It wasn’t a terribly steep climb up from the village: mostly an easy grade through olive groves, grape arbors, and more olives until it turned sharply upward toward the summit. They sat under a tree and unwrapped their lunch: bread and local cheese, two liters of water and a Vinho Verde, packed in ice and…

The rain beats a tattoo against the windows; because of the summer heat, the windows are not entirely closed and some water bounces off the sill and onto the floor. You pace the room, considering a smoke: I was expected almost an hour since, the rain has delayed me, and you are too-much delayed already.…

In the dark, k felt another little piece slip into place. She wasn’t accustomed to this dark, to the blindfold: she wanted to know, she wanted to see what was coming her way, whether it was a leather paddle, a small clamp, a hand. She thrilled to the anticipation as much as to the sensation…

I grab the paperclips and rotate them to twist your nipples, then let them spin back to their original position before I remove them. Each touch sends a pulse through your body, evident to me both because I can feel you tremble in the chair and because your lips constrict, almost in a spasm, around…

We return to the room; the champagne, which I arranged before leaving, is well-iced and sits on the tray with two glasses. While I attend to it, you disappear into the bedroom. You are back a few minutes later, wearing the hotel bathrobe: “I think I’ll take a quick shower,” you say, a bit too…

We arrive at the restaurant separately, but almost simultaneously: I’m just ordering my drink when I see you alight from the cab, and so I give the barman your order too. You kiss me, briefly but passionately, all the while sweeping to the bar, putting down your briefcase, and scooping the drink from my hand:…

We move from the bath to the bedroom; more champagne on ice and a thermos of hot water stand by the bed. We disengage long enough to uncork the bottle and splash some into glasses; I splash some selectively on you as well, with predictable and delightful result: I taste the wine on your body,…

We begin in the oversized tub: warm water, bubbles, whirlpool jets, candles all around. Our mouths find each other first, hungry after the long, unintended deprivation. Arms wind around bodies, discovering and rediscovering: touching, groping, teasing, testing, remembering. Before we know it we are conjoined in an embrace that combines osculation, copulation, and — perhaps…

We agree to lunch at a midtown restaurant. Our eyes meet across the room, where I am seated alone waiting for you. As always, you are dressed impeccably: today it is a suit with a mid-length skirt, stylish without being showy. It reveals enough leg to excite the mind, without so much to be anything…