Trance (11 page)

I couldn’t move even if I had wanted to. He was next to me, drinking in every inch of me with his gaze and I was lapping up the attention. An audience of one, as if I was the most exciting show he’d ever seen. 

His manhood was already hard, I wanted to reach out, feel it in my hands, taste it. I wanted him to taste me with his mouth, and not just with his eyes.

“Kiss me again. I want you,” I whispered.

He groaned and closed his eyes as he rolled his head back. “Geez, I can barely keep myself from diving into you right now. But I want you to be sure.”

I didn’t answer. I rolled him onto his back and straddled his hips. The lights from the city danced over my body now. I could feel his hardness underneath me, through the thin fabric of my underwear.

I reached behind me, unclasping my bra and letting one strap then the other slide down my arm, while still covering my breasts. I knew how to put on a show, how to tease the audience. He groaned as I began to grind my ass against him as I did.

I could tell he was lost. I had
him
hypnotized now.  I rolled my head forward, letting my hair brush over his chest before flicking it back up and behind me, at the same time I let my arm go and revealed my hardened nipples aching for his touch, his mouth, his tongue.

“Christ…”

I placed my finger over his lips to hush him. This was my show now.

I stood over him, turning so my ass was his view, slowly sliding my underwear down my legs and peeking at him at the side of my thigh. My hair dangled low, I knew it must be tickling his legs but he didn’t seem to notice anything but my striptease.

Then I was as naked as he was, and I turned, still standing over him, so he could see all of me, the star.

But he wasn’t going to sit back and watch, before I knew what he was doing, he had grabbed me, pulled me back onto the rug. I was now underneath him, panting at how quickly he’d got me here.

“Impressive show, Miss Tinks,” he said. “But I want more audience participation.” He leaned over, kissing and nibbling my neck, my shoulder. Yes, yes.

His tongue circled my skin as he moved lower to my breasts. His warm breath a taste of things to come before his mouth sucked my nipples. He rolled the hardened pinkness around with his tongue sending shivers through them. Oh god, yes.

Burning heat rushed through me and I grabbed his hair, tangling my fingers. His hands moved lower, seizing my hips and lifting my ass off the air. My legs parted and he positioned himself between them as he continued to move lower still.

He cupped my ass as his mouth found my belly button. One wide circle around it with his tongue and he was moving lower, lower.

Then he was there. There.

I was wet with desire and hoped he wouldn’t care, or perhaps he would and he’d like it? I didn’t know. I didn’t…

Oh my god.

He lifted my ass higher as he sucked on my clit. Fire erupted and I moaned. He was as hungry for me as I was for him, and he was showing me how much. Tongue, lips, mouth, suck, lick. Oh. My. God.

Handfuls of blanket scrunched in my fists as I tried to grab on. My hips moving, my groaning, I was lost to everything but the blaze that radiated from my sex to every other part of me.

He pulled away, ripped open a packet, rolling a condom onto himself. Where did that come from? I didn’t care at this point.

Now he was back on top of me. His mouth on mine. I could taste my own salty juices, smell my musky scent.

My legs spread wider, willing him to find its home.

One thrust. Oh. Oh. Oh.

I wasn’t going to hold out. He continued to drive himself into me, over and over, each thrust more exquisite than before. Fiery lust drove his every move and it was bringing me to the brink. I wanted it to last longer, but I couldn’t I…

I screamed out as I came.

He rode my waves as I quivered underneath him, and soon he was grunting in ecstasy too.

He rolled to my side, panting. We both looked up into the sky, into the stars. We were both spent.

“That was amazing,” he said.

“I aim to please.”

“No, I me
an. That was the hottest, best…holy hell, Scarlett.”

I grinned as he looked at me with glazed delight.

“I wasn’t expecting tonight to lead to…that.”

“Me either.”

“How on earth did we get from that conversation to lying here in each other’s arms?”

I giggled and snuggled into his side, resting my head on his shoulder. “Magic, I guess, just like you said.”

He laughed. “Shit, I’m bringing you up here more often. What are you doing tomorrow?”

I playfully punched his arm, although I was thinking the same thing. Now that I’d had such an amazing night with him, I wanted to come back here again, and again, and again.

I looked at my reflection in my bedroom mirror. I still had a huge grin on my face. I couldn’t seem to wipe it away, even after I noticed the grass stain on the sleeve of my top. Lacey was going to kill me, but I didn’t care one bit. It was so worth it.

I peeled off my shirt and brought it to my nose. I could still smell Jason’s aftershave on it from when he’d rolled on top when we…well, you know. I grinned.

The skirt looked intact, but I had no desire to return it. Not after what had happened. I looked at the price tags and shrugged. I could afford them. Just.

His taste was still on my mouth and I ran my tongue over my lips so I could savor him a little longer. We’d kissed for ages after we’d made love, sometimes we’d stare out at the city below us, or up at the stars. Sometimes we’d look at each other without saying anything before we’d make out again.

I knew I needed a shower, but if I could just hold out a little longer, hold on to the memory of his heart beating against my chest, his strong hands caressing my flesh. I closed my eyes and lay back on the bed, reliving our date over in my mind. First at how nervous I had been waiting for him to arrive, then how excited on the trapeze, and finally how full of desire I’d been after he’d kissed me. Oh, that was the perfect date,
all right. I was sure of it now.

I got undressed and traced my hand over my body, gliding it where Jason had touched me. My neck, my breasts, my stomach, my sex. My, oh my. I continued to caress myself, thinking about him, moving my hand in time to how he’d made love to me. Letting my desire build like he’d done. He’d awakened something in me that I couldn’t quench. I wanted more. I wanted him again. I wanted…

I came in another wave, not as intense as it was with Jason, but satisfying enough.

I really needed a shower now. I stripped off the last of my clothes, washing away the scent of the night, but not the memory. That I wanted to hold with me for as long as I could. At least until the next time we met up which I hoped would be soon. He promised me he’d see me again tomorrow. Tomorrow seemed so far away now. It couldn’t come fast enough.

When I dried off and changed into pajamas, I noticed there was a message on my phone. It was from him. ‘
Sleep tight, gorgeous. I know I won’t be able to, thinking about you. Jas xx
’

I clutched the phone to my body. I knew I was still grinning, because my cheeks were aching. I read the message over and over before I finally fell asleep.

I rubbed the sleep out of my eyes when I heard Lacey’s car pull up outside our house. I glanced over at the clock. It was after eight thirty. What was she doing here so early? I swung my feet onto the floor and pulled a robe on as I shuffled to the door before she could ring the bell.

I needn’t have worried, my grandparents were already up. There was a cup of tea waiting for me on the table, and some toast. My grandfather was busy reading the newspaper not paying any attention to me while my grandmother washed dishes.

I opened the door. Lacey burst in with two
coffees. One for her and, presumably, one for me. I grabbed it, even though I wasn’t normally a coffee drinker. This morning I really wanted a shot of caffeine, and tea wasn’t going to cut it.

“Breakfast, love’s?” My grandmother had come into the entrance with a pot in one hand and a jar of marmalade in the other.

“No thanks, Mrs Tinks,” said Lacey. “I’m good.” She lifted her paper mug up to make her point before taking a sip.

“Well come and sit with us, I’m sure you want to hear how Scarlett’s date went, just as much as we do.”

Oh brother. As if I was going to let them know what actually happened.

We sat at the table, as my grandmother fussed over us. “I can make pancakes if you like,” she said.

“I’ll just have toast.” I grabbed a slice from the pile on the table and buttered it thickly.

“Now where did he take you?” She sat down opposite me. Lacey was to my left. My grandfather was still oblivious to everything, engrossed in his newspaper, at the end of the table.

“Um.”

Lacey kicked me under the table and I saw her stifling a smirk on her face.

I coughed. “Sorry.” I took a sip of coffee. It was strong, hot, but gave me the jolt I needed. “It was lovely. I learnt how to fly a trapeze.”

“Very cool,” said Lacey.

“Indeed,” said my grandmother. “And what about dinner? Please tell me he took you somewhere nice.”

I bit my lip. “We had a picnic. It was such a lovely night, the weather was fine enough for it.”

“A picnic. Well that does sound lovely. I’m so glad you had a good time. Are you going to see him again?”

“Yes. Yes, I am.”

“He took you on a picnic, huh,” said Lacey. “Doesn’t that sound romantic, Rose? Just the two of them, all alone under the stars. No one else around.” Her eyebrow shot up and that smirk she was trying to hide emblazoned on her face.

My cheeks were burning as I took a bite of my toast. It was cold. “It was romantic, actually.”

“It sounds it, dear. I’m glad about that. Most men these days don’t know how to treat a lady. He sounds like a true gentleman.” My grandmother looked wistfully at my grandfather. “Isn’t that good, Thomas?”

My grandfather nodded, and turned the page of the newspaper. He was avoiding looking at anyone. Could he tell?

“I wish I could have a romantic date like Scarlett did. She’s glowing this morning, isn’t she, Rose?” said Lacey.

I glared at her.

“Come on then, I want to hear more, and you need to get dressed.” She grabbed my arm and reefed me out of the chair. I nearly spilled the last of the coffee over myself.

When we got to my bedroom she shut the door behind us. “You little slut. I can’t believe you slept with him on the first date. That’s something I would do, not you.”

“It wasn’t like that.”

“Hell it wasn’t. Look at you. I wasn’t kidding when I said you were glowing. Damn, I should have taken him myself.”

I sat down on the bed.

“How did it happen?” she asked. “You aren’t usually that forthcoming.”

“I don’t know. Something just came over me and I couldn’t stop myself. I wanted him, I wanted it. Oh god, I am a slut.” I buried my face in my hands.

“Don’t be stupid, of course you’re not. You just met someone you like. Finally. What was it like, after, you know, so long.”

“It hasn’t been
that
long since I last did it.”

“Two and a half years.”

“You’ve kept a calendar?”

“Yeah, like I’ve got nothing better to do with my time. Of course not. Are you okay about it though?”

“Strangely, I am. I haven’t thought about Dean, at all. Well, not until you just bought it up. Thanks very much! Are you trying to ruin this for me?”

“Not at all. Just checking in that you are fine. And you are. Which is absolutely brilliant, you deserve someone nice.”

“He is so nice.”

“Sounds it. Now you need to tell me every detail that you can remember. And I do mean everything.”

I’d told Lacey everything, and once she was satisfied she left for work.

When I was alone in my room, Dean Jeffries invaded my thoughts. I could feel myself closing off, pulling away. The walls building back up. Since Lacey had bought him up he’d began to creep back into my brain, his face appearing to ruin everything.

I had to stop myself. I’d worked so hard to get rid of him, the memory of what I thought we’d had, and what he’d done to me. My life was returning, my heart was open to let love in again. Why did Lacey have to bring him up?

I opened my laptop. Should I dare? Should I look? I closed the lid again. I couldn’t. What if it was still there? I pushed it aside. This was crazy. Jason wasn’t Dean. He wouldn’t do that to me, he was nothing like that scumbag.

Dean had been seven years older than I was. I was twenty one when we met. He worked security. He made sure that
no one got backstage or ran on while we were performing. He was good at his job. Before he came on board, there was one time that a young man did run on stage shouting something about the end of the world. That never happened again when Dean was hired.

His competence and strength were the first things that attracted me to him. He came to all our shows, even if he was off duty. I figured he just liked entertainment as much as I did. And that was true, to an extent.

But at twenty one, with limited experience with boys, and a strong older male, one that could protect me, was good looking and lavished me with attention. I’d watched
The Bodyguard
movie, like everyone else, I saw the attraction of someone to look after you.

It had been great, at first. Or so I’d thought at the time. He’d awakened a part of me that I never knew existed. Showed me things about myself that I didn’t know I’d like.

Until I found out the truth about him. About what he’d done.

I couldn’t bring myself to say it. I couldn’t bring myself to think it. That I’d touched him. Let him touch me. After what he’d done.

And when the media found out. I couldn’t go anywhere, do anything without seeing my name linked to his. Seeing what they said about me. It ruined everything. Everything. My therapist suggested the best way to deal with it was to shut out the world - ignore it. It would go away once they had something else to obsess over.

It was the only thing that got me through then, and now.

But Jason wasn’t like that. This was different. It would be different this time.

Grabbing my running shorts, I changed quickly and pulled on my shoes. The fresh air would clear my thoughts, and get me back in the right frame of mind. If I was to see Jason this evening, I’d need to be free of the binds that had been holding me back all these years.

Jason looked every bit as hot tonight as he did yesterday. He was early, and I rushed to pull my shoes on before he reached the door.

“Bye,” I called to my grandparents. They didn’t need to meet him again, and I didn’t want to put him through any awkward conversations. It was bad enough before we’d had sex.

Lacey hadn’t given me any outfits to try out tonight. She didn’t think I needed her help. She said I was doing just fine on my own. So I picked out a simple dress and made damn sure I had hot sexy underwear on. There was no way I was going home without being in Jason’s arms again.

“Gorgeous as always,” he said, giving me a kiss on the cheek.

“Is that all I get now? A kiss on the cheek? Lacey would have you dumped for a crime like that.”

“I was afraid Thomas or Rose was watching through the window,” he said.

“They probably are.” I kissed him on the lips. Just a quick kiss, enough to give him a taste of things to come, but not enough to give anyone who might be watching through the curtains, any knowledge that we had slept together already.

“Where did you want to go tonight?” he asked.

I pouted. “You haven’t planned anything?”

“You’ve inspired me to try something new, so I making it up as I go. Having an adventure.”

“Spontaneity. I like.”

He opened the car door for me, which my grandmother would have approved of, and I slid into my side and he walked around and got into his.

“A real restaurant tonight?” he asked.

“Nothing private this time? I’m shocked. I thought you would’ve wanted me alone again, all to yourself.”

He grinned as he started the engine. “There’s plenty of time for that. I’d rather go somewhere public.”

“Kinky.”

“To eat.”

“Whatever turns you on.” I grinned. Where did all this flirting flying out of my mouth come from? I had been single for far too long.

He pulled up outside a small restaurant. It was themed with Sombrero hats and piñata’s in blues and yellows.
Clichéd but friendly looking.

“They have excellent
Pozole here. Real authentic.”

He got out and we linked hands as we walked toward the front door.

“Mister Green.” A chubby woman in her late forties opened the door for us, grabbing Jason’s cheeks and pinching them. “You cheeky, not telling us you have date. We could have prepare something special.”

“Everything you serve is special, Gabriela.”

The room was full of families. We were the only couple. She led us to a booth near the kitchen. She whisked away our menus before I had a chance to look at them, telling us that she would bring us the best they had. She cocked her finger in the air at a bartender and he poured two tequila’s into shot glasses and brought them over to our table, along with wedges of lemon.

“Tequila?” I raised my eyebrow.

“Nothing better,” said Jason. He licked the back of his hand and poured salt onto it, licked the salt, downed the shot in one gulp, and then bit into the wedge of lemon. His face contorted into a grimace as he wiped the taste of the lemon away from his lips.

“I must have missed the invitation to the frat party.” I lifted the tiny glass in front of me, staring at the clear liquid. “Are you serious?”