Chapter 4

Chapter 4

The pavement on the old country road was barely distinguishable from the shoulder. Alison was happy that Henry knew the way, and that he drove slowly on it. She was surprised when he slowed abruptly, seemingly in the middle of nowhere. He coaxed the car cautiously until he found what looked like a cow path. He pushed a button on the console and a barrier pole raised from its perch on the right. The vehicle maneuvered slowly onto the path and the pole returned to its rest.

Sensor lights lit two at a time as Henry made his way along the drive. In the distance, a house appeared, fully resplendent in an array of light. He parked the car on the circular drive and proceeded to open the passenger door for her.

“Welcome to my getaway.” He said as she stood for a moment in awe.

“Come on in. There’s a fire in the fireplace.”

Henry led her to the front door and opened it with a gallant movement of his arm. Slowly she took in the vaulted ceilings and candle lighting. He stood quietly as she walked in and turned around to take it all in.

“It’s amazing, “ she said softly.

With a flick of his wrist, Henry turned off the lights, exposing the night view of the lake in the distance, the water reflecting the moonlight, and lights from homes in the village breaking through like so many earthbound stars.

As her eyes adjusted to the natural light, she began to realize how much of the home was windows. Slowly, she moved into the large living room, careful of the furniture.

“I like it here,” he said softly. It is a great place to regain life balance.”

“I can see that. And there’s a garden outside I imagine.”

“Indeed, and a small fruit orchard. But I have a local guy maintain it. I just don’t have the time.
“Come. Walk with me.”

Beyond the living room, an oversize kitchen awaited. Doors opened from both rooms onto a deck, where a late dinner had been set for them.

“You knew I would join you?”

“ I hoped.

“Are we moving to a new phase? I’m confused.”

“That’s uncertain. I think we should get to know one another first, don’t you?”

She smiled and nodded her head. “Yes, I do. Thank you for that.”

“Good. May I pour you a merlot?”

She did not reply immediately, taking some time to wander the rooms, to regain her bearings, which had been shaken. He waited patiently.

“When you see this place in the light of day, you’ll see it is not as glamorous as it appears. It’s not much bigger than your home, and not as well appointed. It doesn’t have a woman’s touch.

“I think it’s the lights, and the view that capture your imagination. That will pass.”

“Where are we relative to my place?” she asked cautiously.

“Only thirty miles, more or less. You’re on the West side of the city. This is North East, about the same distance. “If you’re uncomfortable, I can have you home in forty minutes.”

“No, please. I was just trying to get my bearings. I never knew such places existed, certainly not so nearby.”

If you’re comfortable, then come sit outside with me. We can talk some more.”

Over the ensuing few hours, they spoke of many things. His adventures, her past, and her hopes for the future. In an evening, they grew close as few ever do.

“Look”, she said, surprised, “Is that the sunrise?”

“Yes, it is. Soon it will be time for breakfast. Are you getting hungry?”

“I am. But I feel like I am still dreaming, so I am not sure.”

“Well, I’m hungry, and I want to eat. What’ll it be?”

The ride home was pretty much as he had said, certainly under an hour. As soon as they hit the interstate, Alison knew where she was, and was happy for it.

As he parked the car in her drive, she turned to him.

“I enjoyed myself immensely, Henry. There’s so much to process. I haven’t been with a man, or on a date in decades, and this was nothing like those days. We talked about so many things, my head is still reeling.”
He turned to face her, looking directly into her eyes.
“Let me put things in some perspective, then,” he said softly, “ We have spoken weekly for over 7 months. In that time I have learned a lot about you, and my interest in you has blossomed.

“You see me as a guide. I took a chance that if you saw me as a man, you might like me and perhaps our relationship would change. Maybe I did too much, too soon. Take your time to think about it. We have a call scheduled on Monday. Let’s get back on schedule.”

“ I don’t know. May I call you sooner if my heart tells me so?”

“Let’s play it by ear. I’ll walk you to your door.”

As they reached her door, she turned to face him. His hand grasped the small of her back and he pulled her to him kissing her firmly on the lips. His touch was electrifying, and she responded in kind. Her heart raced apace. She felt the rapid beat of his heart against her chest and the steady growth in his loins, He stepped back slowly looked at her.

“I should go,” he said calmly.”

“Please don’t” she replied, moving back into his arms. Please don’t.” Her left hand went gently behind his head as she pulled his lips toward her. His body moved gently against hers and his mouth went into the curve of her neck. She released her hands and turned briefly away to find the house keys. As she opened the door, her hand took hold of his and ushered him inside.

As the door shut behind them, she removed his blazer, setting it on a chair, and led him into the bedroom. Slowly, she disrobed. First the dress, revealing her sumptuous breasts rising and falling gently in a lace bra. He mimicked her moves, slowly removing the white crew neck shirt to expose a taut body, slim and muscular. His slacks bulged and he worked methodically to remove them, exposing himself completely before her. Her hands moved gracefully along her hips and legs to shed her panties and she moved to turn down the bedding.

He slowly moved behind her, pulling her back to his chest, cupping her freed breasts in his hands, feeling the nipples harden at his touch. His mouth found her neck and his tongue licked its length.

Slowly her hand reached behind her as she found his shaft. Her fingers gently toyed with his testicles and she turned slowly to fall ever so gently into bed, her hand still firmly on him.

As he moved to join her, his hand spread her legs and his fingers opened her loins, wet and apart. She screamed as he penetrated her and their fluids enveloped them.

“Yes!” she cried out. “Yes!” and her buttocks writhed wildly beneath him raising him while her hands on his haunches pulled him ever harder into her. Henry’s back arched as he thrust himself to climax and he continued his movements until she was fully spent. Then he lay himself gently atop her as their breath slowly abated. And she held him lovingly atop her. After a few minutes, Henry rolled gently to one side, coming to rest on his back. Alison turned her body to cover him with hers and they drifted off to sleep.

When she awoke, she moved cautiously so as not to wake him. To her surprise, he was watching her.

“I thought you’d be asleep.”

“I was, on and off. I enjoyed watching you sleep, the rise and fall of your back. Your skin is wonderfully soft to the touch.”

Alison sat up resting on her haunches, holding the sheet against her chest. She watched curiously as Henry’s right hand slowly pulled the sheet away, exposing her upper body to the light. She said nothing as his hands caressed her arms and her breasts while his eyes took in every inch of her exposed skin. Silently, he raised himself to a sitting position as he gently eased her onto her back next to him and he removed the sheet completely.

His fingers caressed her breasts, and excited her nipples. She gasped as his thumb and forefinger gently squeezed her nipples to full erections. She lay quietly in anticipation as his hand spread her legs and his fingers touched the lips of her vagina. Fluids again rushed from her as his fingers penetrated her and made their way to the roof of her vagina. She felt her back side lift in response to his touch and soon the intensity was so great that her body arched in response. Yet he would not take her.

His face came closer to hers as his fingers moved deep inside her and his tongue penetrated her open mouth, meeting hers in a willing dance. Her hand reached for him and pulled him into her and she then clasped his buttocks and began to write methodically to a crescendo whereupon they spent each other anew. Exhausted, the slept.

Henry awoke to the sight of his lover sitting on the edge of the bed facing him, with a wet, soapy towel, she smiled at him as she began to wash the fluids from his loins. She gently lifted his penis to expose unwashed areas and cleaned them. She took his testes in one hand and washed them thoroughly with the other, She followed these actions with a dry towel. All the while, she noted how it had changed from large, rigid, turgid to smaller, soft, malleable. She noted, too, that Henry was comfortable with her, and willing to expose his vulnerability,

A robe alone covered her as they sat at the table for their first meal of the day. Alison watched Henry’s every move for signs of impatience, indications that their first liaise was drawing to an end. There were none. After their shower, they walked hand in hand through the neighborhood, taking in the sun and making small talk. As the day turned to evening, Henry said he had to leave but asked if she could join him in the morning, his place or hers. She chose hers.

Alison stood unsure of herself as Henry drove off. After thirty years, she had nothing to compare to. He was handsome, suave and comfortable in his skin. His actions were above reproach, and his desire was obvious. And, he was nothing like Harold. Fatigue overtook her and she relented. Soon she was nestled in her bed, sound asleep.

She awoke refreshed about 10:00. After a small meal and a coffee, she hit the books and watched a youtube video of Muhamad Yunus, a Nobel Prize winner for his work with microfinance. She marveled how a modest man, a former professor of economics at Middle Tennessee State University, could have conceived of and implemented the plans to bring micro lending to the poorest people in his nation. She listened intently as he recounted the journey from teaching in a state institution in the United States to creating a banking empire built on tiny loans to the poorest of the poor, without collateral. She laughed aloud as he stood at the podium in very modest clothing and told the story of the Nobel Committee asking him if the owners of the Grameen Bank would be coming from Bangladesh to accept the award. All Grameen clients are owners, he explained, all 7.5 million of them. Yunus chuckled as he explained that there are only 4.5 million people in all of Norway. Wow, the things Henry gets involved in. Her head shook in amazement.

She awoke early next morning to the sounds of birds and the early morning sun. She stretched languorously, feeling more desirable than she had in years. She chose to keep that feeling a bit longer.

Later, she went to work in her garden. She let the day take care of itself, relying on intuition to give her insight. Henry called about 9:00 and they set their plans for the day.
As she knelt to prune the roses, thoughts of him flowed through her mind much as a gentle stream makes its way over its bed. The sounds of water breaking on boulders and over small stones made her smile. Perhaps she should add a waterfall to the garden, she thought.

For a moment she wondered if things had not gone too far, too fast, and she feared for the briefest moment what the loss of their talks might mean to her. She put it all to rest as she realized the fallacy of her thinking. They were not new to each other. This was not a one night stand extended. For months they had spoken, And, after each conversation there was reflection. She had been thinking about him almost every moment of every day.

Sometimes she would reflect on what he does; other times, what kind of man his is. She threw herself into her learning for its own sake but also because he had suggested the path, and … her mind stopped for a moment to catch itself. The point is, she told herself, is that she did know him, what he thought, how he felt, what made him laugh and what made him sad. Those things had come out over time, as they got to know each other and their defenses came down. That’s why he had stammered when he asked her for the date. He was vulnerable and he chose to take the chance she would turn him down. She sat back on her buttocks, folding into a lotus position, back erect, hands in her lap and sent a silent message to the ether asking him to hurry.