Page 7 of That First Night
She practically throws me into the restroom, locks the door before she turns to me and says, “What. Is. Happening?”
“Kali,” I whisper, setting my gaze to the ground, leaning my back against the door and finding my shoulders slouched down. “I can’t do this. Did you see that man? He’s already asked for my number. He’s so hot that I can’t even form words and I don’t even know my own name. And, oh my god.” I groan. “He smells so fucking good. Are you ready to go home?” I fire back with a pleading tone.
“Oh, no you don’t, Pey. You don’t get to do that tonight.”
I’m back to that moment where I wish I had even an ounce of confidence that Kali has. I have watched her with guys before. She can pick up any guy, at any bar and she radiates confidence when doing so. Me, on the other hand? I clearly struggle to form words. For once in my life, I just want to feel okay talking to a man.
The problem right now? The one man that has shown any interest in me for the first time in three years is a fucking walking gift from God. Honestly, it should be illegal to look as hot as he does. I actually should ask him if he has a permit to be walking around with those looks, because they are destructive. No, stop. Obviously I can’t ask him that. See? This is my problem. That would be so fucking awkward.
“Peyton,” she sighs. “Listen to me. I need you to understand this as your best fucking friend in the whole wide world. You have got to stop letting theboysfrom your past determine your future. Yes! I SAID BOYS! Because what you dated in the past was just that, a bunch of twat waffles who didn’t know a dick from an eggplant.”
“That makes no sense.” I raise a brow at her.
“Shut up.” She swats my arm. “I mean it, Pey. You’re truly the most beautiful person I know. That man was looking at you with stars in his eyes before we came to the bathroom. I’m glad you said you had to go because I needed to tell you this so you didn’t get all ‘what's your zodiac sign and ring size’ on him before even knowing who he is.”
I laugh at that. “Okay, Kali. I get it.”
“Great. Let’s go.” She claps her hands together and bolts towards the door.
“You go, I am going to just freshen up and take a few deep breaths in here. I will be out in a minute.”
She nods, and with one parting glance in my direction, she looks me in the eyes and says softly, “You’re a fucking ray of sunshine, Peyton. Please know that.”
I nod, twisting my bracelet around my wrist, feeling a deep pit in my stomach at the words she chose. “Thank you, Kali.”
As she exits the bathroom, I walk over to give it a quick lock before I let out the biggest exhale and walk over to the bathroom sink.
I allow myself to think about my past for a moment as I stare at myself in the mirror. In college, I landed myself the captain of the basketball team. He was the typical star athlete who could have dated any girl in that school. In fact, half of the cheer squad was gunning for a chance to jump into his bed. They weren’t missing out on much in the bedroom department, if you’re picking up what I'm putting down. One of those cheerleaders was able to weasel her way into his bed and that was when he cheated on me. She made sure the entire school knew about it too.
Then there was Richard. Fresh out of college. He was a successful businessman. He was older by a couple of years, and I thought that this was it. He’s responsible, he’s got a good head on his shoulders, that he might want to settle down, the whole nine; but I was so wrong and naive to think that he wanted all that. Despite him telling me that he wanted to spend his life with me eventually, he also wanted to spend his time with his secretary spread out on top of his desk so he could get dessert before he came home for dinner. Yup, that’s what I walked in on one afternoon when I went to the office to drop off cookies for him and his partners.
Then a realization dawns on me; it’s been three years since anyone has shown me any interest, and it’s been just as many years since I received an orgasm from a man. I hate to even admit that. Lately, I have been getting by just fine withbuzz buzz, my battery-operated boyfriend. What if just for one night, I allow myself to be ravaged by a man who would give me the most epic orgasm of my life?
“Fuuuuccckk,” I murmur to myself in the mirror.
How long have I been in this bathroom? Shit, it’s time to face the walking masterpiece back at the bar.
I retouch my lipstick and toss my curls around to fluff them up before I give myself one more once over before I leave.
I’m about five steps out of the bathroom when a large hand circles my wrist, gently tugging me in the opposite direction. Snapping my head around, I am met with the back of his head as he’s gently dragging me down another side hall, past the bathroom I just left.
“What are you doing?” I whisper shout.
Before I can process what’s happening, he has me spun around and pressed to the wall in the darkened part of the hallway. I inhale, fully prepared to speak, but no words come out when I try. Both of his arms are now caging me in, large hands frame each side of my head, and his body hovering only inches from mine. The same electricity shoots through my body and I can’t help but lose my breath at the feeling of him being this close. He’s a complete stranger but my body reacts like I have known this man much longer than just tonight.
He’s a little bit more disheveled than he was before. His suit jacket is now unbuttoned exposing his white button up dress shirt that also looks like it was tailor made for him. My body betrays me when my hands find their way to his suit jacket, fisting it tightly as if I never want this man to let me go.
His eyes are locked with mine and I can feel his breath on me. It smells like whiskey. I don’t even fucking like whiskey, but on him, it works. I will happily get drunk right here, right now.
Inching his body closer, his lips now hover over my ear and his slightly scruffy, perfectly cut beard gently brushes my cheek sending shivers down my spine.
He whispers, “I need you.”
Fuck. Being so close to her has me wound up tighter than a rubber band ball. I’ve been with my fair share of women in my life, but something about this one has me wanting to take her right here, right now, in this dimly lit hallway that I dragged her down.
What if she’s not that kind of girl? I know nothing about her other than I need her.
We’re at a fucking gala and all I can think about is sliding up this sleek black gown and feeling if she’s as hot for me as I am for her right now.
