Beautiful Night

 The house is quiet when I come in carrying my contribution to the evening, a bottle of wine and a Tupperware bowl. I set them on the table as you greet me with a kiss, and then another as our hands wrap around each other. We hold a moment, talking softly into each other’s ear. Then we separate, I take the wine into the kitchen and open it, showing my complete lack of skill with a bottle opener, while you retrieve glasses. Then I open the Tupperware to reveal the fruit I managed to cut without losing a finger, and remove the container of chocolate caramel dip from my coat pocket. We get plates and forks, and you regale me with the story of your favorite fork. When you go to heat the caramel I follow, wrapping my arms around you as you stand before the microwave. I feel very much the teenage lovestruck fool, but I don’t care as I hold you against my chest until the beep brings us back to the present.

 We sit down at the table, our little dessert set before us. I pour the wine as we talk, going over the events of the day, the good and the bad. We talk, and nibble our fruit, and sip our wine. It’s not that bad, we decide. You’re contemplative, thinking about important things, and I’m fine with that. I simply sit beside you, my hand gliding up and down your arm as I sip the wine. It is quiet, and simple. It is an everyday kind of feeling. It is exactly how I thought being with you would feel.

 We move to the couch and watch a show as you lay in my lap and I caress your face and neck. I am more interested in the shape of your jaw and the curve of your throat then what is on tv, smiling each time you shiver at my touch. At each commercial you turn to me, and I allow my hands to move along your face, your arms, your stomach, touching gently here and there. Then the show comes back on and we continue to watch while I touch you softly. When the show finishes, we lie together on the couch and just hold each other, dozing softly. You comment on the speed of my heart beat, and I say something corny, and you smile without opening your eyes. We drift off to sleep together.

 We awaken a few hours later, and we rise and hold each other, kissing softly. It’s time for me to go, and time for you to crawl into your comfortable bed. I want to crawl into that bed with you instead of leaving you. We kiss once more, and hold on for a bit longer, and then I turn and walk into the night air. But before I leave we makes plans for the next time we’ll see each other, and as I lay down in my bed, I think of you laying in yours, and of the beautiful night, and knowing there are more to come. A promise of tomorrow is a wonderful ending for this night.