I remember that day like it was yesterday, though it has been exactly five years since that night in the summer of 2008. I was 25 and working at an advertising agency, making my way slowly up the corporate ladder. I enjoyed my job, had a modest but nice one-bedroom apartment in the heart of the city, and had a beautiful girlfriend that I had recently started dating.
Five years ago today I got dressed for a night of drinks and debauchery; however, I had no idea how accurate that description would turn out to be. I took the subway to 14th Street near 5th Avenue and waited outside the bar for Ami, my girlfriend. Ten minutes after arriving, I spotted her striding in my direction from across the street. Although petite, she walked with a confidence that was very attractive. Standing at only 5-1, Ami's slight frame, doll-like Asian features, and light complexion gave the false sense of fragility; nothing could be further from the truth. Ami was intelligent, had a mischievous sense of humor, and had proven to be quite adventurous in bed. She enjoyed anal sex immensely and loved bondage play; she especially loved being tied up during oral sex. We had even talked about picking up another person at a bar sometime for a threesome.
I leaned down to kiss her. Looking beautiful as always, she wore a white ruffled cocktail dress with spaghetti straps, and a thick black belt just under the bust. Stopping above the knee, Ami's dress showed off her toned legs, which were accentuated by her silver stilettos. At 5-10 with blond hair and an athletic build from my years of playing lacrosse, I sometimes wondered we looked odd to people when I stood next to my petite, Japanese girlfriend.
Born in Tokyo, Ami moved to America with her family when she was four. Although she spoke fluent Japanese due to her parents' insistence on a bilingual household, Ami was otherwise completely Americanized. I met her while attending a meeting in another office building. She was the personal assistant of one of the attendees, and I was immediately struck by her beautiful eyes and her graceful movements. As the meeting broke up, I passed her my card with a note on the back asking for her to email me. She did, and three months later, I escorted her to a seat at the bar. The place was one of the many homages to the speakeasy era now multiplying all over New York.
The room was fairly masculine in decor, with dark mahogany throughout. However, the red velvet accents and candles set on the tables added the hint of romance that allowed both sexes to be comfortable. The bartender (or mixologist) was a young guy, perhaps 30 years-old, with a trim beard and dark hair. Ami settled on a Sidecar, while I decided to have my standby - a classic Gin Martini. My cocktail was mixed perfectly, with exactly the right amount of vermouth. Ami complimented the bartender on her drink as we fell into conversation about what had been going on since we had last seen each other.
I had just finished my drink when I stood up to go to the restroom; that's when I noticed a striking woman sitting two stools down from Ami. In retrospect, I don't know how I could have missed her. She was at the bar alone, sipping a dark drink in a coupe glass. As I passed her, two things struck me - her vibrant, red hair that fell below her shoulders, matched by bright red lipstick, and her silver-gray eyes that followed me as I walked past. I didn't really notice her effect on me until I stood in front of the urinal and struggled to release my rock hard member from my pants. I splashed cold water on my face before stepping out of the men's room. To my surprise, the red-haired woman had moved down a stool and was talking with Ami.
"Jason," Ami said, "this is Claudia. This," she said, putting her arm around my waist, "is Jason."
"It's a pleasure to meet you," she said, a hint of a southern accent in her voice.
I returned the courtesy and sat down, pulling my stool a little closer to Ami so that the three of us could talk freely. Claudia said that she was originally from Louisiana but that she had been living in New York for some time. As she spoke, I couldn't help but be mesmerized by her intoxicating beauty. Her red hair, combined with her eye makeup (accentuating her silver-gray eyes) and porcelain complexion, was a striking combination. She wore a dress with a red corset top that showed off her magnificent breasts, and a black, pencil bottom that hugged her hips. I guessed her age to be around 30.
"How long have you two been together?" she asked, taking a sip of her drink.
"Three months," Ami replied, placing a hand on my thigh.
"There's nothing like those first few weeks, is there - finding out what makes each other tick; what turns each other on," she said, her eyes fixed on mine. "You'll have to excuse me; a little liquor and my mind goes where it goes. When I see something I want, I can't really help myself."
I was doubly surprised - by her initial comment and by her admission.
Claudia ordered another round for the three of us. "Tell me," she began, her gray eyes looking directly into mine, "what's your favorite part of Ami's body?"
Although shocked by the woman's directness, as I looked into the silver pools that were her eyes, I couldn't help but reply. "Her legs," I replied. "They're so toned and smooth," I said, gliding my hand along her skin.
Claudia brushed my girlfriend's long, lustrous hair off her shoulder revealing her neck, a gesture that surprised both me and Ami. "Mmmm....I think my favorite part is her neck." There was a look of unbridled lust in her eyes as she spoke. "It looks so delicious I could just bite it." After a moment, she laughed to break the sexual tension hanging in the air.
Ami blushed, unsure how to respond.
"Were you meeting someone here?" I asked, not exactly sure why.
"I was hoping to...and now I have," she replied without a hint of sarcasm. "You know," she said as she finished her second drink, "as good as this place is, I know a place that has almost as good a bar that is much cheaper and a hell of a lot more comfortable."
"Where?" Ami asked, turning to face her.
"My apartment."
I looked at Ami, trying to read her. She was having fun and I could tell she was interested in where this was potentially heading. As for myself, the possibilities raced through my mind as I pictured the curvaceous beauty naked. As I said, we had recently spoken about the possibility of a threesome. This could be our chance to fulfill that fantasy.
"That sounds like an excellent idea," I said.
We finished our drinks, closed our tabs, and hailed a cab. The ride south didn't take long. We pulled up to a new-looking high rise on Essex Street. As we walked through the marble-laden lobby to the elevator, I wondered what this woman did that she could afford such a place.
"How long have you lived here?" I asked.
"Actually, I bought it when the building first opened just last year," she replied. "Before that I lived in Greenwich Village for a time but it wasn't to my taste."
As she let us into her apartment, I again wondered what she did for a living that she could afford such a beautiful place in this location. Hard wood floors covered the foyer, living room and dining room, which had wonderful views due to large windows. The apartment was sparsely furnished with colorful, mid-century modern pieces.
"Make yourselves comfortable," Claudia said as she made her way to a wet bar at the far end of the room. "What will you have?"
"If you have gin and tonic water, I'd love a Gin and Tonic," I replied.
"Done...and you, Ami?"
