Meatspace Introductions

The loft buzzed with forced casual energy. Someone had hooked up a projector showing old beta highlight reels—sanitized, of course. No full-frontal, just avatars dancing through neon cities or sword-fighting in fantasy arenas. Alex kept one eye on Riley while pretending to listen to some guy ramble about latency issues. His name tag said “GrizzlyTank.” In game, he’d been the loud one always trying to join public orgies. Riley stood a few feet away now, chatting with a small cluster of women. She laughed at something, but her gaze kept sliding back to him. Every time their eyes met, it was like a system ping. He felt exposed. No avatar shield. Just him, in jeans that had seen better days and a hoodie that smelled like his apartment. He drifted closer when the group thinned. “So. Real names now?” She turned fully, drink in hand. Some kind of gin thing. “Riley. You?” “Alex.” It felt weird saying it out loud, too ordinary after months of ShadowStep. “Didn’t expect you to be thi

First Collision

They didn’t talk much on the short walk up to Alex’s apartment door the second time. The cab drop-off had been a blur of fumbling bills and half-hidden kisses. Inside, the place looked exactly like Riley expected from a guy who lived half his life in-code: dim lamps, a massive monitor setup, empty coffee mugs, and the faint ozone hum of electronics that never fully powered down. Alex kicked the door shut behind them. This time there was no hesitation. He pulled her in by the waist, mouth crashing against hers with weeks of pent-up need. Riley melted into it, fingers threading through his hair, tugging just hard enough to make him groan. She tasted the whiskey from earlier on his tongue and something unmistakably him. “Bed this time,” he muttered against her lips, walking her backward. “Agreed.” They left a trail of clothes. Her top hit the hallway floor. His hoodie joined it. By the time they reached the bedroom, she was down to panties and he was in boxers, cock straining hard a

Deeper Glitches

Morning light filtered through the half-closed blinds, striping the bed in pale gold. Alex woke first, Riley curled against his side like she belonged there. Her hair tickled his shoulder. One leg was thrown over his, warm and heavy. He stayed still for a long minute, listening to her slow breathing, feeling the press of her bare breasts against his ribs. No haptic feedback. No logout prompt hovering at the edge of his vision. Just her. He traced a finger down her spine. She stirred, making a soft sound that went straight to his gut. “Morning, ShadowStep,” she mumbled, eyes still closed. “Morning, Vesper.” He kissed her forehead. “Coffee?” “Later.” She stretched against him, slow and catlike, then slid a hand down his stomach until her fingers wrapped around his half-hard cock. “This first.” They took their time. Lazy morning sex, bodies still sore in the best way from the night before. Alex rolled her onto her back, kissing down her body—collarbone, the soft underside of

All Chapters of Pure Pleasures (A Collection of short Stories): Chapter 91 - Chapter 93

Meatspace Introductions

First Collision

Deeper Glitches