Here Now

I remember her name and I remember the way she looked at me across that crowded room.

I waited and she came to me, eventually.

'Hello,' she said and smiled as I turned. 'I'm Claire.'

Hello, Claire.'

'Aren't you going to tell me your name?'

'You know it already, don't you?'

'Yes.'

'I saw you looking at me from over there.'

'Why didn't you come over?' She half-smiled, lowering her head to look up at me through half-closed eyes.

'I didn't need to. You’re here now.'

Claire glanced behind herself, but made no move away. 'So....' she said. 'I've read your poems.'

I nodded and she moved closer.

'I liked them.'

'Good.' I touched her arm, moving her away from the crowd.

'You don't say much.'

'No.'

'I could...' she waved her arm back towards the rest of the crowd.

'No,' I said. 'You've read the poems, there isn't much more to say....' I looked into her eyes. 'Is there?'

She shook her head.

'Take your knickers off,' I said.

'What!' She glanced around and then back at me.

'You heard.'

'Why?' she said, putting her glass down before checking we were out of sight.

'Why do you think?' I stood between her and the rest of the crowd.

A few seconds later, she placed some warm delicate material into my hand from behind.

I turned back to her, holding them to my nose and breathing deeply. I put them in my pocket.

She was wearing a long evening dress. My left hand was raising it up as my right hand was pressing, holding her crotch.

One the dress was up high enough my right hand slipped under it and I held her. She was already wet.

She looked up at me. 'You haven't even kissed me yet.'

'I know,' I said, and then, as my finger slipped inside her, I kissed her for the first time.