Simon Says

1

JUST IN TIME

It was the first New Year’s Eve party since the pandemic and I had to go. There was one small problem: I’d been stranded in my tenth-floor apartment for too long. I wasn’t sure I knew how to behave in company any longer, so I decided I’d better at least look good. That’s why I arrived late.

I had the right clothes, maybe too many even. Online shopping had been a favorite lockdown pastime and five brand new party dresses hung in my closet. Six, if I counted the hot red number I had to buy twice—the second time in a larger size because of the weight I’d gained during the pandemic.

I didn’t start getting ready until after six. Then I stopped occasionally to check my social media accounts. I looked at a few cosmetic tutorials and redid my makeup several times. I slipped on one dress and then another, trying them with different shoes and hair styles that were also inspired by online examples. Nothing seemed quite right. I watched the celebration in Times Square on the other side of the continent. By ten o’clock I was tired of all the preparation, none of which seemed to change my look one way or the other. So I made a fast decision and wiped off most of the makeup. I tied my hair into a sloppy bun and slipped on the red dress. It had a tucked in waist, a daring sweetheart neckline, and a skirt that fluttered with my every move.

As I drove across town to the classy neighborhood where my friend Angie lived with her sister and a cousin in a massive house they rented from their grandparents, I told myself to be strong. I’d see couples flirting, slow dancing, and planning the next year together. I couldn’t let their good luck bring me down. I would not get discouraged. I was, after all, a satisfied single. I didn’t need a man to complete my life. That’s what I’d been telling myself through the long, lonely nights of the pandemic.

My last romantic interest, such as it was, had happened before the coronavirus turned the world upside down. That relationship ended before it started.

I reminded myself that Choi family parties always featured excellent food, a lot of dancing space, and a top deejay. Plenty of reasons to go. Those and the fact that Angie wanted me there. She’d called that afternoon to make me promise to show up. This year, she said, her cousin had scored some fireworks that he was going to set off at midnight.

It was one of those neighborhoods where most people go on holiday as soon as the Christmas tree came down, so no one was around to complain. As I parked a block away from the house, the music reached me.

The front doors were open and the thumping beat of Another One Bites the Dust blasted out to the street. Suddenly in a party mood, I skipped up the front path, past a group of people half hidden in the shadows of the big oak tree. I felt their presence before I saw them, so I turned to say hi. It was no one I knew so I raised an imaginary glass in salute.

Happy New Year, I said.

The three of them returned my greeting. Two seemed to be a couple and they went back to talking to each other. The third was a man who was so smoking hot he should have had a sign around his neck warning Caution: Flammable. Under the soft Christmas lights strung in the branches of the naked tree, he appeared tall with broad shoulders. When he turned to look at me, his face came into the light, and I couldn’t help noticing his sculpted cheekbones and wide mouth. But the feature that held my attention was his dark eyes. He stared at me with an intensity that took my breath away.

Angie hadn’t told me there was going to be gorgeous new talent here. As I walked slowly past the group, the man winked at me. My body reacted before my brain could stop it. I winked back and blew him a kiss.

The COVID-19 pandemic had made me reckless.

I had texted Angie as I parked, and she was waiting for me at the front door with two wine glasses in hand. A goth kid called Parker was being paid to act as doorman as always at Choi parties. He took my coat and Angie handed me one of the glasses.

I sniffed the clear bubbly liquid and raised an eyebrow.

Sparkling grape juice, she said. Completely nonalcoholic.

She touched her glass to mine, and I grinned. Because I was driving, she was keeping me away from temptation. We wrapped our arms around each other and walked into the living room, toasting whatever popped into our heads: the end of lockdown, the year ahead, my new red dress, her new best score on The Legend of Zelda. We yelled to hear each other over the music, happy to be together in the same space again.

In the living room, most of the furniture had been pushed against the walls. The carpets were rolled back, creating a generous space for dancing. The deejay was set up in the dining room which was separated from the living room by a half wall. Concert-grade speakers filled the world with music.

Angie and I began dancing with each other. Very quickly, a couple of girls we knew from university attached themselves to us. Then a guy joined our group. Then another. One minute I was part of a communal stomp but when I looked up, the tall stranger from the front yard had taken Angie’s place. I grinned in surprise, and he answered with a megawatt smile.

In an instant, everything around us shrank away, leaving us the only two people in the universe. I didn’t know who he was or where he came from, but his eyes drew mine like a magnet. Every time I glanced up, his gaze was fixed on me. I half-closed my eyes, losing myself in the music. This allowed me to avoid his penetrating stare while examining him more closely. The sleeves of his dark shirt were rolled to the elbows, revealing muscular forearms. He was strongly built. Being a curvy lady, I favored brawny men and admired the way his black trousers hinted at an athletic body. The stud in his left ear caught my eye when it flashed in the blinking lights from the deejay’s booth.

My pulse raced. I felt as drunk as if I’d polished off a bottle of something overproof. The situation was making me giddy. I was surrounded by friends for the first time in years. My red skirt curled in brilliant flashes. I’d been claimed by a handsome stranger who was a great dancer, light on his feet, and whose hips moved with promising strength and flawless rhythm. Best of all, he looked at me with a raw hunger I hadn’t seen in far too long.

When the music changed to a slow number, he held out his hand. I hesitated, not trusting myself if I got too close. Then I shook off my doubts and slid my hand into his much larger one. He guided me into the curve of his arm and, without asking permission, drew me so close our hips bumped. I caught the faint scent of sandalwood and lime as my head touched his shoulder. My breasts brushed against his buff chest and my nipples stiffened. Then his thighs pushed against mine in a gentle but confident lead and the two of us became one.

As we circled the dance floor, he kissed my ear. Occasionally he slid his hand down to my ass and squeezed my cheeks firmly. I suppressed shudders of delight at his touch. Suddenly the idea of being with a man again had fresh appeal.

No more relationships. That’s what I’d promised myself after the last one brought me more grief than joy. It reminded me of my mother’s weary mantra: a woman needs a man like a fish needs a bicycle. True to her words, she lived by that and refused to marry my father all those years ago when she had a chance. She expected no less from me.

My partner sensed me drifting away and said, My name is Simon.

My musings about fish and bicycles disappeared.

Sadie, I said, hoping my voice didn’t echo the desire burning through me every time I stole a look at his gyrating hips and powerful legs.

Apparently, months of lockdown had impaired my judgement. No man had ever sent me into a tailspin like this before.

Sure, Simon looked good, dressed well, and danced like a prince. So what? Couldn’t most people put on a good show for one night? Part of me felt like I should enjoy it while I could.

The pandemic proved how fast life changes and opportunities disappear.

The more rational sides of me hesitated.

Go slowly. He probably has a wife at home, a mistress on the side, and a girlfriend just for fun.

I closed both sides of the argument and returned to the magic of dancing and body talk.

Just before midnight the music stopped, and we crowded into the sunroom with everyone else. Against the backdrop of a blinding fireworks display, corks popped, glasses clinked, and people embraced. Simon drew me into a corner, wrapped me in his arms and kissed me. It was a simple, chaste kiss that nonetheless left me salivating, ready for him, hot and damp in all the right places. Then he stopped.

Pussy tease, I thought, fighting my almost painful desire.

When he did no more than smile down at me, I squirmed out of his reach. My tongue traveled over my lips, trying to hold onto the sweet taste of his mouth. I made my way quickly to the front hall and Parker scrambled to find my coat. Simon was hot on my heels.

Are you okay? He took the ticket for my coat, put his with it and handed both to the goth kid, along with a twenty-dollar tip.

I gave him my best job interview smile. Then I said, I’m excellent. It’s been a great night, Simon. Thanks for the dances, but I’ve got to go. I’ve got a work project that I have to finish tomorrow.

That was partly true. I did have an outstanding project, but the head of my department was on vacation. That project was all but finished anyway and the rest of it could wait until I felt like doing it or his return, whichever came first. Still, it made a good excuse to get away from the tractor beam of this alluring man. I hoped I sounded professional, way less interested in him than I felt.

I should go, too, he said. He shrugged on his own coat and took my hand as we walked down the stairs.

I smiled and pointed down the block. I’m parked down there.

And I wouldn’t think of letting you walk to your car alone. He squeezed my hand as if to reassure me that I was safe and protected.

My heart pulsed an extra beat at his gentlemanly ways.

I’d like to see you again sometime, he said, drawing my hand through the crook of his elbow.

Instead of resisting him like I should have, I let my hip mold against his. I said nothing for a few minutes. Behind us the music played on, but I wasn’t sorry to be leaving. Out here we could talk. Out here it was quiet enough to flirt properly.

That could happen. I smiled coolly.

He glanced at me.

I winked. If you play your cards right.

I unlocked the car with my remote but, when I moved forward to get into it, Simon slid his arms around my waist from behind and kissed my neck. I melted into his strong embrace and tilted my head back so he could kiss me like that again. The second kiss, just below my ear, lasted longer.

As he pressed into me, his cock stirred against my ass. I pushed into him, enjoying the hardness, wanting to feel the power of that muscle against my naked skin.

Realizing my body was making promises I might not want to keep, I wriggled away. A move ahead of me, he used my momentum to spin me to face him. He tipped my chin, so I had to look up at him, before smiling in an indulgent way, as if he understood my conflict. Then he leaned in, dropped a cool kiss on my forehead, another on the tip of my nose, and a last one on my eagerly waiting lips.

Don’t be in such a hurry to get away from me, sweet Sadie. His whisper was a low growl.

Heat flared in my groin, radiating through my body. His hot breath on my neck made my pussy clench. I ached with desire, which was a warning sign, so I jerked away from him again. This time he let me settle into the driver’s seat and even closed the door behind me.

I opened the window. Why not?

Because I want to talk to you some more, persuade you to give me your last name. Maybe even your phone number. He flashed that smile that emphasized his handsome dimples, tempting me to get out of the car and go back to the party with him.

I swallowed my yearning and said, Ask Angie. She knows how to get hold of me.

If she won’t share that information?

Then it wasn’t meant to be, I said with so much genuine-sounding indifference I wondered if I had overplayed the game of hard to get.

The man was hot, mildly dominant, and coming on to me like I was the last woman on earth. I hoped he wouldn’t wake up in the morning and sigh with relief that I’d driven off when I did.

Would I wake up and realize the evening had just been a wonderful wet dream?

2

ICY START

The next day I watched my favorite holiday shows until Angie picked me up just after noon. We headed to English Bay together, knowing the parking would be scarce. She didn’t say if she’d heard from Simon, and I refused to show interest by asking anything about him. All we talked about was our first chance to do the Polar Bear Swim in two years and how we’d missed the silliness of it all.

The annual event had grown. Despite the freezing temperatures, thousands of people were milling behind the tape that was strung along the beach to keep people out of the water until the official start. Angie’s sister and her boyfriend had arrived first thing in the morning and set up a warming tent where we could find each other. Parker had moved his coat check talent to the beach. Today he’d guard our gear while we were in the water. I wondered if his hard goth look helped deter would-be thieves.

With only moments before the starting gun would fire, I stripped down to my bathing suit. I stood huddled and shivering until I saw Simon weave his way through the crowd. He wore a sweatshirt over his speedos and had a duffle bag slung over his shoulder.

Parker grinned at him, probably remembering the good tip from the night before. I grinned at him too as sudden warmth spread over my body.

He hugged me briefly. Angie said you'd be here.

I turned to look at Angie who’d been standing beside me a second before. All I saw was the back of her head as she adjusted her swim goggles in the doorway of the tent. Instead of looking back and waving at Simon, she walked away. Quickly.

You spoke to Angie? She had some explaining to do.

You didn’t leave me much choice, did you? He peeled off his sweatshirt and dumped it on top of his duffel. He glanced at his watch. Quick, the gun’s going off in one minute.

Hand in hand we joined the crowd that was facing the water. I shivered knowing it was only a few degrees above freezing. When the gun fired, Simon and I rushed in together. The freezing water stole my breath. I waded as deep as my chest and stopped. Simon dived in and surfaced a few feet in front of me.

Race you to the slide, he called.

I gave him a thumb’s up and yelled, Three, two, one—go!

Then I shot past him, taking him by surprise. He overtook me quickly and I stopped to tread water. As soon as he was a good distance ahead of me, I swam back to shore. The tall slide was fastened to a raft anchored about fifty feet offshore. No way I was going that far in the freezing water.

I stayed on the shore, teeth chattering, long enough to admire the way the muscles in Simon’s arms rippled as he swam in a confident front crawl. Then I turned and ran back to the tent and my warm, dry clothes.

I’d just slipped into my sweatpants when Simon returned.

I must have missed you when you swam past me, he said, his smoky eyes bright with good humor. He smacked my bottom as he walked past me in search of his duffle bag. We were surrounded by people in various states of dress and undress. No one seemed to notice the slap, but he was a strong man and my cheeks prickled where his hand at fallen.

I thought we were racing, he whispered. It’s not nice to play tricks on a trusting friend.

It was obvious you could outswim me. I didn’t need to hang around to see you prove that. I shrugged and smiled to myself. The warmth from my ass felt surprisingly good and I hoped he might do that again.

People were gathering around the propane fire set up outside the tent, but they looked cold, even after they’d changed. The goth kid opened a bag of thermal blankets and started handing them out.

Simon, still in his bathing suit with a towel draped over his shoulders, wrapped one of the shiny emergency blankets around me. He held it closed at my waist and left his hands there. He leaned in, drilling me with his eyes. Get your project done?

I was enjoying his attention to me so much I almost forgot the lie I’d told the night before. Pretty much, I said.

He looked at me so sharply I wondered if he knew I wasn’t telling the truth. I flushed with guilt.

I don’t owe you anything.

Simon was pulling on his jacket from his duffle bag when a courier arrived with two insulated food bags. Simon tipped the delivery guy generously before handing out cups of hot chocolate from one bag and pointing to the warm muffins in the second.

I tried not to be impressed, but a handsome, well-mannered man who looked after others before helping himself was rare in my experience. When he returned and put his arm around me, I leaned into him.

With your project close to complete, does that mean you’re free for dinner tonight?

Unprepared for the invitation, I grinned with delight. Let me check my calendar, I said, pulling my phone from the pocket