He watched her in the kitchen. She moved with purpose, gathered ingredients and appeared to be doing fifteen things at once. He witnessed this ritual of an elaborate brunch after a leisurely morning in bed on each of their 23 anniversaries. Rather than guess which steps belonged to which process, his mind wandered.
They were sitting at a table with a stiff black tablecloth. The maître d’ had popped the napkin before spreading it across her lap. His eyes had lingered on where the tops of her silk stockings peeped from the hemline of her crimson cocktail dress.
The malbec-petit verdot was slightly dry and full-bodied. It complemented the beef bourguingnon. It also made him want to make phallic jokes about the asparagus spears. The blush it brought to her face convinced him her innocence would be compromised by such juvenile utterances. Instead, he silently drank in the way she gingerly put small morsels into her mouth past lips as red as her dress.
When the dessert cart came, he was delighted she accepted the waiter’s offer of whipped cream. He intently watched the way the tip of her tongue caressed her lips, even though she hid behind her napkin to do it. The excitement eroded his patience for cognac, coffee and conversation.
Holding hands across the console on the way to the symphony, he had no idea what the topic of conversation had been since the main course. She laughingly chided him for not listening. Even if he could not remember the last thing she said, he assured her he was listening to every word.
He could precisely recall the angle of her crossed ankles where the straps were clasped with tiny silver buckles. For a cloudy moment, he wondered how his fingers could be delicate enough to remove them. His carnal answer: Leave them on.
At the cloak room, her stole slid effortlessly off her shoulders. When she turned her head, he had to resist the urge to bite in the curve of her neck as his hand found her waist. He hoped the performance would not be stirring, as he needed no added accelerant. Holding her hand through the concert would be a must to keep his from roaming.
Her opera glasses to her face, she leaned forward toward the balcony rail. His line of vision was into her cleavage. For the first time, he was annoyed at the other couple who shared the box. His thoughts were on what privacy would hold away from their whispered chitchat.
In the elevator, he kissed her. The doors opened and closed on their floor, and the car descended back to the lobby. When an elderly man entered, he smiled knowingly. He had been young once. She blushed. After he got off on the eighth floor, she put one finger over puckered lips to signal, “Wait.”
The room key slid through the lock, and he swept her from her feet to carry her into the room. With her arms around his neck, the kiss between them grew deeper. Just as he set her on the bed, the door slammed.
“Are you listening to me at all?” She had one hand on the cabinet door she’d pushed closed and the other on her hip. It made her robe hang strangely and at an odd angle to her playful smirk.
Startled from his nostalgia, he sat up straight on the bar stool and blurted, “Yes, Karen. I am listening to every word.”
A cloud descended over her furrowed brow. She squinted at him sideways. “Who’s Karen?”
~~~~~~~~~~
Welcome to The M3 Blog’s version of Edward Hotspur’s Romantic Monday. If you have been following along, we have spent the Mondays in November looking into romance. If you stop by Hotspur’s place, you will find many others who will give you a spin in different versions of the romantic. Some are real life versions, while others, like this one, are purely fantasy.
Whether you are looking for fiction, poetry or music, you will find something romantic at all the stops on Hotspur’s blog hop. When you stop by, tell him I sent you.
He has a page dedicated to Romantic Monday with the whys and wherefores with all the logo images. Try your hand at it.
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Are traditions like the brunch and sleeping in on anniversaries romantic? What do you consider a romantic celebration of an anniversary?
Over time, do we become less romantic? If so, why? Do you think non-traditional romance is easier to keep up?
You decide:
Does this feature stay or go?
Laurie
/ November 26, 2012Oops! I think a romantic anniversary at this point would be to wake up to a spotless house…
Laurie recently posted..Saturday’s Plans
Red
/ November 26, 2012That would be one to keep for lots of anniversaries. 😉
spilledinkguy
/ November 26, 2012I always feel a bit ‘romantic’ about sleeping-in.
Not that I have a problem with consciousness or anything… but… it’s usually kind of annoying.
🙂
spilledinkguy recently posted..Sidewalk, Concordia Park
Red
/ November 26, 2012LOL! As long as it is the same day Annabelle is sleeping in, it should not be all that annoying. It is just the days when you are not on the same calendar 😉 *giggles*
Androgoth
/ November 26, 2012I have enjoyed the deliciousness of this fine romantic offering, it is one that stirs memories and catches a glimpse of those never to be forgotten evenings of sheer pleasure.
Your creative juices certainly heighten the vision and the exquisite inventiveness that follows adds a desirable edge that rekindles the flames of passion, and so fulfils all one’s desires in a craving of power and intensity of the heart.
I always enjoy romance and so whatever
the flavour of love is, then I am all for it…
Have a lovely rest of evening Red 😉 🙂
Andro xxx
Red
/ November 26, 2012I just could not pass an opportunity to end with the pants around the ankles. I had to seriously rein this one in, lest it become more like one of my novels 😉 *wicked grins*
Binky
/ November 26, 2012I guess his fantasy is a lot nicer than his reality.
Binky recently posted..When You’re Right You’re Wrong
Red
/ November 26, 2012Ah, but it was not a fantasy. It is a memory…
Binky
/ November 27, 2012Ahh, okay.
Binky recently posted..When You’re Right You’re Wrong
Gail Thornton
/ November 26, 2012Dear Red, my idea of romance is sitting holding each other listening to music we love. Music brings me to tears, and touches me so deeply it stirs the most romance in me. Candles, chocolate and cheese on the coffee table, and I am slain <3
I loved this romantic prose, it was so well written. I think these forays into your creative writing are some of the best examples of your artistic gifts. And they are quite a gift to me.
Gailxxx
(PS please forgive my linked post for today)
Gail Thornton recently posted..Eclectic Designs – Coupon Code for 20% off!
Red
/ November 26, 2012Why apologize? And I think you need a fondue set. 😛
One of these days, I suppose I shall break down and finish the novel I have begun. Not sure if you ever travelled the Story Time page, but the draft (bones, really) of it is there. It has blossomed quite a bit once I took it offline. xxx
Gail Thornton
/ November 26, 2012PS, the pin button is working well!
Gail Thornton recently posted..Eclectic Designs – Coupon Code for 20% off!
Red
/ November 26, 2012Oh, that is good news!! xxx
Soma Mukherjee
/ November 26, 2012I love romance and every red pink and dark things in between ..what a fabulous story..
aboslutely the way the story flowed like a beautiful meander
Soma Mukherjee recently posted..Bafflerom Trufflecom
Red
/ November 26, 2012I am so terrible when it comes to romance. I really have to reach for this. I am absolutely not romantic in the slightest 😉 So great to see you tonight, Soma.
Tess Kann
/ November 26, 2012Oh my. Twenty-three anniversaries, I thought, and the man is still such a romantic. Even when I knew he was reminiscing, the rug was pulled out from under: “Who’s Karen?”
Perfect! Hot and spicy. Great finish. Not a shocking finish–but interesting with a nice flow. Absolutely satisfying to read.
Tess Kann recently posted..It’s Done!
Red
/ November 26, 2012After I crash landed the last story, I thought I best soften the blow on this one a tad. I think between you and Gail, you may just convince me to write something which does not involve murder or torture. <3 xxx
Phil
/ November 27, 2012Great romantic piece Red.
The excellent positive view of longevity and continual passion and love for your partner.
I really liked the created anticipation the attention to detail and the humour of this piece.
I’m always inspired when I see that spark between couples who have been together for a long time.
That spark of couples who are still very much in love & lust with each other…sadly I notice it missing in too many.
Thanks for the inspiration. 🙂
Phil recently posted..How’s your Blogtiquette?
Red
/ November 27, 2012You are welcome, but most ppl do not like being called by the wrong name 😉
Phil
/ November 27, 2012Very true…
I’m one who likes to call people by their correct name/what they like to be called…
So when I make a mistake (still human, but working on perfection 😉 ) I have to apologise, ask to be forgiven for that mistake and try my best not to make the same mistake again. 😀
Phil recently posted..How’s your Blogtiquette?