Jenny
My name is Jenny. I am an IT manager for a small company. I live alone - which I'm happy with. I've only slept with two men before, both I was engaged to, both more for them than myself - which I'm happy with, I think…
Palo
It was hot outside, the countryside flicked passed, the blurred golden yellows and lush greens of farmyards disappeared into the distance as the train sped by. The meeting had gone reasonably well, there was a certain amount of infighting and resentment from the resident Techies, but nothing she wasn't used to, and the team answered the questions posed well. Her laptop sat on the table in front of her, open and displaying the Gant chart she was preparing - moving timelines around trying to minimise the evident project over-run that had already begun to set in.
She sat alone. Her team had travelled by car, but she preferred the train, it was more leisurely and she could get a little more work done before going to the buffet for a G&T, or a whiskey (if she were in the mood). First class as always was a near vacuum of people, the carriage only contained two others. She felt a slight pressure in her back as the trained slowed for the next station.
A man appeared beside her, his suit looked creased - he looked creased, as if he had been scrunched up and then done his best to straighten himself out. Her light grey suit was a neatly folded shrine to the iron, her jacket closed to the top button, her skirt pulled to her knees. Even now, with the table before her she was conscious not to be exposed. Her white shirt stifled her neck, but it was important to look a certain way in her job - professional.
"Do you mind if I sit here?" a slightly French accented voice enquired.
"Well," She looked up beyond the loosely attached shirt to a rugged unshaven face, "there are other seats."
"I didn't think you would mind." He sat opposite her ignoring the answer.
He smiled at her and examined her face, her skin was smooth and slightly tanned. Fine lips pursed under a small delicate nose leading to her green eyes, above which red/auburn hair cascaded back down to meet her shoulders, dusting them lightly. She shut her machine down and closed her laptop with a loud click. The force made her ample chest wobble ever so slightly, just visible between the lapels of her jacket.
"Do you have to stare?" She said abruptly.
"Ah, I am sorry. It's been a long time since I gazed upon such a beautiful woman."
He wants to get me into bed she thought, but try as she might to stop it, she blushed and - just a little - felt flattered at the strangers charm.
"But where are my manners," He drawled, " my name is Palo."
"Hello." She replied curtly pulling a book from her over-night bag.
He raised his eyebrows in false surprise and sat back in his chair placing his hands behind his head and turned to look out the window. She looked up from time to time examining him. Early thirties she thought, dishevelled, but wearing an expensive suit, he doesn't look like a business man. The gap in his shirt caught her eye, the furrow of muscle tentatively displayed itself to her when suddenly he flipped forward hands outstretched on the table. She jumped back suddenly shocked, he ignored he reaction.
"You want a drink? I want a drink, let me get you a drink, after all you have given me a seat."
She looked around at the other empty seats. At least he'll be gone for a while, there are always queues on trains running in the early evening.
"Yes, okay…a G&T please."
"So polite." He smiled, "I shall return soon with your drink." He stood and did a grandiose bow.
Alone again with her book, she thought about the stranger. He was comfortable, confident and sexy, not at all like her. He was also over-bearing and annoying, but charming at the same time and now he was gone. She looked up and down the carriage and quickly bounced on the seat rolling her skirt up a little. She scratched around the tops of her stockings. The elastic had folded and the lace top made her thigh itch. She didn't like tights, she found them too restrictive, and as for garter belts - somehow she always managed to twist them. So these elasticated go-betweens were fine, no fuss in the loo and quick to put on, well quicker than a garter. She smoothed the shear white stocking and pulled the elastic into a more comfortable position.
"My mother always warned me about the prim ones."
God he was back already and looking straight up my skirt.
"I don't know what you mean. I was merely adjusting my stocking."
She pulled her skirt down with a quick bounce and tug. He turned his head sideways filing away the view of her long lithe legs for later recall.
"Your G&T." He said handing her the drink as he swung around in to his seat.
"Thank you." She said taking it waiting for the redness of her face to dissipate.
"Do you go far?"
"I'm sorry!?" She said startled by his forward manner.
"Haha, you have a very dirty mind for one so prim. I meant how far are you to travel, where do you go?"
He took his watch off and placed it before him on the table, then proceeded to rub his wrist where it had been pinching the skin. The light glinted in time to the sound of the rails low rumble as the train passed from section to section, she couldn't help but stare at the distracting light.
"Oh." She sipped her drink wonder whether to lie or not.
He smiled offering a hand and in soft tones said "My name is Palo, but I have already told you that..."
"My name is Jenny."
She took the hand tentatively only to have her own shaken and discarded quickly. The conversation ebbed and flowed. Palo was a project manager himself, for an anglo-french engineering company, he was keen to discuss the differences in their fields. Eventually cards were swapped and Jenny's opinion of Palo changed. True he was probably a charming womaniser, but he was also intelligent and ruggedly attractive. Her thoughts kept coming back to his physique, thoughts she quickly discarded.
She found herself feeling drowsy. It must have been a combination of the long day, the whisky and the gentle rumble of the train. The light from Palo's watch continued to flick pleasantly in her eyes.
"What do you think about sex?"
She was mildly shocked, where had that come from? They were talking about project over-runs, sex!?
"I'm not that sort of woman."
Her voice sounded slurred and slow, she was feeling tired and annoyed with this turn of conversation.
"Haha, again you misinterpret me. I wonder why?" He said slyly; "No I mean, what do you believe about the subject of sex."
"I'm not sure I want to discuss that with you."
"Well, I'll tell you what I think."
He folded his arms on the table to support himself, his constant fidgeting seemed to match his mood or exemplify what he was saying.
"Look, I don't feel comfortable talking about that sort of thing."
"Thing!?" He sat back flapping his arms.
"Sex." She said sheepishly.
"See! You can say the word." He smiled, "I like it." He said with relish leaning forward again, "I like all flavours of it too."
There was no misinterpretation this time; Jenny understood the implication. She found herself blushing again.
"Have you ever thought of being with another woman?"
"What!?" Yes said her mind, "No!" came her stunted reply.
"I think there is a tiger in you, an animal wanting to get out. Why else would you mis-understand me in such ways?"
"It's the accent and the way you talk I guess." She said trying logic.
"Of course!" He smiled back.
Palo continued to talk, but Jenny felt tired and although some part of her was listening - nodding at the right times - she allowed herself to drift off.