It all started with a drink. I'm not usually one of those girls who are anyone's after a couple of chardonnays, but this evening was different. And I'm glad I binned my prim and proper image for an evening – look where it's got me.
We were going out to celebrate a colleague's birthday. It was nothing special, just people from work. I bought my friend a birthday cocktail, and had a glass of wine to keep her company. Then one of the blokes bought us both a drink – the second one of the evening, the one I hadn't meant to have – and I felt my barriers starting to drop.
As we moved on to the restaurant, I shyly took the second-drink-guy's arm to steady me. I was hungry and the wine had gone to my head a bit. I knew I'd be fine when I got something to eat, though. I hoped he didn't mind me leaning on him.
When we arrived the drink guy, Harry, shuffled into the seat next to me. Having settled on my starter and main, I laid down the menu and made my first proper appraisal of him. Tall and with dark, slightly spiky hair, he was not my usual type. Not my type, in the sense that I was usually too intimidated by such good looks to approach a man that looked this hot. Some people call it low self-esteem, I call it self-preservation – knock backs are not good for a fragile girly ego. But this one seemed different. Maybe it was because I was just being myself and too busy to be shy or stand-offish, but as he made conversation and told a few silly jokes, Harry seemed genuinely interested in me.
It was so difficult having the meal while sitting next to him. When I fancy men I find it really hard to eat in front of them. Not only do I become incredibly self-conscious of every mouthful, but I become nervous to the point of nausea. So for one of the few times in my life, I didn't even look at the dessert menu. So the meagre meal I ate didn't really soak up the alcohol, and it didn't help that I was drinking more wine as I compensated for not eating.
I was getting much tipsier that I anticipated. Usually I'm such a sensible person at work, and I think my colleagues were quite amused when I finally let my hair down. Harry on the other hand was less amused than aroused. When his hand wandered on to my thigh, a thrill ran right up my leg and straight to my groin; I couldn't believe he was doing it. It wasn't just the physical sensation, but the intellectual one of believing he was so far out of my league, that was such a turn on.
We left the restaurant in a gaggle. I don't remember paying the bill, though we must have. Harry's arm was round me, guiding me into a nearby bar where the last remnant of the evening group was gathered. As I sat on a bar stool he was behind me, hands round my waist, discreetly stroking my back and caressing my hair.
At last he whispered in my ear, "I can't stand this much longer. I want to take you home."
I felt my heart race and my cheeks flush as I thought about what was going to happen. Before I had a chance to think too much, however, he had taken my hand. He said goodnight to the others, telling them he was taking me to the taxi rank, and led me out of the bar.
We walked back to his flat through the cool summer evening. It was only a short walk and there wasn't much need to talk. We paused once, by the edge of a park, when he spun me around to face him and kissed me gently on the lips. My knees buckled and I knew this evening could only end one way.
When we arrived at his home, Harry let us in and led me up the stairs to his small lounge. He offered me a drink but I declined, too turned on to think of anything other than getting his clothes off and having him take me as soon as possible.
But he seemed more reluctant now we were back on his territory, more tentative in his movements towards me.