Airport hotel bars were the worst.
Ravi sat at the bar staring at the TV overhead. It was showing highlights of the cricket match, but he wasn't really watching. It was just something to look at. He took another sip from the pint of eye-waveringly expensive lager in front of him, trying to make it last. Beside him, a man in a polo shirt, jeans and gold chains was ordering a whole tray of Stella, with the enthusiasm of someone heading out on holiday and without a care in the world. Not someone who, say, still had a presentation to prepare.
Earlier, Ravi had checked in, unpacked his wash-bag and laptop, and sat down on the bed for a whole ninety seconds before deciding he'd had enough, and headed for the bar. He'd had a pint, sitting at one of the low, square tables, until it was time for dinner, and then he'd had a plate of quite-frankly terrible pasta, presented (and priced) as though it was haut cuisine. It now sat in his stomach like a lead weight, continuing to offend him.
It wasn't that Ravi was a snob. He was only 25, a relatively junior member of the team, and he wasn't that accustomed to eating out, never mind in fine-dining restaurants. But he'd been raised right; he knew good (home) cooking, and he knew bad food, and he resenting having to pay for the one but receive the other - especially since he'd then have to justify the prices in a review of his expense claims.
He was beginning to hate business travel.
Six months ago, he would have said that was impossible. His mother still thought it was a sign of great achievement, something glamorous. He'd come to realise, though, that it just meant working in a different office - with lots of waiting around in airports.
He sighed.
Then he became aware that someone had just spoken to him.
He looked around. The speaker was a striking woman standing next to him. She was older than him, by five or so years - maybe ten. But it looked good on her. She was white, with long black hair that fell over her shoulder in waves. She had brown eyes and full lips, both of which seemed to be smiling at him in amusement. She was dressed in a black jacket, short black skirt and a white blouse, with dark tights and matching black high-heeled shoes. The jacket hung open, and the top two buttons of the blouse were undone, showing an impressive cleavage; the material showed tension around the remaining buttons as though her large breasts might burst out at any moment.
Ravi realised that far too many seconds had passed since he turned around to look at her in response to her words. "I'm sorry," he said. "I didn't catch that."
She laughed - a rich, warm sound. "I said I recognised that noise. Not to mention the thousand-yard stare. You, my friend, have all the hallmarks of the disillusioned business traveller."
Ravi gave a wry tip of the head. "That obvious, is it?"
She looked thoughtful, for a moment. "Well, put it this way - what are you watching?"
"The cricket."
One eyebrow arched up. "Of course. Good game, is it?"
He shrugged. "I suppose. I'm not really into it."
She laughed. "So I see. It's not really my thing either, but it looks like I knew even less about cricket than I thought I did. Or they've changed the rules a
lot
recently."
Confused, Ravi turned to look at the screen. It was showing snooker. "Oh," he said. "Well, it
was
showing the cricket."
She shook her head. "Nope. Not when I got here, anyway. And that," she whispered, touching him lightly on the arm for a moment, as she leaned in confidentially, "is why it's obvious."
Her perfume wrapped around him and stayed with him as she leaned back. He'd gotten an enticing eyeful of her chest as she'd moved closer, too. He felt an involuntary stirring in his loins.
"Anyway," she said. "I need a drink." She propped herself up on tip-toe and, placing her hands on the edge of the bar, she leaned forwards, peering at the stock of beverages in the low shelves behind the bar. Her hips were at bar height, and as she leaned forwards, Ravi took the opportunity to admire how her tight skirt clearly showed her perfectly-shaped backside: it was full, with the delicious shape curving round and under to meet her vertical thighs in a sharp angle. The tight skirt hugged the underside of her buttocks. He could feel his cock stiffening in response, and he shifted his posture slightly to cope.
He glanced towards the bar; in the mirrors behind the spirit bottles, he could see her still looking at the shelving, so she hadn't spotted him staring at her. But now he could see that her jacket was held back by her arms as she leaned, showing off her wonderful cleavage even more.
His eyes were drawn back to her backside again as she lifted one foot idly for a moment. She turned her head to look back at him, still bent over.
"See anything good," she asked him, smiling seductively.
With a start, he pulled his eyes from her body and directed them towards his drink. "I... er..." he stammered, unsure what to say. He was suddenly aware of the outline of his cock in his jeans.
"Hmm. No. Beer's not my thing." She flashed her eyes at him. "I think it's Prosecco o'clock!"
She straightened up and, still on tip-toe, turned to face away from him, crossing one ankle over the other. With on hand on the bar, she raised the other to wave at the barman who was down the other end of the bar; with the motion, her jacket rose up, giving him another view of that enchanting bottom, almost as though she were presenting it to him. He took the opportunity to quickly rearrange himself.
After a moment, the barman acknowledged her, and she turned back to Ravi.
"Do you mind if I sit for a moment?" she said, pulling up a nearby empty stool.
"Not at all."
She sat down on the stool, turned a little towards him. She crossed her leg, causing the skirt to ride up a little; Ravi could see that they weren't tights after all: the top band of a stocking was just visible on her right thigh, and he suspected that the outline of a suspender was visible - though he couldn't stare at her legs to be sure. Certainly not with her looking at him as she was right now, with that appraising gaze.
"We haven't been introduced," she said, and extended her hand. "I'm Adrienne."
"Ravi," he said, shaking her hand.
"Hello, Ravi. Pleased to meet you. And pleased to meet
you
," she said to the barman as he came over.
"What can I get you?"
"Glass of Prosecco, please."