Burning hard and hot

The barking dog alerted her. She glanced up over the top of her glasses. Listening. She laid down her book and ambled off the couch. "ok, dog, what's up? Do we really have a visitor or is it just your wishful thinking?"

She had been thinking of him again. Their time together had been short but she was affected. For the first time in years she had felt passion. She had felt want. She had been happy. But like her usual course of business he was not available. Time, logistics, status. Unavailable. But when it came to the heart he was all hers. He had told her so. Sweet whispers in stolen moments. Moments neither of them had imagined would come to fruition. But his want was as great as hers.

He insisted. And after many rejections she finally said yes.

When she stepped off the train his eyes told her everything she needed to know. Their embrace was natural. A perfect fit. He touched her face and smiled. The lines around his eyes and the gray in his sideburns showing his age but the look in his eyes revealed a young man who was smitten.

The first tender kiss, his relieved sigh in her hair as he held her close were only a prelude to what they both knew would come. Once they got this far they knew there was no turning back.

These thoughts had circled in her head many times. Often as she laid in her bed alone at night she could feel his touch. Smell his skin. With eyes closed she could almost make him appear. If want was all it had taken he would have appeared. But alas, she had to accept what she had accepted every day since they parted. The memories had to be enough. Knowing that no matter where she went in the world he was somewhere still loving her had to be enough. She still burned hard and hot for him too. Many days it took all she had not to pick up the phone and dial his number. Many days the tears would well up in her eyes. But she had promised not to be sad. She had promised to appreciate the time for what it was. She had promised. To him and to herself. But many times in the years that passed she broke that promise. Many times without control she had sobbed. Many times her love and want for him took over.

She walked to the door and peered out the window. It had been raining and the window was fogged. There was an unfamiliar truck in the driveway. The shadow that got out of the truck was very familiar. She would have recognized that frame anywhere. The easy gate as he strode to walkway. She opened the door. Disbelieving, wondering.

As she stood, looking at him, his eyes told her everything she needed to know. Their embrace was natural. A perfect fit. He touched her face and smiled. The lines were deeper around his eyes and the gray was throughout his hair showing his age but the look in his eyes revealed a young man who was smitten.