"It's my company, so I am biased.""Does anyone else freak out like this their first time?""Most new clients get nervous, Gretel," Abbey told her from the other side of the imposing mahogany desk.Her arms were shaking."Let's sit over here." In her Italian wool suit, Abbey guided Gretel across the floor of her executive suite to the loveseat."I am usually a calm person, really, I am." Gretel's calves wiggled in her yellow r...

"I'll go next."To the right of the fireplace in the lofted living room, I saw a tall woman in a long, peach dress raise her hand.The host of the ladies only party shook the basket she was holding. "Thank you for volunteering."“I'm Kimrie." The woman, who was seated on one of the ecru couches, opened her pink slip of paper. "Hey, this one is mine! I actually wrote this comment under the video! ‘I have never tried this, but...

"What are we doing here?""Chatting by video?""I mean, you, me, us. What is this?""A good time?""Oy vey.""Gretel, what do you want me to say?""The truth.""We meet up, chill, and order take-out at my place once a week. And we occasionally get each other off online. I'm having fun. Aren't you?"“I’m tired. Good day, sir.”“Gretel? Will I see you later?”“If the past is an indicator of my future decisions, then yeah, obviously.”...

The modern house was near the end of the cul de sac.Not at the end, near the end.Apparently, the correct cul de sac, as cars were parked next to every inch of sidewalk up and down the block. I hoofed my way from my vehicle, which I had left on an adjacent street, to the modest structure. Palm trees partially obscured the exterior of the nondescript home. As expected, the gate was unlocked and ajar.I confirmed that the add...

"We don't have to post it if I'm terrible.""You are going to do amazing, Honey."I shook my arms to calm my nerves. "I need a distraction before I lie on the bed."A few feet away from me in my hotel room, Barb continued developing the mise-en-scène for my debut performance. "Set up your account on the website while I prepare the lights and camera for your action." Similarly to yesterday in her room, she dragged the top cov...

"What's your favorite scary movie?""I can only choose one?""How many do you have?""Fewer than I thought, Jax. Okay, I am ready.""Well?""Evil Dead.""Such an esoteric boy choice, Quigley.""The judgment!""I'm judgy, and I am honest about it.""What's yours?""Scream.""How meta. Hold on. Jax, are we the only two people left in this café?""From our movie club, yes. There are some other strangers at the seats by the windows.""The...

"I didn't watch that particular video. I am pretty sure it was yours, though.""There are many available on the internet, Honey. Different days, different camera angles."As the tintinnabulation of coin jingles and slot machine jangles harmonized around us, I observed the woman eating lunch with me at our table in the sandwich market. She was clearly abashed about her online activities."Barb, I think it's cool."She blinked...

"You're a Trekkie?""I haven't seen all the episodes or films, but I can tell you how all the characters and plot lines intersect. You could call me Trekcurious.”“When I was little, I watched the animated series when nothing else was on.” My fingers were sandwiched between Kevin’s as we walked into his one-bedroom apartment on a Sunday afternoon. We removed our shoes, and he guided me to the couch.“Welcome to my humble abo...

"Almost a year." "In a few weeks."Who would have thought--""I did, Honey," Jacob interjected. "I hoped. These eleven months together have been wonderful."My brown eyes locked in on his. "Loving you is awesome." In the depth of our town's forest, I looked at the nearby banyan tree. "That's where we had our first kiss.""That's why I selected this spot for our picnic." On our patchwork quilt, Jacob unpacked the lunch he had...

Las Vegas. For a supermarket managers' conference.It was only Day Two of four, and I was already bored.I had visited the city on dozens of previous occasions, but I had never been to this vacation destination with Jacob. So I thought that accompanying him on this work trip would be a fortuitous circumstance.So far, my boyfriend was having a ball spending his packed days learning about ethical innovations in fresh food dis...

"Unlisted?" Under the red and green dildo-decorated banner welcoming guests to the annual Pixie-Bob Holiday fiesta, Abbey looked at her buzzing phone. She sent the call to voicemail."Over here, Abbey!"Across the hotel ballroom, a brown arm waved in the crowd, attached to a short person whose head was obscured by the average size partygoers around her.Abbey headed for the arm. She nudged past a buff firefighter with an imp...

"Okay, wow.""That is vigorous."I looked at the nightstand trembling on the floor of our room. "Are they shaking our lamp?""Old buildings, thin walls," Kevin noted. "Quite a reveille for our first morning in this backwoods log cabin.""It's a lodge, Kevin. And it's located approximately ten yards from the exit off a major highway. I confirmed that fact when you three nature lovers conspired to make our couples' vacation an...

She held her hand against his cheek, proving to herself that he was really there.He opened his eyes.They shared an excited smile under the sheets in her bedroom.She realized that after staying up all night bantering and snuggling and marveling at being able to touch each other in person, they had fallen asleep with their clothes on.He linked his bare toes with hers.She was hungry. She craved a warm, sweet Danish.As he awo...

"Did you just tell me to shhh?""You're moaning too loudly.""I didn't moan; I squealed. You're the one making too much noise." Balancing on my palm and my knees, I snatched a pillow off the bed and handed it back to Kevin. "Moan into this."Without halting his thrusts, my husband took his hand off my bare bottom and held the rectangular foam against his face to muffle his cries. "Oh, oh, ohh.""That's better." Then I let out...

"Help me, Professor Gordon. You're my only hope.""You don't even go here, Amber."I shut the door of his private office behind me. “Do I have to enroll at this college to get some assistance?”“Or you could wait until we go home.”“We keep getting interrupted by the other people who live at our house.”“Meaning our children?”“They can really harsh my mellow, Q.” I pouted at my husband, who was seated on the other side of his...