This is the third chapter in a story about a couple's adventures while vacationing in Denmark. The locations exist but the characters are fictional. In the first chapter, Paul is picked up by a woman in Copenhagen. In the second, Paul meets a couple along the North Sea coast near the tip of the Jutland peninsula. Each chapter stands on its own though is best read in order. In this chapter, Paul spends a night at a hostel while cycling across Denmark.
If you are a man reading this, please pass this story on to your wife, or partner, for her reading pleasure as well. I appreciate all constructive feedback - especially from women who are my favourite target audience.
CHAPTER THREE - AROUSED
Finally! A sign for the hostel. A few minutes later, I rounded a corner and a yellow, brick building surrounded by soccer fields appeared at the end of the street. I had been biking into the wind for the last two hours. I was looking forward to the end of what had become a strenuous ride.
I chained my bike to the rack near the front entrance, along side other bikes - all black - leaning at various angles. I removed my bags from the carrier, slung them over my shoulder and walked slowly to the front door. In a short time, I had the key to my room. As I walked down the wide hallway to my room, I debated whether I should shower first or have a beer. Opening the door, I found a clean, large room with two bunk beds, positioned directly across from each other separated by a wide window. There was a washroom off to the right. This is more than I need, I thought. I placed my bags on the lower bunk on the same side as the washroom and decided on a beer before the shower. I returned to the lobby where I had seen a vending machine with bottles of Carlsberg - only in Denmark! I deserved a beer or two after that ride!
As the receptionist handed me change for the vending machine, he asked "Everything fine?"
"Yes! I've got a lot of sleeping options" I said jokingly. "You don't have a smaller room with just one bed?"
"It's the last room we have available. Enjoy it!" he said with a shrug of his shoulders.
The lobby was starting to fill. A light hung down from the ceiling just 2 or 3 feet above each table. The chairs were made of thin, bent plywood in various bright colours - red, orange, yellow and blue - mounted on chrome frames. I sat down with my two beers at a table close to the front door and started to look at some local tourist literature. The first beer went down fast. I was on to my second when three, young women entered the lobby. The first two headed directly to the front desk while the third stood back looking around the room. Our eyes met. She smiled. I smiled back and returned to what I was reading.
I looked up again to find the two women - tall, thin blondes wearing tight jeans and loose-fitting blouses - still talking to the receptionist. He was shaking his head. They were looking a bit concerned. I looked over at the woman who was still standing back from the other two. She looked and dressed differently - a dark complexion and thick, wavy brunette hair that cascaded down over her shoulders. She wore a long, thin, cotton summer dress that hugged her curves. It looked as though she wasn't wearing a bra. She was looking about the room with her hands held behind her back twisting from side to side.
Our eyes met again. A warm smile broke out on her face. She waved as if we knew each other. She glanced over at the others, turned her face quickly back toward me, smirked, rolled her eyes, and shook her head - signalling her amusement with her friends. There was something sensuous about her - the way she carried herself, those full red lips, her curves. I became awash in mixed emotions - embarrassed at being excited by a woman half my age and confused at feeling shy. Was she flirting with me? Wishful thinking. I returned her smile, took a sip of my beer, and took out my maps.
I couldn't concentrate. Now and again, I looked up and stole glances of her. The third time, she caught me. She smiled. I smiled sheepishly in return and quickly lowered my head. She didn't seem uncomfortable with my attention. In fact, she seemed to enjoy it. But I could feel my face warming. I must be blushing. The two women returned to her. I watched them talk briefly before they all turned around and started walking to the door. She turned around and waved good-bye. She knew I'd be watching. I'm making a fool of myself. I waved and smiled meekly in return.
I finished marking out my route for tomorrow and returned to my room for a shower. I called Dana but there was no answer. I left her a message saying I was going to bed early tonight - that I'd call her in the morning. I found an Italian restaurant across the street from the hostel - perfect because I didn't want to go far. I ordered a pasta dish and a glass of red wine and was back at the hostel sitting down in the lobby reviewing my trip tomorrow when the three women came through the front door.
Just like the first time, the two women went up to the desk. The other woman stood back looking about the room. She saw me and waved. I nodded my head in recognition, smiled and returned to my maps. I didn't notice her walking between the tables toward me.
"Are you biking?" she asked.
Her voice startled me. I looked up as she bent down to see what I was reading.
"Yes! How'd you know that?" I asked.
"You're looking at a cycling map".
"Oh yeah...right" I said with a nervous chuckle.
"Pretty obvious" she said mockingly in a playful way. "Where are you headed?"
"Copenhagen. I came from Skagen today".
Her large brown eyes widened. "That's a long trip!"
She looped a long strand of dark curly hair back over her ear as she bent further down to look at my map. She seemed genuinely interested in my route. Her breasts - nestled in a yellow, lace, plunging bra - were unusually close to my face. She lingered. Was she doing this on purpose, I wondered? As she scanned my map, I became mesmerized by the rise and fall of her breasts as she breathed. I could feel the warmth of her breasts on my cheek.
Someone at the table beside us, pushed their chair back to stand up. The sharp sound of the chair leg on the concrete floor broke the spell. I moved my head back and toward the sound. She stood up straight and looked over at her friends.
Looking back toward me, she said "I told them to reserve a room, but they didn't."
"Oh, that's the problem."
"Yeah, we'll probably have to drive home after the game" she said with a shrug.
"Too bad. They gave me a room with four beds."
"Oh" she said. Her eyes narrowed as though she were thinking.
She noticed the other two gesturing for her to join them at the front desk.
"Nice meeting you," she said and left me as suddenly as she had arrived.
I watched the three women talking. The woman I had spoken with said something to the other two. She nodded her head in my direction. The faces of the other women turned serious. They slowly looked over in my direction and then back at each other. There was some more talk. The receptionist was standing behind the counter just a few feet from them. He was listening to their conversation. Suddenly, his eyes widened. A smile broke out on his face. One woman turned to the receptionist and said something. He leaned his head to one side, shrugged his shoulder and nodded, then looked over at me.
What's happening now? It's none of my business. I returned to my maps. A moment later, I sensed someone coming toward me. I looked up to find the young brunette who I had spoken to earlier looking down at me. The other two women were standing behind her. I must have looked like one big question mark.
"We were wondering..." she looked back at the others. Out of the corner of my eyes, I could see the receptionist looking our way with a bemused smile.
"Yes?" She was obviously a bit uncomfortable.
"Well, we were wondering whether..." She hesitated again. "... you'd be willing to share your room?"
