AN ODD PLACE TO MEET SOMEONE... THE CEMETERY. I WAS ATTENDING THE FUNERAL OF A RELATIVE OF A FRIEND, AN ASSOCIATE REALLY, HELL... SOMEONE I HARDLY KNEW. AT THE MOMENT, I COULDN'T EVEN TELL YOU HIS NAME. BUT, I REMEMBER HERS. I REMEMBER TIFFANY SO WELL.

IT WAS ONE OF THOSE GREY CHICAGO DAYS. A SLIGHT DRIZZLE FELL LIGHTLY ON THE CROWD ASSEMBLED AT THE HOLY CROSS CEMETERY IN THE SUBURBS. OUR CLOTHES, EVEN THE COFFIN CONTAINING, OH... UM, WHAT'S HIS NAME SEEMED TO STAY RELATIVELY DRY. I WATCHED AS THE PRIEST GAVE HIS FINAL BLESSING, IN LATIN, AT THE FAMILY'S REQUEST. I WATCHED AS THE CROWD FADED, UNTIL ONLY THE WIDOW, THEIR CHILDREN AND THE PRIEST HUDDLED TOGETHER.

I WATCHED AS THE WIDOW COLLAPSED IN THE PRIESTS ARMS. I PITIED HER, I ADMIRED HER. I WAS SADDENED TO SEE ANYONE HURT SO MUCH, BUT I HAD TO ADMIRE THE LOVE SHE OBVIOUSLY FELT FOR HER HUSBAND. I FOUND MYSELF WONDERING IF ANYONE WOULD EVER FEEL THAT WAY ABOUT ME. NOT THAT I'D WANT SOMEONE TO SUFFER, BUT, I GUESS THAT WE'D ALL LIKE TO KNOW WE WERE MISSED. I WANTED TO SAY SOMETHING, I WANTED TO COMFORT HER, YET I TURNED AWAY.

THAT'S WHEN I SAW HER, THAT WAS WHEN I MET TIFFANY, THAT'S WHEN I WAS CAPTIVATED AND FELL IN LOVE. YOU MIGHT SAY, THAT'S WHEN I LOST MY SOUL TO THE DEVIL HIMSELF. SHE ASKED IF I KNEW THE DECEASED. NO, I ANSWERED, GIVING HER A QUIZZICAL LOOK. NO, SHE OFFERED IN RESPONSE: I JUST, I; SHE HESITATED: I JUST KNEW SOMEBODY WHO KNEW HIM. I LET OUT A NERVOUS GIGGLE OF RELIEF: ME TOO. WE BOTH SMILED AND FELL AWKWARDLY SILENT. I OFFERED MY NAME: I, A, ER... WAS I BECOMING A TOTAL IDIOT? I, ER... UM; THE STATE MOTTO IS TO TRY, TRY AGAIN: I'M DEAN, DEAN HOGAN. SPITTING OUT MY NAME, I OFFERED HER MY HAND. SHE SMILED AND TOLD ME THAT HER NAME WAS TIFFANY. WE HIT IT OFF, AND SHE OFFERED ME HER NUMBER.

BY NOW, EVEN THE BEREAVED WIDOW HAD GONE. WE STOOD ALONE, SHAKING HANDS. WE MADE A PACT TO MEET THE FOLLOWING WEEKEND. WE MADE A PACT. AT HOME, I FELT LIKE A TEENAGER... NERVOUSLY, I LOOK AT THE PHONE. I HESITATE, I REACH AND I DIAL THE NUMBER SHE GAVE ME. IN THE MOMENT OF SILENCE, AFTER I DIAL, BUT BEFORE IT RINGS, I DOUBT SHE GAVE ME HER REAL NUMBER. MY INSECURITY IS BROKEN BY THE RING AND FINALLY BY HER VOICE. HER VOICE IS LIKE THE MUSIC I IMAGINE TO EXIST ONLY IN THE UPPER-MOST REGIONS OF THE ELYSIAN FIELDS AS THE ANGELS PLAY ON THEIR HEAVENLY HARPS. SHE ASKS IF I CAN MEET WITH HER NEAR THE CEMETERY AT EIGHT. I CAN NOT HIDE MY GLEE AS I STUTTER MY ANSWER. I'LL MEET HER AT EIGHT. EIGHT O' CLOCK TONIGHT. THERE IS A CHANCE, A SMALL DESPERATE CHANCE THAT I'VE FOUND WHAT I'VE SEARCHED FOR ALL MY LIFE. A CHANCE THAT I'VE MET MY SOULMATE.

METHODICALLY I BRUSH, I FLOSS, I EVEN GARGLE. I SHAVE THE STUBBLE FROM MY FACE AND THEN I SHOWER. THE HOT WATER WASHES OVER MY BODY AS I WORK A LATHER OF SWEET SMELLING SOAP INTO MY FLESH. I IMAGINE HER, TIFFANY. I IMAGINE HER HERE WITH ME. MY HANDS ARE HER HANDS STROKING MY FLESH. THE HOT WATER IS HER BREATH BLOWING AGAINST MY SKIN. STILL MY IMAGINATION IS SHALLOW COMPARED TO WHAT I HOPE THE NIGHT MAY BRING. MY INFATUATION HAS REACHED A NEW CRESCENDO, I CONVINCE MYSELF THAT I'M IN LOVE! WITH THE HOT LIQUID RUNNING DOWN MY SHOWER DRAIN, I STEP OUT AND PAT MYSELF DRY. I SPRAY, I POWDER... I GARGLE AGAIN. I USE SOME EYE DROPS, AND I START FEELING PRETTY GOOD ABOUT MYSELF. I PUT ON MY BEST SUIT, MY NEWEST SHOES AND I STEP OUT THE DOOR.

IT'S A LITTLE PAST DUSK, NOT DAY, NOT QUITE NIGHT. A LITTLE FOG IS STARTING TO FORM ALONG THE ROADSIDE AS I MAKE MY WAY TOWARDS THE CEMETERY. TIFFANY TOLD ME TO MEET HER AT A CORNER NEAR THE DREARY PLACE WE MET. A COINCIDENCE. I WATCH THE MILKY FOG POUR ITSELF OVER THE ROAD, VISIBILITY FADES AS I ENTER A HEAVEN-LIKE NEIGHBORHOOD, EVERYTHING SOFTENED AND WHITENED BY CLOUDS OF WHITE FOG. EVERYTHING IS EERILY SPIRITUAL AS I APPROACH THE CORNER, THE CORNER NEAR THE CEMETERY. AT FIRST I DON'T SEE HER, THEN, LIKE A JEWEL IN A BOX, SURROUNDED BY COTTON SHE GLISTENS. APPEARING OUT OF NOWHERE, SHE BRIGHTENS MY WORLD AND WHEN SHE SMILES, TIFFANY TAKES MY BREATH AWAY.

SHE SMILES AS I PULL UP TO THE CORNER. TIFFANY IS WEARING THE SAME DRESS I MET HER IN, IT'S CLEAN, BUT IT'S THE SAME DRESS. HER HAIR IS THE SAME, CHESTNUT BROWN... SEXY, BUT NOT INTIMIDATING. HER DOE LIKE EYES ARE GLOSSY-BROWN POOLS THAT I FEEL MYSELF DRAWN INTO... DEEP POOLS, SO WARM AND SO INVITING THAT I ALMOST LOOSE MY SOUL IN THEM. STEPPING INTO MY CAR, SHE DISPLAYS THE MOST PERFECT LEGS I'VE EVER HAD THE PLEASURE OF LOOKING AT. FOR THE MOMENT I'M CONTENT. LOOKING AT HER ANGELIC FACE AND HEAVENLY BODY, I'M A VERY HAPPY MAN AS I PULL AWAY FROM THE CORNER AND DRIVE TO THE RESTAURANT.

I'M HOPING TO MAKE A GOOD IMPRESSION, I'LL PROBABLY SPEND MY WHOLE CHECK TONIGHT... FOR A MINUTE I THINK ABOUT THAT, BUT, WHAT THE HELL, IT'S ONLY MONEY. SHE BREAKS THE SILENCE WITH A NERVOUS GIGGLE AND ASKS: "SO, WHERE ARE YOU TAKING ME?" I TELL HER: "MOCTAZUMA'S REVENGE." SHE LAUGHS AT THE NAME. "IT'S A REALLY GOOD MEXICAN RESTAURANT" I OFFER. "I'M SURE IT IS" SHE RESPONDS: "IT'S JUST THE NAME..." WE BOTH CHUCKLE AND I TELL HER HOW IT'S A VERY SPECIAL PLACE, DESCRIBING THE PYRAMID-LIKE FACADE, THE TEMPLE-LIKE ENTRANCE AND THE WAY THEY HAVE A MAN-MADE RIVER SURROUNDING THE TWO MAIN DINING-ROOMS. "THEY EVEN HAVE FISH SWIMMING IN IT" I BOAST. I START TO TELL HER ABOUT THE FLOOR SHOW THEY STAGE, BUT, I DECIDE TO KEEP THAT TO MYSELF, SO SHE'LL BE SURPRISED. IN A FEW MINUTES WE ARRIVE IN THE PARKING LOT AND I CAN SEE THAT SHE'S IMPRESSED BY THE STONE FACADE.

THE FOOD IS FANTASTIC, BUT TIFFANY BARELY TOUCHES HER PLATE. SHE DOES SEEM TO ENJOY THE AZTEC DANCING TROUPE AS THE PASS THROUGH THE TABLES SHOWING OFF THEIR DEXTERITY AND AUTHENTIC FOLK DANCES. DURING THE FLOOR SHOW, WE DON'T HAVE MUCH OF A CHANCE TO TALK... THE POWERFUL AND DRAMATIC BEATING ON CEREMONIAL DRUMS ACCENTING THE STEPS OF THE PAGAN DANCERS, WHOM, WE ARE TOLD, DANCE TO GIVE THANKS FOR THE BOUNTY OF FOOD WE ARE ENJOYING. ENTRANCED, I ADMIT TO SPENDING MORE TIME WATCHING HER WATCH THE DANCERS THAN TO WATCHING THE DANCERS.

WE EXIT THE PARKING LOT IN THE DARKNESS OF AN OVERCAST NIGHT... NOT A STAR NOR THE MOON IN SIGHT. WE TALK, WE CHAT, I ASK HER IF SHE'D LIKE TO COME BACK TO MY APARTMENT. "NO" SHE ANSWERS CURTLY. MY EYES GLASS OVER AND I ASSUME THAT SHE DIDN'T HAVE MUCH OF A GOOD NIGHT. "YOU HARDLY ATE ANYTHING" I DECLARE, ASKING: "DIDN'T YOU LIKE 'MOCTEZUMA'S REVENGE'?" "IT WAS NICE, I JUST DON'T EAT MUCH..." SHE OFFERED HER EXPLANATION, BUT I KNEW THERE HAD TO BE MORE. I LOOKED OVER AT HER BEAUTIFUL BROWN EYES AND I SAW A SADNESS, MAYBE WAS TRYING TO LET ME DOWN EASY, I THOUGHT. I GUESS WATER BEGAN TO FORM IN MY EYES AS I THOUGHT THAT SOMEHOW, JUST BY BEING MYSELF, I HAD BLOWN AN OPPORTUNITY FOR WHAT I HAD IMAGINED COULD BE A STORY-BOOK ROMANCE. MY HEART WAS BEING CRUSHED AS I DROVE TOWARDS HER HOME, HER HOME NEAR THE CEMETERY. OUR CONVERSATION FELL INTO EXCRUCIATING SILENCE, MY HEART FEELING THE PAIN OF A LIFETIME OF FAILED RELATIONSHIPS AND LONELINESS.

LIKE A HOT KNIFE SLICING THROUGH COLD, BUTTERY SILENCE SHE STARTED TELLING ME THAT SHE THOUGHT THAT THE RESTAURANT WAS REALLY NICE. LOOKING AT ME WITH A NERVOUS SMILE, SHE SAID: "I THINK THAT'S THE NICEST PLACE I'VE EVER BEEN." I FELT THE CRUSHING RESTRAINTS ON MY HEART LOOSEN. "I THINK YOU'RE VERY SPECIAL, AND, I THINK YOU'RE THE NICEST MAN I'VE EVER KNOWN" SHE ADDED, REACHING FOR MY HAND. SQUEEZING HER HAND. I TELL HER: "THANK GOD YOU SAID THAT, I THOUGHT YOU WERE HAVING A TERRIBLE TIME!" "NO" SHE OFFERS: "IT'S JUST THAT, WELL... I, ER, I, I'M DIFFERENT..." I COULD SEE THAT SHE WAS REACHING FOR SOME UNATTAINABLE WORD TO EXPRESS HERSELF, SHE WAS STRUGGLING. "I KNOW YOU'RE DIFFERENT TIFFANY, THAT'S WHAT MAKES YOU SPECIAL, THAT'S WHAT MAKES ME HAVE ALL THESE COMPLICATED FEELINGS FOR YOU." HER EYES WIDEN, HER HEAD TILTS: "ALL THESE FEELINGS?" SHE REPEATED: "ALL THESE FEELINGS... YOU DO HAVE FEELINGS FOR ME, DON'T YOU CHARLY?"

I PULLED INTO AN EMPTY LOT ON A DESERTED STREET, I TOOK HER INTO MY ARMS AND I TOLD HER: "FEELINGS? I LOVE YOU!' WITH THAT DECLARATION, I PULLED HER CLOSE AND I KISSED HER, I KISSED HER HARD. SHE LEANS BACK, PULLING ME WITH HER, PULLING ME ON TOP OF HER. TIFFANY OPENS HER MOUTH SLIGHTLY AND MY TONGUE SLIDES PASSED HER FULL SENSUAL LIPS PENETRATING DEEP INTO HER MOIST, HUNGRY ORIFICE. MY HANDS EXPLORE HER WILLING TERRITORY, THE FULLNESS OF HER FIRM BOSOM, HER THIN, DELICATE WAIST AND HER CURVACEOUS HIPS. CONTINUING ON MY JOURNEY TO NIRVANA, I BEGIN TO LIFT HER DRESS... SHE JERKS HERSELF AWAY. SHE LOOKS FRIGHTENED AND TELLS ME: "NO CHARLEY, I CAN'T." RELUCTANTLY, I PUSH MYSELF UP SLIGHTLY, GIVING HER A LITTLE ROOM. SHE STROKES MY HAIR WITH A MOTHERLY KIND OF LOOK. SHE SMILES SLIGHTLY AND SAYS: "I DON'T WANT THIS TO BE ONE OF THOSE ONE NIGHT STANDS." "I THINK WE CAN HAVE SOMETHING REALLY SPECIAL" SHE SAYS WITH A VERY SERIOUS LOOK ON HER FACE: "I WANT THAT CHARLEY, I WANT SOMETHING SPECIAL... DON'T YOU?" OKAY, I'M A MAN AND AT THIS POINT, I'M WILLING TO SAY OR DO ANYTHING, BUT, THE TRUTH BE TOLD: "I DO." WE KISSED, WE STROKED AND WE HUGGED EACH-OTHER THROUGH MOST OF THE NIGHT, BUT WE DIDN'T MAKE LOVE... WE FELL IN LOVE!

I PICKED HER UP AT THE SAME CORNER, NEAR WHERE WE MET, FOR OUR SECOND DATE. I DIDN'T HAVE MUCH MONEY SO WE WENT TO A TACO STAND IN THE "BUSH" SECTION OF TOWN. SOME WHITE GUY WHO NEVER GOT OVER HIS MEXICAN LOVER NAMED THE PLACE "JIMICITO'S". THE FOOD WAS SIMPLE, BUT GOOD. TIFFANY DIDN'T SEEM VERY HUNGRY. WE DROVE THROUGH MY OLD NEIGHBORHOOD AND I SHOWED HER WHERE I GREW-UP, WHERE I PLAYED BALL, WHERE I WENT TO SCHOOL AND WHERE I USED TO GO WITH MY FRIENDS ON SATURDAY NIGHTS TO EAT PIZZA, HAVE PIZZA FIGHTS WITH THE LEFT-OVERS AND WATCH THE LATEST MOVIES AT THE NEIGHBORHOOD CINEMA. SHE SEEMED TO BE INTERESTED, AND DROVE ME ON TO TELL HER ABOUT MY FRIENDS, MY CHILDHOOD CHUMS. I TOLD HER ABOUT ONE SET OF BROTHERS WHO TAUGHT ME ALL ABOUT BASEBALL, FOOTBALL AND HOCKEY. ANOTHER SET OF BROTHERS, ALMOST TWINS IN APPEARANCE WHO I ALTERNATELY FOUGHT WITH AND PLAYED WITH, THE CLOSEST ONE TO ME BECOMING A NOTORIOUS DRUG DEALER AND GETTING KILLED WHILE I WAS AWAY IN THE ARMY.

I TOLD HER ABOUT MY FIRST MEXICAN FRIEND WHO WE CALLED "TACO" AND HOW NOW THAT I KNOW MORE ABOUT OTHER PEOPLES SENSITIVITIES... I STILL REGRET THAT WE CALLED HIM THAT, BUT CHERISH THE MEMORIES OF SUCH A GOOD FRIEND. I EVEN TOLD HER HOW I, LIKE MOST OF THE OTHER BOYS HAD MY FIRST CRUSH ON HIS SISTER. TIFFANY ARCHED AN EYEBROW AS I REVEALED THAT LITTLE SECRET. THEN I POINTED TO AN ALLEY BEHIND MY FORMER HOUSE, I POINTED FURTHER TO A YOUNG FRIENDS HOUSE AND TOLD HOW HE COMMITTED SUICIDE WHEN HE WENT INTO THE AIRFORCE. SHE WINCED AT THAT. AND FINALLY, I TOLD HER ABOUT A MUCH YOUNGER FRIEND WHO I SUPPOSED BY NOW TO BE EITHER DEAD OR RUNNING THE LOCAL MAFIA. "HE WAS SMOKING BY THE TIME HE WAS FIVE YEARS OLD" I REPORTED: "...BY SIX HE HAD BEEN PICKED-UP FOR STEALING." I RAN DOWN AN IMAGINARY RAP SHEET, AND HIS OWN NARRATIVE OF EXPERIENCES AT JUVINILE-HALL, HIS "HORROR STORIES" ABOUT THE OLDER BOYS RAPING THE YOUNGER ONES BEFORE ANY OF US KNEW ABOUT SEX. TIFFANY LISTENED INTENTLY. SHE WAS A GOOD LISTENER, BUT I SUDDENLY REALIZED THAT I KNEW NOTHING ABOUT HER, ABOUT HER PAST, HER YOUTH, HER FAMILY...

THEN I ASKED, AND SHE BEGAN TO TELL. BUT, WAIT... SOMETHING WAS OUT OF SINK HERE. SOME OF HER PHRASES, SOME OF THE STORIES... LIKE HER FATHER GOING OFF TO FIGHT WHAT SHE CALLED: "THE GREAT WAR", THAT DIDN'T SOUND MUCH LIKE "VIETNAM." BUT THERE WERE SO MANY THINGS THAT SOUNDED ODD OR OUT OF PLACE. HER FATHER SOUNDED AWFULLY STRICT AND DICTATORIAL IN THEIR HOUSE. SHE TOLD ME ABOUT THE TIME THAT HE CAUGHT HER MOTHER TRYING TO SMOKE A CIGARETTE. WITH A MISCHIEVIOUS GRIN SHE TALKED ABOUT HER MOTHER'S VIEW THAT WOMEN WOULD EVEN BE ABLE TO VOTE ONE DAY! "VOTE" I REPEATED. "THAT'S WHAT MOTHER USED TO SAY, AND SEE, SHE WAS RIGHT" TIFFANY PROUDLY PROCLAIMED. I LOOKED AT HER, NO, STARED IS A MUCH BETTER WORD, AND I FIGURED THAT I MUST HAVE BEEN WRONG ABOUT WHEN I THOUGHT WOMEN GOT THE RIGHT TO VOTE. I HAD TO BE WRONG, OTHERWISE TIFFANY WOULD HAVE TO BE LIKE... OOH, UM, ABOUT SIXTY OR MORE YEARS OLD AND I COULD SEE SHE WAS ABOUT MY AGE, ONLY ABOUT TWENTY-FIVE. "AH, I GOT IT... YOU'RE PULLING MY LEG" I QUIPPED. "YOUR LEG" SHE ASKED, AND THEN WE BOTH STARTED LAUGHING. SOMEHOW, MINE WAS MORE OF A NERVOUS LAUGH, AN UNEASY LAUGH.

BY THE THIRD "DATE" I JUST ASSUMED THAT TIFFANY DIDN'T CARE FOR MEXICAN FOOD. I TOOK HER INSTEAD TO A GERMAN RESTAURANT IN DOWNTOWN. THE WAITERS WERE ALL ABOUT SIXTY YEARS OLD IF THEY WEE A DAY. A FEW LOOKED LIKE SURVIVORS FROM THE INFAMOUS CAMPS, A FEW LOOKED LIKE THEIR GUARDS. THE SERVICE WAS EXCELLENT, THE FOOD GREAT... BUT, IT LOOKED LIKE ANOTHER MISS FOR TIFFANY. ON THE FOURTH "DATE" WE WENT TO A STEAKHOUSE ON THE SOUTH-SIDE. BY THE FIFTH TIME WE SAW EACH-OTHER, I JUST ASSUMED THAT SHE WAS EATING EARLIER, STILL, I TOOK HER TO A POLISH RESTAURANT WHERE I ORDERED SOUP FOR THE TWO OF US, I SMILED THINKING SHE WOULDN'T EAT MUCH ANYWAY AND LATER IN THE EVENING I COULD TELL HER THE "CZARNINA" WAS A SOUP MADE FROM A DUCKS' BLOOD. BUT, BEFORE I COULD SAY OR DO ANYTHING SHE DRANK THE DARK BREW LIKE A STARVING CHILD IN SOME LONG FORGOTTEN, DROUGHT PLAGUED AFRICAN VILLAGE. SHE LOOKED-UP AT MY AMAZED FACE AND ASKED IF SHE COULD HELP ME FINISH MY PLATE. I SLID IT OVER TO HER SIDE AND SHE GULPED DOWN THE REMAINS. MY MOUTH HUNG OPEN IN AMAZEMENT, MY FACE WENT PALE WITH FEAR AS I WONDERED HOW TO EXPLAIN WHAT I JUST GAVE HER TO EAT. CERTAIN THAT SHE'D BE FURIOUS... I DECIDED ON DISCRETION AS THE BETTER PART OF VALOR. I DECIDED NOT TO TELL HER WHAT SHE HAD JUST EATEN! I DID ASK IF SHE WAS POLISH THOUGH, HOPING THAT SHE JUST "KNEW" WHAT SHE WAS EATING. "NO" SHE LOOKED AT ME: "NO, I'M NOT POLISH, ALTHOUGH MY PEOPLE, WELL, MY FAMILY ORIGINALLY CAME FROM AN AREA NEAR POLAND... WHY?" I FUMBLED FOR AN ANSWER, BUT I WAS SAVED BY A WAITRESS WITH THE LONGEST NAILS I'VE EVER SEEN ON A WOMAN, GROTESQUE NAILS TO BE HONEST! I PAID FOR THE SOUP AND WE WALKED OUT, DOWN THE STREET, AND INTO A MOVIE-HOUSE. WE WATCHED A COMEDY THAT MADE TIFFANY LAUGH SO HARD, SHE CRIED.

BY NOW, WE'RE GOING OUT FOR A LONG TIME. TIFFANY ALWAYS HAS ME MEET HER AT THE SAME CORNER NEAR THE OLD CEMETERY. IT'S BEGINNING TO BOTHER ME THAT I HAVE YET TO BE INVITED TO MEET HER FAMILY, FRIENDS, SEE WHERE SHE LIVES; AND THAT WEEK IN, OR WEEK OUT SHE WEARS THE SAME DRESS. OKAY, I GUESS SHE'S POOR, SHE'S ASHAMED... THERE ARE AT LEAST A MILLION AND ONE EXCUSES I FIGURE. BUT, I'M NOT COMFORTABLE, NOT COMFORTABLE AT ALL.

TONIGHT I TAKE HER TO THE BIGGEST STORE DOWNTOWN. WE WALK THE AISLES AND I WATCH HER FACE CLOSELY AS WE WALK THROUGH THE DRESSES AND SLACKS, THE JEANS AND THE SHORTS, THE BLOUSES AND SHIRTS. I TELL HER TO PICK SOMETHING SHE LIKES: "MY TREAT!" SHE SMILES AND LOOKS AT A FEW SIMPLE THINGS, BUT SHE WINCES AT ALL THE HIGH PRICES. I TELL HER NOT TO WORRY: "IT'S OKAY." AND SHE FINALLY PICKS OUT SOME OLD FASHIONED "GRANNY" DRESSES. SHE BLUSHES AS WE PASS THE LINGERIE, BUT I STOP AND TELL HER THAT WE'LL PICK OUT SOMETHING HERE AS WELL. RELUCTANTLY, SHE WATCHES AS I PICK FROM MY FANTASIES OF WHAT IS INCREDIBLY SEXY LINGERIE. SHE DOESN'T NEED A PUSH-UP BRA OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT, NO... BUT I DO SPY A LOVELY DARK BLUE MERRY WIDOW THAT WE BUY, ALONG WITH GARTERS AND MATCHING NYLON STOCKINGS. ON OUR WAY OUT, I PICK OUT A PAIR OF DARK BLUE HIGH, HIGH, HIGH HEELS. WE STILL HAVEN'T EXPERIENCED SEX TOGETHER, BUT NOW, IT LOOKS LIKE SHE'LL BE MY FANTASY GIRL, A SEX MACHINE, A FRIEND... EVERYTHING I'VE EVER DREAMED OF IN MY LIFE. NOW IT LOOKS LIKE I'LL BE CONTENT, FOREVER AND EVER. AS WE REACH THE DOOR, TIFFANY LOOKS AT ME AND THEN TO THE FLOOR, SHYLY SHE ASKS: "DO YOU THINK, WELL, CAN I CHANGE INTO THIS BEFORE WE GO?" "I, I GUESS SO" I TELL HER. WE WALK BACK TOWARDS THE DRESSING ROOMS AND SHE DISAPPEARS TO CHANGE WHILE I CAN ONLY IMAGINE HOW WONDERFUL SHE'LL LOOK.

I GASP AT HER BEAUTY WHEN SHE WALKS OUT THE DOOR. SHE DOESN'T SEEM TOO WELL BALANCED ON HER HEELS, BUT SHE TRIES, GOD BLESS HER, SHE TRIES FOR ME. HER NEW DRESS HAS RUFFLES AND LACE, REVEALING NEARLY NOTHING EXCEPT FOR THE SHAPELY CURVES OF THE FORM WITHIN. I LOOK DOWN AT HER ARCHED FEET AND NYLON CLAD ANKLE, I CAN ONLY IMAGINE HOW GREAT HER LEGS MUST LOOK UNDER COVER OF HER DRESS. I PASS THE CURVES OF HER BOUNTIFUL HIPS AND IMAGINE THE MERRY WIDOW FIRMLY CARESSING AND SHAPING HER PERFECT BODY. MY EYES SLOWLY PASS HER YOUTHFUL AND PERKY BREASTS AND I LOOK INTO HER DEEP BROWN EYES AS THEY ARE FRAMED BY THE MOST BEAUTIFUL BLUSHING FACE I HAVE EVER BEEN FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO SEE. MY BODY TINGLES AT THE VERY SIGHT OF HER. "DO YOU APPROVE" SHE ASKS. I CAN'T EVEN BREATH, BUT I MANAGE TO SAY SOMETHING INTELLIGENT AND GLIB, LIKE: "WOW"!!!

THE NIGHT ENDS, I TAKE HER CLOSE TO HER HOME NEAR THE CEMETARY WHERE WE MET. WE SHARE A PASSIONATE AND DELICIOUS KISS, MY HAND SLOWLY EXPLORES HER AMAZING BODY. "YOU'RE COLD"; I WHISPER AS I TOUCH HER ARM, HOPING THIS IS MY OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE HER WARM, HOPING TO MAKE HER HOT...TO BE HONEST, I HOPE THIS IS MY CHANCE TO MAKE LOVE TO THIS BEAUTIFUL WOMAN. SHE PULLS AWAY WITH AN ALMOST FRIGHTENED LOOK. SHE LOOKS FURTIVELY DOWN AT THE FLOOR AND TAKES A DEEP, DELIBERATE BREATH BEFORE SAYING: "I MUST GO..." STUNNED, I WATCH AS SHE LETS HERSELF OUT OF MY CAR AND WALKS TOWARDS HER HOME NEAR THE CEMETARY. ONLY A FEW FEET AWAY, SHE STOPS IN THE DARKNESS AND TURNS BACK TO ASK: "TOMORROW?" I AGREE, FRUSTRATED BUT BY NOW, DEEPLY IN LOVE...AND THEN I DRIVE OFF.

AT ABOUT FOUR IN THE AFTERNOON, I RUSH TO FINISH WORKING ON THE NEW SERVER AT THE OFFICE. WE'RE UPGRADING OUR NETWORK SOFTWARE AND THERE IS A DEADLINE, BUT I HAVE TO GET READY AND GO PICK-UP TIFFANY. I DRIVE IN A RUSH, I SHOWER AND SHAVE FOR THE SECOND TIME TODAY...A QUICK CHANGE AND I AM ON MY WAY! I PASS A FLORIST SHOP AND STOP IN, GETTING A DOZEN ROSES FOR MY LOVE. I GET STUCK IN TRAFFIC, DAMNED TRAFFIC...IT'S GETTING DARK AND I AM GOING TO BE LATE. "WILL SHE WAIT FOR ME"; I TORTURE MYSELF WITH MY OWN INSECURITY AS EVERY MAN DOES WITH A REALLY BEAUTIFUL, WONDERFUL WOMAN LIKE THIS, WONDERING: "WILL SHE BE MAD?"

I ARRIVE AT THE CORNER NEAR WHERE WE MET AND SHE SMILES THE MOST BEGUILING SMILE I HAVE EVER WITNESSED. TO ME, IT WAS NO LONGER NIGHT, THERE WAS SOMETHING METAPHYSICAL AS SHE TOUCHED MY SOUL FOR THAT MOMENT SUSPENDED IN REALITY. I THINK THAT I ACTUALLY GASPED AUDIBLY, EVEN THOUGH NO-ONE HEARD ME. I'M SURE OF IT, I GASPED!

ONCE AGAIN MY EYES FEAST ON HER, STANDING THERE IN HEALS AND MY MIND FANTASIZES ABOUT THIS GODDESS BEFORE ME IN THE DRESS AND LINGERIE WE BOUGHT JUST LAST NIGHT. I CAN NOT TELL YOU WHAT I THOUGHT, WHAT I FELT, THE FEELINGS WERE JUST TOO INTENSE FOR WORDS. SHE TOOK HOLD OF THE DOOR HANDLE AND MY HEART AT THE SAME MOMENT, I WATCHED AS SHE STEPPED INTO THE CAR AND SLID INTO THE SEAT NEXT TO ME.

"DEAN, WHAT DO YOU WANT TO DO TONIGHT"; SHE ASKED, LOOKING ME DIRECTLY IN MY EYES. "I THOUGHT WE'D GO TO DINNER, MAYBE STOP BY THIS CLU..."; I TRIED TO ANSWER BEFORE SHE PUT HER FINGER OVER MY LIPS TO STOP ME. JUST NATURALLY IT SEEMED, I FOUND MYSELF KISSING THAT FINGER, THAT HAND, HER ARM. I DIDN'T THINK ABOUT IT, I COULDN'T HAVE PLANNED THIS, BUT SOON I FOUND MYSELF GETTING AROUSED BEYOND ANYTHING I COULD REMEMBER AND THE PASSION, THIS PASSION SEEMED TO SET MY HEART ON FIRE AS I KISSED HARDER AND TOUCHED AND STROKED AND EXPLORED! HER DRESS WAS LIFTING UP, REVEALING HER SHAPELY LEGS, PART OF HER DRESS AND THE MERRY WIDOW WERE OPENING AND REVEALING HER FIRM AND AROUSED BREAST. MY MOUTH EXPLORED AND TASTED, LICKED AND KISSED AND EVEN BIT HER HERE AND THERE...MY HANDS EXPLORED, RUBBED AND CARESSED HER LEGS AND THIGHS. WE WERE IN MY CAR, ON A STREET, IT WAS SO PUBLIC AND YET IT DIDN'T MATTER BECAUSE THE WORLD CEASED TO EXIST FOR US. IT WAS SO PUBLIC, YET SO INTIMATE, THE CAR WASN'T DESIGNED FOR SEX AND YET EVERYTHING WAS PERFECT!

EVERYTHING WAS PERFECT AND HOT AND SEXY! I STARTED TO MOVE IN FOR THE MOMENT, TRYING TO LIFT UP HER DRESS AND OPEN HER INCREDIBLE LEGS. MY KISSING, LICKING, TASTING AND BITING CONTINUED UNABATED UNTIL I WAS PUSHED BACK, UNTIL SHE PULLED HERSELF UP AND CLOSED THE DRESS, HIDING HERSELF FROM MY LUST. IT WAS PAINFUL, IT SEEMED SO SHORT, IT FELT LIKE A REJECTION THAT MY HEART HAD NEVER EXPERIENCED UNTIL NOW, TONIGHT, UNTIL THIS VERY MOMENT.

STARING OUT IN THE DARKNESS WITH A BLANK EXPRESSION, TIFFANY ASKED: "COME BACK TO ME TOMORROW NIGHT MY LOVE, I WILL BE HERE FOR YOU." I HAVE TO CONFESS THAT I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO SAY OR HOW TO REACT. I'M NOT A ROMEO, I'VE BEEN TURNED DOWN BEFORE, BUT I WAS SO VERY HURT. BEFORE I COULD ANSWER, BEFORE I COULD SAY ANYTHING, SHE WAS GONE AND I WAS ALONE. I SERIOUSLY THOUGHT THIS WAS OVER, THE WAY SHE TALKED SO BLANDLY...IT COULDN'T HAVE BEEN GOOD FOR HER AND WE DIDN'T EVEN MAKE LOVE, AFTER ALL, IT WAS SO SHORT. I LOOKED AT MY WATCH AND THAT WAS STUNNING. WHAT I THOUGHT WAS ONLY A FEW MINUTES OF MAKING OUT WAS ACTUALLY ABOUT FOUR HOURS!

THE SERVER I WAS WORKING ON CRASHED AGAIN AND AGAIN, BUT IT DIDN'T REALLY MATTER...IT WAS A TEST ENVIRONMENT. THE COMPANY WOULDN'T ACTUALLY GET THE UPGRADE YET, I HAD TIME. I LEFT EARLY AND STOPPED OFF AT HOME TO SHOWER AND SHAVE. MY MIND WASN'T ON WORK ANYWAY, MY MIND, MY HEART, MY SOUL...THEY ALL BELONGED TO HER, I BELONGED TO TIFFANY.

NIGHT WAS FALLING ON THE CITY AGAIN AS I PULLED-UP AND TIFFANY GOT INTO MY CAR. WE DIDN'T EVEN SPEAK, WE DIDN'T SAY HELLO, WE JUST KISSED LONG AND HARD AND PASSIONATELY FROM THE VERY BEGINNING! THE PREVIOUS NIGHT'S PASSIONS NEVER COOLED AND MY DAYS WAIT ONLY INTENSIFIED MY OWN FEELINGS AND NEEDS AND WANTS. AGAIN I DISCOVERED HER FLESH, HER THIGHS, HER BREAST, AN AROUSED NIPPLE. AGAIN I KISSED AND LICKED, TASTED AND BIT AND THIS TIME SHE KISSED AND LICKED, TASTED AND EXPLORED WITH HER HANDS, WITH HER MOUTH, THOSE LIPS, HER TONGUE. I HAVE NEVER FELT LIKE THAT BEFORE, I HAVE NEVER FELT SUCH UNASHAMED PLEASURE AS SHE DISCOVERED ME AND I DISCOVERED HER.

I TOUCHED, PROBED, EXPLORED SOME MORE AND THEN RUBBED EVERY INCH OF HER AS SHE DID WITH ME UNTIL I FINALLY PAUSED AND PULLED BACK FROM MY OWN SELFISH NEEDS. LOOKING AT HER, I SOMEHOW WANTED TO ASK WITHOUT ASKING AND SHE KNEW IT, SENSED IT...BUT LOOKING INTO MY EYES SHE SMILED AND NODDED SLOWLY. I MOVED BETWEEN HER LEGS AND SPREAD HER THIGHS AS SHE REACHED DOWN AND UNFASTENED MY BELT, MY PANTS...I SOON FOUND MYSELF DEEP INSIDE HER AND WE WERE UNITED IN THE MOMENT, THE PASSION, THE JOY AND YES, THE HOT SENSATION OF SEXUAL UNION THAT A MAN AND WOMAN SHARE. I ROCKED SLOWLY, BACK AND FORTH, IN AND OUT AS SHE CLOSED HER EYES AND MET MY MOVEMENTS SLOWLY AT FIRST. SHE TOOK ME DEEP INSIDE HER TIGHT, WET WOMANHOOD DELIBERATELY. THE LOVING WAS INTENSE AND THE INTENSITY GREW FASTER AND HARDER WITH EACH STROKE UNTIL WE WERE TWO FRANTIC ANIMALS IN SOME INSANE MATING RITUAL! OUR UNION TRULY MADE ME FEEL WHAT I HAD NEVER SHARED WITH ANY OTHER UNTIL TONIGHT AS WE BECAME ONE. I WAS OUT OF CONTROL AND COULDN'T STOP! I PUMPED AND MY HIPS MOVED AND I WAS GRINDING MYSELF DEEP IN HER. SHE WAS OUT OF CONTROL AND I COULD FEEL HER HIPS RIDING ME AND MATCHING EVERY MOVE...SHE MOANED, I MOANED, SHE YELLED OUT SOME STRANGE FOREIGN SOUNDING WORDS AND I YELLED OUT HER NAME AS I FELT MYSELF READY TO EXPLODE!

I YELLED OUT HER NAME, I CALLED OUT TO MY LOVE AS MY BODY STARTED TO CONVULSE BEYOND MY CONTROL AND AS I SENT MY HOT, STEAMY DNA DEEP INTO HER WRYTHING BODY...HER HEAD SUDDENLY SHOT BACK SLAMMING INTO THE HEADREST, HER EYES ROLLED BACK IN THEIR SOCKETS, HER HIPS SHOT TOWARDS MY HIPS AS I SHOOK BECAUSE EVERY NERVE AND SYNOPS IN MY BODY SEEMED TO EXPLODE! TIFFANY'S BODY CAPTURED MY MANHOOD AND SEEMED TO MILK IT OF EVERY DROP OF LOVE WE COULD SHARE! AND, AT THAT VERY MOMENT SOMETHING HAPPENED...SHE YELLED OUT MORE STRANGE FOREIGN WORDS AND JUST VANISHED! MY SPENT BODY FALLING AGAINST AN EMPTY CAR SEAT...

CRAZY THOUGHTS RACED THROUGH MY HEAD! I HAD MET A WOMAN IN THE CEMETARY, I HAD DATED HER AND NEVER BEEN TO HER HOUSE, HER HOUSE SUPPOSEDLY NEAR THE CEMETARY...EVERYTHING WAS NEW TO HER, I WAS CHARMING TO HER, WE MADE LOVE...SHE VANISHED! MY GOD! I DIDN'T EVEN GET DRESSED, I JUST WANTED TO GET THE HELL, "HELL"...I JUST WANTED TO GET THE HELL OUT OF THERE! SOMEHOW, I WAS BEHIND THE WHEEL AND SPED THE "HELL" OUT OF THERE AND TO THE NEXT STREET, BUT THE LIGHT CHANGED, I HAD TO STOP, THERE WERE CARS! I STEPPED ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, I STEPPED DOWN HARD BECAUSE I WAS GOING SO FAST! MY FOOT, THE SOCK, IT SLIPPED! MY CAR DIDN'T IT WOULDN'T STOP! MY CAR DIDN'T STOP AND EITHER DID ANOTHER CAR DRIVEN BY A STRANGE WOMAN DRIVING FAST DOWN HER STREET NEAR THE CEMETARY!

THAT'S WHEN WE BOTH MET. HER NAME WAS TIFFANY, MY NAME WAS DEAN...SOMEHOW, WE NEVER REALLY MET BEFORE BUT WE WERE 'SOULMATES' AND SHE WAS DRIVING FROM HER STRANGE 'DATE' WHERE MY SPIRIT SEEMED TO 'VANISH' AS WELL. WE BOTH DIED AT THE SAME MOMENT, WE BOTH MET WHEN WE DIED...AFTER OUR LAST 'DATE.' OUR SOULS HAD BROUGHT US TOGETHER...FOR ETERNITY, ALL ETERNITY. "MY NAME WAS 'TIFFANY,' AND HIS NAME WAS DEAN...SOULMATES, ISN'T IT ROMANTIC?"

Created: October 29, 1999r.
Last Updated: May 23, 2005r.