I am not talented. For years, I drifted through jobs in unfamiliar cities, performing repetitive tasks that left my mind numb. The fluorescent lights of cramped offices, the stale coffee breaks, the clock ticking slower each day--it all blurred into a gray haze. By the time I transferred to that coastal city, restlessness gnawed at me. Routine had become a cage. I craved distraction, chaos, anything to feel alive. That's when the party happened.
Valerie stood near the bar, her silhouette cutting through the room's dimness like a blade. Her face was sharp yet soft--high cheekbones balanced by a rounded jaw, skin pale and smooth as porcelain. Thick, jet-black hair fell in loose waves past her shoulders, framing almond-shaped eyes that glinted amber under the lights. Her lips were full, painted deep red, slightly parted as she laughed. A slender neck led to collarbones that jutted delicately above the neckline of her dress.
The dress clung to her like liquid--silk, black, strapless. The V-neck plunged steeply, exposing the smooth valley between her breasts down to her navel. The fabric cupped her chest just enough to hide her nipples, but the sides left nothing to imagination, revealing the curves of her breasts as she moved. Her waist dipped inward sharply, a narrow hourglass above hips that flared with soft, inviting fullness. The back of the dress dropped entirely, bare skin exposed from her shoulders to the dimples above her ass. A single thin strap crossed her shoulderblades, as fragile as a thread.
The skirt slithered around her legs, split high up one thigh. With every step, the slit gaped open, exposing her entire leg--toned calves, the taut swell of her thighs, skin gleaming as if oiled. She wore no stockings. Strappy stilettos elongated her legs, the heels thin and cruel. When she turned, the dress tightened across her ass, outlining its shape before the fabric spilled again into the slit. The scent of jasmine and sweat trailed her.
The room felt hotter when she moved. My throat dried. My pulse hammered. I couldn't look away. I thought if I could have one night with her, I could die without regret. However, she had a boyfriend.
My lingering gaze must have left an impression on her. Over the following months, we coincidentally crossed paths several times and gradually grew acquainted. However, I remained cautious and never broached romantic topics.
One day, the phone buzzed against my desk like an angry hornet. Valerie's name flashed on the screen. I answered.
"There's a party tonight," she said, her voice syrup-slow. "Come. I'll introduce you to people."
I didn't ask questions. Didn't need to. When Valerie called, you moved.
---
The loft was all exposed brick and sweat-slick bodies. Music thumped through the floor. I stood near the entrance, beer sweating in my hand. Valerie found me first.
She wore a red dress. Strapless. The neckline plunged to her navel, held together by a single clasp between her breasts. The fabric clung to her waist before flaring over her hips. Her back was bare down to the dimples above her ass. The skirt stopped mid-thigh, slit rising higher on her left leg with every step. Her heels were thin, black, deadly.
Her friends clustered around a marble counter. Two women, one man. The blonde wore a silver sequined tube dress, cut so low her nipples threatened to escape. The brunette had on a leather corset, laces straining over her chest, paired with fishnets and stilettos. The man was forgettable--collared shirt, bored smirk.
Valerie looped her arm through mine. "This is him," she announced.
The blonde eyed me. "Cute."
"He's shy," Valerie said, squeezing my bicep. "Be nice."
They weren't.
I drank. Vodka tonics, whiskey shots, whatever someone handed me. The room blurred at the edges. Valerie's friends talked over my head--work gossip, vacation plans, a name-dropped restaurant.
The blonde leaned across the counter for more wine. Her cleavage yawned open. I stared. The brunette adjusted her corset, ass jutting toward me as she laughed. I stared harder.
Valerie caught me.
"Thirsty?" She slid a fresh drink toward me, eyebrow arched.
I gulped it. Burned my throat.
Midnight. My legs were rubber. I slumped on a leather couch, head swimming. Valerie's laugh cut through the haze.
"You're a mess," she said, but her hand was on my back, warm through my shirt.
Her friends arrived.
"Need help?" The blonde smirked.
"I've got him." Valerie's grip tightened.