Carol Ch. 02

"I believe you made me a promise, Carol," said Charlie softly. He held up a hand with one finger pointing downward, and moved it in small circles.

She smiled at that, and stood, and turned around. She knelt on the couch beside him, then leaned to her right and into his arms.

She rested her head on his shoulder, and he held her close. Just held her, his arms squeezing her a little from time to time, his hands shifting on her back as if to make sure that she was really there. She snuggled into his chest--and felt a drop of moisture on her neck.

She leaned back. His face was wet, but he was smiling. "Charlie, are you all right? Maybe we'd better not--"

He shook his head quickly. "No, please. Please, Carol. I haven't been this happy since--" He stopped. "You still fit my arms. No one else has ever fit my arms like you."

She nodded and snuggled close again. "It feels the same," she agreed.

He bent his head to kiss her cheek. She turned her head and took his second kiss on her mouth. The third, in her mouth...

Their tongues knew each other well. "That feels the same, too," he whispered between kisses.

"Yes..."

After a while their mouths parted. "Let's go get comfortable," she whispered, nodding at the bed.

"Are you sure?" he whispered back.

"Only because it's you."

They took the few steps there hand in hand. Carol stopped to slip her shoes off, and sat down on the bed--

And Charlie breathed, "Oh, Carol," and knelt beside her. He lifted one bare foot and held it reverently.

She smiled. "I forgot how much you liked my feet," she said.

He held her foot in both hands, stroking it and gazing at it. "So pretty. I loved your feet." He looked up. "I still do." He kissed her foot lightly on the instep, and then the other. Then he sat down on the bed beside her.

"I still can't believe it's really you, Carol. That you're really here, that I'm really here with you."

"Let me prove it to you again." They lay down together, and their mouths sought each other. They whispered and touched each other's faces; they clasped hands, and Charlie kissed her fingers, one by one.

Carol smiled and brought his hand to her mouth--and one by one, she sucked his fingers into her mouth and licked them, smiling at him seductively the whole time. He gaped at her like she had sprouted wings or turned to smoke.

Finally she kissed his thumb and giggled. "I'm sorry. That was mean," she said.

He pulled her close and kissed her, deeply. "Be mean to me some more," he whispered.

Their hands roamed each other's bodies. He put a hand on her breast. He did not ask if she minded. She left it there. He squeezed her breasts, gently, and she gasped.

Her hand sought out his crotch, and squeezed his aching erection. She held it--then massaged his dickhead, her hand moving in subtle circles as she pressed it into him with her palm.

"That feels the same, too," he murmured.

"Sure does," she breathed. "You're just as big as I remember." She squeezed him again, and he shivered.

"Do that again," he said, and I'm going to have to change."

She giggled and did just that, and kept on squeezing till he pulled her hand away. He was sweating. "I mean it, Carol," he said. "Please stop."

She looked at him. Why? her expression clearly said.

"It's overwhelming me to be so close to you, to hold and and-and kiss you--and touch you," he explained. His eyes were moist again. "I can't take that. It's just too much. It brings back--"

"The things you can't think about," she whispered, understanding.

"I'm sorry, Charlie. You're right. I'm teasing you, and that's cruel."

He wiped his eyes and smiled. He had remembered something. "Let me show you what it feels like," he said, and began to unbutton the top of her blouse.

"What are you--wait--"

He stopped at two. "That's all," he said. "I just have to get at your neck."

"Oh...." He pulled the top of her blouse to the side, exposing her creamy-white skin from her shoulder to her throat; her skin, he thought.

As he bent his head to kiss the secret spot above her collarbone, she lifted her chin for it, though she barely knew she did. Her body remembered things her mind had forgotten.

He kissed her there, and she gasped and sighed. He kissed her harder and sucked at that spot, and she hissed; he drilled it with his tongue, and she whimpered and began to writhe under him. He massaged and squeezed her breast as he licked and sucked at her secret, magic button, and she was soon breathing hard, her hips pumping unconsciously.

Finally he lifted his head and looked down at her. Her lovely face was even lovelier, flushed and rosy-cheeked and soft with passion. He had never loved her more. "See what I mean?" he said with a smile.

"Oh, yes," she gasped. "No more, Chahlie. No more. I can't feel this way with you." He rolled back on his side and took her in his arms.

They kissed, passionately, clinging to each other and making small sounds of lust as their tongues tried to express what their bodies could not.

Soon, they had calmed down a bit, and kissed less desperately, just holding and stroking each other gently, affectionately.

"We're playing with fire," she whispered.

"Yes. But I've been so cold for so long, Carol. Please be mean to me some more and keep me warm."

He looked at his watch. "But not tonight. You need to get back."

She made a small mewing sound of protest, but sat up. He was right. She had to get back to her own hotel in case Larry called.

As they straightened their clothes and brushed their hair, Carol asked, "Are you going to be all right, Charlie?"

"Of course," he asked, surprised. "What do you mean?"

"You've been--a little weepy," she said.

"I know. You don't like it when I cry. But this is different, Carol. I'm not crying because you're gone. I'm crying because you're back."

Then he gave her a wry grin. "And I'm not crying anyway. I've just gotten a little teary-eyed."

She looked at him doubtfully. "Okay," she said. "But if I'm making it too hard on you--"

"No pun intended," he said.

"No pun intended," she laughed. "Really, if this is too--difficult--we don't have to meet tomorrow."

He took her by the shoulders and looked into her eyes. "Carol," he said.

"Yes?" she looked at him innocently, wide-eyed.

How strange it is, he thought, that she still doesn't understand what she means to me. "Today has been the happiest day of my life. I feel like I'm alive again. If you don't meet me tomorrow, then tomorrow will be the worst day of my life. And I've had some very bad ones. Do you understand?"

"I-I think so," she said. Her eyes were so green. "Are you quite sure? You know we have limits...."

He nodded. "I told you, Carol. Holding you is enough. You've given me much more than that--and I'm grateful.

"It's me, Carol. Charlie. I'll never do anything you don't want, and you have no idea what I'd do to keep your friendship now that I have it again." He gave her a crooked smile. "Not fucking you is easy."

She gasped and reddened, then laughed and laughed. After a moment, she asked, "Is it all right for me to say I wish you could?"

He hugged her. "Very much, my love. Very much all right."

They drove back to her hotel in comfortable silence, with Carol snuggled up to his side like they were teenagers again. He pulled up to the front entrance to drop her off, and she kissed him lightly on the lips before she got out--then looked around furtively, and kissed him longer.

"Pick me up at nine-thirty. The Botanical Gardens open at ten," she said.

"I'll be here."

"Are you sure you'll be all right? Are you going to be able to sleep?" She looked at him with concern.

He grinned. "Carol, I'm going to go back, get undressed, and--um--how shall I put this--'meditate' on the events of the evening." He gave her another crooked smile. "I feel sure I'll sleep like a baby afterward."

She giggled and looked at him, then leaned forward and whispered, "So am I."

Then she smirked and said, "And I'll be naked, Charlie. Meditate on that." Then she gasped and looked stricken. "I'm sorry. Was that mean? Did I hurt you?"

He looked at her sternly. "Yes, that was very mean."

She blinked at him, dismayed, and then he grinned. "And no, it didn't hurt me. Um--could you be a little meaner, do you think?"

She giggled again and leaned forward, eyes sparkling wickedly. "I'll be doing it in the shower, all covered with nothing but soap," she whispered, "and then I'm going to go to bed naked and do it again."

He closed his eyes. "Oh, my God," he breathed. "Okay, Carol, that's mean enough. I may have to meditate right here." They laughed, and she kissed him again.

"See you in the morning," she said through the car window.

"If I can get back to the hotel without hitting anything," he said. She laughed, "Be careful," and they parted.

It was the first time he had masturbated to thoughts of Carol in many years. He came like a fire hose--in the shower. Then he went to bed naked and did it again.

And then he cried himself to sleep.

The last words he spoke before drifting off were, "I meant what I said, God. I've had my hour. Take my life when you're ready. But please...

"Just not tonight..."

(To be continued)