Chapter 3

Calvin slid his car into a parking spot, the engine purring to a stop. Sia watched him emerge, the streetlight glinting off his broad shoulders, and paused before opening her own door. Play it cool, she told herself. She tapped out a quick text to John:

S- Just getting to the restaurant. Will fill you in later.

The casual tone, the kiss—a carefully constructed facade. She inhaled deeply, the night air a mix of city exhaust and anticipation, and stepped onto the pavement.

She took a deep breath. Casual, that’s what she needed to be. Just two old friends catching up over a casual dinner…

“Isn’t it a bit hot for such a long coat?” he asked, raising an eyebrow.

“It was a bit chilly in the office,” she offered, a faint smile playing on her lips as she unbuttoned the coat, letting it fall open.

Beneath, the tiny white tank top, a riot of miniature flowers, clung to her curves. The deep V neckline dipped precariously, the hem riding high above her waist, revealing a sliver of smooth skin. The tiny silk top, did little to disguise the swell of her breasts. The plunging neckline, secured by three delicate buttons that seemed to mock her sudden attack of nerves, dipped dangerously close to her bra, a sliver of lace visible at the edges.

The matching miniskirt hugged her hips and thighs, the fabric whispering against her legs with every move. She might as well have shown up with a “Look at me, remember this?” banner.

A low whistle escaped Calvin’s lips. “Damn, Sia.”

“You like it?” The question slipped out before she could stop it, a nervous flutter in her chest. Instinctively, she took a step back and spun, the skirt flaring around her thighs—a playful gesture, a ghost of their college days. Heat bloomed in her cheeks as she stopped, suddenly self-conscious.

It had been a game between them back in college – her showing off a new outfit, his unabashed appreciation.

“Like it?” His lips curved into a slow grin. “Sia, you look smoking hot.”

For a heartbeat, the air crackled between them, charged with something more potent than simple nostalgia. Then, as quickly as it had appeared, the heat in his gaze shifted, replaced by something softer, more knowing.

“Isn’t that…”

“Sophomore year,” Sia supplied, a nervous laugh escaping her. “Yeah, it’s the one I wore to that… thing.” God, she couldn’t even remember what it was for. Some stupid party, probably.

“Oh yeah.” And then it clicked for him, too. His smile widened, a dangerous glint replacing the earlier amusement. “The fundraiser,” he murmured, his eyes meeting hers. “The one where I snuck you into the lab later and…”

… and fucked the living daylights out of me. The thought echoed in Sia’s mind, a phantom sensation between her legs. Out loud, she just managed a breathless, “Yeah.”

“You… still kept it.”

“Oh, this old thing?” Sia feigned nonchalance. “It’s been… hiding in my closet for years. I don’t even know why. Guess I haven’t gotten around to throwing out all my old junk.”

“Why?”

“Come on, it’s not like I can even fit into this little thing anymore.”

“You fit just fine,” he contradicted, his eyes raking over her body with open appreciation. “You still look pretty damn amazing in it.”

She managed a shaky laugh, but inside, she was unraveling faster than she could keep up.

“Come on,” he said, “let’s get out of here. Food’s waiting, and… I have a feeling we’ve got a lot to catch up on.” But as he turned, he paused and looked at her again, “Wait a second…wasn’t there a bet about this dress?”

Sia frowned, searching her memory. “A bet?”

“Don’t you remember?”

She shook her head.

“The Kappa Sig party. You lost. Badly.”

A hazy memory surfaced—cheap beer, loud music, a ridiculous dare involving tequila shots, and a limbo contest. Oh, and a bet. “Oh God,” Sia groaned. “I… I can’t believe you remember that.”

“Oh, I remember a lot of things. Especially when it involves you and that dress. Do you remember the stakes?”

Sia racked her brain, the details blurry with time.

He leaned closer, his warm breath tickling her ear. “Whenever you wore that dress…” he paused, “…you weren’t supposed to wear any panties.”

Her freckled cheeks turned crimson. She had forgotten. Completely. “Y-Yeah, well, that was…… a weird time wasn’t it?” She stammered. “We made a lot of silly bets back then.”

“Sure did,” he agreed, his eyes sparkling with amusement. “So…are you going to honor it?”

“Calvin, that was ages ago!” Sia said, putting her hands on her hips. “We were practically kids.”

“So?” he countered, taking a step closer. “A bet’s a bet. You know the rules.”

She took a step back, putting a little more distance between them, her pulse quickening with something she didn’t quite understand. Annoyance? Excitement? Both? “Come on, Calvin,” she protested. “We were drunk. And it was, like, a million years ago.”

“Doesn’t matter.”

“Please, don’t make this weird,” she crossed her arms defensively. “We’re not in college anymore. Things are different now.”

He shrugged, nonchalant. “Sure, things are different. But some things, Sia,” he paused, looking her up and down, “Some things never change.”

“This is ridiculous!” she hissed, glancing around nervously to make sure no one was within earshot.

“Why not?” he challenged stepping closer again, closing the distance between them.

He was close now, uncomfortably close, his cologne a heady mix of spice and something distinctly masculine.

“You’re impossible!”She tried to maintain her composure, but the heat in her face betrayed her. “You know it was just a stupid, drunken—”

“And yet,” he countered, a smirk playing on his lips, “you’re wearing the dress.”

A strange mixture of annoyance and defiance coursed through her. He always had this effect on her—pushing her buttons, testing her limits. She had almost forgotten what it felt like. “So what? It’s a dress! I can wear what I want.”

“Sure you can,” Calvin agreed, his voice smooth as silk. “But you’re a woman of your word, aren’t you, Sia? I seem to recall you saying you _never _back down from a bet. Has that changed?”

_Damn him. _He knew exactly what buttons to push.

A wave of nostalgia washed over Sia. She remembered those reckless college days, the stupid bets, the risqué challenges, the endless laughter. A part of her, a long-dormant part, yearned to revisit that carefree time, even if just for a fleeting moment. But things were different. They weren’t those carefree kids anymore. I’m a married woman now. “Things aren’t the same. This…this is inappropriate.”

“So you’re backing out? After all that talk about being a woman of her word?”

“No! I…uhh…”

_He’s doing it again. _He’d always been like this—manipulative, pushing her boundaries, coaxing her out of her comfort zone. Coaxing out the wilder side she kept carefully hidden beneath a veneer of polite compliance. He’d always seen through her, even back then.

It was exciting, terrifying, and utterly inappropriate.

_Am I really backing out? _One part of her, the sensible, responsible adult part, screamed for her to walk away, to end this ridiculous encounter before it went any further. But another part, a part she’d kept locked away for years, pulsed with a dangerous curiosity.

“Come on, Sia,” he coaxed gently. “Just for old time’s sake. Let the old Sia out, just for tonight.”

The words struck a chord. The old Sia. The girl who was unapologetically herself. The girl she’d almost forgotten. She hesitated, biting her lip, her mind a whirlwind of conflicting emotions.

Just a little tease, she reasoned, her mind grasping at any semblance of justification. A little harmless fun, for old-time’s sake.

Taking a deep breath, Sia glanced nervously around the near-empty parking lot. The thought of being seen sent a shiver of fear down her spine…but beneath it, a flicker of excitement.

With a trembling hand, she slowly slid her panties down her legs, the silky fabric cool against her skin. She held them out to him, her hand shaking slightly.

A flash of surprise crossed Calvin’s face before it was quickly replaced with a smug smirk. He loved this—the shy blush on her cheeks, the flicker of defiance in her eyes. Sia had always been a fascinating mix of innocence and wildness. He pocketed the delicate lace, the warmth of her skin still lingering on the fabric. The night is just getting started.

“There’s still something not quite… right,” he murmured, tilting his head as he studied her.

“What now?” Sia asked, the thrill giving way to annoyance. Was he ever going to let this go?

He just smirked. “Let me fix that for you.”

Before she could protest, he reached out and deftly unbuttoned the top three buttons of her cami, the silk parting to reveal the full swell of her breasts.

The sudden coolness of the night air against her exposed cleavage made her gasp, her nipples hardening beneath the thin lace of her bra.

“Calvin!”

He chuckled, clearly pleased with his handiwork. Her cleavage, now on full display, was deep and inviting, the swell of her breasts straining against the delicate lace. The soft curve of her flesh glowed in the dim light.

“There….. much better,” he purred, taking a step back to admire his work.

“You haven’t changed a bit,” She muttered, cheeks flaming as she instinctively reached up to pull the edges of her top together.

He caught her hand. “Do you want me to?”

The question hung in the air, thick with unspoken meaning.

A challenge. A dare.

Sia didn’t answer. Instead, she arched her back slightly, pushing her breasts further into the light, the valley between them deepening. “Happy now?”

Calvin’s eyes raked over her exposed skin, a slow, deliberate caress that made her shiver with a strange mix of embarrassment and arousal. He smirked, a devilish glint in his eyes.

“For now,” he said, finally releasing her hands and turning towards the restaurant entrance.

She stood there for a moment, heart pounding against her ribs, the cool night air a stark contrast to the burning awareness in her gut. She caught her reflection in the car window – flushed cheeks, disheveled face, her dress hanging open… I look like a tramp.

Idiot, she berated herself. You let him manipulate you, again. But the thrill of the transgression, the forbidden nature of their exchange, was a potent ****.

With Calvin, control had always been an illusion, a fragile construct easily shattered by a look, a touch, a whispered word.

She took a deep breath, adjusting her top – not quite covering herself, _not _quite not covering herself – and followed him into the restaurant, steeling herself for the rest of the evening - determined to maintain at least a semblance of control.

---

The place was buzzing, a mix of after-work crowds and couples on date night. Navigating through the throng of people, Sia felt a heightened awareness of her appearance – the way the thin silk of her top grazed her skin, the almost scandalous length of her skirt. Do we look like a couple? she mused wryly, suddenly hyper-aware of the stares they were attracting.

He, of course, looked perfectly at ease, his broad shoulders and effortless stride cutting a path through the crowd as if he owned the place.

They stepped into the crowded elevator, and instantly, she was pressed against him, the heat of his body a solid presence against her back. For a fleeting moment, memories flooded back – the press of his body against hers, the way his hands had roamed…

Stop it, Sia. She shook her head, trying to dispel the images, but the phantom sensation of his touch lingered, a warmth spreading through her that had nothing to do with the stuffy elevator air.

They emerged into a dimly lit hallway, the air thick with the scent of incense and something exotic she couldn’t quite place. Calvin disappeared through a narrow doorway, returning moments later with two small glasses filled with a clear liquid.

“Table should be ready soon,” he said, handing her one of the glasses. “Try this.”

“What is it?” Sia asked, wrinkling her nose at the sharp scent.

“Ya Dong. Traditional Thai…recipe.”

She took a tentative sip, the taste even more unusual than the smell – a strange mix of sweet, sour, bitter, and something almost… tingly on her tongue.

“It’s…interesting,” she managed, making a face.

He chuckled. “Acquired taste.”

A waiter appeared, leading them through a beaded curtain into a dimly lit alcove. The space was intimate, separated from the main dining area by tall woven screens, the air filled with the murmur of hushed conversations and the clinking of glasses.

Sia slid into the plush booth, smoothing her skirt over her thighs, hyper-aware of how short it was, how much skin she was showing.

Calvin settled beside her, his arm casually draped over the back of the booth, his fingers brushing against the bare skin of her shoulder.

The casual intimacy of the gesture, the warmth of his body so close to hers… she let out a small, shaky breath, praying her sudden nervousness didn’t show on her face.

Just play it cool. It’s just dinner, Sia. Just dinner with an old… friend.

“How did you find this place?” She asked, glancing around the dimly lit alcove, taking in the intricate carvings on the wooden panels and the soft glow of the lanterns hanging from the ceiling.

“One of my clients recommended it. Been here a few times. Good food, even better… atmosphere.”

“It’s… cozy,” she agreed, already making a mental note to bring John here sometime. Though maybe not in this outfit.

He chuckled, his fingers trailing lightly down her bare arm, making her shiver. “Cozy is one way to put it.”

Their conversation flowed easily, a comfortable rhythm of shared memories and everyday anecdotes. They talked about work, mutual friends, the mundane details of their lives.

“What are you up to these days?” Calvin asked. “Besides the office, I mean.”

Sia felt a flutter low in her belly as his hand settled on her knee beneath the table. She took a deep breath, forcing her voice to remain steady. “I’ve been…. volunteering at the community center down the street. We work with kids, mostly. After-school programs, art classes, that kind of thing.”

“Interesting,” he murmured, his fingers tracing lazy circles on her knee. His touch was feather-light, agonizingly distracting.

“Yes, it…” She continued.

His hand inched upwards, his thumb now resting against her inner thigh.

Sia faltered mid-sentence, her voice catching in her throat. “It’s… um… I’m also working with a few local schools to… to try to introduce more arts programs,” she managed, forcing herself to continue, but the words sounded strained even to her own ears.

Her body hummed with a strange tension, pleasure mixing with a growing sense of unease. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d felt this… off balance. This much was pretty clear, he is definitely not playing by rules tonight.

But by God, it also feels good.

A flicker of amusement danced in Calvin’s eyes, his lips curving into a knowing smirk. He was enjoying this, toying with her, reveling in the effect he had on her. His fingers continued their slow, deliberate ascent up her thigh, the heat of his touch branding her skin through the thin fabric of her skirt.

He’s enjoying this, she realized a strange mix of annoyance and… something else… coiling in her stomach.

“You’re always up to something interesting, aren’t you, Sia?”

“W-well… Some things never change, I guess,”

“Indeed,” he agreed, his thumb brushing against the sensitive skin of her inner thigh, making her breath catch in her throat. “Some things never change.”

“What about you ?” Sia asked, shifting in her seat, partly to escape the growing intensity of his touch, partly because she genuinely wanted to know. “What have you been up to all these years?”

“This and that. Clients, projects… keeping busy.”

“Doing what, exactly?”

“A little bit of everything. Consulting, mostly. Helping people… achieve their goals.”

“That’s… vague.”

“Let’s just say I am satisfying a particular set of people with their problems.”

She narrowed her eyes at him. “Right. And I suppose you can’t tell me more because…?”

He smiled a flash of white teeth against his dark skin. “You know I can’t divulge client secrets. Confidential, and all that.”

“Mysterious as ever,” Sia let out a small huff of frustration but decided to let it go. “Have you kept in touch with anyone from back then?”

“Not really.”

“No one?”

“Not really. You know how it is. People move on, life happens.”

“Not even…Sara?” She pressed, unable to resist mentioning his on-again, off-again college girlfriend.

He laughed. “Sara? Nah. We had… some fun, but it got complicated.”

“Complicated?”

“Yeah, you know… sneaking around behind her husband got kinda old.”

“Sara’s married?”

“Yep. Some rich banker on Wall Street. Pretty typical, if you ask me.”

Sia snorted. “Typical? After you were screwing around behind her husband’s back?” She always was a slut.

“Is that judgment I hear, Sia?” Calvin asked, raising an eyebrow.

“Maybe. So?”

“Isn’t that a…. bit hypocritical, coming from you?”

“I am nothing like Sarah,” Sia said, her voice rising slightly. “John and I… we don’t… _do _that. You know that.” The words tumbled out, fueled by a sudden defensiveness she hadn’t anticipated. “I’ve never… I would never…” … do anything behind John’s back.

“Okay, okay. I didn’t mean to upset you. You’re right, you’re nothing like Sara. You’re… different. Better.”

Sia eyed him suspiciously. “You don’t have to… flatter me, Calvin.”

“Not flattering. Just stating a fact. I’ve always thought you were better than Sara. Hell, you had the best pussy in college.”

“Calvin, stop it!”

“Just the truth,” he shrugged. “I’ve told you before, haven’t I?”

Sia shook her head, speechless. “You’re unbelievable.”

“It is the truth. And you’re right, you never went behind John’s back or anything. I mean…well, it always seemed like John was more into the _idea _of you being with me than you were.”

“That’s not fair. You make it sound like he… **** me into it or something.”

“No, that’s not what I meant,” Calvin said, holding up his hands in mock surrender. “Just that… well, he seemed to get off on the idea, if you know what I mean. And if you were both into it…” He paused, choosing his words carefully. “Look, it’s not… traditional. But it’s not cheating, not really, if everyone’s consenting.”

“Different how?”

“Come on, Sia, don’t play coy. It’s the 21st century, you know? Plenty of husbands and boyfriends actually get a kick out of seeing their wives or girlfriends with some random huge cock! If that’s John’s thing, and you’re okay with it… it’s not cheating, is it?”

Sia sighed, the old arguments, the same circular conversations she and John had hashed out countless times, resurfacing. They’d had this conversation so many times during college—long, drawn-out discussions about boundaries and the complexities of their relationship.

“For the record,” she said, “John was into it, sure. But I enjoyed it too.”

Calvin chuckled, a low rumble in his chest. “Oh, I know you did. I’ve never forgotten the way you screamed.”

Heat flooded Sia’s cheeks. So embarrassing, she thought, cringing inwardly. Maybe coming here alone hadn’t been such a good idea after all. The memories, the feelings, were all too vivid, too potent.

The stolen moments, the breathless encounters, the way Calvin could make her lose all control… Had I really been that wild?

What the hell is John playing at? The thought echoed in Sia’s mind, a dissonant chord against the rising tide of arousal Calvin’s touch was igniting within her. Was this some kind of… test? A way to gauge her loyalty? Or something darker, more… permissive?

“Did you miss me, Sia?” Calvin asked softly, his hand slipping beneath her skirt.

“We….we shouldn’t be talking about this.”

“Why not?” A wicked glint appeared in his eyes. “Don’t tell me you’ve forgotten all the fun we had.”

“That was a long time ago,” Sia protested weakly, but her body betrayed her, a familiar warmth pooling between her legs.

“Was it?” He chuckled. “I seem to remember a certain someone begging me to—”

“Stop it,” Sia whispered, her cheeks burning. But her protest was feeble, half-hearted.

He knew it. _She _knew it.

“Begging me to fuck you,” Calvin continued, his voice a low growl. “A dirty little slut, weren’t you, Sia? So **** for my dick.”

He described their encounters in vivid detail—the way he’d pinned her against the wall, the way she’d whimpered and moaned beneath him, the way she’d come undone in his arms. “Remember that time in the auditorium?” he murmured, his fingers brushing against her clit. “You were so wet, so fucking needy.”

“We were young,” she mumbled, trying to deflect, to downplay the raw intensity of those encounters.

“Young and wild, " he corrected, his fingers now tracing the outline of her panties – or rather, the absence of them.

“Calvin, please…”

“You loved it, didn’t you?” he whispered, his fingers now tracing small circles around her clit, teasing, tormenting. “You loved the way I made you scream. You loved the way I made you come.”

Sia swallowed hard, unable to speak. The memories were flooding back, potent and overwhelming—the feel of his hands on her skin, the taste of his lips on hers, the raw, animalistic pleasure he’d unleashed within her. God, I was such a slut for him.

Sia bit her lip, her heart pounding against her ribs. She was on the edge, teetering precariously between excitement and fear.

“Remember that time behind the library?” Calvin murmured, his voice laced with amusement. “You were wearing that little red dress…” His fingers toyed with her, circling her clit, dipping inside her, then retreating.

Sia squirmed in her seat, her breath coming in short, ragged gasps.

“You were so wet that day,” Calvin whispered, his voice thick with desire. “So fucking nasty. Begging me to fill you up…”

“And John…” Calvin continued, his voice a low chuckle. “Poor guy came his pants right there and then when you told him all the dirty details. He was so fucking into you so worked up about it he… couldn’t contain himself. Remember what we did after that, Sia?”

“We… went back to his room,” she whispered, the memory a confusing mix of guilt and excitement.

“That’s right,” he growled. “We fucked in his bed while he watched. Watched me take you, watched you squirm and moan and beg for more.”

Her fingers dug into the plush velvet of the booth, her breath catching in her throat. The memory slammed into her—Calvin’s cock driving into her, John watching with hungry eyes, his hand jerking himself.

“Simpler times really.”

She squeezed her eyes shut, her body responding despite her best intentions. The memories, so long suppressed, came flooding back, a tidal wave of heat and need.

“Do you remember how good it felt?”

She bit her lip, her eyes fluttering open. Shame warred with a **** longing she hadn’t realized she’d been carrying within her for so long. “I… ”

He kept taunting her with memories, each one dirtier than the last. Sia tried to deny it, to condemn the memories, but the pleasure was a seductive poison, seeping into her veins, weakening her resolve.

“You missed this, didn’t you?” he purred, his thumb brushing against her clit. “You missed me.”

She swallowed hard, unable to deny the truth. She had missed him. Missed this raw, uninhibited connection they shared, this… freedom.

“Y-Yes…I-I miss…I missed it.”

“Thinking back, you were so wild back then,” he chuckled. “Always ready for more. You could never get enough.”

Sia’s breath caught, her body buzzing with a dirty mix of shame and lust. He was right. She’d been insatiable, driven by some primal need she couldn’t grasp or control.

“You know,” he continued, leaning closer, his breath warm against her cheek, “I still think about those days. I miss having you at my beck and call, always so eager to spread your legs for me…”

A wave of panic washed over her. _This is wrong. So wrong. _She tried to pull away, but his hand tightened on her thigh, holding her captive.

“Calvin, we can’t…”

“Can’t what, Sia?”

He tugged her closer, his eyes locking onto hers, daring her to deny the desire that flared between them. He knew she was ready, even if she didn’t want to admit it.

Their faces were inches apart now, her breath mingling with his.

She swayed towards him, then back, a silent battle raging within her – the thrill of the forbidden warring with the ingrained rules of her carefully constructed life.

And then, he kissed her.

His lips were soft, full, his mouth hot and demanding as it claimed hers. It had been so long since she’d been kissed like this – consumed, devoured. For a fleeting moment, she froze, shocked by the raw intensity of his kiss, the sudden rush of pleasure. He’s kissing me.

And then, instinct took over.

She kissed him back, her own mouth opening to his, her tongue meeting his in a ****, searching dance.

It wasn’t gentle, this kiss. It was raw, needy, a **** clash of tongues and teeth, a hunger she hadn’t realized she’d been starving for.

His hand tightened on the back of her neck, holding her as he deepened the kiss, his tongue exploring the depths of her mouth with a possessive urgency that sent a shiver down her spine.

Butterflies erupted in her stomach, her skin tingling all over, a fire spreading through her veins that threatened to consume her.

Her mind screamed at her to stop, that this was wrong, so wrong… but her body, treacherous and eager, ignored the warnings, arching into him, her hands finding their way to his hair, pulling him closer, needing more.

He pulled back slightly, his lips tracing a path across her cheek to her ear, his teeth nibbling gently on her earlobe. Sia shivered, a wave of pleasure washing over her as he found that sensitive spot on her neck, the one that always made her…

A moan tore from her, raw and hungry, surprising even herself.

_He remembers. He remembers everything. _It was like they’d been lovers for years.

Is he really that good? Or am I just that… easy? The question flitted through her mind, but she pushed it away, unwilling to dissect the dangerous, delicious feeling of surrender that was consuming her.

She clung to him, her fingers tangled in his hair, her body pressed against his, a silent plea for something she didn’t dare name. God, I need this. I need him. The realization hit her like a punch to the gut. She was losing herself in the sensation, drowning in the dirty pleasure.

She wasn’t sure how long they kissed. Time seemed to dissolve.

Minutes, hours—it didn’t matter. All that mattered was the way his lips moved on hers, the heat of his body, that primal, gut-wrenching connection that flared between them.

She was addicted to it, didn’t want this high to crash. Didn’t want to face the reality waiting for her outside this bubble.

And then, his hands were on her breasts, squeezing, pinching, playing with her nipples until she was gasping for breath, her body arching into his touch, every nerve ending on fire. She tried to push him away to regain some semblance of control, but her efforts were futile, her hands weak against his insistent pressure.

“Remember how you used to beg me to…?” he whispered against her neck.

His words, each one a crude reminder of their shared past, painted a vivid picture of her, younger, wilder, shamelessly eager for his touch…

No. Stop. I can’t…

“Tell me what you want, Sia,” he breathed, his fingers now tracing the outline of her nipple.

“I…” She gasped, her body betraying her with its eager response, her mind a chaotic mess of conflicting emotions. She wanted to resist, to say no, but the words wouldn’t come, replaced by a moan escaping her lips as his thumb brushed against her hardened nipple.

“Tell me,” he repeated, his voice a low growl, his fingers now dipping beneath the thin silk of her top, cupping her breast, his thumb tracing slow circles around her nipple.

“I…I…” She stammered, her body writhing beneath his touch, the pleasure so intense it bordered on pain. I can’t… This is wrong… But the words were lost in a gasp as he pinched her nipple, sending a wave of heat radiating through her.

Finally, with a shuddering breath, she surrendered.

“I-I want you…to…fuck me.”