The 4th of New Years
L.A. Tripp, Hunter Cox, Kristi Stone, Krispy Jackson
Published by Page Turners Publishing LLC at Smashwords
Copyright 2011 L.A. Tripp
Discover other titles by L.A. Tripp at Smashwords.com
The 4th of New Years According to Tripp
by L.A. Tripp
1
“She’s wearing her ‘fuck me’ shirt,” Jess says, like I hadn’t noticed, but apparently she feels the need to point it out anyway. I’m wondering if she did it out of jealousy or just to test me. Either way, I’m busy figuring out for sure which girl I want to go home with. I’ve already made the decision I won’t be going home to a third girl, Melissa, much to her disappointment.
It’s New Year’s Eve and I’m on a mission. There are parties everywhere and we’re at one of the hottest. The evidence is all around. Million-dollar smiles, model bodies, sexy clothing, and money and alcohol exchanging hands everywhere.
“You think so, eh?” I smile at Jess and continue dancing with her, while still keeping an eye on Sarah, because her shirt is fucking low. Yes, after seeing me on and off for three years, Sarah knows what she’s doing wearing that. A black fishnet shirt, no bra, and she purposely has it unbuttoned so her breasts almost drop out of it, the whole 34A’s that they are. And they are only 10 feet from me. I love small breasts and Jess has about the same size.
Sarah gives me a big smile. I smile back. She has guys all around her, but that’s to be expected. This girl has such a genuine glow when she’s truly happy. She’s about 5’2”, petite. Naturally straight, blonde hair to her shoulders, which she lightly colors at times for something different. Her light blue eyes shine when she smiles at me.
Jess fights to maintain eye contact with me; when I look around she pushes her chest against me. Her breasts almost meet mine, her being about 5’6” and me 5’8”. She’s also petite, but with naturally curly brown hair past her shoulders. Also blue eyes, dark blue. I prefer her hair straight, though.
“But you’re going home with me,” Jess says as she tries to kiss me. Fearing Sarah is watching, I throw in a dance move of pulling away.
This wouldn’t be the first night I have had sex with Jess, and she’s pretty good. I need to pull myself away from Sarah. Release my emotions from her yo-yoing them. But damn it, Sarah is showing me her assets and she knows I’ll have to fight to resist.
“Who said I’m going home with you?” I smile and pull Jess to me.
“You need to. You want to, and you know it.” Jess has her head slightly lowered, eyes directed into mine.
“In other words, you want me to and you know it.” I smile again, that confident smile I’m so good at.
“Shut up and kiss me.” She turns her eyes to my lips. Her lipstick is glistening.
“Not yet, it’s not midnight.” I wink at her.
We get low to the beat on the dance floor, drawing attention to ourselves. I’m wondering who I want to kiss when the clock strikes 12.
Rock breaks the tension and eases my mental quandary with a question. Phew. “Tripp, what should I do with this girl? She’s saying she wants to go home with me tonight, but she’s throwing up all of these excuses when I start setting it up.”
“Well, we have three different places you can go ‘home’ tonight, so you have multiple ways to go.”
“Three? Excuse me? I told you, you’re coming home with me tonight.” Jess’s jealousy is peeking through. “Tell the girl we’re going to Henderson. I have two couches that unfold into beds. You guys can easily take one. Tripp’s sleeping with me.” She smiles big at Rock and sends him on his way. I know that won’t solve the problem, but Jess isn’t done with me.
Then I feel a hip bump on my waist. Sarah’s grinding her body against mine, searching to make eye contact with me. Her hat is perched on her hair, bringing out that sexiness of hers.
What a contrast! One is blonde, with a loving caress and passion that won’t quit, and an innocence about her that’s so endearing, vying for my attention and a night with me. The other is a hot brunette that every guy in here wants inside, even if just for a minute. She’ll manipulate things to go her way because she loves our sex, loves my touch . . . and watching movies together don’t seem to hurt either.
Sigh. Then there is my friend, who is working on simply finding someone attractive to open her legs for him tonight.
“I’ll be right back, ladies. You two keep each other company. I have to help Rock. I am on a mission, after all.”
“Yep, getting him laid, with one of these abundant hotties in here,” Sarah says. “I’ll help you with that . . . if you’ll stay with me tonight,” she says as she wraps her arms around my neck.
Oh my God. One of these girls will be hurt by the end of the night.
2
“I’ve gotta find Rock. You can come if you like or stay here, whichever you prefer.” There’s no way in hell I can commit to either girl at this moment.
I find him, help him flirt a bit. The staff here knows me, so I use that to help Rock. I bring the bouncers over to our group and interact with the really cute girls. The DJ, when he’s walking around, wants attention as well, so he makes the effort to get mine focused on him. This also helps Rock, so I comply.
Few people understand the dynamics here. The upper hierarchy of people in the venue knowing me and wanting my attention places me among them. Well, that means whoever is with me must also be fairly important as well. Hence, this elevates Rock’s value in the eyes of these girls
“Tripp, I really want this girl.” Rock’s eyes are darting, his hands are fidgeting, and his voice is higher pitched. Anxiety.
“Rock, don’t focus so much on just her. Look around.” I quickly scan the sea of sexy females within 20 feet of us. “You have options, my man. Use them wisely.”
“But . . . “
“If you seriously want that one girl, who isn’t half as hot as these girls in front of us, then use your options here, that are smiling at you and inviting you to talk to them, to get the attention of the girl that you want.”
“Ok. I’ll do that, to make you proud.”
“No, do it to help yourself.”
I throw some smiles at a couple of cute brunettes standing in front of us, giving them a friendly invitation to help Rock. They smile. I point to Rock and open my hand, a motion to ask them if they think he’s cute. They nod.
“Rock, these girls are into you, bro. Talk to them.”
He takes his cig out of his pocket and walks to them. “Can I get a light?” He’s used that same line on every girl he’s started talking to tonight. Oh well, whatever helps to start him. He just needs to move it from there.
After he’s ‘safely’ with those girls, I walk back to the two waiting for me.
3
“I need to use the bathroom,” Jess says.
“That’s fine. I’ll wait up here for you.”
She heads off.
Good, give me a few minutes with Sarah, alone. I don’t need to let myself go home with her tonight, though I badly want to. So I at least need to talk to her some.
“I’ve missed you. I’m glad I came out tonight.” She smiles big again, and I see the tears in her eyes.
I pull her head against my shoulder.
“I’ve missed you too. I’m sorry I can’t give you more attention right now.”
“I know, you’re working. I’m not trying to interfere with that.”
“You’re not. In fact, you know me in this environment, so you’re a bigger asset to me than Jess is right now.”
She hugs me tight.
“I have to be honest. though: I don’t know that I can stay with you tonight.”
Her eyes start swimming in tears, though she fights to hold them back. “I know. I’m sorry. I don’t mean to hurt you. And I understand if you decide you can’t, but I’d really like you to.”
God, why does this have to be so hard? I love her, but I can’t keep putting up with this pain. Why can’t she just get over this pull her mom has on her and actually commit to me? I pull her body against mine and sigh. Her curves fit perfectly against me. She lays her head on my chest, takes a deep breathe, in sync with mine. I know she loves me. Her actions show that, but then her actions also show that I mean little or nothing to her . . . when her mom exerts her power over her.
“I haven’t been with anyone else, if that makes a difference. You’re the only one for me, babe.”
Unfortunately, I can’t say the same to her. I’ve been with Jess, been with Melissa, and a couple of others thrown in there who meant nothing at all.
“That’s good to know, and thanks for telling me. I want to, hon, but there’s this little thing called pain. And right now, I need to focus on Rock.” My heart is reinforcing the wall around it at this very moment. Our entire relationship she’s made a habit of shattering me. But then, I’ve hurt her a lot too.
“I know.” She kisses me.
Thank God Jess ain’t around yet. And her lips taste, ugh, so good. Damn it.
“I’ll be right back, hon.” I walk off quickly, find Jess. I know the crowd is thick enough to shield most of my actions, so I pull her close, lock the eye contact, and meet my lips with hers. They taste good too, but they are different from Sarah’s. Damn it, woman, how do you have this effect on me?
“Told you, you want to come home with me tonight.”
“Cool your heels, and your ego, little girl.” I pull away. “Got work to do.” I take off to find Rock. Need a distraction. Damn it, damn it.
Rock finds me before I can find him. “Tripp, you’re so damn lucky. You’ve got three hot women who all want you tonight. And you can pick up any other woman in here right now. I just want one, maybe two,” he says with a grin.
“Then let’s find you two, maybe three,” I add to his statement.
4
As we are in this conversation, I explain what we are doing: subtly scanning the room here and there, picking out who we think is cute.
He picks out a couple of girls. I note them. We talk about how he can talk to them, how he can generate attraction, how he can escalate with them.
“Rock, no matter where we stay tonight, you have a place to bring a girl, or two. You know that, right?”
“Are you sure? No matter where we stay? Are you sure all the girls are down with that?”
I laugh. “Trust me.”
“I do trust you, just don’t know about them.”
“If you trust me, then trust me, that’s enough. Take my word for it.”
“Yeah, gotta get my head right.” He breathes out, hard, shaking off the nerves.
“That’s just it. You must get your head right. Until you do that, nothing will work. I can throw these girls into your lap, literally, and you won’t get anywhere with them until you are thinking straight.”
Rock sighs. “I know.” He stops a minute, composes himself. “Ok, I’m ready.”
I motion him to follow, and he does. We head straight for some hot girls. My confidence shines through my body language and slight smile. Rock’s anxiety is, unfortunately, leaking through again as he’s fidgeting with his hands and glancing my way. I flirt with a slight nod of my head and a wink, he falls in sync and flirts as well. I know I can play the girls and hit their buttons, so I push things a bit, opening the door for him. Wide. I’m making a deliberate effort so he can escalate with them and bring them home with us.
“Hey babies, hope you fed my dog before you left the house. He gets lonely without you there,” I smile and focus eye contact on the cutest one. She smiles back.
“Aww, you know I wouldn’t leave your precious dog hungry. I treat him like a king.”
“Knew I could count on you. Why don’t you introduce yourself to my friend Rock here? He’s from out of town. An apprentice, you might say.” She’s up for the role playing. This should be an easy one for Rock to pick up. He always says he’s creative with his words.
She extends her hand, meets his, shakes.
I see that he’s starting to stumble over his words already, so I pat her shoulder just hard enough to move her toward him a bit. “Dang girl, treat my friend good now. Don’t throw yourself at him. Get to know him first,” I wink.
She shoves me back, playfully, then takes initiative with him. No doubt she wants to impress me, but I’ll just have to turn that around for Rock.
Then there’s that slight voice in the back of my mind reminding me I could just start over with any of these cuties here tonight. Take me and Rock to a completely different place. But . . . I can’t do that. I’m connected to the others already, in a way. A significant way, and I’ve got to follow through.
5
I think at this point I should go back further in time, to when I met Sarah.
That night, three years ago, I actually wasn’t looking for anyone. I was just improving my skill in order to continue building my business.
In fact, the night I met her I was a bit bored. I had been texting a friend of mine who was in another club and asked him how busy it was there. He said it was good, so I was thinking about bouncing. Standing in the open air, leaning against the rail, I let the thoughts run through my head, comparing the two places.
I texted him again, saying I was about to come. He informed me he now had a girl occupying him. All right, good for him. I was still considering heading over, thinking there may be more going on there. However, I had a feeling to go back in one more time. Wondering about that, I obliged.
I headed back in, rounding one corner of the front bar, doing my thing. Subtly checking out the groups, their dynamics, which girls were throwing me glances and smiles. I rounded the second corner of the bar and noticed three girls there.
One was obviously pregnant, another was a bit bigger but not fat by any means, and cute. A third had her back to me but seemed very cute, with her petite body and straight blonde hair cascading from under her cap.
“Cool hat.” I smiled as I touched her shoulder gently, then let go.
She gave me a nice smile and thanked me. She turned her attention back to her girl friends. I made another comment to regain her attention and within a few minutes she was talking to me. She started testing me, as girls do.
She told me she worked in a pharmacy, waiting to hear me ask her if she could get me some drugs. I didn’t take the bait. She was amazed. She threw in a couple more tests, which I also passed. She then focused her attention on me, having realized I’m different than most guys.
After this important step, I moved things forward. I took her to the dance floor. She had no intention of dancing, but she went with me. We were exchanging smiles and bits of conversation. All the while my hands were on her back, hers on mine. I was rubbing up and down her sides, pulling her to me, letting her go a bit, rubbing her legs, her arms. Eventually getting to her ass. She was enjoying this, so she allowed all of it.
Our lips touched. They tasted good. I teased her with light kisses till she wanted more. Within minutes we were full-blown kissing. Next thing you know I was picking her up, sitting her on the stage, my hands down her pants, squeezing her ass. Our lips hot and heavy on each other.
I kissed her neck, she kissed mine. The attraction was through the roof. Her eyes were on fire, her body pressing against me. Our breath was hot. She pushed her pussy against the front of me, letting me know what she wanted.
You get the idea.
6
Well, I can see Rock is making some good progress. At least he will have a body beside him in bed tonight as well. As for me? I’m in this current set with Rock, still flirting, moving things forward with one of the less cute ones . . . and I’m not enjoying this new set of lips now touching mine.
But, Rock is enjoying getting his feet, or lips, wet, so it’s a sacrifice I have to make.
“What do you say we go out front, on the smoking patio, where it’s a bit more quiet?” Rock asks his new lip-locking friend. She follows.
“Your friend really likes my friend,” the girl with the unwelcome lips says to me. I don’t want to answer that implied question.
“Yep, seems so.” I smile.
“And I really like you.”
I swallow . . . hard.
I place my hands on her hips. Look deep into her eyes. “Listen babe, you seem to be a great girl, from what I know about you, but I’m in love with someone else. Just trying to help my friend out tonight.”
“Get to know me a bit better. I may be the one to take your mind off of the other person.”
Damn. They always qualify themselves to me. Why?
“I have a few friends with me tonight, Rock being one. I can’t just drop them all and change plans. That would be rude of me, right?” I raise my eyebrows.
She giggles. “You have a heart. Nice to know. Trust me, it would be worth your rudeness.”
God, she ain’t gonna give up. Sure, she’s hot. Any guy would drop his plans to take her home and have some fun. But I’m not any guy. And I’m pulled in so many directions at the moment it’s fucking scary.
“Hey babe.” I feel the warm hand on my hip as the arm wraps around me. Thank God, it’s Sarah. Sure, she’s getting jealous, but right now that’s a good thing. She’s saving me. “Ready for that dance?”
“Yep, right now.”
I take her hand, smile, and lead her away. I throw a smile and a wink at my lip-locking siren. Shouldn’t have tossed in the wink, but I did.
“Thanks for saving me there.”
“Not a problem. I could tell you were pulling away and she didn’t want to let you go.”
“You’re so good about watching for that.”
“Hey, I’m your girl. I don’t want anyone else having you.” She smiles. “Of course I’m gonna look out for that. I know how those other girls want you.” She kisses me hotly.
“Thanks for having some patience tonight, with me having a client on New Years.”
“I know. I’m trying. I just miss you.” She kisses me again, holds me tight.
I give her a few minutes of that.
“I gotta check on Rock."
“I know. I’ll be here.” Her lips curve into a smile and her eyes are bright with one as well.
7
As I head to find Rock, Jess grabs me. Thank God we are out of Sarah’s sight because Jess plants her lips on me hard.
“I’m not waiting anymore for that. I need to taste your lips now. Before midnight. I figure Sarah will have your lips very occupied with hers at 12.”
“Um, you do know I’m trying to find Rock. Trying to work, which you should be doing too, right?” I wink.
“I needed the juice from you so I could work.” She winks back.
I take Jess’s right hand with my left and lead her through the crowd. We’re on the prowl for Rock now. She understands me having the lead in a venue like this shows a certain dominance on my part, which is attractive to other women. Of course, this applies for clients as well. Plus, adding a smile to her face and keeping the distance between us physically close adds a level of intimacy, which shows I’m safe.
I stop suddenly, my eyes locked on Rock. Jess doesn’t stop so fast and ends up with her breasts pressed against my back. Immediately her right hand releases mine and wraps around my waist. Her breath is hot on my neck. Her hair brushes my face.
Rock has this girl’s legs wrapped around his waist. She seems to be in full attack mode, sucking his face off. His hands are gripping her ass. She’s grinding on him furiously.
“I guess he’s ready to go soon.”
“Seems you’ve done well, sensei.”
Now if only my choice for the night, and for life, was so clear.
Jess squeezes my waist. Whispering, running her tongue over my ear, she says, “I think it’s time the four of us head to my place.”
God! This is not working. Sure, I’m wanting her, but I’m also wanting the one that’s still at home. And, I’m really wanting Sarah. This night is flashing by me. I can’t think.
“I’ll be back.” I break away from her and head outside. Fresh air, need air.
I walk around a few minutes, alone, deliberately making the effort to stay out of sight so Jess, Sarah, and Rock can’t immediately find me. Even though Sarah knows me so well she could likely find me wherever I go out here.
Take a deep breath. Think. I have a three-pronged pitchfork in front of me. Each prong by itself is dangerous. All three together are deadly. And that’s right where I find myself. I’m in the crosshairs of the three. I never wanted to be here. I didn’t set out to make this happen. But I lost control. I wasn’t happy at home, but didn’t know how unhappy I was till Sarah came along. She showed me a light I hadn’t seen in years. But, after dealing with her tug-of-war on my emotions over three years, Jess came along at the perfect time to stick the third prong into my side. Is it too much to ask to have one single girl who just loves me and is completely committed to me? Fuck the manipulation, fuck the family negativity, fuck the modern lifestyle. Just give me one girl that wants me for who I am, damn what anyone says. The question is, which of these girls can live up to that, if any?
8
“Hard choice for the night, eh, Tripp?” One of the bouncers who knows me fairly well interrupts my quest for air and thinking.
“Something like that.”
“You know, most guys would kill to be where you are,” the bouncer says.
“I know, they tell me that all the time."
“Honestly, I’d love to have your choices as well. You have some damn hot girls. But, I also see the other side, where you are right now. And I don’t envy you.”
I chuckle. “Thanks for the support.”
“You’re welcome.” He chuckles as he pats my back. “Seriously though, think clearly about what you’re doing. The choice you make right now will ripple forward. May not make a difference tomorrow morning, but what about next week? Will all three be around? What about next month or next year? I know you just want one . . . but I know you. Everyone else has the impression you can’t settle down. Which one of these are you gonna make a believer out of you?”
I sigh. “That’s what’s making this so damn hard.”
“I will say this. Though Jess is very attractive, Sarah’s not bad either, and you’ve been with her for a while. I know you two have had your troubles and she’s been quite a bitch, quite a lot, but she’s a good girl.”
“I know she is, but thanks for noticing from the outside.”
“Of course, you’ve said Jess is also pretty wild in bed too.”
“Well, they both can be, actually.”
“Damn. Must be nice.” He laughs again. “Having more than one woman who performs well in bed sleeping with you regularly.”
I laugh now. “Yeah, that’s one of those things I keep telling myself. That I’m in a great position.” I sigh again. “But, from the inside, it ain’t the same vantage point.”
“I hear you.”
He sighs. Clears his throat.
“Well, I haven’t been right where you are, I’ll admit. But, I can see, being ground zero, what’s in front of you.”
“Yeah,” I say without looking at him.
“If you’re a guy who doesn’t care if he hurts women, the position you’re in is fine. But if you’re not out to hurt women, where you’re at sucks. And me and you share something. The one woman I really love has bailed on me. The one woman you can’t get past keeps bailing on you. The difference is, for me, I can’t even focus on attracting any other females because my ‘one’ crushed me.”
I look into his eyes. I see and feel his pain.
“So, which one means more to you?” He asks.
There’s no contest on that one.
9
We walk back around to the front door while talking a bit more. We take a seat right outside the entrance.
“Tripp! I lost that girl.”
I look up, astonished. “How?” Rock is standing in front of me. His face is all mixed with confusion, sadness, anxiety.
“I don’t know. She got a call and said she had to go. That was it.”
“She’s got a man. She wanted to see how far she could go with someone else, but she’s got a man.”
“You know her?”
“Nope.”
“He doesn’t have to know her. He knows how these women operate. I’ve seen him over and over again out here,” the bouncer says.
“All right, we’ll get you another one. Don’t worry, you didn’t lack building attraction. Plenty of that was there. Just picked a bad girl this time. Next time you may want to build a slight bit more comfort, but that’s not what stopped this girl either. Let’s get in there.”
Walking in the door, Sarah and Jess stand in front of me, blocking the entrance. “We’ve been looking for you.” Sweet Sarah.
I look into her eyes. “Thanks for not looking very hard. I appreciate that.” I smile.
She looks down just a bit, but never loses sight of my hazel eyes . . . and grins shyly.
“All right Rock, pick you another one.”
He starts scanning the room like a predator. I grab his hand, turn him fairly forcefully to look at me.
“No. You absolutely do not scan the room that way. Remember, subtle, just as the girls are checking you out subtly so you don’t even know they’ve looked at you.”
Rock composes himself. Straightens his back. Takes a deep breath.
“It’s OK,” Jess adds. “You can’t look nervous. You can’t be nervous. We want to see confidence coming out of you. We want to see some substance to you.”
“I’ve got substance. I write well, I’ve got a car, I’ve lived in different cities, I’ve . . . “
“Stop right there. We don’t want you to list all of your great characteristics within 30 seconds after meeting you, either. Take a step back.”
“Confidence, bro, remember, confidence. You have value. You have no idea if she has any value whatsoever, other than her good looks, until you get to know her. You know what you’re bringing to the table. But you have no idea if she even has anything to bring to the table until you talk to her, or get her to talk about herself, actually,” I add to Jess’s advice.
Rock points out a sexy blonde. She looks to be about 5’2”, 120 pounds, 38C. She’s standing with a blazing redhead, about 6’, 36B, and a girl with jet black hair, about 5’8”, 34A.
10
I walk over and start talking to the blonde and her two friends. Sarah and Jess hang back with Rock.
“Hi ladies, great party tonight,” I say with a smile. “But enough of that boring talk. My friend over there likes you so I had to see if you three were sweet, yet wild, before I would allow him to talk to you.”
I allow my attention to be distracted by Sarah, by glancing her way. She’s intently watching me . . . and smiling when she sees me look her way.
“Hey, we’re sweet girls. But how wild are you talking? You really shouldn’t filter people for your friend. He should check us out for himself.”
I put my right hand on the hips of Rock’s choice, the blonde. She’s fine with it.
“He’s a bit wary of women right now, you see.”
I touch the small of the back of each of her friends. No protests.
“That’s sad. Did a woman hurt him?” his target asks.
“As a matter of fact, yes. Tell you what, I’ll introduce you to him. Just be gentle at first . . . he’s a recovering writer.” They giggle. “He’s a really cool guy who is actually just getting over this really special girl. Well, he thought she was special. So you guys don’t want to act like you want anything serious.” I wink.
“Oh, don’t worry about that,” the blonde says. “Tonight we just want a good time.”
“You’re speaking our language.” I motion Rock over by glancing at Sarah and slightly nodding my head. She pushes Rock our way.
“Hi ladies,” he says a bit shyly.
“Aww, how cute, and sweet!” His target is hooked already. Good.
Now, Rock, be the innocent you that you are. Don’t try to be smooth to impress me.
“Now listen, baby, some girls just aren’t worth it,” I say.
Rock looks at me. I nod, hoping he’ll go along with the storyline.
“Yeah, I’m learning that. I thought girls were all good, but I’m finding out I was naïve.”
Good boy.
“I’m Lindsey. These are my friends. Ashley is the redhead. We call her firecracker, cause she is. We call Temperance ‘tall, dark, and mosquito bites’. She’s so cool though. Trust me, NOT all girls are bad. Let us show you the good ones. US!” She giggles, entirely too happily.
“I’ll leave you kids to play.” I say, as smoothly as possible, even giving off the ‘player’ vibe, intentionally. I walk off. I want to be a night and day contrast to Rock in front of these girls, since they are getting hooked on him.
Sarah’s eyes focus on me as I head back their way. Then I notice Jess is shooting me her seductive look. She’s looking up, having her head slightly down, her tongue gliding over her lips, her hands between her legs. Making it so obvious she wants me inside her. As if I didn’t already catch that signal. Thank God she’s standing slightly behind Sarah.
The disaster is, Jess knows how bad I want, and love, Sarah. Sarah just doesn’t seem to realize this.
11
I glance back at Rock, to make sure the tide of this set is going as planned. Lindsey has her arm wrapped around Rock’s waist, her head resting on his shoulder. Temperance has her right hand on his chest, talking to him. Ashley is checking out his ass. Yep, tide’s going well. Now Rock, hold it together, bud.
I step to Sarah, take her hands, look into her eyes. I see the sparkle, the light on her face. The true happiness in her. I push her hands down in front of me while I glance at Jess, who is still licking her lips, now moving her hands back and forth over her crotch. Damn it Jess, fucking stop.
I pull Sarah away from Jess, take her to the dance floor. As we walk, I glance back to Jess, squint my eyes at her. Give her a slight smile. Yes, I’m teasing, just as she’s teasing me.
As Sarah has her arms around me on the dance floor, our bodies sway together, back and forth. We are in sync, as usual. Her joy shines through. Everyone around us looks. Typical.
“You guys are so in love.” An unsolicited comment from a fellow dancer.
We just smile.
Suddenly I feel another body pressed up behind me, and Sarah’s eyes zero in on them.
“Let’s sandwich him. Give him a good time here on the dance floor,” Jess suggests to Sarah. Sarah complies . . . as she covers my mouth with hers.
I’m not complaining about that part.
Both girls are competing for my attention. However, I’m tired of these two particular girls fighting for it.
“I don’t want to be one of Tripp’s girls,” Jess said one night while we were in her bedroom. “I’m moving soon to go to law school. You’ll still be here. There shouldn’t be anything serious between us. Just enjoy what is.”
What’s funny is, she said that in one breath. In another breath, Jess said, “I want you to come see me every night. I want you to sleep here with me one full night each week.”
I didn’t give her that one full night each week. I had to put my foot down somewhere and it seems that was Jess’s breaking point. That one night a week . . . after about 3 months of not getting it.
“I can’t live without you, babe. I seriously can’t breathe without you,” Sarah said to me a few times while trying to persuade me to move back in. I loved living with her. Going to sleep, her body nestled perfectly with mine. Waking up, the warmth of our bodies enveloping us, still nestled perfectly together. She loved how my hands cupped her breasts while we drifted to sleep. I loved having her stop sporadically and give me kisses while I worked, sitting in our dining room, where the computer was. We went to the gym and worked out together. We discussed how to accomplish the daily tasks together, how to work out my work schedule around hers, etc.
So, Sarah is asserting her place with me by giving me a hot kiss right in front of Jess. This kiss, which I’m totally accepting, is not helping my working relationship with Jess . . . but I’d give that up in a heartbeat just to have Sarah seriously commit.
12
Let’s take another leap back into time. A slight one this time. I want to share how I met Jess.
What’s interesting about this is, I was actually living with Sarah when I met Jess for the first time.
I had put an add on craigslist for a wing woman. Jess looked at my add and contacted me. Said she was the prettiest girl in a wheelchair I’d ever meet. So, being skeptical, I invited her out for a night to be social. Told her we’d talk about an interview after my first impression of her.
I showed Sarah every thing about Jess. Showed her Jess’s pics, information, the whole nine yards. Sarah was by my side when we, yes we, both met Jess for the first time.
I specifically had Jess meet us at our normal club. She wheeled herself in, saw us standing by the door waiting, came right over to us. She was a hot girl in a wheelchair, so she drew a lot of attention. My immediate thoughts were, I can use this girl to help with the clients, draw attention to them. You see, guys pay me to literally shatter their realities. I have to show them that their belief levels of what “can” happen when they are interacting with women is far from the truth of what does happen for them. I teach guys how to present themselves in a way that showcases their positive attributes. I also teach them how to bring attention to themselves from cute women while still being themselves. At the core, I work on teaching each guy that I work with how to find his self-esteem and confidence.
Shocking as it may be, I also teach women how to find their own confidence. I teach them how to avoid men that are just players.
So, Sarah and I talked to Jess for a bit. I’d find out later that Jess could actually stand up on her own. Her story is, she was in a car accident at age 12 and got the gift of two rods in her back as a result. However, it did not paralyze her.
Anyway, I had a client with me that very night, so Jess took off with him and drew some attention.
While he wheeled her around, Sarah and I held hands, held each other, and talked while we watched them. Everything seemed cool. I had no idea Sarah had jealousy brimming in her already. After all, I had shared everything about Jess with her, and I was devoting my time to Sarah at this very moment while the client was with us. And Jess was hanging around with my client.
So, the night ended and I told Jess that we should set up an interview to make things formal. Sarah was right there with me and heard it all. This was, again, the first time we’d met Jess face to face.
13
Interview time came and I purposely and specifically asked Sarah if she wanted to come along with me. She said no. Well, she texted me three times while I was interviewing Jess, at a Starbucks inside a Barnes and Noble. A public venue. I didn’t answer the texts because me and Jess were talking about business and whether or not she could handle the job.
I called Sarah immediately upon leaving the bookstore. Right on the phone she told me to pack my shit and get out. Jealous. Damn it. And I had even invited her along. Nice. The bad thing is, I still love her.
So, that was the introduction to having Jess in my world. Our world.
Oh yeah, when Sarah kicked me out, I called Jess . . .
“Hey girl, I need to know something. Important. Right now.”
“What’s that?” Jess asked.
“I just lost my wing, so I need to know if you’re committed to this.”
“I am, most definitely. I think I’ll be perfect at this and it’ll be a lot of fun.”
Good news.
Bad news is, one wing was now gone. The whole idea for a second was so Sarah wouldn’t be so stressed having to be with me for every client. She had another job, too.
Then Jess asked me the pivotal question, “Do you need a place to stay?”
Ahem. Yeah. So, Sarah apparently picked up on this. However, if Sarah hadn’t kicked me out I wouldn’t have been in that position. Oh well.
I tell Jess no, but thanks.
Where did I go?
I moved back in with Melissa. The other one who wanted me that New Year’s. Yep, the one I’ve barely mentioned to this point.
Used to be something with Melissa. Still is, actually, a comfort zone more than anything. Sure, she loves me . . . but do I love her . . . as much as she deserves? No, I don’t.
Anyway, back to the party . . . and the kiss.
14
Yes, Sarah’s lips on me. I’ve always loved how they felt. Unfortunately, I also loved how Jess’s lips felt on mine after I tasted them one night. On a dare. But, my real love was Sarah, not Jess. So yes, Sarah kissing me so passionately on the spot, even while Jess is standing behind me, was nice. I wouldn’t complain. At all. She was the one, in my mind.
Yes, was. Unfortunately.
Life is complicated.
At this point, the three of us are having so much fun that I forget about Rock. That he’s with three hotties of his own. And how he’s doing. I’m enjoying breasts and a crotch against my back and lips and breasts and a crotch against my front.
I’ve felt girls in front of and behind me many times, that in itself wasn’t anything new, but these particular two, that was new. Both that I had been inside and the one in front of me . . . well, I wanted her in my life, in a serious way.
So, when Rock came up and hollered my name this time, it kinda brought me crashing back down to reality.
“Shit, Rock! Sorry man, got sidetracked.”
“No, it’s fine. Those girls are outside waiting for me. All three of them.”
“So you’re . . . going to their place? Or something?”
Rock smiles. “I wish. I don’t know yet what we’re all doing, but they are outside where we can all talk and figure that out. I know the one I want wants me. I think at least one of the others does, too. Of course, I don’t know how to pull that off, which is why I came to find you.”
“You want to know how to pull off a threesome.” I laugh. I look at Sarah. Jess pinches my ass. “Excuse me, girls.” I take Rock and lead him away.
“Are you having both of them tonight, Tripp?”
“Ha, no. Nope, no way, uh uh.”
“Why not?”
“That ain’t in the cards with these two girls.”
“How do you know?”
“Trust me. I’m not going there with them. Let’s focus on you.”
“Tell me what to do. Or, tell me what you would do.”
“The most important thing right now is, what are they willing to do? And I’m sure you don’t know. And it’s not easy to give you a list of indicators to tell you. Tell me how they are acting.”
“The one I like, she’s hanging onto me, holds my hand, gives me good eye contact, smiles a lot, pushed me a few times,” Rock says.
“Great, she’s into you. But that’s obvious. The question is, how far is she willing to go with you and her friends.”
“Ashley has kept her back to me most of the time.”
“Typical bitch, cock blocker. She’s not blocking you, so she’s not happy.”
“Temperance though, she’s actually been making a LOT of eye contact with me. She’s stayed in my personal space along with Lindsey. Lindsey doesn’t seem to have a problem with it.”
“Has she touched you?”
“Oh yeah. She’s bumped my hips a few times and laughed. Well, giggled. You know, not a big laugh, just a little ‘haha’.”
“Yeah, yeah, I gotcha. That’s good.”
I pause.
“Have you held her hand?”
“No. I didn’t think that would be good since I was pursuing Lindsey.”
“Normally you’re right, but this is New Year’s. Try it. If she’s good with it, escalate with both of them. If either of them seems put off by it, stop the touching with Temperance and escalate it with Lindsey. Lindsey sounds like she’s almost a lock at this point. And that’s who you’re actually interested in anyway. So that’s good.”
“So is tonight really that different?”
“It’s New Year’s Eve. Almost all bets are off. Just takes calibration.” I wink.
“I’m still working on that.”
“I know. Patience.”
Rock walks off, back to his trio. I walk back toward Jess and Sarah, then notice my phone. A text from Melissa. The one that’s at home tonight. With our kids. The one that I’ve spent the last eight years inside of when New Year’s rolled around. That’s our history. It’s hard to let go of, but it’s not fair to her for me to stay with her when I’m not happy. I miss her. I love her. I feel sorry for her tonight because I know I’m hurting her. She’s a good girl. Loyal, stands by me . . . but she’s lost her passion.
But this is business . . . and pleasure . . . and I’m a jerk.
15
That’s no newsflash to me. I know I’m a jerk. I just don’t know what to do to solve that at this point.
I slide my body back in between Sarah and Jess. A guy is trying to push his own way in, but they are blocking him. I easily slip him aside.
“You ladies having fun?”
“Tons,” Jess says.
Sarah just looks at me with an expression that says “Really? You’re gonna ask me that?” Of course she’s not having fun at the moment. I haven’t been here with her. But I am now. Rock’s off on his race to pursue this threesome.
Nice. I can steer everyone but myself.
At this point we’ve gone through about an hour of this four-hour party. But I feel like I’m beyond out of time to figure out my direction for the night. Hopefully Rock will pull those two and this will decide my direction.
Both girls continue to gyrate against me. If only they knew where my mind was. At our home, as Sarah calls her house.
Oh yeah, the text. Damn. Got to answer that back too.
Rock pulls his girls up to the dance floor. All three of them. Ashley, true to what Rock said, is cold. The other two, however, are throwing themselves at him. Eat it up, Ashley. Take in what you’re missing.
“Watch Rock, baby. He’s got those three girls up here with him.”
“One doesn’t look too thrilled.” Sarah notices.
“Nah, she’s not, but the other two are all over him. So, she’s the odd ball. Let her stay that way.”
In my ear, Jess whispers, “Maybe I should seduce the cold one with Rock and bring her home to our bed.”
Our bed? Our bed!? Whoa there, hold up, woman.
I shrug my shoulders. Jess heads that way. Oh shit. She’ll pull this off too. I don’t want a threesome tonight, with Jess. But, this is New Year’s. It’d be the night to happen.
I look into Sarah’s eyes now that we are alone for a minute.
I smile, lay my forehead on hers.
She tears up immediately.
“I really want you to come home with me tonight. To our house.”
“I know. We’ll see how it plays out, but I’m scared, to be honest.”
“I know. I understand. I’m sorry.”
I sigh. “Yes, I know you are, but it doesn’t flip a switch on the pain.”
“I know.” She kisses me, with tears in her eyes. Pulls me close.
I hold her close to let her know I’m still here. I glance over at Jess. God, she’s succeeding. I knew she would. That girl is warming up, fast. Jess has her engaged, laughing, smiling wide, eyes smiling even. Damn. Tonight’s going to be fun.
At least Rock is doing even better without Ashley pulling the group down.
Six of us. In one place. Nice combination . . . oh brother.
Which leaves Sarah all alone. Melissa . . . all alone. Yeah, that’s who I need to text back. Quickly.
16
And . . . here comes the countdown. Five minutes till midnight. Ugh.
“Find who you’re going to kiss! You’ve got 5 minutes till the big one!”
The DJ loves to hear his voice over this system. I know the DJ and his girl. Me and Sarah both do. We’ve been in a hotel room with them. We’ve hung out with them. I’ve had both girls here on the dance floor. Enough said.
“Watch out for Tripp, ladies!”
I look into Sarah’s eyes and smile.
“He knows you too well,” she says.
“He thinks he does. He doesn’t know how much I want you. How I feel about you.”
“Yes he does. But he can’t say that over the loud speaker.”
"He doesn’t want to say that. It wouldn’t help his rep.” I kiss her. Then I feel two girls behind me. Oh . . . my . . . God. Not now, Jess. Not fucking now.
Sarah looks down. Her tears fall onto my shirt.
Jess’s breasts push against my back. A hand squeezes my ass, and since I have one hand on each hip, and Sarah’s hands are around my neck . . . I take it Ashley copped a feel.
This grass is greener thing isn’t always so . . . when you’re on the other side.
I turn toward Rock. Lindsey’s mouth is all over his. Temperance has him from behind. There’s literally no light between any of their three bodies. Good for him. He wants a taste of my life. That’s what he’s getting tonight. Hope he enjoys it more than I am. Of course, he isn’t deeply involved with one or more girls either, so he’s in a much better position than me. Thank God.
Rock steals a glance at me. Smiles. His lips are red from Lindsey’s lipstick. I smile and give him a thumbs up. Then look down at Sarah and rub her tears away from her eyes, pull her head to look up at me. I pull her closer, lay her head on my chest.
“Four minutes, boys and girls! Who’s getting laid tonight?!”
The crowd roars. You would be shocked to know how many people won’t get laid, though. Or maybe you wouldn’t be shocked. It’s a funny thing, the alpha males will have multiple offers tonight while the beta males will be left frustrated. Of course, that’s a typical night. But this night, that same truth is amplified.
Now I’m not sure if I want Rock to hang in there . . . or lose this set too. If he loses it, Jess and I should be going in a different direction. I really don’t want to give Sarah tonight. A part of me wants her to feel pain too. But damn it, I miss her. Plus I’ve committed to Rock’s success this holiday as well. And, I know that if he just follows my instructions . . .
He’s got it in him. He just needs the guidance. There are two nights of the year that sex with someone new is the easiest: New Year’s and Halloween. But a guy still has to have somewhat of a clue as to the signals coming his way to receive the sex being offered. Rock is getting his outbound signals worked out, but he’s still working on feeling worthy of the inbound signals.
“Three minutes, boys and girls! Three minutes! Get in position! Get those lips moist! The upper and lower ones!”
“Had to throw that sexual innuendo in there. That’s so typical for him.” I laugh.
“Yep, that’s him. He thinks he’s God’s gift,” Sarah laughs.
“Hey, I’m giving Ashley a hot kiss in three minutes,” Jess whispers in my ear.
I turn my head slightly. “You do that.”
“What’s that?” Sarah asks as quiet as she can so I can still hear her.
“Jess is going to kiss Ashley at midnight.”
“Good for her.”
“Definitely. That way me and you have no interference.” I lay my forehead against hers again.
“Two minutes!”
I glance at Rock again, checking on him. Sarah looks too. She starts laughing. More. She holds my arms now she’s laughing so hard. What’s she laughing at? Rock literally looks like he’s coming up for air from Lindsey’s mouth and she’s grabbing his face for more. He can’t handle those two girls.
17
Another squeeze on my ass.
“We’re gonna have some fun tonight. Hope you can handle more than your friend, Rock, can.”
A strange voice in my ear. Has to be Ashley. I ignore. Have to remain focused on Sarah for the moment.
“60 seconds!”
Everybody starts counting.
I look at Sarah, she’s got that sparkle.
At 30 seconds the counting gets louder.
Sarah’s eyes are smiling. The wrinkles cradling her eyes are visible. She’s looking so sexy. I cup her face with my hands.
20 seconds and more people are joining in.
Sarah’s looking at my mouth, waiting, looking back at my eyes.
Ten seconds and every person in the club is counting.
I look at Rock. He looks like he’s almost dying under Lindsey’s lust.
“Five! Four! Three! Two! . . . “
I put my lips on Sarah’s. Her tongue probes, she sighs, letting everything go into me, joining her emotions with mine. Our mouths are doing a mutual dance of love and affection, attention solely for each other, a promise to each other.
I lift her up, she follows the cue and wraps her legs around my waist. I hear a moan and a scream behind me. Jess and Ashley are obviously enjoying their kiss as well. Good for them. Sarah and I have this moment. Sure, people are all around us and touching us, the place is so crowded. But for us, now, it’s just me and her. The world could disappear and it wouldn’t matter.
“Happy New Year!”
I finally hear words from people again. Confetti and streamers and alcohol flying everywhere.
I pull away from Sarah. Tears are streaming down her face.
“I love you baby, so much. I need you.” Her breathing is labored. She has so much emotion in her few words. “I need you in my life, with me, every day baby. Please, don’t break my heart. Don’t let me go.” Tears are flowing down her cheeks now. I pull her close.
“I love you too baby. I do. I want you as well.”
18
I regain my thought process and look at Rock. He has the biggest smile on his face. “I was kissed for New Year’s, Tripp!” I can hear him clearly.
I smile back at him, give him another thumbs up. I hope he realizes the night isn’t done yet, that these girls aren’t done with him yet.
“He’s happy. You’ve done well. You are good at what you do, baby.”
Sarah always tells me that.
I sigh.
“What’s wrong, babe?”
I look deep into her eyes. “I want more time with you. I want us to be close again.”
"Me too, that’s why I’m asking for tonight.”
I sigh again. “I know. God, I want to. But there’s Rock, too.” I slightly pull my body away from her, but not enough to break our grip.
“You’ve taught him well so far.”
“Yeah, so far. But he doesn’t know how to keep girls coming back after he’s had sex with them. My job isn’t done.”
“So, you’re gonna teach him how to make the girls squirt?”
“Not likely, not tonight. But I will teach him a couple of tricks to help. Well, I’ll tell him a couple of tricks. Whether he uses them or not, I don’t know. He’s becoming too engrossed with them, too blind and deaf to hear much now.”
“I can tell.”
Rock throws us a huge grin, like a kid in a candy store who’s about to throw up from eating too much sugar.
My hands cup Sarah’s ass cheeks. That gets her attention, just as I expected.
“Don’t do that if you’re not coming home with me.” She grins, lowers her head while maintaining eye contact. “Seriously, I can’t handle you turning me on more tonight if you’re not gonna give me a release.”
I grab Sarah’s hands, lead her off the dance floor. I shoot Jess a look and mouth that I’ll be right back. She’s involved with Ashley so she’s fine.
19
“Babe, I need to go pee if we’re going to talk.”
“Cool, hurry up.” Good, gives me a chance to answer Melissa’s text now. Sarah runs to the bathroom and I look at my phone.
“LY! Happy New Year baby! I miss you! Please come home! I want to feel your body next to mine . . . “
Yep, I knew I was hurting her. And, she’s trying hard to push this button. Boy, this ain’t gonna be easy, not at all. I’m a fucking jerk, for sure. The biggest one ever.
I return her text quickly. “LY2! Happy New Year to you as well. Been busy with Rock.”
“Tripp! Which one did you kiss a minute ago?” The bouncer.
“Sarah.”
“Good for you. I think that was the right choice.”
“Me too. But she’s pushing for me to go home with her tonight.”
“Are you?”
“Jess is pushing HARD for me to go home with her too. Plus, she just picked up a girl to take home with us.”
“Oh my God. I swear I want your life.”
“No, you don’t. Then there’s Rock . . . and he’s actually got two girls he’s doing well with. So, me, Jess, Ashley, Rock, Lindsey, and Temperance. That’s like . . . an orgy. Two different rooms, thank God.”
“God bless. God! I’ll switch with you and you can have Sarah.” He winks, though.
“You have no idea how tempting that is.” I look him square in the eyes.
“What about Melissa? What’s going on with her tonight?”
“She’s at home. Missing me. She texted me saying come home. First New Year’s I haven’t been inside her at midnight in about 8 years.”
“Damn!”
“Yeah.” I look around a second. “My life is paradise,” I say, entirely too sarcastically.
“To most guys . . . it is.” He pats my back.
“I know. To guys that have never experienced anything like this it’s paradise. I know, I’ve been where they are.”
“You know, there are a lot of guys that live your life every day and still say it’s paradise.”
“Yeah, they’re just covering up for how sad they are and empty they feel. Trust me. I talk to those guys all the time in my field. No matter what they verbally say, it’s all a cover. Like they can be honest about how they really feel. Other guys would no longer want the image of what they have.”
“You do.”