Victor took a beer from the fridge he’d installed as part of a poolside bar and popped it open. He loved the outdoor oasis that he’d created on the terrace of his condo, one of the newest buildings in the city. He had meticulously planned the space for the pool, the hot tub, the bar, lounge area, even down to the plants and flowers adorning it, the foliage that afforded him and his guests all the privacy that they needed. Sure, it was June and it might have been a little chilly for an outdoor party, but with the warmth of the pool and carefully placed exterior heaters, nobody complained. Victor loved his outdoor area, but because of all the time he spent working, he rarely got to enjoy it, or any of the other luxuries he could now afford because of his hard work and success. A sad irony… Victor watched his guests mill about the poolside. They were all smiling, and having fun. He really missed just spending time with his friends and the

“‘Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to Spirit Airlines, flight A321, with nonstop service to Las Vegas, Nevada,’” the pilot’s deep voice droned throughout the cabin. “‘We’ll be pulling away from the gate shortly, and it looks like smooth flying all the way to Vegas. So, settle in, get comfortable and please watch the following video about the safety features of this aircraft.’” Victor put his head back and closed his eyes. He was about to spend the next two hours and twenty-three minutes sitting next to Navy. Since hiring her, Victor had attempted to keep his distance, for fear of reaching out and touching the hair that looked so luxuriously soft, or the smooth skin that beckoned to him. They hadn’t discussed what had happened in his hot tub, both honoring their unspoken agreement to forget it happened, Victor supposed. But how could he forget her smooth skin, the noises she’d made when he turned her on... ‘Jesus, this is going to be the longest flight of my

          Instead of using the afternoon to explore more of the sights in Las Vegas, Navy used it to treat herself to some of the hotel’s spa services. First the mani/pedi, followed by a bikini wax, a hot stone massage, and an appointment to have her hair and makeup professionally applied and styled.          She wanted to make sure she looked absolutely perfect tonight when Victor saw her.          ‘It’s not like it’s a date,’ Navy told herself.          Navy wouldn’t get her hopes up that tonight would be anything more than just a fun night out as two colleagues, and at most two friends.          ‘Two friends who felt each other up in a hot tub, you mean.’   &n

When Victor took her hand and led her to his suite, Navy sighed softly.“Finally…” she whispered. Yes... Finally, she would once again, feel Victor’s lips on hers, his magical hands on her craving body. She wanted him, really wanted him for weeks… since the night she kissed him. And if this night was all she must have with Victor, so be it… She’d give herself entirely to him. No phone interruptions, no pulling away from him. This was going to happen. Navy followed him blindly until they finally arrived to double doors that led to his suite. Victor dropped her hand to reach into his jacket for his key card. She noticed a slight tremble in his hand and she relaxed a little, knowing that he was as affected as she was. Victor opened the door and ushered her inside. She inhaled sharply when she felt him come from behind her and place his large hands on her shoulders. Navy felt his warmth through the fabric of her dress, closed her eyes, and

“You are so big… The way you moved, what you did… You rocked my soul… my entire being, actually…” she whispered, breathing hard. “I never thought… it could feel like this…” Victor chuckled and rolled away from her, onto his back.“Me neither…” He left the bed for just a moment to dispose of the condom in a nearby trash can. He rolled back to her with a deep, low, satisfied sigh. They both remained on their backs, in perfect silence. Navy looked over at him and wondered if, now that it was over, Victor had regretted having sex with her… Had they crossed a line? What was she supposed to do now? Stay? Go? Talk? Stay quiet? Vanish into thin air? Suddenly feeling awkward, Navy exhaled slowly and turned to get off the bed. She realized that she was still wearing her shoes and they had tangled in the bedcovers. The awkwardness just reached its highest peak. ‘Heaven forbid… I should be able to display a little grace, here?’“Uhm… I think… we