His heart leapt into his throat. At the second set of doors she pausedand held it for him. "Thanks." He managed to stammer. "My pleasure,"she replied ...n a voice like smoky amber. He walked slowly out ahead ofher, fumbling for reason to talk to her more. There was a bus stop atthis entrance, and even though his car was parked just fifty feet away,he angled off a few paces toward the bus shelter and paused beforelooking back for her. She was just lighting a cigarette. It was fullydark out and the. I had long term affairs and many one night stands. From an insider’s viewpoint, by the time the marriage ended it had been on its deathbed for almost two decades. Surprised? No. Rhea and I had known each other for almost ten years. Her marriage of, coincidentally, 23 years was not the sexual desert mine was but had been without love for as long as mine had been without sex. We had met casually and over the years become very close, although completely platonic, friends. It’s not that I hadn’t. Of course the smart ones started shooting up between their fingers or toes or even under their tongues. I met her gaze once more, noting how calm her baby blues were, and how she wasn’t trembling. “I haven’t used since that day,” she said defiantly, not oblivious to what I was thinking. “I’ve wanted to, yeah, but I haven’t.” I managed a cautious smile. “Good for you. I had my doubts-“ “I know. Me too. It was… hard.” The haunted look in her eyes was enough of an answer. It must have been hell. We kissed, slowly, languorously, seductively, worshiping each other with tongues, cock, cunt, and hands.After a long time, we started moving.We were not fucking this time, but making love, slowly, gracefully, passionately. The kind of love-making I used to dream might be possible – and now was. It was a blessing, and we offered it to each other.Tears started rolling down my cheeks, and when he felt them dripping onto him, he broke the kiss, reached up, and wiped them from my cheeks, then held.