This is my first ever story. There is no sex in this first part but this is the introduction as to how the two characters first meet. Please bear with it. Subsequent parts will include various sexual exploits of the couple.

For once, I was ready for work early. As this was the first warm day of May, I thought I would catch the river ferry to work and enjoy the fresh air rather than the stuffy tube and crowded bus I usually caught.

It was just a short walk to the river. I arrived in ten minutes, after picking up my morning paper. The ferry was there, so after buying my ticket I boarded and took a seat with my back to the water hoping to protect my paper from water splashes.

While waiting for the ferry to depart I opened my paper I was aware of other passengers boarding and walking past me. I didn't pay them any attention until I heard the distinctive sound of high heels and then caught the smell of an expensive scent approaching. Not wanting to appear too nosey I waited until the heels were almost next to me and then I glanced around the side of my paper to see two bright blue shoes at the end of two slender and well-shaped legs. The woman wasn't wearing tights or stockings but her legs had a natural tan look. I lowered my paper while lifting my eyes as she passed.

Six-inches above her knees her dress came into view. It was white with blue stripes that matched the shoes perfectly, definitely a classy woman. She was slim and walked very purposefully and confidently towards the back of the boat finally sitting in a centre seat facing the front of the boat, at last, giving me the chance to see the rest of her.

She was wearing sun glasses that as soon as she sat down she raised and rested them on the top of her head revealing a stunning face. It didn't appear she was wearing much makeup, one of those women who doesn't need much I guess, her face was framed by fair hair that cascaded over her shoulders. I was hooked!

I was so taken with her beauty that it was a few moments before I looked her up and down again and noticed how small her boobs were. It didn't bother me as most of the girls/women I had fancied, dated or been rejected by since I was sixteen were also small breasted. I had never been into large breasted women. Admittedly my last girlfriend was a generous C cup, which was lovely but subconsciously I seemed naturally drawn to smaller breasted women.

As soon as she was settled she took a mobile out of her handbag, also blue and matching her shoes and dress stripes, and she spent most of the journey texting and reading her phone. Occasionally she smiled when presumably she received a funny message and her smile light up her face. Because she was so engrossed in her phone I was able to continue looking at her with only an occasional look at my paper. I hadn't seen such a beautiful woman in a long time. I decided long before the ferry docked that I needed to somehow get to know her.

When we did dock I carried on reading my paper until she had passed me and I exited the ferry four passengers behind her. I didn't want to stalk her but had to know at least roughly where she was heading. When she got to the top of the ramp and through the terminal, she turned left, as I would have done myself and she headed for the traffic lights that again I would have used, no trouble so far then.

When the lights changed we, along with many others crossed the road to the middle and then waited for the next set of lights to allow us to cross. She gave an occasional flick of her hair, which gave her even more of the look of a film star than I had previously thought.  Then the lights bleeped and we were off again. She turned left again and continued along the pavement taking the first right which is the road my office is on. My office is about 200 yards down on the right so I hoped that she would arrive at her place of work before then but the chances weren't good I guess.

However, within a few strides of entering this road, she moved towards the kerb, looking carefully at the traffic and she crossed to the other side. I didn't want to follow her too close especially as I wasn't far from my work and I didn't want any of my colleagues to see me if they were in the area. But I watched her closely and about half way to my office she turned down a side street and she was still walking away from me as I passed the end of that street.

I wasn't very effective at work that day, thinking of my ferry girl most of the time and hoping I would see her on my way back that night. But what time does she leave the office and does she catch the ferry home? All these sorts of questions kept going through my head all day. 

I knew I had twenty mins to make the first ferry after my official finishing time. So I allowed fifteen minutes and left the office at 5.05 paying close attention to everyone walking the same way as me. I also looked across the road to see if I could see her coming out of the side street, but I didn’t.

However, when I arrived at the jetty my ferry girl was already there about seven or eight places ahead of me. The whole queue was long so I just hoped that I would get a seat close to her or even better next to her. 

When we boarded I kept a close eye on where she went and in fact, she sat in roughly the same place as she did this morning. Others between us had mostly dispersed to other parts of the ferry and I was relieved that as I walked down the boat that there was a seat still free next to her. I took a deep breath as I approached her and the vacant seat.

“Is this seat free?”

“Yes,” she replied briefly glancing up at me. I thought I detected a slight accent but with one word it wasn't easy to pin down.

I turned and sat down next to her.

“Thank you.”

“You're welcome,” she said. There was no reason for her to reply but she was clearly a very polite lady and it allowed me to pinpoint her accent.

“Are you French?” I asked.

“Yes,” she replied, and then added, “well done.”

“Thank you, but it wasn't that hard to detect that romantic French accent.”

“You would be surprised at how many people guess wrong,” she said with a smile.

“So are you on holiday?” I enquired.

“No, no, I live and work here.”

She seemed happy to answer my questions so I continued.

“Okay. How long have you been here?”

“About two and a half years.”

“Really? I haven’t seen you before. Actually....” I continued “that’s a silly thing to say because I haven’t been on the ferry since last September!”

I noticed out of the corner of my eye that she smiled at my last sentence, probably realising that I was just trying to keep the conversation going in an attempt to chat her up, which I was!

“I travel on the ferry most days, I like to get the fresh air to wake me up before a days work.”

“Good idea,” I said. “ Maybe I should do that too, or at least more often than once every six months or so.”

“Yes you should,” and she looked at me as she said this. “Progress,” I thought before she went on, “I'm Helene by the way.”

Big progress.

“That’s a beautiful name,” I replied.

“Thank you.”

“I'm Phil.”

“Hi Phil,” her accent made my name sound more like “feel” which also made it sound sexier. “Nice to meet you,” she added.

“It's very lovely to meet you too Helene.”

Unlike this morning she didn't spend the journey texting, thankfully, and we chatted about the ferry journey and my usual alternative of Bus and tube. The conversation was easy and it turned out that her flat was only a couple of streets from mine.

As the ferry came towards the landing I decided I needed to move things on, otherwise, this might just be a one off encounter.

“I hope you don't mind me asking...” I started, “but if you aren't doing anything would you like to go for a drink when we dock?”

My pulse rate rose although it was only a split second before she responded.

“Yes that would be very nice.” She smiled and looked me straight in the eye. I couldn’t help but smile back. Her smile was warm and sincere and clearly, she was pleased to be asked.

“Great.”

By now the ferry was docking and we rose from our seats. I stood aside for Helene to walk towards the exit. That gave me the chance to admire or was it stare, at Helene’s elegance as well as her beauty as we disembarked and walked up the ramp and out to the street.

As we walked we kept the conversation to pleasantries, no doubt waiting for a relaxing time with a drink to talk in more detail. Within ten minutes we entered the wine bar, got our drinks and sat in a quiet window seat.

After clinking glasses and taking a sip I started the conversation.

“Your English is very good Helene.”

“Thank you. I worked very hard at school at English as I wanted to travel and possibly work abroad even back then so knew I had to learn English as with French and English you can go just about everywhere.”

“Well then well done on learning it so well and getting a job here in London.”

“Thank you. Do you speak French?” she asked.

“You probably know that us English are not good at languages and although I did do French at school I didn't get a good grade, I'm afraid, so just remember the basics.”

Helene laughed and shook her head slightly in mock disappointment.

“Yes you English expect everyone to speak your language!” she gave me a big smile.

The conversation was very comfortable and she seemed to understand my humour, which is always a bonus as between different nationalities that isn’t always easy.

I learned that she was originally from near Dijon where her parents still live and has a younger brother who now lives in Paris. She works for a French Bank around the corner from my Office having moved from their Paris Office two and a half years ago. She was thirty-four and volunteered the fact that she was single.

I told her my background, thirty-six, single, an only child, parents living in the Midlands, and that I worked for a Marketing and Advertising company, and she was surprised when it came out that we worked very close to each other.

As we finished our first drink she agreed to a second and whilst I went to get them she went off to the ladies. I noticed that several pairs of eyes, men, and women, followed her as she went. It didn't surprise me.

I was back at our seats when she reappeared and she gave me another one of her gorgeous smiles as she approached.

As I am tall I would often stretch my legs out under the table and on one occasion my foot connected with her foot.

“Sorry,” I said, “that's the trouble with being tall, I never know where to put my legs when I am sitting down!”

“That's okay,” she laughed. “How tall are you?”

“6’3. That's about 1m 91cm in your money.”

“That is tall,” she chuckled. “I'm about 1m 73cm, but I don't know what that is in your money,” again she gave a little giggle.

“You seemed tall as we walked along the road,” I said, “but you are wearing heels, of course.”

“I guess I am quite tall for a woman, even without my heels and I really love my heels.”

That was my turn to chuckle I love her heels too I thought.

I offered her a third drink but she refused, saying, “I hope you are not trying to get me drunk?”

“No not at all, I wouldn't dream of it.”

“It's just that we both have work tomorrow so we should be careful.”

“Yes, you're right,” I admitted.

But we carried on talking for quite a while. When I finally looked at my watch it was 8.30. The time had flown by.

“We ought to go I guess,” I said reluctantly, “I have to do some ironing before I can go to bed!”

“And so do I,” said Helene.

We made our way out of the wine bar and made our way home. When we got to the road where my flat was, Helene said, “Is that the road you live down?”

“Yes that's the one, but I will walk you home first.”

“You don't really have to but thank you, that would be nice.” It seemed that I struck at least some of the right chords with Helene. We didn't hold hands as we walked but as we walked slowly and chatted, sometimes we brushed arms and there were increasingly more glances between us. Her eyes were hazel in colour and seemed deep enough to jump into.

We arrived at her flat and she turned to me. “Well this is my flat Phil. Thank you for a lovely evening.”

“My pleasure,” I replied, “I wonder if you would let me take you for meal tomorrow night?"

“I can’t tomorrow I'm afraid, but how about Friday night?”

“ Yes, that would be great Helene.

“Will I see you on the ferry in the morning?”

“If you are going to be there then yes!”

“Good,” she replied. “Goodnight Phil.”

As she turned to enter I said, “Night Helene,” and she turned and smiled as she closed the door.

I walked home with a big smile on my face hoping that by playing the long game and not asking for a kiss or a coffee was the right thing to do. Time would tell.

I made sure on Thursday morning that I was in plenty of time to make the ferry. Helene had beaten me to the terminal but she waited for me and when she saw I got one of those leg wobbling smiles again.

“Hi, Phil. Did you get your ironing done?”

“Yes, it's this shirt I'm wearing. I often don't iron till it's desperate to do so.”

“Typical man,” she smiled.

As we boarded after getting our tickets I said to her. “You look lovely again.”

“Thank you, Phil. I like to look my best.”

Today she was wearing a plain but smart pale green dress, again with matching shoes and looked wonderful. Mind you I would think she would fantastic wearing a black bin bag!

As the ferry moved off she started the conversation.

“Thank you for last night, I enjoyed our drink and chat.”

“So did I. Very much, Helene.”

“I won't be on the ferry tonight as I am going out straight from work and won't be here tomorrow morning either. Sorry.”

“That's okay, I am sure I can find my way home by myself!” I joked, and she laughed.

“You're funny Phil.”

“Good I'm glad you think so.”

“Oh and tomorrow night I might not be here either as we finish early on a Friday. Can we swap phone numbers so we can keep in touch and you can let me know the arrangements for tomorrow night?”

“Yes of course.”

So we swapped numbers. That must be a good sign and obviously, we were still on for Friday night.

In some ways, Thursday dragged as I knew I wouldn’t see my ferry girl till Friday night but the happy memories of last night got me through.

I booked an Italian restaurant for Friday,  not far from last nights Wine bar, during the day.

The journey home seemed to take ages and the evening dragged too as there didn't seem to be much on TV. I did my ironing and made sure I had stuff ready for Friday evening.

Friday morning during a break at work I sent Helene a text asking if she had a good night out, to which she replied that she had. I then told her I would be at her flat at 8 to go the restaurant and she simply replied with one word, “Perfect”.

Thankfully I was busy most of Friday so the day went quickly. I got home at six and immediately started to get ready.

I left my flat at 7.50 and walked round to Helene’s place, anxious that tonight would go well. No reason that it wouldn’t but you can never be sure.

I rang the bell at the outer door of her building dead on 8, I have a thing about punctuality and hate being late for anything. The intercom buzzed and I heard her say, “Just coming.” A couple of minutes later the door opened and there she was with her gorgeous smile as usual.

For half a second I was disappointed that she was wearing trousers as she has fabulous legs but she was dressed fantastically in a bright yellow short sleeve blouse with cut outs showing off her shoulders and a scooped neck, tight black trousers that ended 6 inches above her ankles and bright yellow matching shoes of  course with matching yellow handbag. She didn’t wear much jewellery, just a chunky gold necklace and gold loops in her ears.

“Wow, you look great Helene.” As I spoke I boldly stepped towards her and kissed her on the cheek. She smelled great. As we parted she leaned forward to kiss my other cheek. 

“A French welcome,” I said.

“Yes,” she replied. “You must kiss both cheeks” she giggled.

“That's fine by me,” I replied, wondering what a proper kiss might be like. Hopefully, later I will find out.

“You look very handsome yourself Phil,” she said looking me up and down.

“Thank you, young lady.”

The evening was warm and the walk to the restaurant was very pleasant. Helene seemed comfortable without a jacket, although I had one on. I was wearing black trousers with a mainly white shirt with a thin, grey, stripe which I wore outside my trousers, and a black leather jacket.

“You were spot on 8 o’clock,” Helene said.

“I don't like being late for anything, and I must say I am impressed you were ready.”

“I am the same as you, I like to be on time and I like to surprise a man!”

“Well, you have impressed and surprised me.”

“Good. I achieved my goal then.”

Fifteen minutes later we arrived at the Italian restaurant. Helene told me on the way that she had been there before and she had enjoyed it.

We took our seats and again I noted that other people looked at us, well Helene not me. As at the wine bar, the conversation flowed easily and I don't think either of us noticed any of the other eaters or our surroundings.

I couldn't help but notice Helene’s nipples pushing against blouse. Her breasts may well be small but her nipples were very prominent and I had to be careful not to constantly stare at them, but I suspect she did notice where my eyes strayed to on a regular basis.

While waiting for our food I looked under the table.

“What are you looking at Phil?”

“Just trying to see where I can stretch my long legs out without kicking you!”

“Don't worry about me.”

“I wouldn't want to hurt you.”

“I know you wouldn't do it deliberately and anyway I can always get my own back later!”

So I stretched my legs out carefully and avoided contact with Helene’s legs.

“Is that better now?”

“Yes thank you,” I said.

Only a minute or two later Helene looked under the table.

“What are you doing?” I asked

“Just checking where I can stretch my legs without kicking you,” she said with a cheeky grin.

“Don't worry about me,” I replied

“But my heels will hurt if they connect with you.”

“Ah, good point.”

I could tell that she was stretching her legs out but slowly, presumably so as not to kick me. But after they were fully stretched out she moved her left leg further left until it touched my right leg.

“That doesn't hurt does it, Phil?”

“No, not at all.”

“Good,” she said and smiled.

She was teasing me, flirting with me. As I thought, clearly a confident woman.

I decided to change the conversation.

“I have to ask Helene, I notice you are wearing matching shoes and outfit again. How many pairs of shoes do you have?”

She laughed, more than I had heard her laugh before. When she had calmed down she responded.

“Great question Phil. I have many pairs of shoes. My shoes always have to match my outfit, so every time I buy a new outfit I buy new shoes as well.”

“Dare I ask about the handbags?”

“Yes those have to match as well, I have loads of bags too.”

“Oh dear,” I smiled.

As we ate the conversation lessened but part way through our main course Helene’s leg started to rub up and down mine. Very softly and slowly but it was definitely happening. I looked straight into her eyes and she smiled.

“Everything okay Phil?”

“Yes fine thank you.”

“Good.”

“You okay Helene?”

“Wonderful," she smiled

She was definitely flirting with me and it was having an effect on me. Thankfully invisible to Helene and the other eaters  I could feel an erection developing and more her leg stroked mine the more it grew. I hoped I wouldn't have to go to the gents.

“Are you sure you are okay Phil? You are looking a bit flushed,” she smiled.

“Er, yes I'm fine, thank you.”

“I just thought you looked a little distracted.” The naughty glint in her eye got bigger.

“Well, maybe just a little!” I managed a nervous smile.

“I'm sorry Phil. I will stop.” She smiled, of course.

After the main course Helene went to the Ladies and as usual, many eyes in the room followed her. I  couldn't blame them, her black trousers hugging her small but curvy backside.

When she returned, having given me one of her wonderful smiles as she walked back, I said to her. “Did you know that everyone watches you when you go to the ladies? Men and women.”

“Do they? I wonder why.”

“I don't blame them,” and  I carried on. “It's because you are the most beautiful woman in the room.”

“Really?”

“Yes and I will add to that, you are the most beautiful woman I have ever been out with or for that fact ever seen!”

“You really think that Phil?”

“Yes, I do and have done so from the first time I saw you on Wednesday.”

“ Wow thank you, Phil. That’s so sweet.”

“I am not one to give compliments easily, so if I give one I mean it.”

“Thank you again.”

Dessert then arrived but whilst eating it she again rubbed her leg against mine, only for a minute and she smiled at me when she did it. I did, of course, return the smile, and although it did make me feel a little uncomfortable, I did enjoy it of course.

After finishing dessert we had another glass of wine and whilst there were some silences between us, it was never uncomfortable and the conversation was light and happy and easy going.

Having finished our wine I did go to the gents without embarrassment. When I returned to our table, Helene said. “Let’s go back to mine for coffee.”

I wasn’t going to argue with that.

So I paid the bill and we left. As soon as we got outside Helene shivered as it had turned chilly. It was still, May and not summer yet.

“Here I said, take my jacket,” I slipped my jacket off and put it over her shoulders.

“Thank you, but won’t you get cold?”

“Maybe, but I have a long sleeve shirt so I'm sure I will be okay.”

Within a few more steps I managed to find her hand and held it. She turned to me and smiled and squeezed my hand.

“Thank you for lovely meal Phil.”

“You're welcome and thank you for being such wonderful company.”

“You are great company too Phil.”

Most of the rest of the walk back was in silence but I think we both just enjoyed walking holding hands. When we got to Helene’s flat she said, “You will come in for a coffee yes?”

“Yes I would love to.”

She unlocked the door to the block of flats entrance hall and we went upstairs to the first floor. Arriving at the door for Flat 4, Helene unlocked it and stepped in.

“Come in,” she said.

I stepped in and past her into a long hall with doors on left and right. I waited for her to lock the door and pass me to lead the way. The two doors on the left were shut, which I guessed were bedrooms. On the right, the first door was clearly the bathroom and the second the kitchen with the lounge at the end which Helene lead me into.

She slipped my jacket off.

“Thank you for the jacket Phil,”  I took it from her and laid it on the settee.

“You're welcome.”

“Make yourself comfortable and I will be back shortly.”

“Thank you.”

I looked around the room which was nicely furnished. Plenty of girlie things but tastefully done. I heard Helene’s heels clicking on the laminate flooring in the hall and then I heard her switch the kettle on. More footsteps followed as she went elsewhere. I was a little nervous as to what would happen next and how I could move things on.

“Put some music on if you can find something you like,” she called from somewhere.

“Okay. You certainly have a lot of CDs.”

There was a large number of CDs on a shelf and I started to look through them.

“There is some good stuff here,” I said.

“Thank you” came a distant reply, presumably because she was in the bathroom and the door was closed.

I then heard the toilet flush and more footsteps as I guessed she went to the bedroom.

I spotted a CD I love by Emeli Sande, quickly worked out how to switch on the player and popped the CD in.

“You like Emeli Sande?” I just about heard above the music.

“Yes very much,” I replied as I turned it down.

I continued to browse the CD collection while I waited for Helene to return. She certainly had a good taste in music although I didn't recognise the French artists amongst them.

I then heard her footsteps returning and as I stood up and turned towards the door I said.

“I like your taste in m...”

I stopped mid sentence as she entered the room. The yellow heels were still there but apart from that, all she wore was a matching (of course) yellow g-string oh and the gold necklace. My mouth stayed open but no sound came out...

Second part to follow shortly.