ROBERT BRIGHTON lived in Awbrey Butte, one of Bend’s most exclusive neighborhoods. The luxury homes sat high above the downtown skyline and had unobstructed views of the nearby mountains. The area also offered complete access to more than one golf course. Although I hadn’t yet seen it in action, Robert’s love of the game was the stuff of office legend. There was no doubt why he’d bought a home in this part of town.
It was difficult to tell how old the homes in Awbrey Butte were. To my East Coast eyes, everything in Oregon was new compared to the architecture in Baltimore. As I drove my car on the circular drive of the Brighton home and took in the sight of their six-car garage, I wondered if Kathleen had been raised in this mansion. Everything about her was so unassuming, I had a tough time imagining the well-manicured and ornate property as her childhood home.
I pulled to a stop next to the main entrance of the house, and a young valet greeted me. I exited my new BMW and allowed the young man to park the car at a nearby, albeit undisclosed, location. I stood underneath the outdoor chandelier and peered between two column pillars as my only means of escape disappeared into the darkness.
Behind me, the festivities inside the Brighton home were well underway. It sounded as though most of my coworkers were already inside. Truth be told, I was waiting for the first opportunity to summon for my car and go back home. The days since I’d begun divorce proceedings with Allison had been difficult and drained my energy. Heide missed her mother a great deal but was beginning to accept our new way of life, partially because I had gone out of my way to make her as comfortable as I could. Spending all my social energy on her meant I had no reserves left for anyone else.
Tonight, Heide was enjoying a sleepover at a friend’s house. I’d dropped her off on my way to the Brighton house and just before she dashed away for the evening, she’d startled me by asking if I was taking a date to the party. When I told her no, she wasn’t disappointed.
It was a rare night off, and I was trying to talk myself into enjoying it. But I was having trouble relating to others at the office. Everyone was polite and respectful, but the only person I’d gotten a chance to know was Kathleen. To my dismay, her guard had gone up as soon as Robert had assigned us to work the Portland event together. I had responded in kind, halting our more casual interactions. Our brief exchanges at work were now only about our mutual project.
I buttoned my suit jacket and gave myself an uninspiring pep talk as I passed into the foyer of the Brighton mansion. I wandered the first floor of the home, exchanging a few simple greetings with my colleagues until I spotted the bar. The hosts of the party were nowhere to be found, so I was content to nurse my first beer on my own.
I sought out a quiet corner and let my eyes roam the groups of other guests throughout the large room. They were animated and gathered in even-numbered packs. I appeared to be the only person without a date and grumbled to myself upon the realization.
Thirty minutes later, I traded an empty bottle for my second beer and decided it was time to explore other parts of the house. I strolled into the living room, which was less populated than the room with the bar. The large stone fireplace on the far end caught my attention, but it was the woman sitting on the hearth who captivated me. I halted midstep when I saw her.
Kathleen was dazzling. I’d never seen her in evening wear and I was unprepared for the appearance of this goddess. The merest glimpse of her at the party was enough to make me forget my unease. Her midnight-blue dress was gorgeous against her pale skin. I couldn’t take my eyes away from her.
The soft firelight caressed her perfect face, but something wasn’t right. She held a champagne flute in her left hand, the bubbling liquid untouched. She was alone. Her eyes were distant and unblinking. Lost within her own thoughts, she was unaware of everything around her.
Her sadness pulled me to her with gravitational force. I closed half the distance between us until I reached the side of a large, brown leather sofa. She hadn’t noticed my approach, but my eyes never left her. I sat down on the arm of the couch, beer in hand and one foot set on the floor. I was prepared to move either forward or backward, just as soon as I made up my mind.
I waited for a couple of minutes, convincing myself that her foolish date must have walked away. She must have been waiting for him, waiting for someone to celebrate a toast with. Whoever the prick was, he made me furious. I was angry he would date her. I was mad he would leave her. I was livid he would make her look as sad as I felt.
Time passed and no one else appeared. I waited with anticipation for Kathleen to notice my presence and considered my options. If she was at the party with a date, even a selfish one, I would retreat. But if she was alone, like me, perhaps we could salvage the night together.
Kathleen’s beauty was undeniable. I’d noticed it from the moment we met. She’d always been attractive, but now I was free to indulge my sweltering curiosity. I allowed the idea to swirl around my brain, absorbing the permission to look at her anew. Once comfortable with the thought, my eyes moved over her body with intense deliberation.
Her long hair was pinned up in a style never worn at the office. Her neck was exposed, leaving me to wonder how many minutes I could spend brushing my lips over every inch of her creamy skin. My nomadic gaze rested on the bustline of her cocktail dress that made viewing the tops of her breasts easy. Kathleen was tall and slender with a fine figure highlighted by an attractive curve of her hips.
Her naked body would no doubt be ample and soft.
The hemline of her dress was shorter than the skirts she wore at the office, allowing me to glimpse her stunning legs to mid-thigh. She’d always been beautiful, but now I allowed myself to admit how sexy she was, too. I sat a few feet away from her, undetected, watching her sit by the fire on a lonely winter’s night.
A woman had never aroused me this much.
I began to rise from the arm of the sofa, prepared to take that next step toward her, but then my eyes returned to her face, and I was reminded of her sadness. Whatever was on her mind was profound, and I’d been mere seconds away from adding to her complications. I wasn’t a happy-go-lucky man. I was in the middle of a divorce with a young daughter who needed me. My marriage to Allison was over, but I wasn’t free to explore the possibilities with Kathleen.
The weight of reality pushed me back down on the couch, but I didn’t stay for long. Just long enough to memorize the fine details of Kathleen’s profile. Here was someone else like me in this universe. Someone battling her own set of demons, but she never blamed others for whatever ailed her. She was graceful and strong, and I yearned for an ounce of her wisdom to help me navigate my upcoming challenges. This magnificent woman had me entranced.
I wanted to rise and ravish her body. Instead, I sat and allowed her goodness to fill my spirit before walking away.
She left my sight, but she never left my mind. I tried to mingle with others at the party, but I found the small talk annoying. Their proximity was stifling. I wanted to be left alone. I wanted to think about Kathleen and nothing else for the few peaceful hours I had that evening. When I was sure I couldn’t fake my way through another minute of conversation, I wandered upstairs, seeking total privacy. I ducked into one of the bedrooms and discovered a door that opened to the outside.
Fresh air was a great idea, so I strolled over and unlocked the bolt. I stepped onto the upper balcony of the immense home. The upper tier was a fair distance from the ground and ran the full length of the west side of the house. It was well past sunset, so I couldn’t see the mountains, but I knew Bend well enough to distinguish I was staring in their direction.
With everyone else enjoying the party on the main floor of the house, I found some welcome solitude. The air was chilly, but not unlike other winter evenings I’d experienced throughout my lifetime. I placed my hands on the railing and let my head drop, exposing the back of my neck to the December breeze. It was too warm indoors and the brisk air felt good on my skin. I brought my thoughts back to the gorgeous, sad woman sitting by the fireplace. I started thinking about Kathleen, and this time I allowed my thoughts to wander. Within moments, they were drifting into a vivid fantasy.
I recalled the flattering bustline of her party dress. The outfit pushed her breasts together in a delightful fashion, lifting them high and forward. I found myself focusing on that image. Seeing more of her feminine shape than she’d ever allowed at the office was an exceptional thrill.
If only she were here with me now. Just the two of us.
I wanted to unzip her dress and expose her pert breasts to the night sky, right there in the middle of the party. The prospect was exciting. I wanted to place her in front of me, holding her back to my chest. From behind, I could wrap my arms around her to caress her naked skin. Given the opportunity, my touch would linger on her nipples, so I could watch them harden against the winter air. The reverie was so strong, I could almost feel her hands reach back to grip my thighs, a signal that she wanted more than just my fingertips on her breasts.
I imagined stepping out from behind her, kissing her roughly and pushing my tongue inside her mouth before backing her up against the wall of the house. I wanted to feel her naked body press against my chest. I wanted her to experience the passion trapped inside me. With the two of us enveloped in dark shadows, I would kneel in front of her, hike up her skirt and tug her lacy, black underwear to the side.
I wondered if she would be bare. I hoped that she wasn’t. I wanted to enjoy myself as I explored the hidden desires of her most intimate beauty. Tasting her. Licking her. Pressing my face in between those beautiful legs of hers would assuredly drive me into a frenzy. I’d make sure neither of us would be concerned about the guests milling inside the house. I’d make her forget everything but my tongue on her body. I’d whisper against her thigh, begging for her fingers to grasp my head, holding me tight against her. I’d vocalize my pleasure against her soft skin, and I’d ensure her legs would tremble around my face as I offered her a large orgasm.
When I’d feel her come, I’d raise my eyes to watch her. I visualized Kathleen with complete clarity, picturing her lovely face as she tilted it up to the stars. Her heated breath would be visible in the chilled nighttime air. Her bliss would only enhance her exquisiteness.
I returned from the intense fantasy, gripping the balcony railing with white knuckles. I’d been swept away by the moment. My heart was pounding, and I exhaled the air I’d been holding. As the indulgence of our imaginary sexual encounter consumed me, I’d developed a massive erection. I adjusted myself and paced the balcony, forced to endure my newfound desire for Kathleen without satisfaction.
When I was able to return to the party, I couldn’t stop myself. I went looking for her, determined to punish myself. I couldn’t make Kathleen mine for many reasons. Reasons that added up inside my head as I descended the main staircase inside her father’s house. But none of these reasons were enough, either on their own or collectively, to dissuade my mission. I’d been lost for months, even years, wandering in a loveless desert. Only Kathleen could quench my thirst. She was my long-sought-after oasis. Even if all I could do was sit in the same room with her and drink in the sight of her, it was more than enough.
I returned to the living room, ready for anything. Prepared for everything, except for what I found—an abandoned champagne flute, the bubbly still untouched.