Chapter 35 #3
A few seconds later, he drops his phone to his side and continues with the instructions.
“Strangers, when you hear the horn, you’ll come out first. Then, once they’re all back and mixed in with the crowd, I’ll blow the horn again and the originals can come out.
And then a new group goes in. The rules are simple.
Keep your identities private. It’s the whole point.
Scream if you need help. If you’re planning to go for gold, bring a condom and ask for consent.
Boundaries matter here, people, so be prepared to have your asses handed to you if you try to cross one without permission.
” A few of the guys in the crowd murmur in agreement.
He claps his hands together once. “All right, I need four originals.”
It’s basically Seven Minutes in Heaven, but with anonymity.
“I’ll come to the room the furthest to the left,” Paul whispers in my ear, nudging me forward.
It’s an open invitation without pressure. If I want him to find me, I know where to go.
I join two girls and a guy in a small circle near the front of the crowd, and once the guy telling us the rules has counted down from three, we’re set loose to run to the other side of the barn to choose and enter our rooms.
One of the girls reaches the first room on the left before I can get there. I swallow.
I could ask her to swap, but I can already hear the shouting from the crowd as the strangers are asked to step forward and volunteer. There’s no time. I rush into the last remaining room and shut the door behind me.
Now I really don’t know who will find me here.
Not Paul.
Is that better? Worse?
Completely anonymous.
Darkness swallows me whole, so consuming I can hardly think. I force out a slow, steady breath and the old wood groans, settling around me. Dry leaves rustle underfoot when I shift my weight.
I freeze. The sudden silence is loud in my ears.
They’re coming.
I hear footsteps approaching, and then a door in the distance opens. Another immediately follows. Those same footsteps stop outside mine. My door opens just slightly, and my heart lodges in my throat.
Whoever it is, they’re right there. Close enough that I can hear the shift of weight on dry leaves and see their shadowy silhouette.
They linger, watching.
Silence stretches, tight and suspended.
I draw in a deep breath.
Without warning, the door closes with a slam and the footsteps retreat, heavy and sharp. Almost storming away.
They left.
I swallow, listening to the silence. What am I supposed to do if no one comes for me? Just wait here the entire time? How embarrassing would that be? But it would be worse to leave, wouldn’t it?
This time, the footsteps approach slower. There’s a pause, like someone is lingering just outside. I clasp my hands together in front of me.
Creeeeak.
The door opens again slowly, and I track the same shifting shadow entering the small space. They came back.
The door clicks shut, cloaking us in silence together.
Slow, heavy footsteps drag toward me. My breathing hitches as I wait.
I’m not scared, though maybe I should be.
I’m…thrilled. Excited.
I’m anonymous here, and so is this person. We’re going to have fun. I’m allowed to have fun.
Jess would love this. She’d want me to do it. She’d be proud of me for putting myself out there. I can’t wait to tell her about it.
I squeeze my hands together as the person finally draws close enough I can feel their body heat through the pitch-black. I have no idea how close they are, so I reach out a hand. My hand connects with flesh. An arm. It’s ropy, fit and defined. I brush my fingers across the soft hair there.
He lets me feel him, my hands roaming over his forearm and up his bicep.
There’s a sharp inhalation of breath, and when I step closer, the room spins. Because I know that cologne. I’d recognize it anywhere, the lingering trace of ocean, rain, and drenched earth that remains on the couch after Will visits.
My stomach drops. Pulse spikes.
A flame smolders in my core.
I remember the shifting weight outside my door just now. The pacing footsteps as he checked the other doors before he reached mine. The way he stormed away once he’d found me, then returned—decision made.
Something dangerously close to relief swims through my bloodstream.
I don’t dare speak. Don’t dare say his name. It can’t be real. It just can’t be.
I drop my hand away from him, and he steps closer until one of his legs brushes mine. He pulls it back like I’m a scorching flame. He’s so close I can hear every breath that leaves his lips, feel the warmth on my chest, my cheeks.
I tilt my mouth up toward his slowly.
I should stop this.
I should call him out.
I should leave.
But no. It’s not Will. He’s just haunting me here. Will wouldn’t do this. I’m imagining things.
A palm hovers in the air near my elbow, then slides slowly up my arm, inches separating our skin, almost like he’s afraid to touch me.
My entire body pulses with heat and electricity.
I can hardly breathe. I’m going to combust.
There. Lightning strikes when I finally feel his touch. His finger and thumb grip my chin, tilting my face up. Hot breath hits my neck, and there’s a long inhale like he’s…smelling me?
That shouldn’t turn me on, but my god, it does. Is he checking that I’m who he wants me to be?
Does he have my scent memorized the way I have his?
He pulls back just slightly. His thumb massages the divot in my chin. His mouth hovers above mine. Not touching. Not yet. But so close it burns.
He’s waiting. He’s giving me an out.
“Say yes.” His voice is a low rumble, rough and almost angry.
It’s him.
Fire shoots through my veins, and I tremble. This is unmistakably Will.
He’s masking his tone, forcing it into a gravelly whisper, fully believing the pitch-black and the rules of this game are keeping his secret safe.
He doesn’t think I know.
I don’t say anything. I’m not sure I can. Instead, I give the slightest nod of my head.
That’s all he needs.
He doesn’t wait. His mouth crashes into mine like it’s simultaneously killing him and bringing him back to life.
The most intoxicating, devastating surrender.
Together, we take quick, animal steps backward, mouths connected, hands clawing. We war over our exploration, searching and claiming each new piece of territory.
He’s all hard lines and taut, demanding muscles—even more than I expected. My back slams against the wall. It should hurt, but I can’t feel anything except flames hotter than the bonfire raging inside me.