As we roamed up the long hallway, searching for the powder room, I opened a door and discovered a couple sitting on the edge of a bed, snorting coke. I said “Sorry” and closed the door quickly.
When we finally found the bathroom, we both fell onto fluffy chairs.
Cassie bent down and massaged her ankles. “These shoes are too new.”
“They look great. You look great, Cas.” Recalling the cocaine-snorting couple, I asked, “Is Marcus into coke, too?”
She shrugged. “I’m not sure. He’s never taken it around me. Justin’s habit is pretty obvious, though. He’s always jumping about, full of energy, whenever we’re out.”
“God. We’ve been dating for three months, and I hardly know him. I didn’t even know he had a brother.”
“Me too. Marcus only just told me.” She turned to face me. “Boy, Bronson’s fucking hot.”
“So you keep saying,” I said, heading for the mirror so that I could smooth back my hair.
“He couldn’t take his eyes off you, Aves.”
My face burned again. I had noticed his gaze returning on more than one occasion, but I put it down to curiosity. “Maybe he wanted to see who his brother was dating.”
Cassie leaned in and applied some lipstick. “Mm… I don’t know. I think he’s attracted. He ignored me.”
“You sound disappointed.”
“And you seemed pissed off with Justin,” she said.
“I didn’t think it was that obvious.” I took a deep breath. “He never listens whenever I talk. It’s all about him. And the way he checked out Candy. I’m sure he’s on coke and…” I sighed. “Apart from the lack of spark, he told his mom that I’m still working for Grazilla Ironpants.”
Cassie giggled at the ridiculous name I’d given my ex-boss. “He’s a bit caught up in himself, I’ll grant that. But he’s seriously rich. You’ve heard about the share portfolio he inherited from his dad?”
I nodded with resignation.
“We’ll be rich bitches. And then we can have little affairs here and there, just like any self-respecting desperate housewife would.”
“Mm… let me guess, buff, barely-out-of-college Latino hunks raking leaves on the massive grounds of our white mansions?” I pulled a face.
Cassie giggled infectiously. “That sounds just right.”
“I’m never going to do that.” I became serious. “I mean it. It’s all good to joke. But when I marry, it will be for love.”
“You’re such a romantic. What about all the comforts of life?”
“Give me ceiling-banging orgasms over Cartier any day,” I said.
“But you haven’t had one of those yet, have you?”
“I take it you’re referring to the orgasm?”
Cassie nodded with a chuckle.
“Not with a guy. Only my fingers.”
“Now I know what to buy you for your birthday,” said Cassie.
I shrugged. “A gigolo?”
“No, crazy girl, a vibrator. I love mine. That’s how I get my kicks, and Marcus is pretty good like that. He’s a giving lover. At least you can train Justin to use his tongue.”
“That shouldn’t be up to me, surely. In any case, he’s a wham-bam-thank-you-ma’am sort of guy.”
“Boring,” crooned Cassie, opening the door.
Walking down the hallway, I saw Justin brush his nose after closing a door behind him. He noticed our approach and waited. “There you are, sexy girl.”
I pushed out of his hold. “You’ve been doing drugs, Justin.”
“It’s a party. Now come on, don’t go all tight on me. Let’s have fun.” He winked at Cassie, after which he led me by the hand.
The disco had commenced. Mirror balls spun around while pulsating beams of epilepsy-inducing lights dappled the floor.
Justin grabbed my hand and twirled me around. “Let’s dance.”
Marcus and Cassie joined us as we shuffled about. Turning it into a workout after the large meal I’d eaten earlier, I revved it up a notch and moved my body about vigorously. Next to us, while owning her exotic-dancer tag with pride, Candy wiggled her butt and shimmied her shoulders. I noticed Justin’s eyes settling on her, and after the song ended, I decided on a break.
Recalling the sugary delights, I headed straight over to the table of cakes. My olfactory nerve went into overdrive as I sniffed in the yummy aroma of pure delight. A chocolate mud cake stole my heart and suddenly became my sole ambition in life.
Holding a glass of champagne in one hand and a plate in the other, I found a nice quiet corner outside on the terrace by the pool.
Enjoying the peace, I sank back onto a cushioned, comfy cane chair, and with each mouthful of melty chocolate, I succumbed to shivery pleasure, convincing myself that cake was as good as sex, if