I’m still mad, and upset. I went to see my mum today – I haven’t done that enough lately since I’ve been distracted with Kieran.
Then I got a text from Ha saying that Kieran said he’d broken up with me! She was checking I was okay. I said don’t believe a word he says, and I’m still not sure if I’m okay.
“We agreed to pose for each others art projects, and from that day I called her my Venus.”
That’s it. It’s over. Kate and Kieran are no more, and never will be, and I’m so angry I could punch someone. Well, not just anyone: I’d punch Kieran specifically.
It started nicely enough and I went to meet Kieran after work. He was still out with a couple of colleagues, and I could tell he felt pretty damn good about himself when I turned up in a short dress and heeled sandals. But then he just started to get all cocky with them and treating me like I was just some kind of bimbo, there to make him look good.
I hinted that maybe we could just leave and go somewhere by ourselves, because I actually wanted to have a more serious talk with him, and he said something like “You mean so I can get you out of that dress?” and I said “No, and you’ll be lucky if you see any of it the way you’re carrying on.”
One of the other guys said something about “saving it until later”, which I didn’t like much either, and Kieran said that I was never usually this shy, and then he pulled out his phone and showed them a photo from our holiday in Shropshire, where I was walking along the canal with Ha with nothing on!
All the guys were looking me up and down then, and I was so mad and told Kieran I was going to leave and it was up to him if he came with me, so I put my drink down and turned around and before I knew it he had his hands on the bottom of my skirt and had lifted it halfway up my body!
Half the bar saw everything from below the waist before I had a chance to grab my dress and tug it back down, and I turned around and kind of half slapped him and told him not to ever come near me again. I can’t believe how suddenly it all happened.
I felt so humiliated I just came home and I haven’t even told Ha or anyone yet. I’m upset about it all being over, although now I think about it it felt kind of over already, but I’m more upset about what he did and how stupid I was to let myself get into that situation in the first place.
“Now,” she said, “How does that feel.”
Her eyes were sparkling and I felt as if she had admitted me into some kind of inner circle. I wasn’t used to being so… accepted and it made me feel warm inside, but my skin was tingling at the realisation that I was nude and helpless, for the moment at least.
“Even… odder,” I said, “I feel… I feel so naked.”
Lisa smiled as if that was exactly what she wanted.
“In case you hadn’t noticed,” she said, “You are naked.”
We both laughed and I took another nervous sip from my glass.
“Here,” she said, and with one hand firmly on the small of my back and another more gently touching my stomach she pushed me gently backwards and I let myself sink down onto the sofa.
Lisa sat beside me and picked up her own gin and tonic. She tapped the glass against my own.
“Cheers,” she said with a wink. Her eyes stayed fixed on mine as she sipped.
Read the rest of A Very Grown Up Party, and 11 other ENF stories, in Just ENF
I’m kind of excited about seeing Kieran tonight. It’s a lovely day so I’ve gone for a short summer dress, which, to be honest, is a bit too short for work. I saw Matthew looking at me (and he’s still newly married!) so I flirted with him a bit before lunch. It was such a buzz when you’re wearing nothing at all underneath.
Then we had a bit of a company meeting where Henry’s retirement was announced, but in a way that didn’t make anyone think it was a big issue. I realised a short summer dress wasn’t exactly the best thing to wear for that sort of thing! Oh well.
Ha said something about me having a big night planned. I guess she knows exactly what’s under this dress!
“It was only a fashion shoot, but when I whispered in his ear that perhaps we could have dinner together in the same outfits, maybe at my place, it turned into a whole lot more.”
I spent the morning in the PR company, but when I got back Jo said I’d have to brief Rachel on it and she can take over from me next week. Since Ellie isn’t there any more I don’t mind too much, although I do quite like getting out of the office every once in a while.
Kieran sent me some more messages today asking what I was going to wear to our date tomorrow. I said he’d have to wait. He suggested maybe I just didn’t bother, because nothing at all suited me very well. I said I’d have to see how the evening went, but maybe I’d have trouble getting in somewhere naked so perhaps I’d start with something. Although it would be fun to find out – maybe it’s a good way to jump the queue!
Interesting news at work today: Henry is retiring! So as of today I’m now working under Jo, both so that she can manage the transition more gently and I can get her up to speed on all of Henry’s clients. He won’t actually be gone for months, and he’ll be part time for another three months at least after that, and although I quite like Henry I’m looking forward to working under Jo much more.
Not many people know about it yet and they’re going to announce it at the end of the week.
“It seemed a fun idea: you’d hide my clothes and I had to find them. I didn’t expect them to be spread so far and wide, and so hard to find.”
Malcolm reached over and put his hand on the top of her breast. “I think I was trying to distract you with a kiss,” he said, and he leaned towards her and their lips met. Alison’s eyes closed and she felt Malcolm’s hand move down her breast to cup her nipple. She gasped a little, but the kiss continued.
And then Malcolm’s hand moved back up her side up to her shoulder It pushed down her arm, sliding the crop top with it. Alison felt the air on her chest, and the thrill of being exposed, even in this private booth. She shuddered. Malcolm’s hand continued pushing at the material and she lifted her hand obligingly as he pushed the sleeve off. Then, with his other hand, he pulled at the other sleeve, tugging it downwards, all the time teasing at her lips with his tongue. He felt her tremble in the seat and he broke off the kiss, pulling at the sleeve of the crop top as he sat back. Alison felt it slide over her hand and Malcolm crumped it up beside him, out of her reach.
She tried breath steadily, slowly, but she could see her bare chest shuddering. She longed for something to cover herself, but she longed to be touched too. She jumped as Malcom replaced his hand on her thigh. He took another sip of his drink.
“Do you think…” Alison was surprised she managed to even start a sentence, “Do you think you’ve got many more business trips lined up? Maybe I could recommend some stories for you.”
Malcolm smiled. “Next month, I think,” he said. And then, as if absent minded, he slid his hand along the top of Alison’s thigh and over her waist. The fold of fabric fell to one side. He stroked the other thigh, pushing the last piece of her skirt away as his hand moved. She trembled again, willing him to move his hand between her legs, although she might explode even without that touch.
Read the rest of Re-Kindled Desires, and 11 other ENF stories, in Just ENF
Kara Bryn 