The First Time: Venice

I take off my glasses and look up from my Kindle. The seatbelt light is on and I hear buckles clicking in the seats around me. The pilot is making her final descent into Marco Polo airport. My stomach is knotted and I feel nervous. After months of chatting online, now, finally, I get to meet you in person, face to face. I know your flight is due to land an hour after I arrive. We messaged late into the night, both so excited about the prospect of spending our first days together in Venice.

I hear the heavy thump of the tires on the baking tarmac and before long I have collected my bag and made my way through to the arrivals lounge. I check the info board. Your flight is on time and will land in just under an hour. I feel hot and anxious, my mouth is dry.

I know we both want this so much, we have talked of nothing else online over the last month, but I can't help the expectations weighing heavily. My head is telling me lies, kidding me. 'What if she doesn't like you? You are way too old for her, what if you get tongue tied? What if you disappoint her Henry?" These words go round and around in my mind. I decide to get a beer and try to relax. I pay for the beer and sit in the lounge sipping nervously. Always glancing at the board, checking, always checking. I start to feel vaguely sick with nerves.

I flick through our messages, and there you are. That photo I love so much. So naturally beautiful and confident. I'm clever with my words but your wit is quick and much more lively than mine, much more spontaneous. Your words thrill me. Somehow I get a sense of dread, feeling like an imposter. But there is no way back. Your plane is due any moment. 'God, this is it Henry, this is the day your life changes. You just adore this woman so much. Just be you. Don't fake it. Don't be too jokey, just be warm and loving, show her how you feel.'

I pop a gum to freshen up my mouth. I pick up my bag and move towards the arrivals gate.

I see the board update, you are in baggage claim. I ditch the gum and join the crowd waiting for their loved ones. Weary travellers start to appear, pushing luggage trolleys across the marble hall, smiles and waves as families and couples are reunited. My heart is pounding wildly. Finally, after what seems like an eternity, I see you come into the hall, pulling a large case. My heart almost bursts. You look gorgeous in a summer dress over a pastel tee shirt, your hair up, held in place by your sunglasses, unruly strands falling. Your eyes search the crowd. "Hi, over here Hun" You look up and for the first time our eyes meet. No more digital emotions, no more ones and zeros, this is real, this is all I have dreamed of for so long. You stop; letting go of your bag, a huge, dazzling, smile spreads across your face, I walk forwards to greet you. And now, my mind just closes down and my heart takes full control of my movements and my emotions. For a moment we stand disbelieving. I grin like a kid. "Hello you." You smile. "Hello Henry."

Within a second we are in each other's arms, wrapped in a huge warm loving embrace. Not wanting to let go, our bodies rocking gently from side to side - the longing, relief and emotion is immediate, all consuming and authentic in this moment of complete and utter bliss. This has been a slow train coming, from those first tentative, uncertain messages online, finding connection, exploring our emotions and falling for each other. But, now, here, in the arrivals hall at Marco Polo, we are finally together, our atoms fusing; becoming us. You look up into my eyes and my heart splinters into a thousand pieces as you reach up to kiss me.

And in this moment everything fades into the background, all I feel is you in my arms your warm soft lips on mine. Tired, weary after 14 hours travelling but still the most beautiful woman I have ever seen. Your lips gently part from mine. But your kiss remains, etched into my heart forever, that sweet, soft, first kiss that has been in my thoughts for so long. And here, now, it's so natural and unforced. Just like you, spontaneous, thrilling and perfect. I feel my chest decompress as you take my hands and step back looking up into my anxious eyes. There is no hesitation in your expression, no doubt, only the scintillating warmth of your gorgeous smile. As my heart beat calms, I smile.

"As much as I could spend my whole lifetime here with you, I have a little surprise in store! Are you ready?"

And just like always, you laugh. And looking into my eyes you reply: "I'm always ready for anything Henry!"

We both laugh. I take your hand, our fingers interlocking; a simple thing but this tiny connection between us means everything. We trail our bags out of the departure lounge along the escalators and out into the dazzling Venetian sunshine. We head to our left across the busy forecourt to the lagoon, where the water taxis wait for customers. We are greeted by the skipper who takes our bags and loads them onto a gleaming wooden launch with cream leather bench seats. The handsome Italian skipper gives you an admiring glance and winks at me. I smile back at him and my heart fills with pride. He takes your hand and helps you aboard and you recline into the luxurious leather seat and lower your sunglasses looking so incredibly beautiful. I take my phone and you pout a film star smile my way. I take the gleaming steel rail and step down into the boat beside you taking your hand in mine. Our skipper is dressed in typical gondolier clothes, blue and white striped tee shirt, black cropped pants and espadrilles. The powerful engines roar into life and the sleek speed boat reverses out of the dock into the Lagoon. We feel the thrust as the boat turns and starts to speed out following the ancient wooden posts across the glittering blue sea.

For the first time, we see the distant beauty of Venice before us. The tower of Santa Maria Maggiore marking the entrance to the Grand Canal. The wind tugging your hair back like ribbons in the warm Italian sun. The boat speeds across the dazzling water. Rising and falling on the waves as we make our way to our hotel and the beginning of the adventure of a lifetime.

You stand and take the rail, as we begin to enter the Grand Canal, your eyes taking in the overwhelming beauty of this magical place. The boat slows as we pass under medieval bridges and past towering palazzos, the canal side bustling with tourists. The splendour of ancient Venice arrayed seductively, its ancient majestic glory so spectacular in the hot Adriatic sun.

Our water taxi pulls up to the wooden jetty at the front of Hotel Danieli. We are soon trailing our luggage into the sumptuous marble hall.

Formalities complete, we make our way up in the lift to our room with its spectacular balcony overlooking the Grand Canal.

You drop your bags as I tip the porter. I turn to see you collapse exhausted onto the crisp Egyptian sheets of our bed. You lie there blissful and beautiful with your arms outstretched on the cool linen as I hang up my crumpled linen jacket. I open the doors to the balcony to let the Venetian air fill the room, for a moment I take in the majestic view and when I turn back you are sleeping, exhausted, blissful and completely mesmerising. I smile and take a seat on the terrace, the sun warm on my legs and pure contentment in my heart.

I turn and see you sleeping, idyllic and serene on the fresh cotton covers. Silently, I come into the room and take my Kindle and my reading glasses and go back onto the terrace, closing the door behind me. I sit in the semi shade staring out across the achingly beautiful canal, bathed in late morning sunshine. You had been right when you said it didn't matter where we went, but now here everything feels perfect. I sigh deeply with pure contentment, put on my glasses and start reading. I'm lost in the novel for what seems like hours, but in reality is barely more than 45 minutes.

I hear the doors open and you step out barefoot onto our balcony. You look radiant and refreshed. I take off my glasses and put my book down on the hot table. I smile up into your eyes and you send back a smile that launches an armada of emotions in my heart. I cannot quite calm the nerves inside me but your smile gives me that same feeling of reassurance that your words have done so many times over the last months.

You walk out into the Venetian sunshine. We have exchanged pictures but nothing could ever prepare me for your incredible beauty in real life. Your movements are full of natural grace your smile so warm and unforced. As we have chatted online for so long, I have seen how beautiful you are inside, how funny and kind and caring. I have seen how you are so like me, always listening to those inner voices and doubting yourself. But here, in the sun, on a balcony so far from the life back home, you look completely radiant. You are exhilarating and incandescent and I feel so proud that you are here with me.

You pause for a moment taking in the view of the Grand Canal and the ancient Palazzos, the bridges and the church towers. And you gently walk into this film set, your hands on the rail, gazing out to the glittering lagoon. The sun shines through your dress, emphasising your gorgeous figure. My heart beats hard, my eyes cannot move from you. This feeling right now, here in this beautiful place, with the woman I adore beyond all things, overwhelms my chaotic mind.

After a moment you turn to face me, your gorgeous eyes in mine. Slowly you walk across and gently sit on my lap. My hands on your waist, sliding around you. I feel you lean into me and kiss my cheek. Your soft lips linger for a second that feels like eternity. My arms gather you gently and I turn up to you. Your long brown hair cascading, your perfume, that dazzling smile. I know you are as nervous as I am, we are so alike. But I smile up into your eyes as I try to still my racing heart. As I reach up, you bend forwards and our lips meet so gently, the feeling inside me is overwhelming and fills me with your warmth. How long have I dreamed of these kisses? Your lips move gently on mine, finding a place that expresses everything to me. The warmth and sensuality of your kiss overwhelms me with utter euphoria. Your lips part from mine and then return so gently, so perfectly, again and again. These tiny movements are beyond sensual they are sublime. There is a magical warmth in your kisses that is natural, unforced and enthralling. Inside I am telling myself to stay calm, but every atom of my being is tingling with electricity. I stroke strands of hair from your cheek as you lean in, snuggling into me as our kisses deepen.

And here on this balcony high above the busy Venetian streets we kiss and everything recedes. There is only us and this moment of pure bliss.

After what seems like an eternity our lips part and you lean back in my lap smiling. A faint smile playing on your lips. There is a soft knowing look in your eyes, a look I have never seen but always felt in every line you have ever written. The midday sun has climbed high into the azure sky and it fringes you with its rays, your hair shining. But here now, there are just two souls drawn together by fate and filled with an urgency that is raw and immediate. No words are exchanged, no words are needed. You step onto the hot glazed tiles and take my hands. I lead you to the door and through into the cool of our room. And there I pick you up cradling you in my arms, your cheek on my shoulder. I carry you back to the bed and place you gently down. Your eyes fixed in mine as I stand before you.

I sit beside you and my arms slip around your waist, caressing your back. I kiss you again, this time there is a more urgent purpose in my kiss that you feel, you acknowledge and you return willingly and so beautifully. Your fingers in my hair, stroking the back of my neck. Experiencing now for the first time everything you have ever written and a thousand times more. I feel the gentle tip of your tongue on my lip, and I pull you closer until you are pressed tight against me. Your kisses, reassuring and encouraging, whispering your consent in a language my body understands instantly. My fingers brush your back, sensually, from your neck to the bottom of your spine. And then, with a boldness that surprises me, I gently unzip your dress. As I lower the zip, I feel you exhale softly on my lips. And your hand touches my cheek, I feel your kisses encouraging me to explore further.

I lean into you kissing your neck as my fingers ease the straps of your dress over your glossy tanned shoulders. The straps slip down your silky arms and I see the expensive lingerie you have chosen for this moment. Your lacy white bra is cut to accentuate your beautiful cleavage. My kisses trail along your shoulder and I feel your fingers stroke down from my shoulders to the buttons of my dark blue linen shirt. Slowly and sensually you undo them one by one until my shirt is open and your warm hand glides over my chest. You feel my heart beating and the warmth of my breathing on your neck and shoulders as my kisses explore the warmth of your smooth skin.

The soft material of your dress is now around your waist and you lift your hips to let me slide it down over your gloriously long silky legs. I place it carefully over the back of the antique chair and as I turn back you are unhooking your lacy bra. I stand admiring as you lean and let your breasts tumble from the lacy cups, all the time your eyes in mine. Slowly you move up onto the bed against the cushions. You toss your bra across onto the chair, and relax back watching me, your white lacy G string is so flattering, your waist narrow your hips slender and smooth. I stand, taking off my shirt, and undoing my belt. I kick off my deck shoes and bend slightly forwards as I slide my pants and boxers down over my legs. Naked I stand before you for the first time. There is no self consciousness now, you flash me that mesmerising inviting smile.

I feel my shaft thickening, lengthening at the sight of your naked, sensual beauty. I walk towards the foot of the bed. I kiss your ankle and my fingers glide under your calf, easing your legs open. My eyes follow the curve of your gorgeous silky legs up and I see the obvious signs of your arousal moistening your G string. Your legs wide open now as I crawl on all fours between them, until I am above you. I feel your fingers glide up the sides of my torso, gently caressing. Every touch is sublime. I feel the electricity of your tender touches surge through me, my shaft stiffening, curving up and swaying as I move. My cock head is swelling, tightening, shining and glistening with the excitement your sensuality always brings to me. You smile, and I read your thoughts. How many times have we laughed about my shorts. And now here you can see the truth in my words as the pre cum beads in the eye of my swollen head and runs in a hot rivulet down my neatly circumcised shaft.

Gently I lower myself into your arms and your urgent kisses. Now I feel physically for the very first time, all the intensity that I have always felt in your words. Your arms reach around my neck, pulling me down into the heaven of your warm embrace. Your firm breasts pressed against my chest, our tongues entwined in sensual adoration. My breath catching, as we whisper words into each other's mouths.

"Oh my love I adore you, you are just so beautiful"

"Henry I adore you too, I want you so much my love"

Your knees pull up and I read your desires. So often we have written this scene. I kiss your warm smooth neck and your fingers caress the hair at the back of my neck as your head turns. My kisses trail over your shoulders. Hot kisses now. My tongue gently drags over your shoulder then back up, kissing just under your ear, my breath warm, panting gently now with urgent emotion. My teeth gently tease your collar bone in that place that makes you tingle and your thighs tighten. Inch by inch I move down, my kisses running back and forth across your chest. My hands cup your beautiful firm breasts, my thumbs gently caressing your erect crimson nipples. My kisses descend. My warm hands gently pressing your breasts together, as I kiss from one perfect rosebud nipple to the other. Gentle fluttering kisses, lingering; adoring. I look up into your eyes and you are watching intently feeling my kisses on your sensitive tingling peaks. You smile and your fingers glide over my cheek as my lips close on one nipple and then the other. Your back arches slightly as I gently suck each erect nipple in turn, my warm tongue caressing and softly teasing.

I feel my shaft resting on the warm lace of your G string and I can feel the moisture of your aroused sex. All of me wants you now, wants to be inside you. But, I want this to be special for you and I continue to lavish your breasts with my endless kisses and the warm loving strokes of my tongue.

I feel your hips rocking and I take my lead from you. Looking up into your eyes, my gentle kisses trail down over the moist warmth of your firm stomach. Kissing around your navel, my tongue playing. My kisses continue to trace a line down to the warm mound within your expensive lacy G string. I pull the band gently with my lips my chin resting on the warmth of your moist sex. My warm kisses through the lace, breathing in the intoxicating fragrance of you, exhaling my warm desire through the lacy fabric. My fingers stroke down your sides, caressing down to your hips. My kisses on the inside of your warm open thighs, your hips rising, that soft mound within the lace, lifts. I can see the wet seam of your sex outlined and my kisses trace it down. Feeling the warm moisture of your passion. Gently my fingers ease the G string down so slowly. Kissing your hips my teeth gently teasing, kissing as the lace descends between your legs as they pull together, to let me slide them down over your long beautiful legs.

I look up into your eyes, as I kiss your ankle and make my way slowly up the inside of your leg, easing your thighs apart, bending your knees gently as my kisses make their way upwards. My lips hover above your glittering seam, gently I kiss your soft warm outer labia, my lips brushing, first on one side and then the other gently lapping with my warm tongue. I feel you trembling as your anticipation grows. My warm hands glide up the inside of your thighs, my thumbs on your puffy outer lips, opening your glorious glistening sex. Your beautiful, wet labia sparkling as they open like the petals of a morning rose. I bend forwards and kiss your perineum, my tongue gliding down to the tight hot ring below, lapping, licking, flickering and dancing in the intimacy of you. I know how much you adore this from our endless intimate chats and I hear you sigh as my tongue lingers exploring and gently teasing. making you glisten with my hot saliva. After an eternity, your hips shift and tilt upwards as you feel my tongue gliding up, into the gorgeous seam of your sparkling sex. My tongue presses and caresses and laps upwards, tasting your hot liquid silk as it begins to pool inside and run down exquisitely over your perineum, glistening as it trickles from you. Tasting you, lapping up your most intimate juice. Licking upwards between your pink labia. I feel your fingers in my hair, your hips now moving gently as you feel the pleasure building inside you.

My tongue flickers up and down your seam, your clitoris is swelling, and I can see it gently throb and pulse as your body responds to my intense devotion. Your pussy is now wet with your silk and my saliva as my tongue glides up to your clitoris, the tip of my tongue barely caressing. I feel you squeeze and your clitoris throbs as my tongue begins to flicker back and forth. Your sensitivity increasing second by second by passionate second as my tongue strokes and caresses. My lips close around your glistening intimate pearl, with a hot wet kiss, sucking as my lips part and then return again and again and again and again, my tongue swirling and lapping. Your hands pulling me into this intoxicating throbbing embrace. Your hips now rolling as I feel you getting closer to the perfect moment of your orgasm. But, I don't want it quite yet. I suck your clitoris with gentle urgency, my tongue caressing until I feel your legs tighten and start to tremble, your stomach is beginning to tighten and spasm. I know you are seconds away, so I ease back.