Xan and Carl were old friends. Back 10 years ago, they saw each other almost everyday, on campus. But life has its way of moving things along. Both are today happily married - to someone else. But there was a time, it might have been, could have been; but the time is long gone.
Carl looked at Xan as they say across the table at the cafe, "You still look good." Which was true. After all these years.
"Don't say it just to please me," Xan answered. But they both knew, she liked the compliment. She always did.
"So, when are we going to bed?" Carl asked. This same question that has been asked since they left school. Always in jest. Sometimes in hope.
"Awww... you have a beautiful wife already! Besides, this sex thing is way over-rated!"
"That is the point! Give me a chance to show you it is NOT!" Carl countered.
Always in jest. Usually hopeless. Yet, Carl persisted each time, hoping, waiting. But then, he was disappointed. This time, as before, it ended with nothing. Yet, he hoped.
Several months later, there they were again, at the cafe, drinking coffee and chatting. Xan still looked great. But something seem to be different. Carl felt it, but he could not quite identify it.
"So, when are we going to bed?" Carl asked.
"Awww... you have a beautiful wife already! Besides, this sex thing is way over-rated!"
"That is the point! Give me a chance to show you it is NOT!" Carl countered.
She looked at him. "It is over-rated. I know. I am no virgin, you know."
But somehow, Carl realised that there was more to this. He knew Van, Xan's husband, he was no stud, but was he a dud?
"But you know, it is different. With different people. Sex is an experience. Its not just about love. Sometimes, you need something more."
"Yeah? Like what!?" Xan was a little incredulous.
"Like skill, like knowledge, like hot, burning passion. Like the need to give you the greatest pleasure you ever had. Like what I feel for you."
Xan looked taken aback. She never really thought of it this way. Sure, she had a crush on Carl. But that was YEARS ago. Its gone, dead. Yes, she still found him attractive, but passion? Need?
Carl plucked up his courage and took her hand. Very softly, he continued, "Give me a chance. You know you like me, I like you. We are both adults, we do not want to jeopardise what we already have. Yet, is there something more?" He paused to gauge her reaction.
"Can't we share some passion? Is it so hard to imagine that we can achieve levels of orgasms that you have only dreamed of?"
There was silence. But Carl could see the flush on her cheeks. It could have been embarassment, but her quickened, shallow breaths told him that it was more than that.
Slowly, he stood and offered his hand. She tooked it and followed him. A little dazed, bemused. Why would she follow him? They hardly spoke a word. He guided her across the street, to a nice hotel. Quickly, he got a room. At this point, Xan realised what she was about to do.
"Xan, let us give it this one shot. Let's go up to the room. If at anytime you want to stop, we will. But let us not regret this moment passing us by, never knowing."
The two friends, years of friendship, tottering on the brink of a volcanoe that might be the end of them both. In the room, they were finally alone.
