Romance The Key

Miranda accepted the tiny slip of paper, placing it inside her jacket pocket. Once again she turned towards him prepared to slide down into the seat of her car. Brad looked towards her intently, hopefully. The smoldering heated passion that had been with her all evening long suddenly emerged. Before she knew it, she was kissing him, urgently, needfully. The kiss seemed to have lasted an eternity, and it was she who was surprised when it was he that actually, finally broke it. He held the door open a bit wider so that she could sit down, closing it when she did. Miranda inserted her key, rolling down the window.

"I hope you really will call," he told her.

"I hope that I will too," she thought to herself, only smiling back towards him with a hint of a suggestion that she might.

She drove the rest of the way home in a euphoric mood, aroused more than she'd been or had found herself feeling in months. She laughed outwardly, wondering to herself if she dared share this interesting piece of "dessert-gossip" with her friends when next they joined one another at the café.

"Well, Darlene maybe," she reconsidered, not quite sure that she as yet share such an intimate encounter as this with Silvia, though she trusted both of them sufficiently enough, she wasn't as confident that Silvia might not mention something to someone else where this might eventually find its way back to her husband. Though the likelihood of that ever happening was a near impossibility.

"Still..." she considered. "Perhaps Darlene," who she would indeed get a kick out of surprising, if not down right shocking her friend that she'd been as bold as she'd actually been with a man whom she'd only really just met.

Miranda arrived home to discover that her husband still wasn't home as yet. She hurriedly prepared for bed, safe in the certain knowledge that she'd hear the garage door opening upon her husband's arrival. Miranda quickly reached into the secreted compartment where she now kept that same sweet silver colored toy that Darlene had long ago given her. She felt the device come alive in her hand, purring contentedly as she closed her eyes, allowing the sensation of pleasure to finally release as she fixed the image of Brad firmly within her mind.

Miranda doubted she could wait clear until the following Friday to mention anything to Darlene. And besides, she still hadn't made up her mind as to what she might say regarding anything to Silvia as yet. Excitedly, she called Darlene inviting her over to "brunch" as she called it on Sunday morning. Bill would be off with the 'guys' for their weekly golf round as he was every Sunday morning, leaving the time for she and Darlene to sit and visit for nearly as long as they desired without fear of being overheard. For the first time in a long time, she found herself anxiously peering out between the blinds for the sound of her dear friends car and arrival. When she finally did, Miranda met her at the door long before she'd had time to even ring the doorbell.

"Well, so what's so exciting that you just had to get me over here to tell me about?" Darlene asked brushing past Miranda heading towards the kitchen where she knew Miranda would already have a cup of coffee waiting for her.

"What makes you think that?" Miranda asked trying to mask her excitement.

Darlene shot her a knowing look. "Well for one, you waited until today to invite me over, which tells me that you didn't want Bill hovering around for one thing. And for another, you have that same look on your face as the night you told me you'd lost your virginity!"

Miranda blushed turning away to freshen up her own cup of coffee buying some time to compose herself and turn the tables on her friend to some extent. This was part of the game they had enjoyed with one another throughout the years, anxious to tell, but even more excited to see if they could get the other to plead or beg for whatever news there really was.

Darlene seated herself at the kitchen table snatching a banana from the fruit bowl, quietly peeling it. Miranda was too excited to play the game any longer, so she caved.

"You're not going to believe this!" she began, only then watching as Darlene sat the half peeled banana back down giving her, her full undivided attention.

For the first time in recent memory, Darlene neither interrupted nor commented on anything Miranda told her until she'd finally recounted their entire evening together. Occasionally, Darlene's eyebrows did lift in abject surprise, but beyond that, she waited patiently for her friend to actually finish relating her story. Only then did she lean back in her chair once again retrieving the half-peeled banana while she sat silently peeling it before taking a bite.

"Well?"

"Well what?" Darlene said with a mouth half full of the squishy fruit.

"You know damn well what I mean Darlene, tell me...what do you think?"

"What I think is girl friend, that it's been a while since you've had sex is all, and basically, you're simply horny. It sounds to me like all this guy really wants to do is get inside your pants."

Exasperated, Miranda twirled heading back over to the kitchen counter to pour herself yet another cup of coffee, already her forth one for the morning. "It wasn't like that, not like that at all!" she countered indignantly.

"Oh no? Didn't you just finish telling me a few minutes ago that if he'd even suggested getting a room, that you might have actually considered it?"

Miranda set her coffee cup back down on the counter before she dropped it. "The point is, he didn't do that even if I might have entertained the idea. He was a perfect gentleman Darlene."

"And my point is kiddo, that he sounds just a little bit too perfect. It's those kind of men that would have me running off screaming into the night. I'd rather one be up front and honest with me about his feelings or desires, perhaps trying to seduce me subtly yes, but still giving me the chance and opportunity to tell him to fuck off or not."

Miranda sighed. One of the things she'd always loved about her friend was Darlene's sometimes twisted sense of humor. This however was not one of those times.

"Don't you see Darlene? Don't you find it kind of interesting on the very day that I buy this key," she'd already reached up to finger it, "that I see him that very morning in the café? Then later, after that crazy old lady tells me that it will be my guide to unlocking the desires of my heart? I run into him at the restaurant?"

"I think you're reading too much into that Miranda," Darlene stated cautiously. The fact that he ran into you actually, seems a lot more like simple coincidence rather than any kind of cosmic fate."

"You really think it's mere coincidence?" Miranda pressed.

"After one chance meeting, yes I do."

"It wasn't just the one, you forget I saw him that very morning."

"That one doesn't count, you just saw one another, you really didn't meet. Now, if you happen to bump into one another again without telling him where you'll be or what your schedule is, I might start to consider the possibility, though I'd be more inclined to believe he was actually stalking you as opposed to being some kind of 'love destiny' or something."

Frustrated, Miranda returned to the sink and began rinsing out her cup. "I thought you'd be excited to hear all this," she said with her back still facing her friend.

"Trust me kiddo, I am excited. Though to be honest, it would have been a lot more exciting to have actually heard you'd gone and gotten a room with him."

Miranda actually spun away from the sink facing Darlene. "It's not just about sex Darlene, you know damn good and well I don't need a man in order to get off!" she exclaimed indignantly.

"I know that M.J.," Darlene responded attempting to put things back on a more friendly level. "I probably know that a lot more than you are even fully aware of. None of us need a man to have a really nice orgasm necessarily, but it is nice after having had one to feel a pair of arms holding you close afterwards. And until someone invents some sort of vibrating robot, then the likelihood of ever having that without a man isn't very damn likely. All I'm saying is this, be careful with your emotions. You're feeling pretty vulnerable at the moment. You know I told you a long time ago that you should perhaps consider leaving Bill, moving out on your own. Then see what happens. If all you want is sexual gratification, there's enough nice guys out there who are willing to share that with you without all the emotional entanglements that go along with it. At least then you get a few sweet kisses, some cuddling, and maybe a real good orgasm or two along the way without suffering the possibility of heartbreak before you actually get to really know the person you're interested in."

Miranda slumped down onto one of the kitchen chairs beside her friend.

"Just don't go rushing into anything," Darlene warned her. "At least, don't go leading with your heart anyway. Keep an open mind to the possibilities yes, but don't be so taken in by his charismatic charm or boyish grin. You want to simply fuck him, then go for it. You want to fall in love again, then that's something else entirely."

Once again, this was not one of her better days that she'd ever spent with Darlene.

"So...you going to call him?"

"I don't know," Miranda answered honestly. "Maybe."

Miranda had agreed with Darlene on one point. If she did decide to ever call him, she'd at least give it a week. It would give her time to actually think about it before jumping into something she wasn't sure she was really prepared for. And she was also curious about the other thing. "Was it fate?" she asked herself. Wondering if she would indeed 'bump' into him again. Perhaps he really was stalking her like Darlene suggested.

Miranda shook her head as though clearing away cobwebs. "Don't be ridiculous!" she chided herself aloud. "The only place I might actually bump into him again is at the café. He knows I've been there, and I don't have any intentions of going back to the restaurant anytime soon either. So if we see one another before then, it either really is fate, or Darlene's right."

Miranda frowned; either choice wasn't necessarily a good one. If she allowed herself to pursue this particular path, it would mean a life-changing decision.

It hadn't been Miranda's initial intent to not meet her friends the following Friday. As it turned out, she was required to attend an early morning meeting at work and had to pass. She did however make arrangements to meet both Silvia and Darlene for an early dinner, especially as Bill would be out of town on business for the weekend. She really wasn't looking forward to spending the night alone, and as neither of her friends had dates either, it was a welcome relief to know she would still be spending some time with them. Perhaps after dinner, a movie, or if nothing else, window shopping which they always enjoyed doing together.

Oddly, she found herself curiously torn, wondering if Brad might indeed be at the café on Friday, something that Darlene assured her she would tell her if he did happen to be there. On the other hand, by her not showing up even if he was there, she would at least not seem too eager, willing or for that matter, available.

"Available," she thought. "Was she?" Or was she just needy? Or as Darlene would so aptly put it, "simply horny." Maybe she was, but she also knew she wasn't happy either. She hadn't been happy for a very long time. Miranda found herself fingering the tiny silver key around her neck. "Would it indeed unlock the pathway to her happiness? Was it indeed the actual key to her heart? Was Brad?"

She actually found herself questioning. Only time would tell.

She was to meet her friends at another one of their favorite hangouts, not too far away from the café though in the opposite direction. As she drove slowly down the main street preparing to turn at the next intersection, Miranda glanced over towards the strange little antique store as she began to pass by. Just as she did, she saw Brad emerge from the store walking up the street back towards the café. She nearly rear-ended the car in front of her barely glancing back in front long enough to lock up the brakes of her car, barely avoiding the collision. Even the near miss of that happening didn't fully register, as the thought of having just seen Brad emerge from "Vickie's Treasure Chest" really did seem more than simply coincidental this time.

"What the hell was he doing in there anyway?" she found herself asking until the sound of a blaring horn behind her told her the light had once again turned green. Glancing into her rear-view, she smiled waving, feeling a bit idiotic that she'd allowed her thoughts to cause her to totally forget what she was doing, nearly getting herself killed in the process.

By the time she'd parked the car and joined her two friends, she was visibly shaken and wondering all kinds of things.

"You look like you've just seen a ghost!" Darlene told her the moment she sat down at the table. Miranda threw her a look, whispering just low enough that so that even Silvia couldn't over hear her.

"I just may have...sort of," she told her. Then mouthed the words, "Meet me in the bathroom!"

Miranda sat her menu down on the table. "Silvia honey? Would you do me a big favor? I need to use the restroom really bad, would you mind ordering for me when the waitress comes over?"

"Sure honey, what do you want?"

"A glass of their best Merlot for starters, then the Ravioli, only with white sauce, oh...and Thousand Island dressing on my salad."

Miranda quickly stood at that point, heading off towards the restrooms.

"You know, I gotta go too," Darlene said standing. Order me the same, only I'll take Ranch dressing ok?"

Silvia shot her a curious semi-knowing look. "You know, one of these days the two of you might actually invite me into some of these little secrets you two have been sharing," she announced with a semi-hurtful smile.

Darlene laughed, shook her off. "It's not like that Sil, I really do need to pee." With that, Darlene headed off towards the bathrooms in search of her friend.

Darlene found Miranda inside the restroom nervously waiting for her. "Well? You want to explain to me what it is that you meant by that?"

"You're not going to believe this," Miranda excitedly began.

"Ok, even I have to admit that's a little weird," Darlene told her once Miranda had actually convinced her that it had been Brad she'd seen leaving the shop. "So, what do you want to do now?"

Miranda grinned, I have an idea, and I don't think it will be too terribly difficult convincing Silva to go along with it," she told Darlene. "After we finish eating, we're going to go back to that antique store!"

As she'd expected, convincing Silvia to go back to the antique store once they were finished eating proved easier than she had hoped for.

"Cool! I've been wanting to go back there anyway. One of the paintings I spotted last time would go perfectly in my bedroom, and I want to see if its still available!" she announced excitedly. It was the fastest in recent memory that Miranda recalled any of them ever rushing through dinner. They didn't even order a second glass of wine as they normally would have, paying the check and heading out the door in less than a half an hour.

"I'll drive," Miranda volunteered, and though the store was well within reasonable walking distance, both Silvia as well as Darlene seemed elated to drive there as opposed to taking their time walking there instead.

They soon after entered the store, Silvia already making her way over towards the far wall where she'd spotted the particular painting she'd been interested in. Surprisingly, there were three other customers in the shop, two of which stood conversing with the strange old lady.

"What are you going to ask her?" Darlene questioned.

"I don't know yet, something," Miranda responded winging this as it was. She stepped over to a book shelf filled with a variety of knickknacks and began rummaging through them as though appearing interested until she could think up what it was she was going to say and do. While she did, she actually spotted something that caught her attention. A collection of small loaf-sized cedar keepsake boxes stood within the shelving. Miranda had always enjoyed intricate wooden collectables, especially hand-carved boxes like these. She picked one of them up and began toying with it, discovering while she did that it was locked. She briefly attempted to force the lid open wondering if it was just stuck, then gingerly replaced the box once she'd determined that it really was locked and didn't want to end up breaking it.

"Pretty isn't it?"

Miranda was startled, turning to see Mrs. Cravenstance standing beside her. She hadn't heard her come over, nor had been aware that she'd finished talking to the two customers she'd been with moments ago. Miranda looked briefly for Darlene, noticing that Silvia had come over to claim her upon finding the painting she'd come back to purchase.

"Yes, it is pretty," she told the woman reaching in to pick up another one, only this time when she lifted the lid, it opened. The smell of cedar still just as strong as it had probably been when new. "How much?" she asked, noticing that there were no visible price tags attached to the box she was holding.

Mrs. Cravenstance held out her hand, Miranda then giving the box to the old woman to look at. Perhaps there was some secret identifying mark indicating the cost. But rather than do anything like that, the old lady placed the box back onto the shelf, taking instead the first box that Miranda had chosen in the beginning.

"This one's much nicer looking," she said with a grin. "Look's more like something you'd be interested in anyway," she added.

"But it's still locked!"

"Many things are," the old woman told her. "Like I said before, we buy up a lot of estates, many things coming to us 'as is', and we pretty much sell everything 'as is' too. Which is one of the reasons I named this place the 'Treasure Chest'. Sometimes, you might actually find a treasure in one or two of these things. It's a part of what keeps people coming back here. I even had one woman that discovered a very valuable diamond ring in an old antique dresser she purchased. She's been a regular buying customer ever since!"

"This lady really is crazy!" Miranda thought to herself. To give away such a valuable item as a diamond ring without even giving any thought to it, or having remorse at not discovering the piece herself seemed oddly insane.

"Make me an offer," the old woman told her. Miranda laughed.

"Here we go again," she thought to herself, "Forty? Fifty?" she asked before allowing the old woman to even consider the first offer.

"Done! Here let me wrap that for you," she said taking back the box, heading back behind the counter. Silvia and Darlene were already headed that way as well with the two of them carrying the semi-large painting between them. Darlene looked towards her questioningly, reminding Miranda she still hadn't asked the old woman what she'd come here to ask her about in the first place.

"Ah by the way," she began as she stood next to the counter, "I think there may have been a gentleman that came in here earlier, perhaps a little more than an hour or so ago." Miranda described him briefly to the old lady who stood considering Miranda's description.

The old woman thought for a moment. "I don't know, maybe. But the shop's been pretty busy this past little while. I don't recall speaking to anyone that fits that description, but its not to say he wasn't here either. I just didn't speak to anyone that looked like that."

"Well ok, thank you for your time then, and for the box," she added accepting her package.

Miranda waited patiently while Silvia completed her transaction for the painting, heading shortly there afterwards back towards the restaurant where they had parked their other vehicles. Saying their good-byes, Darlene held back until after Silvia had left.

"So? Find out anything?"

"Not much, she wasn't even sure she remembered him being there. Obviously whatever the reason he was there for, he didn't approach her about."

"Now what?"

"Now...I call him," Miranda stated with finality.

Darlene grinned. "Well, when you do, you know I'll be expecting details girl-friend! Lots and lots of details!"

Miranda didn't even bother to wait until arriving home. As she drove, she fished out the slip of paper that Brad had given her from the secret little compartment in her purse. She dialed the number listening to it ring only twice before he answered.

"Hello?"

For a moment, Miranda didn't even speak, suddenly afraid and about to hang up.

"Miranda?"

That stunned her. Hearing him say her name, not even sure that it was, or could be her, she answered.

"Hi Brad," she said nervously, trying to control the excitement in her voice. She felt her pulse-rate suddenly escalate, her breathing becoming quicker, shallow as she fought to take charge of her emotions.

"Nice to hear from you, I was hoping I would."

Again, Miranda fumbled with the words to say. Hearing her voice, Brad hadn't seemed even the least bit surprised to hear from her. Something she wasn't sure that she found either flattering, or annoying. That he was perhaps actually expecting her to call, anticipating it painted her as too eager, too available. And she didn't want him thinking that about her either. Yet, that he'd been pleased to hear that she'd called, "hoping" she would as he'd said it, made her feel all warm and fuzzy inside too. Something she hadn't felt in a very, very long time.

She decided to play coy, taking back control to some extent.

"Well actually, I was cleaning out my purse and stumbled across your number, I nearly tossed it away but then decided I wanted to at least call and thank you once again for dinner the other night."

There was only momentary silence. "Well, you're very welcome. But I was hoping we might have dinner again some evening, or just drinks if you'd prefer. Someplace where you'd feel more comfortable perhaps?"

Now it was her turn to be silent as she considered the invitation. She could end it here, or she could take the next step, see where it went. She was still in control, and knew that she could end things at any moment anywhere along the way if she needed to. And besides...Bill was out of town. There might not be a better opportunity for her to find out more about who and what this man really was. And more importantly, did he have anything to do with the key to opening her heart, or was this simply some fantasy that she was dangerously entertaining?

"Perhaps we could meet for a couple of drinks somewhere," she said hesitatingly, letting him know in saying that, that she had no intention of meeting him anywhere else but wherever it was they were to meet for drinks. She would remain in control, and if things got out of hand, or if she felt uncomfortable being with him, she could leave whenever she damn well felt like it.

Brad didn't push it, hearing precisely what she'd implied by agreeing to 'meet' him someplace.

"How about Jared's? Say around nine-ish? You know the place?"

She did. It was one of the more exclusive nightclubs in town. She'd been there once with her husband when he'd been entertaining some clients. But that had been well over a year ago. She'd even asked her husband to take her back there again, just the two of them since the firm had a membership. But he never had.

"Sounds good," she said demurely.

"I'll leave your name at the door," he assured her. "Ask for Michael when you come in, he'll know where I'll be waiting for you."

With that Brad rang off before allowing Miranda to say anything else. Not that she would have, or even balked out in changing her mind in agreement to meet him. But he'd effectively kept her from having that option. Still, she smiled feeling much like the high school girl she'd once been about to go on her first ever prom date.

"Shit!" she exclaimed pulling down the rear-view mirror, checking her appearance, running her fingers briefly through her hair. "What the hell am I going to wear?" she asked herself now glancing at her watch. It was already nearing seven-thirty. She barely had enough time to get home, shower, change and meet him there by nine.

Miranda calmed. "Well, if I'm a little late, so be it. If he really wants to see me, then he'll be there," she mused to herself. She slowed the car back down to just under the speed limit of forty-five. Miranda contemplated what outfit she really would wear, something not too sexy or provocative for sure. But something that would at least hint at the smoldering sensuality just below the surface.

She inched her speed back up to just over fifty arriving home just a short time later.

Miranda found herself hurrying through her preparations even though she'd already told herself she wouldn't. Putting on a fresh coat of lipstick, brushing out her hair one last time, she slipped into something that she felt would be comfortable and unrestrictive yet hinting at the femininity of a woman who was confident in herself. She slipped into one of her sexiest black lace bras.

"Not that he'll ever see it!" she said aloud to herself. But it made her feel sexy just wearing it. And if she felt sexy, she knew she would be. She chose a loose fitting black silk shirt allowing one button more than she might otherwise allow to remain undone. Just enough cleavage showing to hint at the gentle well rounded slope of her breasts. She dabbed a small amount of Obsession between them, "Not that he'll get close enough to that either," she teased herself. "But perhaps the subtlety of the perfumes fragrance might further disarm and entice him in some way," she further considered.

Miranda slipped into a short, but not too short black matching skirt. Though she wore pantyhose, she wore nothing else, putting on a pair of her favorite open-toed heels, though these too were comfortable enough to dance in if they should do that.

She wondered if they would dance. And found herself once again looking forward to the prospect of being held within his arms while they did. Miranda took one last final check of herself, smiled, and glanced at her watch. She'd be there exactly on time.

The place was packed and there was a small line of people who stood outside waiting to get in. Not sure what she was supposed to do, feeling slightly uncomfortable, Miranda walked to the head of the line where one of the bouncers stood slowly letting people in as others left. About to ask for Michael, the bouncer took a closer look at her.

"Would you be Miranda?" he asked. Startled, she nodded her head yes as he undid the rope-chain baring entry, allowing her to pass. "Just inside the door there will be another bouncer," he told her. "He'll point out Michael for you."

"Thank you," she told him and entered inside.

The place hadn't changed much since the last time she'd been here. The atmosphere the same, dimly lit with small candles burning on each of the tables as the only real light source except for on the dance floor, where even there the lights continued changing colors making it difficult to see much or even know for sure who it was you were dancing with. She turned, spotting the bouncer she'd been told to expect sitting on a nearby barstool keeping a watchful eye on the crowd.

"Excuse me, I was told you could point Michael out for me," she told him. He smiled, looking through the throng of people for a moment.

"Over there," he said pointing. "She's wearing the light blue jacket and bow-tie."

Miranda was surprised. She'd assumed that Michael was a man. Heading over towards the longhaired brunette beauty, she felt a pang of jealousy confusing her briefly as there was no reason she should be feeling this way. Brad hadn't indicated that Michael was a girl of course, but there really hadn't been a real reason to unless he thought that her discovery of that might be found to be amusing. It wasn't. Still, she smiled as she approached introducing herself.

"Michael? My name's Miranda. Brad Edwards told me to ask for you."

She was surprised when Michael gave her a warm and friendly smile. "Nice to meet you. Brad's waiting for you, follow me."

Michael crossed over to an upper-stairway, this too security guarded by another tall burley looking man. Seeing their approach, he didn't even hesitate immediately undoing the rope-chain that secured anyone's passing without authorization to the upper level.

Michael led Miranda up a short flight of stairs, pausing at the top extending her hand into the room beyond. Miranda followed the movement spotting Brad as he became aware of them, standing. He smiled. The hint of black light in the ceiling above gave his teeth an almost too white appearance, as was the simple white tee shirt he wore beneath a dark brown suede jacket. He wore Levi's, semi-faded but crisply pressed, penny loafers, no socks. As simply dressed as he was, he looked better than most wearing a tuxedo.

Miranda felt her heart skip a beat even as he waved a 'thank-you' to Michael who was already turning to head back down the stairs.

"Hey!" he told her as she reached him, surprised as he leaned over kissing her lightly on the cheek. "You're beautiful!" he commented, stepping around her, holding her seat.

"Thank you," she said blushing having gotten a quick whiff of Brad's cologne making her head spin with the intoxicating aroma. She spotted what appeared to be a large pitcher of Margaritas along with two large over-sized glasses sitting upside down. Brad picked one up, dipping it quickly in a small bowl before placing it upon another plate full of salt where he then poured her a nice-sized glass.

"How'd you know?"

"Know what?" he responded fixing another drink for himself.

"That I like Margaritas!"

He grinned at her with that same boyish grin she'd seen him give to her before, and again, her heart seemed to flutter inside her chest.

"Ve have vour vays!" he replied in a mock imitation of a poorly done German accent.

"No really? How'd you know?" she asked once again with a nagging thought that had no real basis for making her nervous or leery that he should know, could know something like that.

"Good guess?" he said teasingly. "You just looked like a Margarita person. I like them myself actually. But if you'd prefer something else, I'll be glad to call down and order whatever you'd like!" Only then did Miranda realize there was a small phone placed upon the wall next to them, which he'd begun to reach for. She also noticed that they were also the only people sitting on the balcony overlooking the dance floor below.

"No, that's fine. I do like these," she said taking a sip. "Hmm, good too. Just the way I like them!"

Even as she took another sip of her drink, she noted the appreciative scrutiny Brad gave her with his eyes though careful not to linger too long in any one area.

"So, how'd you manage this?" she asked looking about the small balcony area that had seating perhaps for a dozen or so couples.

"V.I.P. area," he announced casually. "That and a few extra bucks to ensure we had some privacy for a little while at least," he said winking at her.

Miranda felt her cheeks redden slightly.

"Would you like to dance?" he asked suddenly catching her by surprise. The music from one of her favorite artists was playing, slow...sensual.

"Ok!" she responded without even thinking about it. Once again Brad stood coming around from behind to take her chair as she scooted herself out. Miranda began to head towards the stairs.

"Where you going?" Miranda turned, saw Brad as he stepped up onto a small platform, which was obviously a private, intimate dance floor. The primary source of black-lighting now bathing him in its effervescent glow as he stood there beckoning to her like a ghostly apparition as strobes began to slowly pulsate to the melodic beat of the sensual, passionate music. She all but floated across the floor towards him finally accepting his hand as he pulled her into his arms. She felt one strong firm arm securely wrap itself about her waist, the other pressed lightly against the small of her back already beginning to caress her as they began swaying together slowly, magically.

"This is nice, really nice," she whispered, though there was of course no need for her to have done so.

Placing her own arms up and about his neck, she leaned in towards him, her head resting comfortably against his neck, the smell of his cologne once again assailing her senses, causing her a headiness as she drew the scent of his maleness, and the spicy fragrance acting as a perfect balance to his refreshing smell. Miranda felt the press of her firm breasts against his chest, felt each of her tender nipples respond of their own accord as she stood there slowly moving against him. The occasional brush of his leg, his thigh against her, a teasing reminder of just how close they held one another, surprised that she felt no guilt, no remorse at dancing this close, this intimately with a man she had just barely met, never even knew really. And yet, she felt as though she had known him for a life-time, picturing herself lying next to him intimately, romantically in front of a toasty warm fire, glasses of wine sitting near by, and the sound of music, this song perhaps, playing subtly in the background.

"I enjoy the way you dance," she again whispered.

"I enjoy the way you feel," he answered huskily.

Miranda didn't even realize the song had quit playing until the sound of yet another song reached her ears. This one had more of an up-beat tempo to it though, making it awkwardly impossible to continue dancing together the way that they had been. Brad however had seemingly taken no notice of it either, continuing to hold her, still lightly, softly caressing the small of her back. She felt his fingers still tracing intricate patterns through the material of her blouse, causing a sea of goose bumps to crash in waves against her.

"Ah, the songs ended," she announced as though waking from a dream. Only then did he release her stepping back slightly away from her. She took that as a sign that they were to head back towards their table, especially as he reached out once again taking her hand in his. She began to step off the platform, suddenly drawn back towards him as the extension of his arm ran out. With surprising strength, he pulled her back in towards him, where she met him suddenly. His lips coming down upon hers, she...greeting and accepting his when they did. Her mind reeled, swimming in a sea of ecstasy as their tongues suddenly began to dance playfully against one another. The taste of his lips upon hers, drawing in her lower lip to gently suckle, chew before again fencing with her tongue. Likewise, she gave in to the erotic little game they were playing. Locating his upper lip with hers, licking him, kissing, then chewing on his lip softly and tenderly.

"Whew! Oh my God!" Miranda finally exclaimed coming back somewhat to her senses. "I think...I could use another drink," she stated purposely withdrawing her hand from his before he could pull her back, heading almost too quickly back towards their table where he followed. Arriving just in time to help her back into her seat, he bent over planting the softest of kisses upon her neck. She felt every square inch of her body respond to that, especially her femininity that responded in ways she'd not felt now in years.

"I'll be right back," he informed her. "There's something I want to give to you," he stated giving her hand an affectionate squeeze before slipping away heading back down the stairs and out of view.

Miranda quickly poured herself a second Margarita having finished the first without the elaborate process of adding any salt. She took a long healthy pull on it until her thirst was momentarily quenched, though the thirst for something else had only begun with the raging fires of desire making her all to aware of her predicament. She caught herself fingering a button on her blouse, felt as it came undone, wondering as it did why she had done so and contemplated briefly redoing it. Only then did she brush the tiny chain holding the miniature key about her neck. She reached for it instead and held it between her fingers, smiling, wondering.

Miranda looked quickly about. She could see no restrooms on this floor and knew she would have to head downstairs in order to find one. A bit of soft tissue strategically placed would prevent any embarrassing moments as the desire between her legs continue to escalate and present itself. "Worse comes to worse," she mused. "I think there were also some hygiene products in the women's room last time I was here," she considered.

The sound of Brad's return quickly reached her ears. She turned within her seat to face him as he approached, his hands behind his back, the boyish grin upon his face telling her that he did indeed have a surprise for her.

"Pick one," he said giving her what appeared to be some sort of a choice.

Miranda giggled, thought for a moment then pointed towards his left hand. "That one!"

Brad frowned as though she'd picked incorrectly, then allowed his face to explode in excited anxiousness as he brought his hand back around in front of himself, there enclosed a beautiful pure white perfect budded rose. "For you," he said extending it to her to smell. Miranda accepted it, doing so. Delighted at the soft perfumed aroma that came from the tiny perfect white bud.

"Pick another one," he said again, one hand still held behind his back giving her no other options.

Again she grinned, "Ok, the right one!"

Once again Brad held out his hand. This time she saw what appeared to be a tiny light blue box with a bit of delicate lace ribbon wrapped around it. Curiously, she accepted the gift without even acknowledging to him that she was grateful.

"Go ahead, open it!" he urged excitedly. She did. Inside, a tiny intricately fashioned box greeted her. She fished it out, opening the lid. A velveteen pad inside the tiny box. "It's for your key, someplace to keep it safe whenever you're not wearing it," he explained. "I thought you might like something like that," he added.

"Yes, thank you, I do!" she said happily, still surprised that he would think of such a thing to give her, but answering her unasked question simultaneously. The box certainly wasn't antique, newly made though exquisitely designed. Obviously Brad had stepped into that store in search for something, found nothing, and had simply left.

"You really like it?"

By way of an answer, Miranda stood once again coming into his arms. This time she kissed him even more deeply, more passionately if that was possible. They held their kiss for a long time, once again their tongues exploring, caressing one another until each was left breathless, panting from the erotic foreplay of their lips and mouths so hungrily needful of one another.

This time when Brad began to pull away, she held him close to her unwilling to let him go. Surprised by the sudden show of continued affection, he nuzzled her neck kissing her there, feeling the tiny bumps spring forth as he lightly licked and tickled each one with the tip of his tongue.

Miranda felt Brad's hand as it slowly circled, caressing the small of her back. She felt his fingers gently weave intricate patterns as they began working their way further down until they began to dance on the floor of her ass. Miranda allowed his adventure, reveling in the sensation of so intimate a contact. His continued explorations of her throat with his lips sending shivers of pleasure coursing through her entire being.​