Old Friends mf oral romance It had been a long time. Air travel always makes me pensive. Especially at night, with the darkened landscape below broken only by the occasional glow of towns and farms, it is difficult to keep from equally dark musings. I put down my book and stared out into the gloom. A year since the divorce. A year out on the emotional edge of heartbreak, bitterness and too-slow healing. A time of hating happy couples seen on the street, of dealing with the fact of my own loneliness and with the seeming impossibility of doing much about it. My career, once satisfying, had become a source of frustration and isolation. I work in a technical field which most people find forbidding, and my research is not of much interest except to other specialists. With the demands of work and general debilitation, I had not had time to make new friends or even to touch base with old ones. Until now, at this conference. Sandra and I had met in college. Our little group of friends had been special to all of us. We lived the typical semi-communal off- campus student life (has it really been fifteen years?), in which music (both listening and creating) at all possible hours, making fun of the jocks and frats, and a certain attitude toward the world we were inheriting were the common coin. Although we managed to learn some useful skills academically, our main education in life was outside any classroom. There was also a certain amount of sex. While ours was not exactly a promiscuous group, there were occasional rounds of musical beds in our house as we explored our still-new feelings with each other. Most of us eventually found regular partners. Sandy settled in early with Tony, while I, apart from a couple of short-lived liaisons, was the proverbial Lone Ranger, until Sandy's younger cousin Laura came for a visit, and never left. Sandra and I attended each other's weddings, and though time, distance and jobs inevitably separated us, we did our best to keep in touch. But now Laura was gone from me, taking our ten-year-old daughter Christy with her. It wasn't my fault, I told myself for what must have been the thousandth time. I had tried to be a good husband and I knew I had been a good father. But what can you do when your beloved claims not to love you any more? At least she had said she was sorry. But it's so hard to understand, and the world seems so much harsher than when we were younger... I forced myself to stop, as I had only a few hundred times so far. Keep looking ahead, I told myself. I'm still working, I'm going to present my paper, and I'm going to take advantage of the conference being held in Sandy's city to visit my old friend, just as if I were a real person instead of some walking emotional wreck. I picked up my book again. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Sadly enough, Sandy hadn't fared much better than I: Tony had taken off with a coworker about two years before. He had always been a bit off the wall in my opinion, and we had never been close. At least they had no children to complicate matters. I made it to the meeting and presented my paper, which was received moderately well. I chatted with a few colleagues for a while after my afternoon session, but excused myself from the impending dinner gathering with its inevitable, endless discussions of technical matters and career politics. I had the prospect of better company on this particular evening. Sandy had been delighted to hear from me when I had called while planning the trip, and had insisted on making dinner reservations for us. I pulled up to Sandy's house in my rental car and knocked on her door. After just a moment she appeared, looking well but just a bit older than when I had seen her last, almost two years before. I had a moment to consider the damage the past two years must have done to me also, and then she swept me up in a hug that made my troubles melt away. "Hey, stranger...," she said, her lips so close to my ear. "Hey yourself," I replied, returning her embrace. I released her, reluctantly. I looked Sandy over as we chatted happily while preparing to leave for the restaurant. Her essentials were unchanged: she still had the same bright, clear blue eyes and the same warm smile and cheerful, easygoing manner that had always made her a delight to be around. She was wearing a simple blouse and a dark midlength skirt which accented her trim figure and shapely legs. I realized (not for the first time!) that one of my best friends in the world was quite an attractive woman. We got into my car and drove across town, down toward the harbor. We talked of light matters along the way: my relatively uneventful trip and successful presentation, Sandy's new job as a physical therapist at a local hospital. Then we were at the Chart House, sipping wine and watching the sun set into the bay through the large window near our table. Sandy put down her glass, gave a small sigh, and said softly, "Bill, I'm so sorry about you and Laura. I don't really know the particulars, and I feel caught in the middle because I love you both, but I just know it must have been nothing but a hard time. Are you doing OK?" "Oh, I'm doing about as well as could be expected," I said. "The main thing is that Christy's doing OK. She's in a good school in Portland and she's doing well in it. I get to see her twice a month. As for me, well, I've got a ways to go, but I'll make it somehow." I reached over and squeezed her hand for a moment; I was genuinely moved by her concern. "And thank you for asking. It was more than my family could manage at the time. You know how they are. It's really a comfort to have friends like you." "Well, I just remember how good you and the rest of the old gang were to me when it was my turn. And you know the old saying: 'Friends are God's apology to us for our families'. And speaking of which," she went on, brightening, "I'm trying to get everyone together for a reunion sometime next month. Chris and Jane said we can have it at their place the weekend of the 12th. Laura already said she can't make it, so you don't have to worry about that. What do you think? Might do you some good." "You know, that sounds just fine," I said. "I should be free that weekend, let me check my calendar when I get back home and get back to you for sure." Our food arrived. After sampling my lobster salad, I turned the conversation toward the past, as is my tendency when the present isn't up to standard. During my reminiscences of some of the political pranks and sexual escapades which we had pulled off in the old days, Sandy started to look thoughtful. "You know, Bill," she said, a little shyly, "I always kind of wondered why you and I never got together back then." It was one of those remarks that takes you by surprise. Not that I had never entertained the idea, but here it was out in the open. I took a quick sip of wine to cover my confusion and made the first reply that came into my head. "Probably just as well," I said. "I wouldn't have wanted it to spoil our friendship." "Oh, bullshit," she said, teasingly. "You don't believe that old chestnut, none of us did back then. You remember, a few of us made it almost all the way around the circle, and nobody got busted up over it. You sound like you've been watching TV talk shows." She could always tell when I was being not quite honest. "OK, you caught me. You just surprised me there, kiddo. Anyway, things were different then. I'll admit to having seen enough talk shows to have heard that the era of free love is over." "Yeah, I suppose so. This is more like the era of no love." She looked suddenly sad. Leave it to me to ruin a mood. I did my best to salvage it. "Hey, remember when we shot the bottle rockets through the windows of the TKE house?..." ------------------------------------------------------------------------ The sun had left the sky, leaving the waxing crescent moon to follow it slowly toward the into the pinkly-glowing horizon of the bay. The beachside path which ran next to the Chart House, popular with the local crowds during the day, was nearly deserted in the dusk. Sandy slipped her hand into mine as we strolled along. "You're not seeing anyone now, are you, Bill?," she asked, again a little shyly. "Who, me? Nah. Still trying the get the hang of this single life, I guess. It doesn't seem like all it's made out to be. Anyway, I never seem to be able to meet anyone interesting." "Me either," she said. "But I'm beginning to think it must be me. That men don't find _me_ interesting." There was almost a hint of tears in her voice. I stopped and quickly turned to face her. Sure enough, there was a telltale track, moonlit on her cheek. Without thinking, I put my arms around her. "Don't be silly," I said. "It couldn't be you, Sandy, not for a minute. Why, you've got more going for you than anyone I know. I..." What was I saying? Suddenly I was lost in the sensations of holding her, in the awareness of the warmth of her body, the soft pressure of her breasts against my chest, the scent of her hair and her warm breath on my face. My heart nearly doubled its pace as the familiar flush of arousal ran through me and my arms tightened around her seemingly without volition. _I should pull away_, I thought, _she must be aware of my state, what an embarrassment_... And then her arms went around my shoulders, she looked up at me, eyes shining, and said softly, "Mmm...do you really think so?" Then her lips were on mine, soft, warm, and moist, completing my destruction. I returned her kiss passionately, parting her lips with my tongue to touch and tease hers, while my hands explored her body. When at last we came up for air, her eyes had lost none of their fire. "Please take me home now, Bill," she said. "And please stay with me tonight." ------------------------------------------------------------------------ We drove homeward by secondary roads with only light traffic. Sandra curled up close beside me and rested a hand on my thigh. At a long red light I put my arm around her and kissed her again, fondling her breasts. "God, I'm so turned on to you," I murmured. "Oh, me too, babe," she said, stroking my thigh. "And, by the way, not to complain, but you sure took a lot of hints." "Yeah, well, you'll have to forgive me, Sandy. The way things have been with me lately, I've been a little slow. I think the technical term is 'clueless'. But I'm still a little confused..." "Don't worry, Bill, I'm not trying to corner you," she said. "We've known each other a long time. I just want you in a new way tonight. We can still be friends, or maybe we can be more, but I'm not carrying any expectations either way. But now," as she stroked the erection I had sported ever since our first embrace at the beach, "Hurry up and get us home. The light's green." As soon as we got inside Sandy's house, we fell back into each other's arms. Her kisses were both sweet and sensual, her tongue tangling lazily with mine. I pulled back slightly and ran my tongue all the way around her parted lips, full circle and again, before sealing them once more with my own. I reached down and got a double handful of her pert bottom and crushed her against me, grinding our crotches together. We broke apart just long enough to move to her bedroom, where we plopped onto the bed and tried to undress each other while still kissing. It might have worked had we been in practice. As it was, after a minute or so of fumbling with buttons we both broke out in the giggles. "Here," I said, when we had mostly recovered. "Let's do this methodically." By looking at what I was doing, I managed to get her blouse unbuttoned, while Sandy did the same with my shirt. We shrugged off our upper garments, and I reached behind her and unhooked her bra (at least I still got that part right!). In moments we were both bare to the waist, and I was greeted by Sandy's lovely breasts, of which I had fond memories from nude swimming parties years before. I cupped one in my hand, which it fit perfectly, while nuzzling her neck and breathing the perfume of her skin. Her nipple quickened and pressed into my palm as I let my kisses wander around her jawline and down her neck towards those treasures. I kissed her breasts all over, savoring the wonderfully soft skin and zeroing in gradually on the golden-brown aureolae and the darker, erect nipples. I closed my lips around one miraculous bud and sucked it hard while teasing it with the tip of my tongue; Sandy let out a little gasp in response. "Oh, God, honey, please don't stop," she breathed. "Yes, please, suck them hard!" I was happy to oblige. At the same time I sent my left hand to explore her legs, sliding gradually up under her skirt and finding wonderfully warm, creamy thigh. I continued up to the crotch of her silk panties, which was wet with her arousal. I rubbed the moist spot and she gave a low moan in response. At this point she pulled away from me gently and said, "Bill, before we go any farther..." She hesitated. I picked up where she had trailed off. "I know, it's time for the awkward discussion, isn't it? OK, I'll go first. Sandy, I haven't been with anyone since Laura; she may have, but I seriously doubt it would have been before we broke up." It was such a relief to be talking about this with someone I already knew well. "Good enough," she said. "I'm not quite so sure about Tony, but I got tested a few months ago, and I haven't done anything to invalidate the results since then. And my period ended a couple of days ago and I've been like clockwork since day one. So let's just be together now and not worry. I want you so much." With that she unzipped me and eased my pants down my legs. I kicked them off while she unfastened her skirt, then she peeled down my shorts and studied what she found under them. I was hard; harder than I could remember being in months. How wonderful to feel such desire again! Sandy stroked my penis gently, making a circle of thumb and forefinger to surround the crown and tease its sensitive ridge corkscrew-fashion. One drop, a tiny pearl, appeared at the tip in applause to her attentions. She bent down and kissed away the love- offering, paused for bare moments to taste me, then took the head into her mouth. Her tongue swirled around my shaft maddeningly as she took me in deeper. Now she was on hands and knees facing away from my head; her curvaceous ass, covered by lace-trimmed panties, was in my immediate view. I latched onto those creamy mounds and kneaded them softly, working my thumbs into her moist crotch. Sandy was cupping my balls in one hand while sucking me deeply into her warm, wet mouth; the things she was doing with her tongue were sending me rapidly toward the edge. Enough suspense. I pulled down her panties and beheld her naked sex. Short, curly hairs framed soft, pink folds, her inner lips protruding just slightly, leading down from her wet opening to her hooded clit. I stroked her petals and moistened my fingers in her well, and the fragrance of her arousal reached me, as the familiar incandescence rose in my groin and spread through my body. "Sandy," I gasped, "God, what you're doing to me...I'm coming, baby! I'm coming!" She did not pull away; she meant to have my come! And with that thought the bubble of fire within me burst and went jetting out of my cock into her sucking mouth. She stayed with me and lashed me exquisitely with her tongue as I continued to feed her my come. When at last my frenzy died and my inflamed mind started to clear, she had swallowed, not too daintily, and turned back toward me for a kiss. I returned it happily, and she passed me back a sticky remnant of myself. I didn't mind, in fact had always enjoyed the sensuality of this sharing, but how had she known? Had there been some female locker-room talk going on about me sometime in the past? It was an amusing thought. "Sandy, you are wonderful," I murmured and hugged her, rolling us over so that she was on the bottom. "Now it's my turn. Let me make it up to you for being so slow on the uptake." I kissed my way down her neck to her breasts again, but did not linger long, as my destination was farther south. Soon I was exploring her gently rounded belly, snaking my tongue into her adorable little navel, eliciting a giggle from her. Very soft, barely perceptible down gave way to darker, fragrant curls. I kissed her lush, grassy mound and dipped my tongue into her slick, waiting cleft. I was rewarded with a warm waft of her heady natural perfume, which hit me with an electric effect. I parted her with my fingers and gave her a long lick from her hole to her budding clit. Sandy tasted of spicy, exotic fruits grown in rich earth, ripe and bursting with juice. I began to eat her with total abandon, losing myself in the glories of the most wondrous cunt I had ever tasted. I licked all around her dew-wet lips, and burrowed into her slippery tunnel, tasting the more metallic note there. Sandy groaned and clamped her thighs around my neck, pressing me to her insistently. Her breathing was shallow and quick. Her clit had come out from its shroud, fully erect and ready to be sucked. I worked it with my lips and tongue as her hips began to buck, doing some of the work. When she cried out with her coming and crushed me into her, I simply held on and kept licking for a wild, timeless interval until her orgasm had subsided. "Oh, put it in me, Bill," she said. "Please be inside me now." I quickly moved up over her, my staff again rigid and ready. She took hold of me and guided me to her opening. I pushed and we both watched as my cock slid into her, sighing in awe at the mundane miracle of penetration, the simple reality which never loses its fascination. She held me tightly in her cunt, welcoming me with a quick rippling caress of her inner walls. I lowered myself to her and kissed her mouth while starting to rock my cock into her; she licked my lips, tasting herself on me. My hands went under her shoulders, holding her in place as my thrusts became harder. And, yes, she was fucking back at me, rolling her hips up in time with my own rhythm, taking me deep inside herself. Her legs went around my waist as her lips curled back in a lascivious grin and she urged me in words I never thought to hear from her to give her my cock, not to be gentle, to fuck her hard. Which I did, until her breath hissed in her throat and her sheath tightened rhythmically around me as she bucked wildly under me. Amazingly, she was subdued only for a few moments after this coming, then rolled us over until she was on top. "Come with me this time, honey," she said, squatting to take me inside her again. "Please, come inside me!" I cradled her sweet, soft ass in my hands while she pumped it against me. I could feel the ancient electricity rising in me again, and Sandy was riding me faster and faster, her breathing coming in fast, shallow gulps. We were ready. I reached between her spread ass cheeks and pressed a fingertip firmly against her rear hole, sending her suddenly over the edge into another orgasm. With a guttural cry, she ground her cunt hard over my throbbing cock, tapping my spring and filling her with its warm gush. We collapsed together then, exchanging small kisses and whispered praise until sleep took us. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ The morning sun blazed through the cabin windows as the plane left the runway and began its rapid ascent. I had brought a newspaper with me, but for the moment I was watching Sandy's city dwindle below me and thinking about her words to me as we had parted. "I'll see you at the reunion," she had said, "and come back to me when you can, Bill. There will always be a place here for you." I again thought about my life with its recent losses and disappointments, but this time with new hope for the future... I knew I would come back to this place again.