Julia

Julia shone vibrantly on the dancefloor. All eyes were on her. Those that weren't, were. They just didn't allow themselves to show it. Her partner was her height, with an big, burly build. Their love of dancing sparkled through their moves. They were better than good at it.

Julia had chosen to go dancing tonight because she was celebrating a personal milestone of her own. She wore her favorite dancing dress: a bright coral fitted with princess lines, short flutter sleeves, and a full circle midi skirt. She topped it off with her nude tights that had a black lace design running up each leg. She wore her sister Leigha's white strappy sandals with a three inch heels. The ones they'd accidentally stumbled upon when they'd went shopping the day she went missing. That was also the day she'd promised she'd stop smoking ass. It was 364 days. She was celebrating tonight instead of tomorrow because she'd finally broke through a plateau in her life that she'd thought would never change. She'd lost her job to doing drugs and now she was back in the workforce. A year after sister disappeared.

Julia stopped two hours after she'd begun dancing and turned to her partner.

"Lets get a drink and go home." Julia said as she leaned into him and lightly kissed him. Immediately she turned and walked towards the bar. She picked a stool at the end where she could have some space. She didn't turn to see if he followed her.

"Bartender," Julia said, "I want a drink with ginger beer, but double the liquor. Surprise me."

"OK." he answered.

"I'll take a double-shot of vodka." Julia's partner added.

Julia grinned at him.

"What's your name," Julia asked. "We can exchange names now that we've danced. Mine is Julia."

"Mine is Ace."

"You're the best dance partner I've had."

Ace shrugged, but a small smile tugged at his mouth.

The drinks arrived, and Julia took her time and savored hers, but Ace downed his. Just like Julia's dad.

Julia grabbed Ace's hand. "Come," she said.

They left.

Julia opened the door and turned to Ace.

Ace politely put his hand on her midback and moved in closer. "Ladies first."

Julia blushed and entered, feeling Ace follow her.

Ace shut the door and locked it.

Julia moved to the other end of the room. Her hand was holding the hem of her dress. She watched Ace for a second, watching her.

In one smooth move, Julia lifted her skirt and put her hands inside her tights and slipped them off. She let her skirt fall again. She tipped her head and looked at Ace. She turned around and bent over at the waist and unbuckled every strap on both her sandals. She stood up and slipped off her sandals.

"I'm celebrating me tonight. Would you like to join me?" Julia asked Ace.

Ace nodded, and moved closer. He put one hand on the small of her back. One smooth move he pulled her in and kissed her intensely.

Julia leaned into the kiss and moaned. Julia changed her mind and moved her hands down Ace's back. She tucked a finger or two into his jeans, and slowly moved her hands to the front. She undid the top button, and moved down to the zipper. But she finding another button she pulled herself out of the kiss.

"Ace, what's up with these buttons!" Julia growled, frustrated.

Ace looked her in the eye, and deliberately smiled. Shrugging, he said, "I like them."

Julia gave him a look of annoyance, and went back to unbuttoning his jeans.

"There, now you take them off," she growled.

Instead of taking them off, Ace moved closer to Julia and reached behind her and unzipped her dress. He slipped his fingers underneath her dress on her shoulders, and slowly helped the dress fall off of her.

Ace stepped back and looked at her. Nodding in appreciation, he said, "You're beautiful. Your dress is like wearing makeup. You look good, but always just a little bit better without it."

Julia blushed just enough to say she did. Tossing her hair out of her face, she moved to Ace and pushed him onto the bed, and jumped on top of him.