I never believed finding romance and love online was possible but that's exactly what happened to me. Her name was Allison and the minute I saw her picture I was hooked. She was simply stunning, with the prettiest face and smile I could have possibly imagined. While she lived in Oregon and I lived in England , the distance didn't really matter. After all, it was just a chat site, wasn't it?

I thought for ages about a way to say hello that would at least ensure she replied to me. It was pretty pathetic, but all I eventually managed was, "Hi. I'm Katie."

No one was more surprised than I to receive a response from her. It was short, but then my "Hi" introduction wasn't exactly long either!

"Hello back Katie. I'm Allison. Thanks for saying hello," she replied.

We spoke for hours that first time and we felt an instant connection. The next day we spoke even longer. The day after that we were making plans to be online at the same time as we both just loved spending time with each other. We spoke about anything and everything, sometimes serious and sometimes light hearted, but always fun.

The days rolled into weeks. I don't think there was a single day during that time where we didn't at least spend a short period of time catching up. More often than not it was several hours. In hindsight, I could feel myself falling in love even then.

Christmas was approaching and for some reason it had never even occurred to either of us to ask what each others plans were. It got as far as late evening on December 23rd before the subject was broached.

"What are you doing for Christmas?" I asked.

"I'm having a big family get together with my parents and sisters tomorrow evening and then again on Christmas Day. What about you?," she replied.

I felt pretty sad about my own arrangements. My family lived five hours drive away in the West of England and I was due to be working both the day before and the day after Christmas.

"Nothing," I replied lamely. This was completely true. I was having Christmas Day at home in the flat on my own. I'd also worked eighteen days in row and quite fancied a day just sleeping, even if it was Christmas.

"I'd love you to come here and have Christmas with me," she said.

"Are you serious?" I replied, thinking this was just a lovely idea best consigned to the realms of fantasy.

"Yes, I'm very serious," Allison said. "I'd love to introduce you to my family and have you visit with me. I can't think of a better Christmas present."

I still didn't think Allison was really being serious about the idea at all. After all, it was already ten o'clock in the evening on December 23rd and even if I wanted to, I'd never make Oregon by dinner time on Christmas Eve. It was five thousand miles away! However, I thought I'd indulge the fantasy and look up flight options. I opened another tab on my laptop and started looking.

I searched and searched but all the possible flights I could have got arrived after nine o'clock in the evening. While the thought of getting on a plane was incredibly exciting, it would be pointless if I couldn't get there in time.

"All the flights are rubbish. I can't get there even if I wanted to!" I typed somewhat forlornly.

I could tell by the way Allison replied that she was disappointed, even though the whole idea was ludicrous to begin with.

Then I suddenly found one and the timings were just about perfect.

"I can be with you by three tomorrow afternoon, will you meet me at the airport?" I half seriously typed.

Now it was Allison's turn to ask, "Are you serious?"

"I can get a flight at 0635 tomorrow with KLM from London to Amsterdam ," I said.

"What! I'm in Oregon ," Allison quickly interrupted. "Why would you fly there?"

"Bear with me," I said. "That gets in at 0805. I can then get a Delta flight from Amsterdam to Seattle . With the time difference that lands at 1205. I can then connect to Portland and be with you at 1450. It's mad, but I can do it."

"I want you to," she said. "I am being totally serious, I want you to."

I once went to France on the spur of the moment for the day with a friend for lunch. I though that was a bit crazy. The thought of jetting off to America with only eight hours notice on Christmas Eve to meet someone I'd met online was in a completely different realm of madness. I think the fact it was so crazy was the thing that appealed so much to me. Well, that and the fact that Allison was so gorgeous. We'd also chatted for hours every day over several weeks and I knew she was just right for me.

"Give me ten minutes, I said. "I need to sort something out."

I grabbed my phone from the table by my bed and hastily typed a text to my manager at work explaining pretty much everything. I knew I was owed some time off as I'd worked so many days in a row, but would he let me take it at such short notice? I sent the text and sat, willing him to still be up and willing him to reply.

I was truly the luckiest girl in the world when I received a text back almost instantly saying, "You can have five days. I'll expect you back in on the 29th."

Everything was falling into place for me to indulge this madness by booking the flight and jetting off the next morning. I got my credit card, keyed all the details into the website and five minutes later I had a ticket from London to Portland , via Amsterdam and Seattle .

I couldn't wait to tell Allison, who was still waiting for me after I asked her to give me ten minutes to sort stuff out.

"Oh my god!!!" I typed. "I've booked and I'm coming tomorrow!"

"Really?" she replied, "I wanted you to, but didn't think for a moment you would."

I gave Allison all the flight details and arrival time in Portland . She agreed to meet me at the airport and gave me her mobile number in case there were any problems.

I was beyond excited and needed to get organised very quickly. I needed to pack some clothes and toiletries, find my passport and get myself to Heathrow Airport as check in was just 6 hours away. At some point I thought some sleep would be nice too!

I'd never been one to ponder too much on what to wear. The reason I was packing this time was utterly different to anything I'd had to pack for in the past. I tried to think logically. I had to pack for sixteen hours of travel, meeting someone for the first time that I was probably already in love with, two family dinners with people I'd never met and for the Christmas holidays. My head was spinning and I had little time to sort my clothes out. Somehow I managed to throw in some bras, knickers, jeans, blouses, jumpers, shoes and two pretty but conservative dresses. I got a bag of toiletries together and some basic make up items. I added my passport, purse and booking reference and I was all set to go.

"This is completely and utterly crazy!" I thought to myself. At the same time I was excited in a way that I'd never been before and I just couldn't wait to see Allison. I set an alarm and tried to get a couple of hours sleep.

My luck continued all day. Each of the three flights ran to time. The nearer I got to landing in Portland the more nervous I got. I could feel the butterflies building in my stomach and I had goose bumps up and down both arms with the excitement.

I also had sixteen hours of sitting on planes and in airports to fill.

I kept asking myself the same questions over and over again, hour after hour.

Will she like me in person as much as she had done online?

What if she doesn't like me and I'm a disappointment to her?

What if I don't like her?

Will she be at the airport?

What will I do if she isn't?

Am I completely and utterly mad for coming all this way?

My head span with the questions, none of which I could hope to answer until I arrived in Portland .

By the time I was walking off the plane to the arrivals area my heart was just about bursting out of my chest with nerves and excitement. I turned the corner after coming down the jetty and saw all the greeters. I spotted Allison within two seconds, smiling and waving at me. The sense of relief I felt was incredible. I walked over to her as quickly as I could, stopping just in front of her. I dropped my case on the floor beside me and just stood just gazing at her with the biggest grin I could muster. She did the same. I could not believe I was there and in that moment, just standing looking at Allison, I think I was the happiest girl in the world.

"Oh my god!" she exclaimed, "Katie, you're here!" She threw her arms around me, giving me the most fabulous hug I could have imagined.

"I am so pleased to see you," I replied, my own arms wrapped tight round her.

I think we hugged for at least three minutes, just holding each other close, amazed we were finally together. I didn't realise at the time, but looking back I think I cried for most of that hug. I was just so relieved and happy. I'd re-touched all my make up before the plane landed and had a strong suspicion it had now run all over my face.

"Come on," she finally said. "Lets get you freshened up, we have dinner in three hours."

I was so caught up in the excitement of seeing Allison that I had completely forgotten I'd just got off a plane and had a family dinner to go to.

"My car's this way," Allison said, before picking up my case and walking slowly towards the car park.

I fell in step beside her. I don't actually remember doing it but I was aware my fingers fell into Allison's free hand as we walked. She turned her head towards me and smiled.

"Katie, I've dreamed of that," she said. Her fingers interlocked with mine as we walked out of the airport hand in hand.

We drove to Allison's place, chatting and giggling the whole way, just like we'd done all those weeks online. She showed me round and let me have a very long, hot and welcome shower. Allison had also made up the spare room for me but let me get dressed and made up in her room where she had a big mirror and dressing table.

"You can choose which room you want when it's bed time," she said, smiling playfully at me.

Although I'd dreamed of being with Allison many times over, the last day had been such a whirl that sleeping arrangements hadn't even crossed my mind. I decided to give a playful reply.

"Give me plenty of wine at dinner and I'll choose later," I said, looking into Allison's eyes while returning the smile.

Allison held both my hands, leant into me and pecked me on the lips.

"Okay Katie. Come on then, time for dinner," she said before pulling me to door and back out to the car.

Allison's parents and family were fabulous. I felt like I'd known them all my life. We had drinks first while I was introduced to everyone and the conversation flowed in a way I never expected upon meeting so many new people for the first time. Allison stayed by my side the whole time, her fingers locked with mine, smiling at me. I couldn't help but just smile back and think how lucky I was. I also mentally pinched myself over and over about how mad it was that twenty four hours ago I was in bed thinking about Christmas Eve at work. Now I was in America with Allison.

We all sat down to a family dinner with an amazing spread of food. Allison and I sat next to each other. I should have been half asleep with jet lag, but I was so thrilled to finally be with her that I felt wide awake. Even the wine wasn't affecting my energy levels.

"It's amazing what love can do to me," I thought to myself as we ate, talked and laughed together. Allison and I held hands under the table for the whole evening.

When we got back to Allison's place we walked arm in arm from the car to the door. The whole day had been completely crazy yet utterly fabulous at the same time. Despite all my uncertainty and worries about making the trip, at that precise moment I knew with absolute certainty what I wanted. There was no doubt in my mind that Allison wanted it too.

I put both my hands round Allison's waist and pulled her tight to me. I gazed into her eyes for a moment then kissed her gently on the lips. The kiss lasted nearly a minute, my lips brushing over and around Allison's the whole time. The feeling of her lips moving softly against mine was incredible and intensely erotic. When our lips finally parted I pulled her even closer. My arms were tight round her waist. I loved her body and breasts pressed against me. I felt Allison hug me back, her own arms tight round me. My lips then brushed round and up her neck, kissing all the time as they moved.

"I'm so glad I came," I whispered into her ear.

Then I said something that just felt so right and natural.

"I love you Allison," I whispered again.

"I love you too Katie," she whispered back.

My heart just melted when I heard that. It was the most perfect moment of my life and something I think I'd dreamed of hearing from the fist day we'd ever spoken. I kissed her again, this time a little harder, my own lips open just a little. Allison returned the kiss with passion, her tongue meeting mine as we pulled each other tight.

We stood in the doorway for several minutes holding each other, eyes closed and our tongues moving together as we kissed. Our hands slowly caressed and explored each others bodies as we held each other close. We were completely lost in the joy of finally being together and declaring our love for one another.

"I've made my mind up," I said to Allison when our kiss finally broke.

"About what?" she replied.

"Which room I'm sleeping in."

I took Allison's hand again and gently pulled her into her own bedroom. I closed the door behind us then unzipped and took off my dress revealing my black lace bra and knickers. I got onto the bed, smiled at Allison and beckoned her to join me. I was tingling all over. Kissing Allison with such passion had made me incredibly wet. I could also feel just how hard my nipples had become and from the way Allison was looking at me, I knew she could see just how turned on I was.

Allison flopped on the bed beside me before kissing me hard on the lips. Her arms encircled me and I could feel her fingers unclasp my bra. I desperately wanted her to explore and enjoy my body. I wanted to give every bit of myself to Allison. I also wanted Allison to give herself to me. My pulse was racing with the with the anticipation of touching, caressing and kissing every inch of her. I wanted us to give each other the most intimate, sensual and loving presents ever. After all, it was Christmas.