Some days never seemed to end. The work just kept coming, one project would be finished and a new one would roll in. "At least it's keeping me busy," Cindy thought. On the other hand, it was also keeping her away from her husband who was asleep upstairs.
One disadvantage of working from home is you can get so caught up in work that you don't take a break. By this time, Cindy had been working since right after dinner. She glanced at the clock. "Nine fifty-eight!" It had been three hours since she sat down to start working on the new material. She hadn't even gotten up to pee.
Cindy looked at her near empty glass of wine, pushed her chair back to get another. When she turned around, she saw the blinds were still open. That happens a lot during the summer when it's light until almost ten. She could barely make out the trees in the yard. It had been a beautiful day, not a cloud in the sky, and now it was a beautiful night.
She moved to close the blinds when she saw the sliding door was open, so instead she went outside. Cindy loved staring up at the stars, especially when they were first coming out. The canopy was dotted with small pin pricks of light from the emerging stars. Pin pricks. She finished her wine.
Prick.
Rather than be supportive of her work, even if it was too much, her husband had gotten mad because she wouldn't watch a fifteenth rerun of Big Bang. They'd argued, then shouted. She ended the fight by shouting, "maybe if you'd offered me a big bang, I wouldn't be so keen to keep working!" That was when he stormed upstairs, flipping her the bird, before he slammed the bedroom door.
"Yep, that describes my husband," she muttered out loud.
"Excuse me?" The voice coming out of the darkness startled her enough she nearly dropped the glass. That was when she noticed the new neighbor lying on the grass staring up at the stars. New? He'd lived next door for more than a year, they'd never really spoken other than to exchange pleasantries. She thought his name was Dave, but to be honest, she really didn't know, and wasn't really sure she wanted to.
He was nice looking, with a great smile. That was the first thing she'd noticed, then she saw the rest of him. His body was average, although he looked strong. And then it really hit, he was a good looking older man, her sexual kryptonite. From that day forward, she had gone out of her way to avoid him, much less speak with him.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to disturb you," said Cindy.
Dave sat up. "You didn't. I was just enjoying the stars. I love it when they first come out."
"I do, too."
"I'm Dave. You're Cindy?"
"Yeah, we've met." It sounded a little put off. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean it like that. Honestly, I wasn't sure if that was your name."
Dave chuckled. "I understand. I really don't talk to my neighbors enough. Old habits die hard." He looked back up. High above, a dot of light moved across the sky from north to south. His arm shot out as he pointed, "Look, it's the ISS, the International Space Station."
Cindy looked at him like he was crazy. "Really?"
"Yeah, this is peek satellite hour. There should be another couple coming over in the next few minutes. Sit down, I'll point them out."
Her first instinct was to say no, but instead Cindy heard herself saying, "Would you like some wine? I'm going to get another and then I'll be out."
Dave smiled, she could see that great smile in the fading light. "Yeah, that'd be nice."
As she got another glass out, Cindy felt her heart race just a bit. "What am I doing?" She didn't have any naughty intentions, but when was the last time she'd had a drink with another man? For that matter, when was the last time she'd had a drink with her own husband. But that prick always seemed to find time to have a drink with his buddies from work. Well, she deserved this. She poured herself half a glass of wine and quickly downed it.
Then she overfilled both glasses. She turned off the kitchen light. When she stepped outside, she could hardly see, but she managed to close the sliding door. After a moment her eyes adjusted and she headed toward Dave. She stumbled slightly and wondered if it was the wine, the uneven lawn, or her nerves?
As she walked over carrying the wine, Dave watched her back-lit hips sway. She was wearing a pair of gym shorts and a T-shirt. Casually sexy. Barefoot. From day one, he'd noticed her and he always felt a guilty pleasure in doing so. She was quite a bit younger than his own wife. Cindy probably still had a sex drive. If he'd only known.
Dave had spread a dark blanket on the lawn. It was dark but could see him as he rolled off his back and propped up on one elbow. As she got closer Cindy noticed how his chest stretched the fabric of his shirt. She saw his bare, muscular legs. She took in his shorts, they weren't tight, but the fabric seemed to bulge right at his crotch. It must be her imagination. "I hope you don't think I'm being forward, but I thought you might be more comfortable like this. It's getting damp."
Damp. For some reason, that word had always caused a stir in Cindy. It did now, too.
Cindy sat on the blanket next to him, as she handed him his wine she cautioned that the glass was rather full. Dave sat up, then took the glass from her using both hands. As they over lapped her hand and the glass, she felt how warm they were and she noticed how gently, but firmly he took the glass from her. It sent a tingle, well, not up her spine. She involuntarily exhaled just a little too hard.
"Are you okay?"
"Uh, I was just worried about spilling on your blanket."
"This old thing? I've had it since college. More than just wine has spilled on it." He chuckled, took a sip of his wine. Cindy smiled and took a big sip of hers.
"Oh, you want to play that game?" laughed Dave. He took a big sip of his wine. Feeling the effects of her earlier half glass, Cindy laughed and swallowed a big gulp from her glass. Dave grinned and looked like he was going to say something but didn't. He held her gaze for a moment, then looked up.
Cindy looked up. "So, satellites?"
"Yes, it's an interest of mine." He checked his watch. "There should be one coming over the horizon in about one minute. It's easiest to spot them if you're not straining to look up." Dave laid on his back.
Cindy quickly glanced at his shorts, that was a bulge. It definitely wasn't a hard on, but...
She laid down beside him. "The stars are pretty."
"Yes, they are." Dave pointed toward the top of the trees above her, his arm extending over her body. "It will come from over there." Just then, he moved again, pointing further across her, the back of his arm brushed her breast. "There." He held his arm still, pointing. Under it, Cindy's nipple stiffened.
He slowly pulled his arm back. Was he deliberately pulling across her? "Do you see it?"
"No."
Without even asking, Dave sat up and took her hand. As he did, his leg pressed against hers. Naturally, she pointed her finger. Dave placed his hand on top of hers, and extended his finger on top of hers, He guided her arm, tracing an arc from the top of the trees to almost straight up. His warmth against her was incredible.
"I still don't see it."
