The Party 225

Cradling my new package in my arms, I plopped onto the couch with a gleeful little giggle. Then I took a moment to bask in that new present feeling, even though I very well knew what was inside, before I tore into the unassuming discreetly labeled packaging so that I could examine my new prize. A thick, ten inch long tentacle that was a translucent cobalt with pale green glow in the dark swirls. I ran my fingers over its firm smooth surface, checking for any defects or damage.

Before I could finish my examination though, the phone started ringing. With an irritated grumble I scooped it up from the coffee table and checked the display. Seeing "Bestie" displayed in flashing letters my frown quickly morphed into a smile as I set the toy down and answered with a delighted, "Harriet!" My gaze distractedly drifted to the window to watch the ocean as we talked.

Harriet had been my best friend since the second grade, and was the only person from my school days that I still kept in touch with. "Harper, girl!" she greeted me with enthusiasm to match my own before going on to ask, "Soooo, do you have any plans for next weekend?"

I started fidgeting with the hair tie I'd taken out when I got home as I thoughtfully answered, "Hmm, lemme think... I think my only plans for the next couple of weekends are vegging out and forgetting the big evil corporation I work for for a few days."

"Great!" she said excitedly, causing me to let out a small chuckle before I heard her next words, "So can you help me throw a singles party?"

"Pardon?" I asked in flabbergasted confusion. She'd become single again six months ago and I'd been single for far longer. And so for the past four months she'd been dragging me off to various bars and nightclubs every couple of weeks.

"A singles party!" she enthused before explaining, "Ya know, a party where we both invite our single friends and coworkers." Between her job as a nurse and mine as an accountant we would have a decent spread of people, but still...

"Why not just check out a new club?" I asked baffledly.

With a tired sigh she pointed out, "In case you hadn't noticed, none of the men our age that go to those places are looking for more than a night or two of fun."

"Well yeah," I agreed, "bars and clubs have always had slim pickings." Harriet had never had a problem changing their minds though, between her luscious curly black hair, and beautiful classic latina looks she seemed to easily turn a couple nights into a couple years.

"Slim," Harriet agreed as she pointed out, "but not nonexistent. Since I've started going with you again, those that just wanted a night with us have mostly been younger and none wanted more than a night." As I was hesitating and trying to come up with some sort of rebuttal she brightly asked again, "So throw a party with me?"

I sighed thinking of all the men, which included all of my exes, who had dumped me the second I had tried to introduce the tiniest bit of kink into our relationship and said, "I don't know, I'm so boring and average that I only seem to attract boring and average... And I think I'd rather just stick with my toys." I sullenly muttered the last part into the shocked silence I had created.

Harriet scoffed before firmly scolding me, "You're not boring and average, you've got a cute girl next door vibe going on, gorgeous auburn hair down past your shoulder blades."

"It was only auburn for one summer when we were thirteen," I quickly interjected, before muttering depressedly, "And if by girl next door you mean average, boring and chubby then yes I am."

"Still auburn, and definitely cute

not

boring," she disagreed before going on with, "And they're curves that many women would kill for. Add to that an amazing sense of humor. You're cute, sexy and funny and deserve to meet people. You just need to stop letting your mom into your head and have more confidence in yourself."

She wasn't entirely wrong with that last point, my mom usually nagged me to lose some weight whenever we talked, which is one of the reasons we didn't talk very much. And Harriet's parties were pretty fun, but I've never helped host one before and the thought was kinda intimidating.

"But why do you need my help?" I asked in bewilderment.

Then like a shark sensing blood in the water she pounced on the obvious opening, "Because your grandparents left you a nice big place and I'd get in trouble for sneezing too loudly in my tiny rental." Then at my uncertain silence she said cajolingly, "I'll bring fancy drinks, including those craft beers you love so much."

"I don't know," I murmured, still not sure of this idea.

To which she offered brightly, "We can work together to make all the party foods beforehand."

She knew my weaknesses well, I loved to cook with people. Stifling a laugh I shook my head as I said with only a trace of reluctance, "Well if you're going to twist my arm about it."

Cheerfully she sang out, "Great! I'll see you at two next week and we can start the party by six!"

"Alright," I agreed softly, then we exchanged goodbyes before I hung up with a sigh.

I just didn't feel up to getting rejected months into a relationship again. Nor was I able to handle the boring assed sex that the men who wanted a long term relationship with me always seemed content with. Honestly I'd also gotten pretty tired of the one night stands where the guy tried to "corrupt" me.

As I was musing over the real reason I was reluctant to be in a singles party my eyes lit upon where my new toy was laying on the coffee table and I smirked as an idea slowly formed in my head. Picking it up I ran my fingers over the silicone tentacle's smooth curves before flipping it over to tease my fingers in and out of its soft fleshlight like interior as I imagined someone tying me down and using this toy to pleasure us both. It'd be even better if they themselves had tentacles, but that's the stuff of fantasy, not reality. So I'd have to stick with what's actually possible.

I sighed once again as I set the toy down on my coffee table as if it were a centerpiece. Maybe between the two of us we'd invite a guy who would find the thing intriguing and then I could try to work up the nerve to ask them to stay and try it out with me. A rejection before the first date wouldn't hurt as bad as a rejection after the first month, right? With that thought in mind I picked up my tablet and started texting and emailing my single friends and coworkers.

~~~~~

Barely a week later and it was almost party time. Harriet and I had just gotten done setting up my grandpa's old pool table in the garage. There were five different partial sets of balls but between them we managed to cobble together two full sets for people to play with. We were getting the block of wood positioned under the wobbly leg when Harriet asked me, "Bringing back any pleasant memories?"

"I loved the old man, but losing my allowance to you and grandpa for eight months straight are not amongst my fondest memories," I responded dryly.

Snorting out a laugh she tittered as she said, "You're just lucky that your grandma never joined till you went in. She's who we lost double your allowance to. And then she'd give us a lecture about not taking advantage of gaming impaired loved ones."

Giggling myself I smiled as I fondly reminisced, "No, she just made me listen to The Gambler on repeat, until she came back and returned just enough money to cover bus fare and lunch for the both of us."

Exchanging a grin we set up the garage radio to play some old tunes and then worked together to lug the mini fridge to the peninsula counter between the living room and kitchen. I plugged in the fridge and attached a couple of magnetic bottle openers to the front before I started sorting the fancy bottled sodas that Harriet had brought into it while she sorted fancy looking cans of various beers on the counter beside it.

Before I finished Harriet handed me a handful of canned wines, "What is this shit?" I grumbled as I stared at the rainbow striped monstrosities.

Laughing, she said, "A couple of my friends like canned wine, so I figured some of yours might as well."

Putting them begrudgingly into the fridge I grumbled, "As long as they don't stay in my house."

Smiling, she shook her head as she reassured me, "I made sure to bring some lagers I know you'll love."

"Good," I grunted.

I slipped into the kitchen and grabbed my grandparents' old swear jar that now had "Beer Money" written on the front. There was already a handful of small bills and change in it to minimize people's self consciousness with adding to it. I'd had a couple of co-workers who insisted on contributing to the party and this was the compromise we'd come up with. I set it on top of the mini fridge and then a black can with a silver octopus caught my eye. I picked it up and was staring thoughtfully at it when Harriet walked behind me and teased, "Are you going to make out with it?"

"I might," I deadpanned as I deliberately made eye contact with the cartoon octopus.

Snorting, she deadpanned right back at me, "Well, come help me make party food first and then the pretty octopus can be all yours."

Chuckling I set the can down as I turned saying, "Alright."

~~~~~

The party was in full swing, I had slipped into a floral print milkmaid blouse and hip hugger jeans and Harriet and I had long introduced each other to the people we'd invited before she disappeared to the garage where the pool table lived. Though honestly I couldn't remember the name of anyone she had invited, except maybe that really tall guy, I thought maybe Derik? But he was rather distinctive looking, he towered over everyone else in the room and had these huge, animesque, grayish purple eyes. His hair was black, though at the time I'd have only been able to say "dark." It was kinda hard to pay attention to anything but his eyes.

And the most attention my tentacle toy has gotten so far was three different girls who did a double take at it, blushed and then found people away from the coffee table to talk with. Hmm, I'm not into girls so they're not a dating option but I might be able to make friends with those girls and then I'd have someone to talk about my actual dating woes with. One of them was a coworker, so she might not be willing to look me in the eye for a while but the other two were Harriet's friends so they should be pretty cool.

I was talking to one of the girls, a little spitfire of a redhead named Ellie who was a janitor at the hospital. Which oddly enough explained why she was more bright eyed and bushy tailed than any of Harriet's other coworkers. When I noticed tall eyes, uh I mean Derik sit down on the couch, glance at my toy and then studiously not look at it as he talked with the guy sitting next to him. I took a closer look at him. He wore a green t-shirt and blue jeans over his slightly heavy set frame. He had an attractive face, with short black hair, tan skin, and those eyes that I just could not pull my gaze away from until Ellie said with a smirk, "Erik's caught your eye huh?"

Oh well at least I hadn't misnamed him out loud, and I'd been close, that counts right? I pulled my gaze back to her with a start and a blush as I partially admitted, "His eyes... they kinda just suck you in, don't they?" Chuckling, she nodded so I timidly asked, "Do you know him?"

"Yup!" she responded cheerfully, "He's a paramedic, and really pretty cool. But he's extremely shy around girls so I'm not even sure how Harriet managed to convince him to come."

Laughing now I shrugged and said, "She probably did it the same way she talked me into co-hosting this party."

"Oh! How'd she do that?" Ellie asked eagerly.

Snickering, I said as I shrugged again, "I have no idea."

She laughed and my eyes drifted back over, fascinated with how Erik seemed to look everywhere but at the blue tentacle. Following my gaze once again she nudged me and said, "You should go talk with him."

"Ah, no," I said, shaking my head regretfully, "There's nowhere to sit over there, and I'd feel too awkward being the only one in the conversation standing."

"Hmm, fair enough," she said thoughtfully before brightly telling me, "Then we'll just hang out until someone moves."

Agreeing, I turned most of my attention to her and we resumed our earlier conversation as I awaited my chance. It felt like forever before the other man on the couch wandered out of my way, but surely it was not. Grinning, Ellie shooed me away before turning to start chatting up a nearby girl. Blinking, I shook my head ruefully as I headed to the couch.

As I reached my target Erik reflexively picked up the tentacle to look it over. Unnoticed, I sat beside him to watch his examination. Once he looked at the underside he visibly startled and then chuckled with a faint blush coloring his cheeks. Placing a hand on his leg I softly asked, "Do you like playing with tentacles too?"

Erik jumped in his seat and fumbled the thing in his hands, nearly dropping it as he gave me a wide eyed, well an even wider eyed look. I nervously bit my lower lip as I waited for his answer. After a moment his gaze softened and he gave me a hesitant smile before leaning in close to whisper into my ear, "I like playing with tentacles." I could sense a double meaning in there, but I just couldn't figure it out at the time.

I shivered and squeaked as his breath hit my ear, then after clearing my throat I nervously said, "I have a lot more in my room, if you wanna stick around after the party I could show them to you." Then trying not to freak out I looked down and away, my courage having completely run out.

Erik gently set my newest and currently only unused toy on the coffee table before settling one of his hands over the hand I had left on his leg. Rubbing my thumb reassuringly with his own he said with only the barest hint of false bravado, "That sounds like fun."

Slowly I turned back and gazed up at him through my lashes. All I could read from his face was honesty and nervousness. Brushing my hair out of my face he asked, "So Harper, right?" at my nod he continued, "I know there's been a lot of people, so in case you forgot, I'm Erik."

I gave him a small smile as I shyly told him, "You're very memorable."

"I know," he blushed as he grumbled. And then I swear I heard at least three different people aww, one of which sounded a lot like my recent wingwoman Ellie. I cringed at the sound, this is why I didn't like flirting around non-strangers.

Erik grabbed my other hand and pulled it into his lap as well while gently running his thumbs along the backs of my hands. "Ignore them and talk with me," he rumbled softly.

I gazed suspiciously at our hands as I grumbled, "I think Ellie was lying about your shyness."

Chuckling he shifted both of my hands into his left hand, making me feel strangely comforted as he trapped both of my wrists in his grasp. He brushed my cheek before using his fingertips to urge me to look up at him. "No, no," he disagreed softly, "I'm very shy, especially in crowds and around a beautiful girl. But your shyness is helping."

I forgot to breathe for a few beats and then I cleared my throat and asked, "How come?"

He smiled and watched my lips as he spoke, "Well, it's comforting, and it triggers my protective instincts."

I squeaked and licked my lips before blurting out, "I need a drink!"

With visible reluctance he let go of my hands and asked, "Do you want me to accompany you?"

"Yes please," I said with perhaps a tad too much eagerness.

Smiling he helped me up and escorted me over to the drinks and snacks, all while holding onto me as if my life depended on it. It was, oddly pleasant. Then while I grabbed that lager with the pretty silver octopus he grabbed a snack plate and started piling it up. He even threw on a few extra deviled eggs when he saw me eyeballing those. Then he draped his arm over my shoulders as we returned to our seats. At this point I don't even think he was doing it consciously, because when we sat down he absently pulled my leg over his before crossing his leg over the top of it. I stared bemusedly at our entangled legs before a deviled egg bumping my lips pulled me out of my thoughts.

The rest of the party passed with us sharing my drink and his snack plate as well as not quite so idle chit chat. Then before I knew it, the only people left were the group that was going home with Harriet's designated driver, including Harriet herself. Which is how I found myself at the front door with Erik standing behind me, his hands on my hips as I reassured my tipsy best friend, "Don't worry, all the perishables have been eaten. You can come back after a good night's sleep and help me clean then."

Harriet had never liked leaving a mess behind so she was opening her mouth to fret at me some more when her ride called out, "I have a shift in nine hours! We gotta go." He was one of her fellow nurses, but I couldn't remember his name.

Chuckling, I shooed her off as I said, "Better go before your driver gets too tired to drive safely."

Blinking blearily she sighed and admitted, "Okay, you have a point." Then she perked up and looked above me to cheerfully say, "You two have fun without me!"

Erik said confidently, "We will." Once she had turned and was steadily wobbling her way to the minivan I closed and locked the door.

Then Erik's hands briefly left my hips only to wrap around me and pull me back against his firm chest and belly. But before I could puzzle over the difference in expectation and reality he was whispering directly into my ear again, making me want to melt into a puddle of aroused goo as he asked me a question, "Do you like tentacle porn?"

"Yes..." I groaned out huskily as I tried to wiggle the small of my back into his crotch.

"What's your favorite part?" He continued his whispering queries, "Is it the unwillingness or the tentacles?"

"Oh god yes both," I blurted out before nervously fisting his shirt into my hands and further explaining, "But it's mostly the organic bondage and the multiple penetration with one partner."

He let out a soft pleased rumble as he kissed along my ear and neck. After a moment he spoke up once more, "We don't know each other well enough to play with cnc just yet," then his fingers slipped up my short sleeve to rub my bare shoulder as he spoke the next part, "But I can certainly do the rest for you."

I moaned in anticipation as I pressed my whole body back into him. Then I stilled as realization hit me, he's too tall to comfortably wrap his arms that low on my waist, it feels like two limbs, and he has a hand on my shoulder. My breath quickened excitedly as I looked down to see two shiny black boneless limbs wrapped around my waist. As I gazed down the tentacles slowly loosened their hold so I quickly grabbed ahold of them as I rapidly spoke, "My room is the last door on the right!" Then I spun around and saw where the tentacles were poking out from the bottom of his t-shirt. I briefly ran my hands up their exposed length before eagerly tugging up his shirt.

Giving me a lusty look he quickly took over and yanked his shirt off. Allowing me a brief look at his four other tentacles coming into the fray before the six were pulling me up so he could thread his fingers into my hair as he took my lips in a soul searing kiss.

I wrapped my legs around his hips and tangled my fingers into his hair, my small sounds of pleasure getting lost in his mouth as I rubbed my tongue over his exploratory tongue. After a bit of that I pulled back and breathlessly begged, "Lemme see them?" He wordlessly nipped my chin before raising his arms out of my way. Resting my hands on the topmost tentacles I gazed down one side of him and then the other. They were arranged in columns of three each in line with his arms.