[clay]

Seeking refuge in the coffee shop, out of the pouring rain....I was oblivious of most all else. Just as I opened the door to step inside, I run into the back of her....tiny little thing she was.
As I shucked my rain jacket, she turned to face me....as I began to apologize profusely.....I looked into those eyes....soft, doe eyed...molten chocolate....holding me spellbound. Her silky brown hair, wet from the rain, stood in little spikes all over her head...rather endearing...
Extending my hand, taking hers in mine...I introduced myself....hi, I am Clay...and you are?....our eyes never losing contact...her cheeks flushed...she said...I am Jace (pronouncing it "JayCee"), I asked may I buy coffee? Softly, she replied...yes, yes you may, Clay.
Finding a table in the far corner, away from the crowd, I helped her out of her rain coat and into her seat, and took a seat on the opposite side, facing her.
There was such a calmness to her, subtle, yet such positive energy....drawing me to want to know more about her. Our coffees and pastries were ordered, and we engaged in conversation......
Jace was an RN.....an ER RN precisely. In the back of my mind, thoughts were.. "of course she is", such a compassionate aura about her, the gentle energy she emitted.
We sat for hours, lost in our conversation...she was a refreshing conversationalist....drinking several cups of coffee each.
Sensing a chemistry brewing, we made plans to see one another that upcoming weekend. She was to be on duty that evening, on the 4 to MN, and had the weekend off. Numbers were exchanged, the rain had let up, and I escorted her to her car.
The next 2 days found me intrigued, eager to spend time with Jace again. Our plans were to go to the Art Museum, then a picnic on the beach as the sun set...allowing us to be in a relaxed atmosphere...
Finally Saturday came...I drove to her place, walked to her door, knocked....as she opened the door...I sucked my breath in...she was stunningly beautiful....dressed in tailored knit linen slacks, Navy...with a crisp, white linen shirt...with just a hint of a Mandarin collar and a single, rather delicate, intricately designed gold filigree chain...her hair shone like spun silk...perfect!....grinning, I handed her a spring bouquet of mixed flowers...she smiled a huge smile..."oh, these are my favorites"...and went to place them in a vase. As we headed out to my car, I took her small bag with her change of clothing for the beach picnic, and sat it next to mine, and our picnic basket on the back seat.
We drove to the Museum...conversation relaxed, easy, and interesting between us....telling me of her work, her days, and asking about mine since we last saw each other...making our arrival at our destination a seemingly short ride.
The Museum was really intriguing, as we looked at exhibits, each sharing their own version of merits for the art, taking all the works in as we strolled through. Being with Jace was incredibly easy......those beautiful, soft eyes...molten chocolate...soon we found ourselves at the end of the tour, and left the Museum. We headed to the beach, a short drive away....again chatting so easily, so relaxingly.
Finding a choice, almost remote parking spot by the boardwalk, I pulled in...retrieved our bags, and we walked up to the locker/shower rooms. Changed into more appropriate beachwear, we walked back to the car, I got our picnic basket and beach gear. Slowly we made our way to the section of beach we wanted to be on. We spread out the beach blanket, sat our basket down, and shed our shorts and shirts, down to our swimsuits...making our way to the surf. The water was warm, delightful...as it lapped our ankles...the breeze so alluring, as the salt mist sprayed us with the waves colliding surf. Giggling, we waded further out...and dove into the surf..swimming out past the breakers. The water was amazingly delicious..as we swam and enjoyed the early evening...warmed by the sun's rays. After a bit, we decided to go ashore and delve into that basket...wrapping huge, thick beach towels around ourselves, we sat down and made our way into the basket. The radio was playing music softly in the background, sitting beside us.
Finding cuban sandwiches, pickle spears, and potato salad to make our plates, we feasted, drinking white wine.....enjoying small talk. Each shared some more of our lives, our families, our work, and other easy talk.
I found Jace to be such a pleasure to spend time with, and we found so much commonalities in one another. After we ate, we leaned back...to relax, enjoy the ebb/flow of the waves, the music, and the ensuing sunset....enjoying the stillness. I reached over, taking her soft, small hand in mine....it was so warm, so gentle...as I rubbed my thumb over her knuckles...lost in the stillness, the music...the sunset...a fiery orangish/red diminishing to a dark purple with hints of pinkish blue...as it melted away into the horizon....and we sat...stilled with one another...drinking in the smattering of sprinkles of stars beginning to come out...stealing shy smiles at one another...content to just be...
I had been seeing Jace for a year before we were intimate. Prior to becoming intimate, she had shared with me a pressing concern of hers. Jace had been diagnosed with breast cancer two years prior to our first meeting. This beautiful woman cried as she told me she felt less than whole, having lost both breasts...I sat, silent, holding her close to me on the sofa...and listened to her...letting her share her fears/concerns with me. We talked at length...me reassuring her that she was definitely very much a woman...and that breasts did not a woman make....for me, I found that it is her soul..her heart...her very core and her essence of individuality.....as I wiped her tears away, holding her close...reassuring her of how beautiful and whole she is.....she looked up at me with those soft, chocolatey eyes...melting me down......to where I longed to be....inside her soul...
When we made love later on in time.....I was mesmerized by this truly remarkable, brave woman...who had fought such a long, hard fight...to live...to beat cancer..and to have life and love again.
I lay beside her....touching her soft skin...inhaling the scent of her...watching the way the moonlight bathed her...and my hands touched her chest...I kissed every inch of her there...soft, lilting kisses..lingering with each one...I held one of her hands in mine, I whispered to her...telling her just how very beautiful she is...how soft and warm her skin is...how my lips touch every part of her...my fingers trace the faint, red scars....gingerly...and I look, smile, and reassure her....this is a beautiful chest....very sensual...very sexy she is...I feel her heartbeat beneath my fingers...as I still them there...drinking in her very essence...my fingers feel her sensuality in the skin.....in each of those "scars"...and I am one with her....as I trace first one, then the other...awakening a deep, stirring in my own soul...making me feel sensations I have never experienced before...as I experience those lines....leading me to her very soul...to her heart....knowing that never have I seen anyone more beautiful...more sensual...more alive and alluring...that these very lines are almost like a direct line to her being....letting me make love to her soul and heart....I catch my breath...and I smile at her..and I tell her....just how incredibly fucking beautiful she is....til the sun comes up...and I make love to her...
YOU are...so incredibly beautiful and so sensual in so many ways....hold that in your heart for always...never doubt your worth and salt....for you....simply...are.
I am honored to know you...and you have definitely touched my soul....my heart...and I am better for knowing you...I love you , my friend! always...Clay