Page 2 of Beauty Sleep

Fuck.

I wish I could recapture the feeling I had when I first discovered my deepest fantasy. With such a vivid imagination, it only took me the slightest touch, a few tugs of my wrist, and I’d sleep so well afterward.

Now I’m just exhausted all the time… and more than a little lonely.

The answer is obvious. I should deny myself for a few nights. That’ll help me reset everything. The end result will be easierandbetter. But ever since I discovered this fantasy… it’s apparently become impossible to deny myself. The moment I wake up with hot, ferocious need burning through my veins, I forget all my promises.

Every night, I fall into the same trap, and I tell myself it’ll be different… and yet, every night, I find myself here.

I don’t even care about the price I’ll pay tomorrow. My fingers are curled around my stiff cock. I’m desperately pumping my hand up and down, pressing my face into the pillows as I imagine lying still for my perfect imaginary stranger.

It’s only ever been a fantasy, but this fantasy is all I want. Not writhing in pleasure on the dance floor as laser beams and hands slide across my bare skin. Not dimly-lit back rooms where men wear and wield leather. Not messaging strangers on all the apps, trying to find someone to invite in. I want someone to stumble upon me and sweep me away with the force of his desire.

And someday, my stranger will come—in more ways than one. But for tonight, it’s just me, the open window, and my forbidden dreams.

Chapter

One

BRIAR

“Heads up, birthday boy!”

A shot glass whizzes across the bar and slides to a halt right in front of me.

“Oh,” I stutter, my cheeks burning. I have no idea what alcohol’s in there, but it’s bright pink—and definitely a bad idea.

But then, I’m the motherfucking queen of the Realm of Bad Ideas.

“How’d you know?” I look up at the tall, blond, shirtless bartender.

He just winks. “Let’s call it magic. Happy twenty-first, sweetheart.”

There’s a little smattering of applause at that, and even a few catcalls. I blush and clear my throat, glancing around while trying to avoid catching the gaze of anyone in particular.

It suddenly feels like I’m the special of the night... and I don’t know how I feel about that.

“Hey, Em!” calls out a gray-haired guy sitting at the other end of the bar, waving down the bartender. He and his friends are all dressed up in leather, obviously going to the party at Vibes after this. “How much will you charge me to tell everyone I’m turning twenty-one, too?”

The bartender props a hand on his hip and turns to him. “My integrity is worth a small fortune, darling.”

“But Em’s OnlyFans is reasonably priced,” one of his friends heckles. Even Em joins in the laughter, and the feeling of being watched dissipates as conversations resume around me.

Phew, I breathe a sigh of relief.I’m glad the attention isn’t on me anymore.

That gives me a chance to raise my birthday shot to my lips for a cautious taste. To my relief, it slides sweetly past my lips, and it tastes like bubblegum.

Not bad, actually.

I sip slowly to make it last while I stare openly around, checking the place out. My friends and roommates are supposed to be showing up any time now, but obviously they aren’t here yet. They’re allergic to arriving on time.

That just means I get a chance to soak up all the magic I’ve only ever seen from through the windows. The promise of a long, thrilling night, the smell of cologne and beer and possibility…

It’salmostenough to make me reconsider my decision.

My friends don’t know that I’m not coming to Vibes. But I swear, I really am happy just to have birthday drinks, and then make up an excuse to head home. There’s no class tomorrow. I can take the whole night to indulge in my favorite fantasies… and maybe even get to the finish line this time.

Right now, I could sure use a mind-blowing orgasm or ten.

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