Page 7 of When Midnight Strikes
6
Cole
Getting ready for the party doesn’t take me long. I text Paul, asking him if he needs me to bring anything, and he tells me just to bring myself and my plus one. Once again, I ignore the plus one comment. Hopefully, I’ll find my plus one at the party tonight. I set my black tux back in the closet and reach for the burgundy one I chose at the last minute to wear instead. I showed my sister over video chat what I would be wearing tonight, and she insisted I wear something other than black since it’s basically what I wear to work every day. She said I needed something to bring the black mask out more. When I showed her the burgundy suit I bought on a whim last year, she was sold.
I step in front of the mirror, viewing the way the burgundy pants and matching vest underneath my jacket both hug my body perfectly in all the right places. I made the right choice by agreeing with her. I fasten my black tie around the collar of my black button-down and slip on my socks and dress shoes before grabbing my black masquerade mask. When I leave, the cold air hits my body. I quickly turn back around, realizing I forgot my coat and scarf.
I really have lost all logical thinking these last couple of days, and I’m starting to think my neighbor across the way had something to do with it. Maybe I’ll run into Melanie at the party, and she can tell me what mask he’ll be wearing tonight. I know what she’s wearing because I saw her already in it on the way in when she told me hi. Man, I’m starting to sound like a damn stalker. If I do run into him tonight, I might not even know it. I have no idea what he or his friend will be wearing, and his mask will be covering half his face.
I’m hoping I’ll see him come out of his apartment in his mask when I walk out my door, but of course I’m not that lucky. It takes forever to find a parking spot. Although the house may be big, the parking area is not. I have to walk a pretty good distance from my car to Paul’s house. There are people pouring in and out of the doorway as I walked in. My eyes search for Paul in the bright room covered in gold glitter, and then I remember I have no idea what mask he is wearing either. Well, this was well planned. I doubt I’ll be able to find him in the crowd with all these people anyway.
I reach the bar and order myself a drink after making my way through the crowd of people standing around laughing and talking. Paul said he was hiring a bartender and having an open bar. He really did go all out too; this bartender is pretty much able to make anything you asked him to. Then again, Paul has always been one of those guys who liked showing off how much money he has, and thanks to his parents, he has a lot of it. A woman in a blue mask and black ball gown presses her body against mine and whispers in my ear, “Well, that is some suit. I bet it looks even better on the floor.”
I smile. "Sorry, I'm not interested. I'm actually meeting someone here." It's a lie, but she doesn't have to know that. She wrinkles her nose up in annoyance before saying, “Your loss." She tugs up the top of her dress and walks off. I down my drink, already seeing a lot more of these in my future with the way this is going so far. The cold liquid eases down my throat leaving behind a bubbly sensation in my stomach.
I’m about to turn around and ask the bartender to make me another when a striking man in a bright teal-and-gold mask enters the room with black fitted pants paired with a black shirt and a tight-fitting gold vest outlining every curve of his body, making me have to close my mouth before I start drooling all over the floor. I didn’t have to even see the rest of his face to find him breathtaking.
He moves slowly through the crowd, accompanied by a short brunette in a black dress and pink mask. My eyes only stay on her for a few seconds before they are back on him. His black pants cling to his muscle-toned body as he moves, leaving little to the imagination, making my mouth water all over again. Finally, his eyes meet mine as the brunette whispers something in his ear after spotting someone else. The woman walks away, leaving the gorgeous mysterious stranger alone. Just how I prefer him to be.
I make my way toward him; his brown eyes bore into mine through his mask. His top teeth sink into his bottom lip, which has my feet picking up the pace once my mouth craves to be the one biting it instead. He suddenly stops with a hint of panic in his eyes, shifting his gaze from me to the stairway as his breathing picks up, leaving his chest to rise and fall in front of me. I seem to be having the effect of sending him into panic, not the one I was wanting. He takes off up the stairs, and I now have the need to find him and make sure he is okay. The sudden instinct to follow him and offer him comfort takes over me. My feet are already moving the direction he went before my mind can even register what is happening.
The lights become dim as I walk farther into the hallway, and my eyes land on a dark figure standing at the end of it. A hint of gold gleams in the small amount of light coming from outside the hallway. It leaves me to assume this dark figure is indeed the man I’m searching for. I saunter his way; he doesn’t move, so I keep going until I’m within touching distance. He turns around to face me, and my first reaction is to touch him in any way I can. His breath quickens as my hand moves towards his face, and he trembles at the slight touch of my fingers against the top of his ear as I brush his hair behind it.
He relaxes into my touch after that, and his eyes meet mine. I lean in to brush my lips against his ear, whispering into it. He stands still and quiet. I’m about to step away to give him space and then he quickly slams his mouth against mine as if he is dying to get a taste of me. My lips willingly part for him. He moves his tongue against mine, and my hands ache to touch him more, so that’s exactly what they do.
