Inescapable

A smiling icon appeared.

In the flesh…sounds good…

She smiled to herself. He was making her warm and fuzzy again. Was that a good thing? They had chatted about more than sex, and they seemed to click. They knew they shared the same favourite pizza topping, and they both preferred action movies over art house. She typed her response quickly, still amused.

Stick with the question that you asked!

She sat back in her chair, more settled as she waited for his response, her mind whirring quickly over the prospect of an actual meet.

Okay, yes, it is a risk, but life is short. Consider this…it might be even better, “in the flesh”, as you so enticingly put it.

The man had something. She was about to respond when she sensed that he was going to say more. She was right. She clasped her hands together, feeling both nervous and eager, and then she saw his chat icon flashing again.

Look, I have a confession. My secretary told me I should get out more, meet more women. It made me think, but what it made me think about was you.

Lily gave a soft laugh as she typed her response.

Maybe your secretary has a crush on you. She could have been hinting.

I don’t think so. She’s married and has five grandchildren. Besides, she’s not my type, whereas you are.

How can you know that for sure?

As she waited and watched, she thought about the fact that he had a secretary who was a grandmother. She didn’t know that about him. What else didn’t she know about this man? A lot. The only thing she did know was that they clicked in some way. Sexually, and maybe even a bit emotionally, too. She felt somehow attuned to him. Was it possible to do that, to feel that way about someone without knowing what they looked like or what they were like to be around? After a lot of thought, she’d decided it was.

L, every time I even see a computer it’s you that I think about. It’s you who gives me a hard-on at the most inappropriate of times.

She shook her head. His sense of humour had drawn her to him. That and his directness when it came to chatting about sex. He made her feel naughty and sexualised in all the right ways. She typed.

It’s the same for me, now. I don’t go to the other chat sites anymore.

She’d often considered the fact that he might be doing this with a ton of women, or worse still that he might be married and he shouldn’t even be doing this. But would he risk meeting her if he was? Maybe, who could say?

You’re the only one I chat to, L. What does it stand for? Lucy? Linda? Laidbacklady?

Seriously, there isn’t anyone else like you…you get my attention away from my work. Believe me, that doesn’t happen very often. Please think about meeting me.

Laidbacklady. That so wasn’t her, no way. The misnomer sent a doubt through her. Then she reminded herself how she felt when she was alone, after their chats. Oh, how she hated switching the PC off, how she hated becoming aware of the sounds of London outside her window and the empty place beside her in bed at night.

She glanced around her bedroom, her mind flitting over the basic facts of her life—the start-up business and tiny flat that she shared with her friend, Andrea. Aside from the Sandwich Boutique and her family and friends, this virtual relationship was her main focus. In fact it had occupied her mind so much lately it had become a major preoccupation.

How would it feel if it were real, if it was something tangible and complete, a real partner to adventure with? Being with someone who helped her peel back the layers of her inhibitions so easily had immense appeal, and for a few short seconds she found her mind running to the possibility of a proper relationship with depth, something to build on. No, she couldn’t go into it thinking that—hoping for it. It had to be about fun, nothing else. No expectations of anything more, and no regrets if it didn’t work out. That’s what it had been about in the virtual world, and she had to meet him with the same attitude.

Meet him. A shiver ran down her spine, and it was a shiver of the excitement. What would it be like, after she had already stripped herself bare for him? There would be no turning away from their sexual connection, no denial, and if it worked under those terms…oh boy. The scent of her arousal hung in the air, a reminder of everything this relationship had already given her.

He was typing again.

You haven’t said no, and you haven’t logged out. I’m reading that as a good sign. Are you interested?

She couldn’t deny it, so she didn’t respond. Indecision swamped her, the allure of his invitation vying with her concerns. It was as if she was poised on a precipice and she could scarcely breathe for fear of taking the wrong step. Before she had a chance to reply h

e was typing again.

We can meet in a public place; you don’t need to be worried about that.

A public place would be good. She appreciated his sensitivity on that point. She was wary, very. She’d be stupid not to be, but he was edging it forward all the time. He was so keen. The lure of adventure beckoned to her all the while, and even though her fingers felt strangely immobile, she forced herself through it. She had to make the move, had to take the chance. With her pulse racing and an oddly delirious feeling, she typed the words needed to move it forward.

My name is Lily, and yes, I do want to meet you.