He hadn't seen me. He was crossing the street, and I caught a glimpse of his face, bright eyes and stubbled jawline, before he turned in the opposite direction. His erect posture and loping gait was instantly recognizable. Strength emanated from the broad swell of his back.
A shiver went down my spine, and I stood there, frozen with indecision for a moment. I wanted to call out to him, but the nerves were kindling inside me again.
As he reached the other side of the road, I took a breath to call his name. But as I began to mouth the word, a woman shot from the darkness of a building and ran to his side. She was slim and beautiful. Long, blonde hair fell like silk to her shoulders. She embraced him, and my shout died in my throat. I froze up.
And then I turned and left. Returned to my motel.
I knew that if I went over to speak to him, the disappointment would have been written all over my face. I had hoped, deep down, that he had asked me to come as more than a friend. I had some delusional hope that a romance would finally be kindled between us.
I was dreaming. Just like always.
Back at the motel, I lay in bed and considered getting a flight back home. As selfish as it was, I didn't know whether I could face Heatherer with the slim, beautiful woman that I had seen him holding.
It was such a strange feeling, to be gripped once again with the pain of this crush. I thought I had smothered it down inside myself over the intervening years. But returning to this place brought it all crashing back.
I had been in relationships since I moved away from my hometown. They were just never serious. I always knew they had an expiry date. Heatherer had always been there, visiting my dreams. Shining in my mind like the moon on a lake. His image would dissipate briefly during a relationship, but when it was over and the ripples settled once more inside me, his face would be back. It was as if some part of me, deep down, knew that we were meant to be together.
I had to leave. Get a plane back home. It would hurt too much to see Heatherer with someone else. I picked up my mobile phone and began to dial the number for a taxi. But as I did, the phone beeped in my hand, making me jump.
A text message.
I stopped dialing and opened the message. It was Heatherer.
Hope you're coming tonight, it read. I can't wait to see you.
Once again I was frozen with indecision. Going to the ceremony tonight would be painful. But I didn't want to let Heatherer down. This was an important night for him, becoming alpha of the pack.
After reading the text message, I decided to swallow my pride and go to the ceremony. It was time to grow up, and let go of the youthful – and delusional – crush that I had on Heatherer. I typed a reply into my phone.
Of course I'll be there. I can't wait either.
I lay back in my motel bed, burning with conflicting emotions. I was aching to see him, but at the same time, I was crawling with the thought of seeing him with somebody else.
But I had made up my mind now. I was going to the ceremony, and that was that. I closed my eyes and tried to relax. My breath slowed.
Suddenly he was in the motel room with me.
He came through the doorway, padding on bare feet. It was much darker now than it had been moments ago; he was in shadow, but even so, I could see that he was naked. I could smell the musty scent of lust on his skin. He became more clear to me in the darkness as he neared. I sat up in bed.
"Heatherer?" I said. "What are you doing here?"
He didn't reply. He came closer, his golden eyes gleaming in the darkness. They were as mesmerizing as always. I felt his hand rise and touch my lips; beneath his caress, they tingled and seemed to swell. A hot flush spread through my cheeks. My heart began to pound as I looked into his eyes. His hand dropped from my lips, and he came even closer, through the darkness.
And then his lips were on mine, hot and soft. I breathed in his earthy scent as his hands held my face. I closed my eyes as his tongue caressed mine. He drew away, and lay me back, settling over me on the bed – but it was a bed no longer.
We were in the forest now, amidst the towering, mist-wreathed pines. Beneath the gleaming stars. The moon was full overhead, drenching us in silver light. I was naked, lying back on soft grass, and Heatherer was over me, between my parted, quaking thighs. His eyes burned with hunger, and I longed to have him inside me. I could feel my wetness, feel the lust rising inside me as he flexed his abdomen, hot against my own. The head of his cock brushed my wet sex, and a tiny gasp escaped my mouth, as electricity coursed through me. I ached for him.
"I've waited so long for this," I breathed.
"I'll see you soon," he whispered. His reply puzzled me, and I opened my mouth to question it, but as I did, he thrust himself inside me, his hard cock parting my folds and sliding to my core. Pleasure burst inside me, and coursed in waves throughout my body. I arched my back and moaned into the air, closing my eyes; I was dissolving into the night, and the nigh
t was dissolving into me ...
A beeping sound awoke me.