Margaret was a busy woman, and over the past few years had had little time for relationships. Even casual sex had become an only occasional indulgence, and her frustration was growing. She was forty years old now, and as the owner of her own chain of swish clothes shops, she found herself in a position to take a step back and enjoy some of life's finer vibrations. With no husband, no children and a mortgage she could easily manage, she had decided to employ someone to take over a good deal of the day to day running of the business and take a back seat. There was more to life than money and there were things she wanted to do before it was too late.
At least one of the things she wanted to do while her body was still up to it was to have a relationship with someone with whom she could explore her sexuality to the full. She hadn't had anything like a serious relationship since she was at university, and that was over twenty years ago. Of course in this Internet age, it was easy enough to arrange casual sex, but it never satisfied her. It wasn't possible to push the boundaries with new lovers, and of those she'd had, quite a number had been disappointing. Like most successful people, Margaret was demanding. Her men had to be physically fit and have an expert knowledge of a woman's body and how to please it. All too many of them were either incompetent or concerned only with their own pleasure, and not a few encounters had ended without her having a single orgasm.
She was therefore quite excited when a new store manager she'd just set on told her of an acquaintance of hers that might be of interest. They had gone out to a wine bar after work, and were talking freely and easily after a couple of glasses of chilled Pinot Grigio. Lucy was a little older than Margaret at about 45, and like her, was quite career minded. The difference was that Lucy was happily married with two children and therefore had a rather different set of priorities. Nonetheless, the two women hit it off, and Margaret was very glad of the friendship as well as the service. Lucy was a safe pair of hands, very dependable, and also very easy going and approachable - the sort of person you could talk to about anything.
"So are you after a man because you want to get married and start a family?" asked Lucy, when the conversation inevitably turned to men and relationships.
Margaret shook her head firmly. "No, definitely not," she said. "I don't want to give up my freedom just as I've managed to get it! I want to keep busy and do things, but I do want to be with someone for..."
"Sex?" Lucy finished the sentence for her since her interlocutor seemed to be fumbling for the right word.
"Well, yes! Sex!" said Margaret, wondering why she hadn't just said so in the first place. Lucy was clearly no prude. "I've been so busy that there hasn't been time for it really."
"It doesn't take long you know!" Lucy chuckled.
"Yes, but I don't mean just a quick fuck, I want someone I can try things with, someone I can go beyond a simple hump with," Margaret went on rather animatedly. "Someone I can build trust with, and experiment with!"
"Blimey," said Lucy. "What exactly do you want to do?"
"I'm not sure," said Margaret. "Just things that are a bit naughty."
"Up the bum you mean?"
Margaret flushed deep red, but seemed to assent. "Maybe," she replied.
"That's OK," said Lucy. "You can tell me. There isn't much I haven't tried over the years."
"Well that's just it," said Margaret. "I've hardly tried anything and I'm not getting any younger!"
Lucy felt a little sorry for her. "That's a shame," she said. "Although I suppose you've got all the other things you wanted. You're successful, you've got a nice house, plenty of money, and now you're in a position to relax and enjoy yourself."
"I may be in a position to, but I'm not sure how to make it happen," said Margaret. "Where will I find someone?"
Lucy seemed to think. "You know, I might just be able to help you out," she said.
"Really?"
Her companion nodded. "There's a guy I used to work with a few years ago. He's in a similar position to you, actually. He's in his mid forties, has his own construction company, never married, no kids, and doesn't get much sex. Or at least he didn't anyway!"
"So what's wrong with him? If he's so great why is he still on the shelf?"
"Same reason as you I suppose. He's had other priorities. He's sometimes a bit... er... complex, if you know what I mean. One minute a dominant alpha male type, the next really sweet and sensitive."
"Good looking?"
"Yeah, in his way. I don't suppose he's going to be the next James Bond but he's well above average. I would if I wasn't married, put it that way!"
Margaret was intrigued. "Sounds interesting," she said. "I think some men find me quite intimidating though."
"Oh, you won't intimidate Brian!" said Lucy. "He's sometimes surprisingly nervous, but I'm sure he can handle you."
"You think he'd be interested? I am after all a middle aged woman..."
"With a figure like yours I should think so," said Lucy, looking at her boss's body with considerable envy. "Look at you, you're six feet tall, you've got legs up to your armpits, firm boobs, a peachy bottom..."
"Oh shut up," Margaret laughed. "You sound like you fancy me yourself!"
"If I wasn't married..." Lucy said again, and laughed, although Margaret wasn't entirely sure she was joking.
She watched her friend as she went over to the bar to get more wine. It had been a long time since she'd been able to talk so freely and easily with anyone, and it felt good. Lucy was such a nice, honest person, she felt she could trust her with her life. She was one of those women who had probably been softened by motherhood, for it wasn't too hard to imagine she'd been something of a livewire in her younger days. Although well presented and basically good looking, she didn't have Margaret's beauty; however, at this time in her life at least, she was a more rounded and laid back sort of person, to the extent that a lot of men of comparable age might have found themselves more drawn to Lucy. She was so much more at ease with herself than Margaret; in short, more fulfilled.
"Gosh, this wine's hitting the spot," said Lucy when she rejoined her friend. "It's a good job it's Sunday tomorrow!"
"It certainly is," said Margaret. "Anyway, I'm intrigued. Tell me more about your friend. Brian did you say his name was?"
"Blimey, you don't want to hang about do you!" said Lucy, wondering if she had done the right thing mentioning him. "You must meet him and see for yourself."
"Well can you set something up? It's springtime, I'm always randy in the mating season!"
Lucy laughed. "Fair enough," she said. "I'll see what I can do."