But I haven't heard anything like this since junior high.But I haven't heard anything like this since junior high...." I felt my face heat up with embarrassment. Sympathy, I could use -- but not pity or insults. I must have tensed up or something because Carol immediately sat up and swung around to sit right next to me. Her hip pressed against mine and she held my hand in both of hers. "Hey, I'm sorry -- I wasn't making fun of you, Mike, honest." She squeezed my hand, which made me feel a lot better. Then she pulled my arm down from its perch along the back of the sofa and arranged it over her shoulder. "How's that?" "That" was terrific. Then she leaned her head back against my chest and looked at me expectantly. I was out of practice but I wasn't dead. If I passed up her invitation she would never offer me another. I reached over and brushed her cheek, so soft and smooth, with my fingertips. And, cupping her chin in my hand, I kissed her, gently and thoroughly. It had been five years since I had kissed any woman like this -- fifteen years since any woman other than my ex-wife. Carol moved into it, pressing back with her lips, reaching up to touch my throat, sighing into my open mouth. It was a feeling I had almost completely forgotten -- the pure pleasure of kissing a pretty girl who's enthusiastically kissing you back. My pulse rate rose about twenty notches and my toes felt warm. It was a long kiss but it finally tapered off and ended. I combed my fingers through that long hair and stared at her face from two inches away. The only thing I could say was "Wow...." The corner of her mouth quirked. "Thank you, Mike. It's nice to know I can still leave a man speechless." "You just burned a hole in my brain, lady. I'm totally shorted out ... and I'd like to do it again, please." I touched my nose to hers. She laughed and held me off with a symbolic hand placed lightly against my chest. |