Dear Stranger - 1. Chapter 1

My phone buzzed in the midst of the subway ride and the voice over started to read out the incoming message.

I texted back typing – hey, yeah I am riding the subway, how do you know?

This dating app was completely new to me. I was still figuring out while getting used to the whole idea of online dating. The friend who had suggested me to try it, had also warned me to beware of the creepy dudes. So, I kept the usage to minimum – only checking it out on the way to and from work.

Would you like to guess? User ‘lookin’ for some excitement’ asked.

I smiled to myself and typed back. I don’t know. You’re taking the same ride maybe?

I never expected him to say Yep … and definitely I did not see his other reply coming - And I’m sitting right beside you peeking into your screen.

I’d picked up the distinct smell of his fresh manly sweat mixed with the scent of his aftershave. While I sat and waited for the second stop, he’d sat next to me. I did feel an unmistakable brush of a hand against my left bicep. I’d adjusted myself, trying to get away because the touch made me nervous. But for some reason, I was more anxious than afraid about what the stranger might want from me.

I quickly kept my phone away.

Then the guy spoke. “Hey there. Do you always travel alone?” His voice was deep, very sexy—the make-you-go-weak-in-the-knees kind of sexy. And it couldn’t have belonged to a man older than thirty.

“Uh...yes.” I cleared my throat. “I’m used to travelling by myself.”

“Quite impressive, man,” he said. “I mean, I see you every day taking this route and you seem so at ease.” My body tensed up. “Wait, wait,” he said, touching my thigh and laughed. “Don’t get me wrong. I ain’t no stalker, man.”

I nervously smiled. His hand on my upper thigh felt warm and radiated a sexual wave of heat. It coursed through my body like an electric current and my cock sprang into action. Suddenly, his breath was near my neck and I jumped a little.

He waited a second, then slowly whispered, “You’re too beautiful to go unnoticed by anyone.”

For a moment, I couldn’t breathe. This wasn’t the first time someone had complimented me for my looks but the stranger was definitely the first one to call me beautiful. With those big and ugly black glasses on my face, I always figured I looked like a freak. People I don’t know would act all awkward when they see those glasses and realize that I’m blind. So, even though I’d never seen myself in the mirror, I knew that calling me beautiful was taking it too far.

His hand was still on my thigh. I swallowed and jumped from my seat just as the announcement for my stop went off. What great timing!

“My stop’s here. See you around.” With the help of my cane, I walked toward the door.

Some person guided me to the pole and I thanked them with a smile. As the train neared the stop, a familiar hand enveloped the one I held the pole with and breathing became a task once again.

“That’s my stop, too,” the man said. “Let me walk you home?”

I freed my hand from his with a great difficulty. “Thanks,” I said. My voice shook. “But I’ll be fine.”

Bumping into couple of people in my anxiety, I moved a bit ahead and closer to the door. They swore and I apologized hurriedly. I could sense him right behind me as the door opened and everyone got off the train. He was there when I walked to the platform with my cane; he was there when I ascended the stairs and he still followed me after I took to the New York streets.

Oh Reggie, you could be in so much trouble right now. What if he’s a thug?

Nervously, I opened the glass of my precious braille watch and felt it. It was close to ten thirty at the night. At my current pace, I could easily reach my building in the next five minutes.

Even though I tried, I couldn’t get rid of him. Here he was now, just a few steps behind me, taking the same turn onto Sixth Avenue as I did.

I stopped and turned briskly. “Why are you following me? What d’ya want from me, dude?” My voice was louder than intended but the rising tension had left me frustrated.

The stranger didn’t reply immediately. I knew he was there, even though he made no movement. So, I waited.

Out of the blue, I heard him laugh and it made me forget everything. “Hey, man, sorry!” He chuckled. “Believe me, I ain’t following you nowhere. My apartment’s on this street, I swear.”

“Oh.” I felt like the most stupid person on this planet. All I had to do was simply keep walking and he’d have been gone. “Um...sorry.”

“You’re so adorable.”

“I’m embarrassed. That’s what I am right now.”

“Hmm,” I heard him wonder aloud. “So, you’re the kind of guy who trusts anyone immediately. What if I’m lying?” There was mischief in his voice.

My guard went up again and I quickly removed my cell phone from my jeans. “I’ve got 9-1-1 on my speed dial. If you try anything, I’m gonna make the call.”

“What if I wanna kiss you?” he whispered.

“Wha—” Goosebumps formed on my flesh. I swallowed.

“I really wanna kiss you right now. So I’m gonna try that. Make the call if you wanna.”

He said it loud and clear this time and the phone almost slipped from my hand. “I’m gonna step closer to you and if you don’t want this...”

His fingers were suddenly running through my hair and the other hand snaking around my waist to pull me closer. His grip was too strong to get away—not that I tried. I stayed frozen in his arms, smelling his arousing aftershave so close. Soon, his nose touched mine and I could feel his heavy breath combining with mine. Warmth rushed through my entire body and I experienced something I’d never experienced before. A feeling so new to me. I’d never been this excited to kiss a man in my life. That didn’t mean nobody had kissed me before. But with this stranger, it was very different. When his lips touched mine I realized how much I’d yearned for a man’s attention like this. My mouth opened slowly and I let myself enjoy the moment. I heard my stick hit hard on the ground but I didn’t give a damn.

Soon, our tongues went into action. His mouth tasted of alcohol but in no way was he drunk. A cool breeze hit my face and that’s when I realized we were putting on a show right in the middle of the street. I pushed him back and chuckled. “Sorry,” I said feeling like I’d run a marathon in those few seconds. “I should go. It’s very late.”

“Don’t go.” He held my hand. “Come upstairs with me.” He’d said a lot in those four words. The thought of someone wanting me so desperately was in itself exhilarating. But he was a stranger, my inner conscience tried to reason. I wasn’t the kind of guy who’d sleep with someone I’d met on my way home from work. He pecked my lips once again and begged, “Please?”

Oh, what the hell!

He bent down to pick up my fallen cane and offered it to me. Holding my hand, he guided me toward his building. “Watch the steps,” he said as he let us inside.

His apartment had that mildew smell of a basement when we entered. “Do you live alone here?” I asked and my voice reverberated through the room.

“Yeah, I just moved in about two weeks ago,” he replied. “I’ve been damn slow with unpacking my stuff, so watch out for the boxes in your way. Sorry about that.”

“That’s okay,” I whispered, feeling nervous once again.

He took my hand and guided me inside the apartment to another room. He stopped, dropping my hand. His hands palmed my shoulders. “Wow!”

“What?”

The stranger chuckled. “Nothing,” he said and sighed. “I was just thinking about last week when I saw you on the train and I was like Wooh! How am I gonna gather up the courage to ask him out? And look at that, you’re here in my apartment.”

That made me smile. “Look at that.”

Plan is to put chapters of this story up every Monday