Enjoy!

Song Inspiration: Nasty by Tinashe

Rating sexual encounters is probably frowned upon but I had to make sure I didn't double dip, ever. So far none have been worthy for me to even save their numbers. I've gone on dates with a diverse range of men, but none have made a lasting impression.

I had another date tonight and I'm going to be honest, I'm not thrilled. My friend, Tina set this up months ago but he kept needing to reschedule due to work. Now usually after the first reschedule request, I lose all contact but my girl begged me to give this guy a try so I told him that this would be the last reschedule.

I, Mercedes Jones, was not one to be strung along and I damn sure didn't waste time on men who could make time from work to attend a date planned months ago, it's not like my professional life allowed me many free days.

"Ugh, Tina I just don't know about this." I said, placing her on speaker and I got dressed.

"Cedes, trust me. He's the perfect fit for you and who knows maybe he can get you to settle down."

I rolled my eyes, she was always using that phrase, settle down. I'm too damn fine to be settling, hell she didn't even settle. Her husband is a delicious drink of Asian manliness and he's nice to everyone. Her man before him was trash and she just wants me to settle.

"You know how I feel about those words." I say, carefully applying mascara. "Besides, I'm sure this date won't go anywhere. He doesn't seem like my type."

I heard Mike, Tina's husband, chuckle. "You didn't tell her?" He asked her.

"You hush up, Sam is perfect for her!" Tina replied.

I stopped applying the mascara.m"what's wrong with him?" I questioned. "Is he like a cannibal or something?"

Tina snickered. "No… he's just more… refined."

"Refined? Like royalty?"

I heard Mike laugh again followed by some rustling and muffled talking. "No, not like royalty. Just different."

"Well he better show up or I will personally seek him out and take him to the carpet." I warned earning a giggle from her.

"Well, he might like that so go ahead."

That intrigued me. "What kind of person is this guy?"

"You'll have to ask him yourself. I gotta go, Pen's waking up. Call me later."

"Give her tons of kisses from auntie Cedie." I say before hanging up.

I look at myself in the mirror, turning from side to side before shaking my head. "Wasting all this on a man I don't even know. Tsk."

To be fair, I did look good. My hair, recently cut and dyed, danced around my shoulder. The auburn tresses her sleek and straight, my makeup was flawless with bronze and brown accents but my dress.

Yes this dress was the killer, purple latex one shoulder that hugged every curve that donned my body. I was never one to dress down and if I was forced to go through with this date then I wanted to have a little fun and make him drool.

I smirked before spraying my favorite perfume on me. "Let's go make a grown man cry." I say to myself before heading out.

I hated being late but traffic was not on my side. I pulled into the parking lot of the bar we agreed to meet at and sighed. I only agreed to this because my friends asked me.

Stepping out of my car, I checked my watch and quickly headed towards the entrance. I looked around before my eyes landed on a woman in purple.

"Fuck." I said to myself. I walked across the room, trying to figure out what the hell Mike was thinking. She was dressed to kill and if I didn't have better control of myself, she would have succeeded.

I took a deep breath to steady my nerves, squared my shoulders and began my approach. I felt like a moose walking into a lion's den, just waiting to be picked apart. She was surrounded by a group of men, each drinking in the sight of her with adoration in their eyes. The woman commanded the room simply with her presence, her confident aura drawing people towards her like moths to a flame. I could almost taste the mixture of perfumes and cologne in the air as I got closer.

"Pardon me," I murmured as I shouldered past a man who gave me a bewildered look. Why would anyone walk away from this enchanting scene? Sadly, he didn't understand that I was not retreating, but rather making my way closer into the storm.

As I neared her, I took in every detail; the way her dress accentuated each curve of her body, the soft light reflecting off her auburn hair and how her laughter seemed to light up the entire bar. It was a laugh of pure enjoyment, free from inhibitions and laced with an infectious delight that had everyone around her sharing in her amusement. It was intoxicating.

"Excuse me, are you-" I started before she turned her doe eyes on me, stilling me.

She looked me up and down, her perfect eyebrow quirked. "No thanks." She said, returning her attention back to the bar.

I frowned, moving closer towering over her. "I'm Sam, I believe you're waiting for me."

She turned around again, looking up at me before checking her phone. "You're late." She replied, looking me over again. "Little over dressed too." She added teasingly.

She wasn't wrong, I'd come straight from a board meeting and didn't have the chance to change. I had on a black suit absent the tie and a few buttons, I figured I could make it look casual but alas I was proven wrong.

I eyed her, offering a smirk. "Considering your attire, I think this was a noble attempt on my part to at least impress you." I countered, my smirking growing when she shot me a confused expression before looking down at her dress.

"I look-" She stopped when I stepped closer, only slightly invading her personal space. The other patrons watching us closely made the area eerily quiet.

I leaned down to her ear. "You look like someone who enjoys chewing men up and spitting them out but I think I might take sweet on your tongue." I whisper, stepping back and smiling. "Shall we?"

I extended my arm, gesturing towards the more secluded corner of the bar. The crowd parted as we moved, their fascination evident in the pregnant silence. Mercedes merely arched an eyebrow at me, one corner of her mouth quirking upwards in a half-smile, before gracefully taking my arm.

We settled into seats at the far end of the bar, away from the pulsating thrum of music and fecund mix of conversations. It seemed as if we had entered our own tranquil bubble while chaos continued outside it.

"So," she began, leaning casually against the table, looking me over with unabashed curiosity. "You're Sam. The late Sam."

Her words were accompanied by a teasing smirk that made me relax just a tiny bit. Her gaze was still sharp, though - she was waiting to see how I'd react.

"I am," I replied agreeably. "And you're Mercedes. The...unimpressed Mercedes?"

A soft chuckle escaped her lips and she leant forward, resting her elbow on the table and propping her chin up with her hand. "Unimpressed, huh? Well, I suppose that's accurate so far," she taunted, her eyes glowing with a mix of amusement and challenge.

I raised an eyebrow at her countered challenge. "Only so far?" I asked, my tone dripping with curiosity.

She shrugged nonchalantly. "Well, you are late," she pointed out, leveling me with a pointed gaze.

"And yet," I said calmly, maintaining eye contact. "Here you are, still sitting with me."

A flash of surprise flitted across Mercedes' face before it quickly transformed into a smirk. "Well now, Sam. You certainly know how to keep a woman intrigued." She admitted candidly.

"Part of the charm," I quipped with a light shrug and an easy smile.

I ordered us a round of drinks, her selecting a glass of Merlot while I opted for whiskey on ice. As the bartender put our drinks on the counter, I could feel the tension between us settle into a silent sizzling - we were both here because of our friends, both unsure and yet curious to see where this evening would lead.

"So, Mercedes," I started, swirling my drink around the glass. "What's your poison?"

She arched an eyebrow at me, that same smirk still playing on her lips. "You mean besides arrogant men showing up late to their dates?"

"Touché," I said with a chuckle, raising my glass towards her. She clinked hers against mine before taking a small sip, her eyes never leaving mine.

"I'm actually a history professor," she said, setting her glass down and leaning back in the plush seat. A hint of pride laced her words, and I found that quite attractive - a woman who was confident in her achievements.

"Really? That's unexpected," I admitted with a genuine smile. "Any particular era you specialize in?"

"I mostly teach about the Ancient civilizations, Roman Empire and all its glory and downfall," she shared, her eyes far away as she lost herself in the topic she was clearly passionate about."Now you, Mr. Businessman. You rescheduled enough for work, tell me what you do."

I hated this part of dates. I called it the bait and fish, you put your bait on the like and waited until they said something worth keeping your attention. I could tell she wasn't one for too much small talk by the way her absolutely perfect cross leg bounced. She wanted this part over just as quickly as I did but what I couldn't tell was way.

I placed my glass down, leaning forward. "Before I answer, what are you seeking?"

Her plump limps twitch upwards, her eyes steady on mine as she takes another sip of her wine before placing it down. "Excuse me?" she asked, a note of surprise in her tone as she tilted her head inquisitively. Her eyes, those mesmerizing brown orbs, were now scrutinizing me with an intensity that would've made any other man squirm. But I was enjoying this, the banter, the challenge in her gaze, the intrigue painted across her face.

"Why are you here, Mercedes?" I asked again. "What are you looking for?" My words hung heavy in the air between us, the playful tension giving way to a deeper, more sensual conversation.

She looked unphased by my question, her eyes twinkling before in amusement. After a moment's pause, a soft laughter bubbled from her lips as she said, "Well, Sam. That's rather presumptuous."

"I prefer direct," I countered with an easy smile. She raised an eyebrow at that but didn't respond immediately. Instead, she stared into her glass of Merlot as if contemplating the answer within the crimson liquid.

I couldn't tear my eyes away as she ran her fingers through her tousled hair, exposing the curve of her neck. "Alright, I'll play your game," she purred, "knowing that a man who would go to such lengths just for a chance with me must have a story worth exploring. So are you? Worth exploring?"

I picked up the innuendo, chuckling. I signaled the bartender to settle our tab. "Your place or mine?"

She let out a low laugh that sent dangerous chills down my spine and ended up coursing through my semi-erect dick. "Bold of you to assume you have enough game to get me in bed."

"Game?" I ask.

"Play, swag…"

I bit my lip, nodding. "So you want a boy to play games with you over a man that's not willing to waste anymore of your time?" I question noticing her confident demeanor falter ever so slightly.

"I didn't say-"

"No you didn't, what you did say was that I was late, that I'm over dressed and asked if I was worth exploring." I interrupted. "Well, let's cut to the chase here, we both know you want to fuck me. You probably have a little black book where you keep track of all your conquests."

"I-i…" She stammered as I closed the distance between us.

I leaned down so that we're eye level "Well then, Professor, let's make this educational. Grade me on everything I do to you tonight, and who knows, maybe our lesson will continue into the early hours of the morning." With a sly smile, I added, "And don't forget to give me a detailed report afterwards."

I think y'all are gonna like this one lol