A deep moan slips through her lips, startling her awake. “Damn!” Olivia thinks. Another erotic dream, she shifts her position in bed and feels the ache in her loins created by the realistic dream. She glances over at the clock. It is two forty-five in the morning. Sighing deeply, she grabs one of the four pillows she kept on her queen-sized bed and pulls it to her chest, wrapping her arms around it she tries to go back to sleep. She cannot forget the dream. They have been happening more frequently: dreams so real she can actually feel someone touching her, penetrating her. What is up with this she wondered? The next few hours her sleep is fitful. The alarm jangles her nerves at six in the morning. She rises and prepares for her day of work.

It is a thirty-minute drive to the consulting firm where she works. It is a routine day with little variation; only the voices on the other end of the phone are different. She has the same conversation with her coworkers daily; “What’s new with your kids? How’s your husband? Found a new girl yet and had she found her Mr. Right?” She puts in her eight hours and heads for home.

She walked through the door of her townhouse to find her roommate, Sabrina, ensconced in the Internet. Oftentimes she regretted even allowing her access to her computer. Sabrina had gotten so caught up in chatting; it seemed to be all she did. Thank God she had finally gotten a new job or she would never leave the house.

“Okay, it’s my turn,” she said as she headed for her bedroom.

“I’ll be off in a minute,” Sabrina replied without looking up from the computer screen.

She met Sabrina at the last firm she worked for. When it came time for layoffs due to a decrease in business, Sabrina was one of the first to go. It wasn’t long before Sabrina was looking for a place to live, because she hadn’t succeeded in finding a job, which could support the lifestyle she’d become accustomed to. Olivia offered to let her use her spare bedroom until she was able to get back on her feet. Although, she did not regret the decision, she missed her privacy sometimes, like now. She knew that minute was going to stretch to five. She put her handbag on the bed and kicked off her shoes, removed the business suit she had been wearing and hung it back in the closet. The blouse, she folded over the back of the chair with the rest of her clothes to be drycleaned.

Olivia was thirty-three and single. She was about five feet eight inches tall with a smooth honey-colored complexion, medium frame and light brown eyes. She was a very attractive woman. She displayed an outward confidence based more on intellect than on vanity. Very well read and successful in her chosen field of Customer Service consulting, she gave seminars to large company personnel on how to improve their employees’ customer service skill sets.

She’d been involved in a long-term relationship, which ended abruptly and tragically. Early one morning while he was out jogging, a drunk driver struck her fiancé, Eric. The driver of the SUV claimed he’d swerved to avoid hitting a deer. Instead he swerved onto the jogging path and hit Eric, tossing him two hundred feet into the brush. It amazed the first responders that he was still alive when they arrived. He’d suffered massive internal injuries. She sat valiantly by his side, and prayed for his recovery every day. If only her strength of will could have been enough. Ultimately she’d been devastated by the loss of her best friend and partner when he succumbed to his injuries a week later.

Five years passed since his death and she was still reluctant to date again. It had taken her two years just to stop reaching for him in the middle of the night. Every now and then a ringing phone would trigger a flashback to the fateful morning and the call that changed her life. She and Eric had been together for only four years before his death. They were kindred spirits with the uncanny habit of finishing each other’s sentences and thoughts. Both shared the same goals of a home and children. They took the time to travel together and spent most of their non-working hours together. Olivia was glad they hadn’t wasted a minute of the time they were together being angry or apart. They were best friends. No one understood them better than they understood each other; it was the essence of their union. People often remarked they looked like they belonged together. Olivia was convinced she would never find a love like his again.

At thirty-three her biological clock was doing more than ticking, it had begun to gong like Quasimodo was loose in his tower. She still wanted to have a child and was unwilling to consider single parenthood. Being single and available again at her age was no picnic. There were so many single men out there in her age group she thought it should have been easier than it was to hook up with someone. In the last several months she succumbed to the urging of family and friends and began dating ccasionally. She’d unsuccessfully run the gamut of blind dates arranged by friends and men she met through the workplace. The results had all been negative. She heard through work of people meeting via the Internet, but she also heard a lot of weird and scary stories associated with Internet dating. Still, the idea of talking to people all over the world was intriguing.

When Sabrina moved in and began bugging her about using the computer only for presentations and memos, she reconsidered. Sabrina explained to her how many people she’d met online, really decent people. She advised Olivia to stop living in the dark ages and convinced her to give it a try. Olivia was not Internet savvy and it took her several tries to learn how to navigate around the web. She soon discovered she did not like the chat rooms. It was difficult for her to just jump into conversations and start talking to total strangers. Other chat rooms just seemed to be raw sex talk, and this was not what she was looking for either. While Sabrina, on the other hand, had no difficulty getting connected and chatting, Olivia became discouraged and stopped trying to connect with people online.

One afternoon she decided to do a little browsing on the Internet. Maybe she was missing something, and she had a free afternoon with Sabrina out of the house. She found her way into the personals, and began to peruse the ads. This she found quite interesting. Before she knew it, two hours had passed and she’d budged from the front of the computer. She was hooked. She found one site, which offered a free trial membership and signed up. Olivia filled out a questionnaire, which gave other browsers a brief description of her, and then completed a few essay questions. The essay section allowed her to elaborate on what she was looking for in a mate. This form of cyber-dating proved no more fruitful than what she had been experiencing. Men were still men no matter what medium they are used to attract you. This venue just allowed those with a little more literary finesse to weave their spell a little better. Then she met one gentleman who seemed so patient, considerate and wise. His name was Calvin, and he lived on a Caribbean Island and was a few years older. They wrote each other daily. Olivia felt very comfortable with this mode of communication. She loved to write and this was a low stress form of communication. He always listened when she needed to talk, told her what a beautiful spirit she had. What she found surprising was that she could develop feelings for someone she’d never met through this medium. She found it a little baffling, but undeniably she was growing attached to Calvin. Their relationship progressed to telephone conversations and then an eventual meeting when he was in town for a conference. They spent one whole day together shopping, browsing at bookstores and finally dinner. For a few weeks after that day all seemed to be going smoothly and then things abruptly changed. He was suddenly so mired down in work his correspondence became sporadic at best. She did not buy into the excuses, because he had always been very busy, but still found time to drop a line or two. Her momma did not raise a fool. Something had changed and while he would not admit it, she could feel it. It was a major disappointment and she was stunned by how much hurt she felt with the letdown. The experience rocked her faith in men. She chose to stay off the Internet for a while after the experience.

After a few weeks passed, boredom and loneliness brought her back to the Internet. This time she opted to try a different service. This one accepted ads for free, and you could respond to other ads at no charge. This was great. The service advised ads with pictures would get more responses, but she did not want her picture out there for all to see. So she wrote a brief ad to see what would happen. She got responses, maybe one a week, but not very much. She responded to a few personals and started corresponding with a few people. Still it was not much different from anything else she had tried, no sparks, and no fireworks, just conversation. No one special had stepped to the forefront. After a month or so, she penned another ad. This one was a little longer and more specific. The header was ‘Real Lady Seeks Dark Knight’. The ad was straightforward and direct:

“This has proven to be way too difficult and it shouldn’t be. You’re out there waiting for the special woman who can fill your life with love and laughter. I’m here wondering where you are, so let’s stop this cycle and find each other. I’m looking for a serious, articulate, yet fun loving Black man. A man who knows how to treat a real lady once he has found her. I love long walks along the beach, or in the park holding hands
with a special someone; or maybe just sitting under the stars at night trying to see if we can count them all. I love to travel, so you have to be willing to explore new places
Communication is the groundwork of any good relationship, so I want a man who is willing to talk to me. Stimulate my mind and I will do the same for you. I am as comfortable in an elegant restaurant as I am in a billiard hall shooting pool. Let’s go to a museum or sidewalk art show, a concert or a basketball game. I believe joy can be found in simple pleasures and I am open to learning new things. I want someone who can be a friend first and a lover forever. If this is not a big challenge for you, email me and let’s talk. I will respond to serious inquiries only. Photos appreciated, but are not mandatory. FYI Taurus males have the inside track. I’m a Sagittarian."

She added the Taurus bit because of a friend with whom she shared a very passionate
experience many years ago, and she’d read in an astrological forecast that Sagittarius and Taurus were a hot match indeed. The new ad would generate a few more responses. Still not getting the results she wanted after a few weeks, she opted to add a picture. The responses suddenly took off. One a week became three a day. It was a definite ego boost. There were so many men telling her how beautiful she was and they were eager to make a connection. It was flattering and interesting. Now she could pick and choose whom she would talk to. It was ‘all good’, but this day would be different.

“Come on, Sabrina, I want to see if I have any messages.” She reminded her roommate ten minutes later.

“Okay, okay, I’m done,” Sabrina uttered in annoyance as she relinquished the keyboard and went into her room to watch television. Olivia sat down at her desk and accessed her email. There were a few messages from men she was emailing. A few jokes forwarded by a most annoying woman. It would not have been so bad if she sent one or two a day, but this woman sent up to twelve jokes a day. Get a life already. It got to the point where she just deleted them without even reading them. She requested politely once she stop, but it had not worked. The only other way to stop the onslaught would have been to shut off the mailbox, but since it was linked to the ad it would create too many problems. A couple of messages were responses to her ad. One in particular caught her attention. It was from someone who called himself, Blaze:
Hello,
Your wish is my command. What a pleasure to gaze upon such a vision of beauty. Allow me to introduce myself: Tall, dark and handsome at your service.
Blaze

Just then Sabrina walked back into the living room. She peered over her shoulder and said, “Oh, please!” as though this was just too lame for words.Olivia, however, was intrigued. She continued to read her other mail, and then came back to this one to send a reply.
Blaze,
Thank you for responding to my ad and for the compliment. Now Tall, Dark and Handsome would you care to fill in a few more blanks for me? Since my wish is your command, then first I would like to see you. Send me a photo. As for your age, you must possess the wisdom of a thousand years, the gentlemanly spirit of Sir Galahad, the passion of Valentino, the humor of Chaplin and the strength of Hercules to keep up with me. Are you still with me my mysterious Blaze? Then talk to me…Mis-tique

She was pleased with how cleverly she had worded her reply. She eagerly anticipated his response.She logged out of the computer and went about making preparations for dinner. She retired early and had her usual restless night. A good night’s sleep was a rarity for her. When she awakened she quietly went into the living room. She walked over to the desk and turned on the computer. After a few minutes it came alive. She sat down and entered her password on the keyboard. It would take about two to three minutes to connect to the Internet. She pushed away from the desk and went into the bathroom. She turned on her curling iron and brushed her teeth, then went back into the living room. Mis-tique had four new messages. Impatiently she waited for her mail list to appear. Her heart skipped a beat when she saw two messages from Blaze. The first was a card with a rose, telling her again how lovely he thought she was. The second was a letter, subject line: Answering the Challenge.
Hello Mis-tique,
It was my pleasure to answer your ad; actually I was compelled to answer. Your photo was almost spellbinding. No thanks necessary, the compliment was more a confirmation of fact. You, my dear are truly a beautiful woman, and the task at hand is well worth the price. Yes, I am up to the challenge…are you?
My wisdom comes from My Heavenly Father. I was born and raised to be considerate, kind, loving and always a gentleman. I give women the utmost respect. Yes, I hold doors, open car doors and pull out chairs, ect…
I am full of life and when I love, I love with a passion beyond compare. You may be laughing now, but I assure you “I jest not.” Mr. Chaplin has nothing on me. My strength comes from within, from deep down in my soul. My strength encompasses my heart, my mind and my entire being. I am a man of steel and velvet. I love to travel; I love to watch the stars, to see the sun rise. I get a thrill whenever I see a rainbow. Perhaps this is why your beauty takes me aback. Are you the rainbow I have been looking for? You definitely stimulated my mind, and maybe we can learn new things together. I may not have the inside track, but I believe I possess the key. Can you hear me? The thrill of your life is within your grasp. Can you feel it? Do you want to touch it? Yes, my lady, your wish is my command. Be careful what you wish for. Are you still with me?
Blaze

Damn! She thought as she sat mesmerized by his words. Wow! This was serious business. She would have to take her time on this reply. She smiled as she turned it off, and went back to her preparations for work. Once settled at work, she took out a pad and began to work out her response to Blaze. She could not wait until she got home to send it. This was fun, she was being given a challenge to exercise her creative mind and she loved it. The day went by quickly and she was on her way home. Sabrina would be at work, so she would not have to fight over access to her own computer. She entered the apartment, turned on the computer and went about changing out of her clothes. She wanted to sit down immediately and get right down to it, but she was trying to use a little restraint; slow herself down. Finally, dressed in shorts and a T-shirt, she sat down with her pad to send her reply.
Good evening Blaze,
Am I up to the challenge? Too often that which comes easily is not appreciated. The greatest love is sometimes the hardest to achieve. For the ‘love of my lifetime’ I would eagerly accept the challenge. I have no need to be careful of what I wish for, I am cognizant of what I want, need and feel. I don’t ask for anything I would not willingly give of myself. There is no temptation to laugh at anything you have said. You inspire me to dream, to think, ‘Maybe this time…’
I too catch my breath at the sight of a rainbow. I would strive to be the sunrays that fill your life with immeasurable joy. Could you be the moon and the stars illuminating the darkest night, giving me a sense of peace and security?
The inside track; the race is won by the swift and sure, strong and steady. The inside advantage disappears in the face of the runner who holds the key: the key to my heart. The door is solid, but the treasures are deep. Find your way there and I may just open the door for you. You will need all of your strength to meet the fiery passions within, the all-consuming strength of a love that has been building with no outlet for far too many years. Do I want to touch it, the thrill of a lifetime? If it is indeed all you wish me to believe, then yes, I will reach out and grasp it. Holding it gently, yet securely with a touch and caress such as you could only dream of. Can you feel me?
Am I still with you? Yes, Blaze I am still here…waiting for you.
Mis-tique

She was very pleased with herself. She knew her reply carried sexual undertones. She did not care. She was baiting him; challenging him to step up as he’d done to her. It was anonymous anyway. In her excitement of the adventure she almost forgot he didn’t send her the photo as she requested. She pushed it to the back of her mind; it was not important right now. The next morning she sprang from her bed and rushed to the living room. She had to know what he had to say. She was getting hooked on his words. As she read the message, she felt a catch in her heart as never before.
Hello My Lady,

Dream, my dear lady, for dreams inspire you to live life to the fullest. Dreams enable you to expand your mind. Dream on, my dear, and broaden your horizons. Every great love began with a dream. God does not put a dream in your heart that cannot be fulfilled. Remember…remember the night…
Think back, perhaps it was the last time you sat gazing at the stars. Counting them, you noticed one star that stood out among the rest, the brightest star of all. Can you envision the night? Suddenly a chill ran through your body causing you to tremble ever so slightly. Just as rapidly, you were filled with warmth, which seemed to radiate from the depth of your soul. As you focused on the star, you felt a strong, powerful, yet gentle embrace. It felt as if arms of steel were holding you. Protecting, sheltering, caring arms, firm yet ever so soft…the touch of velvet. Melting in the embrace you noticed the star grow brighter still. The other stars seemed to pale in comparison. Did you realize at that moment in time your knight was near? His thoughts of love were caressing your mind as he watched the essence of your beauty in the soft moonlight. How peaceful and secure you felt. If you remember the night as you read these words, your knight is ever so close. If you don’t remember, your knight is just a dream away. If happiness is what you seek, how can you not believe? You asked, “Where are you?” I answered the call. How can you not believe? Reach out and touch, grasp, hold fast to your dreams, they do come true. I’ve been waiting for a friend, are you the one? I feel your presence. I feel your touch. As I dream, a song comes to mind. Perhaps you’ve heard it recently. ‘Spend My Life With You.’
Are you the one?
Blaze (Malcolm)

Oh man! She thought and involuntarily raised her hand to cover her heart. This is the one; she just knew this was the man she’d been searching for. He spoke to her heart in a language she understood. His writing, visions and creativity were so much in tune with hers it was astounding. Now he’d given her a name, Malcolm...

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