I guess the word to describe my wife's attitude was "resigned." She did not especially approve of my little overnight trip, but she was willing to put up with it since I was going, approval or no.
She did understand. Her chronic health problems had forced us to have a celibate existence for over six years. She knew I missed the intimacy more than she did.
We live in the northern Midwest, but after her divorce our daughter had moved with her three kids and a new man to a medium-sized town in southern California. Her oldest was graduating from high school and for us to miss the ceremony was out of the question.
Which meant missing something else was also out of the question. We were about a two-hour drive from Los Angeles, which meant I could meet with a favorite author on Literotica. Not only my favorite, but maybe yours too: Brittni4u.
I had submitted a private comment to her on one of her stories, she replied, and we'd been communicating steadily for a few months. She liked that I had published three novels and had written two others.
One of us—I'm not sure which one—had the idea to collaborate on a semi-erotic novel, something along the line of the late '60's best seller,
Naked Came the Stranger
. We hadn't decided on an exact title, but something along the lines of
Vickie's Victories
or
Vickie's Values
was likely. Probably not
Vickie's Vicious Valuable Vagina
. I laughed like crazy when Brittni suggested it. I said that might make a good title for a Literotica story, but not a commercial novel.
There was no way I would miss this chance to meet with her and get personal with the partnership.
"Josie, Brittni is smart and creative and has a great imagination. Maybe too great. We've got to actually try out some of those activities to see if they can be done."
"Like what?"
"Well, I think we can manage to make it believable that our heroes snuck a male donkey into the women's showers, but I don't see how Vickie and Donny can be doing sixty-nine on the donkey's back while two other girls literally give the critter a hand job. I mean, wouldn't he buck the two lovers off?"
He looked at me with raised eyebrows and an expression of doubting amusement.
"Very funny. I know you just made that up. They might have room on a full-grown and slightly fat horse, but not on a donkey."
I'd dressed in what seemed right for southern Cal at the end of May: Khaki cargo shorts, a loose silver gray polo shirt, and sandals. I'd packed my overnight bag, double-checked to make sure I had the laptop and the Viagra, and was ready to leave. I was taking the rental car, but our daughter had assured me that if Josie needed to go anywhere while I was gone she'd provide transportation. The graduation had been Saturday evening, and now, Sunday afternoon, I was leaving for Los Angeles to meet Brittni.
"So," Josie asked without enthusiasm, "are you going to have sex with her?"
"I certainly hope so, but that's up to her."
"It could be up to you. You could say no."
"I could. But you've read a couple of her stories. You've seen her picture. What are the odds I can resist if she wants to?"
Josie actually smiled a little. "About zero, I suppose."
I do love my wife, but she can no longer give me everything I want and we both know it. There is no chance I would leave her for Brittni, or that Brittni would even entertain the idea, so Josie does not feel threatened or insecure.
"Enjoy yourself."
"Thanks, Love. But I hope to enjoy her and really hope she can enjoy me."
"Good luck with that. Be home tomorrow?"
"Unless she ties me up and forgets to untie me afterward. I'll call when I leave."
She offered me a kiss goodbye and I gave her a sincere one.
Ten years ago I'd have had a real problem finding the restaurant Brittni had suggested for our meeting, but with GPS I had little difficulty. Mind you, driving in Los Angeles is not the same as driving anywhere else, but I managed.
Just a small mom and pop café off Sepulveda. I was a few minutes late. I walked in the door and looked around, but she saw me before I saw her. She stood up at her booth and waved, smiling that delighted-to-see-you-smile I'd imagined; different from the quiet hello smile in her picture.
As I walked to her she left the booth and hurried toward me, arms forward to give and receive a hug.
She was dressed in blue denim shorts and a peach-colored loose fitting sleeveless top. If there is such a thing as a perfect tan, she had it. Her dark blonde hair was pulled back in a long pony tail that peeked over her left shoulder like a shy chaperone.
I held my hand up in a gesture that said "wait" and she stopped, looking puzzled.
"This is the first time we've met, Britt. I think we should wait a little while before we get all physical."
She did not look pissed. I was afraid she'd be pissed, but she didn't seem so. She really is a sweetheart. She shrugged and put her sunny smile back on and said, "All right. Let's sit down."
"Wait."
She looked puzzled again.
I stepped close to her. "That's long enough."
I held out my arms and she came into them and gave me the kind of hug I'd dreamt about. I held her as tight as I could without crushing her and enjoyed the feeling of her breasts against my lower chest and her arms around my waist.
Her fragrance was subtle, but unmistakable, like a lover's whispered invitation.
She let me go after almost a full minute. Most of the people were looking at us. They probably thought I was her uncle or maybe even her father. I'm almost old enough to be her grandfather, but I don't look it.
She looked up at me, smiling. "Kisses?"
I looked into those incredible blue-gray eyes and thought to myself, "I think I'm in love." I didn't say that out loud, though.
Instead, I said, "That's how you always signed off your emails."