It's Thursday. Late summer. Hot. Bloody hot. And it's Valentine's Day as well. I've had a rough time at the office, and am very pleased to have arrived safely at home, though I'm sweaty and doubtless smelly as well.

As I walk in the front door, I call out to Karen, but there is no answer. Bummer. Karen knows there are two things I really like on these hot days. A tall cool drink, alcoholic or not, and Karen herself. Looks like I've missed out on both. I've got a gift for her as well. Nothing special, just a token. You know, of my love.

Dropping my briefcase arrogantly in the hallway, I stroll through to the kitchen. Karen and I have a rule about leaving notes, and we both take it seriously. There's a small whiteboard above the fridge that has comments scrawled on it of an informational, amusing, or erotic nature, depending on the situation and the company. It's always my first stop if Karen is not at home.

Looking at the board now, I can see a message written in her careless scrawl, but I need to get closer to see what it says. You know, if it were possible for handwriting to be sexy, Karen's would be top of the heap. She has a way with a pen that grabs me by the heartstrings every time I see it. Getting close enough to decipher the intertwined words, her absence becomes fact.

Hon, see the bag on the table?

Spinning, I see it, swing back.

It has a card in it. Read it. Open the parcel.

K

Without delay, I cross to the table, wondering what the angel has got for me. She has a well developed gift-giving skill, along with a sixth-sense for appropriateness, and my heart lurches any time she buys me something, knowing it will be perfect.

The brown paper bag sits unceremoniously in the centre of the rough teak table, and I never would guess it has any significance without the warning from the whiteboard. Lifting the top of the bag, I can see a small card inside, white and bright with a red heart in the centre.

Turning the card over in my hand, I see some more of her expansive text, scaled down somewhat to match the small canvas.

Michael

Happy Valentine's Day. I want you to do me a favour. I want you to trust me, and do as I ask. It will be worth it, you have my promise.

Now here's what I want you to do. Go out and get back in the car. I know it's hot and you just got home, but please do it anyway.

Take the car down to the lake. Go to the car park, over where we sit to watch the ferry. Leave the car in park 37, lock it up, and head for the sundial. I'm sure you can work out what to do after that.

Oh, the gift. It's just a little something, so you know I mean business.

K

Dropping the card to the table, I grab the parcel from inside the bag, intrigued and curious. The soft squishy parcel is wrapped in bright red paper, tied with a thin white ribbon. I pull it off and open the paper, revealing a bra. A dark crimson, medium sized, sexy, glorious Karen bra, drenched with the smell of her. As I lift it clear of the wrapping, I see a thin string hanging from the end of the strap, and yet another card on the string, spinning with total abandon, its newfound freedom entrancing.

Nonetheless I stop the card with my fingers, and tilt it up to read the familiar scrawl, this time written in ink of almost the same red colour as the bra.

Mike

God! I took this off just after you left this morning, and spent the whole day braless. My blouse constantly slipped across my nipples, exciting me as I worked in the office, and I even went to get some groceries without it.

When I got back home, I was so horny I wanted you to call you and get you here to have your way with me. But I didn't call. I could have relaxed and taken care of it myself, and I wanted to, but I wanted to wait as well. For you.

Anyway, it's fairly obvious that as you have my bra in your hand, I'm not wearing it. I'm still horny, and I'm still waiting. Find me, honey. Fast.

That's enough for me. Dropping the bra and its attachments to the table, I head back outside. The heat slams into me as I leave the shade of the house and walk briskly to the car. Throwing the door open I jump in, start it up, and head for the lake. As you can see, I'd never dream of not doing as she wants, especially after the way she asked.

Lake Lamont is about twenty minutes from our place by car, and by the time I get close the air conditioning has cooled the car to a temperature which is bearable, though by no means cool. Heading around near the ferry terminal, I check out the park numbers, finally spying thirty seven in the distance. I can gun the car across the other parks directly to my destination, as there aren't many people around on a Thursday evening, especially Valentine's.

Popping the Ford into the instructed park, I can see the sundial directly in front of the car and I hop out, again being slammed by the still, oppressive heat. I bend over to lock the door of the old beast, and stroll expectantly to the sundial, the top of which is glittering in the late sun.

As I get closer to the dial, I can see that the glare is coming not from the stone top, but from something glistening on it. Closer again, and I can see there is a large, shiny red card taped securely to the sundial, a familiar scrawl covering the card, this time written with one of those white paint pens.

Mike

Look at the arrow on the card. Put your head down near the sundial, and stare along the arrow until you can see where it points. That's where I am. Take careful note, then remove the card, and bring it with you. (I don't want anyone to follow you!)

K

Well, what choice do I have? The arrow heads to a clearing near the edge of the lake, along past the end of the mowed and manicured area where I'm standing. Taking another sighting to make sure, I rip the card from the top of the sundial and trot around the lake. The heat is even more oppressive here somehow, but I'm buoyed by the thought of finding Karen, and stroll out across the gap between myself and the clearing, finding myself whistling as I walk.

I close the distance slowly, the low reflection from the lake water becoming painful behind my eyes as my angle to it changes, and I hold my hand in front of my eyes, like the brow of a hat, to shield myself from the glare.

Nearing the clearing, I'm suddenly aware of the quiet and isolation this far around the lake. In the weekends this is a madhouse, but Thursday evenings are obviously perfect for other things.

Getting closer now, I can see that what I thought was a clearing is actually just something of a thinning of the intertwined trees and vines around this part of the lake, and I start to wonder how I will know what to do next. Perhaps Karen is waiting for me just out of sight. I hope so. This heat is too much.

I'm walking past a lone tree toward the larger looking gap when I spy something on the trunk. Something red. Dark red, and I detour slightly to pass the tree more closely. Suddenly I realise what it is that is attached to the tree. It's a pair of panties. Woman's panties. Karen's. The ones that match the bra on the table at home. I can't see Karen though, or any more cards. Stepping right up close to the tree, I take hold of the panties gently, the lacy softness contrasting with the roughness of the tree bark. Glancing around me to ensure no-one is watching, I pull the panties gently toward my nose, and inhale the delicate scent of my love.

Searching more thoroughly, I happen to look around the back of the tree trunk, and there is another small note, a rough white sheet with red ink, inimitable Karen.

Hi Hon.

Ooh, I hope it's you, and not some pervert.

I bet you smelled those panties when you saw them, to make sure they were mine. I know you so well.

Anyway, now that I have your attention, read carefully.

Have a look over toward the big rock with the flat top, between the two pine trees. See it?

You need to walk over behind the rock, and you'll see some clothes lying there. Mine. Yes, I'm naked. You need to take all of your clothes off, hold them all down with a stone or something, and then walk down between the two trees.

I can just imagine how hard you are now. Just the way I want you.

Hurry, honey!

She's right, and my cock lurches with the knowledge. I hurry over to the rock she has indicated, and sure enough a pile of her clothes are there. I look down between the pine trees and cannot see anything unusual.

I sigh. She knows I'm not comfortable with this idea. Not comfortable, but hard as stone. She knows me better than I think. It doesn't take me long to decide, and I start to unbutton my shirt. Soon my clothes are in a messy pile on the grass, and I'm totally naked, with my cock stretching out in front of me, my heart beating fast, my skin alive with anticipation.

I turn, beyond rational decisions now, and walk through the clearing between the trees, looking for Karen.

The clearing takes a turn before too long, and I walk around to the right, my dick leading the way.

Suddenly I see her. God, I hope it's her.

Further down the rough path, directly in front of me, a woman stands, directly in front of a tree. A pale naked body with a dark thatch between her legs, matching the hair on her head. I run toward her as she grins at me but otherwise doesn't move.

As I get close I can see another card. A small red diamond shape hanging between her lovely breasts, suspended by a thing string of silver around her neck. I call out to her and she smiles at me, but still says nothing.

I walk right up close as she moves her eyes to look me over. I turn to the side and grin. An old joke between us, as I show her my best profile. I don't understand what's happening, but my cock is quite happy with proceedings so far.

I walk right up to her, loving the contrast of her body with the tree. Her pale skin is soft and delicate, her breasts small but firm. Large nipples are red in the late light, and I can see they are hard. She's at least as aroused as I am.

I put my hands on her shoulders and press against her, feeling her soft skin against my cock, her breasts pressed hard against my chest, and I kiss her. Hard. Our mouths mould together in a way that never ceases to be a delight, and my tongue searches out hers, sharing the space in her eager mouth.

She stills says nothing, and I finally realise. I pull back from her a little, and lift the small card from her chest. I tilt it to the light.

I know. I know.

It makes no sense, right?

I'm not going to speak to you until you fuck me.

How many choices do you have?

Love,

K

I read it again, and then lift my face to look at her eyes. They glitter with potential tears, but she is smiling in a way she only does when she wants me.

I pause for a moment. Not to decide. That's already done. To record the moment in my mind. Then I reach out to take her hands in mine. That's when I realise. Her arms are slung back and around the trunk of the small tree. I pull one of her arms, and she jerks in pain.

I lean over to have a proper look, and then walk around the tree. She has somehow handcuffed herself around the tree trunk. I crouch to see how tightly she is locked in the cuffs, muttering to myself before walking the rest of the way around the tree to return to her grinning face.

I know that speaking to her now would be a waste of time. She has a will of iron. So I do the only reasonable thing. I take hold of her and kiss her again.

My hands slide down her sides as I press her against the bark. She gasps with the roughness of it, and then her mouth renews its attack on mine.

I pull back a little and take her breasts in my hands, squeezing them roughly before lightly rubbing my thumbs across the hard nipples.

She struggles with the silence, wanting to tell me things, but determined not to.

I grin and kiss her again, taking my hands from her breasts and running one of them down the front of her body, slowly sliding down until I reach the heat between her thighs. She's so wet that moisture is dripping down her legs, and she parts her knees eagerly to give my finger better access.

As our mouths grind together I start to stroke her, moving her intimate moisture and coating her needy clit. My finger slides back and forth across it, just the way I know she likes it, and before long she is shuddering. She hisses through clenched teeth and her legs clamp on my finger as she tries unsuccessfully to stop my movements inside her. She rides her orgasm to a gasping finish before standing before me limply.

I grin at her and she knows I want her to tell me it's over. She doesn't though. She shakes her head and lifts one of her legs from the base of the tree. The leg wraps around one of mine, and she's still enough of a gymnast to shakily pull me towards her.

I don't need much persuasion. I reach around and take her ass in my hands, lifting her just a little, trying not to scrape her back against the bark. She assures me I have the right idea by lifting both legs and wrapping them around my hips.

I bend my legs a little, parting my knees, and lift myself beneath her. I can feel the wetness of her at the tip of my cock for a moment, and then she gets tired of waiting, releases her grip on my hips a little, and drops unceremoniously over my cock, buying me deep inside her.

Another gasp escapes her as I fill her, and I don't give her any time to recover, as I start to thrust. I'm gentle for a while, pressing her carefully against the tree and then pulling out carefully, but then we discover a rhythm that seems to work, and we move together.

Karen doesn't have much room to manoeuvre but she clutches me with her legs as I thrust, releases me as I pull back. Slowly the movements become quicker and quicker, and we're both gasping with the effort and the tension.

I know it's not going to be long and I look in her eyes and know she's not far behind me. I push harder, crushing our bodies together, careless now of the rough bark. I scrape my fingers across the skin on her buttocks, eliciting another hiss, and crush my chest against her poor breasts.

I feel the quiver begin, hear the groan escaping from her mouth, somehow just know it's time, and pump furiously, finding my own release as she finds hers, and we come together, gloriously exhausted, my cock emptying itself in her tightly clenched pussy.

I stand, her legs still wrapped around me, both of us bathed in sweat, and she lifts her eyebrows, still without saying a word, and puckers her lips.

I press my mouth to Karen's, gentle this time, and she invades my mouth. As her tongue slides past my lips I realise she has done something else. Along with her tongue, some object has found its way into my mouth.

It's my turn to lift my eyebrows, and I pull back a little, withdrawing my softening cock from within her and helping her to stand on the ground again before releasing her and pushing the object from my mouth, dropping it into my palm.

It's the key of course, but I'm not thinking straight and it surprises me. I look up at her face again. Finally she speaks.

"Happy Valentine's Day, Mike."