The flight home seemed to take forever. I had decided, with mixed emotions, to spend the first two weeks of February in New Orleans. Granted, I had to endure long lectures and endless role playing for a Certificate in Conflict Resolution but that was still better than enduring snow and mind numbing cold in Minnesota. But spending those 14 nights without Carol was another matter. We had been dating since last summer. We were very close friends and lovers and although we still lived in separate houses, we managed to spend 2 or 3 nights a week in the same bed. We pretended that it was the best arrangement for our children, but we were just still both too stubborn, or maybe too frightened to give up our separate lives. Actually, my Daughter was away at graduate school most of the time, and last month, Carol's children jumped at the chance to finish high school in the UK, when their father was transferred to London.
We did run up some hefty long distance phone charges while coaxing each other to spoil our sheets, but it was certainly not the same. I felt like a teenager again looking forward to Valentines Day. Tonight, we planned to share the cooking, and then enjoy our Valentines meal in front of her fireplace, followed by an intimate homecoming celebration. Actually, the celebration was supposed to start this afternoon, but just after my flight at our local airport touched down, at 2:10 PM, Carol called me on my cell phone. She had been called back to the hospital, where she was the Assistant Director of Nursing, for an important staff meeting. She said that the roast was in the oven and she would be back by 5:30. So, I took a cab home, sorted through two weeks of mail, and did some shopping.
I stood for a moment on her front door step, hugging a bag of groceries, several bottles of wine, and a spray of long stem roses. I took a deep breath and pushed the doorbell with my nose. I heard the door open, and I looked up into deep blue eyes. Her upturned nose and high cheekbones were framed by blonde hair that cascaded down to her shoulders. Before I could stand up straight, Carol's arms were around my neck, her warm smile turned into a pucker, and our lips met.
We stood in the open doorway, with the cold February wind swirling around us until I heard her furnace kick on. She pulled back and whispered " welcome home, Bob, it's been a long two weeks."
I set the wine and the grocery bag down, and reached for her again. This time, she flashed an impish grin and ducked out of the way just as I heard the kitchen timer ring. As she ran into the kitchen, she reminded me that there was plenty of time for that later, but a pot roast should not be kept waiting.
Carol made a soufflé using the drippings in the roast pan, while I arranged peeled jumbo shrimp around a silver bowl that contained a simple mixture of tomato sauce, horseradish, and a hint of lemon. I was about to add some chopped garlic when my mind started to anticipate what would come after dinner. Although we both enjoyed garlic, I did not want anything to clash with the delicate smell of Carol's perfume, or the sensual husky aroma that comes from between her thighs. That thought was enough to urge me to make one more assault. Carol was standing at the stove and had just sautéed some pearl onions and fresh green beans in a little olive and butter. She was about to splash in some pickle juice, when I came up behind her and gently kissed the back of her neck. She leaned back a little and I heard a slight purr from her lips. When I reach around and gently cupped her breasts, she pushed her butt back into my groin with enough force to send a twinge of pain through my semi-erect penis.
She laughed for a moment, and then in a mock judicial tone she said " Mr. Carlson, do you recall what you said when I offered my body to you last summer at this very same spot?"
I groaned and admitted that it was something about not being ready, and not wanting to ruin a perfectly good omelet. Carol turned around and lightly kissed my nose and then whispered " darling, I waited for you for two weeks, and we can make it through the next two hours, besides, it would spoil my Valentines Gift to you."
The table was set in the den, with a dark red tablecloth and two long stem roses in a crystal vase. The drapes were shut, and the only light was from a floating candle on the table and flickering lights from the fireplace. I dipped a shrimp into the sauce, and pressed it up against her puckered lips. She slowly inhaled the pink morsel, and then offered one to me. Very few words were spoken, but the sexual tension was starting build as we continued to feed each other. When all the shrimp were gone, we went back into the kitchen, where I carved the meat, and Carol filled a silver dish with those green beans that earlier I had conspired to delay. We deliberately kept our portions small, in anticipation of what would come later. When Carol went back into kitchen to get the fresh strawberries and a fondue pot of melted chocolate, I slipped a card and a small wrapped package on her placemat. She squealed with delight when she saw the heart shaped ruby stud earrings.
