It really was what we never had… At least, that’s what I kept feeling.

In all our years as secret lovers, we’d never had an uninterrupted night together. It was intense and passionate… yet somehow, it felt completely natural.

And it felt earned.

During the four-hour drive home, I kept replaying the night… the morning… over and over.

Especially the end.

Me stepping into that steamy shower… taking her in for a second before she turned to me, wrapping her arms around me.

Her body pressing into mine… like she didn’t want an inch of space between us.

Abby sent a few messages while I was driving. Some checking in, others flirty and fun, a selfie, where she had the most satisfying expression. But one message really stuck with me.

It left a lingering smile stretched across my face.

“Oh my God, Anthony… What did you do to me?”

I replied with a question mark.

She followed it with, “I can’t fucking walk straight.”

That one made me laugh out loud and immediately turned me on again.

Was it from that last time in the shower? Her body pressed against the shower wall, with me pushing hard into her from behind.

Was it because we did it so many times over the past fourteen hours or so? It was as if we had a year's worth of secret rendezvous all crammed into one night.

I had stepped out of the shower before her. I dried myself and started getting dressed when she finally stepped out.

Sitting on the edge of the messy bed, sipping my lukewarm coffee, I watched her dry off, trying not to look like I was watching.

I really didn’t want to go home.

Abby dropped her towel and walked across the room naked, smiling at me with no shyness. She picked up, then slipped on the cream-colored satin panties.

I felt a tinge of disappointment, but we both had lives to get back to… work, families that depended on us.

Families that we love.

We knew it was time.

She sipped her coffee as she got dressed.

I watched the panties disappear as she pulled her jeans up over her hips.

We didn’t talk much about what happened. I don’t think we needed to.

I watched her get ready, eventually asking what she was going to say when she got home.

Abby glanced at me from the bathroom mirror. “It was a long, hard night. I’m tired and sore,” she quickly said, evidence that she had this all worked out in her mind.

“Sore?”

She walked over to me, bent, and kissed me. “In a good way,” she whispered.

That was the kind of praise I loved getting from her.

The drive home really dragged out for me. But as I finally pulled into my neighborhood, I sent one more message, letting her know I was home.

Abby replied as I pulled into my driveway.

“I love you.”

Life quickly returned to mostly normal… for me at least.

Taking the kids to their events. Watching movies with my wife in the evenings. Her slipping off to bed early like usual.

Work stayed busy, which was good. It kept my mind occupied.

Saturday morning, like usual, I was up early. I made coffee, turned on the news, and scrolled through social media.

Liking some posts, laughing at others.

Knowing everyone else was still asleep, I checked for messages from Abby.

“We need to have another visit,” was waiting there. She’d sent it the night before.

I smiled and replied, “That might be dangerous… but yes, we do.”

After my second cup of coffee, the fog from another restless night finally began to lift. I decided to get busy with my usual weekend chores.

Laundry typically came first, before everyone else got theirs going.

We each did our own in my house, which was probably a good thing… especially that morning.

As I pulled clothes from my hamper and tossed them into the washer, I checked the pockets. I had a bad habit of forgetting screws, zip ties, or other junk from work.

Reaching into the pocket of my cargo shorts, I felt something odd.

I pulled it out and chuckled softly after seeing it.

Abby’s pink hair tie from her selfie.

I realized I’d never given it back to her… and she’d never asked about it.

Slipping it into the pocket of the shorts I was wearing, I started the washer and headed off to tackle the rest of my chores.

By then, the house had started to stir with the sounds of kids making breakfast and my wife turning on one of those reality shows she likes.

We had the usual morning small talk. Discussions about groceries for the week, what was on the schedule for the day… stuff like that.

But the whole time, I kept thinking about the hair tie in my pocket.

The only evidence Abby had been with me. And nobody knew.

I eventually worked my way out of the house with the excuse of needing to mow the lawn. It didn’t really need it, but it got me outside for a while.

Walking around the house toward my storage shed, I paused, finally out of view of the windows, and pulled her hair tie from my pocket.

I snapped a quick picture of it and typed up a message to Abby.

“Did you lose something?”

I attached the picture and hit send.

A second later, I followed it with, “I found this in my pocket.”

Knowing she probably wouldn’t see the messages for a while, I slipped my phone and the hair tie back into my pocket, opened the shed, and started up the mower.

I finished up around the front of the house and checked my phone… Nothing.

I finished up around the backyard… Nothing.

I drove the mower back to the shed, grabbed my edger, and cleaned up along the road.

Still nothing.

But my mind kept drifting back.

Seeing her on the rock, legs spread beneath me. Tasting her in my hotel room. Spooning against her naked body while we watched a movie.

It’s difficult to describe… like some kind of spell had been placed on me. As if an outside force was pushing me towards her.

The weekend eventually came to an end. The work week had arrived… along with Abby’s reply first thing Monday morning.

“I forgot about that! Did she find it?”

I smiled and typed a quick reply.

“No… it’s safe in my tool bag. A reminder of you every time I grab a wrench.”

She eventually replied that evening while I was sitting in my truck, waiting for my son’s practice to end.

One of the rare occasions where she and I were actually having a real conversation… through messages, anyway.

Lines about how we missed each other and wanting to do that again someday.

Messages drifting from whatever song was playing in the background to a new dinner creation from her kitchen.

But occasionally, one of us would bring up something from that magical night. Every time, it stirred that longing inside of me all over again. And I hoped it did for her too.

I didn't hear from Abby for over a week after that. But like I've said before, it's understandable.

She has a lot going on around her.

We're both busy people with something always coming up.

We exchanged a few more brief messages over the next couple of weeks, but one night, she was especially flirty.

“I’m going to have the day to myself tomorrow,” she typed. “I’m working in the garden, and I could really use your creative talents.”

“A whole day to yourself?”

“Yes! Everyone’s working but me.”

I sent back something about how nice that must be… but my mind was already turning.

I was formulating the plan.

She said she was going to be installing some lighting and decorative mushrooms and stuff in her fairy garden that she had been working on for quite a while.

But between each one of the messages, I was trying to figure out what excuse I could give to my work so I could play hooky for the day.

It was perfect.

I regularly put in extra-long days, my family knew that and wouldn't suspect a thing if I had to come home late. My boss was pretty easy-going and wouldn't have an issue if I called in.

It's not like I miss work very often.

That evening, after everyone else had gone to bed, I sat alone listening to the TV, staring at my phone.

I felt nervous knowing what I was about to do. Excited too.

It was definitely outside my normal comfort zone… driving several hours just for a potential couple-hour visit with Abby.

I've done it before, though. I remember driving over an hour to see her after a trip I took up north.

We met at a Walmart and walked around the store for fifteen minutes or so just talking.

She was wearing a beautiful short red dress… I wanted to touch her so badly.

And she knew.

But she had managed to slip away from her family for just a little bit to see me.

But the thought of surprising her… that locked my plan in.

I don’t know how I slept. But when my alarm went off, I was shocked that I actually had.

Normally, I’d get up, have a cup or two of coffee, watch the morning news, and let myself wake up before showering and heading to work.

But that morning… I went straight to the shower, dressed in my usual summer work clothes, cargo shorts and a work polo. I grabbed an extra T-shirt, knowing I wouldn’t want to wear my work shirt while I was up there.

I made a to-go cup of coffee and got out of the house before anyone else was awake or the sun had even come up.

Before I even started my truck, I sent a message to my company letting them know I wasn't feeling well and would be taking the day off.

I mean, I wasn’t far from the truth.

My stomach was fluttering, my heartbeat felt off, and my mouth was dry.

I pulled out of the driveway and started toward the highway.

Reaching back, between the seats, I grabbed her pink hair tie out of my tool bag and hung it over the gear shifter.

A constant reminder of that trail.

A couple of towns into my mission, I pulled into a drive-thru and ordered myself a breakfast sandwich.

Pulling out my phone while waiting, I sent Abby a quick good morning message.

Surprisingly, she replied almost right away.

“Good morning, handsome.”

I replied back, asking what she was up to. She said she was getting ready to head out to the hardware store.

I told her I was heading to work and I wished I could be there to help her.

I saw the three animated dots pop up, then disappear, then they popped again… “Me too.”

A little farther into my journey, Abby sent another message.

First, a picture of some little garden decorations, asking what I thought. Then, a playful, sexy selfie of herself standing in front of a bunch of plants.

I quickly snapped one of myself, still wearing my work shirt and sent it back, hoping to throw her off the trail.

She sent another one. This one was definitely framed to show off her breasts a little more than necessary.

Yeah… I was pretty sure she was alone.

With each new message she sent me and the miles between us shrinking, I started feeling more at ease. More confident in my plan.

Abby sent a few more messages about our night together and how badly she wanted to see me again.

She was building anticipation within me.

A little while later, she sent a video message.

The camera was pointed at the dash of her truck, showing the artist and song title on the stereo. Taylor Swift… Invisible String.

Abby was singing along to it while she drove.

I swear, I had the biggest grin on my face after watching that.

She sent me another picture from her backyard around the same time I pulled into her town.

It showed a well-established garden full of colorful flowers, with woods stretching out behind it on an absolutely gorgeous day.

I was only about twenty minutes from her house.

Twenty minutes from seeing her for the first time in weeks.

Twenty minutes from touching her.

Twenty minutes from her touching me.

As I turned onto her road, my nervousness peaked all over again.

The butterflies in my stomach felt like elephants.

What if she wasn’t actually home alone and had just been teasing me?

Slowing as I approached her house, I saw her vehicle was the only one in the driveway.

I breathed a little easier and wiped my sweaty palms on my shorts.

I rolled past her house, turned around farther down the road, then slowly drove back toward it.

As I passed again, I glanced toward the backyard but couldn’t see her anywhere.

She was definitely shielded from the road.

A few seconds later, my phone dinged with another message from Abby.

My stomach tightened.

Had she seen me drive by?

Did my carefully thought-out plan just get spoiled because I rolled past her house like a nervous idiot?

I drove a few hundred feet past her house and pulled onto the shoulder as far as I could.

I slipped the truck into park, shut off the engine, and checked her message.

“What are you doing right now?”

I immediately felt like she’d seen me.

“I’m up on a ladder in a dirty ceiling trying to trace a wire,” I quickly replied.

Then I sat there watching the three little dots bounce while I waited for her response.

I stared at her pink hair tie hanging off of my shifter till my phone dinged.

“Dirty, huh? I wish you were here getting dirty with me.”

It was followed by a picture of her gloved hand in the dark, rich soil, pulling a weed.

I sent a reply, testing her, “I could be there in four hours. ;-)”

“But I won’t be alone then,” she replied. “Maybe next time.”

“Give me a longer heads-up next time, and I’ll make it happen.”

“You promise?”

Yeah… she didn't know.

I pulled my work shirt over my head, grabbed my favorite black Punisher T-shirt off the passenger seat, and slipped it on.

After checking myself in the mirror, I grabbed the pink hair tie and climbed out of the truck.

I muted my phone, just in case.

Gently, I closed the door, using my hip to make sure it latched quietly before locking it.

Then I started walking along the shoulder, careful to stay out of sight. Cautiously, I made my way toward her house, giving myself a mental pep talk the whole time and trying to calm my nerves.

I knew I was getting ready to light off some beautiful fireworks and hoped they wouldn't backfire.

I crept along the side of her house, moving slowly toward the backyard, making sure not to step on anything that might alert her to my presence.

When I reached the corner, I carefully peered around.

She was on her knees, facing away from me, digging in the dirt, listening to music.

Her beautiful heart-shaped ass made my heart skip.

I instantly felt desire building deep within me.

I leaned against the wall and took several deep breaths.

Then one more teasing idea entered my mind.

I pulled out my phone, snapped a selfie zoomed in tightly on my grinning face, and sent it along with a message.

“What I wouldn’t give to see you bent over working hard in your garden.”

I carefully peered back around the corner as Abby picked up her phone, paused her music and read my message.

Still on her knees, she held her phone up and took a picture of herself.

A second later, my phone vibrated.

“Is this what you want to see?”

Her picture was attached underneath.

I cautiously stepped out from the side of the house and started moving toward her, like a big cat stalking its prey.

Abby kept digging while music played softly from her nearby phone.

I managed to get within a couple of feet of her before finally speaking.

“That’s exactly what I wanted to see,” I said in my best Sam Elliott voice.

Startled, Abby flinched and spun around so fast she fell backward onto her ass.

Her shocked expression quickly melted into complete astonishment when she realized it was me.

She was at a loss for words.

I grinned and offered my hand. She quickly grabbed it, pulling herself to her feet. She stared up at me, still looking completely stunned.

“What are you doing here?” she finally exhaled.

I smirked.

“You… hopefully.”

She wrapped her arms around me, hugging me tightly.

“I can’t believe you came.”

“Well… you asked.”

The shock slowly faded from her expression, replaced by sudden embarrassment.

Me seeing her like this… natural, sweaty, and dirty from working in the garden.

She pulled off her gardening gloves, dropping them to the ground before brushing dirt from her knees.

I thought she looked absolutely stunning. Possibly the most beautiful I've ever seen her.

“How long are you here for?” she asked.

“How long are we alone?”

I was nervous as hell, being in her world, but buried it, forcing myself to sound confident.

Abby was clearly blushing as she reached for her phone to check the time.

“We have a few hours,” she said, staring back into my eyes.

I stepped toward her, pulling her against me as our lips met.

The kiss deepened slowly, our tongues finally touching.

My arousal intensified as her sports-bra-covered chest pressed against me. My hand slid down her back, cupping her shapely ass and pulling her even closer.

Normally, there’s a slow buildup between us. Flirting, lingering looks, teasing touches.

But this time, we went from zero to sixty in about three seconds.

Not breaking the kiss, before she could start, I began to undo her tight shorts, standing in the open, in her backyard.

There was no protest from her as my fingers traveled down her tummy, finding her already wet slit.

Her hand was on the back of my head, grabbing my hair as I slid a finger over her clit.

She moaned into my mouth, a little louder with each circle my fingers made.

Her body already trembled against mine, and I could tell her knees were weakening by the way she clung to my shoulders for support.

Dipping two fingers into her, just knuckle deep, I curled them, causing Abby to break the kiss.

“Oh my God…” she breathed, then bit my shoulder as her body shook. “I've missed you.”

I needed to be in her, take her fully, but seeing what I was doing to her, standing in her garden, kept me focused.

“Fuck,” she kept exclaiming over and over.

Abby looked up into my eyes, squinting slightly in the bright sun. Her face was flushed and her breathing ragged.

With my fingers still inside her, she began undoing my shorts with urgency. They fell to my own thighs.

Her fingers wrapped around my straining erection, firmly stroking, feeling my length.

I stepped back, causing her hand to slip free and spun her around. Grabbing the waist of her shorts, I pulled them along with her panties down over her hips, nearly to her knees.

Abby let out a surprised “oh” as the light breeze brushed across her exposed pussy and ass.

As I stepped closer, Abby sank to her knees in the middle of her flower-filled garden.

For a moment, my eyes drifted to her rear end as she looked back over her shoulder with a knowing smirk.

Dropping down, my knees pushed into the soil and I took hold of my cock, sliding the swollen head up and down her nearly dripping slit.

I pushed forward, just a bit, savoring the sensation of her opening around me. She was so hot.

Another “fuck” slipped from Abby as I pushed.

I pulled back slightly, then pushed forward again, each time getting a little deeper.

I nearly growled as I bottomed out, feeling the delicious bump at her cervix.

I firmly gripped her hips and began a steady motion of nearly pulling completely out, then plunging back. Each time the back of her thighs slapped against mine.

I felt nearly animalistic, taking control of Abby like that. Showing her how much I desired her… needed her.

She moaned louder than I’d ever heard before, breathlessly repeating “Oh God” and “Fuck” as her cries nearly drowned out the sounds of nature around us.

I couldn't help myself, and wet my finger. I think she knew and was prepared when I began teasing her ass.

I continued my thrusts while circling her tight rear passage.

She'd said she doesn't like it, but didn't protest when my finger eased into her. Her moan changed pitch, though.

I loved the feeling of her gripping my finger, feeling my cock sliding within her through the thin membrane.

Suddenly, she began to squeeze. Her back arched deeper. I saw her fingers gripping the soil.

“Anthony,” she cried out and her body violently shook.

I held still, buried in her until she relaxed a bit. As I pulled my finger from her ass, Abby did something I wasn't expecting.

She pulled forward and turned to face me.

She sat up, kissing me deeply, making me lose my breath. My heart was pounding as she bent, taking me into her mouth.

I leaned back a bit, watching as she took nearly all of me. She wasn't gentle. She had a mission.

Abby sucked, swirled her tongue and moaned deep in her throat, sending vibrations throughout my body.

I wasn’t going to last much longer and she knew it.

I gripped the sides of her head and turned my head to the blue sky. The tingle built and swelled within me.

I couldn't stop it and erupted in spasm after spasm into her mouth and throat. A deep growl escaped me, followed by whole-body shivers.

She stayed there, swallowing everything I had and gave a satisfied “ummm.”

Abby straightened, with a big, yet shy smile.

“You taste sweet,” she giggled while licking her lips to make sure she didn't miss any.

I laughed at that. I honestly don't remember her ever doing that.

A softness came to her gray eyes, possibly mirroring my own.

Both of us on our knees in the dirt, surrounded by flowers and our shorts pulled down, exposing our asses to the world.

She hugged me so tight.

“I'm glad you came.”

“Anything to be with you, even if for a few stolen moments,” I said.

We eventually helped each other up and redressed.

We talked… a lot. About my decision to drive up, our night in the hotel, the dirt on our knees.

Abby showed me around her house, showed me all the work she'd done since my last visit there over a decade ago.

I couldn't stop studying her body and her movements.

I was getting turned on again. Like really turned on.

Standing in the kitchen, Abby was leaning against her counter, taking a sip of water and I felt myself yearning for round two.

I stepped toward her and she set down her water bottle. I think she was ready for another round herself.

I grabbed her waist and lifted her onto the counter as she instinctively hopped up to help me.

Abby immediately wrapped her legs around me, hooking her feet together as I wrapped my arms around her.

“I still can't believe you came here,” she softly said before kissing me again.

This time was much slower; gentle.

I pulled my head back from hers for a moment and looked at her.

“What?”

“I didn't even help you with the garden,” I jested.

She laughed and leaned back in.

Our kiss grew more urgent, hands exploring again, but at that moment, we both heard a car pulling into the driveway.

Abby pushed me back and looked out the window.

“Shit, Anthony… Go out the back door!”

Her voice was nearly cracking with dread.

Panicked, I hurried out through the back and made my way around the side of her house.

I could faintly hear Abby on her front porch.

“What are you doing here?”

Then a woman's voice saying she just wanted to come by to hang out.

I stuck close to the side of the house, waiting.

As they started to head in, the woman asked whose truck was parked up the street. But then they walked into the house and I didn't hear anything else.

I waited a few minutes, then slipped out from the side of the house, quickly making my way back to the truck.

As soon as I got in, I started it up. I looked in the mirror at her house and took off.

My heart was racing. I almost felt like I did when I was a little kid and my mom would catch me doing something wrong.

I pulled into the nearest shopping center and turned off the truck. I couldn't believe what had happened.

It was as if the fireworks I’d lit had misfired.

My phone vibrated. Abby sent a message apologizing and saying one of her friends had stopped by.

I sent my best calm reply.

“It's okay. At least I got a little time with you.”

My hands were actually shaking. Yet, there was a thrilling side to it.

An adrenaline-fueled rush.

“There was nothing little about that,” she teased back.

I chuckled at her comment, then remembered the hair tie. I was going to give it to her, but I guessed it would have to wait.

I placed it back on my shifter for the return drive and sent another message.

“I'm heading home.”

Abby’s three dots bounced, disappeared, then bounced again.

“We'll finish later… Love you!”