"Damnit" she swore softly under her breath as she stepped off the plane. Running her hand through her hair she sighed, this was the last place she wanted to be this week. She would rather be curled up in her bed hiding from the world, like she normally did after a bad breakup. However, duty called so here she was, a thousand miles away from home attending a convention for a week. She took a short cab ride to her hotel, checked in and went to her room, kicked off her shoes and flopped on the bed.
Stretching out, she thought about the past week's events. She had finally dumped her boyfriend of 5 years. She was tired of being treated like crap and truthfully if the break up hadn't been so ugly, she would have felt wonderful. Even despite the yelling and screaming, after it was all over, she felt relieved and more like herself than she had in ages. She supposed she should be happy about that turn of events anyway.
Shaking herself out of her reverie, she glanced at the clock and jumped off the bed, she was going to be late if she didn't move it. "What the hell am I supposed to wear?" she muttered to herself as she riffled through her bags. She didn't want anything that would attract attention, especially from men. She wanted nothing to do with men right now. Smirking to herself, that wasn't entirely true, she wouldn't turn down a little fun in bed if the right opportunity presented itself. She finally chose a conservative suit, pinned her nametag on the lapel and headed downstairs to the convention.
Entering the conference hall she was relieved to see some faces she knew. She supposed she ought to go schmooze, even if she didn't feel like it. Walking over to a group of people she struck up a conversation and chatted for a little while. She was in mid-sentence when her jaw dropped as she spotted a man she thought she knew. She excused herself and strode over to him.
"Hello, I'm Ellie Carmichael" she introduced herself. She laughed lightly at the look of shock on his face as realization dawned on him. "Ellie? Ellie is that really you, jesus it's been ages...what 12 years or so?" Smiling softly "Yes it's really me Brian, it's great to see you again and yes it has been 12..wait..almost 13 years now." He couldn't believe it, the one who had slipped away had suddenly walked back into his life, as gorgeous as ever.
He scanned her from head to toe, she looked almost the same, though possibly more beautiful. Her long dark hair framed her face and the caramel highlights made her green eyes sparkle with a fire that was purely hers. She was wearing a dark blue blazer and skirt and a cream colored blouse that should have downplayed her good looks, but to him she looked more alluring then he remembered. She also smelled heavenly, like lilacs or lily of the valley, he couldn't quite pinpoint the scent. But it was one he associated only with her.
Smiling, she looked into his eyes, "It's great to see you again, how have you been?" She noticed the visible slump of his shoulders as he answered her. "I've been better, but let's not talk about that. Have you had lunch yet?" She shook her head, "I just arrived a couple of hours ago...I haven't had a chance to do much other than check in." He grinned and took her hand in his, "Well let's go then."
They found a little corner café that served simple sandwiches and drinks and filled each other in on the missing years. It turned out he had just broken up with his long-term girlfriend and was pretty much in the same situation as she was. He sympathized with her and it felt wonderful to know she was not the only one out there with relationship problems.
She glanced up into his cerulean eyes and wondered what had ever happened between them. It seemed like a lifetime ago maybe....shaking her head to clear those thoughts out of her mind, she saw him smiling at her. He placed his hand on hers and she shivered at the feel of his rough skin contacting hers. "Whatever happened between us Ellie?" Shrugging her shoulders, "I have no idea Brian...I was just wondering that myself actually."
Brushing a stray lock of hair off her face, she sighed and looked down at her hands, "I think we were just too young, going into college...the timing just wasn't right." She shrugged "Who knows........" her voice trailed. She looked up again to find him staring at her face as if trying to memorize this moment, burn it into his brain. She blushed lightly and let the hair cover her face again. After all these years one look from him could still make her breathe faster and her insides soften with anticipation. "We should go Brian, we need to get back to the convention."
He nodded, rose and pulled her chair out extending his hand for hers. They walked hand in hand back to the hotel and entered the lobby still talking as if the almost 13 years had never existed. He called the elevator for them and as the doors opened he pulled her inside and rapidly pressed the close button so no one else could enter with them. Pushing her against the mahogany walls he placed a fleeting kiss on her lips....so soft it was almost like a whisper.
Startled she almost told him to stop but it brought back so many memories...the long nights in bed making love until the dawn broke. He had been her best lover, the most attentive and as he kissed her lips, lingering on them, she wondered if he was still like that. She made a split second decision then. She didn't care where this led every fiber of her being wanted him again.
