Crump, crump, crump. The sound of the snow underfoot is oddly comforting.
It is over 50 years since I heard the sound regularly as a child and youth in England. Since arriving in Australia, it has been a very rare sound indeed. But it always brings back the memories of freezing fingers and toes, yet laughter and gaiety as snowballs were thrown and toboggans were ridden.
It is hard to believe that only 2 days ago we were making love in the clearing of the forest, less than half a kilometre away.
But the sudden cold snap that roared in from the Antarctic overnight put paid to the Indian summer. Luckily, the owners of the cottage that we are renting had laid in enough wood for such emergencies. My arms were stretched like an orangutans as I carried the heavily laden basket from the woodshed.
The majority of the wind has died down now, and the grey, snow laden clouds have given a feeling of muted stillness to the outside. Climbing the steps to the porch, I knock the snow from my boots and open the outer of the two entrance doors, and enter the tiny lobby.
The cottage itself is as old as I am, built in the early 1940's from sandstone blocks. It had been refurbished in early 2000, and the double entrance was one of the important modifications made to maintain a good climate inside. Along with heavy insulation in the walls and ceilings, the owners had installed double glazed windows, which still had the external look of leadlight style, but the huge advantage of insulation improvements. The timber floors had been covered in a lush, neutral coloured woollen carpet, which all add up to a very pleasant, warm house, even with the wind roaring as it did this morning.
The wood fire is merrily crackling in the corner of the lounge room, lending an aura of cosiness and sensuality to the room. In front of it is a very large sheepskin rug.
It is starting to darken even more outside, as the day draws to a close. You have already pulled the curtains to a close, and the only light in the room comes from the fire, a small reading lamp, and the light from the bathroom, from where I can hear the running of the water as you fill the spa bath. I can hear you humming away as I place the wood basket next to the fire, and put a couple of logs in the centre of the glimmering coals.
I enter the bathroom, just as you turn out the main light, and I'm met with the sight of many lit candles around the room and an ice bucket, containing a wine bottle, next to the bath. At either end of the bath, sitting on the ledge, are full glasses of sparkling wine.
You turn around as I enter, and my heart skips a beat as I look into your eyes. You have a beautiful smile, and you look positively radiant, standing there with the light from the candles surrounding you in their glow. Your very fluffy bathrobe adds a soft frame to your already perfect looks.
"You, know, I am such a lucky bloke to have the good fortune of being loved by such a young and beautiful woman."
You pull a silly face, and poke out your tongue. "Yeah, right." you say, trying to dismiss my compliment. But the look only makes you more natural, in my eyes.
Turning off the tap, you turn with a flourish and announce "The bath is ready for his lordship. Would you like the serving wench to scrub your lordships back?"
You don't wait for a reply as you untie the belt around your waist, and take off your bathrobe, revealing your perfectly proportioned body. My eyes widen as they take in your form, still a huge turn on for me, still as if seeing you naked for the first time. They open even wider as you step into the bath, and I catch a glimpse of your fantastic vulva, so pink and open as your legs part. I watch in awe as you sink into the hot, steamy water, the bubbles that are in there gripping onto you body, as if devouring you. First your ankles and legs disappear from sight. The water is hot, so you sink slowly into it, the bubbles claiming the prize of your vulva, then your gorgeous round bottom, and tummy, before seeming to hold onto your breasts and draw them into their greedy grasp.
I turn my back to you as I start to undress.
"Why have you turned around?" you ask quizzically.
"After seeing your body, kitten, I am embarrassed at the wrinkles and age of my body, and I don't want to turn you off."
"Don't be so bloody silly." you reprimand me, "There is only one place on your body that has wrinkles, and by the time I have done what I want to do, there won't be any wrinkles there, either!"
Surrendering, I turn to face you. "OK, you asked for it."
Finishing the unbuttoning of my shirt, I take it off, and place it on top of your robe. I unbuckle my belt, unzip my jeans, and start to lower them. Hooking my finger around my sock, I step out of my jeans taking the sock with them. I am conscious of you looking at my body as I am undressing, and still feel unworthy of your love of my older body. After ogling you as you got into the bath, I can feel the stiffening taking place between my legs. Taking a deep breath, I slip my thumbs inside the waistband of my boxers, and lower them to the floor, taking my other sock with them.
I have nowhere to hide now!
You smile as I climb into the bath.
"See, I haven't done anything yet, and already the wrinkles are going."