Niles can't believe that this is happening. He and Daphne want each other desperately, so much that they are about to jump each other in his car. If she hadn't suggested to go to his home, with the glorious prospect of spending the rest of the night making love passionately without restrictions, without any rush or fear of being caught by anyone, by now he'd be rubbing her over her black lace panties (he's had a glimpse of them while he's been stroking her thigh and the flimsy, partially see-through garment leaves little to the imagination; his heart has almost stopped at the sight) until bringing her to completion with his fingers, but he's held back barely. Oh, he's dying to give her as many orgasms as she can endure. He's already half mad with the anticipation of witnessing her reactions when she comes undone with his good offices.
Niles has always been a fast learner and a keen observer with regard to human behavior, and that extends to the bedroom. He learns very quickly what his bed partner's needs are, what she likes and what she dislikes. That's a combination of watching attentively her facial expressions, paying attention to the sounds she makes, to the things she says, to her body language. Maybe he's not a prodigy of strength or physical prowess, he's the complete opposite of the sports type, of the gym's rat. But he's secretly proud of what he can achieve concerning matters of the flesh when a woman allows him the chance. Even Maris, in the extremely scarce occasions she was in the mood (practically during the totality of their marriage sex had become more wishful thinking than a reality; in the end Niles had finally opened his eyes to the sad disappointment that sex deprivation had been one of her ways of manipulating him), she was sometimes carried away by his undeniable skill. But in the rare occurrence that she gave in, she almost always kicked him out immediately afterwards, leaving him frustrated and unfulfilled, and he was ashamed to admit that he'd often resorted to grovelling, begging her to physically tend to him, to give him scraps of affection. He'd discovered very soon in their relationship that the thing that aroused her the most (and almost exclusively) was him begging her and humiliating himself. And he, grateful because finally a woman found him attractive as a man, or that he naively believed (girls hadn't ever queued up to be with him) had unconsciously discarded the fact that it had all been a terribly toxic arrangement from the start, and had lacked any kind of respect and love on her part. Or a healthy, equally reciprocated love at least, though he at present was certain that love had been almost entirely one-sided.
Maris had been the much older woman and he the young, virgin man when they'd first met. She was hunting for a coney with untouched flesh and a desperate need to be accepted and loved, and Niles had been the ideal prey. She'd nailed her claws deep into his soul and skin and turned him into her willing puppet and slave. She taught him all about giving pleasure to a woman but offered very little in return. Never enough. She, as the sadist she was, had enjoyed unhealthily receiving all his attentions whereas she rarely returned the favors.
All that had undermined his self-confidence and self- esteem for years and years. He'd exerted himself to satisfy her (an impossible deed) in the belief that in the end, his dedication would earn him Maris's full love.
Of course, it was all a tall tale and a complete waste. He's so relieved now that he's left her spiderweb behind for good. Let her rot in hell for all eternity.
But something good has come out of his wretched marriage, and it's that, as soon as he's got rid of Maris's pernicious influence, he's become absolutely confident that he's a great lover. He's shown it to the few sexual partners he's had since his separation, among whom Lilith ended up being his most shameful secret, but sleeping with her was also a strange form of liberation, they were both hurt and with their self-esteem low at that stage of their lives and sex between them had been like a sort of catharsis, a bridge toward self-affirmation. Afterwards, they'd both gone back to their routines with their heads higher. Not that Lilith needed much more in that regard, the shrew she usually was.
Right this moment he's so eager to show to Daphne, the love of his life, the depth of his devotion. For the last time, he mentally gives Maris the finger and thanks her for, unintentionally and in her warped way, having helped him become the most devoted and attentive lover. Every cloud has a silver lining.
The ride back to the Montana has been an exquisite feast of foreplay. The sight of Daphne has turned him practically into a caveman, while she's tried to focus on driving the Mercedes, absolutely sexy, a vision of rich hair, plump lips, red dress, an enticing amount of bare skin and with her right leg on display in those almost invisible stockings with lace on the top. He, with her full acquiescence, started to caress the extension of leg he's been able to reach, especially the thigh. He's been on the verge of short-circuiting at the feel of its softness and firmness and the hint of muscle underneath. Niles has watched carefully and, at her mounting arousal, he's become bolder, venturing his fingers further and further. He stopped breathing for a moment when he found the lace, hidden just above the point where the slit of the dress begins. He's sensed the changes in her breathing, how she's held back a couple of moans. Niles wants her unrestrained and wild before tonight ends, and he's been aiming for it slowly, bidding his time, step by step, winning each inch of flesh together with her unbridled lust. He's been so close to her most intimate region, almost there but avoiding it on purpose, aware of the effect that has on her.
If she'd decided to have him then and there, on his car seats, he would have gone with the flow happily, of course, but that's not truly what any of them wants for their first time with each other, he can tell. The full potential of their first sexual consummation asks for much, much more than a quickie in his car with most their clothes on and at risk of being spotted. That might do for future trysts, and in fact, the idea is highly erotic. The limited space, the fumbling, the creativity to find the right positions and ways of touching and moving against each other, the thrill of semi-public sex, with the risk of being seen by some passerby, though he's sure that he'd die of embarrassment if that actually happened; of course he wouldn't truly ever want to be spotted having sex, or for Daphne to be exhibited or debased like that, exposed to public censorship. Needless to say, they'd never do that where someone might easily catch them.
But well, that's a story for another day. For now, he's focused on lavishing his love with his attentions.
"Wait a minute, sweetheart," he asks, and quickly unbuckles his safety belt and opens the passenger door to run for her side of the car, in order to open the driver's door for her. He catches a glimpse of her smile, and is once more secretly thrilled that she loves those small gentlemanly gestures. He's endlessly going to bestow the best upon her for as long as she lets him, the rest of their lives if he'll be so lucky, he swears to himself.
He reaches for her hand and helps her get out of the vehicle. He's always admired the way a beautiful woman sets foot on the ground when she gets out of a car. The heart-stopping legs go first (he has a fixation with long, shapely legs, especially after his first tango with Daphne at the Snow Ball) and then he can feast on her hair, her face and her bosom. The backside goes last, but it's not less enticing than the rest of the womanly attributes. He could be staring at a round butt for hours on end.
Daphne is a vision while she steps outside, all legs and hips and slim waist, her loose hair moving freely, her face flushed with excitement, her small perky breasts hinted under the fabric, and finally, when they start walking to the building's gate, her bottom. He's daydreamed of fondling those buttocks so many times that he lost count very long ago.
Niles opens the gate and guides her, still holding her hand, toward his apartment. They remain quiet. It's late and they are mindful of his neighbors' rest.
Now the place feels complete with Daphne in it as his girlfriend. If it was home before (the first home he's had entirely to himself) now it's gaining a new dimension, because it's going to become his love nest with her. He's brought women here before, but none of them has left their mark on him or in the place, so it's as if they've never been here. And anyway, Daphne outshines everyone else and every memory he has of his past flings.
He invites her to get into the living room, suddenly nervous. Now they're in his personal territory and he hopes that everything is to her liking and that she doesn't found anything important lacking. And the most important of all is that she feels comfortable and relaxed, that she starts to consider it her own home as well.
"Would you fancy something to eat? A drink? Champagne?," he asks, because he remembers how much she likes champagne.
"Now that I don't have to drive anymore, I wouldn't say no to champagne, as a matter of fact," she answers with a naughty smile that reignites his inner fire.
"Please, sit down while I bring you the drink. Make yourself at home," he offers, making a beeline for the dry bar. "I'd put on some music, but I'm afraid the neighbors would have something to say about that at this hour," he quips.
"Silence is underrated," she quips back.
He chuckles. "I agree. Too much noise everywhere nowadays. The world has turned into a more noisy place with the development of technology." He prepares a tray with two flutes, leaving it on the counter, and then goes to the kitchen to retrieve the champagne bottle from the refrigerator, as well as a pack of ice from the freezer. He fills the ice bucket with the ice and introduces the bottle. Finally, he puts some strawberries into a bowl and carries it all in a couple of trips to the coffe table in front of the fainting couch, where Daphne is waiting.
"Here you're, my lady. Your server is here to tend to your every whim."
She giggles and the sound warms his heart.