Unspoken Pleasure by Erotica

The Devil With A Deal:>>Ep5

I could see why she appreciated my outfit as Tara was wearing practically the same thing: a thin green sweater and a pair of dark jeans. Sensing that the moment was only getting more awkward, I hurried over to shake Jesse's hand. He gave me a firm grip, but the look in his eyes spoke only of escape.

Jesse was a tall guy (I had to look up to meet his eyes and, as I said, I'm over six feet) with messy, dark brown hair, and tattoos sleeved top to bottom on both arms. I'm told he's handsome, but I found him gawky and odd. The fact that he stank of cigarettes only made him more off-putting.

Unlike the rest of us who'd dressed up, Jesse looked like he was going to spend the night working on his motorcycle -- he had on a dark, stained t-shirt and a pair of ripped jeans. I doubted he'd washed his hair in weeks. His look matched his 'dirtbag' personality to a tee.

We spent a little time standing there, talking in the living room like some higher being was forcing us. We were all familiar with each other, but everything felt off. Even the way we stood, a strange distance between us that was neither close nor far - arms stuck at our sides like they'd been tied there -- spoke of the tension. The whole room seemed sticky with it.

Finally, I worked up the courage to announce that we should head out. While Tara and Jesse took turns using the bathroom upstairs, I grabbed Kate and pulled her into the kitchen. I didn't even have to ask my question.

"Tara told him she was going out and he insisted on coming along," Kate said, her voice a harsh whisper. "I know, I don't want him around either. But what was I supposed to say?"

I thought of the fiery woman who'd come back from brunch a month before, ready to rip apart every man she met because of what Jesse had said to her baby sister. That girl would have given Jesse a piece of her mind, plus a knee to the balls. But my usual Kate was back, and she was going to go along to get along.

him to the party," I said, "We don't have to spend time

for Tara," Kate said, "She needed a break from all of this. Promise me you'll take care

we had even less to say to each other in the car. Even when you're going 55 mph, it's impossible to escape your problems. By the time we got to

other married couples. Sure, Brian had said this was going to be a different kind of party. But I assumed he meant that it was catered or something fancy like

house was lit, multicolored like a concert stage. I could feel the beat of the music through the car. Even finding parking was an ordeal. We ended up squeezing in about three blocks away. As if I

way up

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have to stay long, if you

shared the secret escape route. We weren't even

rang the bell. Kate, Tara, and Jesse all crowded close behind me. I didn't think anyone was going to hear the door over all

my sensibilities and throw open the door when it popped of

woman. I wouldn't have been surprised to hear she had been a model at some point. Tall -- about the same height as Kate -- and skinny, she had long, golden blonde hair that ran in ringlets down to her chest. Vanessa was wearing a tiny green, strapless dress that showed off her