Page 84 of His Two Hidden Masks

Odessa nodded, and she looked at Leo and me. “Let’s get out there and dance away both your broken hearts.”

I wasn’t sure my heart was broken, at least, not yet, but somehow Odessa knew my heart wasn’t whole. Leo stood and gave Odessa a quick hug before we followed her onto the dance floor.

My mask still on, I followed my friends in a line. We wove through the crowd, inching closer to the stage. My mask made me brave. Could I stand before Dylan and hide in plain sight?

I teetered a bit on my boots as I walked. I pulled up the sleeves of my tight sweater. Sweat trickled down my back.

Take me, lover.

Taste me, lover

Give me everything, lover.

Show me the light.

I’m so tired

Tired of the cold.

I’m so tired

Of the endless night

His voice intoxicated me. This was me, drunk on desire. The room swirled between darkness and light. As Odessa and I moved closer and closer to the stage, my body opened to his voice.

My core heated up, and a familiar pulse beat between my legs. I knew this man. I knew his touch. I wanted him.

We elbowed and danced our way to the very front of the stage. I was so close. I could reach out and touch his leg. I didn’t. Instead, Odessa, Shea, Leo, and I danced.

I moved my hips back and forth in time with the strokes of his guitar. Behind my mask, I fixed my eyes on his face and remembered the feeling of his mouth between my legs, his tongue teasing and fucking me until I came.

I remembered the feeling of his fingers, first one, two, and three, pushing me open, thrusting inside me, teasing and stroking me to the edge of pleasure.

He was mine, if only in Venice. I no longer cared what would happen beyond Carnival. I would endure any level of pain to lie next to him again, to feel his hands on my bare skin, his lips pressed against mine.

Lover, come closer

Lover, give me your gaze

Give me your body

Give me all your ages

Unravel my truth

And I’ll tell you no lies

I couldn’t follow his gaze from behind his mask, but I hoped he could see me. I no longer wanted to hide; I wanted to be fully seen by him.

Lover, I’ve waited for so long

Lover, take me to the light

I stopped moving and stood right in front of him, unmoving. He walked along the stage and paused before me. I couldn’t be sure, but for a moment, it felt as if he were looking at me, only at me.

I wanted it to be true with every cell in my body. I was wet and aching and I wanted him to feel my desire.

I’m so tired of the night

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