(Image by Lee Zimmerman)

So, fluid, you’d think it’s a rehearsed event.

I suppose it’s necessary for me to set that tone. And I’m sorry for the moment I took away. I rushed these passed paces, letting windy business negotiations bore you. I guess I’ve got to act right, my dear reader.

Well, I had an interest, and that was the business. I love my paper plenty, but I get burned a lot when I get out of my depth. Like the coward I am, I do it every so often.

I tell myself that’s the reason I broke the laws of decency. These are the things that really made me live. Though Kot disapproved, I did them anyway.

That meant I had to be wary and clever. I remember smiling in the dark as I watched the party, alive around the two firepits in the valley below.

“Instead of obsessing over my careless disposition, you need to get over yourself,” came a lady’s voice in the dark. I knew that voice. “The sultry purr,” but with a condescending drawl.

“That’s too much disrespect for me. I’m just sick and tired,” came the pained voice of a man. I knew that too! Squawking like a caged parrot thirsty for attention. The confident edge, gone.

“Leave me,” she asked, firmly.

From behind a coconut tree, I saw a little figure retreat, shoulders hunched liked a kicked dog.

She stood rooted in the same spot for a minute, then her figure turned to face me. I could make up her features, clothed with moonlight, white robe shimmering in the night.

Frozen on the spot, I watched her advance, slowly. As she got closer, I couldn’t help but marvel at the woman’s attractiveness.

“We don’t do history. I missed you. I know you missed me,” she said when she got to me.

I held my breath, trying to play it cool, but she smelled nice, a burst of lavender in the salty sea air.

“I know you’re in a little muddle, and it’s horrible,” I whispered, as she nuzzled on my neck. “That’s ok,” I went on as she hugged me.

If I were him, I’d be vexed for real, look at this woman’s attractiveness! Whenever I held her, she felt like a lonely lover, melting in my arms like a starved puppy.

“So let me take the pain away,” I said, nibbling on her neck. It had been a minute.

“I hope this isn’t standard customer service,” she joked, pulling back to look me in the face.

“We've both got interests in having no strings attached, and this can only work when those things are matched,” I smiled at her.

“You're such a bastard,” she chided.

“I’m such a bastard,” I agreed, dipping in for a kiss.

Yet I tell myself, ‘Wait, don’t be dumb. It doesn’t take a genius to see, this is a bad idea.’ Alarms were ringing. What are the odds that she was here away from the party. Did she follow me, and did h follow her? And if he did then what?

But I hit snooze! The illusion had been shattered the moment she nuzzled on my neck.

But then again, was I supposed to care?

I flipped her back and gripped her. I slapped her inner thigh, grabbed her hair, and maintained a tight grasp on her wrist. She absorbed whatever she gained from my clasp and gave a slight gasp! She took it upon herself to pull the th#*g to the side!

You see right then she was undersupplied. Was it really wrong to provide?

It was almost past midnight. The night was still young, and the party was just beginning.