Friendly and personable, people warmed up to Gabriel gradually, seeing him as a helpful, respectful person they could rely on for a variety of needs. Yet if that warmth grew to a certain level with women, they’d lose interest, becoming just a friend, a wonderful friend by most accounts, but still, just a friend. His male friends told him he was too nice, too respectful, and that at times, women didn’t want respect; they wanted flirty, sexy, salacious.

He knew they were right with some women, but his upbringing taught him they weren’t all like that. He’d seen what happened at times when his friends went too far with their girlfriends. He was the safe male friend those girls turned to when they were hurt and even asked him, ‘Why can’t he be more like you?’ An ironic question, as inevitably they’d end up back with his friend, making no effort to know or like Gabriel any better.

He concluded that he was unattractive physically, ugly even, because that was something he could do little about. It became a more acceptable scapegoat for his failure with the fairer sex. He did what he could: dressing somewhat fashionably, maintaining a trim physique, and grooming to stay presentable, but even these attempts fell short of attracting anyone. He’d gone so far as to declare himself ugly to a couple of women when they were telling him they weren’t interested, and they’d always say he wasn’t ugly; he was attractive, but there was some other reason for their rejection. A couple even claimed they weren’t good enough for him, but he saw that as just a ruse; a means for softening the blow.

Melanie wandered the aisles of the used book warehouse with a cart full of ‘new’ product to put away. It was the one place that made her feel happy, as her love of books made the atmosphere of cherished words appeal to her bookworm personality. She loved that they were saving these tomes of history, mystery, and romance. Even the DIY, coffee-table books and graphic novels deserved her respect, as nothing was more sacred than the printed word to her. Even the characteristic smell of paper and ink provided a feeling of being home.

She’d practically begged for the second job that didn’t pay much, and the owners had since shown their appreciation of her dedication and reverence for their cause. They didn’t see Book Rescuers as a money-making business, as it just barely made enough to earn them a meager living and cover overhead, but, like Melanie, they felt that books were worth saving. They were all saddened that each month they had to pull very old inventory off the shelves to make room for new books, donated in surprisingly large quantities from libraries and other sources, including their customers. Some of those taken down went to be used for craft projects, which was better than the alternative, being ground up as nothing but recycled paper.

A particular book caught her interest, and she was flipping through the pages trying to decide if she had the nerve to save it for herself, when a customer suddenly spoke.

“Excuse me, Miss,” the young man interrupted.

“OH!” she jumped, slamming the book closed and hastily shoving it back where it came from on the cart, not wanting anyone to see what she was reading.

“I’m sorry! I startled you,” he apologized.

“No. No, it’s alright. I was just … just doing something I shouldn’t!” she laughed, her double meaning lost on the respectful man. “It’s so hard not to try to read every one of these books; give them one more chance to capture someone’s interest,” she added, her love for them a heart worn on her sleeve. “What can I help you with?”

“I was looking for the music section. It seems like you may have moved it?” he questioned, revealing he was probably a regular customer, and now that she looked more carefully, she’d remembered seeing him in the store before.

“Yes, we have to do that sometimes to make room for other sections that grow rapidly. It’s right over here,” she said, turning to lead him to it.

“It used to be right here,” he pointed out as they passed the old location.

“That’s right. But – it’s – right – here, now,” she said as they arrived. “Which are you looking for, sheet music or biographies?”

“The biographies. Oh, I see them.”

“Looking for something specific?”

“Yes. There’s a book about Peter Gabriel that’s really expensive on Amazon, and I thought there might be a slight chance of it being here.”

“Oh, I love Peter Gabriel! My parents were huge fans and showed me what an extraordinary writer he was. Which book?”

“It’s called Peter Gabriel, From Genesis to Growing Up.”

“We do have it! I almost bought it myself, but I’d buy a dozen books a week here if I gave in to every urge. It’s very good! I’ve looked through it a couple of times,” she said, finding it on the shelf and handing it to him.

“Oh, wow! What price category is it in?” he said, turning it to check the back for the color-coded sticker. Blue. Coffee-table book. $5.00. “I can’t believe it! This book is almost two hundred dollars on Amazon, and they don’t even have it in stock! How do you end up with books like this?”

“We get donations from many sources. If I had to guess, this was probably donated by someone emptying the home of a departed parent. It’s just another book to them.”

“I’m definitely buying it, but I’m going to look through it in the coffee shop. Would you like to join me? Get one more chance to look through it?”

“Oh! Uh. Okay. Yeah, I’d like that! My break is in ten minutes. I’ll meet you there?”

“Great!” he replied, more than happy with her positive response.

Melanie went back to work putting books away, but distracted, in a bit of a fog with the invitation. Part of her wanted to make an excuse and keep working; her experiences with men were always so disappointing. They usually fell into one of two categories: guy friends who decided friendship was all they wanted from her, or those who were attracted by her ample chest, but turned off by her intelligence and voracious reading habits. Is he really going to be any different, she questioned herself.

She decided to give him a chance, as he seemed so respectful, must have an interest in books as a regular customer, and he hadn’t looked at her tits even once. He’d looked her in the eye when they spoke.

“Can I get you coffee, or tea?” he asked when she arrived.

“Tea would be nice. Earl Grey with sugar and lemon,” she replied and was pleasantly surprised when he returned with tea for himself as well.

“I only drink tea,” he explained when she asked about it.

They spent the next twenty minutes poring over the book, sharing memories of parents who’d shared their love of the unique lyricist, singer, and musician. They talked about their favorite songs; she claimed Blood of Eden as her favorite, loving the pleading, romantic words and tone, while he spoke of Solsbury Hill as an infectiously happy example of Peter’s work.

Her break was only supposed to be ten minutes, and she was surprised when she checked her watch to see twice that time had elapsed, yet it felt like it was only a minute or two, such was their enjoyment of each other’s company. They parted company, each seemingly reluctant to do so, but also wary of expecting too much. He left, and she went back to work a little more melancholy than such experiences usually left her, as he’d seemed different than most guys, but familiar thoughts of a hopeless, lonely future returned.

He got into his car but sat there for several minutes, not even starting it to get the AC running. He hadn’t felt a connection to someone like that in a very long time, but even when he had, the usual result was being relegated to friend status. His mind went back and forth trying to decide whether he should chance another disappointment. After almost ten minutes, he threw the book he’d bought on the passenger seat and jumped from the car, not even locking it.

Running inside, he got increasingly worried as aisle after aisle showed no sign of her, until he finally found her in a remote back corner.

She perked up but remained wary when she saw him approaching; she figured he’d just forgotten about some other book.

“Hey, um …” he paused to look at her name tag he hadn’t noticed before, “Melanie! I was just wondering, um, well … would you like to go out … out to dinner sometime?”

“Oh! Yes. Yes, I would!” she replied, nervously biting her lip. “When?”

“Oh, um,” he stammered, having not thought it out even that far. “Tomorrow? Friday? Any day really!” he replied, his calendar not exactly full.

“Tomorrow is fine!” she said happily, as she’d be available any day as well, encouraged by his eagerness.

They exchanged contact information and addresses, and he was about to leave with a big smile.

“Wait! What’s your name?” she giggled, wondering happily if she’d left him so flustered as to not realize he hadn’t told her.

“Oh yeah!” he said abashedly. “Gabe. Well, Gabriel, really.”

“Oh! Funny! Like Peter?”

“Peter is my middle name,” he laughed.

“Really!? And I thought my parents were nutty naming me after his daughter!”

Clumsy at partings like this, he really would have liked to kiss her, having finally noticed her cute face and full lips among a mop of blonde curls. If he knew how much she wanted him to, he would have, but ever the respectful gentleman, he just waved, kind of lamely, and left.

Their dinner seemed a huge success. Enjoying the connection to Peter Gabriel in both his Genesis and solo years gave them a great starting point for conversation over dinner. They shared some of their favorite lyrical lines and found even more appreciation for the amazing artist through the eyes of another.

While they’d shared a glass of wine over dinner, it was only the one glass, and Melanie very much liked his invitation to a coffee house rather than a bar after dinner. Over cups of Earl Grey and Oolong tea, Melanie told him how she hated bars: the noisy atmosphere, inebriated clientele, and phony friendliness that led to admissions of failed dates as a result. She was cautiously optimistic when she found Gabe had had similar bad luck in his romantic life.

A work night; it was also a rather early night, and when he kissed her at the door, short but sweet, their optimism grew as the night had been so different than either had experienced. They parted ways, hopeful in a new way and looked forward to a daytime outing they’d planned for the following weekend.

Gabe considered bicycles something of a test for Melanie, as he was an accomplished cyclist and had tried to share it with girls before. If they accepted (many didn’t), they’d fuss and complain about how much work it was, the heat, the cold, the crowded trail, and various other reasons why they weren’t enjoying themselves. Melanie accepted the invitation happily, seeing it as another difference between Gabe and others. While she wasn’t nearly as experienced as he was, she pedaled on with a smile and suggested they do it again sometime.

More dates followed, each more enjoyable than the last, and as they learned about each other’s prior dating experiences, they felt even more attuned to each other. Their parting kiss had grown in length and passion, though it was still just a kiss.

Gabe loved holding her and relished the touch of her lips, and though he’d love to do more, he didn’t feel the usual pressure to appear as an accomplished lover. It wasn’t that he didn’t want to, but he saw her as finally someone who seemed to appreciate his restraint and respect, and while he grew more confident that they would be lovers at some point, he was willing to wait for the proper time to present itself. Even so, he had to admit he had no idea how he’d know when that time was.

Melanie, too, loved the feeling of being held in his arms and the absence of sexual expectations, though the feeling of her breasts pressed to his chest had her looking forward to the day when it would be his hands on them. Though still a virgin, she had some idea what that pleasure would be like from her frequent self-love explorations, and thoughts of Gabe had enhanced that play of late, but she found herself in new territory as she now wanted him badly and he was still being a gentleman.

Gabe felt something was different about this night, their dinner together, and their conversation. He kept wondering whether this was the time, and as the evening progressed, he grew increasingly nervous. He so wanted to give Melanie all he had to offer. His own fantasies about her had him proving himself admirably, but he feared the reality would be quite different.

While he’d lost his virginity to a drunk work colleague at a company office party, he’d gained little experience from the act as she, a girl he’d shown some interest in, played on that desire and dragged him to a remote office for a wham-bam-thank-you-ma’am encounter and only spoke of business with him thereafter. He wondered whether she even remembered it. He’d also had a few girls with whom he’d gotten past kissing, but only just; finger sex as far as it went.

But Melanie was important to him now. He felt like he was at a crossroads where he either showed her how much he wanted her, or she’d become just a friend like the others.

“Melanie,” he started as they walked toward her apartment door. “I want you to know how happy I am that we found each other. I really enjoy our time together!” They’d arrived at her door, where he took her in his arms and kissed her with all the passion he could summon.

“Ohh!” she sighed, a bit flustered at his more amorous-than-usual kiss and still in his arms, looked up at him. “I feel the same way, Gabe!” Pausing for a decision, she felt like it was now or never. “Would you like to come in? For some …”

“I’d love to!” he replied eagerly, accepting her invitation, whatever she was about to say it was for.

Melanie opened her door and walked in, grateful she had tidied up, then went to an end table and turned on a lamp, its warm glow providing what she hoped was a romantic glow to the room.

“Would you like something to drink? Some wine, maybe? Or tea?” she asked, wanting wine herself.

“Some wine would be nice. You have a nice apartment. Very cozy!” he said as he sat on a sofa that seemed to envelope him in its deep, soft cushions. She joined him a few minutes later, handing him his glass before sitting close beside him.

“I hope white is okay?” she said as they clinked glasses, a mutually silent toast to the night.

“White is fine,” he replied.

They took a few sips, neither quite sure what came next. Putting her glass down on the coffee table, she tipped her head up, lips pursed, soliciting a kiss. It started tenderly, but he pulled her in, and she snuggled in even tighter with her arms around his waist.

Both felt the insecure tensions drift away, their embrace feeling so natural with the confidence that, whatever happened, tonight would be beautiful. Their kiss became ardent, with tongues finding their way as two inexperienced lovers learned from each other. His hand on her cheek caressed and guided her face, her lips to his before sliding down her neck, her shoulder, and onto her arm.

He stared into her eyes with an unspoken question she understood. Biting her lip, she nodded slightly.

“Ohhh,” she sighed as his hand cupped her breast with a tender touch and gentle squeeze. Finally knowing what it felt like when she wanted it, she pushed it into his hand, wanting more, and put her own hand on his chest.

“Melanie, this feels – heavenly,” he whispered, pausing to find the right word. When he moved to the other, she turned so he could hold it as he had the other, loving his soft sighs and breaths; she felt beautiful for him.

“Oh, Gabe! You can take my shirt off if you want?” she offered, and then added, “Please?” telling him she wanted him to.

As he opened the buttons of her silky cream blouse, his eyes went from hers to her chest, and back. A tender kiss became fervent when her blouse was open enough for his hand to slip inside to play again with one less layer of clothing between his fingers and flesh. She let him kiss the exposed tops, but her patience was wearing thin. She’d waited forever for this, and she wanted it now.

She sat up, and kneeling beside him, pulled her blouse out of her skirt, opened the last two buttons, and tossed it on the floor. Gabe stared, wide-eyed, at her sudden display, but before he could react, she’d also removed her bra, taken both of his hands in hers, and placed them on her magnificent bare tits. Not letting go, she pressed his palms into the sumptuous flesh, encouraging him to be less gentle, and he got the message, relishing the feel as well as the look of rapture on her face.

With eyes closed, Melanie finally found the pleasure in someone enjoying her breasts. Opening her eyes, she liked the look on his face as though she’d given him a precious gift. There was one other feeling she imagined in her fantasies and reached around his hands to open his shirt. She grabbed the hem to pull it off, and fell atop him, pressing her bare chest against his.

The tongueful kiss was enhanced for both by her tits squeezed between them, and they rolled to their sides still hugging tightly. His hand returned to them when their lips parted, the luxurious feel of which was unlike any before. Yes, he’d felt a breast or two in his lackluster attempts with girls before, but offered so willingly and encouragingly, he thought they were the most beautiful tits in the world.

Going on instinct, since experience lacked, he bent down to kiss them and again felt an encouraging hand on the back of his head pulling him in. Soft mews became loud sighs accompanied by heavy breathing as he kissed and licked the heavenly orbs with their swollen, hard nipples. She couldn’t believe how far reality outclassed her imagination, and if there had been any doubt in her mind about how far she’d go tonight, it was now gone.

Enjoying the feast of her tits had him thinking about what was next. She was now on her back beside him, and when he saw her lift one knee, her bare thigh now out from hiding under her skirt, he knew. Looking for approval, he watched her face as his hand moved to touch her skirt, pressing on the flimsy fabric between her legs. Her eyes said ‘yes,’ but when his hand moved between her legs to touch the wet gusset of her panties, she told him.

“Oh God, yes, Gabe! Do it!” she cried, meaning much more than what his fingers suggested so far and hoped he got the message.

Both surprised and inspired by her sodden panties, he pressed harder, and she pushed back, her white cotton panties absorbing even more as his finger slid up and down between her swollen lips.

“Take them off! Please?” she pleaded, having already had enough of gentle foreplay. She surprised herself with the thought that she loved his gentlemanly ways, but now she wanted what she’d been denied for so long; a lover.

In new territory himself, he would do anything she asked. She could ask for the moon, and he’d try to find a way to give it her. He slid off the sofa, his back hitting the coffee table, which he quickly pushed out of the way. With his hands on her hips, he guided her back to a sitting position with her ass on the very edge of the cushion. When he went to push her knee-length skirt up out of the way, she lifted her hips, suggesting he take it off as well. An elastic waist, it came off easily, and Gabe smiled at the sight of her curvy body in nothing but her white panties. He was about to take them off as well, but something made him lean in and kiss her, feeling the wetness on his lips and inhaling her scent deeply. He looked up to see her smiling, and he smiled back as he reached for the waist of her panties, drawing them down slowly until she now lay completely naked before him.

“You’re so beautiful!” he said genuinely.

“I’ve … I’ve never been naked like this before,” she confessed, meaning with a man. She moaned as his hands slid slowly up each thigh, squeezing them gently at intervals, and she gasped aloud when they reached her pussy. She instinctively spread her legs further and cried out when a finger slid up through her slit and back down to find the way in. “Oh my God, Gabe!” she cried when his middle finger slid in, another first for her.

His other hand, its fingers teasing the small tuft of fine blonde hair on her mound, slid into her slit to take the place of the finger that left, and her hips moved randomly, responding to each new sensation. A continuous string of squeaks, gasps, and moans accompanied his manipulations, and again she found her imagination had fallen short of the incredible reality of someone else doing what she’d done to herself so many times. She’d fingered herself before, though it usually took much longer to reach a climax she was sure was now just out of reach.

Gabe had one more thing he wanted to try, though he’d never gotten far enough before to do it, and it was kissing and smelling her pussy before that had him wanting another taste. Her eyes opened suddenly when she felt his lips kissing her pussy. He moaned aloud at the fantastic feeling of her sex in his mouth. So incredibly intimate; the feel of her soft, slippery lips and musky scent in his mouth and nose, he felt like he could do this for hours. For minutes, his hands remained idle while he savored the unbelievable gift of her precious peach with his tongue. When one of her shrieks finally penetrated his reverent moments with her pussy, his finger inside came alive, driving her exclamations to even higher pitches.

“Oh my God!” she cried repeatedly, as the climax she’d thought she was close to, continued building to ever higher peaks. “Oh fuck, Gabe! I’m gonna … I’m gonna … gonna cum!” she yelled with uncharacteristic vulgarity as her body tensed just before letting go, the indescribable orgasm so far beyond her expectations, she didn’t see and only felt, her body shaking uncontrollably.

Gabe was both proud of what he’d done and stunned by her reaction. He was surprised by the milky nectar that flowed into his mouth, tasting slightly different than before in a way he couldn’t describe. When she came, he put his hands on her hips, feeling the shaking gradually turn to quivers, but his mouth and tongue continued to enjoy her pussy, only stopping when Melanie finally sat up and pulled his face up for a kiss.

“Oh, Gabe! That was so fantastically fabulous!” she gushed and added, “Thank you!” almost looking like she could cry as she tried to hug him, eventually standing and pulling him up with her to hug and kiss him excitedly, not even noticing his shiny, sticky face at first. “Look at you! You’ve got me all over your face!” she giggled as she tried to wipe it off. “That was really incredible, Gabe! I hope I can do as well,” she said as she reversed their positions and knelt to work on removing his slacks.

She looked up at him with a smile as his dick sprang out from its confines. She helped him step out of his pants and underwear and quickly returned to stroke his sizeable erection. Suggesting he sit on the edge of the sofa as she had, her hands went to work gently caressing the shaft with one hand while fondling his sac with the other.

“Ohh, that feels really good, Melanie!” he sighed loudly, his breathing becoming deeper.

He watched her soft, dainty hands glide over his shaft. Her gentleness gradually grew more urgent, and he sighed aloud when she began to lick the tip, her tongue’s touch magical. He closed his eyes to concentrate on feelings alone and smiled when he felt her lips wrapped around his cock, moving up and down the first few inches. He noticed when she stopped and opened his eyes, just as he disappeared in her mouth again, but something was wrong. She had a decidedly distasteful look on her face.

“Melanie! What’s wrong?” he asked with real concern.

“I’m sorry, Gabe!” she said, almost crying. “I … I don’t like doing … that,” she admitted as a tear rolled down her cheek.

“Then why are you doing it!?” he asked sympathetically.

“Because guys like it, right? They expect it,” she said, actually crying now, so afraid she was a disappointment to him when he’d just given her so much.

He stood up, pulling her up with him, hugging her tightly as he tried to think of what to say. Almost everything they were doing was new to them both, so he wanted to be gentle and understanding, and not show any disappointment.

“I don’t expect anything from you! I only want you to enjoy all of what we’re sharing, not doing something just because you think I expect it,” he said, and with her face in both hands, he kissed her with as much loving tenderness as he could.

“Are you sure?” she asked with a still-sad face.

“Positive.”

She looked into his eyes and saw truth and kindness, and she smiled.

“Thank you. You’re a really amazing guy, Gabe,” she said, and returned his tender kiss, thinking he was really so different from every other guy she’d ever met. Reaching down for his now only semi-hard cock, she said, “I’d still like to make him come inside me?” She phrased it as a request, afraid she’d killed the mood.

“I’d like that too, Melanie,” he said softly.

“Come with me,” she said, taking his hand and leading him to her bedroom. Once there, she pulled the bedspread all the way down, sat on the edge, and patted the bed beside her, inviting him to sit.

Looking pleadingly into his eyes, she said, “I’m a virgin, Gabe, but I don’t want to be anymore.”

It shouldn’t have surprised him, given their sketchy romantic histories, but he wasn’t expecting it, and he hoped he’d contained that reaction. In truth, he considered himself a virgin as well, the one time so quick and unemotional, it had become just a figment of his imagination, not reality. Again, he wanted to say the right thing, but telling her that story wasn’t it.

“Are you sure you want me to take your virginity?” he asked, regretting the phrasing as soon as he said it.

“You’re not taking anything, Gabe. I’m giving it to you, only you, willingly, lovingly because I want it to be with you,” she said, holding his hand, appreciating his leaning in to kiss her lovingly.

“Melanie, I’d love to be with you that way!”

“Come,” she said as she lay back and rolled into the center of the bed.

He lay at first beside her, but as their kiss became more desirous, he lay partially atop her, moaning into her mouth as he felt one of her beautiful breasts against his chest once more and he gently caressed the other. She reached down to take him in hand.

“I like doing it with my hand,” she smiled when he objected, and a few moments later, “I think he’s ready, Gabe. I know I am!”

“I am too, Melanie!” he said as he moved between her legs. She held him still, and he looked down to see her guiding him. He felt the tip touch her pussy, and moved his hips forward slightly.

“Not yet,” she said calmly, as she tested again, then once more, saying, “Okay. There. Ohh, slowly, Gabe,” and then, “Oh! Oh! Ohhh!” as he inched gently forward within her. “Oh, Gabriel!” when he was all in.

He covered her mouth with his, kissing her like never before as their hips moved slightly, sensuously together, the connection between them, physical and mental, so fantastic, almost surreal.

“Oh God!” they gasped almost simultaneously when he pulled back an inch or two and then back in. Again, with the same reaction.

“Melanie! You feel so good!” he cried, already knowing he wasn’t going to last long. He moved slowly, hoping it would reduce the incredible stimulation of being embedded in her tight, silky sheath, but it didn’t. A few more times, quicker, with the same feeling that he’d cum any minute.

“Oh God, Gabe! I’m gonna cum!” she cried, feeling that same buildup from before only faster.

That made him feel better, like he might not cum before her and she not cum at all. Deciding to enjoy it, not worry about it, he accelerated as her hips rose to meet him halfway. Their bodies, mashing together at a frenetic pace until he couldn’t hold it in anymore and he came inside, his hips jerking forward involuntarily.

“I’m cumming too!” she said after feeling his cannon shot deep inside, and he managed to keep going until she cried out, “Gabriel!” and fell flat on the bed, her thighs trembling and body quivering.

“Oh my God, Gabe! That was so amazing! Unbelievable!” she gasped between kisses from her incredible lover.

When all was calm, they laughed, smiled, kissed, and hugged as they relived the whole evening that was perfect in their eyes. As each listened to the other gush about what they’d done, thoughts of the miracle of their meeting overwhelmed them until all they wanted to do was hold each other and never let go.

Like most new lovers, they couldn’t get enough of each other and the days that followed found them in bed together every chance they got. They got better and better at it, gradually learning what each liked, from foreplay to the final act.

They spent all their free time together, and if they weren’t having sex or planning the next time, they were talking about it. Feeling like they had years of catching up to do, they even watched porn together when they realized they could actually learn something from it, though more often than not, it only served to get them aroused and wanting to do it again.

They’d limited their sexual activities to each other’s bedrooms until one day when they realized if they didn’t have sex right then, that minute, they would go without for almost a week due to a business trip Gabe had to take. They were in his car, outside the library where she worked. She was five minutes into a fifteen-minute break, and he was leaving for the airport in less than an hour.

“Come on, Gabe! In the back seat?” she offered, biting her lip with a devilish smile.

He moved the car to a remote corner of the parking lot, and they both jumped into the back. He used one hand to squeeze her tits and the other to finger her pussy after removing her panties. Similarly, she grabbed his ass while working on his pants, stopping all action while she tugged them down to his ankles. She’d ridden him before, but the limited space of the back seat presented challenges, and it made them giggle, but they didn’t give up. Dirty talk had begun to enter their lexicon, and she encouraged him to ‘Come on, Gabe! Fuck me hard!’ while he proclaimed his love for her ‘tight little pussy!’ They came together, laughing uproariously as they recovered, and Gabe helped her dress to be the respectful librarian so she could go back to work. They kissed goodbye, both dreading the four days they’d be apart and promising themselves a marathon sex session when he returned.

Over the ensuing months, it stopped being the first thing on their minds, but it flavored the time they spent together whether they were having sex or not. They learned so much about each other, sharing the low points of their almost non-existent love lives, the comparison making their life together all the sweeter. They dressed to please each other, unexpected gifts of sexy clothes spicing up their wardrobes. They started sexting, even sending the occasional risque picture to enhance. Through it all though, they never stopped expressing their gratitude for the original gift of meeting each other.

One day as Gabe was sitting on her sofa, waiting for her to change out of her work clothes, he felt something poking him in the lower back. He got up and saw something brown protruding from beneath the back cushion. He pulled it out and looked at it curiously. It wasn’t that he didn’t know what it was, but he couldn’t imagine what it was doing hidden in Melanie’s sofa.

“Gabe, I was thinking we should …” she was saying as she came from her bedroom and stopped dead in her tracks when she saw what he was holding.

“What’s this?” he asked, his real question being what it was doing stuck in her sofa’s cushions.

“Oh. Um. Oh, Gabe,” she stammered, knowing there was no harmless explanation and honesty was the only way to go, but so afraid of what he’d think of her secret. “That’s my … my spanking paddle.”

--===<<<O>>>===-

Uh-oh! What will the straight-laced Gabe think of Melanie's kinky fetish? Find out in the conclusion to 'Lovers At Last' and remember to 'Like,' 'Favorite,' and comment on this story of new young love, and ... THANKS FOR READING!!