The Reunion

My encounter with Eric got me to thinking about another old friend who I had lost touch with over the years. Not that I ever really stopped thinking about him ...

No matter how hard I tried ...

Jamie was a former co-worker who I almost instantly felt like I'd known for years. He became a dear friend and during a time when my marriage was on the rocks, a regular confidante. He was always ready to listen as I poured out my frustrations and since his girlfriend was just as jealous and controlling as my husband, we could talk about a lot of things from a "been there, done that" perspective that a lot of people simply wouldn't understand.

He always seemed to know just when to offer suggestions, and when I just needed someone to listen. When he did offer advice, it was from a genuine caring and simple logic that put things into perspective for me many times. If that didn't make me feel better, he also had a warped sense of humor that almost always made me laugh, even at times when I really didn't want to.

We became closer as time went on and we shared more and more of our deepest feelings. We were never actually intimate, but as the feelings grew between us, the jokes about running off to the Bahamas together started to sound more and more like a good idea and I found myself wondering if I should have married him, instead. We would have almost certainly gotten along better ...

People around us started to notice the bond growing between us; especially Jamie's girlfriend, who was almost insanely jealous and that made me feel more than a little guilty about the feelings I was keeping carefully hidden inside, convincing myself that this was a line I didn't want to cross and that maybe it was better if I didn't know for sure whether he was hiding the same feelings for me.

In the end, I let my own doubts and fears get the better of me and sent him out of my life, for the sake of my marriage, rather than admit what my true feelings for him were.

It was a decision I have regretted it ever since ....

The heart ache was tremendous, so I transferred to a different department so I wouldn't have to see him every day and did my best to avoid him on the occasions when our paths did cross over the years; but even years later, I was like a giddy school girl, my heart still pounding for a couple hours afterward when I did see him.

Here I was, fifteen years later. My marriage hasn't gotten any better, so I have really missed the long heart-to-heart talks we used to have when Mike got on one of his kicks. Despite my best efforts to bury my feelings for him and put the whole thing behind me, the ache of that one empty little corner of my heart just would not go away. Without ever having so much as held my hand, Jamie had touched my very soul in a way that no one ever had and that made him unforgettable.

One day I was on Face book and got to wondering if Jamie was on there. I searched under the name of the company we had both worked for all those years ago, and there he was ....

This, of course, created a new dilemma. Even as I laughed as he joked with a lady in Canada about how he was going to send them all our mosquitoes in the spring if they didn't keep "their" cold air on "their" side of the border, I couldn't help but wonder if I really wanted to open that Pandora's Box of feelings again. He was apparently still single, but I had no way to know whether he still wanted to talk to me, or even if he remembered me after all these years. Besides, even if I wanted to, I didn't dare add him to my friend list where Mike might see it.

I didn't know what to do and tried to put it out of my mind, but the wheels were turning. I struggled with it alone until one night when I was having coffee with an old friend. Penny knew something was bothering me, and no matter how much I kept telling her nothing was wrong, she knew me too well and wasn't about to let me slide by without giving her a real answer. After she gave me some gentle prodding and I gave her a lot of hemming and hawing, I finally broke down and laid it all out for her.

After listening patiently to the whole story, she regarded me for a long moment with those piercing blue eyes.

"Pat, I have to tell you that I'm only surprised it has taken this long to boil over," she said in a gentle mothering voice. "I've known both of you for a long time and I remember always being able to tell when the two of you had had a good laugh together because you would both have this glow about you for the rest of the day. I kept waiting for the two of you to admit what the rest of us already knew and ride off into the sunset on his Harley."

Pausing to take another drink of her coffee, she continued, "I also remember how heart breaking it was to see both of you so miserable after you sent him out of your life. Whether you wanted to admit it or not, you had both lost your best friend. Both of you were afraid to admit to the feelings between you, and each in your own way, ran away from it when you really should have been running away together. Was it really worth it in the end?"

"But I'm married."

"Yes, but you know as well as I do that playing by the rules isn't always the best answer. Remember, Mark and I were both married when we met, too." she said. "None of that really matters in the end. What really matters is the feeling between you, and the two of you were in love just as surely as Mark and I are. Remember telling me that, even from thirty miles away, he knew within a few minutes what time Mike came in from the fields? That kind of connection between people is rare. If there is such a thing as a soul mate, the two of you were it; and anybody who saw the two of you together knew that. Why do you think there were rumors about the two of you? No matter how much the two of you tried to deny it, we could all see the love between you."

"But I don't even know if he remembers me," I said, knowing in my heart that it was more an excuse than a fact.

"I haven't seen him for a few years, so I don't know where he is or what he's doing these days; but you were very good for each other and I think it safe to say he hasn't forgotten that. Send him an e-mail and see what happens. At worst, he won't respond, but I think he will be happy to hear from you."

After a couple days of debate, I finally broke down and sent him a quick e-mail to test the waters.

Two days passed. Then three, with no response ....

Finally, on the fourth day, I got a response. I was so nervous I could barely bring myself to open the message, but was greeted with a cheery, "Hey stranger!! It's been a long time. How are you?"

Over the next few weeks, the e-mails progressed to cell phone conversations (working nights helped keep those long conversations under Mike's radar) until we finally agreed to meet at a truck stop about sixty miles away.

It was a bright sunny morning the day of the meeting, and I was trembling with anticipation. Trying to relax with a hot bath, I kept thinking about the pleasures yet to come, getting hornier as time went on. Seeking some much needed relief, I began running my hands down my body and up again to my breasts, savoring the feeling as my grasping fingers found the hard nubs of my nipples.

Imagining Jamie standing in the doorway stroking his cock while he watched, I brought one nipple up to my mouth, flicking my tongue across it, then repeated with the other one. As the passion rose, I continued the imaginary show, one hand holding a nipple to my lips, while the other slowly slid down my body until it found its destination between my widely spread legs. Once there, I slid a couple fingers between my lips, imagining that it was his tongue exploring my soft folds before moving up to tease my swollen clit.

Imagining him moving into the sixty-nine position, I sucked hard on the phantom cock in my mouth while my roaming fingers stood in for his probing tongue as I imagined him licking and sucking my clit until the tingling sensation signaled the beginning of my impending orgasm. Slipping a couple fingers deep inside, I imagined his cock pumping in and out of me as my orgasm continued to intensify until we exploded together in a blinding flash of light. My whole body shuddered over and over as a tidal wave of sensation washed over, leaving me limp and breathless

Finishing my bath, I stood nude in front of the mirror and took a good look at myself. After forty years and three children, my curves were a little softer and fuller than they used to be, and my breasts were a little saggy but still fairly firm and full, with long nipples that stood out proudly, begging to be sucked and fondled. It wasn't a model's body I saw in the mirror by any means, but Eric certainly seemed to think I still had plenty to offer a potential lover and I hoped Jamie would agree.

I had a lot of time to think about things on the way to the truck stop; time to think about how different it felt from my previous adventures. Before, the plan was simple and clear cut: We would get together for an afternoon of raw, uninhibited passion and then we both walk away, no strings attached, and go about our everyday lives. This time, I was going to meet the only man I have seriously thought about leaving my husband for, and that put a whole different spin on where this might be going. This encounter might change my life dramatically and I still wasn't sure that was what I wanted.

As the raw excitement of what I was planning struggled against the guilt, the little niggling doubts started setting in .... What if, after all the build-up, he doesn't show up? What if the spark we had isn't still there after being apart for fifteen years? I just couldn't help but wonder if I hadn't missed the chance at true love for the sake of a crumbling marriage.

Just as I was about to talk myself out of this meeting, a dedication came on the radio, "From Jamie to Pat", like he knew just when the pivotal moment would come. Loverboy came on with a song that described my situation almost perfectly, putting words to the feelings I hadn't dared admit, even to myself. As the song came to an end, the refrain repeated in my head over and over:

"I hope you're with me

I hope you're with me when it's over ....."

As I walked into the truck stop, I was so nervous I could barely stand and walk, or talk at all. All I could think about was the fact that, after so many years apart, the time had finally come for us to meet face to face.

All my doubts melted away as he met me at the door with a big hug. When he released me from his arms, I took a step back for a better look at him. He had grown a goatee since I had last seen him, and his hair was a littler grayer and a lot longer than I remembered, making him look more like an old biker than an ex-Marine, but the chemistry between us was still just as strong as it had ever been.

We sat down in a booth, and when the waitress came over, he ordered steaks for the two of us. "... and ..." He continued, as the waitress stood there waiting, a little too expectantly. "The special."

The almost giddy reaction of the waitress as she bounded off told me something was up; and seeing my questioning look, he just smiled, "You'll see...."

After a few minutes, the sound of Willie Nelson was replaced with that of Jefferson Airplane and Jamie started singing along, "Do you want somebody to love? D-o-o-o-o you need somebody to love?"

"You're always full of surprises!! Don't tempt me, Jamie. You just might get it." At this point, there was no question in my mind that he was still the man I had fallen in love with all those years ago.

"Believe me, I intend to tempt you as much as possible."

We had a long talk about life and the good things we shared over dinner. Taking my hand after we had finished eating, he helped me up; then as he released my hand, he slipped the wedding band off my finger and put it into his pocket.

I was shocked. "Jamie??!!??"

"Don't worry, Pat. You can have it back later if you want it, but that ring is a sign that you belong to someone else. I have loved you from afar all these years and have no intention of "borrowing" you now. If I had wanted it that way, I could have talked you into an affair a long time ago, it would have been just a question of picking the right moment to take advantage of your vulnerability, and I think we both knew it."

"There were times when I really wondered if we would both be better off if I divorced Mike and married you."

"I wonder about that, too, more times than I want to think about. And, I haven't forgotten the times you came to me in tears with one foot out the door and not knowing what to do. You don't know how much it hurt to see you so miserable; or how bad I wanted to just gather you up right then and there: 'I'm not going to stand aside and watch this anymore. Come with me and let me love you the way you deserve to be loved.'."

"So why didn't you?"

"Believe me, it was hard to keep my mouth shut, but I wanted you to be sure of what you wanted. More than anything, I wanted you to be happy; regardless of who you were with. I would have treated you better than Mike did, but that didn't necessarily mean you'd be happier. I wanted to be sure I could deliver on any promises I made to you."

Pausing for a moment, he continued, "Pat, love should be more than a blunt instrument used to bludgeon someone into submission. You were the one who showed me that it could be, now let me show you.

You're free to take your ring and return to your old life any time you want to; but for the time you're with me, whether if be for an hour or for a lifetime, I want you to give yourself to me completely, not just the sensual pleasures your body has to offer, but your heart and soul, holding nothing back; and let me show you what it's like to love and be loved completely and unconditionally."

"So you still feel that way after all these years?"

"I left you alone for 15 years because it was what you said you wanted. But that didn't change the fact that you were the only woman I've ever met that really blew my mind. Some women are like candy for the eyes, but there was something about you that was more like heroin for the soul. I never forgot how good you made me feel."

"Jamie, that's the nicest thing anyone has ever said to me, I don't know what to say."

"You don't have to say .... Anything. Just be the love I've always dreamed that you could be, even if it's just for an hour."

"I have to ask .... I haven't been able to get that ring off for years. How did you ...?"

"Remember the story of King Arthur? How only the rightful ruler could remove the sword from the stone? Could it be that only your truest love can remove the ring from your finger?"

"Are you saying you're my knight in shining armor?"

He bowed deeply before me with a dramatic flourish like he was bowing to the queen. Recovering, he took my hand, "At your service fair lady. Shall I have the squire bring the carriage around?" he asked with a bad Shakespearian accent. "Alas, the castle ... is a dreadful mess. So would you like to accompany me to my hotel for a bit of dessert?"

He always made me laugh, and I was incredibly turned on just from being with him, so I readily agreed.

Looking deep into my eyes, he asked, "Now, will you give yourself to me completely?"

"I'll try."

"NO!! TRY NOT!!" he said in a mocking imitation of Yoda. "Do ... or do not. There is no try."

Laughing, "Ok, ok."

'Oh, how I've missed that warped sense of humor ....' I thought to myself.

Taking my hand, he led me out to the parking lot, past a long row of cars.

"Are we going to take your car?" I asked.

"Well, we could, but there's a problem," he said as he walked up to a flamed black Harley. "I didn't bring a car."

I suppose I shouldn't have been surprised, he's always struck me as the kind that would have a bike like that. "I always thought you would have a hot rod of some kind ..."

"Oh, you'll get the hot rod later," he said with an evil grin. "I've never been much of a conformist, so there are different toys for different moods. I bring the panhead out when the wild free spirit hits, and I want to hit the open road and just go ... Times when I feel that there's a new adventure out there somewhere and I'm going to find it."

Throwing a leg over the shining beast, he brought it to life with a throaty roar as I climbed on behind him.

I was incredibly turned on by the time we got to his hotel, and I knew in my heart that this was about much more than just raw sex. It was fast becoming an all consuming passion, like nothing I had felt since before the kids were born. This was a gift I'd waited fifteen years to offer him, and I intended to give him every ounce of pleasure I could.

As he closed and locked the hotel room door behind us, I turned and held out my hands to him. I had wanted to do that for what feels like forever -- just to touch his hand. His hands were warm as they wrapped around mine and held tight..... Hmmm... was that a spark I saw?

I looked deep into his eyes trying to touch, for a moment, the depths of his soul, trying to see the truth. Is this really the love we both have been searching for?

Then my eyes dropped to his lips as he closed the distance between us. He released my hands (what a sense of loss for a brief moment) then reached up to touch my face and tilt it up to his. He gave me a brief, gentle kiss, then another.

I reached my arms around his neck and stretched on my toes to get closer as he wrapped his arms around me and the kiss deepened. Our mouths opened to touch tongues and I could feel my whole body responding. My breasts felt full and there was a whole herd of butterflies floating around my stomach.

As we settled into a comfortable position on the bed, I reached my hand to touch his face ... to touch the texture of his moustache, to trace his lips with my fingertip. Then I leaned in closer to place a butterfly soft kiss on each eye and the tip of his nose and then lightly kiss his lips. We'd both waited a long time for this moment, so the kiss quickly became more passionate, not in a hurry, but yet already on fire for more. When we ran out of breath (breathing can be soooo inconvenient at times) we broke apart, and this time his hand caressed my face.

I turned my head a bit and kissed the center of his palm -- once, and again then stuck my tongue out to tickle it a bit. I reached over and began to unbutton his shirt as I looked into his beautiful brown eyes and smiled at the joy of finally being with him. I slid the shirt off his shoulders then slowly began to pull his t-shirt out of his waistband. When I had worked that loose, I took the bottom and pulled it up over his head. As I slowly caressed his chest with my palms, feeling the texture of the hair and the hardness of his nipples, I just couldn't resist leaning down to lick and nibble lightly on each nipple. He moaned slightly in response, then placed his hand under my chin, bringing my face close to his to kiss long and deep.

We had gradually eased down from sitting to mostly lying down and he pushed me over on my back so he could begin to unbutton my blouse. As he undid a button, he leaned over to gently kiss and lick the skin revealed. When he reached the last button and pulled my blouse open and off over my shoulders, I raised up slightly so he could slip it off.

As I did that, I could feel his hand reaching for the hooks on my bra, so I arched up a little more to make that easier. After he had released the last hook and freed the ends, I laid back down. He pulled down one strap down off my shoulder, then the other and slid the bra off completely before tossing it aside.

He paused for a moment, mesmerized by the sight of my bare breasts, then gently caressed the soft flesh as he moved his head down to lick and suck on each nipple, making them hard and causing me to moan and squirm against him. He moved more over me and I could feel the hairs on his chest rubbing against my breasts as our lips met once again for a long, passionate kiss.