Melody
Chapter twenty-two
Kaden has been scarce the last couple of weeks. While I still get the sensation of being watched, he hasn’t tried anything on me. Maybe it’s because my exams have been kicking my ass. He knows better than to interfere with my academics. It’s sweet, but it’s left me feeling… hollow.
I want his touch, his commands, and to feel seen by him. I’ve become addicted to his presence, seeking secluded spots, but he just watches from the shadows.
I slap my textbook closed with a muttered curse, grabbing my notes before shuffling through them with more force than is necessary. The door to my room opens, and my head whips up, only for my heart to settle the moment Kodi walks in.
“What are you doing?” She asks as she drops her backpack beside her bed.
“Studying, unfortunately,” I grouch.
She smirks. “You don’t sound too happy about that.”
“I’m overjoyed,” I reply sarcastically.
“Good thing the Halloween party is tonight.”
I run a hand down my face. “I forgot about that…”
My friend bounces over, taking my books and setting them aside as she pulls me up from the bed. “Get your mind off college and let’s get ready.”
She puts on her playlist, pop songs bumping over her portable speaker as she drags her makeup bag out of her closet. She produces our costumes, smiling connivingly as she holds up a pair of white, thigh-high pleaser heels. They’re gorgeous with a thick platform and a thin stiletto heel.
“I may have tweaked our outfits…” She trails.
“If I fall, I’m suing you,” I laugh.
She holds up a red pair for herself, wiggling her brows. “You’re a sexy angel. You need the shoes to match.”
As songs flow together, we work on our makeup and hair. I opt for soft curls and clip the front of my strands at the back of my head. My makeup is light, and Kodi helps me with a Smokey eye that isn’t too bold before slathering mascara on me.
The hours crawl by before my friend realizes what time it is and shoves my costume into my hands.
I wiggle my hips into the white corset dress, smoothing down the short skirt.
The bust pushes my breasts up, and Kodi lathers me in fine, silver glitter, making my chest sparkle.
When we put on our shoes, she chuckles at the fear in my eyes.
“You can do it,” she encourages as I wobble in place.
“I’m going to break my ankle,” I mumble as I try to steady myself. I hold my hands at my sides, getting the hang of walking in pleasers.
Kodi is a natural as she spins in place. Her devil costume is a red version of mine, with lots of feathers and a little tail. She makes a spinning motion for me to turn around. “Let me put your wings on.”
I turn stiffly to face the wall as Kodi slides the elastic straps of the wings over my shoulders. I check the mirror and raise my brows—I definitely make a statement in this costume.
“Brook just texted me,” Kodi says as she snatches her red clutch off her desk. “She and Caleb have a theme, too. They’re going as Catwoman and Batman.”
I release a breath. “Thank god we won’t be the only ones.”
She opens the door for us, excitement tugging at her lips. “Let’s go get fucked up!”
Music blares through the frat house, strobe lights of neon blue and green flashing wildly from the ceiling.
Masks, imitation leather, and furnishing foam blur by as people dance and converse casually with red solo cups in their hands.
The smell of smoke and alcohol permeates the air, making my nose wrinkle as I shove through the masses.
Kodi has my hand gripped tightly in hers, dragging me along as she cuts a clear path to the kitchen.
Some guy dressed as a video game character with a hulking ax and poorly made battle armor whistles low, his hand reaching out to graze Kodi’s skirt before she smacks him with a scowl.
I snort as his features draw down in rejection before he returns to his group of friends.
We make it to the kitchen without any more trouble, and Brook waves us over brightly.
Her boyfriend is propped against the island counter, handing off cups filled with beer from the bundle of kegs loading up the surface.
He shoves a glass into Kodi’s and my hands with a smirk.
“Bottoms up, ladies,” he cheers over the music.
I lift the rim to my nose and inhale muted yeast. I force my gag down before taking a generous sip, and keeping my face neutral. This is god-awful.
“Beer isn’t your drink of choice, I see,” Caleb smirks, wrapping an arm around Brook’s shoulder.
“Not even in my top five,” I smack, the unpleasant taste lingering.
Brook places a finger under my lowered cup, inching it closer to my mouth. “The trick is not to breathe as you drink. Just gulp it down.”
Kodi throws hers back without another word, swallowing the lukewarm beer until her cup is empty. “That’s so disgusting.”
Caleb spreads his hands wide. “I’m working with what I got.”
“A fake ID and this is how you choose to abuse it?” I snort.
He tilts his head as his lips thin. “Okay, ungrateful, sorry if I couldn’t whip up a lemon drop with the expired gift card and lint from my pocket, but this stuff was on sale.”
“I can see why, baby,” Brook hums, her lips quirking as she takes another sip. Her eyes widen as she moves her drink aside and holds up a finger. “Kodi! Have you told Melody about The Hunt?”
My brow creases. “The Hunt? What’s that?”
Caleb pushes off the counter before grabbing the back of some guy’s collar and dragging him into the circle. “Matt can explain The Hunt.”
The short guy shoves his wire-framed glasses higher up on his nose, his face settling into something severe.
Which is pretty laughable with the bulky, neon yellow banana costume he’s wearing.
“The Hunt is a part of a form of BDSM known as primal play. Participants are divided into two categories: predators, who do the chasing, and prey, who try to avoid being captured. It’s based on instinct and animalistic behaviors.
It can often fall into the category of high-intensity play, trust, and power dynamics. ”
As he rattles off the details, my brows hit my hairline. I blink. “Is there sex involved?”
This sounds like a sex thing…
He shrugs. “More or less. If you’re not down with sloppy fucking in the middle of the woods, you could choose a red bracelet. It lets whoever is hunting you know that you’re only there for the scene. Nothing more.”
Kodi eyes me, nudging my elbow. “Sounds hot, right?”
It sounds…interesting. I never considered BDSM before. The only experience I have is what Kaden has shown me.
Would he be interested in this?
Oh, god. What if he thinks I’m a freak for wanting to try?
Okay. That’s my own anxiousness speaking.
He seems to teeter towards rougher tastes, and I have to admit, so do I.
I love it when he chokes me and gets this dominant aura to him.
It’s like he has all the power, but I’m still firmly in charge.
I could end anything with a single word, and he would back off.
I trust him.
“It does sound hot…” I trail as I take a sip of my beer.
Kodi slaps my shoulder. “Hell yeah! It’s a week from now, so clear your calendar.”
Someone bumps into me from behind, knocking me forward as hands grab my biceps. “Oh, fuck! I’m sorry—Melody?”
I peer over my shoulder to see Dylan smiling at me. “Hey.”
He releases me quickly, stepping back as he shakes his head. “Wow…you look amazing.”
“Thanks,” I hide the curl of my lip easily, masking my face.
“Dyl!” Caleb greets loudly. “We were just telling Melody about The Hunt.”
His eyes widen. “Oh, yeah?”
“Yeah, man,” Caleb chuckles, shaking his girlfriend’s shoulders. “Fresh meat for the guys.”
Brook smacks his chest with a heated glare. “Don’t treat women like objects. We talked about this.”
His face falls. “Sorry, babe…”
Brook ices him out for the rest of the evening, choosing to talk to us about The Hunt and primal play. I’m starting to understand it as the drinks flow. Dylan hovers nearby, his gaze flicking to me now and then. I start to feel tipsy when my bladder protests.
I lean in close to Kodi, keeping my voice low. “Where’s the bathroom?”
Before she can answer, Caleb yells over the crowd. “Shitter is upstairs! Last door to the left!”
“Charming,“ Brook bites.
I push through the crowd, weaving past couples grinding together and people blocking the walkways. A loud game of beer pong erupts in the clogged living room, and somewhere close, I hear glass shatter.
“SORRY!” Someone shouts, and I roll my lips in as I stagger up the stairs. The pleasers aren’t doing me any favors as I hold onto the top rail like my life depends on it. Because it does. This is way harder than it looks, and I barely make it without tumbling back down to the first floor.
Reaching the second floor, I’m struck by the drastic change—here, the air is clearer without the clouds of cigarette smoke and weed from downstairs. I stumble along, cursing under my breath when I nearly trip again in my shoes.
The moment I’m out of here, I’m burning these damn shoes. Kodi be damned. Her pockets will recover.
I make it to the bathroom and relieve myself.
I wash my hands in the sink, surprised to see the Christmas pump soap sitting on the counter.
As I dry my hands, I get a good look at myself in the mirror.
My lipgloss has worn down, so I pull the tube from my boot and apply a thin layer to my lips.
I smack them together before wandering back out into the hall.
As I’m ambling around, I’m attempting to shove my lipgloss back into my boot when I run right into someone. It’s like hitting a brick wall, and I stumble back before hands catch my biceps.
“Sorry—” My apology dies on my tongue as I look up into a white mask. The mouth is elongated, with a dark mesh covering its lips. The eyes are the same, black pools that are deformed and frightening. I recognize the costume from a popular horror movie, but I can’t quite place the name.