Will you please tell me how it is that I am to survive until you return back to my embrace?  Until my eyes, hands and lips can caress you?  Today is only Sunday and you will not return to me until Friday.  How can life be so cruel. 

     Well my darling, I know that when you arrive on Friday evening how tired you will be, and just to give you something to look forward to, this is what Friday evening will be like for you, for us, my love.

     The drive home was unbearable for you, I know.  The rain, the cold, the traffic.

     As you rush from the car to the door and are busy struggling with the key in the lock while cold drops of rain trickle down your neck, you smile as you see one single red rose taped to the door along with a note which delicately reads, "welcome home my love".

     Once inside, you quickly remove your shoes and damp coat and drop your bags to the floor, for on the counter you see an intriguing note written on soft, pink stationary.  You pick up the note and hold it to your nose and slowly inhale - enjoying the scent before you read it: 

      "I'm glad you made it home safe and sound; that you have come home to  me.  Now it is time to peel off all the dusty layers of the days thoughts and events and strip you to the bare essence of you - the real you,,, the you we both know so very well and love even more.  A steamy bath awaits you, my
darling, then, later, there will be more steam."

     The note is simply signed with the red mark made by a slightly parted, pair of lips.  You smile. 

     You know.

     As you walk toward the bathroom, various soft fragrances drift to greet you.  Candles, bubble bath.  Before you enter the room, you smile in anticipation of what awaits you. 

     The room is lit by many candles which sit upon every available flat surface.  They flicker, dance as if all waving, enticing you to enter, warmly welcome you.  Tiny shadows play upon the walls.  Beside the tub, a bottle of white wine sits tilted inside a bucket of ice, condensation slowly trickles down its side and two glasses of the white liquid pleasure quietly wait, as do the tiny shrimp which cling to the sides of a bowl of red sauce.  Gentle wisps of steam rise from the white, fluffy foaming bubbles which overflow from the tub.  They are all performers patiently waiting for your arrival to entertain you.

     The soft, relaxing sounds of smooth jazz floats through the air along with the smells emitted by the candles and bubble bath.

Again you smile and begin to shed the clothes which have clung to and covered your body for too many hours. 

Now a sip of wine, and as the first stimulations of the liquid warmth reaches through your mouth, tantalizing your lips, tongue and finally, down your throat, you close your eyes and smile again, enjoying the release that the environment has provided you. 

Only 10 minutes from stepping out of the rain, and you are immersed in another world

     A long sigh.  Your head gently leans back against the tiny plastic pillow that is placed  there for that purpose, your eyes close and your breathing becomes very slow and deep.

     Minutes pass and you are lost in pleasant thoughts and warm images of past experiences; warm spring days at the beach, hot summer nights between cool sheets, slow intimate dances in dark nightclubs, long leisurely afternoons deliriously wasted before roaring fires as snow relentlessly falls outside and we, relentless inside.  You think, you drift.

     This startles you, but only for a second, and your eyes lazily open.  You smile and with a foam covered hand, reach around the back of my neck, pulling me closer to you.  It is evident that your lips want mine upon them and I, of course, cooperate.

     The kiss is long, slow and passionate.  Your tongue reaching, wanting to dance with mine, wanting to explore, to taste.

     Finally, I speak, "You are hungry?"

     "Oh yes," you whisper and smile.

     I reach to the shrimp plate, run one of the tiny sea pleasures through the spicy sauce then bring it toward my mouth, painting my bottom lip with red before taking the white meat between my teeth.  Now, I lean in close to you and before I can "give" you the snack, you mouth hungrily meets mine to take it.  You bite the shrimp in half, pulling it into your mouth, and with your tongue and lips begin to take as much of the sauce off my lips as possible, your tongue probing, searching for more.  The kiss continues and my lips leave your mouth and travel down your neck, then toward your ear. 

     You are groaning now,  pulling me toward you.

     I stand before you and allow my bathrobe to drop onto the floor, before stepping into the tub then slowly sit facing you, my legs straddling yours.  I reach over and hold your hands, while staring intently into your eyes.

     "Still hungry?" I ask.

     "Oh yes," you respond and smile...

     Hurry home to me my love.  I wait.

     O..