Loss and Longing

Twenty minutes later they were installed at a table in the window of a dark and moody bar set in a strip of shops, most of which were other restaurants or bars. I was a lively area. “This is nice” Stevie said as she sipped her white wine and looked first around at the unusual decor of the bar and then outside to the people passing by.

“Mmm” Grant said from his seat opposite her. They were seated in comfortable high backed lounge chairs with a low table between them. Sipping his beer he said “it’s not quite how I remember it.”

“You’ve been here before?” Stevie asked, her eyes coming around to rest on his face.

“Not for years” he said and a frown coming down on his face as he looked away, he appeared to be talking more to himself than her when he said, “I haven’t been anywhere for years.”

Stevie studied him for a minute and then said “do you want to tell me about it?”

His eyes flicked around to her and he just looked at her for a minute in silence.

Worried that she’d done the wrong thing, Stevie bit her bottom lip and held her breath.

Finally he looked away and said “I think maybe I do. I just don’t know how.”

She reached out and grasped his hand. “I’ll be ready to listen, whenever you get it worked out.”

“Thanks” he said. And then squeezing her hand he said “sorry.”

“It’s fine” she said. Then sipping her drink and trying to lighten the atmosphere she looked around again and inspecting the draped fabrics in red and gold, the carved mirrors adorning the walls, the low light and the ornate furniture she said “I like it. It feels like we are in a bedroom full of a lot of strangers.”

Giving her a smouldering look he said “I wish we were in my bedroom.”

She smiled, “Minus the strangers, I hope.”

“I can’t see anyone else” he said sitting forward. “Come here.”

Stevie looked around. No one was paying any attention to them. She smiled and leaned towards him. She said “this could be dangerous.”

Grant slid a hand into her hair and smiling he said, “I know” before pulling her head towards him and kissing her. It was a hot and demanding kiss, that went on and on and when he finally moved back Stevie was glad she was sitting down as she wasn’t sure her legs would have held her up.

“I don’t know about you” he said with a slow smile, “but I’ve had enough to drink.”

“Definitely” she said, disregarding her still half full glass. 

Grant got to his feet and having already payed for their drinks he led her straight out of the bar and headed for his car. As they reached it he unlocked the doors but he didn’t start the engine. Instead, without a word he pulled her towards him and took up where they’d left off in the bar. But this time it wasn’t only his lips that were involved. His hands slid under her top and over her skin. Stevie groaned against his mouth. After a minute, he dragged his mouth away and releasing her, he turned the key to start the car. “God I hope there’s no traffic” he said.