Colin. It has to be him. I grab his waist and hold on as wave after wave of hot desire washes over me. If only our clothes could magically disappear…
What am I saying? I’m in a hallway—dark, yes—but still with enough light for anyone to see us, and I can hear the women in the bathroom still chatting away. The door opens and I push him away as the Amazon women walk back into the hallway. His breathing is as heavy as mine as he stands in front of me, his head bent as if trying to gain control.
Suddenly, I realize I don’t need this, don’t need him. I’m attracted to him, but I’m not willing to be a one-night stand, and with all the women drooling over him, that’s what I could only expect. As the voices fade, he looks their way and I sigh, glad that they were so wrapped up in their conversation that they didn’t even see us. I reach down and grab my skirt and quickly move back into the bathroom, leaving him standing outside. My face is flushed and my hair is gently mussed. I don’t remember him touching my hair. All I can remember is our tongues making love and his body making mine feel like a boneless mess. Splashing cool water on my face helps a little, but the feeling of loss fills me. What would it be like if I was a model, tall and beautiful, and having Colin filling my passionless body every night?
Get a grip, Dora. He’s so out of your league.
“There you are. I’ve fucking looked everywhere for you. Are you feeling okay? You look feverish.” Julie’s voice startles me, and I see her forehead worry line appear.
“No, just a little warm. Enjoying yourself?”
“Kevin is. We’ll probably have to drag his ass home. That boy can’t hold his liquor for shit. Are you sure you’re okay?” She puts the back of her hand to my forehead and shakes her head. “No fever. Maybe we should call it a night. It’s packed out there, and frankly, this isn’t my scene.”
“Yeah, I feel the same way. Let’s get drunk boy and head home.” I need to get the image of my encounter with Colin out of my brain.
We make our way into the crowd, searching for an inebriated Frankenstein, and after some pushing and shoving, I catch a glimpse of a Modelteer. I push farther from him. Julie squeals as she spots Kevin gyrating by himself to the music. We each take an arm and make our way to the front door.
“Why are you movin’ me sooooo earlier,” Kevin mumbles out.
“You’re going to have a major fuckin’ hangover as it is. Any more liquor and you’ll be in bed for days, that’s why.” Julie sounds pissed off, but I know her. She’s gloating that Kevin will suffer for his stupidity.
“I’m totackly in charck of my facials.” We both laugh at his attempt at being coherent.
Thirty minutes later, we’re home, and Kevin, minus his costume, is tucked in bed.
“Want something to drink?” Julie yells from the kitchen.
“No, I think I’m going to head upstairs and pour myself into bed. It’s been a long week and I have work tomorrow.”
“Something happened tonight. Spill.” Julie’s radar is up and spot-on.
“I’m just tired,” I say, and Julie pegs me with a glare. “Okay, quit looking at me like that. It’s creepy. If looks could kill, I’d be dead.” Julie smiles. “I had a little encounter before you found me in the bathroom.”
“An encounter? Well, hurry up and share. Inquiring minds need to know.” She sits opposite me, her elbows on her knees and her head in her hands. A perfect picture of sluttiness.
“It was Colin. I came out of the bathroom and was ready to put my Velcro skirt back on after peeing.”
“For fuck sake, Dora, get to the juicy part.” Julie’s frown line is so deep it looks like it might stay permanently.
“Well, he came up to me and had this super smexy grin, and he pushed me up against the wall—gently, of course, because he’s a gentleman—and then he kissed me. Geez, Jules, I could have jumped his bones right there in the hallway. My ex never made me feel this way. I was a total hot mess. I wanted to wrap my legs around his waist, but my legs were like limp noodles. That man can start a blaze.” I close my eyes, remembering the feel of his hard body pressed against mine and the frustration of the clothes between us. Yep, I was a totally wanton woman. “Then we were interrupted. I remembered where we were and who I was and the fact that I don’t run in the same circles, and I stopped him. It wasn’t easy, but I did it. Jules, I should have been dressed as a slut tonight, because I totally felt like one after.”
“Dora, what the hell are you talking about? You’re not a slut, just a horny woman who’s desired by an equally horny, hot man. I think you should go upstairs and wait in his bed.” She pauses to put a red-nailed finger to her chin in contemplation. “Yes, I think that’s an excellent idea. Get your ass up there and go for it. He fucking wants you. You know you want him too.” Julie reaches forward and grabs my hands to emphasize her point.
“Nope, not going to do it,” I say before standing up quickly and making my way toward the door.
“You won’t forgive yourself if you don’t. You’ll always wonder what you missed. I’m betting you’re missing a whole bunch of fast, slow, dirty, sweaty sex. Makes me wet just thinking about it.” Julie flops back in the chair.
“Night, Jules,” I say loudly as I close the door behind me and head for the stairs.
I glance over at the clock again and cringe at the realization that it’s one a.m. and six in the morning is going to come really quick, and the coffee shop is always packed on Saturdays. I’ve been thinking about my encounter with Colin, his sizzling kisses, his rock hard body, and something else that was rock hard too.
A sound interrupts my musings. I hear a muffled voice coming from the door that leads to the living room. Creeping out of bed, I put my ear up to my door and hear Colin, Drew, and Liam’s voices, several more male voices I don’t recognize and a mess of female ones too.
Great, they brought the party home. How the hell am I supposed to sleep with Colin and a bunch of women in the next room? Okay, so maybe they aren’t with Colin, but maybe my rejection turned him off. What the hell? I don’t want him. He doesn’t want me.
Irritated, I leave the door and flop down on my bed. It’s going to be a long night.
I am so wound up. She’s just on the other side of the door. I shouldn’t have kissed her tonight. At first I thought she was enjoying it, but pushing me away made me think I made a huge mistake. I want to knock on her door and apologize, but I’m really not sorry. She was just as I imagined, so giving, and she made me realize she is who I’ve been searching for. I will let things calm down a couple of days and then maybe approach her. I can’t screw this up, I really can’t. She is it.
6
The next few weeks fly by, and the weather has changed drastically. I haven’t seen my roommates since Halloween. The Sunday before Thanksgiving, Julie, Kevin, and I find ourselves on the way to my parents’ house for dinner. I had been able to avoid it for weeks, but the threat of my mom driving to the city to see me convinces me to go. I finally broke down and told them about my move, and my mom seems okay with it.