Only One Kiss ... and the hormones are going crazy!

Oh shit! …


Feeling frustrated, she stares at the beach packed with sun-hungry bodies. She was really not prepared for this sight. She had been looking forward to cooling down and overcomes her impulse to turn back.

It is late afternoon in early July. On the island of Corfu, it is very warm and the high humidity does the rest. Sighing, she wipes her hand over her sweaty forehead and dries it off on her airy summer dress. Close by, between a family with children, sand castles and a couple dozing face down on a bath towel, she finds a sandy space, just big enough to spread out her pareo.
Minutes later she runs down to the sea in her red bikini and dives into the refreshing crystal-clear water. The sun sparkles on the waves. A white sailing boat glides leisurely towards the harbour. Seagulls fly loudly along the coast in search of food, while she swims far out to sea with powerful strokes.

Her chest rises and drops violently as she falls, exhausted, on her pareo after the marathon. With a pleasant sigh she lolls deep into the warm sand and fades the active beach life out to a muffled murmur. A small smile appears on her face as she relaxes and listens, with her eyes closed, to the gentle lapping of the waves. A light breeze caresses her hot skin. Hmmm … Simply heavenly …

When she feels something bothering her back, she changes position and stares confusingly into two cheeky fawn eyes. As a reflex she wants to turn around, but she feels hypnotized. Breathlessly, she notices how the gaze subtly changes and the mocking expression in it disappears.

A striking face is part of these intense, yet gentle eyes. His full, sensual lips, are only a few centimetres away from hers, which she involuntarily wets with the tip of her tongue. Hopefully he didn’t notice anything! … And if so. What’s the matter with lying next to a strange man and staring at his lips, she thinks, ironically. But what lips! How much she would like to kiss them now. Maybe they are still a little salty from swimming?

She abandons herself entirely to the images of her fantasy and dreamily closes her eyes. With the tip of her tongue she glides slowly and with pleasure along the contours of his seductive mouth. His lips twitch under this tender touch and open slightly. She cannot withstand this subtle invitation. Her tongue gently slides into his mouth and courageously gropes her way boldly, and bravely, forward. An explosion of emotions makes her tremble. There is only her, these lips and that not-to-be-forgotten kiss.
As she moves slightly, warm sand trickles down her leg. How sexy that feels. And then this stranger close enough to touch. How would he react if she really kissed him? Delightfully, she loses herself again in her dream world. She feels his hand. At first, tentatively, then a little more boldly, fingertips slide over the delicate skin of her thighs. Her hands get wet. She starts to blink nervously and realizes with embarrassment that he is watching her. All at once, a loud voice tears her from this intoxicating state.
“Come on Darling, let’s get into the water. I’m hot.”
His girlfriend has got up and is tapping his butt impatiently with her foot. As he slowly gets up, his regretful looks never let her out of sight. He discreetly lifts his right hand in greeting, and then quickly follows his partner with long strides. Annoyed, she shakes her head at her irrational behaviour and quickly packs up her swimming equipment. She hopes so much to find an email from him at home. What did the last class reunion trigger in her!

***

She had a crush for the first time as a teenager. Whenever he spoke to her, she uttered incomprehensible tones, blushed and her hands got wet. Her secret treasure was the darling of the whole class. He wasn’t very tall, but no-one could resist his sweet smile.
How much she would have loved to make out after school, feel grown up, be envied by others. But she wasn’t one of the cool favourites. She was not particularly pretty. Didn’t dress in trendy fashions like miniskirts, bright colours or tight jeans. On the contrary, she was often teased by classmates because of her long, lanky figure. The ugly braces she had to wear day and night also didn’t help to strengthen her sagging self-esteem.

She put all hope in the ski camp. For weeks there was no other topic of conversation other than who was kissing whom. But he hardly paid any attention to her. And she was too shy to show him her feelings for fear of being mocked.

***

50 years later, she almost missed the class reunion. In early summer of 2019 in the Black Forest, everything will be prepared for a great weekend in a wellness hotel and rooms will be reserved. The welcome aperitif was scheduled for 11 a.m.

She takes a deep breath of fresh air through the wide-open car window. Her chin-length blonde hair is tossed in the wind as she drives towards Feldberg in joyful anticipation. With the radio turned on, she drums around on the steering wheel to the rhythm of the music. She looks forward to meeting her former classmates and is curious to see what has become of them. Will he be there too? What will he look like? Suddenly she smiles. Will her knees still tremble when she faces him? She laughs brightly and shakes her head. You’re crazy! What’s the matter with you? You are no longer a teenager, but a woman with an exciting and emotional past.

Abruptly she steps on the brakes. “Shit, shit, now of all times!” The road down to the hotel, by the lake, is closed! Like a headless chicken, she curves over the Feldberg and curses her way through the labyrinth of roadblocks and diversions. When she wants to capitulate, utterly disappointed, she finds her way to the lake with the help of a few risky maneouvres.

The class comrades are already eating when she finally arrives, completely exhausted. She is lively received and bombarded with lewd jokes about GPS and so forth. Someone gives her a warm hug and welcomes her with a glass of prosecco. The pent-up frustration rolls off her like water off a duck’s back.

She catches her breath. There he sits! In the happy group she discovers her youth crush. At 67, he still looks handsome. Well-trained body, striking face with white, loosely back combed hair and the same, outrageously attractive smile that made her head spin already back then.

She sits down in an empty chair directly across from him. When their eyes meet, a small firework explodes inside her. With a pounding heart, she turns away. That’s impossible! After all these years does it really crackle between us? You’re just imagining it! … And if you do, what is wrong with a little flirtation? The stay will be all the more delightful.

The noise level rises considerably as the mood becomes more exuberant from hour to hour. She cautiously seeks to be around him during the afternoon and evening, but someone is always quicker. She would like to know more about him. Does he have kids? Maybe he’s widowed like herself?

As she says goodnight, she clearly announces that she wants to go to the wellness area the next morning. She sincerely hopes that he has heard her and that he will come.

It’s well past midnight. She cannot sleep. She lies on the bed with her eyes closed and dreams. She opens the door to the spa and sees him sitting in the jacuzzi. He is alone. In a cleverly cut black bathing suit that brings out her feminine curves, she slowly climbs into the water with him. Without the slightest trace of haste, she puts an arm around his neck. Her other hand gently caresses his cheek until her fingers playfully catch his hair. She observes how he closes his eyes and becomes more courageous. She kisses his mouth tenderly. As her lips slide over his neck, she feels him shudder. He gently pulls her into his arms. A slight tremour runs through her body as his fingertips gently caress her back down to her hips. He hugs her closer so that she can feel his excitement.
Troubled, she runs into the bathroom and splashes cold water on her flushed face.
You’re insane! What are you getting into? And this at your age! Ok, ok, take a deep breath. It’s just the hormones that go crazy.

The next morning the blow hits her. She overslept! In a flash she changes and runs down to the wellness area. She opens the door expectantly. Two pretty mermaids lie next to him in the whirlpool and smile mischievously at her. She could have slapped herself. Missed a charming opportunity. She can go whistle to try to talk to him alone or even find out what his kisses taste like. Powerless, she has to watch as the three soon afterwards jokingly say goodbye and leave her alone at “the place of relaxation”. Shit! To let off steam, she vigorously swims a few laps in the pool.

After breakfast, WhatsApp numbers are eagerly exchanged. And so that she doesn’t get stuck in the diversion mess again, someone makes the suggestion that she should drive behind him since they would practically have the same route.

“Could you drive to a petrol station as soon as we are back on Swiss soil, as my fuel will soon run out?”, she asks him, somewhat embarrassed.
He smiles and gives her a sign to follow him. Nothing better than that!
While she stares blankly at the petrol gauge at the filling station, he leans, relaxed, against the car, the mobile phone pressed to his ear. She completely screwed it up. It will be months before another class reunion. Valuable time, in which she doesn’t get any younger, prettier or more desirable.

The tank is full. That’s it then. Awkwardly, she thanks him for his help. When she wants to give him a friendly hug as she says goodbye, she suddenly feels his lips on hers for a brief moment. Frozen, she watches as he gets into his car and waves at her with a smile. Seconds later, he’s gone.

Noooooo!!! Come back!! You can’t just leave like that now …
Missed this opportunity too!

***

She spends the winter months in Switzerland, in Crans-Montana, a ski resort with a wonderful view of the mountains. After her husband, a Greek, died a few years ago, she lives there alone in a tastefully-furnished, small apartment on the ground floor. She came from Greece, her second home, especially for the class reunion. She can’t sleep. Her thoughts revolve around him and that one fleeting kiss. I am being absolutely ridiculous!

She is sitting in the car in the underground car park of the supermarket and stares with a pounding heart at a WhatsApp message from him. Never would she have dared to hope that he would reply … And then so quickly!


13.6.2019

Hi Baby, I’m with you on the Way of St. James to Santiago. I like your book very much. It reminds me of the trip I made from Alaska to Tierra del Fuego. I am curious how it proceeds from there. Best regards, Stranger and Shiro.


After the sudden death of her husband, she made a pilgrimage in 2009 with her sister on the Way of St. James through Spain and then published her emotional and exciting experiences. A school friend loaned him this book, “James”. She is too excited to write back immediately and drives home. Before she puts the groceries away, she sits down in her comfortable leather armchair and reads his message again.


13.6.2019

Hey Stranger, you will not only get to know the Way and my battered feet but also take a look into my soul. Writing helped me. It was my therapy to come to terms with what fate dealt me. Did you drive part of the route from Alaska to Tierra del Fuego or did you also walk? That’s thousands of kilometres! Is Shiro your dog? Sleep well and sweet dreams.


He writes back immediately and sends her a photo of his cute dog lying in the closet, asleep.


I look forward to the transmigration of souls with you Baby. Did the big trip with my friend Franz and a self-expanded VW bus exactly 40 years ago. Some of the distances, in the Grand Canyon, in Central America and in the Andes we covered on foot. And we went jogging every morning. But I already had the really big and difficult tours behind me. Mountain infantry! About 20km with 40kg luggage on the “Churer Joch” with skis and skins. Once at the top, we built igloos to sleep in. Yes, Shiro is my four-legged friend. Sleep well too Baby. Greetings, Stranger.


The sun is still hiding behind the mountain peaks when she yawns heartily and lolls with relish in bed. But then she is wide awake. She grabs the mobile phone, which is close at hand on the bed and writes.


14.6.2019

Good morning Stranger. Does the name Shiro have a special meaning? I have so many questions about your adventurous youth trips, but it is hard with WhatsApp. I have to write each word 2-3 times. Too fat fingers! Do you have Skype? It would make it easier to chat.


14.6.2019

Good morning Baby. His name has no special meaning. His parents are Bonnie and Clyde. He was born with 3 brothers in the shelter. I don’t have Skype, but you can email me. Is water-skiing your sport in summer? Cool! Saw a photo in the class chat.

Love, Stranger


Lost in thought, she sits outside on the terrace and stares at the grandiose, snow-covered mountain peaks that tower into the cloudless sky. In front of her on the table, ready to use, is the PC.

Yesterday she told her two best friends, Marlène and Eddy, about the school meeting. But she ironically trivialized the sweet interlude at the petrol station. The two smelled blood and did their best to squeeze all the juicy details out of her. Unsuccessfully!

A smile floats on her face as she begins to write her first email to him.


14.6.2019 10.25 a.m.

Hey Stranger,

Thank you for your email address. I don’t water-ski much anymore as I prefer to swim. It’s safer. Multiple broken ribs and such …
It’s impressive where you’ve been already. You have seen a lot and experienced exciting things. It’s great that you had this courage back then and ran away from tight quarters. Travelling broadens your horizon. You learn a lot about other cultures, but also about yourself. I am interested in what you have done in the past 50 years to be who you are today. What defines you, what you have experienced …
Ok, let’s get started. With your announcement that 40 years ago you drove off from Alaska in a self-expanded VW bus to conquer the world with your friend. I think it’s fantastic. Before you escaped from the confines of your home country, you must have had your degree in engineering in your hand. At that time I too left everything behind me and ran away … But more on that another time.
You have achieved something fantastic that many would certainly envy you for. For sure it wasn’t always a walk in the park. No hot water, no shower, no soft bed … Or that maybe yes, haha … Basic food, just snakes or grilled grasshoppers. But to drive for hours through the untouched, open nature with the windows open. No villages, no highways, no noisy crowds. The wind blowing through your hair, the music from the Rolling Stones or Santana at maximum volume. Just splendid!!!
How long have you been on the road? I am already looking forward to hearing from you about some of the adventures. Especially the juicy ones!
My book, “Life’s Magical Moments” has just been published in the English version. Perhaps you might be interested?

Kind regards Baby


Marlène and Eddy surprised her today, Sunday, with a last-minute farewell barbecue-party and invited all of their friends. The weather is wonderful, the atmosphere is great, and the food is delicious. It’s nice to see everyone again before she goes back to Greece for a few months tomorrow.

After she has finished packing her suitcase, she sits down, relaxed, in an oversized cotton sweater and leggings outside on the terrace and enjoys the view of the mountains. It is always a special experience when the sun goes down and the mountains glow in the sunset red. On the table is a tray with prosecco and a plate with fresh fruit and cheese. She opens the PC and reads, joyfully, the email he wrote to her yesterday.


15.6.2019, 11.40 a.m.

Wow! Baby you’re really getting started with a bang. Thank you for your lovely email.
Just looked at it today. I’m always with my partner on weekends. That’s why I don’t have time to write something sensible to you.
I am very proud to have correspondence with an author. I will learn your story from your book about the pilgrimage. I am looking very much forward to it. Your sister and you were incredibly brave to just go hiking like that.
I will be happy to write to you about my life in my emails in time to come. I look forward to receiving all your messages Baby!
Kind regards and kisses

Stranger


Don’t act so surprised! Did you really believe that an attractive man like him would live alone? He sends “kisses” though!
Monday morning, at 5 a.m., she can no longer sleep. Her mind revolves around the class reunion and the kiss. Suddenly words form in her head. Wide awake, she grabs the PC and begins to write a poem.
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