Chapter 2 – Six soft white pillows

She hadn't expected him to call. Hoped, but not expected. She had been doing this long enough to know a one night stand when she saw one, and John had all the signs. He was so smooth, so very practiced. Sandra was almost certain he had charmed many, many women in to his bed over the years. But only almost certain, because there was something about him. Something about the way he treated her, the way he was with her, that made her think that there was something between them. Something, well, special.

It wasn't just that he'd called. It's that he'd called the following morning – during the morning adjournment she would later learn – and asked her for dinner that evening. Now that was unexpected, but not unwelcome. And then more phone calls, flowers, drinks and dinners. She was starting to think that this could be turning into something serious.

She was even starting to get comfortable in what had to be the biggest bed she had ever seen. It was like a queen with another single pushed along side of it. More than a king, surely? Sandra wasn't sure, but it was a ridiculous bed for a normal sized man. It fit three pillows lengthways along it. John, had two of each; six soft white pillows. What kind of bachelor had six soft white pillows on his bed?

What bothered her was that she knew so little about John or his background. She had no frame of reference. She'd watched him interact with barmaids and waitresses (usually a pretty reliable indication of how a man would eventually treat you, in Sandra's experience), but that was it. Sandra had always been inclined to think the worse of people and situations. It was partly her job – always seeing people at their worst – but it was also her experience of people. So she was having difficulty with a man who didn't disappoint her. Who really did seem to be interested. And attentive. They went to restaurants she liked, and movies she wanted to see. It really felt like he was happy doing what made her happy. She wasn't used to feeling like this, but she knew she liked it.

Sandra lay on her side, arm under her head and watched John sleep. He lay on his back, arms by his side, breathing evenly. Sandra lifted her hand and brought it down close to John's chest. So close that she could feel the warmth of him and the coarseness of his chest hair, but not his skin, as she didn't want to wake him. Except, that she did.

It worked. John opened one eye. The eye closest to her. And a smile flickered. "I'm glad you're still here."
"Oh yes." Said Sandra. "why is that, I wonder?" Sandra said as she eliminated the gap between her hand and John's chest, and shuffled closer.
John closed the remaining distance between them, so their entire bodies were touching. "Because I was hoping for a favour"
"Well, I operate on a quid pro quo basis." Sandra said, a smile dancing on her lips as she knew what was to come.
"And what would that involve?" John moved a hand from his side to Sandra's thigh, under the sheets.
"You're a lawyer, surely you know enough Latin to understand quid pro quo." John propped himself up on his free elbow, his away arm so that his body was tilted towards hers. He moved his face closer to Sandra's, inch by inch.
"Isn't that something to do with back scratching? "
"You're on the right track"
"How's this" John asked as he reached around and placed his fingertips ever so lightly on the small of Sandra's back.
"Getting warmer"
"And this? " More pressure this time, as John's arm drew Sandra in closer.

Sandra couldn't think of anything she wanted to say more than she wanted John's lips on hers. So she narrowed the small gap between their lips. But just before she got there, John pulled back a touch.
"No, no. Favour first"
"What?" Sandra had no patience for pleasantries.
"There's this cocktail party next Saturday. Will you accompany me? "
"Of course" Sandra said, not managing to keep the frustration out of her voice. She moved forward. Once again John moved back.

"In the interests of full disclosure…"
Now he had Sandra's attention. She leaned back and looked John in the eye.
"What?" The same word she uttered only moments before, but said a very different way. "What's the catch?"
"It's at George's. Some fancy thing. Not really my scene, but I should be seen there. And it's much too boring to go by myself. So I'd like you to come. It could be fun…." He let the last sentence trail off. Neither of them really believed it was true.

So, some old friend's fancy cocktail thing. Who cares thought Sandra? "Of course I'll go with you." Sandra smiled at him, touched that he'd thought she might say no. "Now back to the quid pro quo". There was no doubting that John had skills, and Sandra wasn't about to miss out on his part of the deal.

"One more thing. George is my ex-wife." This time John closed the gap between them quickly, leaving Sandra with no time or space for anything but the moment.