"Now, that's the way to start the new year," I murmured offhandedly.
It was a little after 10PM on December 31st. I was at our friend Lisa's apartment, watching the muted TV, as it broadcast the streets of Rio de Janeiro.
"I'm glad you're enjoying yourself!" Lisa exclaimed genuinely, having thought I was complimenting her party rather than the Brazilian New Year celebration. Heather touched my arm to prevent me from correcting the misunderstanding.
Lisa flitted around to her other guests, checking for refills or any other needs. She was tall and beautiful, with a petite frame but long legs. She had pronounced cheekbones, and generally looked like Tao Okamoto. Tonight, she wore a short black sequined cocktail dress and black stockings.
"This IS fun," I conceded apologetically to Heather.
"I know!" Heather agreed. "And everyone looks so good in black. Lisa came up with a good theme."
"Is 'Everyone wear black' really a theme?" I asked, cheekily.
"It could be! But you know Lisa said we were dressing in black in mourning for the year that's ending. And then at midnight, she's gonna bring out a birthday cake with the champagne, in celebration of the new year."
"Right, right. And why did you buy me all-black boxer briefs?" I inquired.
"Oh, just something else Lisa mentioned. Don't worry about it. Besides, they look really sexy on you."
"Well, this turtleneck/skirt combo looks really sexy on you," I replied.
"Sure," Heather acknowledged with feigned skepticism. She knew she was gorgeous and she had picked this sweater to accentuate her 34Ds. "Then, why do you keep glancing over at Quinn and Kira?"
"Obviously because they both look really sexy in all black too," I figuratively stuck my tongue out at Heather.
Heather returned my teasing look. "Have you subscribed to Kira's OnlyFans yet?"
"Of course not!" I asserted honestly.
"You should," Heather shrugged. "She showed me one of her videos. She's pretty sexy in any color outfit...and no outfit at all." Heather winked at me.
"I can't believe she actually started an OnlyFans," I shook my head good-naturedly.
"I can't believe Frank and Wysteria are here," Heather said. "Frank has gotten even more weird and jealous lately. I'm kinda surprised he's letting her out to see her friends."
I looked over at the beer pong table. Frank was at one end, wearing a heavy black button up, black pants, and black boots. His sleeves were rolled up to display his hairy arms. He looked a bit out of place, as everyone around him was over a decade younger.
That included his girlfriend, Wysteria, who was about two decades younger. At 24, she was the youngest person here by a couple years. Wysteria was slender and beautiful with straight red hair falling over one shoulder. Every exposed inch of skin was covered in a variety of tattoos, which melded together into a tapestry of free expression. She was wearing a black deep-neck romper that made it clear her 32Bs were braless. Her stilettos made her look taller than her real 5'4". When you could get close enough to see, her hazel eyes shone with unrealized optimism. She looked like Halsey, but with a chest tattoo.
"Well, it's nice to see Wysteria at least," I said.
"Right? I'm gonna go talk to her and tell her you said that. I think Frank probably wouldn't want to see you talking to her though, so you stay here. Or better yet, go ask Kira if she'll give you a friends and family discount."
We separated to mingle with our friends. As I approached Quinn, I looked her up and down appraisingly. Everybody, including Heather and Quinn, knew I had a crush on Quinn. How could I not? She was a beautiful, blue-eyed blonde who was witty and naturally, almost reflexively, flirtatious. Although she had started as Heather's coworker, I saw Quinn as often as Heather did these days. But despite all our chemistry, we never risked taking anything beyond friendship. Still, I couldn't help but appreciate her trim belly, framed in black by her bando top, her unzipped leather jacket, and her form-fitting pants.
Kira, it seemed, was not as lucky when it came to flirting with Quinn as I was.
"Maybe some other time," Quinn was saying shortly.
"Come on! I know you're into girls." Kira argued.
"Yeah, and I know you're not!" Quinn retorted sharply. "You're just trying to hook up with me so you can tell guys that you fuck girls occasionally."
"What's wrong with that?" Kira affected an innocent expression. "It was fun last New Year's Eve, wasn't it?"
Quinn squinted and pursed her lips. She looked like she was going to say something else, but decided against it, and walked off to watch the beer pong game.
"Ryan, you think you could help me get in there?" Kira asked without looking at me.
I stopped watching Quinn walk away, and turned to my other friend. Kira's large blue eyes were almost enough to hold any guy's attention. Almost. Kira had a way of making any outfit fashionable, and tonight was no exception. She wore a black almost sheer corset top that was just dark enough to hide her nipples, but not dark enough to hide the glint of her piercings. She wore black high-waisted trousers and black flats. I followed the vast expanse of exposed skin, from the tops of her small breasts, over her bare shoulders, and down her long, toned arms.
"How would I do that?" I finally asked.
"Put in a good word for me! I know you two are really close!" Kira gave me a suggestive look.
"Not quite that close. I don't think she'd listen to me on this," I informed Kira.
"Try!" Kira urged.
"Ok, WHY would I do that?" I almost repeated myself.
Kira placed her hand on my bicep and looked deep into my eyes. She took a step closer to me, and I felt like she was about to make a suggestion, when she was cut off.
"Attention please!" Lisa called. "Stop playing beer pong. It's time for a real adult game: Strip Never Have I Ever."
I looked quickly to my wife, who smiled at me knowingly. I got the idea this announcement wasn't a surprise to her.
"Oh, that could be fun," Kira commented, almost to herself.
My attention was then drawn to Frank and Wysteria, who seemed to be arguing.
"Oh come on!" Wysteria's voice broke out. "It's just a game. We're here to have fun with our friends. Can we at least play a few rounds? I probably won't even have to take anything off! You know I've already done everything."
That last point placated Frank. The quarrelling couple finally joined the crooked circle the rest of us had already formed on Lisa's furniture. As Wysteria drew near, I noticed that her black romper was patterned with black wisteria leaves, which I hadn't noticed from the distance I'd kept until now.
"Oooh, do the fiances wanna sit next to each other?" Quinn cooed.
"I think you're more excited about this than I am," Heather laughed.
"Probably!" Quinn agreed, her eyes twinkling. "You're my best friends! Here I'll trade with you, so you two can sit next to each other."
As Quinn and Heather shuffled around the living room, Kira spoke up. "Umm, idk if we're all wearing the same number of items to start off with..."
I looked down at myself and then over at Gerald. I was wearing a polo shirt, while Gerald was wearing a button up and tie.
Heather took her seat, next to me and across from Kira. "Well, too bad! Maybe next year, you won't dress so slutty." She winked at her friend. Kira reciprocated by giving Heather a middle finger.
Lisa hurriedly returned from refilling everyone's drinks. "Now, drink freely and get refills whenever you like. Tonight, this isn't a drinking game. Instead, if you've never done the thing, then you have to take off a piece of clothing."
Everyone in the room either nodded or just looked expectantly at Lisa. I'd bet none of us had ever played this version of the game before, but the title was pretty self-explanatory.
"Ok, I'll go first!" Lisa clapped her hands together excitedly. "Never have I ever.... had sex on a beach!"
I had never, so I untucked and removed my polo shirt, leaving my bare chest exposed to the room. I was a little worried about how quickly I had lost the shirt off my back in this game. But I kept thinking back to the look Heather gave me, and I had a feeling this was only an appetizer and not the evening's main course.
Quinn likewise took off her leather jacket, but her bando top kept her covered well enough.
Heather thought she was awfully clever, as she reached up under her turtleneck and removed her bra without showing any skin. The large lacy garment she dropped on the floor in front of us looked new to me.
We looked to Gerald, who hadn't taken anything off. "Honeymoon," he explained simply, which also gave us Lisa's experience then.
We looked to Wysteria and Frank, who also hadn't taken anything off. They shrugged, but didn't answer verbally. I guess we weren't gonna get anything more than a yes or no implied by their stripping.
"Speaking of," Lisa turned to us. "Where are you two taking your honeymoon?"
"Umm, we're not sure yet. My buddy Carlos just got back from somewhere called Paradissime. I haven't had a chance to talk to him yet, but I think he indicated that he had a good time there."
"Ok, my turn!" Kira interrupted anxiously. "Never have I ever done anal!"
We collectively waited a few seconds, but nobody moved to take anything off.
Kira seemed dumbstruck. "Y'all have ALL done anal!?"
I nodded, as did a few others I saw in my peripheral vision.
"Damn. Y'all are adventurous. Seems like that would hurt." Kira went on.
"Wait," Heather said. "Have you not done anal?"
"No!" Kira exclaimed. "TMI, but I'm very small. I don't think-"
"Then you've gotta take something off!" Lisa interrupted.
"What? No! It was my turn!" Kira was confused.
"Yeah, and you were supposed to ask about something that YOU have done but no one else has. Take something off!" Quinn pushed her friend.
Kira grumbled but took off her pants, leaving her in her nearly sheer corset top and bikini-cut black panties.
"Nice legs," Lisa complimented.
"Thanks," Kira was irritated but still genuinely accepted the compliments she craved. "I'll take that from you; you have some of the nicest legs I've ever seen."
"Never have I ever..." Gerald began his turn. "Wait, do you take something off if you've done it or not done it? Fuck, this phrasing IS confusing, Kira. Okay, take something off if you've never...masturbated in the shower."
Lisa took off her stockings, but no one else made a move.
"Babe!" Lisa cried.
"Sorry!" Gerald replied. "I didn't think you'd be the only one!"
"Never?" Kira asked.
"She can't really cum while standing up..." Heather informed the group, while Lisa blushed.
