A Night at Home

The AeroTransport hummed low as it descended through the evening haze. The city thinned beneath me—glass, smoke, distance—until the tower lights were just threads of gold on the horizon. The mansion came into view a moment later, its landing pad glowing faint blue beside the pool. Home. The AeroTransport flew off. It would be back in the morning when I summoned it.

The cabin door lifted open; warm air brushed across my skin. I stepped out, heels clicking on polished stone, and the transport lifted away again, a vanishing sound. I was miles away from the city, perfect isolation, that I had paid handsomely for. Technically, maybe it was too pricey even for me and my salary. But Money from Helix Dominion and its clients had a way of finding itself into my personal accounts.

Inside, the lights rose automatically, soft and even. The air system whispered a greeting I didn’t answer. I left my shoes by the door, crossed the silent hall, and touched the wall panel to open the glass toward the terrace. The pool waited—dark water, faint ripples from the night breeze, lights shimmering underneath.

I changed quickly, pulling a bikini from the drawer. Too revealing for the club’s spa, too expensive to ever actually use. Tonight it felt like armor made of silk and pretense. No one would see. I had tried to find someone up to my standards, but that person seemed to not exist. When I got the promotion, I would find someone. Not for love, but for appearances. A nice piece of arm candy, that would be at my beck and call.

I checked myself out in the mirror before going to the pool. God I looked good. Anyone would be lucky to have me. I worked out just enough in the pool to keep my body fit, but soft. The white micro bikini strained to keep by but in. I could see my own nipples trying to punch holes in the top. They had stayed hard all afternoon and into the evening and they were sore at this point.

The white top meant that as soon as I went in the water, any one who saw me would be able to see my nipples. The swim suit would be practically transparent.

The first step into the water drew a quiet gasp from me; it was cooler than expected. I sank under once, letting the day wash away in a slow exhale. The city’s glow barely reached this far; only the reflection of the pool lights flickered along the walls. I drifted, weightless, until the last of the tension blurred into the rhythm of water against skin.

When I finally climbed out, the breeze caught my hair and carried the faint chemical scent of the pool. The house lights brightened in response to movement. I shut them off again.

Upstairs, the bedroom waited in perfect order. I slid between sheets that were still crisp from the cleaner’s cycle and stared toward the ceiling. The security field traced faint blue lines across the edges of the room. Somewhere outside, a drone passed by with a soft pulse of light, gone before I could count to three.

I closed my eyes. Tomorrow’s meeting, I told myself. Think about that. Focus.

The pool helped. But I was still frustrated. I tossed and turned. The sensation of my nipples had moved between my legs. It was nearly dawn by the time I fell asleep.