Page 52 of Caution Tape

Except I’m picturing them without skin.

Suddenly, a strange, nagging feeling creeps up on me. I shut my eyes for a brief moment, tuning into the sounds of pointless conversation and laughter that blend in effortlessly with the melody and vibration of the music blasting through the speakers.

“Here you are,” the bartender says from over my shoulder.

I place a ten-dollar bill onto the granite counter and take my drink in one hand, sipping slowly as I turn away. Once more I allow my gaze to take in my surroundings, exploring everyone intently, focusing on one person at a time. A tall, dark-haired man immediately catches my eyes from across the bar.

I stare at him blankly, not daring to look away for even a second.

His lips curl into a grin as he brings his tall glass of beer to his mouth, tossing back every drop. I blink at him, tilting my head to the side. I turn away, unimpressed. Uninterested.

When out of nowhere, that nagging feeling returns, settling somewhere deep in my gut. A subtle, yet taunting warning.

I become frozen in place; the rim of my glass pressed to my lips. Everyone becomes a blur, now moving in slow motion. Time seems to stop. A familiar presence lingers in the crowded, hazy room, and my body immediately reacts. My endorphins skyrocket. My shoulders become tense. My pulse goes from a slow, steady rhythm to nearly bursting out of my chest.

Suddenly, I happen to catch a glimpse of movement from the corner of my eye. I follow it, watching carefully as a tall figure glides through all the bodies in motion. The figure disappears. Searching for the eerie, familiar shadow in a heightened state of euphoria, my heart skips a beat, and my breathing hitches in the back of my throat.

Without warning, I find it.

Him.

Nolan.

And he’s already staring.

As hot as it is in this club, a cold rush of air brushes against my skin. Our eyes lock in a stare so brutal, so intense, that I find myself completely breathless for the first time in my life. Nolan’s eyes are like daggers, piercing straight through my soul. Everyone and everything fall away until he’s the only person in the room.

Drawn to him like a magnet, I toss back the rest of my drink and set it onto the bar behind me. But when I turn back around, he’s nowhere to be found. I hop down from my stool and rush toward the dance floor, weaving through everyone in search of the only person who has the power to make mefeelalive, but he’s gone.

Someone bumps into me, almost sending me flying backward from the force. I stumble on my heels and a pair of strong, masculine arms catch my fall. Letting out a soft gasp, I stare up into the glowing, menacing eyes of my dark-haired monster.

“Nolan,” I breathe.

He brings me into his chest. There’s a deep, powerful energetic exchange between us as he stares into my eyes.

He grabs the back of my neck and leans in, his hands slipping down my back, gripping my ass and squeezing, pressing me against him. A moan escapes my mouth, and that’s when something breaks. Whatever pane of glass that was keeping us apart shatters entirely.

Suddenly his mouth is on mine, his tongue frantic and forceful in my mouth, my fingers tangled in his hair as his hands greedily roam every curve of my body. I’ve never had a first kiss feel anything like this.

A part of me wants to break away, and another part wants to never let go.

He traces the tip of his tongue along the scar on my lip, and fists my hair, tugging tight. We both pull away at the same time, staring at one another incredulously.

He blinks at me.

“I—“

“You ready?” he asks.

I nod.

Nolan

Cora breaks away from me and disappears into the mix of frothing people. The thudding music hurts my head, the haze of smoke, cologne and perfume gives the place the sickening reek of candle store.

My role in this is to hang back while she lures our victim. With that dress she’s wearing, it shouldn’t be a problem.

I order a drink at the bar and pay cash. The bartender, in a black tank top and jeans, smiles at me as he slides the beer over to me. “Where’s your friend?” he calls out.

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