Whatever greeting I expected from Aurelia when she opened the door, it wasn’t the tight hug and giddy kiss she planted on my lips.

“Uh... hi,” I said, off-balance.

Aurelia rolled her eyes, pulling back with a light chuckle.

“Screw you. I’m allowed to be happy to see you. It’s been forever.”

“It’s been two weeks,” I muttered, before shooting a feverish glance over her shoulder at the empty living room. “Finn’s not here?”

The last thing I needed was her burly boyfriend walking in on this.

“Relax.” She flashed a grin, stepping aside to let me in. “I’m not asking him to help set up his own surprise party. That’s your job.”

I groaned but followed anyway. Their place looked even cleaner than usual, a perfect blend of artsy, kitschy decor, bathed in golden light from the windows. She’d already cleared space around the room, stacks of solo cups and disposable plates arrayed on every surface.

Napoléon, Aurelia’s black cat, wound himself between my legs, flopping onto his back in a needy plea for attention. I might have given in, too, if it weren’t for the grocery bags biting into my fingers.

“I’m the only one helping out?” I asked, dropping my supplies on the counter.

“Nat’s coming over later,” Aurelia said offhand. “Just wanted some one-on-one time with you.”

Despite my efforts, her words lit a spark of excitement within me. It cut through the dull ache of jealousy whenever we spent time here, the home she shared with Finn, a constant reminder that I wasn’t the one she went to bed with at night.

“How lucky,” I sneered, before focusing on the mess piling up all around the kitchen counter. “So, what are we doing?”

Aurelia perked up, pointing at a large bowl. “I’m almost ready to bake the cake, just need you to prepare snacks.”

I swallowed, trying not to think of the last time she had me cooking for one of her boyfriends, five years ago. Before I ran to the other side of the world, away from her.

“But mostly, I wanted to talk,” she finished, tying a pink apron around her waist. “You had your big interview yesterday?”

“Yeah,” I shrugged. “Nat’ll probably be able to tell me if I’m hired. I think it went alright.”

“Better have. Disappearing on me to prepare? Hope there’s something to show for it.” 

Aurelia’s tone was light. Yet over the past few months, I’d come to realize just how desperate she could be for my attention. It felt unhealthy. She was dating someone else, and I was trying to rebuild my life. But I was starting to doubt I’d ever leave her orbit again, even after years apart. 

I chuckled, working on a melon salad.

“Now, before I get all gushy, I need to scold you,” she said, casual as ever. “I had lunch with your mom last Sunday.”

My hand froze mid-scoop.

“Why didn’t you tell her that you were back in town?”

“It’s none of your business,” I cut in a little too sharp.

“It literally is. She almost started crying in the café. Wouldn’t kill you to visit her.”

“Just drop it.”

Avoiding her eyes, I could still feel her stare burning me. 

“You’re such an asshole. You’re so smart people just let you get away with being shitty. They always have.”

I snorted. The girl every guy fawned over and bent over backward for was telling me people weren’t always honest.

She crossed the distance between us and grasped my elbow.

“I’m sorry,” she said softly. “You get me riled up for no reason sometimes. Just promise you’ll call her.”

Fat chance. “Sure…”

“Wait,” I continued after enjoying the feeling of her body against my back for a second. “I get you riled up?”

Aurelia chuckled. With both of us barefoot and standing so close, she had to look up a little. Not much.

“Yeah, I mean… You remember what I did for you, right? With the guy from the gym…”

“Leo,” I let out, my entire body thrumming. This was our first time talking about any of that outside of those impulsive moments.

“Leo, that’s right.” She pressed her forehead against my shoulder, as if to hide her blush. “Or the nightclub. God, I can’t believe I actually blew that guy. In public too. You make me do the craziest things.”

I lifted her chin. There was a shy smile on her lips, so out of character. I erased it with a light kiss.

“You make me feel so bold,” she whispered. “I love that feeling.”

Looking around, with the preparations for her boyfriend’s party strewn all over, her words seemed hollow.

“Finn doesn’t make you feel like that?”

Aurelia winced, but maintained eye contact.

“Finn’s not you. He’s dumb and fun. But there’s no future there, it’s not scary. Ever since you came back, I’ve been terrified of messing things up with you.”

“And he can see it as well.” Her voice kept coming. “We’re open, and he knows you and I spend a lot of time together. He made me promise I wouldn’t fuck you when we first ran into each other.”

I tried to remember the few times we’d gotten close. She had denied me. For him.

“You shouldn’t be dating someone you don’t see a future with,” I said, mouth going dry.

“The sex is nice. He’s exciting to be around. It’s not like anyone more interesting asked me to be his girlfriend.”

I held my breath. I’d spent so long convincing myself I was over her.

“Break up with him. Be with me.”

Aurelia’s face lit up. She bit her lip. “Took you long enough.”

She pressed her lips to mine, before pulling back with a smirk.

“I don’t want to end things with Finn right before his thirtieth, so tonight I’m with him.”

The idea hit me like a truck. One last night with Finn. Her body under his, for the last time before we could get back together. I pulled her against me and I could feel my cock stiffening at the thought. 

She giggled, chest pressing on mine.

“I knew you’d love that. Later tonight I…”

The doorbell rang.

“This must be Nat. Fuck, what time is it?”

The oven was, of course, not showing the correct time. 

“I need to get ready. Can you open for her?”

Aurelia was already out of the kitchen.

“And keep an eye on the cake,” she shot over her shoulder.

I splashed cold water over my face, readjusted my pants, and went for the door.

“Hey, Tom,” Nat chirped, not the least bit surprised to see me here. 

She was wearing a breezy black dress, dark hair twisted up in a delicate chignon that bared her neck.

“Hi.” I looked over her head at the empty hallway. No fiancé. “Jim’s not here?”

“Ugh. Working late. Again.”

She slipped past me. Unlike Aurelia, she had to get up on tiptoes to wrap her arms around my neck. It felt wrong to have her so close. And the little squeal she let out caught me completely off guard.

“What was that for?” I chuckled when she peeled off me.

“Think, dumbass.” Nat rolled her eyes, a big grin on her lips.

Oh right. “I got the job?”

“Yeah, and I’m getting a juicy referral bonus. Your new boss has been bragging about snatching you up all day. So when she sends the offer, don’t fuck me over and sign it, okay? Mama needs her money.”

“It’s nice to feel supported by such an altruistic friend.”

Nat punched my shoulder. “Shut up, you’d be working your shitty PowerPoint job into your forties without me.” 

She looked around at the balloons and plastic cups. “Aurelia has you doing prep work for Finn’s party? Typical.”

Between Aurelia’s decision and the news from Nat, the day had turned out too great for me to even try and be embarrassed. I felt on top of the world.

===

I realized I knew next to no one when the guests started showing up. Nat had clearly been more exposed to Finn’s preppy friends before. She made polite conversation, but mostly hovered next to me.

Aurelia, on the other hand, was fluttering all over. Emerald really was her color. Her dress hugged her pale figure, highlighting her red hair. Her green eyes sparkled, basking in the attention as everyone tried to get a piece of the charming hostess, before the birthday boy showed up.

Finn was fashionably late. We hid as best we could, but when he opened the door with another batch of friends trailing behind him, it was obvious the “surprise” part of Aurelia’s plan had been unsuccessful.

I was sitting by a window, petting Napoléon, my companion while Nat “took a lap”, when Finn finally acknowledged my existence.

“Tom,” he said, patting my shoulder. “Nice to see you could make it.”

The gesture felt patronizing more than friendly. As per usual, he towered over me. 

But now I knew he had to ask Aurelia not to sleep with me. And soon there’d be nothing he could do about that.

“I got here early,” I shrugged. “Aurelia needed my help.” 

“Right.” His smile turned sour.

I felt like a giant.

That lasted all of four seconds, until Aurelia sneaked past me and wrapped her arm around his waist, pressing herself into him, reaching up for a peck.

“Hey, baby,” she said as his hand came to rest low on her side. “How are you enjoying your party? I can’t get a second to breathe.”

Finn’s answer was to almost lift her off her feet and lean in for an open-mouth kiss, barely a meter away from me.

The familiar ache settled in my chest. It dulled my good mood and made it impossible for me to look away. I craved that sharp heat too much.

Aurelia giggled, steadying herself with a hand on his chest as she leaned up to whisper something in his ear.

“I can’t wait to open that present,” Finn chuckled, not noticing the little look she shot me.

“I need a refill,” I blurted, fleeing to the kitchen. 

I spent five minutes staring at bottles, pretending to decide what to pour for myself. Long enough that someone tapped my shoulder.

“Sorry, I’ll…” 

My excuse died on my lips. Bela was looking at me, a miserable look on her face. She hadn’t talked to me since we stopped hooking up, months ago.

“Bela, what are you doing here?”

“Hi Tom.” She didn’t meet my eyes. “Aurelia and I kept in touch after that night we all partied together.”

She let her sentence trail off.

“Anyway, I found out she was dating Finn. I’ve been a huge fan of his band forever, so the three of us kinda… We’ve been talking.”

“Oh, okay.” That was random.

“My train was late, looks like I missed the surprise,” she sighed.

“If that makes you feel better, Finn missed it too.”

Bela gave a polite little laugh. “I hope it’s not too awkward that I’m here…”

“No, I know like three people tonight. It’s nice to see a familiar face. Besides, water under the bridge, right?”

“Yeah.”

Her tone sounded unsure, but she gave me a quick hug, then bolted out of there. That settled it, I poured myself straight Bourbon.

I headed back to the living room, just in time for a guy wearing a silk scarf to call for everyone’s attention.

“Finn!” he shouted. “Come over here! And bring Aurelia too!”

The two made their way through the thin crowd to stand with whoever that was. I was trying to remember his name. Matt, maybe?

Finn and Aurelia looked fantastic together. His tall frame filled his tailored shirt, and she pressed into him, reveling in his arm locked securely across her back. Meanwhile, I had to squirm around to be able to see over people’s shoulders.

“First of all, we all wanna thank Aurelia for organizing this party all on her own.” He raised his glass. “You did amazing!”

Aurelia met the half-assed clapping with a graceful blush.

“Now, for the man of the hour. Thirty. Hard to believe…”

I zoned out at this point of the speech, started making faces at Nat across the room. She batted me away, trying to be respectful, but couldn’t hide her smile.

“...That’s why me and some other friends pooled money together to get you two a little something.”

Craning around the person in front of me, I managed to see Matt pull an envelope from inside his vest and dramatically hand it to Finn.

His eyes bulged as he read out whatever was inside.

“Guys, this is too much,” he said with a big grin, passing it along to Aurelia, who had the same reaction.

“Nonsense. You two better start packing, because in a month, you’re off for two weeks at Saint Barts.”

I felt my stomach drop. Two weeks together. Aurelia’s gaze snapped to mine over the crowd, and I could see the same unease in her eyes.

===

Nat made me promise I wouldn’t leave until she did. 

Unfortunately, it turned out that one of Finn’s friends was dating her old college roommate. The two spent hours catching up, and when I finally tried to grab my coat, Nat shot me a black look until I sank back down on the couch.

People were beginning to filter out, and I nursed my fifth drink, determined to make it the last of the night. I could see Bela and Finn standing close together next to the dining table, sharing a discreet laugh. Their obvious chemistry really irked me for some reason.

I needed to get out of here.

“Tom?” Aurelia’s voice called behind me, hands landing softly on my shoulders. “Do you have a minute?”

“Anything to get off this couch.”

I accepted her help pulling me up to my feet, her fingers lingering for a second too long as I managed to find my balance.

“Follow me,” she whispered.

She led me into the little home office off the living room, the one with the desk and the narrow twin bed they also used as a guest bedroom.

I heard the door lock behind me.

“Are you okay?” Aurelia asked, worry tingeing her tone as she held on to my hand. “You had a lot to drink.”

“I’m alright. Don’t worry.”

She peered at me for a second, face way too close to mine. She wasn’t exactly sober either.

“Good, it’s almost time for Finn’s present, and I want you to be able to enjoy it too.”

I was about to ask what any of that meant when she started unbuttoning my shirt.

“What are you doing?” 

Aurelia was already tugging my sleeves down my arms. 

“Get naked.” She smiled sweetly. “Or you can go home, your choice.”

I grunted and let her work on my belt. She dropped to her knees in front of me, and when she pulled down my underwear, she pressed a quick peck to my rapidly hardening cock.

“Hello, you,” she cooed. “Missed me?”

Were we about to have sex? With all of her boyfriend’s friends on the other side of the door. One last defiance before their actual breakup?

“Get on the bed,” she said.

I almost ran, too turned on by the expectation and her bossy tone to even try to argue. Aurelia rummaged through one of the desk drawers, then turned back toward me.

“Under the covers.”

A second later, I had the duvet pulled up to my chest. Should I hold it up for her to get in? But she was still fully clothed. My hopes were dashed.

“Good. Do you trust me?”

I nodded, and she pulled her hand from behind her back, revealing a pair of pink, fluffy handcuffs.

“What…” 

She pressed her index finger to my lips, then sat next to me on the mattress. 

“I want to make sure you stay in bed. Is that okay?”

“What’s Finn’s present?” I asked.

“It’s a surprise. You’ll love it, don’t worry. So, with or without the cuffs?”

I looked into her eyes. There was an intensity there. I wanted to fan it.

“With.”

“Perfect,” she leaned for a quick kiss, then locked the cuff around my left wrist. I looked up to watch her thread it through the headboard, and raised my other arm to help her secure it as well. 

Aurelia let my tied hands rest on the mattress, then slid a pillow over them. With my head lying on top of it, you couldn’t tell I was locked under there. Especially after she pulled the duvet all the way up to my chin. 

“You look really comfy,” she said after another kiss, on my nose this time. “I’m going back out there. Please try to stay awake. I don’t want you to miss Finn’s surprise.”

“What if someone comes in?” I asked.

“Just pretend to sleep.” Aurelia was already heading out. ”I’ll say I got you here because you had too much to drink. Don’t worry, I’m going to start kicking people out.”

“I promised Nat I’d keep her company,” I chuckled. “She’s going to kill me.”

She paused by the switch.

“Sometimes you need to take one for the team,” she said, then turned off the lights. “I’m usually the one doing it.”

The door closed behind her. Just like that, I was alone, naked, and handcuffed in the dark.

For a while, all I could hear was the blood rushing in my head. Aurelia’s words had dulled the rest of the world, but as I calmed down, I’d catch fragments of conversations, chairs raking against the floor, footsteps. The party was finally dying down.

The booze turned the relative silence into a low hum. I could feel the bed pitch under me if I focused too hard, making me regret that last drink. Surprisingly, the cuffs didn’t strain my arms. The soft mattress let them sink to accommodate the strange posture, and the pillow cushioned the weight of my head on them.

My bare skin prickled under the duvet. Eventually, my erection eased, and the last guests left.

With a discreet creaking sound, the door opened again, but just wide enough to let a ribbon of light spill into the room.

I closed my eyes and remained still, remembering Aurelia’s instructions.

But no one came in. Instead, I heard a pair of heels walk away to rejoin a muffled conversation.

It was half-whispered, with contained laughter sparking here and there. I could make out Aurelia’s voice, and Finn’s. But there was a third, another woman.

Even without being able to figure out his words, he sounded absurdly confident, in control. Aurelia had her conspirational inflexions, but she seemed almost subdued, so different than when she was with me.

The third was bashful, maybe embarrassed, but certainly eager. I dug into my brain, trying to recognize her, until I heard a light giggle.

Bela.

Fuck. Everything clicked in my head. Bela’s awkwardness during our conversation, Aurelia teasing Finn, Finn and Bela’s comfort with each other. She was the birthday present.

I almost groaned.

My erection came back in a heartbeat, wedging itself between the covers and my belly, as if to pin me down to the bed.

For a moment, there was not much talking, but then I clocked the sounds of lips smacking. Who was making out? After another silence, laughter erupted, the kind of laughter that washed awkward moments away.

I bucked against the duvet and pulled on the cuffs. 

Finn had to be on top of the world. His gorgeous girlfriend had enrolled another woman for a threesome to close out his birthday party. The party I’d helped her prepare.

It was all too much, like I would not be able to handle the pressure in my chest. But I took a deep breath. The duvet smelled like Aurelia, and she was the one who’d tucked me under it. Around my wrists were her cuffs. She’d put so much thought into this. For me.

I was so absorbed in my own swirling thoughts that I barely realized the three of them were stepping away by the time I resurfaced.

A pair of heels clicked toward me while the others faded. “I’ll be a minute!” Aurelia shouted from the other side. The office door opened, letting in some more light from the living room.

“You okay?” she whispered, kneeling next to me, her face just above mine.

“Yeah.”

“I hope you appreciated the surprise guest. But I can let you go if you need. They’re already in the bedroom.”

She reached out and brushed the hair out of my eyes. 

I shook my head. “I’m good. Can’t hear much though.”

“Good.” Aurelia sounded pleased. “I’ll leave the door open, but you need to be really discreet.” Her hair brushed my face as she leaned to press a kiss to my forehead. “Try to enjoy, I’ll check on you after… After we’re done.”

Her scent drifted over me as she slipped out of the room. 

“Did I miss anything?” she called, her voice quieting as she rejoined Finn and Bela.

The giggling returned. I could picture the two, holding each other on the bed, pretending that Aurelia caught them in the act.

“Where’d you go?” Finn asked. “We almost started without you.”

He must have closed the bedroom door behind her, because their conversation became a lot less clear, forcing my mind to fill in the gaps.

I did my best, imagining that Finn’s low words were commands for Bela and Aurelia to get naked. That the silences which would periodically fill the air were kisses, or caresses. When one of the girls squealed, it was him, playfully throwing her onto the mattress, letting her enjoy his strength and stature.

But the creaks of the bed left no doubt. Who was he fucking first? What was the other doing? Watching? Encouraging? Helping out? The image of Aurelia’s mouth traveling down Bela’s body was not as hard-hitting as the things I’d seen her do, but it still got my blood pumping.

It had been years since Aurelia and I last had sex, but my time with Bela was only a few months away. But I could tell neither of them had ever made so much noise with me.

Every high-pitched little cry would tighten my heart, making me reel in the jealousy I craved so much.

I was throbbing, rubbing against the fabric to extract all the stimulation I could.

===

Aurelia’s soft touch stirred me from sleep. I pulled, but my hands were still tied.

“Tom,” she whispered.

Panicked, I opened my eyes. The light was on, the door closed. She was leaning over me, naked, flushed, smiling. My gaze trailed down, following a bead of sweat rolling over her heaving chest. 

“I fell asleep,” I whimpered.

“Yeah, we did too. They’re in the shower now, we have a bit of time.”

She pulled the cover off, revealing my prone body and surprisingly hard cock.

“You guys were at it forever,” I said, struggling with the whiplash of our casual-sounding conversation.

“Meh, a lot of it was just lying there. Bela is a big cuddler,” she explained, stepping over me. “Did you cum?”

“How am I supposed to cum in this position?”

Aurelia chuckled. “I thought… Never mind.”

I could finish that sentence for her. She thought I’d come without any touch needed. The sting of that idea was softened by her plush thighs settling on mine, straddling me. 

From there, she ran her palms over my chest, making it explode with tingles as I took in the view.

“Did you cum?” I asked, mirroring her question.

She looked me in the eyes, staying silent for a second, before softly grasping my cock with one hand.

“Yeah. I told you. Finn’s good.”

I moaned and felt myself twitch between her fingers. 

With the way she was straddling me, I could see her clean-shaven pussy, with only my length in the way. I couldn’t quite tell if she looked swollen, reddened, or wet.

“Did he finish inside you?” The question slipped out, making me cringe at my own obsession.

Aurelia leaned into me, pressing her free hand over my heart. I could smell her sweat, and maybe something else. Or was I just inventing it?

“Not with Bela there. We had to use a condom.”

“But usually you don’t,” I pushed.

“He’s my boyfriend. He gets to fuck me raw.”

She gave my cock a weak twist.

“You’d love to see that, wouldn’t you?” she teased, slowly jerking me off. “Too bad I’m breaking up with him to be with you.”

The rational part of me knew what I should answer. Somehow it lost.

“You should wait after the trip,” I groaned.

Genuine shock played over her face.

“What?” she hissed, but she didn’t let go of me. She gripped me harder.

“It’s a two-week trip, paid for. And it’s only a month from now. We can keep this going and be together when you come back.”

I blurted out the justification as if they mattered. All I wanted was to see his release inside her, and I’d tell her anything for it.

Aurelia’s usual confidence returned. She steadied herself and increased the pace. She knew me so well.

“What about you?” Her voice was lower. “What if you meet a geeky girl at your new job during those six weeks?”

“I won’t date anyone,” I pleaded. “I don’t need to.”

“That’s right. You don’t need sex. You only need me. And what I give you.”

I nodded, thrusting into her hand, putting as much urgency in the movement as I could.

“Even if I only let you overhear, or watch from a distance. No other girl knows how to take care of you.”

My body arched, eyes closed.

“No other girl knows what you need.”

Aurelia pressed my cock to my stomach right as it started spurting. I sent rope after rope over my belly, up my chest. She gently stroked my length to pull out any remains.

Keeping her eyes on me, and her loving smile on her lips, she rubbed my arms, my shoulders, my neck, helping me catch my breath.

Without a word, she got off my lap and grabbed a pair of tissues from the desk. 

“Here, let me help you.”

I watched, a little dazed, as she cleaned the cum from my skin.

“Thanks,” I croaked.

Whatever I sounded like, that must have touched her, because she pressed her lips to mine, for our longest kiss in forever.

“You feeling okay?” she asked as she undid the cuffs.

Nodding, I rubbed the slight bruising on my wrists. “You?”

“Yeah, that was a fun night,” she said, just a tad too meek.

I pulled her into my arms, hoping she wouldn’t mind the smell of my own release.

“Didn’t know you were into girls,” I tried to tease.

“I’m not. Bela is cute, but she’s got nothing on Finn. Or you.”

She buried her nose in my neck.

“Did you mean it?” I felt the hot air of her question against my skin. “What you said about the trip.”

“I did.” 

She pulled away to lock eyes with me.

“I meant it too. I don’t want you dating or sleeping with anyone else.”

Her determination warmed my heart.

“I won’t.”

“Good.” I was rewarded with another kiss. “You should get going, they won’t be long.”

===

The street was deserted when I emerged from Aurelia’s building, empty yellow-lit pavement stretching in either direction.

It was maybe four or five in the morning. I knew I should get home. I needed to hand in my resignation in a few hours. But I crossed the road and sat on the edge of the curb.

In my pocket, I found the cigarette pack and lighter I’d bummed at some point during the party. The sting of the nicotine and burn of the smoke felt like it was draining so much pressure away from me.

Six weeks wouldn’t be that long, would it?

Before I could enjoy my self-pity any longer, the building’s glass door opened again. Bela stared at me from across the street, wide-eyed.

Gingerly, she made her way toward me.

“Hey, what are you doing here?” she asked, voice tensed.

“Me and a bunch of people just wrapped up the after.” I was unusually quick on my feet.

“Oh, okay. I uh… I stayed back to help Aurelia clean the apartment.”

I looked up at her black hair, clinging to her face, still wet from the shower.

“That’s nice of you.”

She dropped next to me, smelling like Aurelia’s body-wash.

“I need to wait for my Uber. Didn’t know you were a smoker,” she said, snatching a cigarette of her own from the pack I’d left on the ground.

I chuckled, holding up the lighter for her. “I try to keep it occasional.”

We sat in silence, trading drags until she finally spoke.

“I really wish we hadn’t fucked things up.”

I looked over. She had her knees tucked under her chin.

“What do you mean?”

“With sex. I wish we’d taken it more seriously. We could have tried dating.”

“I don’t know. Looked like you moved on pretty quick.”

I couldn’t even remember the name of the guy she was with at the nightclub. She got my meaning.

“Yeah, right. Because girls always bring the guy they’re sleeping with, and living with, to meet their dates. I was trying to make you jealous. Asshole.”

She sighed and let her head rest on my shoulder, her damp hair brushing my jaw.

“And you told me to sleep with him.”

I wished I could get mad at myself for fumbling my chance with the warm woman leaning against me. But all I could think about was Aurelia, lying in bed next to another man while we sat out here.

This time, the silence lingered until a car pulled up a few meters away. 

“See you around, Tom,” Bela whispered, pressing a peck on my cheek.  “Don't tell Marco about the smoking.”

I snorted, not sure if the cigarette was the part of the night her brother would take issue with.