Friday night, Brian didn't arrive at Linda's Lower East Side loft until after 10:00pm. He'd been in The City all day, and they'd planned to meet for dinner, then stay at her place. Having recently become a couple, though in a long-distance relationship, she wanted him to stay here rather than getting a hotel room each time he visited. Unfortunately, his meeting ran long - several hours past schedule.
"I'm sorry, Babe," he said, when she opened the door.
She smiled up at him, her green eyes sparkling in the fluorescent light spilling in from the hallway. Her long, chestnut brown hair was swept back into a ponytail, exposing the soft features of her face.
"It's OK," she said, pulling him inside and embracing him as he dropped his bags.
His nostrils filled with the scent of her. The combination of her hair, skin, and perfume was intoxicating.
"Mmmm," he mumbled, "I needed that."
"I've missed you," she whispered.
"Me, too," he returned.
"Are you hungry?" she asked, releasing him to close the door. "We can still go out."
"Wait, New York City has restaurants open this late?" he said, facetiously.
"One or two," she assured him.
"How 'bout delivery?" he offered. "I'm too tired to go anywhere."
"Sounds good," she chirped. "What do you feel like?"
She led him into the kitchen area and pulled out a small stack of menus.
"How did the meeting go?" she asked, flipping through the colorful pages. "Besides really long."
"It went very well," he told her, settling on a stool beside her. "We finished everything, so we don't have to meet tomorrow."
"Cool," she said. "So, you have the day off?"
He nodded.
"No plans?" she continued.
"Only to spend time with you," he answered.
Linda grinned, and kissed his cheek as she pressed a crumpled Chinese food menu against his chest.
"Pick something," she commanded. "I'm starving."
As he scanned the paper, she scampered off toward the bedroom.
"Hey," she called out a moment later, "we should be tourists tomorrow. Walk around and look at all the tall buildings and stuff."
"I've seen them," he said.
"But, we can see them together," she pointed out, reappearing.
"Good idea," he conceded.
They ordered food, and sat on her couch, eating and talking. Afterward, they watched TV. He reclined with his arm around Linda. She lay against him, her head on his shoulder.
"You know," she announced, "if you lived here, we could do this all the time."
"True," he allowed. "It would make it easier for work."
"And, play," she added.
"Except, I couldn't even fit my books in here," he noted.
"Well, I didn't mean 'here' here," she said. "My lease is up in about two months."
"I bet it would be next to impossible to find a big place," he groused.
"We could try," she argued.
"Are you sure that's what you want?" he asked.
"Very much so," she said. "You?"
"Then, I think we should start looking," he opined.
Linda began to get up, but Brian pulled her back to him.
"Tomorrow," he said, kissing her neck. "We'll start tomorrow."
Their lips met, and opened, and tongues danced around each other as he hugged her close.
"Do you want to go to bed?" she asked, when their mouths parted.
"I do," he admitted. "Though, I'm afraid I won't be good for much other than sleeping."
"My tired boy," she said, sympathizing with the man more than 15 years her senior.
She ran a hand through his short dark-brown hair, then down his cheek to a goatee beginning to show some gray.
"Exhausted," he agreed.
"Well," she baited, "at least we can cuddle, and you can keep me warm."
"I'm just a piece of meat to you, aren't I?" he joked.
After giving him another peck on the cheek, she jumped to her feet. Rising slowly, he followed. They slumbered soundly, their limbs entangled under the covers; blissfully - if temporarily - detached from the city that never sleeps.
Light filled the windows when Brian awoke a little after 9:00am. Momentarily disoriented, he looked around as he rubbed his eyes. Linda lay beside him, on her left side, facing away. Her hair was a mess. His gaze lingered on the bare skin of her back. Leaning over, he kissed her neck, then exited the bed.
After retrieving his bags from near the front door, he pulled out the things he needed, and made his way to the bathroom. He answered the call of nature before brushing his teeth, and then shaving.
"Old man," he said to the face in the mirror.
Finished, he stripped off his t-shirt and boxer-briefs, and stepped into the shower. The hot water felt good. It loosened his muscles and revived his senses. He stood under the spray, eyes closed, soaking, and letting it wash away the last of the cobwebs from his brain.
"Are you OK, Babe?" Linda asked.
Turning his head, he saw her in the doorway.
"Yeah, just relaxing," he told her.
As he cleaned himself, she went through her morning routine, then approached him.
"Mind of I join you?" she asked, needlessly.
"Please do," he said.
Slipping in front of him - pushing herself against him; forcing him back a step - she secured the shower curtain, and ducked into the stream.
"I thought you were sleeping," he said.
"I was," she allowed. "But, you kissed my neck. You know what that does to me."
"Even in your sleep?" he questioned.
"Mmmm, hmmm," she confirmed.
Grabbing a bottle of body wash, she squeezed, filling the palm of one hand with gooey green gel. She lathered herself, slowly, knowing he was watching every move. As she rinsed clean, Brian contemplated the way the suds flowed over her curves. Placing his hands on her shoulders, he repeated the action they'd been discussing.
"What are you doing?" she asked.
"An experiment," he murmured, barely taking his lips from her flesh.
"What?" she pressed.
"Shhh," he directed. "It's science; to see if the awake/asleep effects are the same."
"Oh," she cooed. "Anything for science."
His hands slid around her; his fingertips examining the taut skin of her stomach. Pressing himself against her, he moved his mouth along her right shoulder, then back to her neck.
"You seem to be a very thorough researcher," she said.
"I think we need additional data," he asserted.
Brian's hands drifted; the right downward, the left up. He cupped her right breast. His fingers tripped across her erect nipple, and simultaneously traced over her smooth pubic mound.
"Yes, more data," she purred, spreading her legs. "In depth research."
"Absolutely," he whispered.
Linda gasped when he brushed her clit. He teased her by flitting to her inner thigh, then around to her butt cheek, before leisurely gliding back between her legs.
"I'm so glad you're here," she purred
She twitched as his fingertips once more found her button. Brian held her, moving his fingers in small circles. He could already feel the effect it was having on her.
"You, and those magic fingers," she exhaled.
"Do you want me to stop?" he asked, knowing the answer.
She shook her head as his lips returned to her neck. Linda tried to reach back, to touch him, but could gain no hold on his slippery skin. She could feel his hard cock trapped between their bodies, and she wiggled against him.
"You know what that ass does to me," he growled.
"Do you want me to stop," she mocked, repeating his own question.
"No," he said, pulling her tighter as his fingers increased speed. "I want you to cum."
His left hand flew to the back of her head. He grabbed a fistful of hair. Pulling gently, he turned her head toward him, and kissed her. Linda moaned into his mouth.
Carefully, he walked them both forward to the front wall of the shower; pressing his weight against her to hold her in place. He could feel the tension building in her, and a minute later, he knew she was ready.
"Yes, that's it," he said, breaking the kiss.
"I need to cum," she stammered.
"Do it, Baby," he told her.
Linda stiffened, and held her breath for moment, then she panted loudly and shuddered furiously as a wave of pleasure washed over her. Her knees threatened to buckle, but Brian held her firmly, his fingers still massaging her clit.
"Oh, God; Brian," she nearly screamed. "Don't stop!"
He had no intention to do so.
"Yesss," he hissed, "cum for me."
For several minutes, Linda whimpered, her body convulsed, and she clawed at the tile wall as one orgasm blended into another, and then another. Brian enjoyed every second; feeling her body; watching her face; hearing the noises she made; taking it all as proof of her pleasure.
"Please," she begged, finally. "Let me rest."
"Why should I?" Brian asked.
"I just need to recover," she said, weakly. "You just make me cum so hard."
"You don't like it?" he taunted.
"I do; I do," she rasped, "but it just wears me out."
Brian seized her hips.