Locked Out in Luxury

Jake ran a towel through his thick, damp hair, stepping out of the bathroom with a satisfied sigh. The hotel's rainfall shower had been incredible, and now he felt refreshed, relaxed... and just a little smug.

At 6'3" with broad shoulders, sculpted abs, and the kind of biceps that made his shirts fit just right, Jake was used to drawing attention. Years of training had paid off, and he knew it. Normally, he didn't mind showing off--on his terms.

Tonight, however, he just wanted a quiet night in.

Smirking at his reflection, he ran a hand over his chiseled abs before slipping into his favorite pair of dark blue silk boxer shorts. The smooth fabric hugged his muscular thighs, a little more snugly than he remembered, but whatever. They felt amazing, and that's what mattered.

Flopping onto the hotel bed, Jake picked up his phone. His stomach rumbled.

Room service.

That was the plan.

Then he remembered--the menu was still hanging on the outside of his door.

Without a second thought, he hopped up, padded across the carpet, and cracked open the door. He reached out, grabbed the menu, and--

Click.

Jake froze.

His grip tightened on the handle as he twisted it, praying it wasn't what he thought.

But it was.

The door was locked.

Jake was standing in the hallway of a busy, luxury hotel.

Barefoot. Wearing nothing but those silk boxer shorts.

His stomach twisted.

Okay. No big deal. Just get a key, get back inside. No one has to see.

And then--

The elevator chimed.

Jake turned his head just as four women stepped out.

They were stunning--dressed in sleek cocktail dresses, clearly just back from a night out.

And the second they saw him, they stopped dead.

For a moment, there was silence.

Then--

"Oh. Oh my god."

Jake felt heat rush to his face.

The woman in a tight red dress was the first to react. She dragged her eyes down his broad chest, abs, and muscular legs, her lips curving into a very pleased smirk.

"Wow."

The blonde beside her bit her lip, trying--and failing--to suppress a giggle. "I--um. Nice outfit."

Jake shifted uncomfortably. The silk fabric was far too thin, far too snug, and not at all forgiving under scrutiny.

The curvy brunette grinned. "Locked yourself out?"

Jake exhaled sharply. "Yeah."

The petite brunette gasped, eyes twinkling with mischief. "So you have to walk through the lobby?"

Jake swallowed hard.

The blonde beamed. "Oh, that's going to be so embarrassing."

The curvy brunette nodded seriously. "Yeah. Super packed down there."

Jake clenched his jaw. "Thanks. I got it."

Before he could move, the petite brunette leaned in and narrowed her eyes.

Jake tensed. "What?"

She suddenly gasped. "Wait. Is that--"

Jake's stomach dropped.

"Are those--sheer?"

Jake froze.

His blood ran cold.

"No. No, they're not," he said quickly, but it was too late.

The other women leaned in, eyes locked on his silk boxers--which, under the bright hotel hallway lights, had just enough of a sheen to be dangerously close to being semi-transparent.

"Oh my god!"

The blonde covered her mouth, wheezing with laughter.

"They totally are!" the curvy brunette giggled. "Not completely, but like--if you look hard enough--"

Red Dress grinned like a cat. "Oh, we're definitely looking."

Jake wanted to die.

"Alright, Silky," Red Dress purred. "Lobby time."

Jake groaned. "Do you have to call me that?"

"Oh, absolutely."

Before he could argue, the blonde grabbed his wrist. "Come on, bestie. Let's get you paraded--I mean, let's get you a key."

Jake suffered as they escorted him into the elevator.

The moment the doors opened to the packed lobby, the humiliation hit him like a truck.

Heads turned. People stared.

Jake was 6'3" of pure muscle--and he was currently barefoot in silk boxer shorts that may or may not have been sheer under the lights.

"Oh my god," someone whispered.

A woman at the bar turned to her friend, grinning. "Well, that's the best thing I've seen all night."

Jake wanted to be anywhere else.

The worst part? He was noticing the cold air.

A lot.

The receptionist, a woman in her forties, barely raised an eyebrow. "Locked out, sir?"

Jake, exhausted beyond words, just nodded.

She slid the key across the counter. "Happens all the time."

Jake reached for it--

But Red Dress snatched it first.

Jake froze.

"Hmm," she said, tapping the key against her chin. "I could give this to you right now... or you could do a little spin for us."

Jake's jaw dropped.

"No. Absolutely not."

The blonde pouted. "But it's only fair! We walked you all the way down here!"

The curvy brunette grinned. "Just a little twirl, Silky."

Jake closed his eyes. He was never living this down.

With the entire lobby watching, he sighed deeply...

... And did the world's most reluctant spin.

The cheering that followed would haunt him forever.

But before he could grab the key, Red Dress pulled it back.

"Hmm," she said thoughtfully. "I dunno... I feel like you owe us a bit more for saving you from this disaster."

Jake narrowed his eyes. "What do you mean?"

The blonde grinned. "We were just about to head to the bar. And we could really use our own private waiter."

Jake's stomach dropped. "No. Absolutely not."

The curvy brunette gasped dramatically. "Oh, nooo. I guess you'll just have to wander around like this all night."

Jake gritted his teeth. "You can't be serious."

The petite brunette held up the key. "One drink per girl. Then you get this back."

Jake stared at them. Four drinks.

Four rounds of walking through a crowded bar like this.

The blonde patted his arm. "Be a good boy, Silky."

Jake sighed deeply.

"I hate all of you."

The chorus of giggles that followed confirmed that his night was far from over.