Foolish Choices

by L M Gregory

  Not even one day as a woman, and I’m a slut. Great. That wasn’t fair. No one would call Sam a slut, and he’d done the same thing as Mike. Even in his head, Mike couldn’t get past the double standard. No wonder Veronica had wanted to return to being a man.

  Which brought up another issue. Sam must not have a partner, or they would have swapped. Maybe. Is that how it worked? Mike wasn’t even sure.

  Wait. Hadn’t Veronica said something about the man agreeing? That’s why she’d talked about borrowing and switching. Or something. He needed more information. More information he’d have to hope was in Veronica’s apartment.

  A few more touches to the phone screen and Mike pulled up his new finances. That was a little better. Little income outside of investments, but there was a significant sum of money, enough to live off the interest if he avoided lavish spending. More than he’d ever make as a programmer in fact. Why did Veronica live in a less expensive part of town? Something he’d have to investigate. Not that he planned to be in the body long. Veronica was taking it back. He hadn’t even really cheated! Diana had cheated first. What a stupid curse!

  No job that Mike could make out from the information in the phone, which made sense given the lack of deposits in Veronica’s accounts.

  That Mike could fix. He still had his old skills with programming, but the lack of a degree would hurt. At least in establishing himself. Once he was in, he’d do fine. It was that first step that hurt. No contacts, no degree, he didn’t have an in. But he could work on that.

  Mike shook his head. He kept going back to the information as if he intended to stay. He wouldn’t. Veronica could have the body again. Had to take the body back. That would mean that Mike’s lack of contacts or degrees wouldn’t matter. No use dwelling on it.

  A soft tickle to Mike’s back jerked him back to the present. He giggled. An arm snaked around him, pulling him against Sam’s muscular body. An erection pressed between Mike’s cheeks.

  “Again?” Mike teased. “You are insatiable.”

  “It’s you,” Sam growled. “I’m normally not this horny, but I can’t help it around you.”

  Lips nibbled the back of Mike’s neck, the pleasant glow of arousal spreading through him. Mike moaned. “You can’t blame me for your libido.”

  A sharp bite to Mike’s shoulder elicited a squeal. Sam growled, “I can and do.”

  Sam’s cock slid between Mike’s legs, which Mike spread in invitation. Sam slipped inside Mike easily, a mixture of old and new moisture allowing quick access.

  Mike groaned, pressing back against Sam. The position didn’t allow quick or hard movements, but Sam took Mike deep.

  Big hands grasped Mike’s breasts. Squeezing and kneading. Kisses pressed against Mike’s neck and back. So much sensation, all slow but continuous.

  His pleasure grew.

  “More,” Mike groaned.

  Sam’s warm breath spilled across Mike’s back in a laugh. “You’re going to drain me,” he said.

  “I don’t care,” Mike replied. Pressing his ass against Sam to take his lover as deep as possible.

  They groaned together.

  Their cries grew together.

  Lengthened.

  Came faster.

  The constant teasing driving Mike crazy.

  Only Sam’s firm grip kept Mike from rolling over and riding Sam harder. Every movement to do it was blocked.

  Mike hovered on the verge of orgasm so long he thought he might go nuts. Finally, Sam repositioned one hand to rub Mike’s clit.

  Even the gentle stimulation enough to push Mike well past the point of no return.

  “Sam!” he screamed.

  Mike’s heavy breath panted in Mike’s ear. Faster. Mike squeezed. He wasn’t even sure how, but he grasped Sam’s cock.

  “Oh fuck,” Sam said. His cock twitched inside Mike. Warmth spilled into Mike.

  Mike shivered in delight.

  “Every time I think I have nothing left, you milk me for more,” Sam whispered.

  Mike laughed. “Does that mean you want to go again?”

  But soft snores were his only answer.

  Mike blinked. Soft light filled the room.

  Sunrise.

  Sam still breathed behind Mike.

  A man slept with Mike.

  The night exploded in Mike’s mind.

  What had he done?

  Sex? With a man? Why? Why? Why?

  As carefully as he could, Mike escaped from Sam’s embrace. A slight change in breathing had Mike worried that he might have woken Sam, but the man shifted and fell back into a deep sleep.

  Mike drifted into the living room, caught between the pleasures of the night and the embarrassment that he’d given in so easily.

  What was wrong with him?

  The laundry was in the kitchen. A stacked washer/dryer. Mike opened the dryer door slowly, trying to keep the noise from being too loud. Even so, the click of the dryer opening caused him to wince.

  But if Sam woke, no sound reached Mike to indicate it.

  A trip to the bathroom to clean his thighs, and a few minutes later, Mike was able to escape from the condo.

  But what was he going to do next?

  Find Veronica?

  Find Chad? Why was vengeance still crying in his mind? It shouldn’t matter. He’d lost his body in his attempt to get revenge. Was he even going to try? What if something worse happened?

  What could be worse?

  Mike didn’t want to find out.

  Amateur Detective

  The scent of coffee mixed with the freshness of the rain as Mike sipped his too expensive coffee. No choice though, he’d chosen a café near his old condo, the condo he intended to get back. The café sat right along the shortest path from his condo building to the nearest public transportation. When Diana left, she’d walk right past.

  It was the perfect setup for following her. Mike suspected she’d lead him straight to Chad. Heat pulsated between his legs. Sam had been a good looking man, but Chad had been the ultimate alpha male, if Mike had believed in the alpha/beta thing. Ripped muscles, chiseled face, handsome, Chad just radiated sex appeal now that Mike had the body to appreciate such things.

  I need to grab Veronica. Not that it would do any good. She’d been right. He’d read the Book of Veronica and not a single time among countless body swaps had anyone gotten their body back.

  Not once.

  He’d studied the damn thing for days.

  It traced a nearly perfect path back to ancient Greece. Ancient Greece! Historians would have fought a world war to get that book, and it sat casually in Mike’s new condo. Even calling it a book was a misnomer. It was multiple books. Each labeled with the time and location of the Veronica’s who’d written it. Not every Veronica added to the collection, but sooner or later, each older portion had been translated.

  The books in Mike’s direct possession were in English. He’d found he was leasing a climate-controlled storage unit that he suspected contained the originals. Mike knew next to nothing about history, but he suspected the value of the contents of that storage unit was priceless.

  I could sell them and live like a king. Queen anyway. Not that it mattered. The magic of compound interest meant the Veronica body had plenty of resources even without a job.

  But Mike shook his head. If he couldn’t get his body back, and he wasn’t convinced that was the case, at least he could get revenge. If Diana hadn’t cheated on him, he’d still be in his old body. Still doing his old job. Happy.

  Had he been? Happy that is. Had Diana? Why had she cheated? Part of him burned to know the answers, another part just wanted to hurt her like she’d hurt him. Ripped him to pieces and left him vulnerable to a curse as ancient as civilization itself.

  Maybe I could write up the stories and sell them as fiction, no way anyone would believe they are real.

  Mike tapped his long nails on the table. Another thing he needed to take care of, a manicure. He wasn’t sure what one did wit
h long nails except get in the way.

  What should he do? Give in to the curse? Accept that he was now Veronica until he could pass the body onto another person?

  Beth would probably agree with that choice.

  Now why had he thought of Beth? She’d been kind to him, but Mike barely knew her.

  He sat up. Through the window, Veronica—Mike now—rushed by. Mike flexed his legs, preparing to stand, but he hesitated. Tracking Veronica would be harder. She knew what Mike looked like; she’d been in the Veronica body longer than he had! Maybe, if he was going to trail her, he should get a full makeover first.

  Yeah.

  Mike settled back into the chair.

  Hours passed.

  The rain dripped down the window.

  Had he missed Diana? Had she stayed in? She wasn’t a huge fan of the rain, but she also wasn’t a homebody. Not a day went by where she didn’t go out.

  So, where was she?

  Another hour.

  Mike was ready to give up. Try another day.

  It was well past lunchtime and his stomach reminded him he hadn’t eaten since a bagel that morning.

  Out of the corner of his eye, he saw a familiar person strolling past the window.

  There!

  An umbrella kept her protected from the rain as she chatted into her ear pods. Men—and women—gave her a double look even though she was dressed casually in a knee-length skirt with a matching sweater. But not even the loosest of sweaters could have hidden Diana’s sweater puppies. And her beauty drew attention.

  Mike left a few dollars on the table and slipped out to follow her.

  Where was she going?

  Mike didn’t know her schedule that well. He flinched. Did he even know her that well? Had that been what caused the problems?

  His umbrella—he wasn’t going to repeat the Sam incident no matter how much his body ached to—popped open.

  Having never tailed anyone, he expected it to be harder, but all he had to do was follow the path of whiplashed men.

  Or her bright red umbrella in a sea of black.

  Mike leaned against the wall, trying to seem casual. He stifled a sigh. This was the fifth store Diana had stopped at, buying nothing, at least she never came out with packages. Is this what she did with her time? Shopped?

  A few men glanced at him. The Veronica body matched and for some people, likely surpassed Diana in beauty. Even skipping makeup while wearing the most average jeans and sweater in Veronica’s closet, Mike drew attention. He had to glare at a few men who seemed about to come up to him.

  That wasn’t why he was following Diana. He was beginning to wonder why he was following her. What was the point? What could he accomplish?

  I should have followed Veronica. Though if she was trying to keep up his life, she likely had been going to work. Nothing exciting there, but maybe he could have grabbed her for a chat. Despite his days of studying the books, the previous Veronica should have had more insight than he did.

  She had to have a clue how to get his body back!

  He slumped. If the previous Veronica had such a clue, why wouldn’t she have used it to get her own body back?

  Diana came out of the store, again without bags, and took off at a quick stroll. She always seemed to know where she was going. Never hesitating.

  Did she really have a plan?

  Mike stood but didn’t follow. Should I keep going? He shrugged. It’s not like he had anywhere else to go.

  The next stop made more sense, a gym. Though the condo building had a fitness center, Diana had always scoffed at using it, preferring more urban places with classes. Or so she’d said.

  As Mike walked past the broad glass windows at the front of the gym, he caught a glimpse of another reason she might like to use an outside gym.

  Men.

  Many, many men.

  All in various states of dress.

  All in damn good shape.

  This wasn’t a casual gym, but one which attracted only the high-end clients. Maybe even limited themselves to the healthy or wealthy.

  Mike almost tripped as a thought passed through his head. It hadn’t only been healthy young men in the gym, but hot women matched the men.

  And I missed it.

  If Mike could have facepalmed without drawing attention, he would have. The Veronica attractions were starting to take over.

  I need to get in there. The gym looked like a place where Chad might hang out. It might even be the place Diana had met him.

  But Mike only had the clothing he wore. To get back to Veronica’s place, gather the right clothes, and get back would take hours. Diana would be long gone.

  A sign caught his eye. He smiled. Perfect, of course someone put an exercise clothing boutique next to the gym.

  Ugh. Not a single pair of jogging pants or oversized sweatshirt existed in the store. Instead, tights and tiny shorts dominated. Designer sports bras and shirts that wouldn’t cover the bras filled rack after rack.

  “Can I help you?” a cheerful voice asked.

  Mike turned. A clerk had been stacking clothes on the shelves, but she’d snuck up on him while he’d been zigzagging through the strangely placed shelves and racks. Did this place not have a straight line?

  “Uh, I need workout clothes.” Mike wanted to smack his forehead. Of course he needed workout clothes, why else would anyone come into a store like this?

  The clerk smiled but didn’t say anything about his slip. “We can help! Did you have anything in mind?”

  Mike sort of waved his hand. Finally, he sighed. “No. I-I’m at a loss.”

  “That’s not a problem!” the clerk chirped. How could anyone be that cheerful on such a rainy day? “We can get you outfitted for an excellent workout, and you’ll look good doing it!”

  With a sigh, Mike nodded. “Sounds great. I’ll, uh, trust your judgment.”

  The cute clerk’s eyes widened just a little. “How much were you thinking of spending?”

  “Whatever I need.”

  This time, her eyes did expand along with a bright smile.

  Mike left the store with a small bag; much more would be delivered to his condo later. Veronica’s condo damn it, it’s not mine.

  He suspected he’d spent way more money than he needed, but being in a hurry limited his options to object. Instead, he’d gone along with everything the clerk had suggested even though some of it… how was he supposed to work out in clothes that revealed that much?

  Taking the least revealing outfit with him, he hurried over to the gym. A gorgeous man that had Mike’s heart-pounding greeted him. What was wrong with his body? Did he have to respond to every hot man with an increased heart rate and arousal?

  “Hello! I don’t think I’ve seen you here before. Were you looking to join?” his eyes swept him from toe to head. “I think you’d fit in very well.” His slow grin burned.

  What the hell? These people were nuts! Who looked over potential clients like they were a piece of meat?

  “Uh, I’m new in the area,” he said. Sort of true even. “I hoped for maybe temporary membership to try the gym out?”

  The gym attendant nodded. “Great, great. I’m Brad, by the way. I’d be honored to show you around. Show you what we can do for you.”

  Mike glanced around, but the gym was huge, and if Diana was there, he couldn’t see her.

  “That would be great!”

  Brad touched Mike’s shoulder. “Follow me then, and I’ll show you to the locker rooms so you can change.”

  So. Much. Skin.

  Women flowed in and out of the locker room. Mike had no idea where to look. He also realized he’d badly misjudged the place. Ordinary people outnumbered the beautiful by a considerable margin. Which made sense. I wonder if the gym arranges the fitter ones to workout by the window? It might work as an advertisement.

  Trying to keep his eyes off all the lovely flesh surrounding him in various states of dress and undress, Mike put on his own outfit.

>   So. Much. Skin.

  He sighed. It was too late to convince the sporting wear clerk to pick less revealing clothing. She’d picked a sports bra that did manage to hold even his—Veronica’s—massive tits tight while revealing way too much cleavage. How the fuck was that even possible?

  As for the shorts, well… he’d seen panties in lingerie stores that covered more. And this was the least revealing of what he’d bought?

  Maybe he could return it.

  Still, his outfit hardly stood out from what other women wore. So, Mike gathered his courage and left the locker room.

  “I was beginning to worry we’d have to send someone in after you,” Brad teased.

  Mike offered a fake laugh he hoped would pass muster. “It’s a big place. I think I got lost.”

  “Mm, it is… big,” Brad said with his eyes locked on Mike’s boobs.

  “So, uh, the tour?”

  “Yes. The tour.”

  Swimming, weights, cardio, training rooms, the gym had it all. Including, finally, Diana, working out with Chad.

  Which explained how they met. Chad touched Diana in ways inappropriate to a professional relationship. At least Mike didn’t think trainers were supposed to be cupping a woman there!

  All the training rooms were window-lined, which didn’t make a lot of sense. But provided an opportunity.

  “I think I’ll work out in here,” Mike told his guide who’d spent way too much time staring at Mike’s chest and found way too many opportunities to touch Mike’s bare shoulders.

  “Here? Sure. Sure. It’s a great place. Can I offer you a free session of training? Just to get you started?”

  Mike licked his lips. That would start something alright. Hiding a grimace, Mike pushed his ridiculous new libido down. “Not today, but if you have a card, I’ll be sure to look you up when I’m ready.” Which will be never.

  Brad grinned. “I’ll have my information waiting for you at the desk when you’re ready to leave.”

  “Thank you, Brad. You were a big help.”

  “I think you’ll like it here, Veronica,” Brad said before strolling off.