Chapter 1

The spring day was cool but the sun was out and the morning was quickly warming. He watched her finish preparing, putting on her skirt and top and running a brush through her hair, as they were departing for a late morning brunch. He figured the restaurant in the lobby would be adequate or there were more available only blocks away. As much as he wanted to stay in the room rubbing and caressing her, his need for food had overcome him and she had opted against room service.

The room opened to the lobby although they were on the fourth floor. A walkway and a glass railing opened to the vast expanse, rooms opposite them and the lobby, restaurant and lounge below. There was the quiet hum of people going about their business. As she approached the railing to look over, a stab of excitement and desire swept over him. He hadn't seen her put on panties. He really wasn't watching that close in the room. Perhaps she'd slipped into the restroom and put them on there. Or perhaps the people below were getting a far better view than they'd anticipated. He doubted if it mattered much. No one there seemed to even take note; likely too consumed by their own goings on. He looked her in the eyes as they strode to the elevator searching in vain for a clue to her under-garments. She simply smiled slightly revealing nothing and waited patiently for the car to arrive.

It was Saturday, shortly after 11 am. Many of the guests at the hotel had already left for the day but in the elevator car they were still joined by a man and a woman in suits, obviously intense business people discussing quietly the details of some sort of merger, a woman in a bathing suit wrapped in a robe heading to the pool, and a man in a hotel uniform most likely maintenance or security. As they'd entered the car first he found himself in the corner, she was standing in front of him and a little off the wall. Beside him was the woman in the swimsuit and the others were in front the uniformed man taking his place in front of the control panel. The car descended but soon came to a stop at the third floor. Another couple entered dressed casually and arguing about the day's activities.

She took the opportunity of the additional passengers and stepped backward until she was just touching him. With the subtlest of movements he drew his hand up her thigh still searching for the underwear. First his fingertips then his nails drew almost imperceptibly up her leg. He watched with great excitement feeling her skin under his fingers and scanning the woman in the bathing suit for any sign of recognition of his actions. The car began moving again and he felt a since of urgency as the two and the one ticked by and the "L" on the display over the door lit up. The doors opened and he'd only made it just to the top of her hip. He knew full well she had panties that actually sat higher than that but as the people exited the cab, he had to relinquish his searching. The woman in the swim-suit made a move for the door, he turned slightly, concealing his hand on her thigh, invited the woman to proceed, and with a slight tug at the fabric straightened her skirt as she moved toward the door.

They started for the restaurant positioned in the middle of the expansive lobby and greeted the host with a nod and smile. The man looked them up and down and retrieved two menus from a shelf adjacent the small podium. "Two for brunch?" he asked already knowing the answer.

"Have you got a little, out of the way, corner booth? We're looking for a lazy kind of chillaxing meal," he stated with naturally deep tones and confidence. His hand rested casually on her back and he stepped slightly forward to be uncomfortably close to the host. His free hand extended and with a grace and fluidity the host retrieved the folded bill from him, turning and taking a large stride over the threshold.

"Sir, I have the perfect table for you. Right this way."

He saw her glance up at him, slightly smiling, but maybe a little put off ... He couldn't tell exactly but did not look to confirm. He felt this was his domain and her, his guest. He could get things done and take care of her here. All she needed to do was relax and let him. Her glance quickly shifted to the ornately set tables with candles centering each one, multiple collections of utensils each varying slightly from its predecessor and extravagantly folded cotton napkins resting on each of the plates. They passed numerous other tables with people already in various stages of their meals, chatting quietly or sipping what remained of their coffee from small delicate cups. At last the host led them to a booth, high frosted glass walls on two sides, an empty table creating a dead-end to the path through the restaurant. The host stepped to one side and he guided her gently but firmly past the host to slide into the booth facing the other tables. He thanked the host and confirmed that this was perfect before sliding in next to her. The host handed them their menus and excused himself stating the waiter would be along shortly to get them whatever they needed.

He glanced over the menu quickly suddenly not very hungry and looked past the booth to the others enjoying their meals. The closest occupied table to them was some 15 feet away and on the other side of a partition splitting the space down the middle. A man sat with his back to the partition and a woman facing him. She was leaned over the table talking intently to the man. From the angle she would have to turn her head well around to look at the two of them getting settled in their booth. The frosted glass walls must have framed the walkway on the other side because they could clearly hear the chatter of the people passing by and could make out the shadows and shapes through the glass. From his seat on the outside of the bench he could clearly see all the way down the path through the tables and recognized the waiter as he approached. This, he agreed, was the perfectly secluded little table. The skylights some six stories overhead bathed the whole lobby in warm sunlight and beneath the hum of the den there was soft music playing.

The waiter approached his spotless white apron and black shirt contrasting sharply on his lean figure. "Exceptional day isn't it?" he asked with a practiced respect and genuine appreciation for the warm glow in the room.

"It is indeed," he paused slightly glancing once more at the menu. "I think I'll have a mocha, and something simple, like a cranberry muffin."

"Excellent sir," the waiter took his menu and shifted his glance to her, "and for the lady?"

She was staring at the menu terrified, shifting in her seat and glancing from page to page. It was in French, he knew she didn't have the slightest idea what she was looking at. She began to raise a nervous finger, but he reached over and took the menu from her gently and folded it handing it smoothly to the waiter. "Now," he began ever so gently, "what sounds good for breakfast?"

"I'd like some orange juice," she looked timidly at the waiter smiling back at her, "and some French toast?"

"Of course miss," the waiter replied kindly, "and anything else? Perhaps some bacon or ham?"

"Do you have some fruit?"

"Of course," a smile stretching at the waiter's lips. His glance shifted back to him, "That will be all?"

"That will do, thank you," he replied. The waiter nodded and turned striding between the swinging doors into the kitchen. She looked at him preparing to confront him with her embarrassment and displeasure but was interrupted by his hand squeezing her leg firmly underneath the table. Her eyes softened with his touch, it was caring and securing.

"Maybe after lunch we should go take some pictures. I'd hate for you to have brought your camera all this way for nothing," she said teasingly.

He took a long moment to think about this comment. They had discussed erotic photos in the past and he'd brought his camera on the off chance an opportunity might present itself to photograph her. But her comment almost presented as a, "let's go somewhere and take pictures of the scenery" idea. Even after considerable contemplation he still wasn't confident in her intensions. "I would enjoy that tremendously." He finally replied, still not sure what he was agreeing to.