Free Dance For Me by Alice Dee

“Occasionally, I guess. Why?”
             “My mom sent me this stuff. It’s like, this liquid that you like, mix with vodka. It’s kind of fruity.”
            “Fruity is good.”
            “No, I mean the other kind of fruity.”
            “Uh huh…” she pulled her lips into a smile.
            “Maybe you and your friend would like it.”
           “Is that an offering?”
            He shrugged. “Yeah.”
             “Ok, I’ll give it a try.”
             “I’ll get it for you now because I will forget about it.”           
      Dominic led Hope down the iron ladder, climbing down first and helping her out as if she needed the help. They walked around the building in silence. She stopped at a leaky faucet to rinse her feet and strap her sandals back on.  Dominic politely let her walk up the stairs ahead of him. He tried his hardest to not look at her in that way, to not notice her fragile frame, her backside, her back, her body as a whole. His dick was going haywire telling him to feel one way while his head told him to feel another. 
                “Come in,” he said after unlocking his door. “I’d feel rude just leaving you out here.”
              Hope paused, thinking about where that could lead…or not, hesitantly agreed and warily stepped inside. He closed the door behind her and went into the kitchen, divided by wall with a huge rectangular cut out. She could see him looking through cabinets for the drink. She stayed put in the middle of his living room and checked out her surroundings. His furniture was ugly. He had a coffee table that looked like he’d found it in the dump and a beat up box under his TV. The TV was probably the only thing new in that living room. He had sweet scented candles in glass jars all over that were probably placed there by his girlfriend. 
              Hope’s eyes roamed the walls and pictures of Dominic and people she assumed were family. She curiously strolled into the kitchen and saw a picture on the refrigerator of Dominic with Tristan, her breasts pushed up against his face. Hope rolled her eyes. Tristan was such an obvious whore.
              “Here it is.” He turned the bottle around and looked it over. He handed it to Hope. 
              She took the bottle in her hand, the liquid dark and purple, with a slightly blue hue.           
     
         Tristan got off her car, set the alarm and walked across the parking lot to the staircase leading up to Dominic’s apartment, her heels clanking with every step. She fixed her hair into place with her hands and knocked on the door. She would definitely be asking for her own key tonight. That was a step in the right direction, surely. She waited a moment, knocked again. She could see that his light was on through the blinds.
               “Are you expecting someone?” Hope asked with apprehension that it was Tristan.
              Dominic froze. “Hold up a sec.” He went to the door hoping it wasn’t Tristan. But when he opened the door he saw that it was Tristan, and worse, she had her overnight bag with her. Without giving her the slightest implication to come in, he stepped outside and closed the door behind him.
              “What’re you doing here?” 
             Tristan expected him to be mad but knew she could use her female prowess to change his attitude.
               “I’m sorry about tonight Dominic. I’ve come to my senses.”
                “Just like that?”
               “I said some things I shouldn’t of. I mean the things about your father-”
              “Tris, please!” he said in frustration.
                “I’m trying to apologize. I want to make it up to you.” She reached for his hand. “I want to stay the night. I’ve been thinking,” she went on.
                    All Dominic could think about was getting her out of there.