Ruby and Remco
©Lynne den Hartog 2001

After clearing customs Ruby looked round anxiously for a familiar face. Her flight had been delayed for two hours and, already nervous, she was now almost panicking. She knew no-one in this country except for the man who  as to meet her from the plane. Perhaps, thinking he had missed her, he had already left the airport? She knew what he looked like, but it was only from a computer picture, and there were so many faces around her. What if he was here but they didn't recognize each other? They had joked in their emails about wearing red carnations. Perhaps it wouldn't have been a bad idea after all. He had told her he would meet her by the apple in the reception lounge, and she had been worried at the time that she would not be able to find it, but it was hard to miss. As she walked towards it she scanned the faces in front of her. Suddenly a figure detached itself from the waiting crowd.

"Ruby! It's so good to meet you at last!" Remco cried, taking hold of her shoulders and kissing her on both cheeks.

Ruby's heart skipped a beat at his touch. Surprised by her own unexpected reaction, she was completely confused. In all the months they had been writing to each other she'd had no thoughts for him other than as a good friend. Now she was standing next to him her body was betraying her. True it was the first time she had been touched by a man in months, but to become aroused by a kiss on the cheek? Why an earth did she react like that? She noticed that Remco was looking at her with a puzzled expression, and realized that she hadn't even said hello.

"Sorry" she smiled, trying to disguise her feelings. "I guess I'm tired from the journey! It's really nice to see you for the first time in the flesh, too!" A look of concern passed across his face.

"Are you sure you're up to looking round the town?" he asked. "If you'd rather we could go straight home?" She could hear his Dutch accent, and it was really appealing. Again she had to gather her wits before she could answer.

"No, I'm fine! Perhaps a cup of coffee first?"

"Yes, of course. Here is a restaurant. You would like something to eat, too?" After finding a seat they ordered a coffee and a sandwich. As they were eating Ruby took the opportunity to look more closely at the Dutchman. He was actually quite ordinary looking, but something in his face and eyes attracted her. It hadn't come through in the photo she had of him. It was almost a little boy lost look, but there was something else there. A strength of character contrasting with his boyish looks. Suddenly she felt the urge to reach across and brush away the lock of blond hair which kept falling over his left eye.

"Wow!' she thought. It must be the jet lag, but something deep inside of   her was beginning to stir.

She'd met him on the Net. After chatting to so many men who just wanted cybersex Remco had been like a breath of fresh air. She felt he was different from the beginning. For a start he didn't have one of those nicks which makes her think of some kid exploring the local whore house. Some instinct made her page him privately. Half expecting the usual response of," Are you feeling horny tonight babe?" she was pleasantly surprised when she read his reply.

"Hello - do you fancy a chat? I was feeling a little lonely tonight and just wanted someone I could talk to - but I think I logged in to the wrong channel for that!!"

They ended up chatting for three hours, and in that time learnt almost everything there was to know about each other. It was amazing how many things they had in common. One of which was the same sense of humour. Ruby hadn't laughed so much in weeks.

They ended up exchanging email addresses and started writing to each other regularly. After a few weeks Ruby felt that she knew Remco better than she'd ever known a man before. He shared his life with her. His problems and his achievements. And she had done the same. But there had never been any hint of an erotic connection between them. She had never suspected that their close friendship could possibly develop into a more physical one. What should her next move be?

She realized that Remco had obviously just asked her a question, and was waiting for an answer.

"I'm sorry, I was miles away, I guess I really am tired!"

"I was asking if you felt ready to look around the city. We can put your bags in a locker. But if you are too tired, I can take you back to the flat and you can get some sleep."

"No - I'll be fine. Lead the way! I'm really looking forward to seeing the sights." Somehow the idea of being alone with Remco worried her. It hadn't seemed a problem that they would be sharing a flat when they had arranged their meeting. But that had been before Ruby had realized that this relationship might not be quite as plutonic as she had thought. She needed people around her. Needed the time to think, before making any rash decisions based on her amazing physical reaction to him.

"OK. If you're sure. You said in your email that you couldn't imagine that we Dutch have a museum just for sex...well...it's just round the corner. I could show you that if you like?"

"Oh dear," she thought. "That's probably not the best place to go feeling like I do now." But without giving away her thoughts she couldn't think of a way to refuse. From the safe distance of email it had sounded like a good idea, but now that it was imminent she wasn't so sure. But she just nodded and followed him to the lockers where she left her bags.

Ten minutes later they were standing outside a large building with mock Roman pillars. Above the door was a huge sign saying, 'SEX MUSEUM.' The Dutch certainly weren't coy with their descriptions thought Ruby wryly. Call a spade a spade and a sex museum a SEX MUSEUM! Remco noticed her hesitation and laughed! "Don't worry. It's perfectly normal here, you know. I'll bet you'll be surprised to see what kind of people visit this place!" It was obviously true because, as she tentatively walked at his side into the building, the first two people she saw were women who were in their sixties at least. Ruby was astonished, as, in all honesty, she had been expecting dirty old men in raincoats. As she thought this, she noticed a waxwork model on her left hand side of exactly that, and, as she walked past, the animated figure opened its raincoat and flashed her! She jumped and instinctively grabbed hold of Remco's arm. She let go almost immediately, but for a split second she was aware of a strange look in the Dutchman's eyes.

As they walked further, she could hardly believe her eyes. The museum contained a complete history of sex from all over the world. Almost every known fetish was on display - some of them real eye-openers to Ruby. One scene in particular caught her attention and she stood in front of it open-mouthed. Leather-clad lifelike dummies bearing whips were teamed with wax models chained to walls. It looked like a film still from some medieval torture movie. She glanced at Remco and caught him laughing at her shocked reaction. A group of Japanese tourists stood with flashing cameras,  One of the last cameos was a mock-up of a prostitute's window with a scantily clad female sitting on a chair offering her wares. Her expression combining a come hither leer with an air of complete boredom. Remco had obviously noticed her interest in the scene because when they eventually head.

It certainly was a sight to see. The windows were lit up like Oxford Circus, London, at Christmas shopping time. The color scheme was a lot more restricted, though. The majority of windows were occupied and glowed a passionate red. The women on display clothed in a variety of garments, ranging from skimpy underwear or flimsy nighties, to jeans and T-shirts and tight black leather cat-suits. Some of the windows though were empty with solitary chairs bathed in an eerie blue light.

The group of tourists had obviously followed them from the museum as they were busily clicking away, vying with each other for the best images. She saw Remco shaking his head and asked him what was the matter. It turned out that the tourists could very well find themselves in trouble. Only the week before, he told her, a Japanese tourist had been thrown into the canal for taking photographs. It seemed that although foreign visitors to the red-light district saw it as a local attraction, the girls themselves were not impressed and objected to being treated as "sites of interest." For them, this was pure business. They operated within the law, paid their 
taxes and considered themselves responsible providers of safe sex. When Ruby asked why there were so many police officers around, she learned that they were there to protect the women from annoying customers.

They rounded off the day in a local "Bruin Cafe" where Remco introduced her to Trappist with grenadine - a dark brown Belgian beer that was incredibly strong. Ruby was feeling tipsy after just two glasses. The drink on top of  her long journey meant she could hardly keep her eyes open. She yawned loudly. Remco laughed and said, "I think it's time we went home before I have to carry you!"
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Half an hour later Ruby was being shown her room in Remco's flat. He made her a much needed coffee - and as he handed it to her their fingers brushed. Again Ruby shivered at his touch. She knew that she couldn't go on ignoring her feelings.

They had shared so many thoughts together during the months they had been corresponding that she felt she knew everything about him. Without physical influences to distract them they had learnt about each other as individuals, not just bodies whose physical attributes had jelled. But those physical attributes were now playing their part at their first meeting. She knew she wanted him, and she suspected by now that he wanted her too.

Well, the time had come to find out exactly what Remco felt.

"Remco, how would you like to dissipate some illusions?" she asked.

Remco's expression was one of complete confusion. His English was good - but not that good. Ruby felt the overwhelming urge to laugh.

"Well, you know I said that I wanted our relationship to be purely platonic?"

Remco nodded.

"What would you say if I said I'd changed my mind?"

There was a moment's silence before he replied," I'd say I'd like it very much! But what made you change your mind?""

"I knew the mental chemistry was there before we met, but I wasn't expecting the physical chemistry to be there as well. And it was!" And stretching out her hand she gave in to the urge she had felt earlier, and stroked the lock of hair away from his eye.

He took her hand in his and then he was pressing it to his lips.

"You can't know how happy you have made me feel," he said. "I think I fell in love with you before we met. When I knew we were going to meet I was worried how I was going to react. I really wanted to tell you how I felt, but was afraid of losing our friendship. I would rather have you just as a friend than risk losing you altogether."

"And I'd hate to lose you as a friend too, Remco. But now I have met you I know that we could be a lot more than just good friends. You've woken something in me that I've never felt before. I want to feel your lips on mine, to feel you touching my body. I want you to be my lover."

"Oh Ruby! That's all I wanted to hear!" Pulling her towards him, he pressed his lips onto hers. It was a gentle kiss, yet she could sense the passion behind it, and she responded in kind. Her breathing quickened, and she pressed herself against his hard body. His hands caressed her back and she  felt herself melting into his arms. It had been so long since she had felt  so good. She relaxed for the first time since their meeting.

Remco gently stroked her hair. "How would you like a massage?" he asked.  "My sister is an aroma therapist and she's always giving me these little  bottles of oil. Goodness knows what she thinks I'm going to do with it.  I've never felt the urge to go to work smelling of roses! But she's always  saying that it's great to help you relax. I think that's just what you need  now. And...um...it might be an idea to undress first. I don't want to stain  your clothes."

He saw her hesitation and, going into the bathroom, he returned with a large towel. "Here put this on."

As Ruby removed her clothes she realized that she was trembling. She noticed that Remco had turned his head away and she was grateful for his consideration.

Remco lit a candle, and heated the oil above it. Ruby was now lying on her back on the bed, modestly clad in the large white towel. Remco asked her to turn on to her tummy and slipped the towelling down to expose her naked back. Gently he trailed the oil down her spine where it settled in the pit of her back. A gleaming iridescent pool, contrasting starkly with the pale glow of her skin. Ruby moaned softly and tried to speak. Remco placed a finger on her lips and whispered, "No, sweetheart... don't say anything...this is for you...just lay back and enjoy."

Placing his hands on her shoulders he pressed down gently, rotating the palms of his hands. He moved his fingers to the base of her neck, searching for the little knots of tension there, and kneaded them gently. He continued this process down her back - and Ruby felt the stress flowing out of her. When he reached the pool of oil in the small of her back he coated his hands with it. He then continued the gentle pressure along her spine, spreading his fingers down her sides and back up again to the centre of her back, following the pattern of her muscles
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Ruby began to breathe heavily as she saw Remco stand up and slip out of his clothes. Picking up the bottle of massage oil he heated it again and coated himself with it. Ruby's eyes explored the curves of his body as they glistened in the candlelight. Carefully he lowered himself on to her and, gyrating slowly, he gave her a full body massage. As their oiled skins slipped against each other they both felt their arousal growing.

Remco slipped off of her and she could see the question in his eyes. When he asked her to turn over she no longer had any qualms and did as he asked. Her body was screaming out for him. He lowered himself on top of her and rubbed his chest against her breasts. She knew she was ready and wanted him to take herŠ so guided him into her with a sigh of pleasure. Slowly they moved against each other. They had all the time in the world and enjoyed the slow and sensual feelings that were growing between them. Gradually they worked themselves to a point where they knew that both of them were near to climax. When it happened it was the sweetest release in the world.

©Lynne den Hartog 2001 hdha@chello.nl