her breathing before turning in the direction of the hotel, walking slowly. All too soon she found herself standing in front of the wide flight of steps that led up to the entrance to the hotel reception, and for a second she was sorely tempted to turn on her heel and walk away, too scared for a moment to face the newest chapter of her life, but the doorman smiled welcomingly at her and she knew for better or worse that she had to walk forward, embracing the future, whatever it might hold. -- Her heels made a click-clacking sound as she made her way across the black and white tiled floor of the reception area, her blood thundered through her veins as she followed the signs for the lounge bar, pausing just outside the glass panelled door, scanning the people on the other side, looking for that familiar head, but he wasn't to be seen. Disappointment stabbed at her but she took a deep breath and pushed the door open, stepping inside the bar with more confidence than she felt, quickly making her way to the bar to order a nerve-strengthening drink. Her being early put her at an advantage, she would be able to sit down and watch the door of the lounge, a good place to gauge his first reactions upon seeing her. She had just managed to make herself comfortable on one of the low couches that were dotted about the bar when she saw his unmistakable form standing outside the glass door, scanning the people the same way she had only minutes before. As his eyes came to rest on her, she could see the instant recognition and a slow lazy smile curve his mouth as he pushed the door open. It looked as though he had taken as much care with his appearance as she had; his black dress trousers made his legs look endless and he wore a nice casual shirt, un-tucked with a blazer over. She had seen nothing so far that would have had her turning tail and running, which pleased her more than she cared to admit. "For some reason I thought you would make me wait, I was hoping to be the first here so I could check you out without you seeing me; you look great hun, everything I imagined and more." He took both of her hands in his as he bent down to brush his lips against the side of her face. "I could say the same of you. You're touching me and it still doesn't feel real." She gave a small nervous laugh and sighed as his hands released hers so that he could go to the bar to order a drink for himself. As she watched him walk the short distance to the bar she knew that if he suggested it, then they would be doing a whole lot later, other than making polite conversation; she had felt a spark of awareness with the first touch of his hand, and knew for herself at least there was something worth investigating further. When he sat back down she willed herself to relax, clutching her glass with a slightly unsteady hand. "I wish I could stop shaking, must be nerves or something, I can see me spilling this drink all over the place." She gave him an apologetic glance and held the stem of the wine glass a little tighter. "Well, how would you feel if I suggested that we forego these drinks and go investigate the mini bar up in my room? I don't think being surrounded by people down here is helping matters, I'll even keep the bedroom door open if it would make you feel more comfortable." Instead of answering straight away, she set her glass down and stood up, retrieving her coat from the back of the sofa. "Let's go hun, we're wasting time." For the first time that day she felt the nerves start to disappear and shot him a broad grin. "Lord I love a woman who knows her mind." He said, getting up quickly, taking her hand in his before leading her out of the bar. Nothing was said as they walked up the short flight of stairs to his room on the first floor, but he paused briefly before opening the door. "Last chance Eilidh, you know that once we go inside that chat isn't going to figure too highly on the list of things to do. I've been waiting months for this, and you have too, I only hope you feel the same now that we're together." His door clicked open and he moved inside; holding it open, waiting for her to follow him in. "I couldn't walk away now Jack, I've been waiting for a long time too." His arms wrapped round her and he bent his head, angling his mouth against hers, kissing her softly, gently probing beyond the barrier of her teeth with his tongue. All too soon though she knew it wasn't enough and she raised no objections when he steered her further into the room, kicking the door shut behind them, all notions of raiding the mini bar forgotten as they began to vent months of frustration in that first kiss. It was a kiss that left both of them breathing hard as they pulled away from each other. "Fuck, if I'd known it was going to be like this, I would have come up here a hell of a lot sooner, I feel like I've been hit by lightning." His breathing was ragged and she saw a faint trembling in his fingers as he reached forward, spearing his fingers through her hair, pushing it off her shoulders. "There's a small part of me that thinks we should still be downstairs making polite small talk, but we've had months of build up, I'm all talked out for the moment hun." She smoothed her palms up the front of his shirt and began to undo the buttons quickly, laughing at her own forwardness. "I seem to remember you telling me that you were a shy and retiring sort of girl, way back when we first started chatting, where the hell did you hide her?" He raised an eyebrow in question but she decided to say nothing, sticking her tongue out cheekily before concentrating once more on the task of freeing him of the shirt. Quickly she was presented with his bare chest, and as her fingernails scraped over his nipples his hands moved from her hair, his mouth covering hers as he pushed their hands lower to rest on the buckle of his belt. She knew she should take a breath, she felt as if she was drowning, being held up only by his hands which were tight on her waist as she undid the buckle and pulled the belt free. As he pulled back from the kiss, they both took deep breaths, and she felt dizzy, but still intent on her task of seeing his cock; she could already see the outline of his erection straining against the fly of his trousers and she wet her lips instinctively, preparing herself for the first intimate touch. The sound of his zipper being dragged down sounded unnaturally loud in the room but as she made a move to drop down to her knees, he hauled her back up and started to pull her clothes off. She could have helped him, but it felt good to feel his hands on her, watching the expressions flit across his face as more and more of her body was exposed. When at last she stood before him in her underwear, he whistled softly between his teeth, standing back slightly to get a better view, shaking his head as she made a move to kick off her shoes, halting her. "My god Eilidh..." His voice trailed away as she closed the gap between then, moving in quickly to cover his mouth with her own, kissing him hungrily, squeezing his stiff cock through the material of his trousers, dragging her nails along the shaft. Mutual lust began to take over; her intention of teasing him was quickly forgotten, as pure need shot through to her core. She pushed aside his boxers, slipping her hand inside, her fist closing around the shaft of his cock, swallowing the groans he made against her mouth, absorbing his heat. Roughly she exposed him, stroking continually, dropping to her knees, yanking his trousers and boxers down, helping him to step out of them. Her nails glided up over his taut belly and chest, raking the skin, marking him. Feeling shudders running through his body pleased her no end, it was empowering to know that she had him aroused him to such an extent. His hands tangled in her hair, pulling her close to his cock, a gesture of impatience, showing her how much he needed to be in her mouth without using words. Glancing up at his down-bent head, she caught his heated gaze, letting her tongue flick out to capture the bead of moisture on the swollen crown while he watched her intently. The hands that had been merely guiding now pulled her hard but she opened her mouth, welcoming him into the warm wet cavern of her mouth, letting her tongue explore the ridges and veins, dipping her tongue into his little slit, sucking on him as she had been wanting to for months, tasting his pre-cum, inhaling his muskiness. She knew she needed more, after all these months she wanted to let him know just how much he meant to her, just how much she wanted him, so she relaxed herself as much as she possibly could, looking up at him once more, tickling him low on the belly, making him thrust forwards, deep into her throat. Her moans sounded along with his as he began to fuck her mouth and as she watched his eyelids drop down, she closed her eyes too and moved her hands to cup his heavy balls, squeezing them gently as he thrust back and forth. Suddenly she felt him push forward, deeper than before, cutting off her air; panicked for a moment, she forgot to breath, gagging on his cock, pulling back sharply letting tendrils of pre-cum and spit drip between his shaft and her chin. After a couple of gulps of air she found herself diving straight back onto the swollen head, working in a deep and steady rhythm, his words of encouragement spurring her on, fingers leaving his balls to explore his tightly puckered ass hole, knowing that an intimate exploration of this area would make him lose control completely. His gasps were audible as her fingers pressed, probed, pushed insistently, over and over until when at last she managed to slide her index finger deep inside, the first jets of his hot salty cum began to spurt against the back of her throat. This was what she had been waiting for all these weeks, her first real taste of him and she was determined not to waste one bit of it, swallowing hungrily until he pulled himself free, wincing as her finger popped free of his ass. As she opened her eyes, looking up at him, grinning broadly, she felt the hot splash of his cum against the side of her face and swiped at the glob with her finger, licking it off and never once taking her eyes off his face. Slowly she stood up once more, tilting her head back slightly to look at him, trying to find adequate words for what she felt but there were none; she could only hope that he knew. His arms came around her pulling her into a gentle embrace, his lips seeking hers, probing with his tongue, tasting his essence on her tongue; sharing with her. She could feel tears start to fall from beneath her half closed lids and was powerless to stop them; gratitude filling her when she felt his thumbs brush the wetness away. "I don't know what to say Eilidh, really I don't; I've never really had a problem with words before now." He said as he broke off the kiss, letting his hands trail over her collarbone to rest at the rise of her tits, grazing back and forth absentmindedly. "I understand hun." And she did. "How would you feel about touching on one of your fantasies here and now Eilidh?" He bent his head down and started to plant little kisses along the bottom of her neck as his hands pulled the black lacy cups of her bra down, freeing her tits, presenting him with her hardened aching nipples. "Well, I'm not seeing anyone else around, so it can't be that one... and we're in your hotel room so I'm not sure exactly which one you're talking about, you need to enlighten me." Her breath caught in her throat as he captured one of the taut peaks in his mouth, biting down gently, making her arch her back. "See that big window over there?" He said as he broke contact with her nipple, gesturing to the far end of the room. "It overlooks the front of the hotel and the main car park, it's the middle of the day and there are people coming and going... how would you feel about letting me fuck you as we watch the world go by?" She turned to face the window, noting that the curtains were already pulled back. "I'd love that Jack, lord I can't believe that I'm actually doing this." She saw him grin briefly before focusing his attention on her other nipple, taking her mind effectively off any pangs of indecision she might have had. His hands cupped her tits, raising them up slightly, burying his head between them, inhaling deeply. "You smell good Eilidh, there's something about that scent you're wearing." He raised his head and gave her a slightly apologetic smile before taking her hand in his, leading her slowly across the room to the large window. Strangely, she didn't feel too self-conscious as she stood there looking out onto the main road, watching people hurrying along the pavement, too busy to turn their heads up towards the first floor bedroom window where she stood, visible from the waist up, baring her tits for the world to see, if they cared to look. For a minute they both just stood there, side by side, until he moved back behind her, taking a handful of hair away from her neck, kissing the sensitive skin just below her ear lobe, making the breath hiss from between her teeth. "Won't be a minute sweetheart, I need to get a condom from my bag." She was thankful that he had thought of it, because it had been the last thing on her mind and that fact surprised her. When he moved away and headed for the bathroom she stayed where she was, wondering if anyone would notice her. It wasn't until she looked down to the cars filling the car park that she noticed that a woman in a large grey Mercedes was watching her intently, her seat tilted back slightly; enough for her to see that the woman had her skirt pushed up a way, exposing her parted thighs and a brief flash of bright colour that was quickly covered by a hand. A ghost of a smile lit her mouth as she acknowledged the woman before bracing her hands on the edge of the sill, laying the side of her face against the cool glass of the window while she waited for Jack to return. "You look lost in your thoughts there Eilidh, would you like to share some of them or will I have to try and prise them out of you?" He laughed softly and rested his chin on her shoulder, bringing his body close in behind her, so close that she could feel the hot length of his erection pressing against the small of her back. "Jesus hun, you have a quick recovery time!" She gasped, wriggling her ass, wincing as his hands bit into the soft skin of her hips. "Let's just say that what we shared already was like being given a shot of the most intoxicating and addicting drink and it has left me thirsty for more." His words made her catch her breath. His hands loosened their grip on her hips, enabling her to turn round to face him, loving the feel of his cock pushing into her belly. "I don't think I could stand for us to drag this out, I want you to fuck me." She held out her hand for the condom and ripped open the little packet quickly, rolling it down the length of his cock before raising her arms, locking her fingers at the back of his neck. He brought his head down swiftly, crushing his lips against hers, spearing his tongue inside her mouth, coaxing hers into an intimate dance, breaking off the kiss almost as soon as it had begun so that he could free her hands from his neck, spinning her round quickly so that she was looking out of the window once more. She could see that the Mercedes owner was still in her car, an audience positioned at a discreet distance, she could only hope that the woman enjoyed the little show she was going to get. With her palms flat on the window, she felt Jack's hand pressing down on the small of her back, nudging her thighs apart with his knee, pulling her g-string to one side so that he could position the head of his cock along her dripping pussy. The heat of the swollen head burned against her already throbbing clit and she started to grind herself against him, but the hand he held on the small of her back kept her still and all she could do was let out a groan of frustration as he took control. "For months I've gone to sleep each night dreaming of this moment Eilidh, I want it to last forever." His voice was strained with the effort of holding back and she knew just how he felt. "Then fuck me, slide that beautiful cock deep inside me." She whispered, willing him to move. Slowly he dragged the length of his cock back along her slit until he nudged against her slippery entrance, poised only for a second; she heard him take in a deep dragging breath as he surged forward, filling her, thrusting his entire length inside. She was stretched tightly around him and all the phone calls and chats in the world couldn't have prepared her for it; she felt pain at being so stretched, but it was like no pain she had ever felt before. As she felt him start to move inside her, the feeling magnified into something she could not adequately describe, it was pure. He withdrew slowly, letting her feel every ridge of his cock before slamming back into her tight sheath, his flesh slapping loudly against hers, the rhythm slow and punishing, making her tits bounce with the sheer force; but she wanted all he had to give and more besides. As she adjusted to his size, she began to throw herself back onto his cock, tilting her head back, pressing her breasts against the window, mashing them, not caring if the whole world had stopped to watch, as far as she was concerned, it was just the two of them, and nothing else mattered. His hand caught on her shoulder, forcing his cock even deeper inside and she felt bruised, feeling her flesh being dragged with each movement. When she started to let go, her cries rang out with his shouts; she was begging him to cum, screaming out as his head lowered to her shoulder, nipping at her skin with his teeth, laving the bruised skin with his tongue. Moving to her ear, he started to whisper all the words that he had used in their phone calls, a reminder of what they had previously shared. It was too much for her, she felt as though she her soul was being ripped apart, right there, poised on the head of his cock, screaming and shaking as he threw her over the edge and deep into her own orgasm, pummelling her body with his cock with no sign of letting up. A Question Of Trust Her screams subsided into tired moans as her juices flooded around the base of his cock, creating wet fuck sounds with every punishing thrust he made inside her; her whole body felt completely sensitised, from the rasp of his pubic hair against her ass, to the way his hot breath felt against her skin, firing her nerve endings. "Had enough yet hun?" He questioned, pulling her head round so that she could see him. "Never." She managed between moans. At that, he pulled his cock completely out of her and twirled her round so that they were face to face once more, lifting her up quickly, holding her poised on his cock. Only when she had wrapped her legs around his waist and captured his mouth with her own, did he drop her down, impaling her, swallowing her breath as it rushed out of her lungs, pushing her back against the window, breaking their kiss so that they could watch each other's faces as he drove his cock into her again and again. Her nails dug into his shoulders, drawing blood, but he only smiled, throwing his head back, sweat running down the side of his neck, veins standing out in sharp relief, the muscles of his arms bunching with the effort of their union. "Had enough Jack?" She regretted the words as soon as they had left her lips, seeing his grin, feeling him drive harder; the only thing she could do was cling onto him, accepting all he had to give, her muscles clutching around the base of his cock, trying vainly to hold him inside her. When she watched him arch his back, creating a little space between their bodies, she looked down, her breath stolen as she watched his cock driving into her pussy, helpless to stop her hand from slipping down, stroking his belly, then the base of his cock, laughing softly at his hoarse shout, feeling the shaft jerk inside her and the salty wads of his cum bathe her raw flesh. He didn't lift her off even when his cock had stopped spewing, instead, holding her close as he carried her over to the bed, where they collapsed in a hot sweaty heap. There was no part of her body that didn't throb as she lay there, legs and arms tangled with his, she could make no sense of the thoughts that were running through her head, it was impossible to isolate any one of them, but Jack didn't seem to be in any rush to talk either so she dropped her head back to the pillows and tried to school her breathing, not putting up any protest when he untangled himself so that he could stretch out alongside her. Just when she had formed the words to speak, a wave of tiredness washed over her, and she gave in to it, letting her eyes drift shut, turning on her side, sighing with contentment as she felt his arm pulling her close and for the first time in her life, she felt as if she were the most cherished thing in the world. When she finally opened her eyes, she realised that it must be quite late, it was much darker in the room, she reached her hand out, fully expecting to encounter Jack's sleeping form, but the space beside her was empty. Quickly she scanned the room and heaved a sigh of relief when she saw him sitting at the desk in the corner, his face illuminated by the glow from the screen of his laptop. As soon as she tried to move, she felt pain; muscles that hadn't been used for the longest time were screaming out, but she needed to go to the bathroom, so took a deep breath before swinging her legs over the side of the bed. "I would have woken you up sooner, but you looked so peaceful, I thought it would be better to leave you... you earned the rest." He gave her a warm smile over his shoulder and turned back to the screen of his laptop. "Well, thank you hun, I appreciated it, but I think I better get moving, I need to get home." She had thought of using the shower in his bathroom, but she didn't want to crowd his space too much. "You can't go yet, I was just going to order some food from room service, I'm famished but I don't fancy eating alone, I was hoping that you'd stay." He pushed his chair back and stood up. "I'm not really hungry at all." As soon as she said the words, her stomach gave a loud rumble and they both laughed. "Well you can either watch me eat or you can join me; I think you could do with the sustenance, but it's your choice. What's to go home for anyway?" Nothing much, she reckoned. "Okay, I'll have whatever you're having, but I'll just go clean myself up while you order thanks." She said as her hand closed around the handle of the bathroom door. Half an hour later she emerged from the bathroom, feeling refreshed, but still sore, when she tensed her muscles lightly she could still feel his cock inside her and her tender flesh felt more than a little bruised. Room service had been and gone while she cleaned up and she spotted a tray loaded with cold meats, fresh crusty bread, various covered little pots and fruit. Maybe this wasn't the time for him to find out that she had a healthy appetite, for once she would nibble delicately. -- She should have gone home, she knew that. It would have been the most sensible thing to do, but her mind had been fogged from the moment he had kissed for the first time the day before. The birds were singing, she could hear them but she felt reluctant to open her eyes; content just to lie there a while longer, stretching her legs out, groaning softly as she felt the steady throb and ache in her thigh muscles and the long length of Jack's legs stretched out alongside her own. As she made a move to get out of bed she felt his arm puller her closer to his chest, his hand cupping one of her breasts, his fingertips brushing back and forth over one of her nipples. He wasn't awake, but he seemed to be completely tuned in to her movements. "Jack?" She whispered. "Mm." Was the only response she got. "It's time to get up." She urged quietly. "Okay hun, how do you feel about getting up, showering together, then going for a little walk to my house where I'll cook us both some lunch? Or perhaps I could just let you have me for lunch when we get there, it's up to you." She held her breath, smiling as she waited for his answer. This time she knew she had gotten his attention, his cock was growing harder against the small of her back and if they were quick then she would be able to grab one last taste of him on her tongue before they got going. "Would it always be like this if we were together? I always got the impression that you were a quiet kind of girl, but now I'm having some serious doubts, hell, not that I'm complaining, but I thought it would have taken more coaxing on my part to drag you out of that shell." It was obvious by his clear voice that he had only been pretending to sleep. "I don't know hun, there's just something I feel when I'm with you that makes me want to act a little out of the ordinary; I don't want to analyse it too deeply." Her heart constricted painfully in her chest as she contemplated Monday, the day when he would be leaving to go back home. He had been with her for less than twenty-four hours but in that short space of time, she had given herself more to him than she had to any other man. So that he wouldn't see the blush staining her cheeks, she slid down beneath the quilt and turned on her side, kissing her way down his belly, smiling as she felt his muscles tense beneath her lips and the brush of the damp head of his cock against her cheek. "Wench!" He said hoarsely as she drew him into her mouth, making her laugh, but the sound came out as more of a gurgle as she sank her mouth lower. After a quick shower taken together they headed out of the room, stopping in the foyer to drop his room key off with the receptionist at the desk. At the last minute she realised that he would have been booked in as a single person; she raised her worried eyes to his as the receptionist glanced back and forth between them both. "Is everything okay Mr and Mrs Reid?" The polite query had her raising her eyebrow at Jack, but she got nothing but a small grin in return. "We're fine thanks, just off out for a little sightseeing." He grabbed her hand, leading her outside and down to the car park, stopping briefly at the pavement until she pointed him in the direction of her house. She felt like a giggly teenager as she walked along the road, her hand encompassed firmly within Jack's much larger one. There wasn't much chat, the energy between them felt totally charged, they were going back to hers for one reason and one reason only. Her fingers fumbled so badly with the keys when she tried to open her front door, that Jack plucked them out of her hands quickly and let them both in with no trouble at all. "What's this Eilidh?" He said softly, picking up the envelope with his name written clearly across the front. "Have you forgotten what day it is?" Her heart sank, but she tried valiantly not to show how disappointed she felt inside. "Lord, I'm sorry hun, but thank you, I'll treasure it always." He placed the card down on the table ignoring the small jewellers box completely. His arms went out to her and she found herself falling into his embrace. "Listen, you go make yourself comfortable in the lounge Jack, I've got to nip upstairs for a minute or two, I'm expecting an email from work, won't take long." Surprisingly she managed to keep her voice steady. "Take you're time hun, we've got all day." He bent down and kissed her cheek briefly. Being a bit of a closet romantic, she at least expected him to think of a card, flowers would have been nice, but maybe he had just been too taken up with preparations for them meeting to think of it. She sat down slowly at the computer in her room and switched it on, noticing that there was only one message in her inbox, and, curiously, it was from Jack himself. There had been no unopened mail when she had left the house the previous day, she was fairly sure of that; with a faint shrug of her shoulders, she settled back and read. -- Eilidh, I couldn't settle after you fell asleep, I wanted to but thoughts of you went round and round in my head, I couldn't close my eyes, because all I wanted to do was to watch you sleep. I know that tomorrow is Valentine's day, and seeing you lying on the bed, with your hair spread across the pillows, your lips bruised and swollen, I wish that I could shower you with all the gifts in the world. What I have to give to you cannot be seen, and it cannot be wrapped up. I offer you my heart and my soul; they are both yours... if you want them; I knew this months ago, and what has just happened between us just confirmed that. I could have just told you, but it seemed easier to write and wherever I am while you read this, I am waiting for your answer, be gentle. All my love, Jack. -- She cried silently, but she was not sad. The tears coursed down her cheeks, but she let them fall unhindered; he had given her something that money could not buy, something as precious as life itself, his love. She gathered herself together and walked downstairs slowly, stopping only long enough at the bottom to pick up the small jewellers box, turning it over in her hand, strengthening her resolve. "Jack?" She questioned softly. He was standing at the lounge window, his back to her, staring out at the street. "Did you get the mail you were expecting then hun?" There was an unreadable emotion in his eyes, his body looked slightly tense, but that was the only giveaway. "I... uh, no, not what I was expecting..." The tears started to fall once more and she was powerless to stop them. "God, you're crying hun, I didn't mean to make you..." He crossed the distance between them quickly, gathering her close, kissing the tears from her cheeks as they fell. "Stop Jack, just for a few seconds, I'm not upset. Jesus, I couldn't be happier, but I would like you to sit down for a minute, there's something I need to say." He let her go with obvious reluctance and went to sit on the sofa. "What is it then?" He sounded confused. She took a deep breath and knelt down in front of him where he sat, stroking his hands while she gathered the courage to speak. "I will take the greatest care with your heart and soul Jack, because I love you more than I can say. I have this for you, and hope that you will accept it." Her fingers shook as she opened the little box in front of him. "The design is endless, as is my love for you, wear it for me and always remember that." She took his right hand in hers, preparing to put it on the second last finger of that hand but he pulled it away, instead, offering her his left hand. "I'll accept your love and this ring Eilidh, if you can promise me that this is just the beginning for us, I want more than the occasional stolen weekend and late night phone calls. You should be next to me when I wake up in the morning, every morning. I guess what I'm saying is that we should be more permanent." He sounded very slightly out of breath as he finished speaking. "Is that a proposal Jack?" She raised her eyes to his, stunned for a moment. "Could you think of a better day to be proposed to on? Yes Eilidh, it is a proposal, although, I think maybe we better make the engagement a little longer than the courtship, don't you think?" Her fingers shook as she slipped the ring onto the second last finger on his left hand, a perfect fit. "Yes... wholeheartedly, yes." She raised his hand with the ring to her cheek briefly, but was hauled up quickly until she lay along the full length of him, facing each other, body to body. "No more lonely nights." He whispered before claiming her mouth with his.