You wander down the white streets, the snow lightly falling. Itâs a picture perfect winter scene. You see couples pass by arm and arm, and you remember your own empty hand. With gifts to buy you quicken your pace, not looking forward to the crowded stores. You were on a quest for the perfect gift, for a good friend. She had known you for so long, knew almost everything about you. You still dream of telling her your secret, of opening yourself to her, but are afraid of her rejecting you. You admit that you are an okay looking guy but have always felt self-conscious and out of place, especially around women you like. A few months ago you typed a letter, writing down how you felt. You had printed it out to give to her but never did. It has sat on your desk for many months, or so you thought. You couldnât find it the last time you looked.
You want to get a gift that says, âI know you and I careâ. With your eyes glancing in store windows, you nearly jump for joy. There is the perfect gift: A bracelet that matched the necklace she always wore, the one she had gotten as a child. The store clerk wraps it nicely. As you leave, youâre humming to yourself. You check your watch. Itâs almost 3 oâclock and you need to hurry. In one of your past conversations, she mentioned she was taking some cooking lessons. You had jokingly volunteered to be her taste-tester and she agreed. Tonight sheâs making you dinner. Itâs not as if this is the first time seeing her outside of the office. Youâd gone to a movie and had coffee a few times. Yet this time was different--you were going to her place.
Your mind turns to the gift in your hand. Youâd intended it for Christmas, but why not give it to her tonight? Your hope starts to soar high, but your nervousness and doubt also grow. A stirring in your loins mirrors your thoughts of her body. Whether she was wearing a business suit or the dress she wore at the last office party, she always had this affect on you. Unfortunately, it tends to tie your tongue in knots. Determined not to make a fool of yourself, you try to push thoughts of her body out of your mind.
By the time you reach home, your nervousness has grown to overwhelming proportions. You place the gift by the door, imagining her reaction when she opens it, and head off to take a warm shower. You slowly soap your body as your anxiety eases thoughts of her return to your mind. Pushing them aside, you reach down to wash your legs. Your hand lightly brushes your hardening length, and nearly closes around it as thoughts of previous showers run through your mind. Your body remembers all too well and a need rises within you to continue playing. You resist, not only because you donât want to be late, but also because of instructions you had received that morning. Over the last year, you had been chatting with a woman known to you only as Kitten. She had said that it wasnât her real name, but it didnât reduce the effect of seeing her online had on you. She told you not to rub it until she instructed you otherwise. She said she would chat tonight. Regrettably, you had to cancel. This dinner was more real, and more important. Although Kitten pleasured your mind and body more than anyone else before, you doubted that you would ever meet.
You left the shower and dried off, being careful not to rub too much. Standing in front of the mirror, you look over your form. âNot badâ, you think, âbut not the best eitherâ. You had always been a bit self-conscious, but through Kittenâs guidance, you were becoming more comfortable with yourself. Damn... You really need to stop thinking about her, and remember that it is Viki you are seeing today.
You get bundled up against the cold December winds. You slip the little package into your pocket careful not to crush the pretty bow. Your steps quicken as you approached her apartment. In what was only minutes but seemed like hours, you reached the front door. It had been a surprise to find out that she only lived a few blocks down from your place. Your trembling hand reached for the buzzer as you took a moment to breathe before pressing it.
âHello?â her voice reached down from above to caress you.
âHi. Itâs me, Michael.â trying to sound relaxed, as you were anything but.
âIâll buzz you in. It is door 4A on the 4th floor. Iâd come down but I donât want the appetizers to burn.â her voice sounded a little nervous. You were glad for the extra minutes to compose yourself.
âIâll be there in a minute,â you say automatically, realizing after that you wish you had given yourself more time.
You breath again as she tells you âTake your time, the elevator isnât working today. See you soon.â A buzzing and unlocking sound greet your ears. You almost shout with joy, you feel like you passed the first test. Shaking your head at your own reaction, you open the door, and walk towards the stairs.
You take your time, not wanting to arrive out of breathe or sweaty. âThe heater must be on full blast,â you say to yourself as your nearly melt going up the last flight. At the top of the stairs you see it, door 4A. You pulse jumps at the sight. Calming yourself down you reach for the door.
âWhat is there to be nervous about?â you ask yourself. âJust because the most gorgeous girl you know invited you to her apartment to cook dinner for you is no reason to be nervous. Yeah right, but just relax. Pretend you are at the office discussing work, you arenât nervous thenâ. With a plan in mind, you begin to knock.
A moment later the door opens, and you struggle not to let your jaw drop at the sight. She is wearing an apron over what seems to be a short, black dress. She smiles at you and says, âIâm glad you could make it. Here let me take your jacket. Itâs so hot in here. I called the manager, but he seems to be out. So, the heater is still stuck on high.â
With her words, you come back to your senses, and unbutton your jacket. Your hand slips into your pocket, making sure that the gift is there, but you decide to wait until later to give it to her. She offers you a seat at the kitchen counter. She begins chatting about work and the upcoming Christmas holidays as she rushes around the kitchen. You offer to help, but she says sheâs almost done. You continue to sit and try to focus on the conversation.
You are not sure which is the most tempting sight, her leaning over the wash the fruit or her bending down to check the oven. You are very grateful for the counter thatâs hiding your reaction. However, as she places the wondrous tidbits onto a plate and hands you two dishes of fruit, you realize that you now must walk in the open and hope that it doesnât show.
At the table decorated with candles, you both sit down. She thanks you for coming and your response of âthe pleasure is all mineâ nearly hints at both meanings. She notices and a glint passes through her eyes before she offers you some shrimp that had been simmered in a sauce.
After the appetizers comes dinner, then more small talk about plans, the past and life. Upon realizing you both will be in the city on Christmas, she invites you over to share Christmas dinner with her. That is, if you didnât mind her cooking. Mind was the wrong word; you loved every bite of it and were dying for more.