Room 1203: The Becoming

Author's Note

Dear readers,

This is a slow-burn, emotionally layered erotic story with strong literary leanings. If you're looking for quick-release material, this may not be your cup of tea. But if you're drawn to stories about intimacy, healing, and transformation, I hope you'll find something meaningful here.

Room 1203 may particularly resonate with women struggling with body image, or anyone who seeks sexual connection as a form of self-discovery or spiritual experience.

I welcome all feedback, especially constructive criticism. Whether you loved it or hated it, I would deeply appreciate knowing why. Thank you for reading.

Table of Contents

Part 1: The Proposition

Part 2: Room 1203

Part 3: Goddess

Part 4: Union

Part 5: Bliss

Part 6: The Becoming

Epilogue

Part 1: The Proposition

Daniel loved being in Austin, but he wasn't particularly loving it as he made his way from the Archer Hotel's elevator to its bar. The hotel was far enough from 6th Street, but he still heard the music from those bars floating up like ghost notes, bringing back memories of the time that he himself had indulged in the all-night drunken revelry that accompanied the music. Right now though, he just wanted a drink. And silence - the kind he sought within himself, the one he tried to come home to whenever the world threw him a curveball. He plopped down on a barstool, ordered a bourbon, and sat there sipping slowly, feeling the warm burn of the alcohol as it trickled down from his throat to his chest to his stomach.

"Rough day?" asked a quiet voice on the barstool next to him.

Daniel swung his barstool around to face her. She wasn't the kind of woman who demanded instant attention, but something about her struck Daniel - the way a song stirs something that you forgot. Her dark brown eyes matched her hair. Her dress - navy, silky, hugging the soft roundness of her hips and breasts, yet loose enough to be stylishly casual - added to her allure. Her dark blue fingernails matched the dress and her wedding ring caught the light from the chandeliers above.

"Yes. I'm here for a convention that started off rather well, then got worse and went completely into the toilet today." He smiled.

She laughed. Daniel thought her laugh blended in perfectly with the melodic tinkle of glasses at the bar. She smoothed her dress as she said, "That bad, huh? I guess you deserve a drink for that."

"Yup... that's why I'm here. Cheers," Daniel said, raising his glass toward her.

She looked at him as she clinked her glass lightly against his, her brown eyes reflecting something he couldn't read - Sadness? Loneliness? Fatigue? Weariness with the world? Fragility? Nothing really seemed to fit exactly. She smoothed her dress again as she said, "Cheers. To making it through the day."

Her comment actually made him feel cheerful. "You're right. We're still alive, so what's to complain about? Although I guess we're actively working against that by downing alcohol. Maybe I'll order a Sprite next." He laughed.

She laughed with him. "Well, I'm glad I could help you with your Alcoholics Anonymous membership."

Conversation was easy after that. They mostly talked about nothing - the weather, what she was in town for, bad conference food, the Austin music scene. He noticed her as she sat, almost as if she didn't trust herself in the dress, the most frequent of her many little tics being her running her left hand diagonally down her chest - not smoothing her dress, but feeling something below it. Trying to erase it, or trying to make sure it was still there? He couldn't really tell. As they ordered a second round of drinks - Daniel actually getting a Sprite - he said, "Your dress is very pretty, you know... and you look beautiful in it. But I noticed that you keep touching it as if... I don't know what."

She looked at him, sadness in her eyes. "Maybe I used to feel beautiful, I don't know when." She held her drink in both hands and twirled the glass around. "But then... stuff happened... and I just... don't anymore. Let's say looking in the mirror isn't my favourite activity. I'm just practical, I guess."

Daniel looked at her pensively, not sure how to react. Then he realized that they still hadn't exchanged names, and tried to change the topic. "Hmm... by the way, I realized we haven't exchanged names yet. Not that they're necessary anyway, but let's play a little game. How about we try to guess each other's names?"

She smiled. "Okay, that's a nice distraction I guess. You go first."

Daniel pretended to think hard. "I think you look like a... Stephanie." He smiled. "Correct?"

She laughed. "Not even close. And I think you are... Derek. How close did I get?"

He laughed with her. "I guess you got closer than I did, so you win." He reached out his hand. "Okay, I'm Derek." And that's who he would be - for tonight, at least.

She shook his hand, still laughing. "And I'm Stephanie. Do I get a prize for winning?"

"Hmm, unfortunately I hadn't thought that far ahead. Well, go ahead and make up something." He shrugged, smiling. "I dunno... maybe you get to kiss my hand? Or maybe I need to bow down and kiss your feet? Whatever strikes your fancy... I'm up for it."

She looked straight at him and held the gaze long enough to make him slightly uncomfortable. "Okay, I'll think up something good... I just need a little time to think about it." She turned away from him and sat facing the bar, staring straight ahead and holding her drink with both hands. She didn't say anything for a minute, so Derek swiveled towards the bar too and sipped his drink in silence.

A few long minutes later, just as he cast a glance to find her sitting exactly as she was before, she said, to nobody in particular, "There's a nice view of the river from Room 1203."

Derek stared at her, slightly stunned. He had just been propositioned for a one-night stand by a married woman in a random hotel bar. Before he could think, he blurted out, "Is that an invitation?"

She kept staring straight ahead. "I don't know... and why do you assume that's my room number?" Her voice cracked, and she briefly hung her head. A tear appeared in the corner of her eye.

He moved his barstool close to hers and gently took one of her hands in his. "Hey... Stephanie... are you Ok??"

The tear rolled down her cheek, then another. But she didn't speak. Derek held her hand a little longer and tried again. "Stephanie, look at me... please... talk to me. What's going on?"

She finally swivelled to face him - her eyes still wet, but hard. "Well, you were right, it was an invitation. Are you going to accept? Yes or no?"

He smiled softly, but uncertainly. "I have to say... that is one of the strangest invitations I have ever received. Will you tell me a little more... please? I'd really like to understand, if you want to tell me."

"What do you want to know? And why? You're getting a free fuck as far as I can tell." Her voice was now bitter.

He kept holding her hand and nodded at it - at her wedding ring. Still smiling, still looking at her, gently. "Nothing's free, Stephanie... You're married. But you're offering a night to a stranger. Bad marriage?"

She didn't pull away, but turned from him again, her voice quieter. "No, I can't really say that. He's a nice guy. Generally good to me. We have sex once in a while and it's okay when we do. But I guess he just doesn't know how to fill this... this giant... void inside of me."

Daniel leaned closer, speaking softly. "Oh I see... and this void... it started after... you know, that stuff you mentioned?"

"I don't know, perhaps it was always there... but yeah, definitely after that stuff." She swigged the last of her drink.

He studied her face closely. "You're beautiful, Stephanie. You must know that."

Her laugh was soft, but derisive, unbelieving. "Am I? Well, thanks for being polite at least." She turned to face him fully again. "Anyway, you wanna come up or not?"

Derek looked at her, his mind working in overdrive. "I need some time to think about it too, Stephanie... this is so... unexpected. I'll tell you what - looks like you're done with your drink, so go up to your room and wait twenty minutes. If I show up - or if I don't - either way, you'll know my answer. And if I do show up, you still retain the option to withdraw your invitation. I'll leave if you do - no harm, no foul. How's that sound?"

She nodded and got up from her seat. She held his hand for a moment, her gaze meeting his. She then let go and walked away towards the elevators, not looking back.

Derek sat at the bar with his drink, a thousand thoughts flashing through his head. He had just come here for a drink and some silence. Now he had the opportunity to have no strings attached sex with a married woman. He had not had a relationship, nor any sex, since his divorce three years ago. He was not lonely - his inner silence bolstered his aloneness, his own company generally pleasant once he made friends with his demons. Desire rose in him often enough, and mostly passed by without incident, but this was a different kettle of fish altogether. He didn't want to be responsible for throwing a wrench into Stephanie's marriage, but there was also something about her that strongly attracted him. It wasn't lust, so perhaps it was her vulnerability? No, not that either...

He chased the thoughts out of his head. He needed to decide. He finished his drink and walked to the nearby pharmacy - more to clear his head, hoping to let the answer just come to him, than to buy what he was going to buy. He was aware of the rhythmic movement of his feet and the feeling of the humid night air as he went in and purchased some condoms. He thought about buying a bottle of wine too, but decided against it - more alcohol wasn't going to help anything. As he walked back to the hotel, he still didn't have a definitive answer about Stephanie, but he knew where he was going.

Part 2: Room 1203

He went up the elevator and knocked on Room 1203. She opened the door, a smile on her face that didn't quite reach her eyes. She was still dressed in the same outfit from the bar, except that she had removed her shoes. Derek noticed her toenails painted the same shade of dark blue as her fingernails. And she had taken off her wedding ring as well.

"Hi."

"Hello. Come in."

"So I guess your invitation stands..."

"Yes."

"And are you Ok?"

"I'm just a little - nervous - I guess."

"I understand. We can take it slow. Or I can leave - if that feels safer."

"No, I would like you to stay. I want to... be held tonight."

"Okay. Come, why don't we cuddle on the couch for a bit? Hopefully that - and a drink, if you want - will help you relax."

She declined the drink but leaned her head on his shoulder as they sat on the couch. Derek held her close until Stephanie broke the long silence. She spoke softly, hesitatingly, every word requiring an effort. He felt her trembling. "So... about that stuff I mentioned at the bar... it's really bad. I mean... my body isn't... what you might imagine it to be. I can't even... bear to look at myself naked."

"Oh, I see... so you don't think you're beautiful enough. Well, I suppose beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and I think you are a beautiful woman, Stephanie."

She smiled wanly. "I'm not sure how long you'll keep thinking that."

Derek held her a little tighter. "Hmm. I'm sorry something about your body is causing you so much pain, Stephanie. But perhaps you can let me decide for myself what I think of it? Stand up and let me help you out of that dress."

Her eyes widened, and she hesitated a little before she stood up. She turned around so she was facing away from him. He slid the straps off her shoulders, the dress dropping away in a rustle of cloth, revealing her dark-colored underwear beneath. She wrapped her arms tightly around herself.

Derek gently touched her bare shoulders. She exhaled loudly, shivering as if electricity had run through her. He reached out, wrapped his arms around hers and gently kissed her neck. He stepped back for a few seconds, taking in her shapely legs and the sensual curves of her back. Then he embraced her again and cooed in her ear, "Stephanie, you look marvellous. Truly, I mean it." She let him nuzzle her neck, then said, "Thank you, Derek. Keep doing this a little longer before you unwrap the rest of me."

He obliged, and when she seemed ready, he unhooked her bra and gently unclasped her arms, sliding the straps off and letting the bra fall in front of her. She reclasped her arms tightly in front of her as he inserted his thumbs down the sides of her panties and slid them down her legs. She stepped out of them gracefully, but stayed facing away, arms folded tight.

He caressed the entire back of her body, gently massaging her shoulders, tracing the exact shape of her spine, kissing her back, lovingly fondling her ass, massaging her legs. She shuddered with pleasure at his touch. "You're so beautiful, Steph. Will you only show me half of you?"

"No, but get undressed for me first. I want to see you before I show you the rest."

"Okay," said Derek, and stripped.

Stephanie turned around. He stood rooted to the spot when he saw her front. She had a long, wide brown scar running down from her left shoulder to the right side of her abdomen and a purple one running horizontally all the way across her body just above her pubic mound. A thick, hairy bush covered the middle half of it. He exhaled. He understood everything now. Her little tics, her hesitation in undressing, her fear - perhaps even terror - of showing her front to anyone, including herself.

She heard him exhale and immediately turned away, tears in her eyes. "I knew you wouldn't like what you saw. Nobody does, not even me...," she sobbed.

Part 3: Goddess

Derek immediately stepped forward and embraced her. "Oh Steph, no... no... I was just a little surprised, that's all. I understand - completely - why you want to hide. But I don't want you to." He kissed her neck again. "Really, I mean it. Turn around again please... let me look at you properly this time."

She turned around, hesitantly, a few tears still rolling down her cheeks. But she closed her eyes, waiting for the axe to fall again, expecting a polite comment of likability from him. She tried to cover herself with her arms once more, but thought the better of it and stiffly put them back at her sides.

Derek looked at her carefully from head to toe this time. His intent gaze triggered in his mind an image of great beauty, so he said, "Stephanie... you look like a goddess. Move your feet a little wider and raise your hands a little to your sides - it'll be a perfect pose to express that beauty."

Her eyes snapped open, her jaw dropping in surprise. "What...??"

"I'm serious, Stephanie. I swear." Her expression was still disbelieving, but she did as he asked.

"And now I'm going to worship you like one," he said, kneeling down. He touched both her feet, caressing each toe, noticing the glitter of her dark blue nail paint. He moved up to her ankles, calves and thighs, gently massaging her smooth legs. He buried his nose in her pubic hair and kissed every part of the area tenderly. A whiff of musk from her vagina caught his nose and he looked up at her adoringly with a big smile. "And you smell as heavenly as you look."

"You're crazy..." she whispered, meeting his gaze. But she was clearly appreciating his attention now. The smile on her face almost reached her eyes.

He traced the horizontal scar with the fingers of both his hands. "What's this from?"

"Hysterectomy." Her smile faded.

"I'm sorry... I shouldn't have asked."

"No, it's okay. Really. I'm glad you did... it's a major turnoff for most people, so I was just a little surprised, that's all." Her smile was back.

"Do you like to keep your bush this way? Or do you keep it like this to hide the scar - at least as much as you can?"

"Mostly to hide... although I sometimes like it too - it has a few advantages."

"Either way, I love it." He moved up to her belly button, gently rimmed it with a finger and kissed it several times. His hands ran up the sides of her waist, feeling every curve of flesh. Her breasts got a lot of love - he cupped them gently, massaged their sides and undersides and traced both her nipples, touching them as gently as he could.

He traced the long diagonal scar with his left index finger. "And this one?" He looked up at her again.

He saw pain flash on her face. "Car accident." She started to tremble again and closed her eyes tightly.

"I'm sorry. It must have been a really bad one - painful and traumatic. But I'm glad you survived, so that I can be with you like this, Steph." He smiled again, wrapped his arms around her hips and rested his head on her belly for a few moments. She kept her eyes closed.

He finally massaged her shoulders and arms and stood up. He reached behind her and pulled her lips to his, kissing sensually. She opened her eyes and responded in kind, tears starting to roll down her cheeks again. He broke off the kiss after a minute, and said with a smile, "How did I get so lucky, my beautiful, beautiful goddess??"

"Fuck me, Derek. Fuck me now. Fuck me all night. I want you inside me."

He smiled and kissed her again. "Certainly... but I'm not done with you just yet. Now, I want you to look at yourself like I looked at you."

Her eyes widened, and fear flashed across her face. "Derek... No... please don't make me..."

"Trust me, Steph... please." He took her hand and led her to the bathroom mirror, making her climb a step stool he spotted there. He moved behind her, gently supporting her legs in her power pose, such that she could only see her reflection, not his.

"I can't... not like this..."

"Shhh... just look first. Every part. Carefully. Touch yourself if you feel like. Then you can talk."

She did almost exactly as he had done, except that she started from her shoulders and stopped at her upper thighs. "Wow, I've never... looked at myself like this..."

"Exactly. Do what you just did a couple more times and listen carefully - to your body, not to the voices in your head - and then tell me if it doesn't change your mind about you."

She repeated the self-gaze twice more and said softly. "Maybe you are right, Derek."

"Hmm... then let me say this - to hell with what I think. In fact, forget I'm even here. Who am I or anyone else to even judge your beauty? Just love yourself like you deserve. And you deserve it - every bit, every moment."

She kept looking in the mirror a little longer, then said, "I think I see... me." She turned around to face him, her eyes moist. "Thank you, Derek. You are right. I am beautiful." She almost fell into his arms, and he held her close.

"Excellent... now one last thing before I start loving you again. Let's put this conviction of yours to the test, shall we?"

She looked up at him, puzzled. "Err, Ookkk... what's the test?"

He smiled. "You said you have a great view of the Colorado River from your room, right? So show yourself to the river, and declare your beauty to this entire world."

She jumped back from his embrace, horrified. But their gazes locked. And the longer they remained locked, the more she understood. A faint smile appeared on her face. "So you also want to make an exhibitionist out of me tonight?"

He leaned in and caressed her face with both hands, smiling. "No. There's probably nobody on the river this late at night, and even if someone did happen to see, having them see isn't the point. The point is for you to be free. To be just you - completely, unashamedly. Truly free."

She smiled. "I see what you're saying... actually, you know what image that brings into my head??"

"No, enlighten me please."

"It's Kate Winslet and Leonardo di Caprio in the 'I'm the king of the world' scene from 'Titanic'... with a few differences, of course. Our setting is not quite as spectacular, we're both naked and it's me doing the shouting, right?" She laughed.

He laughed heartily. "Well, I hadn't quite thought of it like that, but I couldn't possibly come up with a more perfect analogy if I tried."

"Awesome, let's do it." She ran to the window and dragged the sofa in front of it. She stood up on it, facing the river, and spread her arms and legs wide, but didn't open the curtains just yet. She just stood there for a minute, and looked back at him, a hint of fear returning to her eyes. He smiled warmly at her, nodded, and blew an air kiss.

She turned around again. She hesitated for the briefest moment, then muttered, "Well... fuck it," and threw open the curtains, shouting, "I am Goddess Stephanie!!! Pure and beautiful - Goddess Stephanie!"

She stood there panting from the exertion of will before she turned around, beaming at him. "There... did I pass?"

He laughed. "Graduated top of the class... with honors. But I've got homework to do now..." He ran his hands up her legs, grabbed her thighs and buried his tongue inside her pussy.

"Ahhh...," she gasped, and began to pump her hips, trying to match his flicking tongue. She was already wet, her juices and scent combining to form an intoxicating elixir for Derek as he continued to eat her. She came quickly, getting a release she desperately craved, both she and Derek breathing heavily from their efforts. "Oh my god, that was absolutely amazing, Steph," exclaimed Derek as he helped her down and kissed her. "I want to do that again... and again."

"Yeah it was amazing, but I also want you now, Derek," pouted Stephanie.

"Okay, so how about I get one more turn and then we'll do whatever you want after that? Sorry, you are just so... heavenly."

"Okay, let's do it. How about we do it the other way now - you eat me from behind? If we're gonna give someone on the river a show, might as well let them have the full thing, right?" Stephanie laughed.

Derek laughed with her. "Whoa, look who's going exhibitionist now... just to be clear, this is your idea! But I'm so happy that you feel confident enough in your own beauty to do this - that's all I could have asked for. Let's go."

Stephanie climbed back on the sofa and took the pose with which she had proclaimed her liberation to the world, thrusting her hips slightly back so Derek's tongue could have full access to her pussy.

Derek buried his face inside her again, this time working in more variety than the pure hunger with which he had dived in the first time - licking, kissing, probing, rimming. Stephanie began to moan and writhe in pleasure, her breasts flattened against the window glass, her pubes doing so intermittently as she thrust her hips forward and back, trying to maximize everything Derek's mouth was giving her.

Her moans got louder with every one of Derek's moves, her hip thrusts getting more desperate. Finally, as Derek's tongue flicked her clit again, she shuddered and went over the edge with a scream. "Aahhh... oh my God... Derek... I'm gonna cum... aaahhhh... aaahhhh... I'm cuummmmingg!!!" Derek's mouth was overwhelmed by her juices and her musk, and she collapsed onto the couch on her knees. Derek partially collapsed onto her, panting, his chin on her shoulder.

He slowly turned her neck and planted his soaking mouth on her lips, making her taste herself, smell herself. As he broke off, he said to her with a smile, "Umm... that was a real feast... wouldn't you agree?" She smiled back at him weakly, still exhausted from her intense orgasms. She said nothing, but made him get up onto the couch too and lay down with her head on his chest.

Part 4: Union

They lay like that for a while, caressing each other, both of them clearly loving the intimacy. Finally, Stephanie said, "Ok lover, as wonderful as it feels just lying here like this, it's my turn now. I would like to get at least a few hours of sleep before I need to wake up for my flight. Lie down on the bed. You're going to cum in my mouth first and then fuck me for as long as you can."

Derek said, "Of course, as you wish Steph... this is your night to shine." She jumped onto the bed, got on her knees in front of him and took his cock in her mouth. It only took a few seconds before he was rock hard and completely filling her mouth as she moved up and down his shaft. Soft sighs escaped his lips as she brought her tongue into play and he started to get more aroused.

He briefly stopped her and asked, "Hey, you want to sixty-nine? So I can eat you out at the same time?"

"No. I don't like that, especially when I'm working on a dick I really like... can't focus when I'm having my pussy eaten at the same time."

"Okay," Derek said, grinning. "Well, your focus is pretty damn intense. I don't know how much longer I'm gonna last before I cum."

She grinned back. "Hmm... well, let me slow down a bit then. Maybe make you squirm a little before I make you explode."

She went back to his cock, but gave all parts of it more attention - feeling its hardness with her fingers, playing her tongue on the underside of the shaft, gently squeezing his balls - in between licking the head with her tongue and fucking her mouth with it.

Derek was writhing now. "Oh God... Steph... that's incredible... aahhh... I'm gonna cum..." She slowed down even more, wanting to make him last as long as she could. But it took less than a minute before he finally went over the edge. "Aahhh... unnhh... unnnhhhh!!!" He flooded her mouth, the force of his ejaculation making her gasp, some of the cum spilling out of her mouth, trickling back onto his cock.

She swallowed the warm, gooey gel, sighing in satisfaction. Then she licked off all the cum from his shaft and lay down on top of his panting body, her thick pubic hair caressing his cock as she planted a cum-covered kiss on his mouth. "Umm... you taste pretty heavenly yourself, lover. Wouldn't you agree?"

They shared another intimate session of feeling and exploring each other before Derek was ready for sex again. This time, it was Stephanie's turn to lie on her back. He gently spread her legs, kissed her pussy to get her juices flowing again, and once again traced her scars, covering her breasts with kisses as he finished tracing the long diagonal one. This got him hard enough to guide his cock between her legs. He saw her shiver with anticipation, her eyes locking hungrily onto his.

He put on a condom, lubricating it further with her juices. His cock slid inside her easily, her wetness enveloping it, welcoming it in. She sighed as she felt it slide all the way into her, the fullness sending warmth flooding through her. He started thrusting gently, ensuring he wasn't hurting her, but soon picked up the pace, knowing he would be able to fuck her for a while before he came again.

They moved in unison, trying to keep their eyes locked on each other. Sounds of panting, moaning, squelching and body parts slapping together filled the room. There was no need for either of them to say anything - their raw lust and intimacy made legs rise, positions shift, hands and feet clasp and muscles squeeze, all of their own accord. Neither of them knew how long they had been fucking before Stephanie's breathing quickened and her moans grew louder. Her legs clenched around him and her fingernails dug into the flesh of his back. Her head pressed back into the pillow and she came. "Oh Derek... oh yes... yes... oh my God... aaahhhh!"

The two of them lay wrapped around each other, recovering their breath, the sheets moist with their sweat. Derek said, "Wow, that was incredible, Steph..."

"Umm hmmm... come here, lover!" She grabbed his head and forced their mouths together. A long French kissing session ensued, before she said, "My turn to be on top this time. And take that condom off... I want you to cum inside me."

His eyes widened. "No, Steph. It's not safe, even though I'll bet we're both clean." He paused for a moment as his mind snapped back to reality. "Actually, come lie down next to me for a bit... I want to talk."

She did as he asked, looking at him propped up on an elbow, prepared to listen intently. There was concern in her eyes, knowing that she had crossed some kind of line in his mind. He continued, "Stephanie... you know, I almost didn't come up here because you're married, and I didn't want to be the one responsible for screwing that up. But I came, because there was something incredibly alluring about you. It wasn't lust, and I am now sure of that based on all that we've shared. I know you made a much more difficult choice to go through with this too, so I'll do anything for you tonight... but don't make me do this... please."

She climbed back on top of him and caressed his face, looking directly at him, her brown eyes full and gentle. "Oh Derek... Derek... I'm so sorry. This night has been magical so far, and I got carried away. You're absolutely right about practicing safe sex. As for my marriage, that's my problem. I - and I alone - made the decision to proposition you at the bar and stuck with it when you came here. And do you know why I stuck with it? Because you treated me with dignity when I didn't treat myself that way. Because I was desperate for sex - but you didn't take advantage of my desperation. So no, Derek... I would never do anything you don't want."

Derek caressed her face too. "Thank you, Steph. And I'm sorry, I didn't mean to spoil the mood."

She smiled. "No, you did the right thing. And don't you worry about the mood... I think I know how to worship too." She propped herself on her knees and began to run her hands over his arms and chest, massaging gently, feeling the bumps of muscle underneath. She continued down his abdomen and briefly got up off the bed when she reached his pubes. She took off the condom from his now flaccid cock, taking it in her mouth and playing with his balls at the same time. It didn't take long for him to get hard again, at which point she put on a fresh one she had grabbed, and rolled it down his shaft with her mouth. She briefly massaged his legs before she caressed his cock again and said, "Did that improve your mood, lover? Sure looks like it did!"

Derek laughed. "Umm hmmm... and now I want to make love to you again, Stephanie."

She smiled and said, "Oh yes... fuck me Derek... with all you've got," as she mounted him, slowly taking in the length of his cock until he was buried inside her to the hilt. She closed her eyes and took a few deep breaths, letting the sensation of him fully inside and the warmth of sexual energy ripple through her, before she started to thrust her hips and move up and down on his shaft.

Derek wrapped his hands around her hips and started thrusting as well, soon able to match her movements. The synchronicity established, he focused his attention on the rest of her - the look of pure sexual bliss on her face, her pretty breasts bouncing up and down with each thrust, her scars now part of the beauty of the scene. Time ceased to exist for both of them until they were both ready to cum. Derek came first. "Oh Stephanie... you look so beautiful... oh my God... I'm coming... oh God... I wanna cum inside you... unnhhh!!!" His exhortation and pleasure sent her over the edge as well. She moaned loudly as she came and squirted out a flood of juices, drenching both his pubes and hers.

Part 5: Bliss

They lay on the bed next to each other, completely spent, the bed sheets soaked. Stephanie spoke first. "So... you still glad you knocked on my door?"

Derek laughed. "That's a pretty low bar you're setting, Steph... especially for a goddess. I'd say that answered every prayer I've ever said."

She laughed too, then looked deep into his eyes and said, "Yes, it was that good. And it wasn't only your prayers that were answered. Seriously, Derek... I wasn't sure about this before you came here, but now I've never been more sure. I don't want to cheat on my husband again, but if it's going to be just this one time, I would make this choice every single time. Thank you... for everything - again and forever."

Derek caressed her face. "Stephanie, I'm glad how well this turned out. I mean, I just went to the hotel bar to have a drink after a rough day, so I can't help thinking that divine intervention brought me here. We'll probably never see each other again, but if I gave you something real - beyond the sex - that means everything to me. By the way, will you tell him about this?"

"I don't know... I'll think about it on the plane. This was so... transformational... that I really want to tell him about it. But I did cheat on him too..."

"Yeah..." Derek was lost in thought for a few moments before he said, "Want to know what I think?"

"Of course."

"Tell him, and do it soon. Otherwise it'll start eating at you. You came home to yourself tonight... don't go back to the void."

"You are so right... Be careful what you offer up, lover, otherwise I might just try and keep you around forever." She laughed.

Derek smiled back at her. "This night was just this night, Steph... as much as we both might wish it weren't. It was magical, absolutely - but not something to chase or compare. In my experience, there's nothing good down that road."

She playfully pressed his nose with her finger. "You make too much sense, you know? But well, you didn't do much, you just changed my life, right? So I guess I'll take that piece of advice too." She lay down on top of him again. "Now shush... let me quietly enjoy this last little time I'll get with you." Derek embraced her and they lay there, blissfully content in each other's warmth.

The next thing Derek heard was the chime of Stephanie's alarm. He sat up with a start, realized where he was, and said, "Shit..." He saw her stirring and rubbing her eyes next to him. He jumped up from the bed and was frantically looking around for his clothes when he heard her say, "It's okay, Derek. I think we both just passed out after last night... I'm actually amazed that I somehow remembered to set my alarm."

He turned around and looked at her, smiling. "Well, you have a flight to catch and a husband to go back to, don't you? So I think I've overstayed my welcome..."

There was a twinkle in her eye as she said, "Well... I wouldn't mind being worshipped one last time. I hope you were planning on showering before starting your day, so maybe you can just do it here - with me. But yeah, we'll have to make it quick."

Derek hesitated. "I'll worship all you want, Steph... but I really don't want a quickie to cheapen what we shared last night."

"Neither do I. But cleaning my body off in the shower would be an act of worship, wouldn't it? After that, we'll just let it go where it goes... and perhaps the clock will decide for us anyway."

Derek nodded and smiled. "I can get on board with that, goddess."

They stepped into the shower and Stephanie turned on the water. They kissed each other - involuntarily, passionately, hungrily - before he asked, "Want me to start from the top or the bottom?"

"Bottom," she replied without hesitation.

Derek took shower gel in his hands and almost repeated his ritual from last night - kneeling, soaping, scrubbing, feeling, massaging, tracing her scars. She did the same for him, teasing him about his erection when she got to that part, and planting a full kiss on his lips at the end. She felt his rock hard cock pressing against her pussy, he her erect nipples pressing against his chest. They looked into each other's eyes as they broke off the kiss.

Neither of them knew what to do or say next, so they just kept up their gaze. But nothing needed to be said. Guided by instinct, both of them moved in and locked each other in a fierce embrace, trying to cling desperately to their last few minutes of togetherness. The desperation soon melted away, replaced by the bliss of a beautiful silence, the universe collapsing into their two bodies - fused as one - moving slowly of their own accord, the water from the hotel's rain shower dancing with them, celebrating them, making their bodies glisten, adding to the intense life energy radiating from them.

It was Stephanie who came out of the reverie first. She reached behind Derek to turn off the shower and looked up at him. "Derek... as much as I'd like you to fuck me right now... to cum inside me... it would indeed cheapen everything we felt last night - and in these last few minutes. But I think I know the perfect ending to our tryst."

Part 6: The Becoming

Derek caressed her face. "I agree, Steph. These last few minutes were unlike any other I've ever experienced. There was something... just so... pure about them. What do you have in mind for the end?"

She smiled. "First towel me off, lover. I'll tell you. I think you'll be proud."

Derek raised a quizzical eyebrow as they stepped out of the shower and he dried both Stephanie and himself. They wrapped the towels around themselves and Stephanie ran to her bedside table to quickly check her phone. "Okay, we've got about ten more minutes before I need to get dressed and head to the airport."

She turned around and took off her towel, standing naked in front of him - proud and with absolutely no self-consciousness this time. "So... to end this, I propose that I stand in front of that window again... just like last night, when you really convinced me to feel like a goddess. Has a nice symmetry to it, don't you think?"

"I think that's an absolutely perfect ending... you're really getting the hang of this, aren't you?"

She laughed. "I don't know about that... I'm just letting myself lead - if that makes sense."

"Oh, of course. Like I said, you've got this down now. Go for it!!"

"Okay. This time, I want you to hold me from behind while I go into goddess mode."

"Even better. After you, goddess."

They climbed onto the couch. Stephanie closed her eyes and leaned against the glass - relaxed, natural, free - as Derek held her from behind, careful not to obscure even a sliver of her beauty. They just stood like that until it was finally time for them to part ways.

Epilogue

Jack and Alice Miller were canoeing up the Colorado river, planning on a long row to start off their day - bright and early. They rounded a bend and the buildings of downtown Austin came into view, the first rays of the sun illuminating their glass facades against a backdrop of gloriously pinkish sky.

Jack spotted something out of the corner of his eye and fixed on a building window high above the river. "Hey, Alice... is that... do you see what I think I see?" He pointed to the window.

Alice looked in the direction Jack was pointing and gasped at the sight. "Oh my God, Jack... is that woman completely...?" She shook her head. "Jeez, people these days..."

The sun's rays falling on the building's window illuminated the silhouette of a naked woman, standing with her arms spread, her breasts and pubes pressed against the glass, at complete ease in her posture. Bathed in sunlight, her body glowed, its entirety outlined in an orange hue, like fire radiating from within.

Jack said, "But there's something very different about this one, honey. Just look at her! I think she looks like a goddess. I don't think I've seen anything as mesmerizing in a long, long time."

Alice rolled her eyes at her husband. "You're still a dirty old man, Jack."

Jack took out his phone to take a picture but then pensively put it away.

"Not taking a photo, hon?"

"No. Some things are just better experienced than photographed... anyway, let's go. We still have a long way to row this morning."

"Yeah, let's go," concurred Alice. They dipped their oars in the water and rowed away.