Just Another Trip to São Paulo

To those who rediscover the beauty of life

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It was another trip to São Paulo. Ten hours each way, and I did it every month.

As bad as that was, I also flew to Paris and Tokyo six times a year each. Strap a plane to my butt and live the dream.

I shouldn't complain. I was always in first class and I didn't have to use my personal upgrades for it. The company booked me in that class.

I was the COO (chief operating officer) of a large multinational corporation with multiple business lines. We were headquartered in Texas, but had other major centers in--surprise--São Paulo, Paris and Tokyo.

In a lot of companies, the COO would hide behind a desk and make the hired help travel. I insisted on seeing with my own eyes and asking the right questions. Early on I got terribly frustrated when a low-level employee would report on a key meeting. I always wanted to know the things they never thought to ask.

Almost all my travel was on Delta, for two reasons. First, I was a million miler with Delta before I took that job, and I later crossed two million. I also preferred Delta.

When one flies internationally this much and usually on the same flight, one often encounters the same crews. Some more than others.

On recent flights to São Paulo, I had the same flight attendant in first class. Gabriela. I always looked forward to seeing her. She was obviously Brazilian, with a gorgeous complexion that made me want to stare.

The only reason she was on my recent flights was I waited to schedule my trip until she texted me her flight assignments for the upcoming month.

That special arrangement began three months earlier, but this trip was different from all the others.

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Three months ago

Back then, I was on a Delta flight to São Paulo and recognized Gabriela as a flight attendant I had seen a couple of times. I didn't know her name then, but as soon as we boarded she came and offered me something to drink while we waited for the main cabin to board.

I glanced at her name.

"Thank you Gabriela. I'd like a sparkling water."

When she brought me the drink, I spoke to her again. "I think you were on my flight last month to São Paulo. I fly there every month."

"That's my regular route, because of my language skills."

"I'm impressed."

Then she was off, to talk to another passenger.

Eventually she worked her way back to me.

"So Gabriela, tell me about those language skills."

"I was born in Brazil, but my father was an American. Mom wanted to speak English better, so I was raised speaking English."

"Nice. Almost no accent."

One has to be patient. Taking a flight attendant out to dinner takes several conversations spread out over the flight. I hadn't tried in years, but that's another story.

Eventually, I asked whether she knew São Paulo well.

"No one knows São Paulo well. It's too big. But I know some nice places, nice restaurants. Would you like a tip?"

"Sure."

Another wait. Patience is not my greatest strength.

After a few minutes she came back. "I wrote a couple on this napkin. Of course I don't know where you're staying."

"I'm at the Tivoli Mofarrej."

"That's nice. I'm not sure what's good in that area."

"Would you like to join me for dinner and help me find a nice place to eat."

"I'll be back in a minute."

About a half hour later, she stopped by again.

"May I get you anything else, Mr. Oscarson?"

As she asked, she put a napkin down in front of me. It had writing on it.

"How about a ginger ale?"

"Perfect, I'll be right back."

I looked at the napkin.

Call me later (her number, a USA number)

I'd love to have dinner with you.

Have to be careful while on duty!

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I checked into my hotel. I stayed there every month and usually had the same room, a deluxe plus room with a king bed and a city view. My assistant takes care of the booking, of course, but she knows what I want.

I waited another half hour and called Gabriela.

"Hi, Gabriela. This is Bill Oscarson."

"I'm so glad you called! I'm sure you understand airlines have policies. Well, perhaps not firm policies, just a clear understanding of preferences. Plus, the crews tend to gossip a lot."

"I understand completely. I thought it would be fun to have dinner with a local. Did you grow up here in Brazil?"

"Yeah, here in São Paulo."

"Do your parents still live here?"

"My father died, but ironically, my mother lives in Florida, now."

"I'm sure we'll have a lot to talk about. My hotel has a wonderful restaurant, called Seen. Would you like to join me for dinner there?

"That would be nice. By the way, I've noticed you on two or three flights before. It's nice to see a familiar face, isn't it?"

"Agreed. Especially someone with a great smile."

"What time should I arrive there and where?"

"Would 7:30 in the hotel lobby work for you?"

"That's perfect."

"I know your selection of clothes is limited when you fly, but this place is kind of a business casual or even business dress restaurant."

"I come prepared. I'll see you then, Bill."

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That was how we met. Gabriela arrived wearing a short black skirt and an ivory blouse. Silk, possibly. She was far prettier than in her uniform, and she was wearing her hair down.

We had a wonderful dinner together. I love dining in Brazil. Not only is the food good, but it's inexpensive. I ordered a beef tenderloin that was fabulous and it cost $27 USD.

Gabriela and I had fun talking and got to know each other. Afterwards, she thought she knew of a place nearby where we could dance, and she walked over to ask the concierge to be sure.

I wasn't certain about the idea of dancing, and told Gabriela of my hesitation.

"Oh, this isn't Brazilian dancing, I wouldn't do that to you. This is an elegant place where we can dance slow, with you holding me in your arms."

"I can do that."

We had a great time, and I held her close.

"Why are you single, Bill?"

"Up until five years ago, I was happily married. Then my oldest daughter walked in on her mother, who was on her hands and knees getting drilled by her yoga instructor."

"Oh, no! I'm so sorry."

"Since you asked, how is it possible you're single?"

"I've never met the right man."

"Do you mind me asking how old you are?"

"I'd mind if you were a random stranger, but I'm 31. How about you?"

"I'm 51. Three kids. I live in University Park, on the north side of Dallas."

"Bill, I'd like to see you again."

"On the plane?"

She was laughing. "No, like this. This has been a fun first date. This was a date, wasn't it?"

"It was a wonderful first date, although I feel bad I didn't pick you up and open the car door for you."

"You fly once a month?"

"I also fly six times a year to Tokyo and six times to Paris."

"Ouch.. What do you do?"

"I'm the chief operating officer of a large multinational company, a holding company. When the CEO offered me the job six years ago, I told him I would accept his offer only if I got out to kick the tires myself. I can't get the information I want any other way. To his credit, the CEO insisted on footing the bill for first class, even on international flights."

"I always thought you were upgrading. I knew you were a 2 million miler. It takes an iron butt to achieve that."

"How can I know which flight you'll be on?"

"Easy. I go online and pick my flights. That's done by seniority. Once I know my schedule, I'll email it to you."

"How long are you here on layover this trip?"

"I fly out the day after tomorrow."

"Gabriela, I'll be in meetings all day tomorrow. I'm going to give you my card, and I'll write my personal email and my mobile number on the back. Please let me know the instant you know your schedule for next month. I'll fly in a day earlier so we can spend a full day together."

"I'd love to do that, and to see you again."

"What hotel are you staying in?"

"It's the Ibis, by the airport."

"That taxi ride must have been expensive---I'm so sorry. Let me get you a private car to take you back tonight."

We had been sitting on a bench outside, but we went into the hotel lobby and I asked the concierge to arrange a private car for Gabriela to take her to the Airport Ibis, and to bill it to my room.

She put her arms around my neck.

"I need to tell you something, Bill. Most men would have tried to get me into bed tonight. You're not like most men. I like that. I'd love to keep in touch. Will you call me? At least email or text?"

"I will. You have my word. Let's sit here in the lobby and wait for that car. ... A random question, Gabriela. What's your favorite color?"

"Green. Not a light green, but something like a hunter green."

When the car came, I walked her out to it and she kissed me on the cheek.

------[]------------[]------

I sent her a text a few days later.

I've been thinking about you.

Her reply came back almost immediately.

"I've thought about you every day since last week."

"I'm leaving for Paris tomorrow. Too bad you won't be on the flight."

"You probably have a Paris babe."

"Gabriela, I would never do that to you. Not after my wife cheated on me."

"I'm so sorry! That was thoughtless of me. I tried to make a joke without thinking. Please forgive me."

"No worries. I've stuck my foot in my mouth many times, but Gabriela, I'm a one-woman guy. However, I'll try to be less sensitive about a joke like that."

The next day I got her schedule. I picked the dates I wanted for our meetings, and asked my assistant to get my tickets, but one day earlier than normal.

I texted Gabriela and gave her the date I would be flying. "I'll have the entire next day free to spend with you, if you want to."

"FABULOSO!!!!"

A few days later I texted her. "This may be too forward of me, but the room I always stay in can be made up with two twin beds. Would you like to stay with me?"

"That is sweet of you. I accept your offer."

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For the next two months, that's the routine we followed. Because I was scheduling my meetings to begin the day Gabriela was flying out, we got to spend a lot of time together. She took me to a lot of fun places and activities, things I never would have experienced on my own.

That second month was our third "date," and our relationship changed. We had gone to dinner at a restaurant a few blocks from the hotel. As we walked back, we were holding hands, when suddenly she stopped, stepped in front of me and kissed me.

I was startled and didn't react right away, so she pulled back, fearing she had offended me. She started to apologize, but I cut her off by kissing her. Her tongue touched mine tentatively, and soon our tongues were dancing! It was a long, hot kiss.

When we came up for air we both laughed and touched our foreheads together.

"Bill, you have no idea how long I've wanted you to kiss me. I finally decided to take a chance. Was that ok?"

"The kiss? I would say far better than ok."

"I mean was it ok I kissed you?"

I was laughing. "I knew what you meant. Thank you for taking the initiative."

We walked back to the hotel and took the elevator up to our room.

"Bill, come sit on the sofa and talk to me. ... What do you want from our relationship? Where do you see it leading?"

"I love spending time with you."

"I feel the same. I always look forward to this, but I'm unclear what you want long term."

"Not to be difficult, but would you mind answering that first? One of my worries from the beginning has been our age difference. I see my age as a problem for you, whether you perceive it or not. So what is it you want long term? What would be your ideal future in our relationship?"

"Ok, I'll go first, but I'm going to be direct. My ideal future with you would be marriage, and I'd like to have children. I don't know whether that works for you, but you need to understand, your age is a complete non-issue for me."

"Well then, there's something I've wanted to say, but I've held back out of fear, I suppose.

"I love you. I was falling in love with you on our first date, and maybe we should have had this talk earlier.

"I keep finding reasons why this shouldn't work, though, but I'm in love with you. I was scared to death to tell you I hoped we would marry someday. I thought it might scare you away. That's why I wanted you to go first."

She put her head on my shoulder. Finally she spoke.

"Bill, I love you. I've never met anyone like you. You're all I have wanted to find in a husband and a father of my children, but I noticed you haven't answered that part."

"My children are adults. Two are married. The oldest, Holly, has two children. I've raised one family. However, there is no way I can love you this much and not want to have children together."

"Then may I make a suggestion?"

"Please."

"Next month, go back to having a king bed in this room. I want to make love with you, if you're ready for that. If you aren't ready, please be honest with me. I can wait."

I kissed her. It was another deep and wet kiss.

"When you pack your flight bag next time, is there room for lingerie?"

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That was one of the reasons this trip was different. This was that next time, and I think Gabriela was as nervous as I. She kept looking up and our eyes met, then she smiled one of those Cheshire cat smiles and looked away. I was probably doing the same thing.

That night promised to be different from others we had spent together.

Just then Gabriela approached me. "Mr. Oscarson, is there anything I can get you?"

"I'd love a sparkling water, please."

"I'll be right back." With that, she put a napkin down in front of me.

Bill:

I'm so hot for you I can barely concentrate. Do you want to join the mile high club? Terrible idea. I'd get fired for sure. Can we skip dinner and do room service later?"

G

I was laughing when she reappeared with my drink.

I gave her a big smile.

We were soon in the back seat of my private car, holding hands, but the tension was palpable. She glanced over at me, blushed, and looked down with a big smile.

I leaned over and whispered in her ear. "What position do you want for the first time I enter you?"

She turned her head and whispered in my ear: "You know you're killing me? I'm so out of control hot for you!"

I put my hand on her leg. I glanced over at her and she had her eyes closed and her mouth open. I slowly slid my hand between her legs. I heard a soft moan. I was having fun.

We checked in and got on the elevator. Unfortunately, the bellhop was on the elevator with us. I gave him a big tip when he carried our bags into the room.

We were alone and the bed was big.

We looked at each other and started laughing. We met midway, hugging.

"Do you feel awkward?"

"This is all I've thought about since last month. I've been so distracted, I gave someone one of those little bottles of wine, but he had asked for an apple juice."

I kissed her. She moaned and moved closer. It was a long kiss and I was hard already. She glanced down.

"Someone likes me."

"He's a terrible extrovert. Can't hide his feelings worth a damn. Terrible poker player."

She was laughing.

"I'm glad. It's nice to know I'm appreciated."

"Gabriela, I want to tell you something. When I was younger, I would have bedded someone like you on our first date, or at least tried. As I've gotten older, I'm more aware of how wrong it is to treat a woman is a shallow manner. I didn't want to do anything inappropriate because of how wonderful you are, and how I feel about you. However, after my wife cheated on me, I've been gun shy, wondering whether I could trust someone again."

"Do you trust me?"

"I do, but please understand, I trusted her too."

She thought about that for several seconds.

"I don't know if there's a satisfying answer to that. All I know is this. If you open your heart to me, you will be vulnerable. But I'll be opening mine as well, with equal vulnerability. The only answer is to choose to trust. Either that or live alone and lonely."

"That's how I felt until I met you. I mean, I was willing to be alone. Then I saw you and somehow knew I needed to get to know you."

"I felt the same spark, something I've never felt in ten years of flying."

We kissed again. It grew passionate and ended due to severe oxygen depletion.

"Bill, go take a shower. I'll go after you and I'll be in there a little longer. I want to look very sexy for you tonight."

I showered and came out wearing a hotel robe. Gabriela kissed me on the lips, slipped a little tongue, and then swatted me on the butt.

"Would you dim the lights and turn down the bed? When I come out, I want you to make love to me."

I turned out the lights. The city lights provided a romantic feeling. I turned down the bed. We each had three pillows. Funny thing to notice.

I heard the light switch in the bathroom and Gabriela stepped out. My mouth was open and I stared.

"I wanted to pick something you'd like for our first time."

She was wearing a black lace bra and thong set, with pull-up black stockings.

I walked to her and we hugged. My hand was on her ass. It was incredible to feel those curves and that taut flesh.

We kissed briefly, but Gabriela pushed the robe off my shoulders, dropping it to the floor. She reached down and held me in her hand.

"Oh, Bill, I've wanted this since the first time I felt it when we danced."

She kissed my neck, my collarbone, a nipple and then knelt between my feet. She was still holding me, but now looked up into my eyes.

"I want this."

She licked me, then slowly took me in her mouth. I was losing my balance and had to shift my feet apart a little.

I moaned and put my hand on her head.

"Ohhh, Gabriela! ... Ohhh!"

I was losing it rapidly.

She stood and kissed me.

"I want your first load inside me, and I'm going to make you explode."

I scooped her up and carried her to the bed and got in with her.

"Baby, you are the most beautiful woman I've ever known."

We kissed again. I wanted to light her fire.

I kissed her neck and shoulders, caressed her breasts, traced the skin around her bra with my tongue.

It was a front-close bra, so I unfastened it, unwrapping her breasts, delightfully dark in color.

I feasted on her breasts as she moaned, and traced a slow spiral around a dusky nipple, then seized it gently between my teeth. Sucking on that nipple produced a gasp, as did the other. She was panting, gently pushing my head lower.

Good. That's where I wanted to be.

I kissed her body everywhere I could reach, slowly moving past her ribs, her tummy, her navel. She often cried out softly or moaned.

I moved down and kissed her thighs, stopping to suck on a tender spot of flesh until I left a mark.

She moaned louder.

I looked at her beautiful lips, the landing strip above, the pink flesh within. She writhed beneath me as I tasted, kissed, and licked.

"Ohhh Bill! ... so good!"

I pushed a finger slowly inside, reached for her G-spot and rubbed.

Her head jerked back and her muscles fired as an orgasm washed through her.

"Ohh, ohh, ohh ... Oh Bill!"

As I held her hips, waiting for her to return to earth, she was panting. She opened her eyes, and I pounced. I licked her clit gently, over and over, then softly sucked it between my lips, holding it there as my tongue continued massaging it.

She came again, more forcefully this time.

I moved up and entered her as she cried out. I was quickly deep within her, and she was frantically clutching my back and squeezing me between her thighs. As I thrust in and out of her, she rolled her head back and forth, crying out with each impact.

She lifted her long legs over my back and crossed her ankles.

"Deeper ... please ... ohhh, yes!"

I sped up, now thrusting violently into her. My climax approached, a tidal wave within.

Suddenly it hit shore and I roared as I pushed deeper and exploded.

Gabriela felt it. Her mouth was open, her eyes closed as she concentrated on the flow into her.

My throbbing finally stopped.

"Please stay inside me. You feel so good lying there with that hard beast inside me. I had no idea you were so big."

"I had no idea how beautiful you would be naked and under me."

My cock finally softened and slipped out, and I lay beside her. We looked into each other's eyes and smiled.

"Bill, that was nothing less than amazing. I think you made me cum three times, and I've never before cum twice. Often not even once!"

"Entering you is my new favorite thing. Well, playing with those beautiful breasts is a close second."

We were both still breathing hard.

We ordered room service for dinner. When it arrived, we were in our robes and sat at the dining table in our suite.

"Bill, where did you grow up?"

"In a little town on the Oregon Coast, Nehalem. It's north of Tillamook and about five miles from the beach. Graduated from Neah-kah-nie High School, a couple of blocks from the beach in Rockaway. The Pirates."

"Did they give you an eye patch or a parrot when you graduated?"

"I wish! That would have been fun. We only had about 50 students in my graduating class."

"You're probably the only one traveling to Tokyo, Paris and São Paulo regularly."

"Most have likely remained within 50 miles of there. It's a beautiful area. Mostly agricultural land. A lot of dairy."

"Do your parents still live there?"

"Dad died last year and Mom moved to Portland to live with my sister and her family."

"How many siblings do you have?"

"Three. I'm the oldest, then a brother, followed by two sisters."

"And you have at least one daughter, Holly."

"How did you know that?"

"You told me Holly was your oldest, so she must have been the one who caught your wife getting boned."

"Oh yeah. Also another daughter, Chelsea, and a son, Dallin."

"How many grandchildren?"

"Three, plus one in the oven. Holly has two, Chelsea one, and Dallin and his wife just announced they are expecting their first."

"How fun."

"Do you really want children, Gabriela?"

"I do and I don't want to wait much longer. I just turned 32 ..."

"What? How did I not know about your birthday?"

"I didn't want to make a big deal out of it. When is your birthday?"

"November 14th."

"And you'll be 52?"

"Yeah. That sounded old when I was 20, but it doesn't feel old now."

"I don't think you're old, Bill. You just ravaged me like none other. If I died now, I would die happy and wonderfully plowed."

"You told me last month your ideal outcome for our relationship--let's call it what it is: our love affair--would be marriage."

"I still feel that way--even more each time I'm with you."

"What about your airline job?"

"If you and I marry, I would walk away from it in a heartbeat. I want to focus on time together and having children, a full-time wife and mother."

"You'll have beautiful babies."

"Don't act like it would all come from me. You're an incredibly handsome man, and I love your body."

She ran her hands over me.

"Bill, please make love to me again. Doggy? I mean, if you can ravage me in missionary that way, ..."

"I will, but I want to do it my way."

"I gotta experience that!"

"Ok, I warned you."

We were both laughing, but then I picked her up and put her over my shoulder to find a good open piece of wall. She was giggling and kicking her feet as I carried her.

I stood her by the wall and kissed her as I removed her robe and caressed her breasts. As her arousal increased, I turned her to face the wall, then step back a little and rest her forearms on the wall so her ass stuck out.

She was smiling in apparent eager anticipation.

I dropped my robe and knelt on the floor and kissed her lower back, then her ass cheeks, then the backs of her thighs.

She was making soft cooing noises.

I squeezed between her legs and licked her pussy, driving my tongue into that wonderful pink flesh.

She was noisier now.

I slid back and stood. Holding my cock in my hand, I rubbed it slowly several times from her clit to her anus. Once it was thoroughly drenched in her juices, I found her love tunnel, paused ...

... and rammed it fully into her!

She screamed.

I gave her no rest, but immediately stroked hard in and out of her, slamming against her cute butt repeatedly.

On each thrust, she lifted onto her tiptoes.

I grabbed her hips and hammered her as she cried with each upward thrust.

Then I spanked her.

She screamed again, and I spanked the other side.

Another scream.

I could feel it building, so I sped up. The last few thrusts were hard enough to force her entire body against the wall. I slammed into her one final time and exploded inside, holding it deep as my cock throbbed its release.

Her head was turned sideways and flat against the wall, as she gasped for breath.

I waited until I was limp, all the while pinning her against the wall. When I pulled out, I whispered in her ear.

"The me take your stockings off. There's going to be cum running down your legs, so let's take a shower together,

I quickly removed the stockings, stood and scooped her into my arms and carried her into the bathroom.

"Bath or shower?"

"Bath, please."

I stood her on her feet on a bathroom mat, while I started the bath water.

"Do you want to keep your hair dry, or may I wash it for you."

"Baby, you can wash anything you want, just so long as you promise to do me that way again. That was amazing! I've never been so manhandled in my life, and I loved it. And, you bad boy! You spanked me."

"I did. But did you like it?"

"I loved it."

I felt the water in the tub. "Here, baby, give me your hand as you get in, then I'll follow."

We were soon in the tub together. She was seated between my legs with her back to me. I kissed her neck and back.

"Do you have any idea how much you drive me crazy with your hot kisses?"

She turned her head towards me and I turned so we could kiss.

"I love you so much, Bill."

"I'm honestly astounded at the depth of my feelings for you."

There was shampoo on the side of the tub, and there was also a shower spray.

"Is it alright to use this shampoo, or can I get you yours?"

"I'd prefer mine. That's sweet of you."

She told me where it was, so I grabbed a towel and quickly dried off a little, then went to her drawer and found the shampoo.

"May I wash your hair?"

"You do me however you want."

I turned the faucet back on and checked the spray, then carefully wetted her hair. Then, I squeezed shampoo into my hand and massaged it into her hair and scalp for several minutes.

She leaned back toward me. "Ohh, I can get used to this! Could you please quit your job and be my slave?"

I massaged her scalp with my fingertips and then rinsed out her hair carefully.

Soap time. I washed her back and reached around and soaped up her chest and breasts. She was moaning, of course.

"Please stand, carefully."

She stood, and I washed between her legs--more moaning--then her legs.

I rinsed her off, and she demanded we trade places. It turned out to be easier for me to get out and back in.

"My turn to torment you."

Gabriela washed my hair, back and chest.

"Stand and face me now. She examined me carefully. I think this requires a two-cycle cleaning."

She slipped me into her mouth and went to work. Her tongue worked magic on the crown.

It was my turn to moan, and I braced myself on the wall to keep from falling.

She took me deep, but then focused on the tip, where more nerves are. As she swirled her tongue around and around my tip, I was surprised to feel cum building.

I was gasping now. So close.

I came gloriously in her mouth!

Her eyes were closed as I pulsed more into her. When I finally relaxed, she used her hand to squeeze my cock from bottom to tip, then looked up and swallowed.

No rest for me, though. Hypersensitive though I was, she soaped up her hands and stroked my cock back to full attention, and now very clean!

"Stop! Please, I can't ..."

I was gasping and close to falling.

"Here, babe, let me help you sit."

"I have never had to beg a woman to stop."

She smiled. "It was only fair. I've never been so powerfully fucked as you did me today."

"Come, on. Let's dry off and get in bed, We both need to rest or its going to look like death by sex."

------[]------------[]------

As we lay in bed, my arm was around her and her head was on my shoulder. She was drawing lazy circles in my chest hair.

"Do you like my chest hair?"

"Big turn on for me. Most young Brazilian men shave their chests, but I love hair."

"I thought you would be attracted to someone closer to your skin color."

"What can I say? Mom married a pasty white boy."

I was laughing over that.

"So am I your kink?"

"Not at all. I'm totally, irretrievably in love with you, and you just happen to be white. But here's what I don't get. Here you are, distinguished, accomplished, top-level management, CEO-track probably, in a huge company, and you're a total beast in bed. I mean, I knew I was in love with you, but I didn't see this coming!"

"You bring out the beast in me! But, now it's my turn. Tell me about your family. I know your father died and your mother is in Florida. Do you have brothers and sisters?"

"I have an older brother, Antonio, who is two years older, and a sister, Clara, who is three years younger than me. They both live in the States. Antonio is in LA, and Clara is married and living in Chicago, well in the suburbs. I forgot to say Antonio is also married, with three kids. Clara has two."

"Did you go to school before joining Delta?"

"I was studying economics. I finished two years."

"Where was that?"

"At Harvard."

"No kidding? Harvard? Why did you leave?"

"Dad was getting sick. He ended up with cancer for ten years before the cancer won. He had been supporting me in school, and I decided to do this for a couple of years, save some money, and then go back."

"But you never went back. Why?"

"I was enjoying being a flight attendant. I got to see the world, before I settled on the flights here."

"Do you have any desire to go back?"

"Perhaps, although probably not Harvard."

"Why not?"

"You live in Texas."

"If we marry, you could attend Southern Methodist just a couple miles away. Would you study econ?"

"No. I would study something like child development, maybe child psychology."

"You want babies."

"I do. Babies don't need me to teach them about economics."

"Here's a random question. Did you ever enter a beauty pageant? Because you are incredibly beautiful."

She covered her face. "Ohhh, I don't like to talk about this. I'm embarrassed now."

"Miss Piña?"

That made her laugh, flashing me that spectacular smile.

"I may have been Miss Brazil when I was 19."

"No shit?"

"I'm embarrassed."

"Why? What was your talent?"

"Classical piano."

"I'm blown away! Will you play for me sometime?"

"I have a nice piano in my condo. I live near Atlanta. That's where I'm based. Come and visit me sometime."

"Will you play me a recital? I love classical music."

"May I play naked?"

"Is that how you were, undressed in the competition? Wait! As Miss Brazil, did you compete in the Miss Universe pageant?"

She blushed and hid her face in her hands.

"Yes, I competed in the Miss Universe Pageant. I was first runner-up."

"Why is that embarrassing?"

"I learned quickly that as soon as men learned of my beauty pageant history, many wanted to pursue me, sort of a notch in the bedpost conquest. If you had pushed for sex on our first date, you would never have gotten me to go out again. I had to trust you. I even ended up having to make the first move for tonight to happen.

"You're the most wonderful man I've met in years, and the first man I've fully trusted."

"You're telling me that my pathetically slow way of reaching this stage with you actually worked."

"It's funny now, Bill, but I wondered whether you were interested in me romantically, or just wanted me for company when you came to town. It was such a tease, in some ways. I had to find out. It was probably the perfect approach."

"And here we are."

"In love. So in love."

"I'm trying to remember your flight calendar. I'm back in Dallas all next week and half of the next, then I'm off to Tokyo."

"I'm home all next week. May I visit you?"

"I'd love to visit you, but I can't get away for the entire week. If you came to me, that would be fabulous! How long can you stay?"

"When do you get back from here?"

"I fly home Saturday and I'll be home that night."

"I get back Thursday night--two days from now. I could fly over Sunday and stay until the next Sunday. Is that too long? Would I drive you crazy? More importantly, will your other babes mind?"

"That sounds heavenly. Don't worry, I'll tell them to get lost for the week. When you fly, it's standby, right?"

"Yeah. That's become iffy with all the reductions in supply to boost profits."

"Forget standby. Send me an email with the flights you want and the dates, and include your full name and date of birth. What else will I need?"

"Call me if you need something else, but what are you going to do?"

"I'm going to buy your ticket. I won't stand for losing time with you because you got bumped."

"You want to bump me instead of the airline?"

We were both laughing.

"Do you actually know how to book a flight?"

"I think I remember. I might yell for help."

"Baby, I assume we'll sleep together, right?"

"Where in the hell else would I let you sleep?"

"Just wanted to be sure. I'm planning to bring lingerie, but no pajamas."

"Smart girl."

------[]------------[]------

The next day, Gabriela and I made love--cowgirl this time--in the morning. We had breakfast and then she had a whole day planned that was a mixture of museums, great stores, beautiful parks, and sitting on benches, kissing.

Our second night--she was flying out the next morning and my meetings were starting--we made love twice again. The second time, Gabriela had a special request.

"Bill, will you fuck me against the wall again. I need more of that."

"Yes, but differently."

"Differently?""

"I'll show you."

I grabbed her and threw her over my shoulder again. I took her back over to the wall, but this time her back was to it.

I made her stand with her legs apart and went down on her. When she climaxed, I stood, picked her up by cupping her ass in my hands, and plunged into her, with her legs wrapped around me and her back slamming into the wall.

She screamed on my first entry--though she was plenty wet!--and I settled down to a rhythm. Each impact was against the wall. Her head was on my shoulder and she clung to my neck as I pounded her.

I was grunting now, pounding more forcefully, and she was crying with each impact. Finally, I pushed hard against the wall and came inside her.

When I lowered her to her feet, I looked at her back.

"Gabriela, I'm so sorry. Your back is red and a little scratched. Do you have any lotion I can rub on your back?"

"What are you sorry for? That was another legendary fuck for me. I'm amazed at how I love being manhandled by you, but I think it says something about how much I trust you."

I rubbed lotion on her back and kissed it better.

It was sad to say goodbye to each other, but this time I knew we would see each other again in just a few days.

"Don't forget to email me your flight info. I'll send back the confirmation number."

"Bye for now. Safe travels, Bill. I love you."

"I love you, too, Gabriela."

------[]------------[]------

While waiting in the Delta lounge in São Paolo, I saw the email from Gabriela. She included her SkyMiles number. Her last name is Simpson--American father!

Her birthday ... I started laughing. The same as my ex-wife's. Not the same year, of course! September 18th.

I logged on and purchased her tickets. First Class. There was no way I was going to be cheap and drop her into main cabin! There was nothing open in the morning flights, so it had to be that evening.

I got her locator number and was about to email her when I had a thought. I checked the symphony calendar.

I sent my email to Gabriela.

My Dear Gabriela:

Here is your locator number for your flight on Sunday. I entered your SkyMiles number as well. Please look this over and make sure it's correct.

When you pack, please bring a little black dress for a rather dressy occasion. Don't ask, because I won't tell until you're here.

Also, bring a swimsuit. I have a pool.

I will be at the airport to pick you up, and kiss you.

All my love,

Bill

A few minutes later, I received a reply from Gabriela:

Dearest Bill:

My heart skipped a beat when I saw I had an email from you! I love you so much!

Thank you for the tickets. I checked everything over and the only thing that seems odd is you purchased first class tickets. You didn't need to do that for me, but thank you!

Since our "encounters" last week, my heart has been so full of gratitude for the fine man you are, for your kindness and concern. I am overwhelmed by how powerfully I trust you. (And how powerfully you thrust into me!)

What I'm trying to say is... I love you!

With all my love,

Gabriela

------[]------------[]------

Sunday at 8:35 pm. Her scheduled arrival time. Of course, I was there early, impatient man that I am.

I was certain she would fly with carry-on only, so I was not surprised that only 15 minutes after her flight landed, she came out into the area where the airport exits are.

As she approached me, she dropped her bag and ran to me, almost knocking me over. We held each other tightly, without speaking. Then she whispered in my ear.

"Take me home and make love to me."

------[]------------[]------

I pulled into the garage. Room for three cars and occupied by one. I carried her suitcase into the main house.

"Come on, let me show you the master bedroom."

"Bill! It's huge! How big is the bathroom? My master bedroom would fit in that bathroom!"

"Here are four drawers in this dresser you can use. Feel free to leave anything here. Also, there's plenty of hanger space in the closet behind you, as well as more drawers."

She walked into the closet, which in truth was larger than a child's bedroom and featured a central unit with drawers facing the sides and a full length mirror on each end.

"I could be comfortable here."

I was laughing at her smile and held her in my arms.

"I hope you'll be comfortable. I'd like this to become your home. I think there's room for two."

"I know there's room for two in your bed."

We kissed as I undressed her. She trembled as I kissed her neck and softly held her ear between my lips.

Once she stood before me naked, she undressed me. It was wonderful to feel her soft lips kissing my chest, then slowly kissing down to my belt as she knelt between my legs.

She looked up at me as she unfastened my belt and my pants and pulled my zipper down, dragging my pants and boxers to the floor. I stepped out of them as she took me in her hand and slowly stroked.

"Make love to me in your bed, Bill."

We had a wonderful time that evening, taking our time, slowly building our arousal as we kissed and fondled. As I caught a nipple between my lips and pulled, she gasped. When I entered her she moaned loudly, her hands on my ass, pulling.

We came within seconds of each other as I pounded her into the bed.

We lay next to each other, catching our breath. My arm was around Gabriela and her head was on my chest.

"I'm glad you came to spend the week with me."

"How much are you working? ... I don't expect you to take the week off."

"I'm taking tomorrow off, then probably the morning on Tuesday."

"Can we swim in the morning?"

"I often start my day that way, unless the weather is bad. Tomorrow it should be good."

We talked for a while and drifted off to sleep. Both still naked.

------[]------------[]------

We both woke up early, feeling lazy but also loving our closeness.

"May I make you breakfast?"

"This is a vacation for you. I didn't hire you to cook."

"Well, what did you hire me for?"

"Crap! That came out wrong. I didn't ask you here to cook for me."

"Just to be your sex slave."

I looked at her and she busted up laughing.

"Can I apply to be your sex slave? Hey! Do you have one of those rooms like Christian Gray has?"

"It's where it's supposed to be, in the basement in a soundproof room with no windows."

She giggled and hugged me. "I love how fun you are. Being with you is wonderful."

"Before I forget, Thursday night we're going to the symphony. I've held on to two season tickets, because if I let them go I would never get them again. There's a performance of Rachmaninoff''s 2nd Piano Concerto."

"Seriously? I love that one. Who's the soloist?"

"I can't remember, but I have the season program somewhere."

"I love Rachmaninoff, but some of his piano work is difficult for me to play."

"Why?"

"He was a superb pianist, and some of his pieces use chords his massive hands could reach, but I can't, so I have to find work-arounds."

She hugged me tightly. "Thank you for inviting me. What other plans do we have?"

"Swimming! Go get your suit on."

"No skinny-dipping?"

"Not during the day. I have neighbors."

"Aww, I was counting on swimming naked with you. Can we do that tonight?"

------[]------------[]------

I was in the pool when Gabriela came out the door. Breathtaking, as usual.

She was wearing a yellow bikini, stunning against her mocha skin.

"Wow, babe. Can you be any more beautiful?"

She blushed. "I know you won't believe this, but I'm so turned on by your body. You are so fit, plus I love how tall you are. I guess that's what makes your domination of me so sexy."

We started slowly swimming around the pool as we talked. I was holding her in my arms and we kissed a lot.

"What time do you leave for work normally?"

"I usually try to get out the door at 7:30."

"I might have to go to the grocery store so I can make you breakfast, unless you just want to eat me."

We were both laughing as we swam around each other.

I looked into her eyes and made a decision.

"Wait here. Actually, get out of the pool and sit on that lounger over there. I'll be right back."

I came back holding a small paper sack.

"Gabriela, would you mind standing for a minute?"

I got down on one knee and she gasped.

"Gabriela Simpson, you have taken my heart captive and made me believe in love again. Will you marry me?"

I reached in the bag and pulled out a jeweler's box and opened it.

Her hands were wiping away tears, but the tears were winning. She couldn't speak, but nodded her head and held out her left hand.

I put the ring on her finger, then stood and pulled her into my arms. She put hers around me.

"I was going to propose tonight at dinner, all dressed up, but I decided I wanted something more private."

"This was so perfect, partly because I didn't expect a thing! Oh, Bill, am I dreaming?"

"Neither of us is, but I think both of us feel like it's a dream, don't we?"

She was looking at her ring. "Bill, this ring is so beautiful! How did you know what size?"

"See that ring on your right hand? You took that off once to take a shower the first time we shared my room. I ran and found a piece of paper and carefully traced the inside. Did I do ok?"

"It's perfect. You picked this out?"

"Who else would have? Are you sure you like it?"

"I love it. Especially because you chose it."

"When would you like to get married?"

"I don't dare get married without my mother present! You wouldn't want that fate either."

"I need to invite my siblings and my mother. I should probably pay their airfare and put them up in a hotel. Same with your mother. Actually, would you prefer she sleep in a guest bedroom here?"

"Oh, hell no! She'd give me grief for sleeping with you."

"Maybe we should stop."

She pushed me into the pool.

I got out and wrapped my soaking wet body around her and she screamed and tried to get away.

"Hey, let's change out of these clothes. I have a few things I want to talk to you about. Come out to the living area so we can sit on the sofa and talk.

------[]------------[]------

"We were talking about a wedding. I'm going to hire a wedding planner, because with my prominence in this area, there will be a lot of guests. I'm more concerned about our families, but I've been active in several civic causes, like the symphony, so a lot of people may want to come.

"I do want to talk for a few minutes about what I would want if I were in your shoes. You're going to walk away from your career as a flight attendant. If it were me, I would want to know I was walking from that into some financial security.

"I've already taken one step, but I want your thoughts on a few other things I thought of. I called American Express last week after you flew out and asked them to issue another card on my account, in your name. I asked them to overnight it. Here it is."

I handed her the card. She stared at the words. Delta SkyMiles Reserve.

"This has a crazy high credit limit. Here's how this works. I get a statement that shows my purchases and your purchases separately, and I pay all of them."

"That's my kind of card!"

"I thought you might like that. We also get access to the Delta lounge when we fly.

"So you understand, I'm doing several things so even if I'm out of the country, you have access to money. I'd like you to come to my bank with me today and open a checking account. My lawyer tells me until we marry, I can only give you $19,000 in a calendar year, so I'll do that today. As soon as we marry there's no limit, so I plan to do much more."

"Bill, can I ask a nosy question? How much money do you make?"

"You deserve to know. My salary right now is about $1.9 million."

I closed her mouth for her.

"Out of curiosity, what is that per month?"

"Almost $160,000."

"So, if I quit my job as a flight attendant, and we're careful about our budget, we can get by on your income alone."

"I think so. If we're careful."

Gabriela kissed me on the cheek.

"Do you plan to remain in Atlanta after you leave Delta?"

"I want to be here, with you, as soon as possible. But how am I going to move here?"

"How much stuff do you have?"

"Not a huge amount. Probably a dozen large boxes. Maybe 15. I'm sure I'll just donate furniture and kitchen stuff. However, I have that beautiful piano! A big one."

"I'll have my assistant talk to someone at the symphony and locate a mover they use to move pianos, and we'll have it tuned after it arrives here. Do you want to box things up yourself, or just pile everything in one room that needs to come here and have movers do everything?"

"We could do it that way? That sounds easy. I'll find out this week how soon I can terminate my contract with Delta. Then we can schedule movers. I'll call a charity and have them pick up everything else or junk it. How am I going to pay for this?"

"Remember, we'll open an account today with $19,000. We'll have the bank issue you a Visa card and a debit card, and you already have the AMEX. I'll handle the piano cost directly. You can pay the movers with AMEX."

"You must have been confident I'd say yes!"

"I was certain you would."

"I knew you'd ask, probably on this trip. I'm so happy!"

"Can I ask about one more thing? Tell me about your car in Atlanta."

"My pride and joy? It's a 12-year-old Corolla with 179,000 miles on it. It runs beautifully. I know where this is headed, though. In truth, it's time to sell, but $19,000 won't go far.

"What if I buy a second car that you pick out and drive?"

"I'm sure we can get a good used car. I don't need anything fancy."

"Moving from your world into my world will involve some adjustment for you. It's a big adjustment. Here's how I view the car question. A mechanical problem imposes a huge cost on me because of how busy I am and how much I travel. That suggests a new car to reduce that risk, and a quality car to reduce it more. I also want a car that I could sell in the future with the smallest loss of value."

"My cars have always been what I could afford."

"Different world now. Would you like to go shopping for a new Lexus? You pick out the model and color."

"Seriously? I get to do that?"

"On top of that, you get a remote and the parking spot closest to the entrance to the house. Oh! I just thought of one more thing, and I guarantee you'll like it. I'm assuming you and I will travel together frequently. For example, would you like to accompany me on my next trip to Paris?"

"I can travel with you?"

"The company won't buy your tickets, but I have an unbelievable number of SkyMiles. Often, especially on that trip, there is an evening gala event that I need to attend. My presence is important, and I want you with me, which means a new wardrobe. Several elegant dresses, short and long black dresses, even an upgrade to casual wear.

"I want you to use the American Express card and spare no expense in filling the closet back there."

"What girl would turn down a shopping trip like that? Come on, let me make us breakfast. After all, I need to make sure I don't get fired on my first day here."

"Like that would happen."

I didn't have much in the refrigerator or the cupboards, but she was able to make us scrambled eggs and toast.

"Babe, tomorrow after you go to work, would you mind if I go grocery shopping?"

"Honey, of course you can. Consider this your home. Maybe we can even shop together the first time."

"I love you so much, Bill. What time is dinner tonight?"

"7:30. We can leave at 7:15."

"I need about an hour to get ready, so let's say 6 pm to start. What do we need to do today?"

"We need to go see Max."

My car was a pearl white LS 500. I had only purchased it about 18 months earlier, but that was my fourth Lexus. On the way there I called Max, the salesman I always dealt with, and told him I was headed his way with my fiancée. I told him what I had in mind.

When we arrived, he had pulled a green RX 350 Premium + up in front, a beautiful SUV with leather trim interior and a big touchscreen display. It also had heated seats and side mirrors.

Gabriela was smiling from ear to ear. "How did you know I like green?"

"I asked you, on our first date."

"Bill, this car is so pretty."

"I like it, because you'll be safe driving it, and the SUV design is handy for shopping. It also has SiriusXM, so you can pick classical stations and enjoy the surround sound."

"I can really have this car?"

I kissed her.

"Do you want to look at any others?"

"I love this! You really want to buy this for me?"

"Yes, dear. If this is the one you want, you'll drive it home and take it shopping today or tomorrow. You can sell your Toyota when you go back to clean out the condo."

She hugged me and was wiping away tears.

"Max, you know the drill. Give me your best price and we'll take it. Gabriela wants to drive it home."

Max and I didn't horse around and play games on price. He gave me a good price each time, usually about 10% off sticker, and I accepted it.

Before leaving home, I had hunted down my checkbook. I wrote out a check for the car and handed it to Gabriela.

"Would you like to give this to Max?"

She was still smiling and wiping away tears as she handed him the check.

Max had sent the car to be filled with gas and washed. When they pulled it in front and brought Max the keys, he handed both sets to Gabriela.

"Best wishes to you, Gabriela. You're marrying a fine man."

"I know. I really know it."

We drove home to park my car. This time I parked in the center spot and picked up the remote for her car.

"This remote has three buttons, marked 1, 2 and 3, corresponding to the three garage doors, left to right. Yours is 1, mine is 2. Do you want to drive to the bank?"

She nodded, eagerly.

I showed her how to command the navigation system and she set out. I watched her face as she drove--Christmas and birthday and wedding, all rolled into one joyous moment.

At the bank, I introduced Gabriela to Vern, the branch manager. He prepared all the e-paperwork and got her electronic signatures. I handed Gabriela a check, made out to her, and asked her to endorse it for deposit.

She stared at the check and smiled again. $19,000.

Vern told her she would receive a debit card and a Visa card in the mail within about five business days. I suggested that she get $1000 cash to cover any grocery shopping or other things she might need before those cards arrived.

"If you run short, you can come here and make a withdrawal," said Vern.

"Also, Gabriela, use your AMEX card whenever possible instead of spending your money."

When we got in the car, I helped her program Home on the navigation. As we drove, Gabriela was crying. She finally pulled over, shifted into park, and leaned over towards me.

"Please hug me, Bill. This is so surreal. It really hit me today how different my life is going to be with you, and how wonderful you truly are."

I hugged her and kissed her forehead.

"It's almost 4, so that gives us two more hours, and I plan to make you a happy man."

In those two hours, Gabriela nearly wore me out! She gave me a knee-buckling blowjob, then gave me 10 minutes to rest before using her mouth to harden me so she could ride me.

Soon, two naked bodies gasped for air.

I was going to need more life insurance.

------[]------------[]------

Dinner was wonderful. The steaks we had were similar to the ones we had on our first date in São Paulo, but cost three times as much.

Gabriela looked into my eyes throughout the meal. Smiling. Obviously happy. I felt the same way. We were holding hands and smiling much of the meal.

"Bill, I'm feeling a little unprepared for the life I've unwittingly chosen. You know a lot of wealthy people, powerful people. I'm just a flight attendant."

"You're selling yourself short. International experience, a student at Harvard, fluent in two languages, and stunning beauty. Do you speak any other languages?"

"I can get by in Spanish and I can handle basic French."

"Perfect. That reminds me, though, I need to warn you about something.

"I'll introduce you as Gabriela, my fiancée, later as my wife. Sooner or later, and probably sooner rather than later, someone will recognize you and out you as a former Miss Brazil. The media will love that, because I'm well known. However, some will accuse you of being a gold digger."

"I know. I'm accustomed to smiling and telling how much I appreciated the chance to represent Brazil. They can think what they want; you and I know differently. I'll be fine, Bill."

"That answer alone is why you'll do well accompanying me around the world."

"I'm looking forward to introducing you to the symphony people, I've done a lot of work raising money for the Stradivarius and Maestro Society, the big donors, and I've helped raise almost $10 million."

"Can I look at the schedule for this year? If there's something I want to attend, will you take me?"

"If I'm home and not otherwise obligated, you can always count on me to want to be there. You know, once the paparazzi figure out who you are, you and I are going to appear in a lot of internet sources locally."

"I guess that's what I've been preparing for."

------[]------------[]------

When we walked into the house, Gabriela kissed me and then stepped back and slowly undressed in front of me, then undressed me.

"Will you join me skinny-dipping?"

She has a way of dragging me out of my comfort zone. One thing is certain, though. I will never look at her in a dress without seeing her naked in the pool in my mind.

We played around for several minutes and then kissed, touched, caressed and joined. As I came inside her, she bit my shoulder as she tried to cope with the pounding she absorbed.

We were laughing as we found towels inside and dried off. We decided to sleep in the nude, and Gabriela fell asleep quickly. Her head was on my shoulder and her arm lay across my body.

I was happier than I had been in a long time.

------[]------------[]------

I woke up the next morning to the smell of something cooking. I found my robe and went to investigate.

"Good morning, sleepyhead."

She was also wearing her robe, but it had slipped enough that a nipple was clearly visible.

I walked over to her and fixed her robe. "This smells so good! Do you know how long it's been since I woke up to the smell of breakfast cooking?"

"You've been so wonderful to me, I need to make sure it's not completely one-sided. I sure love you, babe." She kissed me.

What a change in my life.

"I'm sorry, I didn't give much thought to what I had in the refrigerator. Maybe we should also do some grocery shopping today."

"I know you want to get to the office for a half day, but if you could show me where to shop, I'd love to shop with you."

------[]------------[]------

I gave her the names of the two grocery stores closest to us and she programmed navigation to one of them.

It was fun to shop together. I found she had made a list, a long list, of what she wanted.

"It's going to be fun to have home cooking more than I have in recent years. Baby, if it's alright with you, I'm going to head into the office. Is there anything else you need?"

"A key to the house?"

"If you open the garage with the remote, the door inside isn't locked. The front door has a touchpad combination. I'll text it to you right now."

"I'm calling Delta this afternoon. I think I can terminate now by not taking on anymore flight assignments and giving my official notice. Can I swim this afternoon?"

"Gabriela, this is your home now. You don't have to ask."

------[]------------[]------

I had selected a wedding planner, Antoinette (not Toni!), and she met with us the next evening. As we sat in our living room, I explained our desire to have the wedding on the date we had picked, if a suitable venue was available. If not, she was to find the next closest date.

Antoinette had a lot of great questions for us, and we stumbled through them with a lot of laughter and Gabriela and I looking to the other one for an answer for some.

We asked for advice on handling the gift registry issue, which we emphatically did not want. I told her about my idea of suggesting in lieu of gifts, our guests should consider making a donation to the charity of their choice.

"Bill, that's a wonderful idea. It's clear wedding gifts aren't needed; you aren't going to be typical newlyweds."

Gabriela leaned into me, signaling me to put my arm around her.

"We may be in some ways," she said with a wink.

------[]------------[]------

Since Gabriela didn't need to take another flight as a flight attendant, we spent time early the next morning, arranging for shipment of the piano and the packing and shipping of the rest.

We bought her a round-trip ticket to Atlanta, leaving the next day and returning ten days later. Both moving companies were to visit during that period, and she planned to contact a charity to pick up everything else.

I got her a room in a nearby hotel, so she wouldn't have to worry about trying to live in a condo she was clearing out.

Later that day, Antoinette called. There was no suitable venue on the day we selected, but there was a wonderful one four days later. I told her to book it.

The next morning, I drove Gabriela to the airport and kissed her goodbye. We were both feeling emotional about the separation, short though it would be.

In the meantime, I had my assistant find a piano tuner and scheduled a tuning three weeks out.

I finally got back to work, spending several long days preparing for my next trip to São Paulo and two weeks later, to Tokyo. I decided to do that before Paris, to coincide with our honeymoon.

I called Gabriela that night and told her about the Paris trip, that it would be in the middle of our honeymoon, but that way we could avoid an extra international trip.

"That's really smart. I'm not worried about two days in the middle for business, especially if it saves us about $20,000 in airfare."

She said the minute she got back she would buy clothes for the trip, but I needed to get her info about events we would attend.

"I miss you, dear."

"Bill, you have no idea how much I miss sleeping with your arms around me. I haven't slept well the past couple of nights. How have you slept?"

"Poorly. After sleeping alone for five years, I'm suddenly dependent on your warm, soft body next to me."

------[]------------[]------

The last night, Gabriela called to report the condo was empty and she had arranged for a cleaning crew to come in for a deep cleaning after she left. They were to get the key from her realtor. She gave me the estimated delivery dates for the piano and the boxes of her other things.

"I took your advice, and sold the car to a used car lot for cash. Low ball, but easy and done. Baby, I get in at 6:42 pm. We're going straight home and making love."

"I hope we make it all the way fully dressed."

------[]------------[]------

The day her piano was delivered, the mover carefully unpacked it and placed it in the high-ceilinged living room. I was stunned to see what she had. I had a mental picture of a small piano.

Gabriela read my thoughts. "I used money I earned as Miss Brazil to purchase this. It's not the largest Steinway, certainly not the one used in concert halls, but it's far nicer than I ever expected to own. This one is 7 feet long, but the Model D, the concert one, is two feet longer."

"It's beautiful. This is easily the finest piece of furniture in the house. Will you play for me?"

"When is the piano tuner coming?

"In two weeks. He wanted the piano to adjust to the climate in the house first."

"I can play a few things, but then I need to unpack my sheet music and practice."

She sat on the bench and adjusted it. Then she paused, her hands in her lap, and slowly lifted them to the keyboard and began to play.

I knew immediately it was the Nocturne in E-flat major, by Chopin. I was spellbound as she played. I had heard this performed many times, in recitals for young students up to symphony hall performances. Her playing was nuanced and expressive, with powerful pauses for dramatic effect, soft and gentle at times, and heavier at others.

I was weeping when she finished.

"I'm a little rusty."

The she looked at me and stood to come and wipe away my tears.

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing at all. That was marvelous. Would you ever consider appearing in a guest recital here in Dallas?"

"Me? I haven't played seriously enough in years now."

"Would you consider it if you had a year to prepare?"

She looked at me for several seconds. "Do you really think I'm that good?"

"Gabriela, there's more to music than playing the right keys. You played with a sensitivity that I've only rarely heard. Make me a deal. Work hard on three short pieces for the next two months, and I'll invite a friend from the symphony to come and listen and give his opinion. Will you do that much?"

She paused for a few more seconds.

"Only because it's you asking me. I can't say no to you."

"Will you play for me naked sometime?"

------[]------------[]------

The remainder of her things arrived two days later and we spent a whole evening unpacking and sorting. She had a large amount of sheet music, and we didn't quite know what to do with it.

That Saturday, we searched for something that would work, but I wasn't satisfied. I had my assistant track down a couple of custom furniture makers and sent them a description and my drawing of what I wanted. I asked them to look at the Steinway web page as a style guide, and I also sent a photo of the section of bookcases in the living room I proposed replacing.

Both sent me proposals with better drawings than mine. I selected one and sent him a check for the requested 50% deposit. I made an appointment for Gabriela at a day spa and made a big deal out of giving her a special day. It got her out of the house and scored big points for me.

The furniture maker met me at the house to take careful measurements and took one of the shelves so he could match the wood. He felt he could complete it in 45 days.

I told Gabriela I was still trying to decide what to get for her music, but for the present, perhaps she could get a couple of those hard plastic file boxes and keep them in our clothes closet. She calls that our "clothes suite."

That night she played for me again. Afterwards, I set up a Bluetooth speaker in our bedroom and made love to her as it played Chopin nocturnes.

As she lay in my arms afterwards, she said she would never listen to or play Chopin again without remembering how it felt as I thrust into her.

"Does that mean you'll play with even more feeling?"

"It means I'll always be wet."

------[]------------[]------

Gabriela's condo sold quickly and the week before our wedding, she received a wire for a little over $100,000, which represented her net after paying off her mortgage and deductions for selling costs.

The piano tuner had come by then and pronounced it one of the finest instruments he had tuned. He asked Gabriela to play so he could listen carefully. When she stopped, he wiped away a tear.

I asked him to schedule us each year for a tuning. He was expensive, but he was the man the Meyerson Symphony Center in Dallas used. I felt an instrument such as her Steinway should be cared for by a professional of that caliber.

We were suddenly one week away from our wedding. Announcements had gone out three weeks earlier and I had booked the flights for our mothers, as well as their hotel rooms nearby.

At Gabriela's suggestion, we also had reservations for dinner with our mothers two nights before the wedding.

I had finished our honeymoon planning. Four days in Paris, then two days of meetings, then five days in Vienna.

Gabriela wanted to visit the city that was home to so many great musicians and to visit the memorials and graves at the Central Cemetery. We would also be able to attend a concert by the Vienna Philharmonic in the Golden Hall of the Society of the Friends of Music, the Philharmonic's home.

For a rather odd musical reason, she wanted to spend our nights in Vienna at the Sacher Hotel, the site of the famous John Lennon and Yoko Ono interview while enclosed in a white bag. Only Yoko Ono could have persuaded Lennon to participate in something so silly.

However, that hotel is right behind the State Opera House, and I was able to pull some strings through the Dallas Symphony to get tickets for good seats at a performance of Turandot, by Puccini.

------[]------------[]------

Dinner with our mothers turned out to be a lot of fun. We had each talked to our own mother and had asked her to tell funny stories about us. They each took it to heart and each had the rest of us laughing most of the night.

I learned Gabriela's mother signed her up for piano lessons because she felt Gabriela needed discipline. It seems she often picked fights on the soccer pitch when she was 8 years old. She was even red-carded for punching a boy. I could totally see that.

Despite my protests, Antoinette insisted on a rehearsal the night before the wedding. I got even. I brought in pizza instead of holding a rehearsal dinner. Gabriela thought it was "wicked fun."

------[]------------[]------

My best man was my brother, Samuel. As I was waiting with him, we watched as Rosa, Gabriela's mother, walked her down the aisle to present her to me.

Naturally, I had not seen the wedding dress. While I insisted Gabriela could make a burlap bag beautiful, she was ethereal that day. Her hair and makeup were flawless, and the dress was stunning in its simplicity and elegance.

We looked into each other's eyes, all four of them moist. Somehow, we managed to say, "I do," at the proper moment.

We were officially husband and wife and we kissed, but tried to keep it PG.

I was not surprised that we had about 200 people in attendance that day, and the cost of that was an unending string of guests waiting in line to speak to us, get introduced to Gabriela, and wish us well. We were both dying from standing.

The reception dinner was elegantly served. I'm sure it was not a raucous enough affair for some present, including my mother! It was exactly the way Gabriela and I wanted it.

With a sigh of relief, we stood and exited the reception room to change into our travel clothes. We had left our cars home, arriving by private car, and it was by another private car we rode to the Ritz-Carlton, where we would spend our wedding night.

------[]------------[]------

As I waited by the windows in our darkened room for Gabriela to make her entrance, I reflected on our initial flights together, when she was a member of the flight crew, caring for the first class cabin.

Gabriela impressed me then by her obvious enjoyment of her work, her kindness and professionalism, and only later, by her beauty. I simply had no idea that hidden beneath that severe flight attendant uniform was a stunning beauty. Even that didn't fully prepare me for the love and passion we would discover.

The door of the bathroom opened and Gabriela came out and walked across the room to me. She was in the virginal white of a bride, but expressed in the sexiest possible ways.

The white of her lingerie contrasted beautifully with her light chocolate skin and the darker nipples visible through her bra. A matching garter belt attached to white stockings and a sexy panty worn outside the garter completed the alluring vision.

"Are you ready to bed your bride?"

We were no strangers to making love with each other, but this was different. I had chosen her, and she had chosen me to join and go through life together. Making love now was symbolic of our legal and emotional union.

I scooped her into my arms as hers wrapped around my neck. I laid her in the bed and looked down on her beautiful face, smiling at me.

What followed was a long and patient experience, as we touched and tasted, caressed and aroused, and ultimately brought each other to thundering climaxes. As I lay on her, she held me tight, not wanting me to move.

I slipped out of her warm folds and moved off her, as I put my arm around her and she snuggled next to me.

"Bill, I adore making love with you. It's not just physical, is it? I feel it in my soul."

We lay there, reveling in the euphoria we felt. Finally, Gabriela spoke.

"We've talked about wanting children together, but we haven't been specific about when. Would it be alright with you if I went off birth control pills now?"

"Babe, I see that as your decision first. If you are ready to try to get pregnant, let's do it! Do you have any idea when you might be able to conceive?"

"My last period started a week ago. If I stop the pill now, I might be able to conceive starting in another week or so, but it will be more likely a month later."

"A week or so from now, when we're in Vienna?"

"Oh, wouldn't that be fun! Just imagine you knocking me up where the great musicians lived."

"All we can do is try our best."

She was laughing. "I've only experienced your best so far. Mind-blowing sex. Speaking of that, I crave you manhandling me again."

"I think I'm obligated to satisfy your cravings."

I pulled her to the edge of the bed, picked her up and threw her over my shoulder. She loves that, and giggles and pretends to protest as I carry her off. This time, I laid her down on the dining table in our suite.

Sitting in a chair, I spread her legs and devoured her pink flesh until she climaxed.

I stood and positioned myself, holding her legs out to the sides to open her.

I loved hearing her moan.

Making sure she was wet, and using that lubrication to prepare myself, I pushed steadily and forcefully into her.

She moaned loudly.

Thrusts, slow and shallow at first, then deeper and harder, as I set my pace. My thrusts moved her up and down on the top of the table, until she grabbed the edges of the table with her hands.

She groaned. "I love it!"

It was time. I grabbed her hips and started pushing myself to her depths until I began spurting inside her.

"Don't move, babe."

I ran to the bathroom and got a wet washcloth and used it to clean her. Then I picked her up in my arms as a carried her back to the bed and held her tightly.

"Mmmm, babe, I love it when you show how much you love me. Snuggling with you is almost as good as being taken over a piece of furniture."

We were laughing as I removed the rest of her lingerie. We slept that way. Husband and wife, naked in each other's arms.

------[]------------[]------

I paid for first class for Gabriela and got Delta to seat us together. Since I had scheduled my meetings in Paris, my airfare was paid.

We had four days together, and then two days of meetings.

The four days went by quickly. She had been there a couple of times, but with only a full day layover each time. I had a fun time showing her around.

She especially wanted to see the Louvre, so we spent most of one day there. Naturally, we enjoyed a romantic moment on the visitor's platform on the Eiffel Tower.

Our walks in the evening, arm in arm down the Champs-Élysées were memorable, as were the crepes from the street vendors at night.

We came back to our hotel each day, worn out, and lay together in a bathtub. Eventually, that invariably turned sexual, and we enjoyed this opportunity to shut the world out and focus on each other.

The first night of the meetings was a social event, so Gabriela wore one of her new elegant dresses, one with delightful slits exposing her long brown legs.

I've discovered people seem to think better of me because she's with me. She got along great, visiting and carrying on conversations with a lot of people, most of whom were men who likely wanted to figure out how I conned her into marrying me.

When we got back, I mentioned that impression to her. She kissed me and looked me in the eyes.

"Why doesn't anyone think I conned you? After all, aren't I supposed to be the gold digger?"

"I guess they wonder whether it was worth it."

"Mr. Oscarson, I would have married you if you were a retired blue collar guy, living on social security and a small pension."

We kissed and made love again. She rode me until my cum surrendered to her desires.

------[]------------[]------

The day after our meetings ended, we were on a flight to Vienna. Gabriela's excitement was palpable. I had only visited once, and that was less than a day. Now I was astounded at all the city has to offer.

Gabriela was in tears listening to Turandot, especially that great aria, Nessun Dorma.

The next night we attended a concert of the Vienna Philharmonic at the Musikverein, one of the most famous concert halls in the world. I knew most of the music, but they devoted a segment of the concert to Strauss Waltzes, which was a treat.

As is always the case in Vienna, the concert ended with three encores, the first chosen by the conductor, followed by The Beautiful Blue Danube. Gabriela pointed out what she said is called the Vienna Pause, a slight extension of a note, causing a break in the music that dramatically enhances anticipation.

The final encore was The Radetzky March, by Strauss, Sr. This one traditionally involves participation by the audience and is a fun experience.

We failed to plan our time well that day, so got out of the concert just after 10 pm and hungry. As embarrassing as it is to admit, we sat on a curb in our concert clothes, eating McDonald's hamburgers! With fries.

We made love often, a couple of times by the window, overlooking the lighted city at night. She faced the window, with her hand on the glass, as I took her from behind. At the end, her breasts were flattened against the glass as I came.

Gabriela was getting quite good at giving me blowjobs. Something about looking down at her beautiful face, especially her eyes as she made love to my cock, was irresistible.

She climbed on me one night and spun around to take me in her mouth and offer herself to mine. I hadn't paid much attention to 69 before that, but I will now!

I also learned I like reverse cowgirl. Something about the view it gives me of that great ass.

Our last full day there, we took a subway and a streetcar out to the Central Cemetery. I've never seen such a place. Three streetcar stops on one side and I think two train stops on the other side. We easily found Group 32A: the composers.

Gabriela stood for a long time in front of Brahms' grave. I learned his 2nd Piano Concerto is a favorite of hers to play, something she once performed with a symphony in Brazil.

The marker for Mozart was just a memorial. He happened to have died during a short period of time when the emperor decreed all would be buried in common graves to save space. It was not a pauper's grave as is often claimed.

Junior and Senior Strauss were there, as well as Schubert and Beethoven, although he was moved there to make the cemetery more attractive as a place to be buried.

Following a tip from another traveler we met, we went to a church in the city which has a crypt below, containing the sarcophagi of almost all Habsburg emperors and many family members since the early 1600s.

We stood next to the one for Maria Theresa and her husband, Franz Stefan. It's a huge double sarcophagus, featuring the two of them sitting in the middle of a rumpled bed as they looked at each other.

Gabriela whispered to me: "Do you think they just did the deed?"

"Maybe. She had 16 children, and all lived to adulthood."

That day I stopped by a store I noticed and purchased massage oil. That night, I lay a towel on the bed and gave Gabriela a long massage. She claimed to have drooled on the towel!

------[]------------[]------

We were back home in University Park. Two weeks later, my furniture maker came to install the new insert into my built-in bookcase near the piano. He matched the wood perfectly.

He built a unit full of drawers, each of them about two inches deep, in which she could keep sheet music. There were 50 drawers, arranged in two columns. I kept Gabriela out of there by sending her for another spa day.

That wasn't a totally unselfish thing to do; last time I did that we had hot sex that night.

When she came home and saw it, she hung on my neck and cried. Then she spent a while organizing her music. On that day, she began practicing seriously.

I loved how her music filled our home. Of course, there were many hours of careful work on difficult passages, on memorizing sections, adding to what she had learned.

One night, Brad, our CEO, called and asked if he could come and visit with me. Gabriela was playing when he rang the doorbell. She stopped.

"Gabriela, I stood on the porch, listening to that heavenly music. I suddenly realized it was live. Will you do me a favor? Our company's Christmas party is in six weeks. Would you choose two pieces to play during our short program? Something like a Chopin etude or nocturne, or Debussy, perhaps. You choose. Would you do that?"

"Brad, I'd be honored, but with your connections, can't you get a professional?"

"Perhaps, but you are part of our corporate family, and what I heard just now was as good as any I've heard. Please say you'll do it? The hotel with the ballroom we use for this party has a Steinway. I'll make sure it's properly tuned."

"You're persuasive, Brad. I'll do it, and I'm sure I'll appreciate the piano."

Brad had come over that night to discuss an issue with one of the companies we had acquired. We had been worried about it for months, and had many discussions, both at the executive level and just between Brad and me.

He had come to the conclusion we should sell that unit, and wanted to know whether I had any reservations about it.

"I only have one, Brad. That's our biggest of the four companies we operate in Japan. It's going to radically increase the cost of our management, as a percentage of gross income, because ultimately we don't have enough confidence in someone to take that over as a separate division. Perhaps we should consider exiting Japan. The cultural issues we face there are also significant hurdles."

"You raise a point we ought to fully consider before any decision. Thanks, Bill. Let me give this more thought, and please, do the same.

"How did you convince your beautiful wife to marry you?"

Gabriela had just walked into the room and heard his question. She was laughing as she came and sat beside me.

"Bill was such a consummate gentleman, he didn't even try to kiss me. We had three dates, two of which were each a day and a half. He had his hotel room set up with twin beds and we stayed together.

"On our third date, I kissed him."

"Is that true, Bill?"

"Pretty much."

"Gabriela, is it true you were once Miss Brazil? Someone mentioned that to me a few weeks ago."

"The rumor is true. I was raised partly in the U. S.--my father was from here--and partly in Brazil, where I was also born."

"Was your talent piano?"

"Classical piano, yes."

"No wonder. How was the Miss Universe pageant?"

"It was a great experience. I loved meeting the girls from all over the world and still stay in touch with a couple of them."

"Did you win?"

"No. Someone more deserving than I, a girl from Venezuela."

"Brad, she is being a touch too humble. She was the first runner-up."

"I'm impressed. I'm also impressed by your humility, Gabriela."

------[]------------[]------

I came home from work one day about a month later and entered the house from the garage. Gabriela was standing a few feet away.

Naked.

She held out her hand and took mine. No words were spoken, but then, none were needed.

When we got to the bedroom, she slowly undressed me, kissing my body as she pulled away clothing.

"Close your eyes, my dear."

I closed them.

"Now open them."

She was holding something for me to see. A home pregnancy test!

"Are you pregnant?"

She smiled and jumped into my arms, wrapping her legs around me and holding onto my neck. We kissed.

"I'm pregnant, Bill! Can you believe it? We're going to have a baby."

I hugged her tightly.

"Why are we naked?"

"Because we're going to celebrate by making love. You're going to do me doggy style while I'm on my hands and knees on the bed."

"Pregnant wife's choice?"

"While I can."

------[]------------[]------

It was two weeks before Christmas and the date for the company party. Gabriela had fussed over what dress to wear. She wasn't showing yet, so she settled on a little black dress that would show off her legs as she played the piano.

She tried it out on her piano seat. I got hard immediately. I had fantasized about her playing naked. This was far more erotic.

That night, as we sat together at a table near the piano, she wasn't aware I was looking at her. I loved watching her beautiful face. Her eyes catching the light. Her lips smiling as she reacted to something.

I was intensely aware of my love for her that night.

Brad had walked to the microphone.

"Friends and families, I always look forward to this gathering. While I don't know every one of you well, I enjoy this opportunity to visit and get to know you better.

"This past year, as many of you know, Bill Oscarson married a wonderful woman, Gabriela. I had the honor recently of standing on their doorstep and pausing as I reached for the doorbell. There was the most heavenly piano music coming through the window. I had to stop and listen.

"When I finally rang the bell, the music stopped. I realized it was Gabriela who had been playing.

"I asked her that night to prepare two selections of her choosing to play for you tonight, and I'll let her introduce them.

"Gabriela!"

She stood and walked to the microphone. Gabriela is the sexiest woman I've ever known, but tonight she was over the top.

"Thank you Brad. I'm both embarrassed and honored by your request that I play tonight. As my first number, I will play Chopin's Nocturne in E-flat major. This will be familiar to many of you, and it was the first thing I ever played for my husband.

"My second number is the last movement of Modest Mussorgsky's Pictures At An Exhibition. This was originally written for piano, but is often performed by a full orchestra today. The work commemorates an exhibition of art held following the death of the artist the prior year. Mussorgsky owned two paintings himself and loaned them to the exhibition.

"As he walked through the exhibit, he was inspired to compose this piece, which describes musically what he saw. This last movement, considered by many to be one of Mussorgsky's greatest compositions, is today called 'The Great Gate of Kiev.'"

She moved to the piano and sat gracefully, adjusting the distance to the keyboard, and finally resting her hands in her lap for a few second. The she began to play.

As I listened, I knew this was better than when she first played it for me. It was magical as her hands created such wonderful sound, now louder, then softer. A little faster, then slowing.

When it ended there was loud applause and she stood and bowed. Then she sat again. I knew what was coming.

This movement began with loud, ponderous chords and then individual notes. In the middle it was incredibly quiet and delicate, suddenly launching into a loud series of descending scales. As she played, her hands seemed to fly around the keys, drawing out an intensity that even surprised me. The final measures are difficult, bringing to a summit this crashing of keys.

It ended suddenly. There was a moment of silence as Gabriela slowly laid her hands in her lap.

The reaction was sudden and stunning, as everyone stood and cheered. Gabriela stood to acknowledge their cheers and bowed. They continued. She bowed again. Now there were shouts of "Encore!" That call spread.

Finally she bowed again and moved back to the microphone. Everyone sat.

"Thank you so much for your kindness tonight. Only a few of you know that in a little over six months, Bill and I will welcome the birth of our first child."

Cheers interrupted her, she paused and then continued.

"This is a season when we think of the birth of another child, born long ago to a young mother. Our attention is naturally on the child, but that night, his mother was simply a young mother holding her first child.

"While it is traditional to play an encore that is lively and loud, I want to play something simple, soft, slow, and gentle for my soul."

She returned to the piano, sat quietly for a moment, and slowly raised her right hand. I had no idea what she was going to play.

As her hand rose to the keyboard, she closed her eyes for a moment, then began to play softly. Slowly.

Silent night, holy night

She began with one hand. One note at a time. Slowly. On the second line, she added a simple harmony.

All is calm, all is bright...

She did not make the mistake of adorning the simple melody with too many other notes, She played as it might be sung, in four parts, but that simple melody sang out above the rest. She played slowly, gently. One verse only.

Then she was finished and sat still. I could see tears on her face.

I looked around at people wiping away tears.

There was silence. Then a few random claps. Most resisted disturbing the peaceful feeling.

Brad rose and went to the microphone.

"There are times when applause is inappropriate, when it would only detract from the beauty we've heard. Would everyone simply stand and silently honor Gabriela as she returns to sit with Bill. Thank you, Gabriela, for a reminder of things that matter most."

When Gabriela reached my side, I held her in my arms and kissed her forehead.

"I love you, Gabriela."

------[]------------[]------

She was still practicing daily, but she was more focused on swimming laps to get ready for the birth of our child--a boy!

She had reached six months, three to go, and was no longer traveling with me. I was in São Paolo and Tokyo that month, but it would likely be my last Tokyo trip. Brad and I had reviewed an offer to sell that entire division, and it was a good offer. He was taking it to the Board while I was in Tokyo.

Gabriela and I talked every day. I missed her terribly when I was on the road. It wasn't the sex, it was her companionship, her love. It was a source of comfort to me to be home with her.

She still insisted on meeting me at the airport. I kept telling her I could have a private car waiting, but she refused to hear it.

"Are you telling me I can't meet the man I love when he comes home?"

I had no answer to that.

She was there, inside the terminal as I came out of the secure area. She ran to me and sunk into my arms. We stood and kissed. There were tears in her eyes.

"I miss you so much when you're gone. The bed feels empty and I don't have your arms around me. Can we just sleep that way tonight? I'm not feeling up to having sex."

I held her, and soon she started snoring softly. I fell asleep soon after that.

------[]------------[]------

Gabriela's due date was soon only a week away, and she was uncomfortable. It was a Saturday and I had just returned from São Paolo the night before.

I woke up to the smell of bacon.

"Are you kidding me?" I wondered.

I grabbed my robe and went to the kitchen. There she was, wearing her pajamas and so pregnant! To me she still looked sexy.

"Good morning, babe. I wanted to welcome you home by making you breakfast this morning."

"Sweetheart, you can sleep in. I should be making breakfast for you."

"Yeah, I thought of that, but then I'd feel obligated to eat it."

"What are you saying?"

"Babe, you are the best husband a girl could have, but your breakfasts are ... well, we could go to IHOP if you want."

I was laughing over that. I also got her message: I need to work on my cooking skills.

I put my arm around her and kissed her on the neck. She tilted her head to the side so I could kiss her more, but just then a warm liquid hit my foot. We both looked down at the same time.

"That was my water!"

"Turn off the burner! Go change your clothes while I clean this up and grab your bag. You're gonna do great baby!"

It was almost three hours later, and I was standing in the delivery room in my gown. I was holding Gabriela's hand. I leaned over and kissed her on her forehead.

"I love you, babe. Remember, billions of mothers have done this, most of them without pain medication of any kind."

"You think this is so easy, how about you carry the next one!"

It was time for me to shut up.

Her contractions were coming more rapidly and she was moaning with each one. The doctor said our son's head was visible.

She was pushing on each contraction, but before the next contraction the doctor gave the instruction I was expecting.

"On the next contraction, push as hard as you can."

Gabriela crushed my hand and screamed as she pushed. I saw the doctor hand our son to a nurse to hold while he cut the cord.

Our baby was crying. So were we.

I wiped off Gabriela's forehead and kissed her again.

"You did good, babe."

The nurses were cleaning Gabriela and the baby and recording his APGAR scores, but soon wrapped him and brought him to Gabriela to hold.

We had talked about a couple of names we liked, but neither of them had seemed quite right.

"Bill, I focused a lot on Brazilian names, but I know what name I want. Oliver. What do you think?"

"That feels good. Oliver Oscarson."

------[]------------[]------

We had prepared one of the rooms for Oliver. When I brought them home two days later, Gabriela and I stood by his crib as he slept.

"I got to nurse him yesterday for the first time. Bill, I cried."

"I wish I could experience that, but Oliver would be the one crying."

For the next few weeks, Oliver woke up a couple of times a night, so I got up with Gabriela and put my arm around her while she nursed Oliver. When we got back in bed, I held her in my arms, so grateful for her and this second chance I had to start a family.

------[]------------[]------

Oliver was only a little over a month old when we received sad news.

Brad Overton, our CEO, had a massive heart attack at the office one day and he was declared dead on arrival at the hospital.

I was at the airport in São Paolo, waiting for my flight home, when I got the news. When I arrived at DFW, Gabriela was there with Oliver--her first time taking him out. She cried when she saw me and we stood and hugged as we both cried.

When I got home, I called Brad's wife to tell her of our sadness at the news.

Right after I hung up, my phone rang. It was Stan Newman, the chairman of the board. He wanted to meet privately, and because of his desire to avoid any publicity prior to Brad's funeral, asked to come to our home at 9 am.

I told Gabriela and she asked what it meant.

"I don't know. He either wants to offer me the job, or he wants to tell me it will be an open process and I will be included in the candidate pool. Either way, nothing will be said publicly until after Brad's funeral. Let's not worry about it tonight. I'll set my alarm for 7 so we can have plenty of time to be ready for him at 9."

My advice was good, but I was unable to follow it. I lay awake most of the night. Remarkably, it was my alarm that wakened me.

Promptly at 9, the doorbell rang. I was not far away and answered it quickly.

"Stan, welcome to our home. I wish the circumstances were happier."

"As do I. I'm sure you understand, we don't want to say anything publicly until at least the day after Brad's funeral. Have you heard yet when that will be?"

"I talked to Susan last night, and she wasn't sure yet."

"I'm sure we'll hear today. I understand you have a little one again. Is Gabriela here? I'd love to see her and your baby, unless he's asleep."

I went to check. Gabriela was nursing Oliver. She was dressed nicely, though, so I asked her to bring him out when she could.

I told Stan, and we chatted for a minute, until Gabriela walked into the room.

"This is Oliver," she said, "and he insisted on eating before he would see you."

Stan had tears in his eyes. "There's not anything more joyful than a newborn. Gabriela, I need to say something that is long overdue. Your music at our Christmas party was incredible, but there wasn't a dry eye in that big ballroom when you finished playing Silent Night. Thank you for that."

"Thank you, Stan. I really appreciate you saying that."

"Gabriella, if you can, I'd appreciate you remaining here and sitting with Bill so I can talk with both of you. I understand you met on one or more flights he took to São Paolo."

"Bill and I noticed each other on two or three flights before he asked me to dinner."

"How will you feel if Bill doesn't travel as much anymore?"

"I'll love having him home."

"Bill, Brad met with me last month and gave an impassioned endorsement, not his first, of you as his successor. I polled the board by telephone today, and there was unanimous sentiment that we should enter into negotiations with you to become the next CEO of the company.

"I've brought you an offer, in writing. Please take a day to review it. Let me know if there is anything you want to clarify or change. I'd like to get this agreed to, if possible, before the funeral, but we won't announce it until afterwards.

"I'd also like your recommendation for a successor for you."

------[]------------[]------

After Stan left, Gabriela and I sat on the sofa in silence.

"Are you going to open the offer?"

"Yes, I suppose I should."

I held the open letter in front of both of us. If I accepted, I would earn a base salary of $3.5 million, with incentives that could drive it up to $4.5 million, or even more. There were various stock options, of course. It included an increase in the base of 7% per year.

There were tears in Gabriela's eyes.

"What do you think? Should I accept?"

"Do you want the job?"

"It's the natural culmination of everything I've worked for."

"Are you hesitating?"

"No, I think the offer is excellent."

"Then what's the problem?"

"I'm going to miss Brad. I know it's lonely at the top, and he felt that so much he came to me to discuss difficult decisions he faced. I know I need to find someone like that. I need to build my own team. It's a huge task, but it excites me. Still, I'm going to miss Brad."

"I'm going to love having you home, instead of being gone several days each month."

"More time with you and Oliver is perfect. I'm going to scan this and email it to my CPA to look at, but I'll probably call Stan tomorrow. Mostly I'm going to focus on my replacement."

------[]------------[]------

Gabriela and I had resumed normal sexual activity. We had one of those baby monitor speakers we took out to the pool, so we could hear Oliver. More than once he interrupted what promised to be a wonderful orgasm as we skinny-dipped with all the lights off.

I had dropped my request that she prepare for a piano recital. It was plain to see her pride and joy was Oliver. She loved to play, but was unwilling to place that above her time with her first child.

About eight months after Oliver was born, Gabriela and I were lying in bed. I was holding her naked body next to me.

"I want to have another baby."

"Then stop the pill. Let's get to work."

"I hope you aren't suggesting making love to me is drudgery."

"Don't lose sight of one basic fact. Your contribution to our effort will be a single egg. Meanwhile, I'll be manufacturing and injecting into you hundreds of millions of sperm at least once a day, if not multiple times."

"That sounds terribly inefficient."

I'd clearly shared too much business wisdom with her.

Almost ten months later, we welcomed our daughter, Sophia. She appeared to be fairer-skinned than Oliver, and had beautiful blue eyes, although we knew that was likely to change.

This time I was not only present for the birth, but when Gabriela nursed Sophia. It was unforgettable to watch the joy in Gabriela's face.

Two years later, we added another daughter, Angela, and decided our family was complete. It likely would have been, except once while traveling to Vienna again, Gabriela ran out of birth control pills.

I ran out to purchase condoms, which we used for a week, but the night we got home from the trip, in the middle of the night, Gabriela was especially horny, and we made love--sans condom, because I had run out--and our son, Michael was born 9 months later!

Four children. Gabriela was glowing when she carried Michael in the door after leaving the hospital.

------[]------------[]------

It seemed a short time, but in reality it had been eight years that I had been CEO. We had redeployed the funds from Japan and had done so profitably. I received almost the entire million of incentive income every year, and Gabriela and I socked away a lot of my income into investments.

Since I had also saved a lot of money before marrying Gabriela, my net worth had grown to almost $43 million and that was after transferring $15 million into Gabriela's name, for estate tax purposes.

It was time.

"Gabriela, I want to step down as CEO."

"What are your plans?"

"To spend time with you and our kids. That's what I want."

There were tears in her eyes.

"Are you sure that's enough?"

"I'm 61 years old. Michael will be three in 6 months. When he graduates from high school, I'll be about 76, if I haven't died."

"Oh, Bill! Please don't talk like that!"

"Look, Gabriela, if I'm going to spend time with my kids, the time is now. Hopefully I'll know their children as well."

"When are you going to do this?"

"I'm going to call El tonight."

Stan had retired as chairman, and our current chairman was Eldredge Hightower, a pompous sounding name for a man who was as down-to-earth as any friend I'd ever had. He was simply 'El' to friends.

------[]------------[]------

I was in my office and dialed the number.

"El? It's Bill."

"How are you Bill? How's the family?"

"Amazing. Even my second time around it's better than I could ever have imagined."

"What can I do for you?"

"El, I've been CEO for 8 years and just turned 61. I think it's time to step aside and let someone younger with fresh ideas take over."

"Knowing you, I'm not likely to talk you out of this, am I?"

"You are not."

"When?"

"Let's do this: No longer than six months, but if you have someone hired and ready to go at any time, even next week, I'm ready to step down and hand over the keys. Will that work for you?"

"That's more than fair. Bill, you've been the finest executive I've ever worked with. You'll be missed."

"Thanks, El. That means a lot coming from you."

"What are your plans?"

"Playing with my kids and spending more time with my wife."

"I'm jealous. Is it true Gabriela was once Miss Brazil and runner-up in the Miss Universe Pageant."

"It is. I had no idea until after we started dating. I have to tell you in complete honesty, she's more beautiful on the inside."

"Give her my love and tell her we will miss her music as well."

------[]------------[]------

I've experienced more joy since that first dinner with Gabriela than I ever thought possible.

Six months later, it was night and we had the lights off. Our swimsuits were somewhere out in the darkness, where we threw them.

Gabriela was facing the end of the pool, her head resting on her forearms on the pool deck as I pounded her from behind. She cried out with each impact, until I came inside her.

I kissed her neck and back. She moaned.

"Baby, carry me inside and take me to bed."

We lay in bed in our usual position. My arm around her, one of hers across me, her head on my shoulder.

"I've never asked, when did you know you were in love with me?"

"When we danced that night and you held me in your arms. It was towards the end of our first date, and I knew you were different than any man I had known. You might remember me telling you that. I was in love.

"How about you? When did you know?"

"It was the next month. The first time we had arranged my flight knowing you would be on it. When I boarded the plane, and you greeted me, I knew I wanted to hear your voice and see your smile every time I came home from work."

"Did you see all this in your future? I mean, four children, retired, having all this money and time to do fun things with the kids?"

"No, did you think you would have $15 million in your own name?"

"Remember the Corolla? Does that answer your question?"

"It's been a wonderful ten years, hasn't it?"

"I hope we have at least twenty more years together, Bill."

"I hope so, too."

We were both silent for a few minutes.

"Have I ever told you what I thought the first time I noticed you?"

"Do you mean the very first time? I don't think so."

"I thought to myself, 'Some lucky man will marry her.'"

"Some lucky man did, and that even luckier woman married you."