As Blake woke to the unwelcome sound of his alarm, he felt the cool of air-conditioning blowing across his bare ass, exposed amid the swirl of sheets strewn over the rest of him. Sleeping naked was not a normal practice, but last night was different.
Blake's family had departed for the week to visit family, while job commitments mandated he remain behind. So last night he indulged himself with strong whiskey, delicious, kinky porn, an hour of edging and self gratification. Then he drifted off to sleep without bothering to cleanup his mess. He'd wash the sheets later today. Working from his home office afforded him that luxury.
Still nude, Blake strolled into the kitchen to brew some coffee. As he passed through his living room, He looked out the window at the house next door, lights on and curtains open in every room, as always. He didn't bother to cover himself up.
When Blake and his family bought their house, they didn't care that it would be built right next door to the builder's model home. They were just happy to get the home that they wanted in the midst of escalating real estate prices. They'd moved in a year after that and barely noticed having what was essentially a nicely appointed real estate office next door. Excess traffic and street parking were never an issue, plus it was very well-kept for obvious reasons. Perhaps the 24x7 lighting situation was the only real nuisance.
Since that time, the original sales person had moved on and a new full time agent had settled in as their Monday through Saturday neighbor of sorts. Blake and his wife had even made a point a few months ago to say hello and introduce themselves to Katie, the new agent. While she didn't actually live there, their thinking was that it's always good to know who's next door.
Katie was around Blake's age, late thirties, a well groomed professional with medium length, brown, wavy hair. Average height and build, casually dressed most times that Blake saw her out front. He thought her attractive if not a little understated; polite but somewhat distant. Nonetheless, she was good for a waive and a hello whenever outside. In the half year since moving in, they'd not set foot inside the model since their purchase and building project had concluded.
After dressing into jeans and a pullover shirt, Blake's workday was much like any other Thursday: video calls throughout the day, email upon email, a break for lunch early afternoon and a final call to end his day around four. He took time for a run on his treadmill after that.
Blake was in fantastic shape for a thirty-something, working father of two teenagers. He was tall, sandy brown hair with a hint of salt forming on his sideburns. He was naturally muscular, with remnants of a six-pack remaining, and just barely managed to fit in the clothes he had right out of college.
Stationed in the extra bedroom, the treadmill sat next to the window that faced the office space in Katie's model home next door. While it was difficult to see through both of the windows in the daytime, he always imagined that Katie, or whomever, could see through sufficiently to watch him running. So today, like some others, he gave in to his ego and ran shirtless, sweat pouring off of him.
A little later he headed out the garage door for the short drive to the shopping center to replenish his bourbon supply as well as pick up something to cook for dinner. While a lustful man at heart, he was also patient and would save for later any thoughts about how to spend another evening on his own.
As he approached his car he noticed half a dozen vehicles parked out front next door, much more than normal. He saw Katie lifting a box out of her own car. "You having a party over there or what?" He shouted.
"Hosting a happy hour and open house for some of the local realtors tonight!" Was her reply. "There will be lots more cars around so I apologize for the nuisance!"
"No problem. I'm just disappointed I wasn't invited." Blake joked in response.
"Then go get your real estate license!" Katie hollered back.
Blake laughed as he shut the car door and waived to her as he drove past.
Returning from the store he found twice the previous number of cars parked at his end of the block. Thankfully no-one had been inconsiderate enough to block his driveway so he pulled in, headed into the house and closed the garage door.
His earlier, albeit brief conversation with Kati drifted through his mind as he organized his ingredients for the cajun chicken dish he planned. He recalled that she had looked more alluring than normal, her silk blouse slightly tighter on her breasts, perhaps more attention paid to her hair. Either way, he also imagined her an adventurous lover; a restrained exterior concealing a boundless appetite for the erotic. The fantasy stirred a welcome reaction inside him, and his hand found the growing bulge in his jeans, massaging himself, indulging the idea for a moment before getting back to his meal. "More of that later." he thought to himself.
Later, as the sun was setting, Blake was halfway into his first whiskey of the night and Sade was playing sensuously through his kitchen from his portable speaker. He was heating a skillet for his one-man dinner when the lights throughout the house flickered twice, then everything went dark.
His first reaction was not to react, and remain motionless. There was a sliver of twilight soaking in from outdoors, so after a moment for his eyes to adjust, he could safely navigate around the kitchen. Next, he located a flashlight in a kitchen drawer and turned off the electric stove burner, just in case he was elsewhere whenever the power returned.
After that he did what everyone does when the power goes out, he walked out front to see if the lights were off at his neighbor's homes. Not surprisingly, most of the other homeowners were outside as well, confirming that the power situation was bigger than just Blake's problem. This included the twenty or so guests attending Katie's open house. They appeared as a mob-like silhouette on the patio and sidewalk, talking and chattering to one another. Blake made small talk with the neighbor across the street but couldn't make out where, or even if, Katie was in the midst of the next door crowd.
After fifteen minutes of darkening conditions, and still no electricity, some of Katie's guests headed to their vehicles to leave. Blake went back inside.
Without much to really do he used his mobile phone to call his wife. He told her the story of what was happening and asked whether she had any candles around the house that he might use to preserve his flashlight batteries. Twenty minutes later he'd located a more than ample supply, had the main part of the house softly lit, and was standing around, again wondering what to do next.
Walking back out front, he observed that the crowd next door had nearly dissipated. Blake could make out Katie on the sidewalk talking to what appeared to be her final guest saying goodbye. He walked over as Katie was left standing alone on the sidewalk.
"So much for your open house, huh?"
"Yeah, Sucks for timing. But that's not the worst of it. I called my boss who says I have to stay here in case any other invitees stop by. He doesn't want them to see a closed up model, especially if the power comes back on after I've left."
"Makes sense, but that still kinda sucks." Blake shook his head.
"So I'm stuck here in the pitch black for two more hours." a disgusted tone in her voice. "I have this old flashlight but it must have dead batteries." She held it up, clicking the switch back and forth.
"Hey, I've got a stockpile of candles. Why don't I bring some over?" his tone less neighborly and perhaps more flirty.
"Oh, that would be awesome! Thank you! I'm not about to sit in there by myself in the dark."
A few minutes later Blake was back, finding Katie still on the front porch alone in the dark. He motioned for her to open the door, "Come on, Let's go light this place up."
Using Blake's flashlight they made their way to the main living area toward the back of the house and positioned candles in various places in the living, dining and kitchen areas. He noticed a broad arrangement of liquor and food on the kitchen counter and remembered his uncooked dinner at home. "Looks like you had quite a spread here. Too bad that's all for nothing."
"Have some if you want." Katie offered.
"Don't mind if I do."
Blake served himself a plate full of lasagna and checked again with Katie before pouring a glass of red wine to go with it. "Ok if I pour some wine too? You can't let that go to waste!" he joked.
"Go for it! While you're at it, refill mine too!"
They made small talk in the semi darkness over the next forty-five minutes, talking about the crazy real estate market and the neighborhood, refilling their glasses multiple times in that span. Katie sat on the chair as Blake took the couch to use the coffee table for his plate. Her restrained personality had loosened up noticeably, and she asked where Blake's family was, since they had not appeared out front. Responding to his explanation of their whereabouts, Katie probed further, "So you're something of a bachelor on your own this week, huh?"
Blake liked the tone of her question. In the warm candle glow surrounding them, it was tough to see her expression, but she was definitely staring straight at him. He also noticed that at some point during their conversation, her silk blouse had become unbuttoned a little more, and he strained discretely yet unsuccessfully to get a look at her cleavage.
"I am alone indeed." his answer trailing off as he chugged the last of his wine.
"Let me fill that for you." Katie said, taking his glass and making her way to the kitchen. She was a little less steady on her feet, Blake noticed.
