Page 61 of Sins of the Flesh
The hovering red succubus is always near him, never quite touching, yet never far away and every time I see them together, it drives me crazy.She's always there, laughing at everything he says.I know I shouldn't feel jealous; Caleb and I both have roles to maintain.But watching her fawn over him makes my stomach turn.I wish it were me by his side, dancing and laughing.Maybe coming here was a mistake.
“Hey lover boy.”Elle says, snapping her fingers in front of my face.
“What?”I ask, feeling guilty.
“I’m not worried about me.But if you don’t want anyone to know, you better tone it down.”She whispers giggling.I clutch the back of my neck
“Thanks Elle.”I say sheepishly.
Despite being distracted most of the time Elle has been a great ‘date’.We have danced, laughed, and talked, making fun of what rich people consider fun.“I'm going to grab a drink.Would you like one?”Elle leans over and says in my ear so I can hear her over the music.I nod and thank her.
As Elle stands at the drink table pouring champagne into two glasses.Charlotte huddles in close, covering her mouth as she speaks into Elle’s ear, Caleb isn't with her so I take my chance to look around for him, but he is nowhere in sight.
Elle returns, handing me my drink.“Everything alright?”I ask, nodding my head in Charlotte's direction.Elle takes a sip of her drink and leans in close.
"Charlotte's just being Charlotte."She rolls her eyes."I swear, working for her is like being in a soap opera sometimes."
I nod, trying to seem casual as I scan the room again for Caleb.Still no sign of him.“He’s probably in the bathroom or something.”Elle whispers next to my ear, I nod but I can't help the nerves that are bubbling up because I can't see Charlotte either.
A wave of dizziness overcomes me all of a sudden and I grab the edge of a nearby table to steady myself."Whoa, you okay there?"Elle asks, concern in her voice.
"Y-yeah, I'm fine," I mumble, shaking my head to try and clear it."Just got a little light-headed for a second."As the minutes crawl by, the sensation only intensifies.The room starts to spin wildly, voices and music blending into a jumble.I squint my eyes, attempting to focus, but my vision is stubbornly distorted.
I can't be drunk, I barely finished my glass and it's only my second one.Elle grabs my arm and guides me to sit down.“Cole, are you feeling okay?”Her words sound far away, like they are in a bubble.There's three of her and I reach out but there is nothing there.Is she prettier than earlier?Where is Caleb?He's so fucking hot.I want to touch his massive cock.Wait...maybe Iamactually drunk.
I try to stand up, but my legs feel like jelly.The room tilts dangerously and I stumble, nearly falling before Elle catches me."Whoa there, easy," she says, her voice sounding muffled and distant."I think we need to get you some air."She loops her arm under my arms bracing my back and starts guiding me towards the exit.Each step is a monumental effort.My thoughts are erratic, flitting between Caleb's gorgeous face in that tux and an overwhelming desire to find him right now.
"Cal...Caleb," I mumble, my tongue feeling thick in my mouth."Need to find...Caleb."
"Shh," Elle whispers urgently."Not so loud.Let's just get you outside, okay?"We're almost to the doors when Charlotte suddenly appears, blocking our path.Her red dress seems to swirl and blur before my eyes like she’s standing in the middle of a fire, making me dizzy.
"What are you doing?"Charlotte, asks suspiciously.“Are you not feeling well Cole?Perhaps you should lie down somewhere quiet."I try to focus on her face, but everything is hazy.
"No...need C-," Elle slaps her hand over my mouth.
“He really needs some air.”Elle protests through clenched teeth, attempting to push past Charlotte.
Her hand clamps down on my arm with surprising strength."Nonsense, dear.I insist.There's a lovely little room just down the hall where you can rest."Charlotte grits glaring at Elle.I feel like I’m floating more than walking and the big room shrinks to a tiny room.I move my heavy head side to side seeing Charlotte on one side and Elle on the other.I am laid onto something soft and squishy.After I am laid on the bed Charlotte drags Elle from the room and everything is silent.
Until the door quietly clicks and I think Elle is back but I can't tell, everything is blurry and my brain is foggy.My thoughts are fragments of the evening in flashes - Caleb in that damn tux, Charlotte's predatory smile, Elle's concerned face.
I try to sit up but my limbs feel like lead."Caleb," I mumble again, my tongue thick and clumsy in my mouth.Where is he?I need him.
Thirty-Four
Caleb
Father Figure - George Michael
E
xiting the restroom at the ball, my gaze falls over the room searching out Coles mop of onyx curls.Sneaking peeks at him all night has been like a tease.I just want to go up to him, sweep him into my arms and dance.I see Charlotte glaring and looking very angry but I don't have time for that because I don't see Cole anywhere.
I suppose he could have gone to the bathroom but I don't see Charlotte’s assistant either.Scanning the room I spot a hallway and make my way to it as casually as I can.Testing the handle on the first door I open it slowly and peer in.
It appears to be a guest room but there is no sign of anyone so I continue to the next door.This one is much the same as the last and my nerves are starting to spike.I check a third door and when I peer in I can see the back of a girl's head and then I hear a groan that I would know from anywhere.
“Cole?”I rush to his side and the girl stands allowing me to get close to him.“What happened?”
