EXTRACT FOR
A Sendoff For Young Soldiers
(Nicola Nichols)

Carl surprised her by taking the initiative, talking to her about what might happen after the Army, about his desire to work with race cars. He was articulate and rather witty. She happily quit trying to think of things to say and let the conversation flow.



At one point he got out his phone and sent a text message. "Just want to let my buddies know I haven't left town ??" and remind them that I don't know where the part will be." 



That seemed entirely reasonable. At that moment, the entire world actually seemed more or less reasonable. She was drifting, letting herself get swept up in the here and now of a drink, a charming young man, but she was enjoying herself for the first time in a long time. In that dark booth in the back of the bar, time seemed to vanish. After a couple of drinks, she felt a jolt, a physical shock. Carl had put his hand on her knee. After a moment, is wayward hand began creeping toward her crotch. "What are you doing, Carl?"



"Exactly what you think I'm doing, Stella. I'm putting my hand on your leg. I love touching you. I want to touch your bare skin, have yours against mine."



The room felt much warmer now. "I'm Bud's mother."



He leaned toward her, looking her in the eye, his brown eyes soft and inviting in the dim light. "That's true. But it doesn't change the fact that you are a beautiful, lonely woman. And I think you like me. I think you are attracted to me."



"But..."



"In case you don't know, I've wanted you since I can remember. I think I've ached for you since puberty. I didn't want to admit it, not out loud, to you. I was just a boy. But now, here we are in a hotel bar, and years down the road."



His hand moved up under the short hem of her skirt, his fingers caressing her thigh and making her tremble. Her body told her she wanted him as much as her brain told her it was wrong. Unfortunately, her brain also agreed it was exciting. "But Carl..."



"If I'm offending you, I apologize. I'll stop if you ask me to. Tell me you don't want me to touch you, that you don't like the feeling of my hand on warm flesh, that it isn't getting you wet... tell me that and I'll stop."



She needed to tell him, to make him stop, but she couldn't get the words out. And if she could say them, they'd be a lie. "I..."



"I think you are so damn sexy and I'm betting Bud's father doesn't come close to satisfying you in bed, Stella. I'm guessing he doesn't even try. I think I can. And I'd like to try."



Today was the first time she'd heard him say her name, and it stunned her. He'd done it deliberately, of course, trying to close the age gap and make her see him as a man. As if that was necessary. She kept trying to tell him he had to stop, but she couldn't speak, and the inexorable movement of his fingers finally reached her pussy. He stroked her through her damp panties, tracing the line between her now swollen lips. The shockwave it triggered froze her in place.



"Carl..." She wondered if she'd ever finish a sentence again, or even have a complete thought.



"It's lovely having a drink with you and all that polite shit, but I'd rather get out of here. We can go to your room. You said you wanted to give me a nice sendoff. I'll bet you could give me something worth coming back for."



"What?"



"I want to fuck you until neither of us can see straight."