We meet. It's been a long, long time. Almost 25 years. Time has, indeed, marked both of us. We've lost the wide eyed innocence of high school. Lost the sparkle of wonder in our eyes. Lost the rough, patchy skin. Instead, I look in a mirror and see strength touched with vulnerability reflected in my own green eyes. Lines of pain and joy and laughter and tears lightly etched on my face. I like this face better than the frightened one of my youth.
I see him. No longer the angry bad boy, but a confident man. Time has marked him as well. No longer is he gangly, unsure of his height and muscles. He's comfortable in his body. He knows how to move inside of it. I see laughter, delight, and the calculating intelligence of a panther deep within his eyes. I'm melting already.
He says nothing. He wraps his arms around me, not in a friendly-gosh-I've-missed-you embrace. More like I've-got-you-now-and-I'm-not-going-to-let-you-forget-it embrace. I am electrified.
I have to tip my head back to see him. He does not hesitate. He captures my mouth, his hands in my hair, plunges his tongue into mine. I can do nothing but respond. My arms reach up around him. I want to touch his hair, his face. I feel the eyes of others on us and I don't care. Let them see how he devours us. I don't care.
He breaks from me and I am devastated.
"Your key, Sir,"
"Thank you," he responds he holds out his hand, accepts the key, never taking his eyes off me.
He leads me to the elevator and he places the key in the top slot. The penthouse. I'm shocked. I've never been to the penthouse before. I'm more of an economy type of woman. He must have seem my look of surprise because he gives me a half smile.
"You've followed my instructions?" he asks.
I nod, to overwhelmed to speak.