New employees came and went. Most were nice and good people but then I looked into her eyes. "Charlotte..." she said as we shook hands "... Pleased to meet you." As I introduced myself, I melted. She had an adorable face. No classic beauty nor this 'girl next door' look but a sweet, open face with (and here it is, her most prominent feature) bright light blue eyes that radiate happiness.
And I was smitten right then and there. And like so often in these cases, I developed the idea that she liked me too. Which, on a conscious level is total BS of course.
Over the next few weeks, I saw her at the office only every now and then. This was because of hybrid working etc. But then the introduction meeting came and it was wonderful. She told me about her and I told her about me. And I could take in her features some more without the probability being accused of having given her the eye.
She has a serious sporty body. Shoulders and muscles, though not so much that it surrendered on her femininity. She's got small boobies and that's appealing to me. I'm not into melons. C-size is big for me. A is fine. Charlotte's probably got AA. Her length is a few centimeters less than mine and it's a perfect size for me. Still, being a pussy person, I can't stop myself wondering what her most intimate parts look like.
But I digress. We had a really nice talk about her previous work, her studies and her hobbies. She's just over 30, my son's age. I told her some things about my life, career, hobbies... I'm pushing 60. On the one hand this makes me feel old. But near Charlotte I certainly don't feel my age and definitely virile. During our talk at the office, I did not get any other signals from her than that we'd be having a friendly relationship. I felt good about it anyway. She's the friendly and happy person I gathered she would be.
During the weeks that followed, we saw each other a few times at the office, usually at the lunch table. This was all very low key contact.
And then the company's study weekend was there. Not the whole weekend, mind you, just Friday late afternoon and Saturday. The setting is Rotterdam so we had a cruise through, past, the harbors while some speeches were held and alcohol started to flow. We noticed one another, had a meaningful look as a comment on a passage in a speech and that was great. We connected but we didn't talk. Also back at the hotel... well actually right next door where we were having dinner in some sort of food hall, there was no direct contact at first. We got food, passed each other, made a comment, but we were each in different company so we moved and mingled separately. She needed to get to know the rest of the employees as well as me. There were some other new ones as well. Some activities were organized and teams were made. A few times we had eye contact and that felt nice. Towards the end of the evening, I mingled to join a group of more females. Then there was some stirring because several colleagues wanted to go out to some bar. I checked Charlotte but she made no move to join. I was glad because I didn't feel like that and stayed put. And when the party left, she joined the three of us that stayed. So a natural two and two talk started and I was delighted to talk with Charlotte once more. We started talking and it was easy. The other two left. We continued and talked about education, politics, the situation in the Middle East which turned to religion. And although we're not completely on the same page, we're mostly not more than a paragraph off.
I explained more about my background, she about hers... So, she's got a friend, a partner, a fiancé if you like because they have wedding plans. I, from my side, have been married for over 20 years now. Neither of us got into more detail about our relationship. The entertainment after dinner was a pub quiz type of thing. Quite a few of the questions were about man/male versus woman/female. Who causes more car accidents? Who shaves more often? What is the best medicine for a male to fall asleep? How many erections a man has on average... Some of it slipped humorously in our conversation. But in fact our talk was more about us and what we had experienced, in our family life and in our work. And that was intimate enough.
We had to move from the restaurant to the lobby of the hotel. Just fifteen minutes more... became three quarters plus. We made a soul connection.
Our rooms were on the same floor. Mine was first. I asked for a hug and got it. It was warm and... inviting... I thought.
"That's a nice hug." I said as we moved apart. I ventured: "I could do with a cuddle as well."
She looked at me, a bit startled, with those baby blues.
"How do you mean that?" she almost stammered.
"I'm sorry" I said "The alcohol has pushed my inhibitions aside." I grabbed a hand and looked at our hands saying: "I just want some more nice time with you, kinda like cuddling up, under a blanket, looking at the stars or whatever. That's what I feel and I'm stupid enough to say." I looked up. She hadn't pulled her hand away. A tear rolled down her cheek and with her free hand she swept it away. "What are you saying?" she said. I was quiet for a moment and answered: "I'm asking."
She still held on to my hand so I continued: "Let's step into my room, out of the way of possible prying eyes and ears." She said nothing so I quickly pulled out my card, opened the door, stepped in and guided her with me. I stuck the card in the light-slot and the door closed behind us. "Could you... would you... will you cuddle up with me, falling asleep together?" I asked this looking her deep in her eyes. I continued to hold her hand. My fingers under her palm, my thumb on top, softly pressing. "But... you're married... and I'm going to be, in a few months."
I answered: "I'm not asking you to leave your man. I have no plans to leave my wife." I swallowed hard. "But I feel a warm connection with a kindred soul in such a way that I can't help wanting to touch you." Another tear started its way down. I lifted my hand and put it tenderly on her cheek, swiping the teardrop with my thumb. I moved my hand to her neck and gently pulled her head on my shoulder. "Why do you cry?" I whispered in her ear.
"I don't know..." she started "No, I do know." She stood, just not touching me, very close and said: "I know I like you, from the moment we met I liked you." She took a shuddered breath. "But I never expected this. And I feel so confused, that's what's making me cry. I don't know what to do."
We continued to look at each other. I took my turn: "I didn't plan this either. I admit to have been forward in asking you for a cuddle, but that was a spontaneous blur based on what was going through my mind." - "What was it you were thinking?" Charlotte asked. "When I asked for a cuddle, I was picturing us laying on the bed, spooning, talking some more... or not. But enjoying our closeness, our warmth."