Tess opened the door and called out, “You should not have done that. Come in when you are finished- the door is open”.
Moments later she heard the sound of his boots coming up the grey painted wooden stairs and across the porch as the wind whipped up the snow drifts and the oak branches scraped against the house. The solid wooden door creaked open as he entered. The front entry room was quiet and dimly lit by a few candles and a corner table lamp. The house smelled of a roaring fireplace. He saw nobody in the dark entry way until out of the corner of the adjoining dinning room he heard her speak. “I’m over here. Come in and take a seat in the living room. I will be in shortly.”
He took off his coat and sat in the leather chair next to the fireplace. The soft leather was warm and relaxing and helped to release the constriction of the cold in his skin. “I just wanted to say thanks for shoveling the driveway and sidewalk. You did not need to do that- it was so kind and neighborly of you. Can I offer you a drink to warm you up?”
He thought... “A drink would be great. What do you have?” he replied.
“I do not really know. The bar really was not my forte...” she said drifting off...
“Surprise me then,” he suggested as she walking back into the darkness of the dining room.
He had not seen her much- at least since her husband left her. She and her daughter had pretty much kept to themselves and with the cold weather, nobody really was about the neighborhood these days.
She called out from the other room, “How have you been? The kid and school, play dates and all that stuff has kept me quiet busy.”
“I have been traveling a lot for work but now that the holiday season is here I expect to be in town for the rest of this year- you know, things slow down.”
“You probably work very hard everyday. Sometimes its good to take time and relax. Brandy?”
He was 35- and she was not that much older- 42 or 43- but perceptions and positions in life are relative he thought. As Tess walked out of the darkness he could see his hostess was as beautiful as ever. He had admired her for sometime but she had too much going on in her life.... a divorce had taken an emotional toll on her over the past two years and he kind of knew ‘the ex’. The family had just moved into the suburban upper class neighborhood and then the split suddenly happened. She had told him about it from time to time during neighborly chats but did not really discuss it in depth.
She handed him the snifter and walked away. “Where is Ashley?,” he inquired. “With my sister and niece- ice skating and slumber party. Its alright on a Friday night for a six year old to have a treat.” “Nice,” he said, “so that gives you your own time I suppose?”
“Not really, some peace to unwind but I have so much to do for the holiday- wrap gifts, cook, all that fun. So tell me, how have the girls been treating you lately? Last time we spoke you were still seeing a few. Anyone in or out? I’m sure some girl is dying to get her hands on you.”
Tess returned to the room and walked behind him. “Thanks for doing all that hard work” she mentioned as she began to rub his shoulders. He was taken by surprise,“No problem- I figured it was not a lot of snow and you would appreciate the help- it would have been a mess tomorrow morning if it was not shoveled.”
She came around the chair and sat in the matching leather chair across from him, they were separated by a matching ottoman. Leaning forward she said, “Lets see what the hostess has served you- may I?” she asked, dipping her finger into his snifter. “Mmmmm” she sighed as she tasted to brandy, “I like that one. Be right back” and with that she was off to the bar.
His mind drifted off and admired how good Tess looked. It was not just that she was a raving beauty, but it was the manner in which she carried herself- confident, well dressed and put together whenever he saw her, time, place and circumstance did not matter- a complete package and a class act. Tonight was no exception he thought- the woman is not going out and she is dressed kill with no plans to entertain at home. Maybe she had been out that day and had not the chance to change her attire? Who knows he thought...
Regardless, he had coveted her for a long time- she was a shapely slim five foot seven. With the black leather pointed toe spike high heeled boots with zippers up the in seam, which ran to just below the knee and firmly held the upper calf, and a black skirt with a hem line just above the knee and the gap in between which revealed light beige stockings, she was elevated to about five foot nine. She wore a cream colored semi see through silk long sleeve blouse, the top two buttons undone exposing her alabaster chest to just above her cleavage, a single strand pearl necklace with matching earrings, red lips, green eyes and blond hair with brown roots. On looks alone he wondered, why did her husband leave her?
Tess soon returned, snifter in hand, and she sat down across from him again, her legs crossed at the knee her elevated leg slowly rocking up and down. “Tonight I feel graced,” she said. “I have the pleasure of the company of a strapping young man on a Friday night, when I had nothing but mundane chores on the agenda.... a nice surprise,” she said with a devilish smirk on her face. “Ironic, this is starting to sound like one of those erotic stories. I did not get the drink which I gave you- I found something else that I like. Bet you can’t tell me what it is- taste?” he reached for the glass. “No, no, let me,” and she dipped her finger into her glass and brought it to his lips, which she slowly circled, painting them with the liquid. And when the circle was complete she surprised him by slowly inserted her finger in his mouth, gently rubbing it across his tongue and removing it with the expression a girl up to no good. “Like?” He pondered the taste. The taste he knew was that of a fine Cognac. “Yes, you taste fine,”- he slipped...
“So, between friend, pump my ego a little, am I an attractive woman?” she asked. “Tess, you know better than to ask me that question, I mean, come on, you have caught me from time to time checking you out. I’ve seen your flirtatious wink acknowledging me.”
“Go on, pump my ego more, what is my best attribute?” she pressed. “Your self confidence and the way you carry yourself, you know you are good looking.”
“I never thought of that,’ she said,”perceptive.... I thought you would tell me it was my legs, I always catch you looking at them. Clearly my dear, you have an interest and do try to hide it... You need more drink.”
She went to refill his glass and when she returned surprised him by curling up in his lap, her left arm moving around his shoulder, her legs across the chair arm, the skirt hiking up her legs to mid- thigh revealing more of her stockinged thigh, and driving him a bit crazy.....She gently grabbed the top of his ear with two fingers and stretched it ever so gently while whispering, “How about it, just us on a wintry Friday night? Can you satiate my needs? They are quite shall we say, ‘unique’. It has been a while. I need it in a way that is powerful, passionate and intense... awakening. I need to know I am alive. Can you do that for me, awaken my soul?” He was speechless, having never ever expected to ever in his life hear these words from her...
She kissed him gently on the cheek and stood up. She grabbed his wrist and led him across the room. He was stunned- this was not the person he thought she was. He thought she was the all-American housewife, polite refined, conservative and polished. Was he about to discover otherwise?