Page 143 of If Our Hearts Collide

Why would I say no now? This whole preamble has only made me crave what mystery awaits me from behind those doors.

“Yes. Bring it on.”

And with my affirmation, Daphne pulls open the doors.

Wow.

When the lights and music hit me, the entire atmosphere changes in the venue. I feel like I’m part of a huge indoor block party. Everyone is having a good time.

Along the back wall is a huge bar that’s made of glass and brightly colored translucent balls floating in water. It basically looks like a rectangular lava lamp.

A DJ mixes songs along the side, the attention placed on the music, rather than on him. On the dance floor couples sway, shaking their bodies to the rhythm of the music. Several couches are set up throughout the space, encouraging social engagement.

“This is so fun,” I say, trying to make my voice loud enough so Daphne can hear over the buzz from the crowd.

“Is it what you were expecting?”

I turn to her. “Yeah? There’s a bar, a dance floor, and music. Seems like the typical young crowd social scene.”

“Oh, just give it time. Everyone is just warming up.”

Several men make eye contact with me from across various parts of the dance floor, and I can’t help but smile what I hope isn’t a cheesy one back.

I say a silent thank you that no one approaches me. I’m not sure I can talk with the butterflies migrating their way into my throat.

It’s an odd feeling of being excited and nervous at the same time. It comes in waves. Some moments I’m relaxed and seem to fit in, and other moments I’m a bundle of anxiety and thinking I don’t belong.

As the song merges into the next, I start to feel it—the building tension in the air. Even the crowd swaying on the dance floor seems to shift rhythms. Sultrier. More intentional with the hand placement on their partners.

Then the black lights come on, making all the girls in white glow like stars in the darkness. I glance down at my outfit andlove how fun I look with the effect turning me into a night-light. Even my necklace has an added brightness to it.

“Here, take these,” Daphne encourages, passing me some glow rings to put on my wrists and one around my waist in various neon colors.

Beach balls with lights inside get tossed into the crowd, followed by a stream of bubbles blowing down from the ceiling. It is so fun. Enchanting.

And then?—

Oh, damn.

“Is that what I think it is?” I ask, wondering if I’m just hallucinating.

Daphne’s eyes follow my stare. “Five people grinding together? Yeah. They can get pretty horny.”

“I, uh…”

I turn my gaze away, focusing now on the other side of the venue.

At the bar, a man slides his hand down the naked back of a girl who is dressed like a disco ball in silver glittery sparkles. When he squeezes both globes of her ass, I can’t get myself to look away.

A shiver runs through me, as I imagine being desired to that level by a person of the opposite sex. Would I even know what to do with the attention if the roles were reversed and I was the one being ravished?

When his hands completely disappear out of my line of vision, and I’m pretty convinced he is doing more than just rubbing herassets, I turn back to the dance floor just in time to see one girl being covered with so many hands that it looks like they are a part of her.

Wow.

I wonder what it feels like to be that desired—by so many people? She seems to be living her best life.

I get lost in stimulation overload, overcome by the lustful atmosphere. My body tingles with a need from the possibility of something more happening here tonight. I won’t be reckless, but a little fun wouldn’t hurt—right? It’s so unlike me to even think these thoughts, especially when physical touch can cause such an adverse reaction from me.

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