Counting Down (closed for AveryElle)

[AlpineFresco]

Henry’s left shoulder ached, felt like he hadn’t moved it in years. Odd. He stretched, tried to loosen it. The elevator rumbled more than might be expected for a venue like this, as it descended from the fourth floor, where he’d been most of the day.

The convention halls had been busy, and he thought perhaps it should have felt more fun. These things had only just started up again, and he’d been able to get out, meet some colleagues, find new clients. It wasn’t really registering for him, though. He still felt tired from the flight, and normally after a day like this he’d have been looking forward to getting back to the hotel, ordering room service, and soaking in the tub. Peace, quiet, and space.

But not this time.

<ding> Ground floor. Henry strode out into the lobby, and headed for the exit. He took out his phone, sent her a message.

I’m done here, heading out. Be at the cafe.

His heart pounded as he hit Send. He hadn’t seen Rachel in a long time, but he’d never been able to get her out of his mind. Never wanted to, truth be told. He felt his trousers tighten a bit, and half-smirked to himself at his body’s reaction to knowing she was close by. Ah, fuck, he could almost taste her already, and his eyes half-closed as he became lost in the sense-memories of her.

The traffic light sounding off snapped him back to the moment. He checked his phone again - 15 minutes to walk to the cafe. Butterflies were making themselves known in his stomach. He didn’t want to show anything, but… he might have looked calm, but he sure as hell didn’t feel it.

 

[AveryElle]

It was impossible for Rachel to focus on the task at hand - organizing the first real, in-person event in what felt like forever. She honestly did care about the event, which was only an excuse to get away and be able to finally see Henry, whom she hadn't seen since well before the world shut down. There were plans, of course. Plans ruined by circumstances well outside their control. The months dragged on, the bed restraints and colorful candles waiting to drip their wax on her had collected dust, almost mocking her during the endless weeks of solitude.

She needed his lips and hands. The glances from across the room that could melt her.

She felt her phone buzz in her jacket pocket and it jerked her back to reality.

I’m done here, heading out. Be at the cafe.

It was frustrating that he wouldn't just meet her in the hotel lobby or the room, but it was instead public where he knew Rachel would be impatient, where his holding her hand or his hand on her knee, would make the waiting even worse. After all this time, she was greedy.

She excused herself to the bathroom of the conference hall to freshen up and make sure she looked acceptable enough. Adjusted her stockings, brushed her hair, put on a fresh coat of dark red lipstick, and pop a few mints. She considered removing her panties, but knew he'd want to feel how damp they were when they were finally alone. She knew he liked evidence.

 

[AlpineFresco]

Henry’s mind was racing. It had felt like forever. Hell, it had felt like forever 5 minutes after he’d said goodbye the last time, boarding the train to take him to the airport. That had been one of the most difficult journeys he’d ever taken.

He kept walking. Curiously, he still remembered parts of the city. Not somewhere he’d been often, but certainly places he’d walked with her, listening to her telling him about the history of the place, his attention honestly mostly on the sound of her voice and how beautiful she was. And yet, he remembered.

Across the street, he saw the cafe. His heart’s pounding, and the sound of his shoes on the pavement - these suddenly seemed so very loud, enough to drown out the traffic and chattering of the people around. OK, was she there? He couldn’t see at first glance, but as he pushed the door open… oh god. There she was, at a table in the corner, no mistaking the dark and purples in her hair. And then she looked up and saw him.

A smile crept across his face as they locked eyes. Fuck, those eyes… his breath caught, as it always did every time she sent a selfie, every time they’d video-called, but this, in person was something else. And she’d given her lips a lovely rich red coating. He made a note to test the staying power of that later…

No, pace this, he told himself. With a considerable force of will he made himself pull his gaze away, and step to the counter. He ordered a tea, and then slowly, purposefully, made his way to her table, calmly taking a seat opposite Rachel. She pushed her laptop to the side, shifted slightly in her seat. He leaned forwards, left arm on the table, right arm underneath to rest his hand on her knee.

With more intensity than he’d intended, with feeling he couldn’t hold back, he said quietly, “It’s been too fucking long.”

 

[AveryElle]

She's always known the first kiss after such a long separation could be an odd yet magical mixture of anxiety, nervousness, and perfection. She tilted her head up and softly smiled, waiting for those delicious lips to touch hers. It was a coffee shop - one she frequented, too. Not the place to devour him in the proper way she had wanted. But all the same, when his lips met hers, she let out a soft groan of relief. If nothing else, she needed his kiss. Before breaking it, he bit her lower lip. In response, he could feel her lips curve up in a grin.

"So, my darling, how was your day?" Henry said in such a way it sounded like one big exhale of relief.

"Typical. You know my boss - such a fucking pointless pain in the ass. Luckily, I had you to look forward to all day, even if it was a bit of a distraction!".

"Speaking of pains in the ass..." Henry laughed, gripping her leg just above her knee more firmly. He released, and sat up a little straighter. She liked thinking it might not be easy for to sit comfortably at all right now, just as was the case for her.

They caught up on their respective professional days, and it was as lovely as it was painful. There was a perfectly lovely hotel room waiting for them not too far away, but it was also so nice to just be together after all this time apart. Seeing him smiling eyes in real time, his smirks without a screen and skype delay. Along with the coffee cups on the table, their hands touching across the table. At one point, she caught herself closing her eyes, relishing in his finger tip running along the lines of her palm. How had she survived this long without his touch?

 

[AlpineFresco]

When their lips had touched, it had been like a bolt of energy through him. Her kiss, it felt as if her breath filled his lungs, leaving him feeling alive and complete again. He couldn’t resist a bite, though. She tasted just… perfect. As she always had. Sweet and hot, hungry, a heady combination.

It was a strange sensation, to be pulled in different directions - to watch Rachel, to want to hear everything she had to say, to want to go into the city with her, to want to tear her clothes off right there, throw her over the table. Damned public. Always getting in the way. But there was time, and Henry was a patient man. Ish.

“I want to go back to the hotel,” he said. He’d checked in before heading to his work, left some things in the room. “Come with me,” he continued, the corners of his mouth twitching in a smile he wasn’t really trying too hard to hold down, “but… just to freshen up. For dinner. Out. Something light.” Did her eyebrows twitch, just slightly? Good, he thought. She can wait, a while longer. Yes, sitting was getting very uncomfortable, but standing would present its own challenges of decorum.

And through their conversation, with the exception of pauses to take a sip, or a glance around at the rest of the cafe - moderately busy - he kept on touching her - fingertips down her hands, hand on her knee, gentle strokes down her cheek with his knuckle.

The drinks were all but done now, and she was shifting, just a bit, in her seat. Rachel set her coffee cup down on the table, as his hand crept a little further up her thigh. And then further still. Ah, that was as far as he could reach without being a bit too blatant. They locked eyes.

“Now?” she asked.
“Now. I’ll settle up and we’ll go.”

<edit: I think this SRP needs a DNR notice on it>