Luna’s new schedule at the hospital meant that Thursdays were no longer an option for a visit. Although the children were with Steven, she was working until late at night and wouldn’t have sexual energy after the long day. Both of us had known that she might lose Thursday nights, but it was deflating nonetheless. Luna felt bad that there were fewer opportunities for us to be together and that she wasn’t comfortable inviting me to her house when there were only small amounts of time. For Luna, there was just too much risk. It had become clear to me that no offer to introduce me to the children was going to happen. Was that the beginning of the end?
A way to compromise and feel better was to invite me for a dinner which could happen on an evening when the children were home doing school work. They were old enough to be left alone for a couple of hours while we had a dinner date. I was certain that she would lie about who she was going to be with for dinner. With no other option available, I accepted the offer and knew that I would be happy to be in Luna’s company, even though it wouldn’t include any naked time. Our relationship was more than just sexual and we hungered for the sounds and smells of each other. Having a dinner together would be a special occasion and I totally trusted Luna’s taste when it came to food.
In a town only ten minutes from her house, she knew a small restaurant that made tapas that weren’t all Spanish food. I hadn’t eaten in that type of place before and was excited to have an eating adventure that would include being with Luna. We made a plan to meet at the restaurant at 7:30 PM and she would be able to be with me for almost two hours. My mood for the rest of the week improved with a Luna date on my calendar.
I arrived at the restaurant 15 minutes ahead of the scheduled time. I was anxious to be with her and didn’t want to lose even a minute of our two hours together. I was wearing jeans and a colorful shirt with a black leather jacket to keep me warm. Even though it was chilly outside in the February air, I kept a watchful look for the silver SUV. Luna arrived right on schedule which made sense since she was only living ten minutes away.
I hurried to the car and met her as soon as she exited from the vehicle. I needed to feel her warm lips on mine. “Oh, your cheeks are cold,” she commented as our faces came together for the first time in weeks. She smiled knowing that I had waited outside, hungry for any time that I could get. The red lips were warm with love and I felt my loins naturally respond in her presence. I had to calm down that part of my anatomy which wouldn’t get to have any play time tonight.
“Let’s get inside,” Luna instructed and I knew that she was already concerned about time. Her busy life was full of anxieties and I wouldn’t have any way of calming them tonight. I held her around the waist as we walked the short distance to the front door of the restaurant. I opened the door and ushered Luna inside where the change in temperature frosted my glasses requiring their removal from my chilled face.
The interior of the restaurant was dark wood and shining glass with diminished lighting. The busy kitchen was visible to the attendees and the bright whites of the chef coats bounced the overhead lighting in the kitchen making it the brightest place in the restaurant. All of the staff was under 30 and most of the diners were over 40. It was another good contrast in the environment.
We were directed to a small wooden booth and rather than sit opposite Luna I chose to sit next to her on the banquette side. I wanted to feel her body next to me rather than just look across the table. Our coats came off and Luna exposed the casual clothes that she wore. The children wouldn’t have a clue that she was on a date with a man. The smiling red lips cheered my soul and warmed me more than the temperature of the restaurant. She had probably applied the lipstick in the car. I was so happy to be with Luna.
The menus were extensive and the specials were written on a nearby chalkboard. “You should choose three things. It’ll be enough to make a meal,” she directed. I had already decided that the pork belly dish was on my list and Luna declared that it was a favorite. I also decided to get the fish taco and Luna again complimented the choice since she was having one of those as well. I didn’t order a third item at that time because I wanted to see how the first two were. It turned out to be a good idea since the fish taco was so delicious, I knew that I wanted another one after just the first bite. The thick piece of fish nestled into the soft corn taco shell was sweet but covered in a spicy habanero and avocado sauce. On top was the crunch of brined vegetables that stimulated the insides of my cheeks. It was a marvelous combination.
Although the food was wonderful, I was there to eat up Luna more than the tapas. I kept the focus of the conversation on her with school and hospital questions. The work was hard and long and she was challenged by the amount of time and the personality of her nurse mentor. I did the best I could to be supportive, reminding Luna of all the great qualities she possessed that made her a perfect fit for this work. She loved the patients she worked on and was always very respectful of their space and needs.
I also asked about the children and learned of their successes in school which made for a proud mother. I avoided asking about the husband and the failures she had told me about in texting. Luna was still required in court appearances and dealing with lawyers when he didn’t provide the child support that the court had directed. She was clear that the system worked in his favor and it frustrated her in the attempts to protect and provide for the children.
The food had arrived promptly giving us time to linger over a second cup of green tea after we had stuffed our faces with spicy food. Luna ordered a piece of lemon cake and insisted that I needed to taste it. She was correct that it was well made from fresh lemons and butter. The cake had a lemon glaze instead of icing which enhanced the total flavor of the cake and slightly puckered our cheeks with its tartness.
I had done a good job of keeping my mind from wandering into sexual thoughts, but as we relaxed after the meal, I could no longer refrain from undressing Luna in my visual cortex. I knew every inch of soft flesh and my lips wanted to taste all of her parts, especially the succulent nipples and arousing pussy. I wanted to see Luna’s hair mussed and resting on one of the pillows of my bed. Unfortunately, my musing was the finale to the meal and not to be realized in the flesh.
Luna paid the bill and covered her body with the black coat she had arrived in. My mental undressing was finished and my energy level dropped. I didn’t want that to be the end of the evening and I changed my thoughts as we walked to the car which was in a dark part of the parking lot. I pushed Luna back up against the car and took the lips that I had wanted to taste during the meal. I pressed my lips hard against hers and lightly licked the opening. The lemon taste had lingered there and it was a contrast to the red color of the lipstick.
Luna was slightly shocked by my aggressive move but relaxed back against the side of the car and let me take the pleasure that I needed. Perhaps she also needed some arousal but no arms reached around to pull me closer into her body covered in many layers of clothing. I wanted to bite her pale neck and leave a red mark to say that I had been there, but I knew that that would cross a line and be unwelcome.
I pulled back and looked into her multicolored eyes and said, “I love you.” There was a short pause before Luna provided the usual response of, “I love you too.” Perhaps she was just tired or perhaps the level of love was decreasing. Perhaps we were already envisioning a period when she would not have enough time for me and I would become frustrated and annoyed. Luna had warned me early on in our relationship that that time would come and perhaps she knew that we were already in the beginning of the end.
“Talk to you later,” came the parting words as she slipped into the car and closed the door. I might have heard or imagined a serious exhale as the keys turned on the engine. I didn’t have a response and chose to just smile and wave to her parting face as the car backed out of the parking spot. I felt my smile drop as the taillights pulled further away. There was no escaping the feeling of loss and concern for our unknown future.