Chapter 18 From Across the Room? #2
“Who said anything about humans? Look, I’m all for protecting them, but parties are way more fun when they’re not around.
I reached out to some of our old friends.
It’s going to be me and you and a room full of magical creatures who can kick those demon’s asses if they even think about spoiling our fun. ”
“You’re serious, aren’t you?” I shook my head. “I don’t know, Jackie. This seems risky.”
“Yes, I’m serious.” She rolled her neck as she spoke.
“You’ve been working your ass off, and now you’re going to another world.
How many times have you said you wanted a break or to reconnect with old friends?
Hell, we’ve talked about meeting up for months now, and it never happened.
So tonight, before you take off and go fight demonic entities, we’re going to let loose and celebrate everything you’ve accomplished and all the good that’s coming.
Tonight, all our magical buddies are coming to town, so get your elemental ass ready for a party! ”
“Elemental. I forgot that’s my official classification.” I smiled.
“Well, alien isn’t one we wanted to explore, remember?” She glanced at me. “Anyone who takes that on is bound to be probed!”
“True. I’ll gladly opt out of having anything put up my butt!”
“You mean Raymond hasn’t…” She looked away from the road to waggle her brows at me. “I thought you liked that.”
“Get it together, woman.” I slapped her arm. “No, he hasn’t… Well…at least not yet.” I stuck my tongue out, and she laughed.
“Girl, you’re still just as kinky as ever.” Jackie shook her head. “Can’t believe I used to try to keep up with you. Does he know?”
“I have a feeling he does.” I chuckled. “But let’s stay on topic. Really, the classification, however questionable, is oddly comforting right now. I never expected that.”
“It means you belong with us.” She winked at me.
“Not to get too sentimental, but you were a foster kid. Your entire life, you’ve had to choose your own family and find a place that felt like home.
With us, you’re home. So, make sure you survive this thing and come back.
And when you get back, we won’t take so long to hang out again. Promise?”
“I promise.” I inhaled deeply as I realized just how much I needed to be around my girls and quickly thought of the other friends I’d been neglecting while building my business. The first thing I’d do when I got back would be to call them all and catch up.
“Okay now, you know if you’re lying, you’re going to owe me so much sushi!” she said, as if she hoped I was, in fact, lying.
We went to my house, packed several bags, one almost completely full of skincare, heavy on the moisturizer, and got cute for the party.
After pre-gaming with street tacos, Jackie drove us to the event hall she’d booked.
I’d expected a few friends, but she had gone all out, and when the doors opened, the faces of people I hadn’t seen in years met me.
“Ta-dah!” Jackie waved her hands as she presented a party hall decorated in my favorite colors: rosy reds, soft lavenders, and forest greens.
There were fake vines and twinkle lights tracing the walls, with various strings of petals falling from the ceiling.
They swayed softly overhead. It was like walking into a summer garden party, and it made my heart feel instantly full.
Jackie was right. I needed a proper sendoff. I just had to keep reminding myself that this wasn’t sending me off to my death. It was Jackie’s way of telling me she loved me and distracting herself from what was to come.
As I walked into the space, greeting old friends and sipping the fruity drink that someone handed to me, my mind went back to our college days, when we were mostly carefree and had our entire futures ahead of us.
Jackie had dragged me to more parties than I could count, even after I’d graduated and she was still in school.
She was one of the few friends who refused to let me walk away from her when I shut down after Rose’s betrayal.
I spent the next few hours dancing and being grateful for healthy knees, singing, and avoiding the werewolf who still blamed me for his hair loss.
Failed tonic…long story. I added way too much poinsettia sap, and he lost every hair on his body.
Hairless werewolves are a terrifying sight.
As far as I knew, he still hadn’t grown it all back nearly fifteen years later.
My tipsy brain toyed with the idea of asking him to shift so I could see what he looked like, and that was exactly why I never drank.
As the hours ticked on and the drinks continued to flow, I felt like I would pass out, but I refused to end the night.
The longer I could stretch it out, the longer I could avoid the inevitable.
But the inevitable wasn’t planning on avoiding me.
As I danced in a corner with Christa, a witch who used the luck of others to feed her spells, I spotted the shadow forming across the room.
I know damn well this heffa didn’t take my luck!
As I side-eyed the woman who started to shimmy away from me, he appeared: the man I had seen very little of since he went on security detail. The man whose presence made my temperature rise despite the chill that accompanied his arrival. Raymond.
He spotted me quickly, and when our eyes locked, a voice inside my head said run, girl!
So, I did. I hurried over to another group of women who were talking about rumors of a witch who had put an actual spell in her fictional book. I thought I heard them mention Lena, but I couldn’t be sure. I was too busy trying to monitor Raymond.
He stopped approaching, but why?
I looked at him closely, squinting my eyes, because his face looked off. Everything was fine except his lips. The more I tried to focus on his usually full lips, the less I could actually see them. It was like looking at them through a piece of plastic. I could almost make out the shape.
“You plan to run from me all night?” I heard his voice like he was speaking into my ear and jumped. The women looked at me like I was nuts, and how could I blame them? I’d moved into their conversation, added nothing to it, and was acting weird as fuck.
“Got a chill, sorry.” I played it off with an awkward laugh.
But he wasn’t done—far from it. As I stood there, trying to appear normal and clutching on to my purse like it would save me, he upped the ante.
Fingers, his fingers, materialized between my thighs. They radiated a deep heat that went straight to my clit, and I bit my lip, eyes darting to him. His lips were clear as day and lifted into the smile of a man ready to drive me insane.
I looked at those strings of flower petals hanging above his head and wished they were real. I would use them to tie his ass up while I ran for it.
I felt the heat growing between my thighs and pressure parting them, like the shadows created extra space there.
I looked at him, and his hand was in his pocket.
Raymond raised his left brow and cocked his head to the side, as if daring me to say or do anything.
I didn’t. Instead, I took a couple of steps back from the women and scanned the area, looking for an exit.
I can’t believe this is happening…but damn it if it's not sexy!
Okay, maybe I was a little tipsier than I thought, because my heart was racing and my mind only grew more curious about what he would do. The game was on, and I was eagerly participating.
And then, he did it. My panties slipped to the side, and one, no, two fingers moved inside my pussy. I gasped…loudly, and too many eyes turned to me. I had to get out of there; I knew what he was doing. There was no way I would let this man make me come in the middle of my send-off party!
So, I ran. I ran for the exit, and when I found the sign for the ladies' room, I made a beeline for the door and whined when I realized it was locked. I jiggled the handle until an annoyed voice shouted, “Occupied!”
“Damnit.” I stomped my foot then fell against the wall as Raymond continued working his fingers inside me. I wouldn’t be able to hold it together much longer.
Then, I saw it: my freedom. The coat closet.
“Wherever you are, I’ll find you.” Raymond’s voice was a joyous sound as another finger appeared. It flicked my clit softly, teasing me.
“You’re having fun with this, aren’t you?” I asked aloud, thankful I was in the hall alone.
“Yes. I am. Keep running, little mouse.” The deep chuckle vibrated in my ear and sent shivers down my neck into my stomach.
I’m supposed to be in control. I take the lead. Why am I enjoying this?
As my internal conflict continued, I made a dash for the closet. Inside, a soft yellow light flickered, giving off a gentle buzz. I closed the door behind me and leaned against it. I didn’t want anyone coming in and finding me there.
As my back touched the door, I finally let the deep moan building inside me out as that first sweet orgasm came to a head. I gripped the wall as my panties became drenched. Fun fact: voyeurism and squirting, not a great combo.
Then, I was alone. For a moment. I could feel the shift in energy.
Raymond had left me to myself. It was a moment, just long enough for me to compose myself and reach for the doorknob.
My thoughts? Find Jackie and get the hell out of there.
He wanted a chase? I would give him one. Ninety miles an hour across town!
Well, that never happened. Because the moment I thought I had a chance, those hands were there. As the first one appeared in front of me, shadowy and waving, I backed up, and the light went out.
“Shit.” I reached around for the light switch but couldn’t find it. “What are you doing?”
I called out to him and hoped he would respond and give me more time to get out.
“No more running,” Raymond responded. Only his voice was there, his voice and his hands.
In the dark, I felt his hand slowly move through my hair and slip around my mouth as his voice returned.
“Shh. You wouldn’t want anyone to hear you, would you?
You asked about my hands. Let me show you what I can do with them. ”
One hand was on my left thigh, another on my stomach, another on my neck, and another grabbed my right breast. I stood there, covered in his hands, and my pulse quickened.
They were firm, but they didn’t hurt me.
This was a game, and Raymond called the shots.
I’m not sure when I decided I would let him.
Probably when I first saw him appear across the room, that devious expression on his face.
As the sixth hand appeared, pulling up my skirt and slipping into my panties, I gasped.
My head fell back and landed on his shoulder.
“Got you,” Raymond said, and I realized he was there with me in the dark corner as his many hands strummed every sweet spot they could find.
“This isn’t fair,” I said when the hand over my mouth moved away. “I’m supposed to be in control now. You said in the real world, I’m in control.”
“You’re right. Let me fix that.” His lips pressed against my neck as something in the darkness shifted; a chill wrapped around me, fought off by his heat. Then, we were no longer in that coat closet.