Forgiveness

He sat across the fire from her, beer in hand watching as she talked up a storm with her best friend.

The party had been in full swing for hours and it was taking quite a bit of liquid courage to just go over and say hello to her.

She had glanced at him a few times, she smiled and made small talk with him throughout night but there was just something about her, he wanted to sit next to her while he held her hand as he listened to every word she had to say.

He noticed the way her fingers slid around the whiskey bottle she was drinking, the way she poured another glass for herself on ice the way she savored it like it was the first taste.

Her girlfriend told a joke that made her laugh too loudly over the roar of the other party people.

She was still young he had found out, just turned thirty-six, but her silver hair was deceiving as it framed a much younger face.

The curves of her body were soft as the dress she wore hugged them just right. Those perfect legs, the color of porcelain were long slender meeting a perfectly curved backside that he dreamed about nightly since meeting her.

Those green eyes that pierced into him when they found small moments to sit alone and talk with each other were all he could think about in the dark hours late at night.

Then he remembered the last time they were together.

How she got too drunk, how she yelled at him embarrassing him in front of everyone in the room.

How she stormed out that night leaving him to feel like he wasn't good enough for her.

"I love you, very much. There isn't anything I would deny you if you asked it of me."

He told her this in the hopes she felt the same way, but she didn't feel emotion like a normal human, she never showed any emotion other than rage and self-pity it seemed.

He watched as her best friend got up to get herself another drink leaving her to stare into the fire without so much as a word to anyone else around her.

That purple dress made her green eyes stand out more when she looked up to see him staring at her.

There was so much sadness there, guilt and shame as adequately as the last time she had yelled at him.

Oh, what he would give to hold her hand one more time.

She prayed silently for her best girlfriend to hurry up and come back with her drink.

He was staring again and it was making her feel anxious because he hadn't said anything to her since that night she got mad for no reason.

Her mouth watered at the sight of him, his scent was carried over the fire calling her like a lost ship in the night.

Oh how she longed for that man, how she wanted nothing more than to climb into his lap and undress him like the most precious gift she had ever received.

Her legs grew weak at the thought, his blond hair, his intense blue eyes hidden behind glasses.

She wondered how far he could see if she removed them. Not that she cared how far he could see without them because she would be sitting in their place.

He was always a gentleman, was always dressed in his finest vest and tie. A tie she very much wanted to loosen and show her many knot skills.

She smiled as he moved over to sit next to her, probably in what he thought was stealthy but being as tall as he was certain people took notice. But she didn't care anymore who saw them.

She craved everything from this man, she hungered to lay slow sweet kisses across his chest and along the side of his neck.

To hear him moan her name would be the sweetest of music as she imaged her hands running the length of his body.

"I didn't think you would want to speak to me again." Her look was sly over the rim of her glass as she took another long slow sip.

His gaze went to the fire with a smile on his lips as he took her hand kissing it, his lips lingering a little longer than maybe they should have.

"I'm sorry. You deserve a better friend than what I can offer you."

He looked up at her, noting the tears that were starting to form there. He sighed as he pulled her into his lap not caring what the other people around them would say.

She placed her hands on his chest feeling the strength and warmth that pulsed causing heat to rise deep within her core.

Fear and excitement filled her green eyes as his long slender fingers traced over her face while the other hand slid gently around her waist holding her in place.

Long moments passed and a hush fell over the group. The silence was defining as everyone waited to see what would happen next.

"Do you want to get out of here? Maybe go somewhere more private so we can talk?"

His words were kind as she found her fingers starting to ache with the urge to slowly unbutton his shirt and reach beneath it.

"I don't feel much like talking right now." Her voice was little more than a whisper as she swallowed to clear the dry patch that had started to form in her throat.

His stair was intense, more so than usual. As if he could see deep within her soul and know exactly what she was thinking of doing once the two of them were alone.

He smiled at her response, a little devil forming in his eye with a spark.

"That's ok, I'm not much for conversation right now myself." He kissed her palm as he led her away from the fire and into a starry night made just for them.