Breakfast with Molly the next morning was interesting, to say the least.
"So how did you sleep last night?" Molly asked, with a knowing smile.
"I think it was the best night's sleep I have had in years!" Kate retorted.
Going back for decades, Kate and Molly shared everything. And this morning was no different. Ever the extravert, Molly shared first. For her, rekindling her fling with James after a 25-year hiatus was deeply exciting. And apparently James' superb physical shape transfers well to the bedroom. Molly's night sounded just as riveting and sensual as Kate's.
Kate was surprised to find herself totally unreserved in this moment. She and Molly were in a small nook of the breakfast room and no one was anywhere to be seen. Kate excitedly shared every single detail with Molly, who seemed genuinely excited and happy for Kate. Molly knew that Kate hadn't had much in the way of sensual fulfillment in a very long time and she was thrilled for her friend. And she was not the least bit surprised when Kate started talking about plans to see Michael again ...
After a long day of travel, Kate and Molly found their way to Molly's flat in London. Michael also happened to live in London. Kate took this fact as a sign of destiny. In fact, just to help destiny along, she had initiated a text conversation with Michael starting immediately after they'd said their good byes early that morning. She literally could not get him out of her mind for one second.
On the surface, the texting was superficial "I hope you get back to London safely." "That 80s concert was really brilliant!" and so forth. But the fact that she was staying connected with Michael is what mattered to Kate. Once she figured out the remainder of her schedule, she was fully resolved to seeing him again. And the sooner the better.
...
"Would you care to join me for dinner Friday night, Kate?" came a text from Michael later that evening.
Just reading this text sent Kate's body into a state of excitement. She had to refrain from responding too quickly or too strongly. After two full minutes, she texted back:
"That would actually work well. Molly has a business dinner that evening so I'm totally free."
"Brilliant. I'll be in touch with the details," he texted back.
Kate was beyond herself with excitement. She shared the news with Molly, who responded wittily:
"You do realize that today is Wednesday so we are talking about 48 full hours. I hope you can handle it!"
Molly opened a bottle of red and the friends laughed and laughed. Just like old times.
...
The plan was for Kate to meet Michael at an apparently very posh restaurant simply called The Manor. Kate spared no expenses in getting ready. Earlier in the day, she got both a pedicure and manicure. Rich red nails all around. She also did a bit of shopping, buying a luscious red panty and bra set as well as a new silky skirt, black-and-red patterned, and a sexy sheer black blouse. She even had her hair done on Oxford Street earlier in the day. Silky smooth, with hints of red and blonde highlights. She spent a small fortune, but she felt beautiful. She felt deserving of Michael, which was, in her mind, a strong statement.
On the cab ride to The Manor, Kate's excitement was totally ramped up. She could hardly concentrate on anything except for the fact that she would soon be with Michael again.
When the cab stopped, Kate handed the driver 50 pounds and told him to keep the change, although the fare was only 20 pounds. Although she was incredibly smart under most conditions, she found herself unable to do even simple math right now. Michael was inside waiting for her. And that's all that mattered.
...
The hostess seemed to know immediately that Kate was with Michael and she ushered Kate to a small table nestled in the corner of the dining room. Michael, donning a charcoal grey suit that looked fit for a king, smiled and stood to greet her. His smile was powerful and genuine. She looked up into his blue eyes and they briefly embraced before sitting down. There in the moment, all of the reasons that she craved for Michael were readily apparent. "This must be what Heaven is like," she thought.
After pouring glasses of chardonnay for each of them, Michael reached under the table and turned up a wrapped gift. Kate was not expecting this. With both appreciation and anticipation, she opened the box, medium in size, at the table. A long, black, silky teddy that looked perfectly to size for her. And upon further examination: crotchless. And Victoria's Secret. Absolutely thrilling. But that wasn't all.
At the base of the box, underneath the lingerie, was a smaller package. Inside, Kate found the most brilliant diamond ring she'd ever held. It must have been five times the size of her wedding stone. And it must have cost thousands of pounds. Kate didn't know how to respond.
Michael smiled and reached across the table, guiding it onto her ring finger. It seemed to be cut for exactly this fit. It covered her modest-sized wedding ring fully. As if it had never even existed.
"Wear it when you are with me, Kate. To remind you of the princess that you are."
Kate's emotions raced. At this moment, Kate realized that Michael made her feel both like a princess and like an all-out hot slut at the same time. Beautiful, desirable, and 100% woman in every respect. Kate could not have felt any more loved than at this moment. And she immediately had thoughts of surrendering her body to Michael. This evening, she would do anything that Michael asked of her. Anything at all.
...
Dinner was an absolute delight. The food, the wine, the dessert, the ambience - all only to be outdone by Michael's charm. His dry and dark sense of humor had Kate's attention captured throughout the evening. She found herself smiling and laughing on the outside - and craving on the inside. This was a going to be a night to remember.
After dinner, they walked around the corner in this posh section of London. To Kate's surprise, they came upon a Hilton hotel that looked strikingly like the hotel they'd met in the other night in Dublin. Michael explained that this was a sister building to the one in Dublin, designed as such, by his architectural firm. With himself as lead architect, no less.
"Could he be any more amazing?" Kate thought.
Michael guided Kate into the first-class lobby and toward the elevators.
"I've reserved a room that you might like," Michael said, as they walked hand-in-hand.
As they got off the elevator and into the room, Kate gasped. The room was, in fact, 100% the same layout as her suite in Dublin. The suite where Michael first made a woman out of her. The room where Kate felt alive for the first time in decades. Identical. "What a comfortable feeling," she thought.
A bottle of white was already open and waiting for them in the living area. They toasted. "To the most beautiful woman in London!" Michael declared. He really did have a way of making her feel special. Princess and vixen. And sometimes-slut.
They sat together on the small couch, recounting the 80s show from the other evening. Pogues cover band. Adam Ant at 65 years old. Kajagoogoo Revival. That was some lineup! Half the acts still had it, while the others were clearly there for the cringe factor. Either way, it was a blast, and it gave the two lovers quite a bit to talk about.
As darkness enveloped the city, Michael gestured toward the package that he'd gotten her. Sure, she thought, she'd go into the bedroom and put on this sexy new lingerie. It'd been years since she had put on anything like this piece. Crotchless, no less. Kate was excited. And once she got it on, it's rich silkiness made her feel that much more of a woman. She felt luscious. And she felt ready for anything.
...