A Chance Encounter

[LadyBlueMoon]

Melanie Kirkland

"Why Jasmine, honey!" I exclaimed, "I do declare! You are practically the last person I would have expected to meet in Boston! It's just not our climate, honey!" I laugh and notcie the way my friend is eyeing the sergeant. Jasmine always did have a fine eye for men.

"I see you've introduced yourself to our knight in shining armor. The Sergeant here was just offering to share his room with me. All the hotels for miles are booked. Now that you are here I feel ever so much safer in accepting his kind offer. You don't have a room, do you?"

A part of me hoped she did, so that I would not have to spend a night fighting off temptation, but the other part, the wicked part, hoped she would join us in his room. That part of my mind was already envisioning things better left unsaid.

 

[Suzi]

Jasmine Bennett

Hearing the words as they fall from my friend's lips, I feel a sense of helplessness. Where will I stay the night? Certainly not in the airport! With the Boston transients lurking about? As conservative as I present myself, I knew I was still attractive, still vulnerable...

A knight in shining armour? I laugh to myself. I used to feel that way about that soldier boy years ago---used to think he would always be there to protect me, thought we would be together forever...

Mel's open-ended offering brought me out of my reverie quickly. Sharing a room with this sergeant and my friend. Hmmmmm...I knew I could trust her. Hell, we stayed up many a night talking on the phone, or I'd have her over (or she'd have me over). This sergeant, on the other hand, was a total stranger to me, despite introductions. But there is safety in numbers...better two women in a room than one that is vulnerable...

"No" I say. "I don't have a room--I was just going through my scheduler/planner actually. I was hoping the barkeep or a local could point me in the right direction. But, " sighing " if there is nothing available other than what you offer, than beggars can't be choosers can they? I assume the ladies get the bed?" I dart a glance at the sergeant with a questioning look.

 

[airborne92]

"Of course the ladies have the bed, I won't have it any other way" I say to Jasmine.

Still being the gentlman, I kiss Melanie's hand then Jasmine's. I was starting to get hungry, being as they don't serve much more than starvation rations on flights these days. I look at both women.

"So what would you ladies like for dinner?" I ask them.

 

[LadyBlueMoon]

Melanie Kirkland

"Of course we get the bed, silly." I told him, in part to affirm to Jasmine that she was not interrupting something. The two of us had had our share of, yhm, adventures back home. We knew each other so well that we tried to avoid stepping in at the wrong time.
"In fact, though I'm sure Kevin has nothing but the most honorable intentions, there is something reassuring about having another female with you. The two of us can take the bed, and he can find his own sleeping area. Now, since we are in Boston, we simply must have some seafood, you think?"

 

[Suzi]

Jasmine Bennett

I feel relieved at the sergeant's declaration about the bed. I glance over at Mel and see a smile playing about her lips---what can she be thinking about?

Then I feel my hand lifted, and warm, soft lips pressed against my fingers....Oh gods! I feel a tingle go through me from my hand, up my arm and down through my body. I glance toward my hand and meet Sergeant DeVries' warm brown eyes---suddenly the temperature in the bar seems to have risen by 10 degrees. "Get a hold of yourself!" I tell myself. He is just another soldier boy, looking for a quick piece for the night. I could not allow myself to be taken in by those brown eyes, that charming manner. But if he was offering a place to sleep and something to eat, how could I refuse?

I hear Mel's suggestion of seafood..."Mmmmmm...sounds good! wonder if they have broiled shrimp? Sure...love to tag along!"

 

[airborne92]

"Of course you can tag along, I thought we could drop our bags off at the hotel before dinner" I say to the ladies as I pick up my duffle bag and throw it over my shoulder.

I bend down and grab each of their suitcases with ease. I must have looked like a pack mule with a duffle bag over my shoulder and a suitcase in each hand.

"Whatever you want is yours if it is within my ability to give you" I say to them. I wait for them to finish their drinks and gather their belongings.

 

[Suzi]

Jasmine Bennett

Mel and I sit finishing our drinks, catching up a bit...I casually glance in the direction of my suitcase and see Sergeant DeVries bending down to pick it up...Maybe it is just the cut of the uniform, but he has a nicely shaped ass, and I can see the curve of his thigh. Man! I am feeling my own quiver. I am grateful to be sitting down!

What could he mean by "Whatever you want is yours..."? Over the edge of my glass, I peer at him...watching every move he makes. What could I possibly want from him? I have a career I love. I live in a great neighborhood. My apartment is comfortable and fits my needs and lifestyle. I have friends and 3 cats. What more could I possibly want or need? But seeing him standing so tall and burdened with his duffle and our bags, I could not help but feel a tug, a yearning....why?

 

[LadyBlueMoon]

Melanie Kirkland

"Let's go! I'm suddenly starving," I laugh. Then it dawns on me. None of us are from Boston!!

"Does anyone know just where we can go for seafood?"

 

[airborne92]

"Given that we are in New England, just about any restaurant will do. First let's drop these bags off at the hotel."

I lead the women out of the terminal and hail a cab. It is a short ride to the hotel. I have the cab wait as I get the bags and check in at the front desk. I let the ladies wait in the cab and catch up on small talk.

The man at the front desk informs me that the room has a king size bed and there are no other beds available. I take the key and drop off our bags in the room.

I get back to the cab and have the driver take us to a seafood restaurant. The ride there takes about 15 minutes. I pay the driver and offer each lady an arm.

 

[Suzi]

Jasmine Bennett

Mel and I finish our drinks and follow Sergeant DeVries out of the bar, through the terminal, to the outside. All the while I watch with eyes that don't miss a thing. I observe his bearing. The ever-so-slight swing of his hips when he walks. The way his feet aim straight ahead, determined to reach their appointed goal.
I can detect confidence in him---he is very sure of himself. We get outside, and he waves down a cab. After putting all of the luggage in the trunk, and handing us into the cab, I am coming to the conclusion he is used to being in charge, but he also has a way with people.

After a few minutes at the hotel, and the short drive, we arrive at the restaurant. The sergeant gallantly offers each of us an arm. I grasp the one offered to me just above the crook of the elbow, near the bicep. Even at my lightest touch I can tell he is well-muscled. I feel the heat rise in my cheeks again, my mouth is dry. My heart begins to race...

 

[LadyBlueMoon]

The restaraunt looks decent, not four star, but who needs those prices? At least they have real tablecloths and not butcher block paper as in some of those all-you-can-eat crabhouses.

I smile as I notice how Jaz has latched onto the sergeant's arm. I slip my arm through his other and allow him to lead us to our table, following the rather gay-acting maitre de.

A thought, a pang, as I remember how Jaz was hurt before by a soldierboy.

Not again, I hope...

 

[airborne92]

We all take our seats as the maitre de hands us menus. I start looking at the selection. The ladies are doing the same. I decide to have a lobster dinner.

I can tell both of the women have been eyeing me a little, Jasmine more than Melanie. I can almost sense the desire from one of them, but which one? Maybe I'm just imagining things, spending the past 6 months running search and destroy ops in Afghanistan can do that to a person.

"Order what you want ladies, dinner is my treat" I say to them as I put down my menu.

 

[Suzi]

Jasmine Bennett

We follow the maitre d' to a table over near a window. All the tables are covered with white linen table cloths. Each has a vase with a few daisies, or some other wild flowers. There are four place settings per table: the water glasses inverted, catching a stray ray of sunlight, the silverware gleam and the cover plates reflect some of the restaurant light.

The maitre d' seats us--Sergeant DeVries, still being the gentleman, pulls out the chairs for we ladies, then seats himself. We are given our menus and the maitre d' excuses himself to get a pitcher of ice water to pour into our glasses.

The sergeant quickly peruses the menu and sets it down. He clearly knows what he wants. I am looking at the appetizers, beverages, entrees...trying to make a decision. He did say we could have what we wanted. I kind of chuckle to myself at that statement. My mind turned that over and I thought of warm brown eyes, and a firm muscled body... I shake my head to clear it. "What are you doing?" I ask myself. I glance quickly over at the sergeant...then back at my menu.

Hmmmmmm...Yes, I think the steak and shrimp will do nicely, with a salad and Perrier...with a twist of lime.

 

[Suzi]

OOC...

bump for LBM

 

[LadyBlueMoon]

Melanie Kirkland

As I taste my shrimp cocktail, I can't help but notice the looks Jasmine is giving the sergeant. If things keep up, I think, I may be the one sleeping on the floor.

I catch her eye and wink, then take a sip of my Long Island Ice Tea.

 

[airborne92]

I sit with Melanie and Jasmine eating dinner, I can see the looks Jasmine is giving me. I can also sense something from Melanie, but I don't know what. She is mysterious, but in a good way.

"You ladies can tell what I do for a living, so why don't you tell me wha teach of you does" I say to the ladies, trying to start a pleasant conversation.

 

[Suzi]

Jasmine Bennett

The waiter, in his crisp white uniform, having brought my Perrier & lime and salad with oil & vinegar dressing and set it before me, I took a few sips of my drink. As I started on my salad, I noticed Mel wink at me. "What's that about?" I muse. I hear the sergeant's suggestion for a ice breaker into conversation. Not being accustomed to discussing work outside of my place of employment I simply say..."I am a paralegal, sergeant, and a very good one." and smile. Thus said, I leave it open for Mel, who is so much more discursive than I am. It also leaves me free to quietly observe the sergeant, unobserved.

 

[LadyBlueMoon]

Melanie Kirkland

Seeing that Jasmine was leaving it up to me to be the loquacious one, I begn explaining about my job as manager of several day spas and salons throughout the South. I explained that usually I travelled with the company president, but a death in the family had precluded her making this trip. Thus, I was alone, which is why it was an especially delightful surprise to encounter one of my oldest and dearest friends stranded as well.

"And you, sergeant?" I asked, "What exactly do you do in the military these days?"

 

[airborne92]

"Well Ma'am," I said after I finished a mouthful of lobster, " I spent the last 6 months doing search and destroy missions in Afghanistan. I would still be there right now except some paper pushing clerk realized I had 90 days of leave accrued, which meant I needed to take a vacation, so I was ordered to used a lot of it immediately. Normally though I am a member of an airborne liason team assigned to a heavy division. I have spent time as a paratrooper, a Ranger, and spent a couple of tours with Special Forces."

I couldn't tell either of these ladies what my other occupation in the military was. Not even my family knew about that. It is an occupational hazard of working in Special Operations.

I looked at both of the ladies as I spoke, both were beautiful. Each in their own way. Just spending time with either of them would be pleasurable for any man, and I was with both. I would love to be able to sleep with either one, but that would be pushing my luck under any circumstances.

"So Melanie, what brought you all the way up to New England on business?" I asked.

 

[Suzi]

OOC:

BUMP for LadyBlueMoon!

 

[Suzi]

OOC: Let's try this again!

BUMP for LBM!

 

[LadyBlueMoon]

Melanie Kirkland

"Oh, I usually make five or six trips a year, visiting outstanding salons and spas in other parts of the country. By staying on top of the most recent trends personally, I am able to keep our own salons a few steps ahead of our competitors. I usually travel with the president of our company, but she couldn't make this trip, so here I am stranded. Fortunately Jasmine showed up!" I answered, then looking at Jasmine I asked "And what was it again that brought you here? And don't say 'a plane' silly!"

 

[Suzi]

Jasmine Bennett

While Mel and Sergeant DeVries are talking, my steak and shrimp arrive and I am eating slowly, chewing thoughtfullly, listening to every word. Watching the sergeant, I am taken in by his eyes, how he pays full attention when someone speaks to him, the focus, the intensity. Ah, such intensity is so alluring, my eyes drift to his mouth which is curved into a smile in his acknowledgments of Mel during her part of the conversation. I find myself wishing that smile was for me....

I am pulled from my reverie with Mel's question, "And what was it again that brought you here?" "I went up to Maine to visit some friends in the south of the state....had to use some vacation time." I said...."however a plane did not bring me the entire way!" I slyly quipped with a wink at Mel and a grin

 

[Suzi]

OOC:

BUMP for LBM

 

[Suzi]

OOC:

BUMP...(with all these bumps, I should be dancing to "Rock the Boat"!)