Page 14 of Warmer, Colder

While I’m distracted having a standoff with the bottle, the lock starts to move from vertical to horizontal. Lunging forward at the last second, I grip the handle and take the twisting mechanism between my clammy fingers. But they’re no match for whatever tool they’re using on the other side.

As the door swings open, I flatten myself against the wall behind it, hoping beyond all reason that I can go undetected. It’s a silly attempt, but desperate times call for desperate measures. A gust of cool air brushes across my front as they shove thedoor closed. Squeezing my eyes closed tightly, I brace myself for aggressive unwanted hands and sloppy lips.

“There you are,” a faintly familiar voice coos. “You’re trembling, Angel. Are you that excited to see me?” The words drip in honey, but they’re sprinkled with spice, a combination that reaches right into the pit of my gut.

Taking a steadying breath, I force my lashes to part. Two luminous brown eyes stare intently at me through a rim of intense black eyeliner and a face covered in blood spatter. But my gaze is drawn to the name ‘Chucky’ written over a heart on her breast. I don’t get the chance to assess the rest of her costume that’s concealed from me as she presses our hips together. Once again, my feet are glued to the floor as I slip into her trance.

“Did you miss me?” She pushes for a reaction, her lips curving wickedly. Maybe she’ll go away on her own if I don’t give her the attention she’s looking for.

“Do I know you?” I stumble over the absurd words. Of course, there’s no mistaking her. Despite how hard I’ve tried to forget her, the spiced scent of her perfume, and the taste of mint on her tongue, she’s plagued my nightmares on and off for months now.

Her cocky laugh punctuates what she and I both know… I couldn’t forget her if I tried.Her body. Her lips. Her words. Her very essenceis deeply ingrained in my mind—both conscious and unconscious—the reminder of her sneaking around the edges of my awareness whenever I let my guard down. I can’t let her know that, though. Nobody can knowthat.

“I’d be happy to jog your memory, if necessary.” Those vixen eyes flash with challenge as she looks down at me.

Instead of answering, I attempt to feign disinterest by inspecting her necklace, but she smoothly intercepts me, wrapping her fingers around my wrist and pinning it to the wall above my head. My other hand freezes uselessly on her chest asher cinnamon and rose scent infiltrates my space. “What, what are you doing?” I manage to stammer around the saliva flooding my mouth.

“What I should have done the last time I had the chance.” She leans in and I tilt my head back in an attempt to evade the kiss I was anticipating, but I play right into her hands as I open my body to her, and she seizes the opportunity to drag her dominating tongue over my nipple. The dampness immediately soaks through the nearly sheer fabric of my party-store bodice.

In the mirror, I’m watching the nightmare that’s been tormenting me come to fruition.It’s torturously pleasurable.

My wrist flexes against her chest, failing to put space between us. The cold metal of her dermal piercings is distinctly intimate against my palm; I fight the urge to dig my nails in as she pushes defiantly against me. “And what’s that?” I ask, the words forcefully sucked out of me in a rasping shudder as she latches her lips around the tip sending crackling pleasure traveling through my body. It’s like experiencing my first buzz all over again—head light, body heavy, everything moving slowly.I’ve never been much of a drinker, but it’s easy to see why people chase the feeling now.

“Making sure you’ll crave me to the point of madness…until you can’t help but seek me out. Until you’re pleading for just a drop of me on your tongue to quench the unending thirst that is your need for me,” she finally answers far too easily as she pulls her mouth off of my breast. “Tell me, do you think of me every time you close your eyes?” Her confident laugh skates across my skin sultry and tempting. “Are you ready to admit that I’m your dream girl?” The taunt nudges at something hidden within my subconscious. Before I can follow that train of thought, she repeats the same intoxicating movements on my neck followed by nips at my collarbone. My natural response to the threat of teeth on skin is to shrink away, but I lean into it. Instead ofprotesting, only a squeak escapes me when the sharp ridge of her front teeth meets my collarbone right over the bruising I’ve kept carefully hidden all night with my long hair and layers of makeup.

Shame blossoms across my skin, and I begin to squirm as she simply hovers there, mouth open, breath pulsing and wetness gathering from her saliva like she might be able to taste my humiliation. A dozen explanations cross my mind, but I don’t have a good one that wouldn’t make my already precarious situation worse. The last thing I need is someone like her involved in my personal life, so I channel that defensiveness. “What’s wrong?”

“Just thinking about how satisfying it will be when you beg me to mark you someday.”

“That’s not going to happen.” The confidence with which I say that wavers—the words without substance, crumbling—as her nose skims along my jaw.

“What is this to you then?” Her tongue flicks out, toying with the hoop that dangles from my ear, and I fight a shiver as the pleasant heat of her mouth teases the sensitive flesh.

“A distraction.” I take a breath buying time to focus my thoughts. “Nothing more, nothing less.”

“You’re so cute when you’re flustered,” she purrs into my ear. “Trust me, there will come a day when you proudly proclaim yourself as mine.”

“I’m not flustered,” I insist. “And I’m not yours.”

“Not yet. But I’ll remember you said that.” Her teeth graze the delicate skin along my neck. “Don’t worry I won’t hold it against you.” She leans back to look at me, her hand coming up and latching around my throat. “Well, not too much.” Her bubbly laugh raises the hair on the back of my neck. “I mean, I might make you beg a little.” The pressure increases a fraction and my body tenses as I remember the possessive grip that’s usuallyused to hold me still. I catch my wide eyes in the mirror. My skin has blanched with reflexive fear that’s become my most natural reaction to any touch. This isn’t feeling like so much of an escape anymore.

Her eyes track the movement in my shoulders and the tightening of my throat. “What’s wrong, Babygirl?” Her thick brows dip with genuine concern. “Do you want me to stop?” The words are uncertain. Coming from her it’s sobering. She takes a step back so she can see all of me and I can see all of her. “Use your words. Becca. If you want me to stop, tell me.” Playing with the bar through her tongue, she fidgets while she waits for my answer.

A flare of panic rolls down my spine as my muscles spasm with the urge to close the distance between us. My throat’s as dry as Death Valley, making it nearly impossible to vocalize my answer. The hesitation hasnothingto do with the warring thoughts of curiosity and survival. Between my fingers, I swirl two pieces of the ruffled skirt together trying to find some sense in the repetitive motion.

Making out with her is thrilling, even if it’s nothing more than a kiss.Which it’s not. Tons of women hook up with each other when they’re drunk, it’s no big deal.Some would even say it’s an essential part of the college experience. Since I’m getting ready to graduate soon, isn’t it kind of a rite of passage that I partake? I swallow roughly and my gaze slides to the bottle of vodka that sits on the bathroom counter.

“Mmm, mmm, mmm” the blond shakes her head. “I’m not letting you off that easy.” She wags a perfectly manicured finger at me. “Yes, or no?” She kneels before me.

For several seconds all I can do is shake my head back and forth in panic as I realize what she intends. “No.” I jerk forward and press my thighs together. “We can’t. I’m, umm, I’m on my period.”

That tantalizing tongue strokes her lips as she stares up at me. I shake my head again, insistent. “Okay.” She stands. “But for the record, I don’t mind.” When I make a face of disgust she just laughs. “So, is that a yes?” She unzips her purse and holds up something small and pink. “Or no?” It slips on her finger. “Let me make it easy for you. Do you want to feel good, or do you want to go back out there and have some incompetent jackass use you?”

Despite all of the alarms sounding in the back of my head, I nod. Holding my gaze for several seconds, she waits for what she deems long enough for an objection, then her lips crash into mine.Claiming. Certain. Ravenous.The way she treats me like I belong to her emboldens me to open up willingly.

I hold on tight, grabbing at her exposed hips. She’s soft and supple beneath my hands, nothing like the hard muscle I’m used to being crushed under. Her weight presses into me, pinning me to the wall, but it’s reassuring instead of suffocating. I grip her, needing her closer. There’s no resistance; our bodies move together in synchronicity, her leg slipping between mine as she lifts my left leg up and around her hip. To hold myself steady, I plant the front of my shoe against the counter, which tilts my hips just so. A gasp leaves me when she rubs a finger over my center, driving me upward onto my toes.

“You okay, Sweetheart?” The teasing words tickle against my tongue. She doesn’t wait for me to answer, a light vibration coming to life between my legs as she slides her finger back and forth. My responding moan falls from my mouth into hers and she swallows it with a groan. “That’s right, Angel. I told you I’m going to make you feel good.” Further proving her point, she moves the toy in circles over my clit and my body jolts forward at the unfamiliar sensation. “Oh baby, nobody’s ever worked your clit like this, have they?” She lets out a mischievous chuckle that would make me self-conscious if she wasn’t distracting me withincreasing pressure and little movements that are too perfectly mapped to my body. “That’s just cruel. But more fun for me. I’m going to show you a whole new fucking world when you let me. I’m going to blow that pretty little mind every chance I get.” With a click, the vibrations intensify. “For my first trick, I’m going to make you come.”

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