Sweat trickled down my back, soaking my shirt and causing the material to stick to my skin. Still, I kept going, my feet pounding the pavement in a steady rhythm. I’d been sprung like a tightly wound coil for the past week, but with each step, I felt the tension easing from my body.
Running had always had that effect on me. It was the only way I could pull myself out of a funk when I got too lost inside my own head. I’d been battling my own thoughts for over a week, but there’d been no chance to go running. Korey had scheduled multiple jobs for me that week, each of which took many hours to shoot. By the time we were finished each day, I could barely climb the steps to my apartment, much less work up the energy to go for a run.
A lot of people saw modeling as a fun and glamorous job, and for the most part, it was. I loved getting to wear the latest creations from world-renowned designers and I always had fun when I got to work with other models. But there were also a lot of times when it was just me and the photographer, the clicking of a camera the only sound in the room. Not all photographers were as fun or as easy to work with as Ben.
I’d learned early on that the only way to make it through those days was to let my mind wander. I’d drift away to the different locations I’d like to travel to someday, the type of home I’d like to live in one day and of course, my favorite daydream was about the man I’d want to spend the rest of my life with. I was never able to see his face, but I knew he’d be kind and attentive. He’d laugh easily and love hard. He’d have a special smile that was only for me, and his entire face would light up whenever he saw me. I just wished I could find someone like him in real life.
I finished my run and returned to my apartment, stripping my sweaty clothes off as I made my way to the bathroom. I turned the water on in the shower and then stepped under the spray, letting the water wash away the sweat and the last of my tension. Grabbing the bottle of soap, I poured a generous amount into my palm then began washing my body.
My fingers glided easily over my slick skin as I lathered it with soap and I sucked a breath of air between my teeth as my hand moved over my cock. It jumped in my palm and I wrapped my fingers around my shaft. I gave it a few pumps, but then forced my hand away before I could go too far. It had been way too long since I’d gone out and had any fun, but I had plans for that night and none of them included having an orgasm at my own hands.
After moving to California, I’d wanted to learn everything I could about my sexuality. I started going to gay bars and nightclubs and I found it surprisingly easy to pick up men. I began taking men home with me and I learned all kinds of things about my body and how best to please my partners. One night a friend of mine invited me to go to a swap party with him. I didn’t know a lot about those types of parties, but I was intrigued so I said yes. That night had been eye-opening for me, to say the least.
Upon entering a swap party, one member from each couple dropped their car keys into a large glass bowl. Later in the evening, the bowl was passed around and the partner who hadn’t dropped the keys withdrew a set of keys at random. Whoever the keys belonged to was who you spent the rest of your evening with. Of course, if I drew a woman’s set of keys, I politely declined, and she’d find someone else to play with. No feelings were ever hurt, and no one was ever left out. Everyone knew that it was anything goes at those parties and I’d seen everything from heavy make-out sessions in dark corners to full-on orgies with bodies spread out all around the room.
Swap parties were a virtual smorgasbord of sexual delights, drawing an eclectic crowd of singles and couples, gay, straight, bisexual, and transsexual individuals. My friend had told me that they were the perfect way to discover more about my interests, and I certainly did. I’d always bottomed before that night, taking on the role that my partners had assigned me. However, I discovered that I was actually a switch. I still loved bottoming, but there was nothing like making a man, bigger than myself, beg for his release as he writhed beneath me.
With a frustrated groan, I rinsed off and climbed out of the shower. I quickly brushed my teeth and then went to my room to figure out what to wear. I sifted through my wardrobe before finally settling on a dark pair of designer jeans and a lavender button-down shirt. After getting dressed, I scrutinized myself in the mirror, turning around so I could check myself from all sides. The waistband of the jeans rode low on my hips and the soft denim hugged my ass perfectly. The shirt was a size too small, allowing the material to show off my firm, flat stomach. I may not have been very muscular, but I worked hard on keeping my body sleek and tight.
Happy with my outfit, I set to work styling my hair. I squirted a dollop of gel in my palm and then worked it over the strands of hair with a practiced hand. Next, I added a line of kohl under my eyes and just a touch of blush to my cheeks. Finally, I smoothed a bit of gloss over my lips and smacked them together. Satisfied with how I looked, I grabbed my keys and headed out.
My phone rang as I drove through the city and I rolled my eyes as the dash displayed Korey’s name. I considered ignoring it, but I knew he’d just continue calling until I answered. Keeping my eyes on the road, I pressed the button on the steering wheel to connect the call.
“What’s going on, Korey?”
“Hey! I wanted to go over next week’s schedule with you. I’m about five minutes away so I figured I’d swing by and pick you up. We could go out, get a bite to eat maybe…” he said.
“I can’t. I’m not home right now,” I told him.
He paused for a moment, obviously surprised to discover that I wasn’t just sitting at home. “Well, where are you? I’ll come pick you up.”
I struggled not to let him hear my exasperation. “It’s Saturday night. I’m going out to have some fun and so should you. We’ve both been working way too hard and we deserve a little downtime.”
“Downtime doesn’t earn any money, Oliver.” I frowned at his snippy attitude.
“Look, Korey. I appreciate how hard you work, and I know you’re just trying to help, but there’s more to life than just making money.”
“I get what you’re saying, Oliver, but in this city, pretty faces are a dime a dozen. You’ve got to work your ass off just to stay relevant. You know that old saying ‘Out of sight, out of mind’? It’s very true. If your face isn’t being splashed on every magazine cover, then people will start to forget who you are, and they’ll move on to the next big thing,” he explained.
“I know how things work. I’m very aware how quickly I shot to the top and that it can all be taken away tomorrow, but I need this.” I didn’t bother to tell him that it had been three months since I’d gone out to a party or club. Three whole months since I’d gotten laid. It was none of his business and quite frankly, it was a depressing thought.
“Fine. Go have fun tonight, but I’m picking you up first thing in the morning, so we can discuss the schedule.” His stern tone reminded me of my father’s and my grip on the steering wheel tightened.
“See you in the morning,” I said through clenched teeth, barely swallowing my frustration.
I ended the call and let out a deep sigh. Korey and I needed to have a serious conversation and soon, but I couldn’t blame him for everything. We’d been on a mission the last few years, working our asses off to get me to the top. The problem was, the higher I climbed, the more I wished I had someone there to share it with. I’d tried to ignore it at first, but the truth was, I was lonely.
I hadn’t changed the plan entirely. I still wanted to be on the cover of magazines, maybe one day even be the face of a leading cosmetic line. But there had to be more of a balance between my personal and professional lives. I definitely needed to talk to Korey, but it would have to wait. It was time to have fun.
I switched the radio on just as the DJ was finishing a breaking news report about the body of a young man being found off of the Santa Monica Pier. He was only twenty-one years old and had been strangled to death. I shook my head as I flipped to a different station. The crime rate in a big city was one thing I would never get used to after growing up in a small town. Pushing aside the depressing news and my conversation with Korey, I let the music settle over me.
My pulse sped up as I pulled into the long driveway of the house where the party was being held. Anticipation raced through me as I got out of my car and walked up the front steps. There were people milling around inside the spacious living room, talking in small groups and getting to know one another, but a look through the large sliding glass doors told me that most of the guests had gathered outside. It was a beautiful night, so I made my way over to the doors and stepped out onto the large concrete patio.
More people mingled around an enormous in-ground pool, enjoying the warm evening air. Some were clustered around small tables, and a few swayed to the music being pumped through strategically placed outdoor speakers. Several heads turned, eyes traveling over me approvingly as I wandered around to the opposite side of the pool to the bar.
I ordered a cocktail then turned my back and rested my elbows on the bar as I waited for my drink. Looking out over the party, I could see Gabrielle, a woman I recognized from other parties and our hostess for the evening, winding her way through the guests, holding a large glass bowl. She smiled and chatted with everyone as, one after another, people dropped their car keys into the bowl.
The bartender handed me my drink and I took a sip. It was a fruity blend of pineapples and strawberries and it tasted cool and refreshing, the flavors bursting on my tongue. A server came by, holding a tray of delicate finger foods, but I waved her on.
I found a seat, tucked into a corner and sat down so I could observe my surroundings and see who was new to the scene. My eyes roamed over the party guests. It was an eclectic group, with people of all ages and ethnicities. Several faces I recognized from other parties we’d attended. Some looked at me with recognition, either from the same parties or from magazine covers, but I didn’t worry about anything getting out to the tabloids. Everyone attending those parties understood that what happened at a swap party, stayed at the swap party.
I sipped my drink slowly as my eyes wandered over the guests, wondering which one I’d end up with that night. I had just set my glass down when a couple I’d never seen before walked through the doors. The man was tall and gorgeous with thick, jet-black hair. He was dressed in black slacks and a gray, short-sleeved polo shirt that accentuated his broad shoulders and tapered down to a trim waist. I felt the first stirrings of interest I’d had all night and I sat up a little higher in my seat, trying to keep track of the couple as they moved through the crowd.
They walked around the pool, drawing nearer to where I sat. The man kept his hand at the small of the woman’s back, but the gesture seemed more comfortable than possessive in nature. I was curious about their relationship. They’d obviously arrived together, but something about their body language suggested that their closeness was more that of old friends than lovers.
A loud squeal drew my attention and I watched them turn as Gabrielle went running up to them. She and the woman obviously knew each other because they hugged. The man stood awkwardly as the woman introduced him to our hostess. Gabrielle offered him her hand and he shook it gently as she ran her eyes up and down him appreciatively. She said something that made the woman laugh and had the man lowering his gaze to the ground, an adorable blush spreading over his face.
I smiled, feeling completely charmed by the fact that he didn’t seem to realize his appeal. As if he sensed that he was being watched, he turned his head and I sucked in a sharp breath as I suddenly found myself staring into the most mesmerizing pair of sky-blue eyes I’d ever seen in my life.
