Dear Readers - Here's the next chapter in the tale of Jake and Juliet, two neighbors in NYC trying to find love and lust in the midst of the pandemic. If you haven't read Chapters 1, and 3, I urge you to do so before availing yourself of this installment. It will add so much to your enjoyment. As always, if you enjoy it, let me know by rating or commenting. - Merci, Petitmort
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The pandemic of 2020 had evolved from lockdown to a tentative reopening. Even in New York City, there was talk of how smaller groups of people could come together in "pods" and still minimize the spread of the virus. Large gatherings were out, but smaller co-minglings were starting to occur across the city. Young people especially were starting to reconnect, albeit cautiously.
Juliet was in her kitchen when she heard her phone beep. It was a text from Jake.
"Check this out"
She followed a link to a New York Times article about how public health officials in New York had just provided guidance that it was now okay to resume in-person sexual relationships, preferably with a limited number of partners. The gist of the article was that human touch and sexuality were important elements of mental well-being and, if both parties were diligent about staying safe, intimate physical content was considered an acceptable risk.
Juliet's heart leapt. She and Jake had talked for weeks about the day when they would actually be able to be together. They had enjoyed Zoom sex for weeks now. It led to enjoyable, even torrid sex. They used the forced separation as an opportunity to have a different kind of relationship. They talked more, shared their thoughts and desires, and explored their sexual fantasies.
In fact, Juliet had some of her most satisfying sexual encounters of her life with Jake. They had developed a trust, and an intimacy, that allowed her to be totally authentic with him, to be her true self. They would lay in bed at night and have long, intimate talks over video calls. They'd set up their laptops so they were literally face-to-face in bed. They would tell each other stories - some true, some fantasy - that tapped into their deepest desires. With their hands free, they were able to slowly build the sexual tension and then to satisfy themselves in perfect synchronicity.
But Juliet longed to be able to touch Jake. She knew he had a great body. She could see that when they took their socially distanced walks together in the parks around the city. Tall, athletic, sinewy. He had dark curly hair that was growing longer by the week. He reminded her of an Italian movie star she had a crush on when she was a girl.
Plus, Jake was ... physically gifted. She had gotten glimpses of his manhood during their late night virtual sexscapades. They'd pan their bodies with their laptop cameras to heighten the pleasure. She knew that he was big. Bigger than any man she'd ever known. Not that she was a size fanatic or anything. It was just ... not being able to feel it ... it felt like such a cheat.
As for Jake, he wanted nothing more than to be physically intimate with Juliet. She had exactly the kind of body that made his heart pound. Lithe and lovely. Juliet had a dancer's body - slender hips with perfectly proportioned breasts. An adorable ass. And her face - it was a face to launch a thousand ships. She was French, Parisian to be precise, and she had the elegant features, the accent, and the sophistication that he found sexy beyond belief.
In addition, Juliet was a sexual dynamo. Jake was pretty experienced - guys with his looks and charm tend to have their share of women. Still, he had never known a woman who was as sexually responsive and as adventurous as she was. She would lose herself totally during their trysts, achieving orgasm early and often. He longed to experience that first hand - to see her luscious body becoming aroused, to feel her silky skin, to smell her scent.
Now, in a matter of a New York Minute, it all seemed possible.
Juliet responded to his email.
"My door's unlocked"
Jake, who lived in the apartment right above Juliet's, took a deep breath. This was the moment he'd be waiting for.
Juliet's text was simple but Jake understood exactly what it meant. This was the advantage of having weeks to get to know each other so intimately. Jake knew that Juliet had a recurring fantasy that a man sneaks into her apartment while she's sleeping. He silently slips into her bed and proceeds to ravish her. Any thoughts of resisting him are dispelled by the intense pleasure of the moment. It wasn't rough sex or non-consent she wanted. It was surprising, passionate sex, with a man she'd yearned for from afar. Like her neighbor from the apartment above her.
Jake changed into a black pullover and sweatpants. He pulled on dark socks but no shoes. He was going into stealth mode.
He slowly turned the doorknob on her front door and silently let himself in. As he expected, the apartment was dark. Using the illumination from the streetlights outside, he tiptoed to her bedroom door. He listened for sounds coming from her room. Nothing. He silently turned the doorknob and slowly opened the door.
Inside, a single candle illuminated the room. Juliet was in bed, motionless. Jake stealthily moved to the side of her bed. He silently pulled off his shirt and pants. Naked, he slipped under the blanket and between the sheets.
He moved slowly next to her. Jake knew that Juliet always slept in the nude. Knowing her naked body was just an arm's reach away made his heart pound with anticipation.
Juliet's heart was pounding too. She had waited for this moment for so long. She sensed he was there but when will he touch her? How will he touch her? She didn't know.
Jake moved closer to her motionless body. He could feel the warmth radiating from her skin. He reached his hand out to touch her, his fingers inching forward. In search of her nakedness.
At last, his fingertips reached her bare skin of her back. Juliet gasped.
Jake's fingers slowly drifted downward along her curve of her back. He marveled at how silky smooth her skin was, how warm, how downy. His touch was feathery, he was barely touching her at all. And it felt amazing.
Juliet realized she had been holding her breath for who knows how long. Knowing that it was Jake, right next to her, felt incredible. His touch sent electricity through her body. It was driving her crazy.
Then, another sensation. She felt his soft lips kissing the center of her back. Ever so softly. She let out a murmur, as if in a dream, and turned toward him, rolling onto her back. She pushed back the covers revealing her naked body down to her waist. One hand went above her head and she arched her back, as if still asleep.
Jake looked at her lovely face, her raven hair so stark against the white pillow, her sumptuous breasts beckoning to him. He thought he'd never seen anything more beautiful in his life. He started to kiss her, ever so softly. On her arms, her breasts, her neck. He knew she loved to be kissed on the crook of her neck, he knew it drove her crazy. He nuzzles his face there, kissing her, inhaling her scent.
Juliet opened her eyes and he felt her arms around his neck.
"Mon amour," she whispered.
He softly kissed her face, moving closer and closer to her lips. Finally, and for the first time, they kissed.
It was a kiss for the ages.
"Oh Jake," she whispered. "I've wanted to do this for so long."
"Me too," he said simply. "And I don't want it to end."
She held him close, hugging him tight as if to pull him inside her.
For the longest time, they lay that way. Face to face. Looking into each other's eyes. Just kissing.