He walked along the dark street wondering what he was doing there. He had been invited to the party by a friend he hardly knew. Accepting had been an automatic response. Jim was used to being invited out on certain holidays ever since his wife had passed away five years ago.
He hadn't dated anyone since that time, not feeling that the time was right yet. Days had become months had become years and he was still alone. Not that he needed the company. His three kids were usually around from time to time, although those times were getting farther in between. They were moving on in their young lives and making their own families now.
Every once in a while, Jim would have a night when he truly missed his wife. She had been all for him. Lover, mother, companion, best friend, Linda had been all for him for so long he just deep down felt that he would never replace her in his heart.
This party invite had been from a co-worker that he just didn't get. The guy was pretty intelligent, funny, and a great person all in all. He had some different beliefs though. Jim never really was able to get to know Bob real well, as Bob kept everyone at arms length for the most part. This party invite was the first time that anyone from work had heard of him doing such a thing.
Jim had accepted at first out of the auto-response, then later deciding to go out of curiosity. Jim wondered what kind of party he was going to be at. It was Halloween, and the kids were out in force trick-or-treating. Bob had just told him to come causal and not in costume. Jim was a bit grateful for that. He had never been one to dress up in costumes in the first place.
Arriving at Bob's house Jim was surprised to see that it was a very nice and large home. The yard was huge. Bob had decorated up the whole yard like a graveyard and kids were all over the place running around hiding and playing. Jim could see a large group of adults on the deck laughing and talking.
As he walked up the stairs, Bob came out and shook his hand. Turning he began to introduce Jim to all there.
"Hey everyone, this is Jim. He works with me and is the best co-worker a person could have. Also, for some of the ladies here tonight...he is single."
Everyone was saying hi and shaking his hand as Jim was wondering about that introduction. He had never mentioned that he was 'looking' in any way. Jim wondered why Bob had felt it necessary to add that single part as he had.
Finding himself to be having a great time in a very short while, Jim just went with the flow of the party. One particular lady kept close to him, talking to him every once in a while, but mostly just standing near enough that he could smell her perfume. She was very pretty and sensually dressed with an aura of openness about her that Jim hadn't seen in a woman in a long time.
As the party went on he soon found himself talking only to her. He found out that she was a friend of Bobs and that she was single. Her voice was warm and rich, sending a chill down his spine each time she laughed. She kept Jim laughing and soon they were all alone, in the crowd. A few other ladies came up and tried to work into the conversation, but it was obvious that Jim and this stranger were enjoying each other immensely. The other ladies would give up after a bit and leave them alone.
Bob came up to them and made sure that they were ok and having fun, just as a good host should. He eyed Jim carefully as he turned to walk away. Jim could see that there was a question in that glance.
Eventually he learned her name. As she told him, his mind went off into a dream world. He had a hard time concentrating for a bit as the crowd seemed to spin around him. When he got his equilibrium back he was first aware that she was asking him if he was okay.
"Yeah. I'm fine. Just got a bit...well...dizzy there for a second. Maybe too much to drink. I usually don't drink this much."
"Oh, so are you drunk enough that I can take advantage of you now?"
"Take advantage of me? Shouldn't that be me taking advantage of you instead?"
"Well, it is 2004 Jim. I guess a lady can take advantage of a man as well as he can try to take advantage of a woman."
"Try to take advantage?"
"Yes. Try. A man can try to take advantage, but a woman has to let it happen. Men on the other hand..."
"Are easy?"
"Some are more than others."
"Hope I'm not an easy one."
"You have no idea Jim. None whatsoever."
Whatever she had, all the men at the party seemed to want to get next to her. For whatever other reason, she had chosen Jim to be with. Jim didn't mind either. He felt quite lucky. She seemed to dominate the thoughts in his head unlike any other woman had ever done.
The longer they talked, the closer she stood to him. Soon, their bodies were brushing against each other, their faces almost close enough to be kissing. Jim was mesmerized by her beauty and voice. He also could tell from her conversation that her intelligence was very high too.
She lead him to talk of his past life, his late wife, his kids. She was easy to talk to and Jim found himself wondering about her. She had told him her name yet for some reason he couldn't remember it. He was about to ask her again when she looked right at him and as if reading his mind, told it to him again.
"Venus. Like the planet. Like the Goddess of love."
Once again Jim's head spun and he had a hard time concentrating. As her name left her lips he could have sworn that her eyes flashed with a fire and passion unlike any woman he had ever known.
They talked some more and soon the party was winding down. He wanted to keep talking to her as he was so entranced with every part of her by now. He also knew that it was time to go home and sleep. As he was about to tell her that he needed to go home, she asked him if he could give her a ride.
"I know this is a bit...forward, but could you give a lady a ride home? I see that the people who brought me have left already and I have no way home now."
"That would be my pleasure. It's probably my fault anyway, capitalizing your time tonight like I have been. The least I could do is take you home."
"I'll get my things. Be back in a minute."
As Jim stood there waiting, Bob came over.
"Hey, glad you made the party. Have a good time?"