by Jamie Knight
Shae must have been really hungry because she loaded up with bacon, sausage, waffles, and scrambled eggs, going at the plate with enthusiasm rarely witnessed. I was more of a functionalist in most things, food was no exception. My own breakfast limited to toast and jam with orange juice. Though to be fair, I had technically eaten before we left and was mostly trying to fit in.
“Not hungry?” Shae asked, working on her third sausage.
“I just don't eat much. I'm working on a warrior diet.”
“A what?” she asked.
“Warrior diet. It's where you eat one meal a day that gives you everything you need with intermittent fasting in between.”
“Sounds dangerous.”
“Oh, probably, most things are these days. Hell, even carbs are becoming taboo. It will likely be meat next. I just figured it would be best to eat as little as possible.”
“Makes an odd sort of sense,” Shae said.
“Happens more than you'd think.”
“Is that how you got to be Art Director at Sure Thing?”
“Mostly. What about you, why'd you become a nurse?”
“I failed medical school. It was this or a dentist, and I hate dentists.”
“Seriously?”
She laughed. “No. I've always wanted to be a nurse. Most people don't realize how difficult the training is.”
“But, you hate dentists?”
“Oh hell yeah, shifty bastards. I can't think of another area of the medical system where it is not only okay but normal to charge 10 to 15% above the book price. They are also the only medical professionals to charge for parts. No better than mechanics, really.”
“Wow, that's a lot of hate,” I said.
“Sorry, it just makes me really mad. Particularly when they swan about in those white coats and call themselves 'doctor'. Most of them have doctorates, you know. 'Doctor' my sweet, achin' ass.”
“Well, that's not surprising.”
“What?”
“Your aching ass. I would imagine your feet and ankles would hurt pretty bad too after a fourteen-hour shift.”
“They do actually.”
“Would you like a foot rub?”
“What, now?” Shae asked, looking around us.
“Sure, there's no one around. Leave your socks on if you're worried about hygiene.”
I had no idea where it had come from. I usually didn't shake hands, let alone rub feet, but the concept of Shae being in pain was too much for me to take. I really was getting attached to her and wanted her to be happy.
After a moment's hesitation, Shae took off her sneakers and put one of her feet up on the bench I was sitting on, setting it right between my knees. Focusing my attention on her relief, I started massaging her foot. It looked pretty small in my hands. I never really noticed how petite Shae was.
I guess I was doing a good job. Shae leaned back on her bench, humming contentedly. Looking at her, I decided that I wanted to see more of her.
“I'm going to a book signing tomorrow, would you like to come?”
“Sure,” Shae said, sounding a bit surprised but also pleased.
I looked at her sweet grin, happy that Aden had pushed me to take this leap.
Chapter Three - Shae
I was buzzing when I got back to my apartment. I really hadn't expected that kind of fantastic treatment. Not only had Chris taken the ache out of my feet, but he had also insisted on paying for everything. I figured he had the money since Sure Thing Graphics was quite the big name, but I still resisted. At first, anyway. He was still running on the old fashioned idea that the person who instigated the outing pays for it. I didn't feel like disabusing him of this notion.
Though honestly, had we been alone, I wouldn't have minded if he'd tried to get some of the pain out of my ass as well. He really was quite handsome and beautifully soulful if a bit eccentric. Not that the ability to think outside the box was a bad thing.
After putting more food into Jeepers’ bowl — the kitty vocalizing his objections to the late feeding in no uncertain terms — I stripped down to my panties. My bra found its way across the room in short order, as I crawled into bed, hoping to settle my mind enough to get some sleep before my date with Chris in a few hours.
I woke up with Jeepers on my head, curled up and sleeping, cute as you please. So dedicated to this activity was the little black and white kitten that he didn't even wake up when I placed him down on the bed. He just stretched out all four legs in different directions, rolled onto his back, and continued to snooze.
Stepping out of yesterday's panties, I got into the shower for a quick scrub down before trying to figure out what to wear on the date. I really wanted to strike the right note. It was only then I realized how long it had been since I went on a date. Chris was the first guy to show any real interest in me since my divorce. That marriage had taking up a good five years of my life.
I was contemplating this when the buzzer rang. Chris was meeting me at my place because I lived closer to the bookstore.
Throwing on whatever was handy, jeans and a cute T-shirt, I put my feet into my sneakers without socks and headed out, putting more food in Jeepers’ bowl before leaving, and deciding going commando was better than keeping Chris waiting. My eagerness surprised me a bit. I was usually a lot more mature, but there was something about him that brought out the wonder in me. I felt almost like a wide-eyed kid.
I could see that Chris had made a lot more of an effort. Wearing one of the suits that he usually wore to the office. There was actually a bet as to whether suits were all he owned. I was beginning to wonder myself. Though in a way it would make sense. If you wore basically the same thing every day, it would leave a lot more brain-space for other things.
“You look great,” he said when he saw me.
“Really?”
“Yeah.”
“Thanks,” I said, unable to keep from smiling.
“Shall we?”
“Indeed.”
We set off down the street, Chris very much in the lead. He seemed to know the city really well. As we strolled, the bright, clear day around us, it felt natural to hold Chris's hand. I half expected him to pull away, but he didn't, which was a relief. I squeezed his hand, and he pressed back.
I hadn't known Chris very long, but he seemed to have a defensiveness I wasn't sure I would be able to get past. I was trying to be gentle with him. I feared he might have a horrible history like an abusive childhood but didn't want to pry.
The bookstore was indeed close to my house, and all too soon we were there, but to my surprise, Chris didn't let go of my hand. If anything, he seemed to squeeze it harder. Like he was uncomfortable with the crowd or something. It was the most physical contact I'd had with a man since Chris's delicious foot rub the night before.
We got in the very long line that snaked all the way around the sizeable store and out the door down the sidewalk halfway to the next corner.
“Popular guy,” I quipped.
“Oh, you have no idea,” Chris said.
I didn't actually. I had never heard of the author, but Chris had wanted to go, so I agreed. It was mostly an excuse to spend time with him, but if I got a cool new author out of the deal more the better.
“Tell me about him,” I promoted.
“Who?”
“Wolf Birch,” I said.
“Oh, I see. Well, the current series is a bit different than his usual stuff. Usually, he does gothic mystery. Not really horror, but it can have a lot of creepy elements. Like an Urban Gothic meets Noir kind of thing.”
“Sounds neat.”
“Oh, it is. Very much so. Though, like I said, this is a bit different.”
“How so?
“Well, it's more of an Urban Fantasy but in a more grounded way.”
“How so?” I asked again, intrigued.
“The magic is real.”
“What?”
“The magical system used. It is based on the grounded, natural magic used
by neo-pagans. Only in the books, there is no question as to whether or not it works. It definitely does.”
Like so many things Chris said, it made sense in a weird sort of way. I had grown up thinking of magic as the stuff of Walt Disney and role-playing games, but when I became an adult, I discovered a whole new aspect I'd never considered. A world of intention and combination and will making a difference to at least one's personal reality.
I had actually tried an attraction spell in college. I know it sounds crazy, but the whole thing came off more like chemistry than anything else. Basically, I combined a bunch of natural ingredients into a compound that I wore on my neck like perfume. And dammit if I didn't get an A on a midterm from a professor who had taken to hating me on sight and refused to grade me fairly. It got me through my undergraduate career with a high enough GPA to go into nursing.
“That's neat,” I said.
“This is the third book in the series he's signing today. I have the first two if you'd like to read them.”
“I think I would.”
“Cool, always nice to have a new covert.”
“That's a joke, right?” I asked, making sure.
“Intentional hyperbole.”
“Just checking,” I said.
“Very wise.”
As we wove through the store, there were displays of the author’s books placed in strategic places. I picked one up and started reading the description. The book was called June Awakening, and it quickly made sense as to why.
“Wow,” I whispered when I was done.
“I know, right?”
“How is it I've never heard of this guy?”
“Most people haven't, except for those who have. It's one of those examples of being popular in with a cult following. Kind of like Heavy Metal or so I hear. You'll find a lot of people who say they hate it, yet the Wacken Festival in Germany attracts 80,000 people. At least that was the crowd when my brother's band played there.”
It was one of the few cases I'd come across in which the author's photo did justice to the reality. The coal-black hair tied back in a neat ponytail and deep, dark betraying a very old soul, belied by black jeans and T-shirt, Wolf Birch looked like Trent Reznor in his prime.
“Hello, pretty lady,” Wolf said as we came up to the table.
“Hi,” I said, not realizing he was flirting with me my attention too much on Chris.
Birch signed our books without looking, keeping his smoldering gaze on me. Despite Chris's failed attempts to get his attention. Finally, we moved on with our books letting the line shift forward.
“Well, that sucked.”
“What did?” I asked.
“All that time in line just to be ignored.”
“He was distracted by my chest,” I said.
“Well, I guess he is only human,” Chris said, his own gaze drifting down to my boobs before flitting quickly away.
Once again, Chris insisted on paying for the freshly signed books. He still looked a bit on edge as we left, so I retook his hand and led him across the street to a boutique coffee shop.
“What do you like?” Chris asked, pulling out my chair for me.
“London Fog,” I replied.
I got out the book as he went to get into the line. I knew I should have gone, Chris seeming to have issues with crowds, but he had insisted. When he came back with a London Fog for me and hot chocolate for him, he looked like he had been through a war zone.
“Thanks,” I said when he set the mug down in front of me.
A grunt was the best I was able to get out of him. I put my hand on his. He flinched a bit but didn't pull away.
Chris looked down at my hand and then up at me. “I'm okay,” he said.
“Okay,” I said, slipping my hand away.
We started to read. I just couldn't wait to get through the first two books to see what was going to happen the synopsis of the current novel just being too thrilling. We were both silent as we read. Though it was the good kind of silence. It felt like we were connecting without the need for words.
We were still reading when the coffee shop started to close. It was one of the independent ones that opened early and closed at 5:30.
“Would you like to go back to my place?” I asked.
“Sure,” he said.
Switching things up a bit, it was Chris who took my hand as we walked, the daylight dimming around us. Though there was something different about it. It was a bit more urgent like he was holding onto me for security or something.
Jeepers was at the door as he usually was, too busy investigating Chris to complain about whatever sin I may have committed before leaving. Deciding he approved of the strange man in his house, Jeepers started rubbing up against Chris's legs, purring as loudly as he was able.
“Jeepers, I presume,” Chris said, looking down at the affectionate kitten.
“Brilliant, Holmes!”
We curled up on the couch, Jeepers hopping up next to Chris, who was his new best friend, and we kept reading. It wasn't a very big couch, and I couldn't really tell if Chris was comfortable with our proximity. Though if he wasn't, he didn't let on.
In an instance of cosmic coincidence that left both of us speechless for a moment, we finished our books within seconds of each other.
“What did you think?” I asked, somehow missing the tears in his eyes. I couldn't blame him, really. It kind of choked me up too.
“It was… wow,” Chris said, wiping the tears away.
“Sadder than the Red Wedding?”
“I wouldn't go quite that far but close,” Chris admitted.
“Yeah,” I said.
It was strange the effect fiction could have on you. Mainly if it was really well done. There had actually been studies done on the connection between reading fiction and the development of empathy.
For all Chris’ scheduling and other oddities, he really was quite sensitive. Even to the plight of fictional characters who were nothing like him. The protagonist of the story was a teenaged Wiccan and on the run with her mortal wife from modern-day Witch-Hunters hellbent on killing them both.
I put a hand on his shoulder to try to comfort him, ready for him to pull away. He didn't. He looked at me, and I leaned in and kissed him. It was a gamble, I knew. But in the moment, it seemed like a risk worth taking.
After a moment of stiffness, Chris started to kiss me back. It was a bit awkward, but I sensed he was doing his best and tried to help him along. When I thought he might be ready, I tried the big test. Gently taking him by the hand, I put it down between my legs on the outside of my pants. There was a moment's hesitation before he started to rub, a bit too lightly but still sending waves of pleasure through me.
“Come on,” I whispered, and led him into the bedroom.
Chris’ dick was already hard by the time I got him on the bed, and his pants undone. I wasn't sure what I'd been expecting, but I found myself on my knees, naked from the waist down, looking at the biggest fucking cock I had ever seen. Unsure what to do at first, I took it in both hands, each of them going about halfway around the throbbing shaft and started to stroke him. He made sounds like it felt good, so I kept going, eventually introducing my mouth, gently sucking on the head.
That wasn't nearly enough, though. Not with a cock that good and before long I had it most of the way in my mouth, sucking on it greedily, wanting as much as I could comfortably get and then some. It looked intimidating at first, but I soon found that I loved the feeling of his warm cock in my mouth. It wasn't long before he was coming hard, filling my mouth with warm, sweet cum.
“C-can I lick your pussy?” he asked breathlessly.
Of course, he could! I hopped up on to the bed, so I was next to him and spread my legs wide, holding them back for him, allowing access to my entire pussy. Sliding down to the floor, Chris got on his knees between my uplifted legs and buried his face in my pussy. I honestly thought I might faint from the sheer pleasure as he devoured me. It only took me a few m
inutes to reach a full, rattling, body shaking orgasm.
Taking the initiative, Chris stood up, still very much between my legs, and slipped the head of his cock inside my very ready pussy. Taking me by the ankles so he could hold my legs back himself, he started to fuck me. He seemed to know what I could take and never more than halfway inside me and topped out at a steady medium rhythm while fucking me, which felt really amazing.
In another instance of coincidence, we came at the same time. Chris barely pulling out in time to cum on my belly, and boy did he! I was suddenly happy for the box of tissue I kept by the bed. Still, better than in my pussy.
Taking him by the shoulders, I pulled him down to me and kissed him hard. He kissed me back. Something about this felt so right.
Chapter Four - Chris
When she was finished cleaning herself off, Shae bent down and sucked my cockhead clean. It was an act of intimacy it surprised me I was able to accept, the spell of lust and pleasure then broken. A different form of “The Zone.” But it was not only okay but really good. I stroked her hair as she sucked, bringing me to a second orgasm, taking my load onto her mouth with class and grace.
Taking off her shirt, revealing her beautiful tits, Shae took me by the hand and guided me onto the bed beside her. We embraced face to face and kissed tenderly. Not only did I feel content but in harmony with her. It felt like I was home.
That was the point that Jeepers came in and curled up at the foot of the bed, starting to purr. I had never seen a cat with better timing. The foolish notion flashed through my mind that it was almost like a family. I couldn't help but think about it. Images flashing through my mind of Shae and me living together. Cooking together in the kitchen. Going for a walk in the park with a baby stroller.
“You know this is the first time?” Shae said out of nowhere.
“You were a virgin?” I asked, trying to hide my shock.
She laughed. “Oh, no, goodness no, I meant it was my first date for a long while.”
