Susan stretched out on the couch, put her book to the side, and flexed her toes. She admired the taunt muscles of her legs and realized for the first time that the happiness of her new life was beginning to assert itself. She watched the snow filter down through the pines outside the window of her home. Her self-image was healthy and her confidence was found anew. Even the exercise she had been getting had become more refreshing than tasking.
The funk of her previous sorrows was slowly washing away. It was wonderful to finally have her home to herself. Her husband would be away for at least two weeks on business, and she decided to enjoy every moment of her freedom. She felt like she had her life back again and it was invigorating. In another hour she would be able to enjoy the best addition to her home, a brand new hot tub. He had said that he didn’t care what she bought. It was only fair since he dropped a bunch of cash on a new dish/DVD television system—yet something else to ignore her with. To make for an even more enjoyable afternoon, her new love interest would be spending the afternoon with her and had promised to cook.
Susan stretched again, enjoying the lazy afternoon. She lifted from her couch and ignited the gas fireplace. She went over to her stereo and smiled as her fingers selected her new favorite CD. Stan, her newest lover, had bought it for her as a gift. The smooth jazz tones filled her soul with relaxing warmth. Another long stretch and she headed back for her couch. She debated whether or not to change clothes. She rather liked the way the jersey tunic complemented her olive complexion, dark curls, and brown eyes. The fact that she could dress comfortably around Stan was just one of the many things she liked about her new beau. She smiled and picked her book back up. She reclined on the sofa enjoying the anticipation that was buzzing around her this afternoon.
Stan returned from the store to see that spa delivery truck was gone, and smiled to himself. He had been looking forward to this afternoon for quite sometime. In a few more hours he would be sliding into the warm hot tub with his new lover, Susan. His mind reeled with the anticipation of making love to her. While they had not yet spoke the promise, it had been in their eyes the last few dates they had. They both knew that tonight would be their first “real” night together. Stan sat in the driveway and calmed his nerves. He wanted everything to go well. He wanted this romantic evening to be perfect for the two of them. He opened the door and gathered the grocery bags from his car and proceeded up the walk to her condo. He saw Susan in the living room relaxing.
He smiled when he heard the vibration of the smooth jazz CD he had given her last week emanating from her stereo. He took a moment to admire how peaceful she seemed reclining on the couch and reading. Her legs were stretched out and crossed at the ankles, and he murmured a prayer of thanks for the lovely woman he had met as he admired the long sleek grace of her limbs. Susan was moving her foot to the music, and the slight bounce caused her thigh muscles to ripple underneath the button-down baseball jersey she was wearing. Stan rang the door bell. The music switched off abruptly and he could hear her naked feet pad softly, but quickly across the wooden floor of the foyer.
"Who is it?"
"Stan.”
He could almost hear her smile in the long pause from behind the door.
"Can I come in? He joked after several moments. Was that a giggle he heard as she finally opened the door?
"Sure," she said pertly as she swung open the door. The motion caused her to lift slightly and the jersey sailed up over her hips revealing her hidden treasures. He never doubted that she was a sexy, hot-blooded Italian, but the sight of her trimmed, yet dark pubis swirled over her olive skin made him swallow in anticipation. She blushed, forgetting that she didn't have anything on underneath. Stan politely looked the other direction as she pulled the long shirt back down. Her eyes slipped down with embarrassment.
"Sorry--I uhhmm--gee that was dumb of me."
"That's quite all right. I can’t think of a better way to be greeted.” He smiled to disarm the awkwardness as they stood in the foyer. For the first time he realized she was almost as tall as him and it sent a thrill through his entire body. He could almost feel those legs wrapping around him. So far, they had only been able to grab quick lust in the backseat of a car, tonight they would be exquisite together. Stan shrugged his arms which were full of groceries as he slipped passed her. Susan's eyes rose to meet his, but lingered at the slight bulge in his pants. She shut the door and followed him into the kitchen and helped him unload the bags in his arms.
"Lasagna?" Susan asked as she pulled the loaf of French bread and red wine from the shopping bag.
"As promised, my specialty!” Stan bowed playfully as he finished removing the fresh spices and tomatoes from the sack. “That’s why I am early. Sorry to surprise you. But I realized that it would take a little longer since the sauce is from scratch. I didn’t have any base left over in my freezer from the last batch."
“That’s okay, I was going nuts trying to amuse myself anyway. I mean the cute spa technician finished the installation early so I didn’t have anyone else to flirt with. . .” she teased.
“Flirt away.” Stan smiled as he began to arrange things and get accustomed to her kitchen.
“I have to admit, I thought you were all talk when you said you could cook. I expected you to show up with frozen lasagna. This is such a treat. So where did you learn to cook?" Susan asked curiously as she reached above her head for the wine sleeve. Her firm buttocks wiggled as she pulled the sleeve from the shelf.
"My soon to be ex-wife is all thumbs in the kitchen—and in other places,” he giggled as he pointed at her lack of bashfulness.
"Ooops--I'm sorry." Susan whispered devilishly, implying that she really wasn’t.
"No need to apologize,” Stan said as he began browning the meat and slicing tomatoes.
Susan smiled and moved from around the counter and sat at the table careful not to flash Stan, but overacting with a demure smile.
"Are you hungry? I've picked up some salad that we could eat while we are waiting for the lasagna to bake,” Stan offered as he finished layering the pasta, meat, and cheese. He began to saute’ the tomatoes and garlic, preparing fresh base. “I hope you don’t mind, but it will take a while to bake.”
“I’m pretty hungry,” Susan said, the double meaning in her voice was not very subtle.
“I hope I can fill your appetite.”
"I don’t think there will be any problem there." Susan mused as she sneaked another glance at the bulge in his khakis.
"Do you happen to have oregano. I need just a pinch more than I brought.”
Stan saw where attention was fixed and blushed. He wasn’t used to a woman being so bold and aggressive. He decided he liked it. It thrilled him to be the prey for a change.
Susan stood and opened one of the cabinets and handed him the spice bottle. Her fingers brushed the inside of his wrist and he nearly jumped out his skin. Her touch was electric. Things were moving faster than he expected. She moved away and leaned against the counter. He was intoxicated by her simple beauty. Her brown eyes seemed to peer into his soul from beneath her lovely brown hair. Susan sighed, as she return his look of deep longing. They stood there and melted in the mutual gaze. Susan cleared her throat and turned to sit back down. Her mind reeled. Part of her wanted him to throw the things from the table, lay her down on it, and mount her with reckless abandon.
Susan’s breathing quickened and her breasts swelled beneath the jersey. Stan's eyes gazed at them and she caught his admiration. She let him look and even seemed to turn in her chair slightly and brushed one hand through her dark hair to give him a better look at her waiting beauty. Something silently passed between them in that quiet moment. Her brown eyes locked with his briefly. They could sense the tingle of the electric spells passing between them. Each was waiting for the other to make the first move, but both delighted in the delicious delaying of gratification, not wanting to be the first to give in. It was a playful yet serious game, and they reveled in the sensation.
"Your special recipe smells wonderful. Not even my mom used home-made sauce," Susan pointed toward the oven, thus breaking the spell.
"Mhmmm, wait until you taste my special four-cheese garlic bread, There are times when I can eat just that with a chilled glass of Lambrusco. We can have some wine--your mom won't mind if you have a glass of wine with dinner will she?"
“Well, she said I should never drink wine on a date. . .but she didn’t say anything about drinking wine before fucking.” Susan shot him a impish glance that heated his loins.
Stan cleared his throat and opened the bag holding the bread and began cutting cheese and mixing garlic and butter. Susan stared at his strong hands and nimble fingers and sighed deeply wishing they were roaming over her body instead of working the bread. She reached out to grab his wrist.
“Can I lick the knife?”
"Damn!" Stan blurted as her touch surprised him and the knife cut into his thumb.
Susan grabbed his wrist to see how bad it was. Several large drops of blood had dripped onto the counter. She placed his thumb in her mouth without thinking and sucked the blood away so she could see how bad the cut was. Blood beaded back up immediately and she pushed his thumb between her soft pink lips and sucked it gently. She was standing unbearably close to him. She pulled the thumb out and wrapped it in a paper towel and led him into the bathroom.
"It's not too bad--just a scratch. It'll stop bleeding as soon as we get a bandage on it." Susan reassured him as she opened the medicine cabinet. She ignored the fact that his erection had formed a tent in his trousers and was brushing against her thigh. She opened a bandage and began to dress his wound.
"Stan, can I ask you a question?"
