It happened so fast. She signed in hoping to have a nice hot chat with him, but instead Trisha found a series of instructions that left her wandering through the next few days like she was in a dream.
"Take the weekend off," his directions said, "pack a bag, grab a cab, and be at the airport at 5 PM Friday. Wear something nice because this Friday is going to be first class. Wait for me at the baggage area for Delta."
Trisha sat staring at the monitor full of nerves and excitement. Originally, he had written because he liked one of Trisha's posts; it had been on being divorced and wanting to search for love again. He asked if she would like to chat with a fellow searcher and perhaps commiserate together over the lack of good prospects in the dating world. Trisha had already noticed Rick on the board with his intelligence and humor. She sent him her instant messenger ID. They hit it off immediately, talking for hours that first night.
After months of talking, intimacy had seemed natural. With the use of the cam and his erotic way of telling a fantasy, she often found herself breathless and, soon, wanting more. He was eager to meet her, too. He had told her late one night, after they had both come more than once, that he thought there was more than sex involved.
She told her bank's manager that she needed to take Friday off. She spent the morning grooming herself and getting her hair cut and colored the deep shade of red Rick had told her he loved. She sometimes worried about her looks, but in the mirror Trisha knew she looked good. The day after she had gotten his instructions, she had taken her lunch hour to buy a sexy and sophisticated black halter dress. It made her feel great. It had an asymmetrical hemline and fell gracefully over Trisha's body showing off her curves and enough cleavage to suggest her eagerness for him.
When she heard the cab outside, she checked herself one last time in the mirror, her deep-set green eyes, her thick, auburn hair hanging down in soft waves to frame her heart-shaped face, her full lips a delicate red that matched her manicured nails. "Damn," she said, "I'm ready" and rushed out the door, dragging her bag behind her.
In the cab, she shivered when she imagined his eyes looking up and down her for the first time in person. Everything felt new, and dangerous, and exciting. A fantasy was beginning that Trisha had played over many times in her mind.
She thought about what she was about to do. All the play, all the pretend was suddenly over, but this time when Trisha had signed off with "See you Friday, Baby," it felt real. For a moment she felt frightened, but when she left the cab at the airport her confidence came back when she caught, and felt, the glances she was collecting from the men she passed.
Her sense of being at risk disappeared. As she waited at the Delta carousels, Trisha felt strangely safe. It was like submitting to his directions left her free to be herself. Rick had been good ever since she met him at encouraging her. She had lost some of her reluctance and inhibition. She had been trying to enjoy each new thing. She enjoyed the feeling of being eager. Trisha felt herself smiling as she waited, no doubts left that the weekend would transform her life, her attitudes, her ability to love.
She had meant to be early, and she was. She sat in one of the plastic chairs anchored to the cold, glossy floor and daydreamed of him in a scene with no plot, just desire. She kept looking around, imagining she had seen him, that he was there. She sensed something behind her, her imagination playing tricks again, helped by the detail her daydreams had taken on. It was almost like she could feel his breath on her bare shoulder. She didn't know whether to enjoy the sensation her daydream was provoking or to turn for another nervous reality check. She sat up straight and blinked her eyes.
A single, pink rose appeared before her.
A hand gently pulled her hair to one side and the breathing came closer until lips touched her ear, and a man's voice nearly whispered: "Are you waiting for someone?"
Her hand reached for the rose as she forced her head to nod a tentative yes. She felt a rush of adrenalin take away her peace. His hand covered hers and turned her toward him. Trisha rose to her feet and his hands slid to her waist. She could see him now, especially his eyes. Their eyes searched each other's. They were frozen in this space. Trisha couldn't think of what to do for a change, so she placed the rose to her lips and relished the scent he had given her. She became aware that his eyes were traveling over her body.
"Move that silly rose. I have to kiss you." They smiled and she lowered the flower. Now she knew what to do. She put her arms around his neck and their faces closed on one another slowly, as if neither had ever kissed before, cautiously relishing this first time together.
Trisha's lips touched his, lightly at first, then quickly they both lost their sense of reserve and their lips locked, sending the message of passion and desire. They were lost in their kiss, their tongues exploring and their bodies pressing together. The crowd around them was forgotten. They kissed for what seemed to her a delicious hour, and when it broke at last they were both breathless.
"Come on, we have a rental car to collect and places to go," Rick said quietly, his voice still showing his passion.
He took her hand and led her through the airport. It seemed as though he could measure her passion and, just about the time it cooled, there was something else to stoke the fire. When they stood in line to rent the car, it was a look; moving to the counter, it was a little touch in the small of her back; while they waited for the car to pull up, it was small kiss that was held just a second too long and the touch of his tongue on her lower lip. Each was harmless by itself, but combined with her growing anticipation, Trisha found her desire simmering and found the teasing increasingly frustrating. It was as if her universe centered on her need, and it suddenly seemed unimportant that they had just met. What mattered was what would happen when they were alone. She felt her breath tighten.
Once they got to the car, Rick hurried to open the door for her; it gave Trisha a chance to be less than lady-like. The flash of leg didn't go unnoticed as well as the delicious view of her cleavage. He could tell she didn't have a bra on. She could see him resist the urge to slip his fingers inside the halter neckline and touch her.
"You're such a hottie," Rick grinned. He leaned into the car for another deep kiss. She felt her lust roll into a ball and felt herself wanting to let go and just reach for his crotch now or lie back in the seat and let him take her. Her surprise at her own new desires gave him time to move away and close the door. The engine started and he turned to face her.
"You are so damn sexy, Trisha."
As she mumbled a thank you, she realized that she was far less embarrassed about her lust than she would have thought she would be, and for the way he seemed to know just what she was thinking.
Their drive to the unknown destination was too long. They tried to be chatty, and succeeded in distracting themselves part way. Sometimes it seemed like they were two old friends "catching up." Well almost like that. Trisha found herself drifting off into fantasyland. Rick was doing the same thing and cast lustful looks her way. The scenery changed from city to country and then to mountains. His hand left the steering wheel and rested on the inside of her knee. She looked at it; tingles ran up her leg; her desire increased again.
"Trisha, I want this entire weekend to be special. Our first time together should be mind-blowing for you. I want the word pictures we have made to come to life."
She rested her hand on top of his. She had meant it as a reply. She smiled at him and found herself considering pulling his hand up her leg and under the hem of her dress. He must have sensed her thoughts and gripped her leg more firmly.
His voice became intense, sexual. "For tonight I want you to do nothing but experience things and respond. Allow me this Trisha."
She wasn't sure what that meant, but she felt a charge of electricity run through her body and rest in her loins. She steadied her voice and said, "Okay." Nothing more would come out.
Trisha decided to concentrate on the scenery. The drive climbed higher, and tall trees passed slowly as he negotiated the tight turns. After they escaped the forest, they found the resort. The vistas were overwhelming and seemed to suggest to her freedom, the freedom to experience and to respond.
