Confessions of a libra

Credit: Here

15.05.25

The game was afoot! Kate found herself nervously twisting the watch on her wrist. One minute to go, she steeled herself. In truth it had been at least a couple of years since she and John had allowed themselves this time. Time to be, time to nurse the relationship and the people they had grown to be. The kids were now well and truly gone, moved on to the next iterations of their life, forcing Kate and John to finally look at each other. Laid bare by the dwindling responsibilities.

Kate walked into the bar of the hotel. She conjured memories of an earlier version of herself, spritely and seductive. She channelled her as she walked to the bar, ample hips swaying hypnotically. The bartender gave her a short curt nod, as he finished up an order. Kate took a deep breath and perused her surroundings. The colours were warm, the drinks cool, the people many and well-engrossed in socialising. Before John, she never would have been to places like this. He had unlocked her mind from the cage of a sheltered upbringing. Kate nearly jumped from a disembodied voice, deep and ragged speaking from outside her line of sight.

“Two gin and tonics thanks,” he spoke in his signature husk.

A hand came up to her collarbone as she steadied her nerves and reminded herself of who she was. She reminded herself that she was safe in this man’s arms. She turned to face him fully. It took her breath away as she upraised him. She noticed his new hair cut. He finally got the cut she always said would suit him. He was breath-taking. His grey hairs artfully woven in, reflecting all the life they had seen together.

“Two gin and tonics, ey? And who is the lucky woman?” She volleyed in a cheeky tone.

“You,” he said simply. Eyes boring into hers.

Kate laughed and felt her body soften. “Do you always approach women you don’t know like this?”

“Only the hot ones,” he quipped. He offered his hand. Kate placed hers in his, while projecting confusion. He brought her hand up to his lips and while looking into her eyes he said, “I’m John by the way, pleasure to make your acquaintance.”

The magic happened once they were seated at a table. Somehow they had reached for each other and were talking while leaned in. Attention entirely focused on the little universe they had cultivated between them. Gone were the obligations, instead replaced by heady passion. Kate admired how crows feet looked like they belonged to him. Like he was always meant to embody the beauty of the passage of time.

John looked at his wife-turned-stranger with equal fascination. In her he saw the woman who had birthed three of his children. The woman who had been there for every sick day, for every meltdown and for every job crisis he ever had. In her, he saw a beauty that transcended time. John always loved how she put herself together like she belonged in a photoshoot. He could never match up to her style and elegance but she had shown him a thing or two. He was always grateful, despite having insisted on the same haircut for 20 years.

In honour of tradition and nostalgia, Kate had gone out of her way to source an old scent she used to wear when she was in University. It was a surprise it hadn’t yet been discontinued. She used to wear that scent exclusively on her dates with him because it was her favourite scent back then. Over dinner, Kate had noticed John’s eyes darken every time he went to kiss her hand, triggered by the scent. She lived for the thrill of flooding his senses before they got to the main course, ravaging each other.

“I’m staying in room 303…if you would like to join me,” John offered first.

Kate couldn’t withhold the blush that spread across her cheeks. “I’m not that kind of woman, sleeping with men I don’t know on the first date.”

John chuckled and interlaced his fingers with hers from across the table. The look in his eyes hot and piercing.

“What if you could be that kind of woman for one night? What if you could just let go?” His tone of voice sent all sorts of heat pooling.

His fingers firmly claiming hers, his gaze hot and unabashedly checking out the rack she put on display. Kate wondered if she was dreaming. Could they really go back to being like this? Soft, yearning, hot and ready? It felt like John was offering her a lifeline. He had been the most vocal that their relationship just needed to be fanned back to an inferno. His confidence had been her anchor and in this moment, his radiating need for only her became her compass.

“Say, I come up there with you. Tell me how you would show a lady a good time,” Kate almost surprised herself with the cheek.

John took the bait, seeming to only intensify in his seduction. A lopsided smirk splayed on his lips.

‘Firstly, putting on some jazz music. I have a feeling that’s right up your alley. We can talk, no rush. We can drink. I’ll stare hopelessly into your eyes. I’ll listen to your every worry and conviction. I’ll offer advice only if you need it. And best of all…” he leaned in closer to whisper. “I’ll fuck you like it’s ’99.”

Kate’s breath caught, a mixture of disbelief and desire. She couldn’t help the full body flush. The air was suddenly too thick and she was sure everyone was in on this. A sudden urge to leave overcame her. She wanted him more than she had ever wanted him. The way she wanted him on their wedding night. The thought that they had survived everything that had suffocated so many others, made her feel immense gratitude. If this was the man she would be following, then she would follow him until the end of time. Into the abyss, into age and fragility. With a fierce look in her eye, the look that made John almost short circuit every time, she finally responded.

“Then take me.”