Matt shifted on the plush leather couch, his heart thudding against his ribs. The massive flat-screen glowed in the dim living room, casting flickers of light across the sleek, modern furniture. Justin's house--if you could even call it that--felt more like a luxury hotel. Everything gleamed: polished marble floors, walls of glass that looked out over a perfectly manicured lawn, and ceilings so high they felt like they belonged to a cathedral. His own place back home felt like a dollhouse by comparison.
"Dude, you gotta stop dying," Henry snorted, nudging Matt's shoulder. His wild curls bounced as he leaned forward, eyes glued to the screen. "I swear you play like you've got butter on your fingers."
"I'm not even--shut up," Matt muttered, trying to shake off the nerves twisting in his gut. He barely paid attention to the game anymore. Not with her on the way.
The thought sent a jolt through him. An actual sex worker. Someone who did this for real. And in less than an hour, she'd be walking through that sleek glass front door. His fingers twitched on the controller. No amount of Call of Duty could distract him from what was coming.
"You guys think she's hot?" Jamie asked from the floor, stretched out with his back against the couch. He was the calmest out of all of them--like this was just another Friday night. His shaggy blond hair fell over his eyes as he grabbed a handful of chips.
"She better be. For what Justin's paying? She should be a goddamn goddess," Henry said, laughing loud enough to echo through the empty house. "Trust rich boy to go all out. I still can't believe he's missing this."
Matt swallowed hard. He couldn't quite decide if Justin's absence made things better or worse. Without him here, the whole thing felt looser, a little more real--and a lot more terrifying.
Theo, who had barely said a word, shifted in the leather armchair across from them. He adjusted his glasses, his face unreadable as always. "You guys realize this is, like, illegal, right?"
Henry rolled his eyes. "Relax, dad. No one's gonna snitch."
Matt forced a laugh, but it came out too sharp. The truth was, he couldn't relax--not with the anticipation building like a slow boil under his skin. The others had all done stuff. Maybe not this exactly, but they'd been with girls. Meanwhile, he was sitting here, stomach in knots, trying not to let his inexperience show, being a virgin and all.
He thought about the girl--woman--on the way. What would she be like? Confident? Gorgeous? Would she be able to tell he'd never done anything? God, what if he messed up? What if--
"You're thinking too hard," Henry said suddenly, grinning at him like he could read Matt's mind. "Chill. You're about to have the best night of your life."
Easy for him to say. Henry always had that reckless energy, like nothing could touch him. He could joke, push boundaries, act like everything was a game. Matt wanted to feel that ease--to not care so much. But he did care. Maybe too much.
Outside, a car engine purred faintly, and Matt's breath caught. He glanced at the others, but no one else seemed to notice. Not yet.
"She's gonna be here soon," Jamie said, checking his phone. His voice was casual, but Matt caught the spark of excitement underneath. "Hope you guys are ready."
Ready? Not even close. But there was no turning back now.
The sound of heels clicking against marble snapped Matt's head toward the front door. His breath hitched. She stood there, framed by the massive glass entrance, and for a second, all he could do was stare.
Sofia.
She was stunning. No--more than that. She was the kind of woman you didn't think existed outside of movies or wild fantasies. Her skin was a warm, golden brown, smooth and flawless. Long, dark waves of hair spilled down her back. The red dress she wore clung to every impossible curve--plunging low enough to show the swell of her breasts, riding high enough on her thighs that one wrong step might reveal everything. Her legs were long, toned, and ended in red heels that clicked softly as she shifted her weight.
"Hola, boys," she said, her voice smooth and smoky. A teasing smile played on her full lips. "I hope I'm not too early."
Matt's heart pounded so loud it drowned out the game still playing on the TV. He tried to swallow, but his throat felt dry. She was here. This was real. And if everything went the way it was supposed to--he was losing his virginity to her.
Henry, of course, was the first to recover. He sprang up from the couch, his grin wide and shameless. "You're right on time," he said, striding over to her like this wasn't the most insane thing they'd ever done. "I'm Henry. The fun one."
Sofia's lips curled into a smirk as her dark eyes swept over him. "The fun one, huh?" she said, dragging out the words in that same slow, sultry voice. "We'll see about that."
"Don't let him fool you," Jamie cut in, rising more casually. "He's just loud." He shot her a smooth smile. "I'm Jamie."
"Nice to meet you, Jamie." Her gaze lingered on him for a beat before drifting to Theo, who stood back near the armchair. "And you?"
"Theo," he said quietly, pushing his glasses up the bridge of his nose.
"Aw, shy boy," Sofia teased, her tone playful. "I like that."
Matt felt his stomach twist as she turned her attention to him. Every nerve in his body lit up when her dark eyes locked with his. Up close, she was even more breathtaking--warm, sweet perfume trailing after her as she took a step closer.
"And you?" she asked, voice soft but dripping with suggestion.
"I--I'm Matt," he stammered, cursing himself immediately. He felt like a deer caught in headlights. She was so close. Close enough for him to see the curve of her smile, the glint of gold hoop earrings brushing against her neck.
"Hmm... cute," Sofia murmured, tilting her head as if she were sizing him up. Something about the way she said it made his pulse spike again. "I think I'm gonna like you."
Henry laughed, cutting through the tension. "Told you he's cute. Just wait--he's a real sweetheart once you crack him open."
"Henry, shut up," Matt muttered under his breath, his face burning.
Sofia laughed--a low, throaty sound that sent a shiver down Matt's spine. "I like the energy here," she said, stepping fully into the living room, her heels tapping softly against the marble floor. "So, Justin's not joining us yet?"
"Nah, he got caught up with something," Jamie said, still watching her with a casual smile. "But he'll be here later. Probably."