She was in a damn fine mood! Classes were complete; she had a three day weekend, and best of all, Harry was on the horizon. Where things might progress with him, she did not know. None the less, her decision to enjoy him while she figured it out, had been made.

It had taken some time for Madelyn to feel interested in men after her marriage ended. When she did start dating again, it was all on her terms. She was not looking for a relationship beyond the casual; she wasn't even sure a relationship was meant to be for her. Men were enjoyed at arm's length. This had worked out just fine in most cases. If it seemed that a companion was becoming overly invested, Madelyn would try to fade away. If that didn't work she said thank you and goodbye, reminding them of the ground rules that she had always verbalized when she started seeing someone new. There was never the possibility of what she expected from the men she dated to be misunderstood because she spelled it out before the first date. She neglected to have this conversation with Harry, however,  although the opportunity had presented itself.

Madelyn was in a bit of a quandary regarding dating Harry. The attraction she felt was unmistakable. Denying the magnetic pull toward him was futile. She had determined that she would be with him. The contention now was, in what capacity? The sex had been phenomenal. She had never known better, and she felt safe with him, unlike with her ex-husband, whom she had come to fear. Harry had been aggressive, but she trusted that he wouldn't hurt her. Contrary to any other man she had been with, she had welcomed that bit of dominance as it was paired with his concern for her pleasure and comfort. It had been years since she had let herself go so completely and with such delicious results.

Harry had sent her several random texts throughout the week. Most were sweet just-checking-in messages. A few were not.

Thursday:

7:00pm- What are you wearing?  H.

7:03pm- Um, what? M.

7:05pm- Shit! No, I meant what are you wearing tomorrow night?  H.

7:09pm- Oh. You had me going for a minute! LOL!  You said a nice restaurant, so black dress and heels. That ok?  M.

7:14pm- Very ok! Wear a long coat if you have one. We might be outside briefly.  H.

7:17pm- I can do that. Anything else I should know about tomorrow?  M.

7:22pm- Madelyn?  H.

7:23pm- Yes?  M.

7:25pm- Don't wear those tights.  H.

7:29pm- No tights, Harry. Bare legs??  M.

7:37pm- Sorry. I needed a minute. Please???  H.

7:39pm- You ok? LOL!  M.

7:43pm- I'm better than ok.  H.

7:44pm- Madelyn? What are you wearing?  H.

7:47pm- Night, Harry. I'll see you tomorrow.  M.

8:00pm- Goodnight Professor M. Sweet dreams. x  H.

Madelyn couldn't stop her smirk and eye roll as she reviewed their texts while sitting on her bed before putting on the dress she had chosen for their evening out. He was a cheeky one. Dropping her damp towel she stood, now naked in front of the full-length mirror, examining her body with a critical eye.

She appreciated her figure again. Her shape was well proportioned, perhaps a little too full in the bust, but well-made. Jack had found plenty of pleasure in her body, but he was quick to point out the flaws as well. It was subtle at first. Early on he might tease her if she had a blemish or thought she was due for a wax, later it was harsher. He would pinch her middle and comment that she needed to 'lose a few' before he got her pregnant so she didn't end up looking like a cow. It ate away at her self-esteem.

Thankfully, Jack was in her dim past and the future was bright. She liked what she saw as she watched herself shimmy the black lace garter belt past her strong, tight thighs and settle the strips of fabric over her slightly curved hips. Madelyn planned to honor Harry's request to go sans tights, but she would do it on her own terms. She placed her right foot on the chair next to the mirror; watching her breasts bounce gently as she leaned over and rolled the smokey, incredibly sheer, silk stocking up her leg and latch the clasps dangling from the garter. Once she had the other stocking in place, she stepped into the slim black heels she had chosen to wear with her little black dress. The plunging back on the dress eliminated the possibility of wearing a bra, but it was quite fitted and held her form in the best way possible. She observed herself in the garter and stockings, the heels elongating her legs, and smiled, hoping that Harry appreciated the lack of bra and panties. She thought that it made up for her compromise on the tights.

After she had slipped into the dress, Madelyn added dark emerald studs that matched her eyes and set aside a matching pendant that would settle just above her cleavage where the front of the dress dipped. Her make-up was understated. Gathering her hair, she rolled it into a loose French knot at the back of her head, securing it with a gold comb that had been her grandmother's. The details of the piece were set off well against her nearly black hair. One last spin to gauge her reflection and Madelyn felt satisfied. Harry wasn't going to know what hit him.

With a few minutes to kill, she fired up the stereo, settling on her 'girl power' playlist. Aretha and Annie Lennox belted out 'Sisters are Doin' it for Themselves' while Madelyn danced the way you do when there are no witnesses. Or when you thought there were no witnesses.

Harry stood frozen in his tracks. She had told him that her windows were reflective and visually impenetrable. That appeared to be mostly accurate. However, as he lifted his boot to the first step, movement had caught his eye. There was a small area in one window that allowed him to see Madelyn as she danced with abandon. Holy hell; she was magnificent. Her size belied the power she already held over him. Shoving a hand into his fitted black trousers, Harry adjusted his semi-hard cock to a more comfortable position. He trotted up the steps and laid his knuckles over the door.

Madelyn grabbed the stereo remote from the coffee table and settled the volume. Stepping to the door, she adjusted her dress, smoothing it into place. Not bothering to check the peep, she pulled the door open and tried not to stare at his chest where he had left far too many buttons of his white shirt undone.

"Harry." He didn't move or speak. "Do you want to come in for a minute or shall we go?" He remained standing stock still, in the exact spot he had been one week ago. Tonight he held a pretty gift bag with a bouquet of flowers peeking out.

He felt a squeeze in his chest as she looked into his eyes.

"Harry? Are you okay?"

"I'm fine," he finally rasped. "I need to kiss you. I can't wait, I need to kiss you now. Okay?" Madelyn had barely nodded her consent and his mouth was covering hers.

Her legs were cold. They were standing in the open entryway; he hadn't bothered to cross the threshold. The sleeves on her dress where nearly as sheer as the stockings she wore. Madelyn slipped her arms under Harry's black blazer and drew closer to his warmth. Leaning into him, the heat from his long legs began to infuse hers and she visualized them entwining. A breathy moan escaped her lips and Harry dragged his tongue through her mouth. 

He felt her small hands glide up his back, fingers spreading over his shoulder blades. One of his hands was at the nape of her neck as he let the gift bag fall gently to the ground and he brought the other to fist the back of her dress. Except there was no back of the dress. His hand was grasping at her naked flesh.

"Oh God, this dress." His teeth sank into the pillow of her bottom lip. "This might be the longest night of my life."

"What's wrong?" Expressing alarm, Madelyn withdrew, placing her hands over his forearms, tipping her head back to see his face. She was aware of the muscles flexing as his hands moved to encircle her waist.

Harry pressed his forehead to hers. "You don't understand the effect you have on me. I am using every ounce of restraint I possess to play it cool and the moment I saw you dancing, I lost all control. You are the most beautiful woman I have ever known and I am a bumbling arse."

"Oh, Harry, you are anything but a bumbling... wait, you saw me dancing? The door was closed, how could you have seen me? And that is truly embarrassing but impossible. Every window in the place, except for my studio, has the treated glass."

"There is a spot in the window by the door; the movement caught my attention. That and the fact that I could hear the music from the driveway!" He grinned at her.

"Alright, well I need to call the security company tomorrow; they arranged to have the windows done for me originally." This was alarming, and Harry was picking up on the tension that was emanating from her.

"Hey, Madelyn, what's wrong? The reflective coating probably wore off or they missed a spot when they coated the windows in the first place. I know you need some privacy, but you have no neighbors, and it's unlikely anyone can see anything from the road, and what studio?"

Releasing her grip on Harry's arms, Madelyn walked back into the living room. She picked up her emerald pendant from the mantle where she had laid it earlier. Her hands were shaking and she required a moment to calm her nerves.

"Here," she stretched her hand toward Harry. "Help me with this?" He closed the distance between them and took the necklace that was dangling from her delicate fingers. His mouth went dry and he fumbled with the tiny clasp as she turned her bare back to him. As he brought the pendant around her throat and worked the closure, he spoke softly.

"Baby, please tell me why you're so upset about the window. You're trembling, and not in a good way."

Swallowing, she turned to face him and began, "Um... you know, I was married before. I was just out of school and it was all very dreamy. He was a little older, kind and sophisticated, established in his career. Except he wasn't. Kind, that is." She paused, gathering the fortitude to verbalize, as briefly and simply as possible, the darkest time in her life.

"Go on, I'm listening."

"It turns out he wasn't a particularly good person. Not to me, anyway. He had expectations of me and I didn't fall in line."

Harry was aware of the fact that his hands were balled into fists at his sides, as he struggled to remain calm for her.

"Jack, that's his name, he does not accept defeat easily. When I left him, he stalked me for a while. He would show up here at the house, my classes, sometimes where I was shopping. It made him angry that I left him and took what he thought was his right."

"And what was that?" He ran his hand down her arm and squeezed her fingers. Gently, she pulled away, taking a step back. He gathered that she needed the space and he remained in place.

"He wanted me, his wife, he wanted my money, and most of all, he wanted me to give him a child. He blames me for shattering his dream of the perfect family." She knew she had to tell him about Jack. If the draw that he felt to her was as profound as what she was feeling, he needed to know what he was in for.

"Harry, this is why I haven't had another relationship. I date, yes, but I don't have relationships. Jack is still around, on the periphery. He hasn't bothered me for some time now. You have to know, though, that if we do pursue anything that is more than casual, he...  Well, he will most likely find out and it will anger him. Being involved with me would be messy. I don't know if you want to deal with that baggage. I don't know that I want to deal with it! I am going to be straightforward with you; this whole thing is moving incredibly fast for me. I don't know why I'm feeling whatever I am for you, and it is disconcerting. This could be a huge mistake! Plus? You are way too young for me." She finished her monologue on a nervous laugh.

Now was the time for him to move. Harry, stepped forward, placing his hands on her shoulders. "Madelyn, I do not care about Jack, although he would do well to stay clear of you if he values his health. Yes, this attraction is fast-moving, and maybe it's a little scary, but I'm not going to give up just because it might be messy. And you are not too old for me." He laughed genuinely. "Wait. How old are you?" he was grinning like a loon!

Madelyn rolled her eyes at him, which only made him laugh louder. "I will be 35 in two months. Old."

"Fucking ancient!" Harry scooped her into his arms, "I think I can handle you, just be gentle with me, yeah?" She felt a weight lift from her shoulders as he held her close and she unabashedly inhaled the masculine smell of him.

"Yeah," she replied happily.

"Okay, that's settled. Let's go to dinner before I opt to eat you instead." She playfully swatted his chest as she disentangled herself and went to the front closet for her long wool coat. Harry helped her into it as he nipped her neck.

"Oh, the bag! Did you bring me flowers?" she bent over to pick up the bag he had dropped at the door and was surprised by the weight. "What else is in here?"

"Well," he began as he took the bag from her, "the flowers are obviously for you, my gorgeous date, and the rest might be a bit presumptuous."

"What's in the bag, Harry?"

He rubbed the back of his neck nervously. "Breakfast."

Author's Note:
Hello Friends, thank you for continuing to read! I am more than thrilled to share with you that 'Delivery' has cleared 3K views! My little heart nearly burst when I saw that! Your comments and votes are inspirational. I will eventually figure out how to master WP's dedication feature; in the meantime, I would like to thank some supportive folks in the audience. Every one of them is also an author, so please check out their work!
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