Pete was five years younger than me and just got his degree. He was 2" taller, skinny, and probably the same weight. He had just got out of a relationship, and wanted relaxed fun which was good for me.

My only concern was that he wasn't into exercise at all. I really wanted a guy that could keep physical and intellectual pace with me even as a friend. While I wasn't particularly fit by my standards due to work, I was still capable of a decent 5k or 10k run or having my .22 on my shoulder and gear for a few days on my back for going out against the Possums and bunnies, albeit with more effort than at my peak. 

I arranged to meet him for a date at a cafe as my second date.

I came straight from work in a black business dress. He formally took my hand when we introduced which was nice and respectful, but not that good an omen for possible fun tomorrow. We got some wine which soon loosened him up and then ordered. Over dinner, we found out that we had similar taste in movies and there was a short that we both were interested in tomorrow at the Basement cinema. He told me that the cinema was close to his home. I said that in that case, if things went well, it might not be the only area he might be exploring tomorrow.

As we left, I kissed him on the cheek as a gesture of intent, which he reciprocated. Qualified test, I decided.

For the second date, I wore a fitted blue round-neck dress that I had bought in the Garment District on my last trip over. I set my bra to show a bit of cleavage to see if I got a rise out of Pete.

We met at the Basement Bar, and he greeted me with a kiss on the cheek, but the kiss just skipped the edge of my lips. I kissed him back likewise. He said, "Nice dress," and smiled.

I said, "Dress or contents?" I could see his attraction slightly in response, so I gave him a gentle kiss on the lips as a reward.

We moved down the ticket queue and got them and got wine and a cone each. Then, we walked into the cinema and sat down. I put my hand on his knee which he reciprocated.

Soon the lights were off, and the ads were rolling. He kissed me on the cheek, and I kissed him back, but I moved my head around. He kissed me on the lips next time and I kissed him back, holding his knee. I felt his mouth open as he open mouth kissed me, and I open mouth kissed him. We progressed to gentle Frenching as the movie progressed and I could feel my attractions grow. During the movie, I adjusted myself for a bit of extra vis.

The movie finished and we walked into the light. Pete saw me better and smiled as his attraction grew and I kissed him on the lips hard yes you are getting a reward. Pete took my hand gently, and I returned a tighter grip.

We walked back to his place, and he let us into the hall. He mouth-kissed me gently and I returned with a French. We kissed softly but increasingly harder as he took his hands around my back outside of my dress and we started exploring our mutual, growing attraction until we consummated it.

This had been a nice, gentle first time from a gentle guy that had stimulated me gently. We lay there making out and I kissed him a final time, and said, "Dinner with me tomorrow at my place."

I got home to find Sam and Tom were still up. She asked me how it went, and I said, "Movie good, after movie quite OK," and smiled as I went to bed to the sound of them laughing.

Steve

Tom’s friend and ex-colleague Anna had asked if we were interested in Mex at The Marina the following Saturday, which involved dinner and dancing. She invited us to stay over at her new house 10 minutes' walk away so we wouldn't have to worry about the hour's drive home over windy roads.

Dinner and dancing were something that was our idea of hog heaven and we decided to triple down on fun. Her house has a large deck and, as the weather was forecast to only drop into the high teens, we decided to camp out on it, like Sam and I still do when we go Possuming.

The following day, the four of us would walk out along Gulf Coast Path. As she wasn't a runner, Anna would drop out at 4k to return home, pick up our clean clothes and drive to Tau Tap at The Wharf which we would run along the Path to. For me, 15ks is at the end of my range, but Tom and Sam do this before breakfast, so it would be an easy run for them as they would be running at my speed. But I had forgotten that it was 15k net, not gross as I would discover later.

Leaving Tom's, my Zoe's boot was full of sleeping bags, clothes and his running pack which he would fill at Annas so he and Sam could drink from. I wasn't quite ready for a pack, so I had a bum bag and bottle to fill, but he would stash a spare bottle in his pack. 

This was a community event, so we all wore T-shirts, jeans, and trainers.

The radio kicked off with Steve Wonder's Part Time Lovers. I smiled as I now had two Part Time Lovers: the sweet, gentle Pete that I could see several days a week and the powerful, passionate Kev that I would only see fortnightly. 

Hitting the Coast Road, I was glad to have the Zoe as the little EV's torque hit home on the bottom of the climbs as it zoomed effortlessly up the switchy climbs and then hard regen'd down the steep, windy descents despite the useless Eco mode being off. My fingers were cycling the radio controller in front of the stalk to change stations or flick back onto MP3. Meanwhile, Sam and Tom were curled up in the back.

Just as we got into Marina Heights, Murder on the Dancefloor started which I thought very appropriate.

We met Anna at her place. She is 10 years older than Tom and has a body that makes Kate Moss in her 20s look big and he introduced us to her. When she hugged me, her forehead hit my nose as she is slightly shorter than me.

As we walked down through the new houses to the marina, Anna chatted to me initially, then Sam and he was content to play third fiddle. Then, we could see the red jet drive ferries tied up at the marina and heard the clinks of the yachts' masts mingling with the diffuse beats of the Latin music.

Anna had booked a table of 8 for her friends as well. We ordered Margaritas and sat down, waiting for them. Soon, her friends arrived, and she introduced us to them, saying that I was an engineer. Good idea: I thought tell them enough to be truthful, but not enough to kill the vibe! I'm not shy about being a Rocket Engineer, but it can scare people off, and I'm not shy that it will come out when ready.

Steve was one of them. He was a builder, with muscly arms and stubble. He had known her for a while, she told me. We chatted as a group for a while as the food came out, then several more pitchers of margaritas arrived. I sat opposite him and we small-talked, then I felt his foot touch mine briefly and I responded and then my knee rubbed against his. This was just playful flirting, but it made me slightly excited at being flirted with. 

Sam and Tom made an excuse to go to the loo. Sated from the food and slightly buzzed from a second run of margaritas, they actually walked along the marina foreshore and stood next to the yachts. Under a darkening sky with the dinging of the masts in the foreground and the Mex music providing a gentle background, they started making out, then quickly got very coupley, finally standing there entwined briefly making out to unwind and then returning to our table.

I turned around to Anna and asked about Steve. She told me that he was recently divorced with two kids and had a 5 staff in his business and was busy with work. She said he lived in Sandy Bay but was staying at his friend's place tonight. Good to know, I thought, in case flirting progresses as I'm not doing a brief with a local.

Churros arrived, accompanied by more margaritas. Legally, we were all DUI, and we had a pleasant buzz from the booze, but we weren't hammered. Sam and Tom were playfully touching and kissing each other's hands across the table.

Steve took a Churro, leaned across the table, and proffered it. I took it in my mouth and ate it from his hand, then kissed his hand once I reached its end. I felt his hand run up my leg as he did this, and I playfully grabbed it. I returned the favour and let him kiss my hand.

Sam said to Anna knowingly, "If things heat up between them, she'll let him know her rules first."

The lights went down, and the music went up, so we made for the dance floor. The first few songs were a fast, fun, free-for-all: Sam and Tom started together; Steve and the girl sitting next to him paired, so I got Anna.

Then we swapped and I got Tom. Sam went off to get some water and Anna was soloing next to me. Tom and I were laughing, then I suddenly felt his mood go deep and very dark. His side again: at the peak of his happiness, he's remembering and missing Jo, I thought. I reached up and loudly over the music said, "Orange" [our short for into his ear]. No response from Tom, so I repeated it louder. No response, which was unusual, I thought

Desperately, I reached over and pulled Anna in fast and hard. I yelled at her, "GET SAM NOW. ORANGE." Anna was shocked at my grab but rushed off. I was desperate now, so I open hand slapped his arm. Tom looked shocked but I saw him climbing out of his reconciliation slowly.

I wrapped my arm around him and took him back to the table, just as Sam and Anna arrived. Sam wrapped her arms around him and embraced him.

Anna said to me, "What happened?"

I replied, "Vodka first."

We walked to the bar, and I said to the bar girl, "Two Double vodkas, then two Margarita pitchers please." The vodkas came fast, and I passed one over to her and we downed them straight. I said, "You've seen fade before?" Anna nodded. I said, "Sam and I know why, and we can get him out, but he's never gone that hard before."

His soul was afire with joy. But at the sweetest time, the Jo bottle had seeped, and his reconciliation was so deep and powerful that it shook the soul’s very foundations. I realised as my shock wore off and the vodka hit home. My Jo bottle's whiff hadn't worked that time, so I'd had to shock him. Hard. My heart had led the way and I had done the right thing, I realised as the burn of the vodka subsided.

We took the pitchers back to the table and decanted it. Tom was fully out of his side now, and he was playfully kissing Sam as she hugged him tight. The four of us downed the margaritas in one hit after the incident. Anna looked at me rather lightheaded and I nodded.

The music had turned slow again. Steve came up and put his arm around me and guided me to the dance floor. We held hands and danced the first slow dance. The second dance, he held me so that I was tight against his chest and our faces were nearly touching. I looked down and could see his growing attraction and felt mine too. Then he moved in slightly and kissed me on the lips. I kissed him on the lips back, then he open mouth kissed me. Just then the music stopped.

Time to set the rules, I thought, but Rule 1: no fun on first date gets broken if the others are obeyed.

I led him to a table outside under the moonlit sky with the dance sound mingling with that of the yachts and sat on his lap, tight against his chest. I said, "I need some rules clarified?" and gave him a quick grind. Steve nodded and I kissed him closed mouth and short grind, feeling him grow against me. I continued, "I'm neither dating nor or exclusive with anyone. Are you?"

He closed mouth kissed me and said, "Me neither." I open mouth kissed him, which he responded with a French, and I moved tighter against him. I continued, "I don't want tonight only. I'm looking for someone at least once a week. What about you?"

Steve held me and Frenched me saying, "You know I have kids and I just want someone to have fun with regularly."

I Frenched him again and we made out for a bit with my snuggled tighter into him, then I pulled off his mouth. "You are always wrapped?"

He Frenched me again, harder this time, and said, "Always." I kissed and snuggled him harder, and I said, "Prove it."

He led me round the corner and against the office wall and we started making out fast, then started exploring each other. He proved it, then consummated our first time. He kissed me and came out just as I apexed. I was a bit disappointed, but next time, I thought. As we stood there, I could see a pair of writing figures further down the wall. Wonder if its Sam and Tom again, I thought.

We got dressed quickly and had a brief make-out, then walked holding hands to the dancefloor and danced cheek to cheek, periodically kissing. I slipped my card into his pocket, and he slipped his into mine.

Then we returned to the table, and I sat next to Sam. She kissed me on the cheek and pinched my leg. This was our signal for You've had fun.

I sat next to Steve and kissed him as Tom and Sam briefly kissed. A final set of pitchers arrived, and the table drained them, then the lights went up. It was 11pm and we had each knocked off over a pitcher.

Steve said he'd walk back with us as his friend's place was just before Anna's. 

She led the way up the new builds with Sam and Tom next to her. Steve and I held back several steps chatting with them and exchanged kisses as we walked. Just as we reached the bridge turn, Steve called out, "Thanks Anna, I'll just hang back with Kate a minute."

They walked on and we wrapped our arms around each other, kissing passionately again and we recommenced under the moonlight and continued kissing to wind down. "See you next week, I'm leading", I said. We had a final hard make-out as he turned left up the street, and I turned right on the bridge.

I got back to Anna's about 20 minutes after they did, and it was now gone midnight. As I went up the driveway, my phone dinged. See you next week bridge girl. S.

I responded, All of me next time. K and saved his number.

I rang the bell and Anna opened it, hugging me and said, "Long goodbye."

I hugged her back and said, "Very Long," and playfully nosed her shoulder which she laughed at.

As usual, Sam had my spare key. She had got the sleeping bags out and had unrolled them on the deck under the beady eyes of Anna's cat, Kitty. She had decided to join us camping out and hers ready was ready too. I grabbed my overnight bag from the lounge and she showed me to the bathroom so I could shower and change. 

Under the moonlit sky, I slid into my bag next to Sam and Tom who were already in, asleep and wrapped around each other. I was lightheaded from lots of booze and lots of Steve and quickly faded into a deep sleep.

We awoke under a brightening sun with Kitty repeatedly walking across us stating I'm the boss here.

We took turns changing in her bathroom as she set out breakfast.

She wore her one-piece swim and shorts. Sam and I had our race bras under singlets. He had a slightly scruffy tri top on, though he explained that this one he only wore when he had a pack on as the straps rubbed and this top was his sacrificial one. We all wore base and over shorts.

Tom had made a Ciabatta yesterday and its toasting smell wafted through her house, mingling with the coffee we all needed. 

Tom had a large bruise on his arm from my slap. He came hugged me and said, "I went deep, you certainly hit me out of it." Sam came up and hugged us both. Anna had a hand-mark from where I grabbed her and she just smiled at us, All good.

Anna and Tom knew that their bruises were due to my issue of Mercy: the sole form of love that can cause both temporary damage and healing simultaneously but enriches all concerned.

Of us, Anna looked the worst for wear. My two hard screws with Steve had purged the vodka and margaritas out of me. My slap had done likewise to Tom and helping him recover had the same effect on Sam. Anna had neither of these expurgations so looked a bit weary.

Kitty looked on as we ate, then we tidied up our overnight gear into the Zoe.

Tom had filled his pack's bladder and installed it, then filled the two bottles which were in my bum bag and his pack. We fast walked down the creek to screw bridge as I nicknamed it, through the marina, then onto the Gulf Track where Anna left us to loop back home.

On the rolling Gulf Coast track, we chatted about the rolling views and last night, omitting the episode. I set the pace and was surprised at how energetic I felt after all the margaritas and dick. Tom kept his hose loose so that Sam could drink from it as well and I sipped from the bum bag bottle. We drained all the water as we definitely needed the hydration.

We knocked off the 11ks up the track in an hour which I was surprised at as this was supposed to be a gentle run, but I had set the pace.

Anna was in her one piece and shorts at the Wharf, waiting for us. She shed her shoes and shorts and jumped first in as we unshod, de-layered, then joined her for a relaxing swim in the warm, azure water with the mountains clear across the Gulf. 

We mostly breast stroked through the water, chatting. Tom and Sam briefly trod water for a quick peck. Out of range, Anna said that she thought that Tom looked very happy. I replied that, apart from the flash, he was the happiest we'd known him.

The offshore breeze carried the smell from Tau on the Wharf's pizza oven over the sea and it called us. Anna opened her boot and grabbed our bags.

After a quick change and shower, we answered the Pizza Oven's siren call and ordered its delicious temptations, plus some Olibollen for dessert. The coffee machine called us, and we surrendered to that call too.

After last night, the taps definitely didn't get answered, but the Off License did as we bought several mixed slabs.

I now had three friends: Gentle, sweet, and regular Pete, the Athletic monthly, powerful,   Kev, and the muscly, Steve.