The next night I was as excited as a school kid on a first date. Becky's face kept appearing in my mind's eye, sensuously beautiful. I bathed thoroughly, sprayed deodorant lavishly and applied after-shave exuberantly. I couldn't have been any higher.
I arrived at our agreed restaurant ten minutes ahead of our appointed time and had to sit through each of those elongated minutes, telling myself that she had changed her mind. But she hadn't.
Spot on time she appeared in the restaurant doorway, numbingly beautiful in a dark green dress that hugged her figure and exposed her tanned shoulders.
I saw the male heads turn as she passed, on her way to our table. She was just so delectable.
I stood and took her hand in greeting and she actually apologised for being late but her smile was generous and warm, and the evening went beyond my wildest imaginings.
First of all the food was excellent, but more importantly, from my stand point, we seemed to hit it off right from the start. We had so many interests in common; books, cinema, going to the theatre. Although I had to admit that I had no experience on horseback.
"I'd be delighted to show you how, " she said bathing me in that wide smile. "But then I can't play basketball. Mother said you do. "
"I do. I'd be delighted to show you how. " And we both laughed, breaking the ice even further.
I learned she had just moved into her own small flat, "The reason mother wanted me to have that experience. She seemed to think I was going to open an orgy centre or something. "
I told her about my success with my business degree and she asked the question I had feared, "And what business are you in?"
Desperately I tried to explain how my time as a gigolo had paid my way through college, "Now I'm looking for something more challenging. "
That was when she told me about her own business, "It's just a little shop--but shows promise. "
"What do you do?"
"Classic books and film tie-ups. My uncle set me on the track of tracing old movies that people wanted---I extended it to books. "
"God, that sounds great. Working at your own interests. "
She told me that although she was good at figures some of the aspects of trading bothered her.
Her eyes held mine at that point, "Maybe your business knowledge could help. "
The rest of the evening went as if in a dream. We hit it off so easily.
When it was time to part I kissed her gently as she was about to climb into a taxi and we arranged to meet again two evenings later.
I could not get her out of my mind. Our second date was even better than the first, we talked, laughed, even held hands briefly as we strolled to the taxi rank. Our goodnight kiss was warmer and deeper, and I was thrilled when her arms wrapped around my neck.
For our third date we settled in the same restaurant. It was a warm evening and she wore a pale blue button-up dress that made her look like the goddess of summer. We were halfway through the meal when she laid down her knife and fork and looked across at me.
"Do you remember why we set up these dates?"
"To get to know each other, " I replied, feeling a strange trembling inside.
"And why did I want that?"
I pretended not to know that, although, as I tried to keep the trembling out of my hands, I knew only too well that she had said she could only have her first sexual experience with someone she knew and liked.
Her blue eyes never leaving mine she kindly reminded me, "Well, " she added, "I've found that person. I'm ready. "
I decided to play coy, "Is it anybody I know?"
Her forehead puckered, then she laughed, "Oh, Jack. Do you remember on our first date I said I'd be delighted to show you how to horse ride?".
"And I said I'd be delighted to teach you basket ball. I remember. "
She reached a hand across the table and placed it over mine, "Jack, would you be delighted to teach me ---may I be delicate---love-making?"
Having a heart attack must be something like I felt at that moment, only without any pain. My heart felt like a massive drum. This girl, this beauty, was asking me to---to----God, I couldn't form the thought.
"Jack, come back to my flat with me tonight, please. "
Please? For this? I might have just won the lottery I felt so high.
The rest of the meal passed in a haze of gazing at the wonder of her, at the pertness of the mouth, the sultry promise behind those blue eyes, the intriguing valley hinted at the neckline of her dress.
I was totally captivated.
As we stepped out onto the heated street she suggested we walk rather than take a cab.
"It's a lovely night and it's only a fifteen minute walk. "
By the time we had walked for five minutes we already had our arms wrapped around each other. If that walk had been all the night had in store for me I would have been satisfied.
Her flat was in a quiet part of the city, up a carpeted stair, in a well maintained property.
When she opened the door and led me inside I found a simply furnished but neatly feminine apartment, not as flash as her mother's place, but the colours and style so matched the girl I was with.
As soon as the door closed behind us she turned to me and whispered, "Just kiss me. "
We stood there locked together, her soft lips so warm against mine slowly parted and accepted the tip of my tongue, meeting it with her own. Instant electricity between us.
As we broke the embrace I realised that the heat of the night, not to mention the situation, had left me all sweated. So I asked her, "To make this perfect. Could I take a shower before---well, just before everything. "
"Good idea, " she said huskily and she indicated the bathroom.
Standing in the pink of her shower cubicle luxuriating in the warm flow over me I briefly wondered whether she might be tempted to join me. But she didn't and I guessed it was early days for that.
I came out of the bathroom with a towel wrapped around my waist.
She laughed delightedly, "That's exactly how you were when I first saw you. "
And she stepped in and kissed me before pulling away to add, " It was mean of mother to pull the towel off you. I could tell you were embarrassed, but I think that's when I started to like you. "
She disappeared into the bathroom herself and I heard the rush of the shower once more.
I sat on the edge of the sofa and wondered what was wrong with me. After the women I had been with, why was I now feeling so damned nervous.
