A Cycling Odyssey

This story is inspired by a bicycle trip across Denmark. The locations exist but the characters are fictional. The idea of the sugar cubes comes from an urban legend that continues to circulate amongst former Copenhagen University students. I'm unsure as to whether the practice continues or whether it ever did exist.

This is the first chapter of several that I hope to write. It sets the stage for what's to come. Sorry for the pun. Please send me your comments as I enjoy receiving feedback

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CHAPTER ONE

"May I join you?"

"Pardon?"

"May I join you?" she repeated with a smile.

"Certainly!" I said looking confused.

"I'll just get myself a coffee." She turned around and walked toward the counter. As she walked away, I couldn't help but notice her figure and beautiful shoulder length black hair. She was about my age, around 50 I figured. I looked around me. There were empty tables everywhere. Why did she choose to sit with me, I wondered?

I had arrived in Copenhagen the day before on my way to a bike trip across Denmark that was to start in Skagen. That morning, I had enjoyed breakfast at the hotel and headed out to explore the city on foot. I was sitting in the top floor cafeteria of a large department store called Illum playing with three sugar cubes and had just stacked them on top of one another when she asked to sit down at my table.

She was wearing dark blue high heels and a short navy blue skirt that hugged her hips. Her blue and white stripe blouse was buttoned up but I could see that she was wearing a white pearl necklace. When she returned to my table, I noticed that, since we had first met each other, she had undone two buttons on her blouse revealing full breasts nestled in a demi bra.

"My name is Inga" she said extending her hand before sitting down.

I rose to shake her hand. "I'm Paul."

She shook my hand firmly. "Have you been here long?" she asked as we both sat down.

"About a half hour"

"Do you come here often?"

"No. I'm just spending one day in Copenhagen on the way to Skagen. I'm biking back to Copenhagen from there." My Danish was a bit rusty and I was clearly struggling.

In English she said "You're not from Denmark?" Her eyes suddenly showed confusion. She looked at the three sugar cubes that I had stacked. An uncomfortable smile crept over her face. She started to blush and then began laughing.

"What is it?" I asked. Her laugh was infectious. I couldn't help but join her. But I had no idea what was so funny.

"It's nothing" she said waving her hands. She tried to repress her laugh but broke out again. Her fingers were trying to do up the buttons on her blouse but she was shaking too hard from

laughing.

"Come on. What is it?" I asked again.

She put her hands over her mouth and nose trying to control herself. She broke out laughing again. Finally, she managed to say "You're probably wondering...why on earth did this woman ask to sit with me when there were so many empty tables?"

"Well, actually...! But I'm quite enjoying this. Not every man has a beautiful woman ask to join him." I was afraid that I had been too forward and stopped for a moment to see her reaction. She seemed flattered. "You have an infectious laugh. I wish I knew what you think is so funny."

Her eyes glanced again at the sugar cubes. Mine followed. Then we looked into each other's eyes. Hers were a beautiful blue. She wore little make up. Her lips were full. What a milk maid complexion I thought. I looked back at the cubes. "Is there something about the sugar cubes?" I asked.

She rolled her eyes, took a deep breath and exhaled. "It's a sign."

"A sign of what?"

She leaned toward me. Looking me in the eyes again, she said in a lowered voice "A sign that you're interested in...meeting a woman." She paused as if to give me time to let the idea sink in.

"Men interested in meeting a woman come here and stack three sugar cubes as a sign. The woman sits with the man she chooses and...gets to know him. It's been going on in this cafeteria quietly for years."

"Get to know him?" I repeated quizzically. I wasn't sure what that meant. But I could imagine!

"Yes...get to know him" she said matter of fact.

She didn't seem willing to expand on that. "So...you're interested in...getting to know me then?" I said narrowing my eyes and smiling.

"Yes, as a matter of fact, I was...er...am. But I seem to be...shall we say ...invited ... unintentionally. So, I don't know your intentions." She smirked and began to turn red.

We both burst out laughing. I noticed she hadn't been successful in doing up the buttons on her blouse. Her breasts heaved in her bra as she laughed. She caught me looking and smiled.

"Well this isn't exactly how I expected things to turn out Paul" she said. "But...yes...I think I would be interested in...getting to know you better."

"What would you like to know then?" I asked challenging her to open up about her intentions.

She thought for a moment. "Would you like to help me shop for my husband's birthday present?"

She was holding back a smile. She's leading me on, I thought. "Oh, the cubes are a sign that I'm a fashion consultant?" I asked with a wry smile.

"Not...exactly" she replied. "But it's a good start!" She arched her eyebrows.

"So what do you want to get your husband?"

"A demi bra, garter, stockings and thong" she said quickly watching my reaction.

My jaw dropped and my eyes widened. I began to turn red. She continued to look me straight in the eyes. She was enjoying every second as I wrestled with my thoughts. "Well?"

"Well..." I was trying to buy time to compose myself. I didn't want her to think I was a prude. "Well...actually...I do have some experience. I enjoy shopping for that sort of thing with my wife. In fact, I have her size right here in my wallet." I pulled out an Aubade bra tag from my wallet. "34E!" I proudly declared.

"Oh! You're a lucky man! So you're experienced and willing to help me?"

"Why...yes I would. There's a lingerie department on the first floor that we could try" I was regaining my composure.

"Actually, I have a better place in mind just down the street from here" she said. "It's called L'Agent Provocateur." Her eyes were now locked on mine again. She was daring me.

I was trying not to show any emotion. "I've been there with my wife" I said as nonchalant as I could.

She didn't seem impressed. "So you have some experience. Let's go then!" She slowly started to gather her things.

I hesitated. "Inga...just one second. I just want to make sure I understand this. You want me to go with you to a lingerie shop to help you find a set that would excite your husband?"

"That's part of it...right!" She stood up to go.

"No, just one second. Are you sure? You hardly know me."

Inga sat down. "Paul, I'm a pretty good judge of character. Let's have some fun." She reached out for my hand.

We left the cafeteria down the escalator. Out the corner of my eye, I saw two young female cashiers looking our way and smiling. Inga caught my glance.

"How well known is it about those sugar cubes?" I asked. Inga shrugged and smiled.

We walked out the store onto Pilestraede. I noticed that Inga had managed to do up the buttons on her blouse. It didn't prevent men and women from taking second looks as they passed us on the street. She was very good looking - something very sensual about her.

Less than a hundred yards up the street, there was a small storefront window with a mannequin dressed in a fine lace black quarter bra, thong, garters and stocking holding a whip. "Is that what you're thinking?" I asked.

"Yes. What do you think?"

"I think you should try something with colour."

Inga shook her head and walked in. It was a small boutique with only display cases and service counter on the first level. We walked up a steep winding stair case. "Hello Inga" I heard a clerk say excitedly as Inga made it to the first floor. "Oh...hello!" the clerk said surprised as I turned the corner into her view behind Inga.

"This is Paul" Inga said. "Paul...Karen". Karen appeared in her late twenties. She wore bright red lipstick and was dressed in a short, light pink lab coat. The buttons were undone to show a beautiful cleavage.

"Nice to meet you" I said. We shook hands. Karen smiled at Inga and raised an eyebrow. She looked amused and was about to say something.

Inga quickly cut in. "I would like to try the set you have on the mannequin in the window." I sensed Inga feared an embarrassing comment from Karen.

Karen batted her eyes surprised by Inga's interruption. "Of course!" Karen regained her composure. "Actually, I was thinking of you the other day, Inga, when we were putting the display together" Karen said.

I wondered whether Karen was talking about the lingerie or the whip. Not knowing their sense of humour, I decided not to ask.

"Paul, you may sit here" Karen said pointing to a chair. She walked over to the large dresser along the wall to find the pieces. I noticed that Karen didn't ask for Inga's sizes. Inga's obviously been here many times before, I thought.

Inga pulled back the heavy curtain to the dressing room just five feet from where I was sitting. She didn't close the curtain. She began to undress with her back to me. As she removed her blouse, I could see her trim hour glass figure. Without any hesitation, she unzipped the side of her skirt and stepped out of it. As she bent and twisted slightly, I could see that her breasts were much larger than I had first thought.

"That's a lovely Aubade bra, Inga" I observed loud enough for Karen to hear. I was trying to show my knowledge and prove I wasn't intimidated in this setting.

"Thank you Paul" Inga replied sardonically turning her head toward me and rolling her eyes.

Karen arrived with the lingerie. "Here we are, Mrs. Jensen." Inga took the bra in her hand and felt the material. She handed the bra back to Karen and turned around.

I watched Karen undo Inga's bra. Her fingers ran lightly over Inga's skin and lingered at the clasps. Inga appeared quite comfortable with Karen's touch. In fact, she pressed against it. Karen's left hand cupped Inga's breast as she removed her bra. Karen then reached around Inga to fit the new bra. In doing so, Karen's face came close to Inga. I saw her tongue slide up Inga's neck to behind her ear. Inga shuddered. Karen helped Inga position her breasts in the bra. After joining the clasps of the bra behind Inga's back, Karen reached around Inga and placed her hands under each of Inga's breasts. Lifting them slightly, she whispered something in Inga's ear. Inga leaned back against Karen, turned to face her and giggled.

Inga stepped out of her panties. Karen then passed the garter to Inga. As Inga put on the garter and hose, Karen kneeled down in front of Inga to clip the black straps to the stockings. Her face was extremely close to Inga's mound. As she waited, I watched Karen inhale deeply several times as though she were inhaling Inga's scent. After Karen clasped the stockings to the garter, she rose, stood back and watched Inga put on the thong.

Karen stood back admiring Inga. "Would you like to stand in our store front for a few minutes? I think it could help our sales!" she joked breaking the sexual tension that had built up.

Inga swung around and asked "What do you think Paul?"

My eyes widened. Her breasts were displayed beautifully in the quarter cup bra. The straps holding her stockings accentuated her hips and long trim legs. I would love to put my hands on those hips and breasts I thought.

"Earth to Mars! I asked what do you think Paul?" Inga repeated rolling her eyes again and smiling.

I cleared my throat. "It's very nice. But I think you should have something colourful. Karen, what do you think?"

Karen thought for a moment. Then she went back to the dresser. "This just came in Inga. It's called Zuri." The demi bra, garter and panties were a mix of purple, orange and pink embroidery on black netted silk. The stockings were purple with a black band at the top.

"Yes. Try that Inga" I urged.

Inga paused. "I've never tried anything so colourful before. Are you trying to take me outside my comfort zone Paul?" she said winking at Karen.

Karen began dressing Inga again. I watched Karen even more closely this time. There was no doubt in my mind they were both aroused but frustratingly constrained by my presence. Inga was responding more and more obviously to Karen's subtle touches. As Karen rose and stood back, she broke out in a big smile. "Inga you look beautiful!" she exclaimed.

Inga looked at herself in the mirror and then looked back at Karen. Looking at herself in the mirror again, Inga's back straightened and her shoulders pushed back thrusting her breasts forward even more. Inga turned around to me. "What do you think?"

The lingerie looked like a delicate brightly coloured tattoo on her skin. "Very nice!" I said.

"I'll take this then" Inga said to Karen. "I'll leave it on if you don't mind."

Karen smiled. "Oh yes! It's Mikkel's birthday. Please wish him a happy birthday for me."

I stood out on the street waiting while Inga paid. Looking back into the store, I saw Karen at the counter pass Inga her bag. Inga reached out and placed her hand behind Karen's head drawing her nearer. A few words were spoken. Inga then pulled Karen's face even closer. They kissed passionately. She released Karen and they spoke a few words again. Karen put the palm of her hand on Inga's cheek. They spoke a few more words and kissed again. Inga turned for the door.

"Well, I must go now" I said to Inga as she came out of the store.

"Oh! I was going to offer you lunch for your help" Inga said.

"Well, I really..."

Inga interrupted. "There's a nice restaurant called Slotskaelderen nearby. They serve traditional Danish food. My treat!" Inga declared. "Come with me!"

Inga placed her hand on my bicep and squeezed. She leaned into me to start me walking. I felt her firm breast press into my arm. After a few steps, she wrapped my arm around her waist and placed my hand on her hip. I felt her hips sway as we walked on. Suddenly, without stopping, she turned and gave me a quick kiss on the cheek. We continued walking through the crowd past a fountain until we reached a narrow side street. We turned left toward the canal. I slid my hand up Inga's side and rested my fingers underneath her breast. I could feel it bounce with each stride.

Inga looked at me and smirked. "Come see this courtyard" she said turning into an archway. As I entered, she embraced me. We kissed - passionately this time. I could feel her breasts pushed up against my chest. I'm sure Inga felt my hard cock because she began grinding her pelvis into my crotch.

"I don't know about you but I needed that!" She looked directly into my eyes. "Are you enjoying this as much as me?" she asked.

Not knowing what else to say, I kissed her again. She forced her tongue between my lips and searched for mine. I heard her groan as I pulled her tightly against me and squeezed the side of her breast.

A moment later, she relaxed her embrace and looked up at me. "We really should go on to the restaurant, Paul." She stepped back away from me, ran her hand through her hair and straightened her clothes. We returned to the street.

Inga turned right after a couple of blocks. As we approached a bridge across the canal, she led me down a couple of steps to the restaurant. She tried to open the door but it was locked. She knocked on the door. As the door opened, a person said happily "Welcome Inga! We're closed now but please come in!"

We entered a small restaurant with a low ceiling. The staff were sitting down around a table - some were eating and others just reading. Otherwise, the restaurant was empty. The lunch crowd had obviously just left.

"We've just done some shopping and were wondering whether we could get a small bite to eat?"

"Of course! I have your order for this evening that you could take home with you. Would you like to sit over here?" the hostess said gesturing to a table in the far corner.

"That would be perfect" Inga replied. "We'll just share a variety of pickled herring." Turning to me, Inga asked "Would you like a beer Paul?"

"Yes that would be nice."

"Beer and snaps for us both then!" Inga said to the hostess. Turning to me, Inga explained "Herring, snaps and beer is a traditional Danish lunch."

"Well, something "traditional" certainly would be different for us today!" I quipped.

Inga looked at me and chuckled as we sat down. The waitress lit the small candle at our table and left. I looked around the room. It was quaint and intimate. Suddenly, I realized how little I knew about Inga. I looked back to find her gazing at me. "So, do you live downtown?" I asked.

She smiled. "Yes, just down the street actually. My husband and I often bring in food for supper from here. We tend to eat light in the evening now that the kids are no longer at home. Tonight, I've ordered some of his favourite open faced sandwiches."

"He's really going to enjoy his birthday present Inga. Seriously, you do look lovely in that set!" I said. Inga blushed and looked away. It surprised me!

Turning back toward me she said earnestly "Thank you Paul. It's been a lot of fun with you. I hope I haven't teased you too much. You're a real gentleman...and pretty good looking too!" At that point, the waiter arrived with the snaps.

Inga raised her glass. "Skaal Paul! To a lovely afternoon!" We both emptied our glasses in one swallow. Inga sighed heavily. "I needed that!" she said.

The drink did seem to settle our nerves. I could feel the warmth of the snaps run through my body. As we ate, we talked about our spouses, families and where we had grown up. Inga asked the waiter for one more round of snaps half way through our meal. This one we each drank in smaller amounts raising our glasses and nodding our heads to each other each time. We continued talking. I could sense the beer and snaps were starting to hit us both.

"Would you like to come back to our place and meet my husband?" Inga asked.

"Oh, no! I don't want to intrude on his birthday party - especially when he opens his present" I said looking into her eyes with a smirk.

"Are you sure you wouldn't want to be there?" she said mockingly. "Come on...be honest." Inga was becoming her daring self again.

"Many men would Inga! Believe me! But your husband probably would not appreciate the company" I said laughing nervously.

She lowered her voice. "Paul, my husband would love to have you join us. In fact, he would love to watch you fuck me." Inga locked eyes with me. She looked perfectly serious.

Leaning into the table, I said quietly "Pardon?"

"My husband has always fantasized about watching a stranger fuck me. That's the big present I'd like to give him this evening - along with this set I'm wearing. Are you interested? I can't think of a better stranger" Inga grinned.

"My God! Of course I'd be interested. But I'm not sure I'd be comfortable Inga. What if he took things the wrong way?"

"Listen. We could go back to my place. I could introduce you and leave the two of you alone for a while to get to know one another. We could just see where things go. We might go through with it. We might not. It would be your decision. What do you think?" Inga reached over and laid her hand over mine. "I assure you, Mikkel's very open minded."

The waiter unexpectedly came with the bill. He startled us both. Inga quickly withdrew her hand and leaned back in her chair. She asked for the bill to be placed on her tab and turned to me as soon as he left. "Well, are you interested?"