Chapter 1: Introduction
Ron adjusted the hem of the floral sundress, acutely aware of the odd sensation creeping up on him. The dress belonged to Sarah, his best friend and fashion designer, who left it lying around his apartment from her latest shoot. He didn't realize that he had accidentally slipped it on until he caught sight of the jade-colored fabric crumpled on the bathroom floor by the washing basket.
"What the hell am I doing?" he muttered to himself, clutching at his chest. The soft material clung to his upper body like a second skin.
His broad shoulders and muscular arms created an interesting contrast against the delicate pattern. He couldn't deny the feeling of arousal that surged through him. It was a strange, exhilarating sensation that he neither fully understood nor knew how to react to.
Ron decided to step out of the bathroom and explore the apartment as if nothing had changed. He hesitated, though, as he passed Sarah's room and noticed her sitting at her desk, engrossed in her work. Daringly, he continued to walk towards the kitchen, hoping to escape Sarah's line of sight.
The thick, plush carpet muffled his footsteps, making the act feel even more surreal. Upon entering the dimly lit space, the previously odorless room now reeked of burnt popcorn and stale beer. The cluttered countertop was adorned with half-empty bottles of whiskey and pizza boxes piled high. A neon sign blinked ominously in the darkness, lighting up the room with a hollow flicker that seemed to mock him.
Ron opened the fridge and surveyed the contents. There was nothing edible that wasn't several days old.
He sighed and closed the fridge, then decided to busy himself with finding a suitable music playlist for the evening.
As he browsed through his phone, lost in the rhythm and lyrics, Sarah appeared quietly behind him. She leaned against the door frame, arms crossed as she regarded him with an amused smile.
Ron froze, unsure of what to say or do. Sarah's eyes traced him from top to bottom, taking in the way the dress hugged his body and accentuated the muscles of his arms.
"Well, look at you," she said, her voice...laced with something that made his heart flutter. It confused him.
"I'm sorry..." Ron stammered. "I didn't mean to..." His sentence trailed off as words failed him.
"It suits you," Sarah replied, pushing away from the doorframe and crossing the kitchen in four swift strides. She stopped inches away from him, her gaze intense. "Maybe it's time to experiment a little."
Ron was still in a state of shock.