Page 45 of Lightness In My Dark

Cole drove us because we’d be drinking, so I got in the SUV before Finn. When he entered, the only sound heard in the limo was his castanet bottle of pills. Cole dropped us off and maneuvered over a block away to park. Finn offered his hand, and I took it as he navigated me up a flight of stairs into a VIP area. It had a wall of windows looking down onto the club and dance floor, a lounge area with a bar, and a small hallway. I didn’t want to know where it led.

I hung my coat up, and Finn stood behind me. “Could your dress be any shorter?”

I loved my retro ‘70s three-fourth sleeve, stretchy knit fabric dress dowsed with flowers of red, ivory, mustard yellow, and black. To complete the outfit, I wore white patent knee-high Go-Go boots.

I looked down at it and said, “I’m sure it can.”

“Smartass. If you bend over, everyone can see your ass.”

I walked around him to get to the bar. “Why would I bend over?”

Finn rushed behind me. “This isn’t funny, Wren.”

My hand tapped his chest. “Relax.” I took a sip of my drink. “Anyway, since you insist on my social deep throating with your friends, I wore what I wanted to.”

For the first few hours, Finn and his friends did shots. Their laughter made most of the noise in the room. Fed up sitting alone, my fifth drink providing nerves of steel, I left the VIP room and went downstairs. I pushed through the crowd, bouncing from side to side like a pinball machine, until I found the dance floor. With my drink in the air, I danced, and it didn’t take long for a guy to join me. We danced together, and I indirectly saw Finn standing at the windows, staring down at me. The guy, whose name I didn’t bother to remember, left to get me another drink.

Sweat glued my dress to my torso, trickles of water ran down my temples and neck, so I sucked down the drink to hydrate. A slow song came on, and the guy grabbed me around the waist. I backed away, only to have him get closer. His breath heated my skin. Instead of it turning me on, it made me nauseated. Then he ground into me. My arms pushed his chest away, and before I knew it, the guy was on the ground, blood trickling from his nose. Finn dragged me back up, making a turn down the hall into a room, and tossed me inside.

I stumbled until my hands braced against a bed to break my fall. There were floor to ceiling windows facing the city lights. My body numb, alcohol pumping to the sound of music, I moseyed on over to the windows. Small light orbs littered buildings, homes, and streets. Hearing the club music, I closed my eyes, swaying my hips in a seductive way in front of the windows, ignoring the slammed door.

FINN

In the window’s reflection, Wren watched me walk toward her while her body gave way to the music. Her skirt stuck to the back of her thighs. I swallowed and placed my hands on her hips. No matter how drenched she was, I still smelled her intoxicating ocean floral fragrance. My head dipped down, burying my face in the side of her neck, taking a deep inhale. From all the shots and beers, an underwater murkiness settled in my head. The alcohol stifled sounds and produced sluggish movements.

I wanted Wren. Fuck, did I want her. The anger I had was no longer there. Muted shouts came from the lounge.Ten. Nine.My mouth trailed kisses down her neck. She bent her head sideways for better access.Eight. Seven.Her eyes closed… my tongue brushed along her collarbone.Six. Five.I bit her neck.Four. Three.I spun her around, ass cheeks flattened to the window.Two. One. Happy New Year!The cheers reached us. My lips were a breath away from hers, body stricken from alcohol, yet responsive to the woman who bound my control.

I let out an alcohol infused breath. “Happy New Year, Wren.”

Then my lips found hers, eyes opened, hers closed. She released a moan. Our mouths fitted so well; her upper lip nestled between mine. My tongue prowled her edge, drawing along the seam until she offered everything to me. It was our first sweet, anxious, arousing, physical moment, and my entire body fucking devoured it. Tongues fought with need, ran along teeth, lips and dipped back in. I nipped and sucked her bottom lip. Mouths colliding. Breaths heated. We hooked on to each other, fisted hair, and explored with relentless fervor. My dick insisted on being freed, pressed to her small body, grinding, pinning her harder against the window. Out of nowhere, she broke the kiss. Breathing hard, she gave a light push, and I stumbled backwards.

Her swollen lips betrayed her wounded eyes. “We can’t do this.”

I stumbled closer. “Why?”

She shook her head as if finding the answer. “It’s not right. I can’t…” Her hands rested on my chest to prevent any further contact.

I rubbed my dick through my jeans, cursed, and left her standing by the window. My feet tripped over each other until a hand on my arm led me in another direction. A woman I didn’t recognize rubbed her hands along my face, kissing me hard. My mind was in turmoil. Broken by Wren’s rejection, the seediness of intoxication and arousal, I gave into whatever was about to happen.

Thoughts of Wren swirled in my disjointed head. I couldn’t think straight. The next thing I knew, I was on my back on a bed. My eyes closed, visions of Wren in her short dress. Her muscular thighs, calves, wrapped around my waist. I wanted her. To be buried deep inside her, hearing her moan as I commanded it. I heard a zipper. A hand stroked my cock, which made me release a moan. She took the head into her mouth, her hand assisting the length. My breathing increased, the ceiling shifted, and I grunted as she sucked, licked, and stroked my dick.

Before I could come, the door flew open, and Wren stood there with wide eyes. My head lolled toward her, lifting onto my elbows. I saw her tears. The ones I caused. She ran out the door as I pushed the woman away, fumbling to zip my pants. Wren was leaving the club. My arms held the banister to prevent me from falling after I slipped on a few steps. I pushed people aside while my feet glided along the alcohol-soaked floor scattered with party favors. I shoved the doors open and saw Wren arguing with Cole.

Puffs of smoke from the cold clouded my vision, yet my legs shambled toward them. Wren wrenched her arms away from Cole, burying her face in her hands. My chest tightened at seeing her upset, knowing I was the one who did it. When I got to them, I reached for Wren, and she screamed for me to get away from her.

Cole asked me, “What did you do?” I shook my head, grasping it, my body rocking in a circle of its own accord.

Cole got Wren into the SUV, and then I fell into the seat. My hand reached to grab hers. She snatched it away and screamed. Cole leaned in, trying to defuse the situation. Wren continued to shriek and shudder. A downpour of tears stained her cheeks.

I attempted again, but she smacked my hand away. “Don’t touch me!” Her words didn’t stop me from reaching for her. I needed her. “I said don’t touch me!” She crossed her arms over her chest, body trembling. Wrinkles appeared between her brows when she shouted, “You’re a pig! I hate you!”

Her words torched my insides, squeezing my heart so tight that I had trouble breathing. My heart perforated. I had to stop her before she killed me. Without realizing it, my hand smacked her across the face. Cole yelled at me while at the same time I realized what I did and apologized. My hand clutched at my chest, grabbed my shirt, while my head and mouth chanted,no, no, no. Wren slipped out of the back in hysterics. The shock of what I had done to Wren glued me to the seat. Time slowed. Alcohol, a beast against conscience. Wren’s cries diminished. The front passenger side door opened and closed, then the driver’s side, and the car started moving.

Before Cole came to a stop in front of the house, Wren jumped out, opened, and disappeared behind the front door. He came around to my side to get me out and scolded me.

“Finn, how could you do that to her? Your parents raised you to respect everyone. They’d be disappointed in you.”

My face fell into my hands, and I let out heavy sobs. Pushing Cole away, I fell toward a bush and threw up. His words struck like a sniper. My parents would be upset with me. It had been so long. I missed them. I curled into a ball. Cole slid his arms under mine, and helped me up.

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