My hometown is pretty small, the kind where everybody knows everybody.

Though I attended a state college in a slightly bigger pond, I still found myself in classes with a number of people I grew up with. One of those people was a woman I’d always desired, but never in a million years thought I’d have a chance to be with.

On campus, she was the girl all the guys went after. Being beautiful, she could take her pick. Cynthia looked like a classic pinup: blonde with long legs, a willowy waist, and perfect tits — the kind that make alluring mounds under a tight sweater.

Cynthia and I sometimes exchanged banter at parties or after classes, but I’d never tried to come on to her because I figured she was way out of my league. I stand just shy of five-eight, I’m average-looking, and I wasn’t a jock — generally not the kind of guy most girls fight over.

Fast-forward to the present — roughly 15 years after we both graduated college. I keep in shape, and after college I learned how to dress and groom myself properly. I have a good job in the hospitality industry that requires me to travel.

Last summer I was driving through parts of the Southwest, visiting clients along the way. The piercing desert sun was just starting to set when I pulled off the highway and arrived at a gorgeous resort where I’d be spending the night before a morning meeting with its CEO. The place was not some weird New Age retreat, like so many of those crazy places in the desert — thanks to health nuts and UFO fanatics. It was a luxurious oasis with golf greens, various pools, and great food.

The resort was comping me a room for the night, and I was looking forward to a massage and a swim after the long drive. The dry heat that met me as I got out of my car nearly knocked me on my ass, so after the valet drove off, I was happy to head inside for a drink.

I sat down at the bar to go through emails, my usual routine. Then out of the corner of my eye I saw a woman. Well, it was more a rush of blonde hair combined with a loud, musical laugh as she disappeared across the lobby. At first I wasn’t sure if she was real or if she was some kind of lovely mirage.

My old crush Cynthia had been exactly like that — like so-called heat lightning. There and gone before you fully realized it, but you swore there was a flash behind the clouds, even though there had been no rain. That’s how Cynthia had been when she’d caught my attention in high school. And then later, after spotting her for the first time at college, I began to catch glimpses of her regularly and was always blown away by her beauty.

After I got settled in my swank hotel suite, I booked a Swedish massage, figuring I’d order room service and crash afterward.

When I arrived at the first-floor spa, the receptionist handed me a glass of ice water and led me into a plush room where I could undress and get comfortable on the heated massage table. As soon as I was on my back, I started to drift off, being so tired from hours of driving. But just as I was falling asleep, there was a quiet knock on the door and a woman’s voice asking if I was ready.

“Yes, come on in,” I replied, and she entered.

When I looked up and saw the masseuse’s face, recognition bolted me out of my stupor. She appeared to experience a nearly identical moment.

“Tom?” she asked, smiling and tilting her head. “Is that you?”

I smiled back. “Hi, Cynthia.”

“Oh my God! This is crazy.”

“We’re both a long way from home, huh?”

“I’ll say. What are you doing out here?”

“Work,” I replied, gesturing to the lavish spa room. “As you can see, my job is grueling.”

She laughed that sweet, hearty laugh that I remembered hearing at so many parties. I told her about my morning meeting, and joked again about the perks of my profession.

She shook her head, still marveling. “I always liked your sense of humor.”

“Flattery will get you everywhere,” I teased. “What about you? How on earth did you end up here?”

“How much time do you have?”

“Well, I did book an hour for this massage.”

“Yes, but you’re supposed to be relaxing — not listening to my life story.”

Never one to ignore the request of a lady in bed, I tongued and fingered her sweet pussy until she came.

“Right, but I’m still dying to know how you ended up becoming a massage therapist in the middle of the desert.”

She smiled, her green eyes sparkling with a hint of mischief. “Maybe I’ll tell you later. Now, let’s get down to business.”

Cynthia proceeded to give me a truly excellent massage that left me floating on air. Afterward, I was practically drunk with relaxation, which is probably how I managed to muster the courage to ask her out.

“Want to grab a drink when you’re done working?”

“Sure,” Cynthia said. “I have one more client, and then… shall I come up to your room?”

My stomach leapt into my throat. “Perfect,” I answered.

A few hours later, we were both sitting on the balcony of my suite, drinking a bottle of chilled champagne. She wore a linen slip dress that showed off her toned arms and lithe figure. We’d just finished reminiscing about college and our mutual acquaintances when she put her hand on my arm and said, “I want to know something.”

“What?” I asked.

“How come you never asked me out? I’ve always wondered.”

“Jesus,” I responded. There was no escaping this one. I decided to be candid. “I thought you were too gorgeous to be interested in a guy like me. I mean… even now, look at you.”

She laughed and shook her head. “You always kept your distance,” she chastised. “But now I’m sitting only inches away from you, in case you’re inclined to finally do something.”

Feeling brave, I grabbed her hand off my arm and pulled her toward me. “I’m inclined.”

We kissed for a good while, until she pulled away from me, stepped inside the sliding glass door, and took off her slip dress. Following her lead, I began to unbutton my shirt. She grabbed my hand and led me inside toward the king-size bed, and we left a trail of clothes in our wake.

I sat her down on the bed and kissed my way across her elegant collarbone, letting my hands roam all over her perfect body. But suddenly she pushed me back onto the mattress. While I relaxed, she climbed on top of me and rubbed her breasts against my face, letting me enjoy the sensation of being surrounded by those fleshy mounds. I cupped her tits with both hands, letting my palms caress her hard nipples.

But then Cynthia sat up, straddling me and smiling. I let go of her breasts and just lay there, admiring their absolute perfection. I must’ve looked completely awestruck because she started laughing.

“Are those real?” I asked jokingly.

As I helped position her tight, wet pussy onto my cock, I watched as she started to rub her clit.

“Yep,” she said. “Same tits you pretended not to want in college.”

“Goddamn,” I muttered. I reached around to give one of her ass cheeks a squeeze. “You’re so fucking gorgeous.”

“Took you long enough to do something about it.”

I sat up and began sucking on those peach-colored nipples. “Forgive me,” I muttered into her flesh.

I switched places with Cynthia, flipping her onto her back. I kissed my way down her beautiful body, peeling off her last item of clothing — a lacy pink thong. Her pussy was mostly shaved but adorned with just a little triangle of dark blonde pubic hair. I kissed the insides of her thighs before spreading her folds with my fingers.

“I want to taste you,” I told her.

“Then do it,” she command-whispered.

Cynthia spread her legs wider and I dove in, my tongue going straight to her clit. She sighed with pleasure. “Don’t stop.”

Never one to ignore the request of a lady in bed, I tongued and fingered her sweet pussy until she came, letting out a sustained moan.

Afterward, she pulled me up, wrapped her arms around me, and we shared a long, hot kiss.

“Does that qualify as a happy ending?” I asked her.

She smiled. “Something like that.”

Then Cynthia put her hand around my hard cock. Her expression turned mischievous.

“Now what should we do about you? I was so tempted to suck you off earlier in the spa. But that wouldn’t have been very professional.”

“Making up for lost time is a theme here tonight,” I told her.

“You’re right,” Cynthia said as she trailed her tongue down my stomach. She sank far enough down to take my dick into her mouth, paying special attention to the head.

I closed my eyes. This felt like a dream, and for all I knew I really was dreaming. Of all the people I could have ended up in bed with, I never saw this one coming.

Cynthia stroked my balls and sucked my cock, her head bobbing up and down. As much as I didn’t want this blowjob to end, I wanted to fuck her more than anything in the world, so I guided her back on top of me.

As I helped her position her tight, wet pussy onto my cock, I watched as she started to rub her clit. I grabbed hold of her tits and she began to ride me like a wild woman.

We went at it like that for a while, until I decided to turn her around and fuck her from behind. Cynthia came again, her clenching pussy squeezing my cock. We ended the night with me on top, fucking her with hard, deep strokes, her arms and legs wrapped tightly around my torso. Minutes later I slipped over the orgasmic edge and blew my load inside her.

We drifted off to sleep afterward, but by the time I woke up, she’d already left. No note, just a lipstick print on the pad of paper next to the phone.

Still exhausted but incredibly happy, I showered, dressed, and headed to the resort restaurant for my meeting.

The hostess showed me to a private table overlooking a succulent garden where the CEO was waiting. He greeted me with a handshake and said, “I hope my staff made you comfortable last night.”

“Yes,” I said. “The service was outstanding.”