I look for you in every room #2
Before I can answer, a voice breaks through our bubble. “There you are.” So wrapped up in Oliver, I didn’t even hear the doors opening.
Jade comes through and appears at Oliver’s side. She’s smiling like she doesn't have a care in the world. I take a step back from Oliver’s orbit. “Was starting to think you were never coming back.” She seems to have a knack for interrupting conversations.
Oliver’s smile fades the tiniest bit, so slight I would’ve missed it if I wasn’t watching him as closely as he watches me. “I was in the middle of a conversation—still am.”
Jade pauses, her smile strained, before turning to me. “Lyra has a way of taking people away.”
What does that mean?
“Jade, was there something you needed?” Oliver’s tone is razor sharp. Jade’s facade slips away, revealing the dark soul she hides.
“No, just coming to get you.” Her eyes are hatred-filled when she glances at me. “Blackout is soon.”
I need out of this conversation. “I should go anyway; I’ve been gone longer than expected.” Oliver steps closer to me, almost like he can’t help himself. I want to go back to moments ago, when it was just us.
I turn, walking through the doors, but before I go, I swear I hear Oliver say, “Wrong girl to hurt in front of me, Jade.”
When I slip back through the doors, the space is cloaked in more shadows.
I grab us new drinks and stand on the top step to look down into the hall, where the dancing crowd is.
The lights have lowered even further, and I know it’s about time for the blackout.
It’s like a dark cloud over the sea of people.
The perimeter of the party is only lit by the above dim chandeliers, and in some dark passageways, there are small candles.
I thankfully spot Roxy and hurry over to her. “It’s almost time.”
“Shit, ok, I’m going to head outside until it’s over. Have fun…” She winks before taking her cup and walking toward the only light in the room. Vienna and I share a few words before the tension in the room rises to a new high.
With a click, the lights blink, signaling it’s time. I back up into a side corner with a view of the room. Thirty seconds later, the chandeliers stutter out, and the ballroom drowns in darkness. Not dimness but black. Thick velvet curtains drape over the windows, shutting us in completely.
Ten minutes.
Ten minutes is all you get before the light comes back, and it’s as if nothing has happened. Boldness emboldened by anonymity. The music slows to a sultry thrum, bass like a second heartbeat.
A touch skims my arm, featherlight. I shiver and hold still, waiting for their next move.
This is the thrill, not really knowing who it is unless spoken.
Guy, girl, you don’t know until after. Around me, laughter thins into breathy whimpers and broken gasps, lips colliding in a hungry frenzy.
I take a step forward. Oliver was right, you are more honest in the dark.
This is my truth. Taking back the power.
The touch returns, firmer this time, pushing me back against the wall.
Breath catches in my throat as heat presses close.
Tall. Male. Breath fans my neck, yet he leaves a sliver of space between us.
A hand slides through my hair, tugging just enough to elicit a delicious bite of pain.
I wait, expecting lips or teeth to graze my neck; instead, fingers find my pulse and hold, feeling the way it races beneath the touch.
Then I’m lifted, my thighs locking around a narrow waist as my spine hits stone.
My dress slips to my hips, cool air kissing my newly exposed skin while his grip tightens on my thighs.
My fingers dive into his soft, short hair, nails scraping across his scalp.
A groan rumbles out from his chest, and satisfaction blooms in mine. It only fuels my want.
My need.
I map him by touch: brows, the hard lines of his jaw, the small cool shock of metal at his nose. My breath stutters. “Oliver.” His name is swallowed by the moans and gasps around us.
I wanted him to be the one to find me.
And he did.
His mouth claims mine, and everything tilts.
The kiss isn’t gentle; it’s consuming. My whimper disappears between us, swallowed whole as pain blooms in my bottom lip.
The metallic taste of blood follows as Oliver sucks my tongue into his mouth.
He hikes me higher, grinding me against his hard length through his jeans and my soaked panties.
I roll my hips, wet and aching and needing more. Denim rasps my clit through the thin fabric, and God, if we had more time, I would fuck him right here, not caring we are in a room of people.
“Fuck.” I bury my face in his neck as I ride out every sensation. Even if I know I won’t come from this alone, it still feels fucking amazing. His grip is unyielding, keeping me right where he wants me. We taste each other's skin, licking and sucking.
I’m lost, and time slips away. It isn’t until the lights flicker once, a warning that we only have one minute left, that I break the kiss, breathless, mad we don’t have more time.
Oliver lowers me slowly as if his body argues with the choice.
My feet find the floor as his hands linger; heat stamps into my hips before they lift.
I don’t speak, neither does he, our heavy breath mixing between us.
I sense his departure before I even reach out my hand, only to be hit with open air.
The lights return soft and gradual; the room settles and grows hushed.
I look around the space. People stand breathless and disheveled, dodging eye contact; others stare boldly with secret smiles.
But when I search for Oliver, he isn’t there.
Roxy comes bounding up to me, Callan with her. “Hey.”
“Found him outside,” Roxy answers my unasked question.
“You sure had fun.” Callan points to his mouth, and I reach up, fixing my smeared lipstick.
I search the crowd again but come up empty. “I’m going to go get us all new drinks,” Callan declares.
“I’ll go with you.” I fall into step beside him as we head toward the makeshift bar.
“So…Oliver, I’m curious,” I say to Callan as we wait to get another round of drinks.
“Curiosity implies research,” he replies. “Research not with your mouths.”
I smile. “Who is he, really?”
Callan turns to me. “He’s Oliver.”
“Wow. That is a groundbreaking psychological profile,” I deadpan.
“I minored in sarcasm.” Callan’s humor drains away.
He meets my eyes. “Oliver’s been my best friend since we were kids.
And when I say 'best,' I don’t mean we braided friendship bracelets and made mud pies. I mean, I’ve watched him hurt people without blinking.
” I hug my arms around my middle. This was more than I expected, but I'm grateful, nonetheless. Callan continues. “There’s more under the calculation.”
Considering we’ve had two conversations, I don’t have much to go on. Still, I know Oliver's words are placed like chess pieces, and I don’t know the board yet. Hell, I don’t know how to play chess.
“I thought you said he doesn’t do relationships?”
He grabs our drinks and turns back to me. “A part of me thinks you might be the exception. That you can meet him where he is and live with it.”
He’s putting a lot of faith in me when, in reality, I can’t get a true read on Oliver. One minute, he’s all smirks and teasing remarks; the next, he says something that reminds me exactly why I should keep my distance.
The blackout isn’t helping my internal argument.
“Where’s Vee?” I ask, searching the room. “I haven’t seen her since before the blackout.”
“Went home. I think she’s with a guy, and I don’t want to think about it.” Oh, brothers. We love them, but they can be so overprotective.
“I’m going to head out,” I yell over the bass sometime later.
My head is fuzzy, and my feet are tired.
The large antique clock on the wall over the stairs reads 2:13.
We have been dancing for hours, drinking, and having the best time.
I haven’t seen Oliver once since the blackout.
I’m sexually frustrated and need my bed ASAP, or more like my vibrator, and Callan’s words are running on a goddamn loop in my head.
“I’ll go with you,” Roxy says.
“You both are no fun,” Callan complains, looking between us.
“I came for the main event.” I hug him quickly.
On our way back to the dorm, my phone buzzes with a text. I pull it out as Roxy, and I make the walk back in comfortable silence. Our ears need it from the loud music.
Unknown:
You should have stayed gone.
I pause, reading the text once more, then scoff and delete it. Fucking Jade and her mind games. Not going to work this time.