Page 55 of One Last Wish

“I’m still working it out.” Theo laughed nervously.

“Guys! I’m righthere!” I glared at Darce because he was invading my personal space.

“Yes, we had noticed that, Alora.” Oh, I was going to wipe that smug look off his face if he carried on. Why did he infuriate me so much? “Did you need another drink?”

“I’ll get this round.” Theo jumped up and headed to the bar once we’d all told him what we wanted. Alice went to give him a hand.

“I’m proud of you,” Darce muttered while the others were talking around the table.

“For what?”

“Agreeing to go on a date with Theo. He’s a good, solid choice. You’ll be happy with him.”

“It’s one date! I’m notmarryingthe guy!” His enthusiasm for Theo and me made no sense.

“You’ll be safe. That is all that matters.” Darce looked distant as he spoke. His eyes searched into the crowd, but seemed to look right through them.

“When you talk in riddles like that, I have no clue what you’re talking about.”

“That’s a good thing.” He still wasn’t looking at me. Ugh! Fuck this! I gave Evelyn a look, motioning to the bar. “Where are you going?” Darce asked, gripping my wrist as I stood up. Electricity surged through my body at the simple contact.

“To get some shots. This is a party, right?”

––––––––

EVELYN AND I PROCEEDEDto get to our usual level of tipsiness by the time we all headed to Studio74.

Darce was keeping his distance, hanging back with the others from Bookends. There was a bit of a queue to get inside the club.

“Baby,” a random guy approached me in the queue, “will you be my Christmas present this year? I’d love to unwrap you under my tree.”

“In your dreams, jackass!” I laughed, rubbing my shoulders. A coat might have been a good idea at this point.

“Darce is still watching you,” Evelyn muttered in my ear. The rest of our group were about eight people down the queue. “I don’t care what bullshit you think. That dude isfallingfor you.”

“Can we not talk about it? Right now, all I want to do is dance and make out with someone.” Alcohol always heightened my senses. I wasn’t drunk—I knew exactly what I was doing—but it had been so long since someone had made me cum. My body craved that contact: someone bringing me to the brink rather than my own hand or a toy. It was the only connection I wasn’t afraid of. The only time I was able to let go and allow the pleasure to take over my body. It was all I needed right now. Thanks to Darce.

Evelyn and I were on the dance floor the moment we got into the club. The music filled my veins, and I was lost, swaying to the beat. I had to push away a lot of greedy hands that reached for me in the first hour. In the distance, I noticed Darce was circling the outskirts of the dance floor, watching me. Running my hands over my body, I tried to coax him towards me.Here. I’m here. This body could be yours.I trailed my hands down the middle of my chest as I swayed, closing my eyes.Once! Lose yourself in me, just once.Dipping my hands, I ran them across my hips, loving the beat of the music pumping in my chest.

A strong body moulded itself behind me. I swayed against it as hands found my waist. Evelyn was beaming at me. Had it worked? Was Darce behind me? The hands tightened in warning as I ground my ass against the body. It had to be Darce!

Spinning, I had to blink twice. The guy was attractive, with short dark hair and tattoos, but he wasn’t Darce. “Hey, I’m Charlie,” the guy smirked, cupping my face with his hand. “And you are sexy as hell.” Leaning down, he pulled me closer and pressed his lips against mine.

It was wrong, I shouldn’t have been kissing this guy, but the moment his lips met mine, I pictured Darce. Gasping into his mouth, I wrapped my arms around his neck as his fingers dug into my asscheeks. I let out a low groan, not realising how much I needed this. To feel Darce hard against me.Wait... This wasn’tDarce! It was Evelyn’s friend, Charlie.

Pulling back, I climbed off him.When did I even mount him?

“Sorry,” I stressed, looking around. Darce was nowhere to be seen.Shit!

“No need to apologise,” Charlie replied, licking his lips as he gazed over my body. “We can do more of that if you want.”

“I...I...” Where the fuck was Darce? “I need to pop to the restroom. I’ll be right back.” Evelyn gave me a concerned look as I walked past her and Danny. “Just a restroom break. I’ll be back,” I assured her.

After splashing myself with some water, I looked at my reflection in the mirror. Evelyn was right, I did look sexy as hell tonight. If Darce couldn’t see that, fuck him! Charlie was definitely my type and not afraid to touch me. Why shouldn’t I have some fun?

Walking back into the club, I spotted Charlie dancing with Evelyn and Danny. As I was about to head to them, a voice came from behind me. “That guy? Really, Alora?” Darce’s tone was patronising. “Theo had to leave. He couldn’t cope watching you make out with that asshole.”

“What’s wrong with him?” I seethed, turning around. I instantly got lost in the shimmer in his dark eyes that was being reflected by the lights in the club.Why was he sodamnbeautiful!

---