Chapter 5
Serenity
WHAT A NIGHT. MY ENTIRE body still buzzed with the memory of invisible touches and phantom caresses, and every time I thought about them on me, an intense inferno unleashed at my center.
My skin heated to the point where I had to kick the covers off of me and spread out all of my limbs in an attempt to cool off.
I still had no idea what happened last night, despite wracking my brain ever since I woke up.
Had it been some crazy realistic dream caused by my sexual frustration?
My clothes were still in place, so it seemed that way.
I had no flipping idea. All I did know was that the memory had me fucking horny.
Normally, that hot desire was followed by guilt and desperation, because the feeling never came when I was with Bradley.
It always happened when I was alone. The few times I did grow restless with sexual need while around him, he wasn’t ever the cause.
It was just my body’s natural cry for attention—attention that never came.
Right now though, I didn’t feel sad because of my body’s needs. Right now, I felt hungry and a different kind of daring desperation. I was so wound up that I wanted to feed into the feeling and share it with the guy I was dating, even if distance separated us.
I quickly peeled out of my clothes, tossing my shirt across the room and kicking off my panties. My chest rose and fell hard as I grabbed for my phone, clicked on the first message thread where Bradley’s texts always stayed, and began recording.
The camera screen filled with the sight of my parted pale legs against my dark sheets, and that prickling fire of desire continued to douse my body with its sweetness as I slicked my finger down the seam of my pussy, letting the camera capture it all.
I let out a small gasp as the tip of my finger curled along my clit, rubbing it just the way I and the phantom touch had the night before.
My legs fell open wider as I worked myself to a near-shattering point, and the sounds of my heavy breath and wet core filled the audio of the video along with the sight.
I bit my lip hard as I finished, capturing the moment for Bradley to see. It was a sight I wanted to share with him and hopefully do with him one day.
I barely managed to open my lust-crazed eyes enough to send the video with a quick text following it.
Happy Saturday, handsome. Was thinking of you this morning. :*
I dropped my arm and stretched out as I tried to catch my breath. Starting out the day with an orgasm was definitely the way to go. Every fiber of my being was high on the bliss of it, and a certain excitement filled my chest as I waited to see what Bradley would say.
We hadn’t sexted or sent dirty photos and videos since we were teenagers, so I wanted to kick my feet in giddiness. Maybe I’d get a video in return. Maybe he’d see this and go crazy with desire for me, running to get me alone so we could explore my orgasms together.
Smiling, I left my phone on my bed to head for the shower. It was only nine in the morning, so I didn’t expect Bradley to see the video and respond for a couple more hours. He liked to sleep in on Saturdays.
I stepped out of the shower and pulled on my lavender turtleneck and black overalls before drying my curly silver hair. Saturdays were my days to do what made me happy, and this one was especially exciting with the way it had started. Nothing like a little selfcare, right?
I practically skipped out of my apartment with my large bag slung over my shoulder and drove to my favorite coffee shop.
Before I could even turn off the car, my phone dinged.
My heart soared with excitement, and I reached for it once parked, excited to see Bradley’s response.
Only it wasn’t a message from him but from an unknown number.
Fuck. Can you wake me up like this everyday? That was so goddamn hot.
I stopped breathing. My eyes widened to the point where they had to be taking up half of my face. My jaw dropped, and the device slipped from my fingers until I stared at the empty air between my trembling hands.
Holyfuckholyfuckholyfuckholyfuck!
I snatched up my phone from the car floor, praying to whatever God existed that when I looked at the screen, it would read Bradley’s name. I practically willed the universe to prove that I hadn’t sent the video of me masturbating to my fucking celebrity idol.
But I guessed the powers that be weren’t listening, because … I’d sent the video to Dante!
I dropped the phone all over again to cover my mouth with both hands as I screamed into my palms. I was such an idiot!
I literally had no friends, so other than my Dad and a few coworkers, the only person I texted regularly was Bradley.
Because he was the only one I talked to, his message thread was always at the top of my phone, so in my horny-hazed mental state this morning, I’d clicked on the first thread out of habit without actually confirming who it was.
I moved my shaking hands to the hair on my head, tugging on the roots as I freaked out. “Oh my God! What have I done?”
I couldn’t believe it. I reached for my fallen phone a second time and reread Dante’s response over and over. No matter how many times I read it, the nervous panic and embarrassment remained.
What did I do? Did I text him and apologize? Did I just delete the texts and pretend this never happened?
I was stewing in my panic and racing thoughts when a call replaced the texts on the screen. My heart stopped in my chest, and before I could think better of it, I swiped to answer. Fear kept my throat closed tight so that no words came out of my mouth.
After a moment of silence, Dante’s deep voice asked, “Serenity?”
“M-Maybe,” I squeaked.
He chuckled softly, and the sound of a car engine mingled with the sound over the phone. “On a scale from one to ten, with one being ‘not at all’ and ten being ‘ready to go into hiding,’ how badly are you freaking out?”
My white knuckles pressed into my mouth as I managed to respond, “An eleven.”
His rich laughter filled my ear, and the sound did something to me. It heated my blood and made my stomach flip in a way I refused to acknowledge.
“Don’t worry,” Dante reassured. “I know that wasn’t actually meant for me.”
“So you didn’t watch it?” I asked in a breathless rush.
“Oh, no. I watched it,” Dante responded with zero shame. In fact, I swore I could hear the smile in his voice. “Multiple times, actually. Would you like to hear what I did while I watched it?”
Yes.
“No!” I screeched, desperately needing a drink.
Not only was I parched beyond words, but fantasies of Dante stroking himself as he watched my video flooded my head without permission.
I’d seen the divine man shirtless in photos, videos, and in concert.
His arms and torso were made up of perfect muscles, not to mention the deep V …
My toes curled in my boots, and heat flooded my cheeks when I pictured what that crease at his hips led to.
“Fine,” Dante relented, the sound of his amusement still evident. “I won’t say it. I’ll just show you some other time.”
I opened my mouth to remind him that I had a boyfriend.
Before I could, Dante plowed on, “I’m actually running out to grab some coffee and stuff. Would you care to join me?”
The color drained from my face as movement in my peripheral snagged my attention. I slowly turned my head to see a black sports car pulling into a parking space two spots down, and when the handsome figure emerged, I nearly dropped my phone for the third time.
Dante’s perfect lips were curved in a grin as I watched him speak into the phone. “Or if you prefer, we can grab something else.” He started toward the coffee shop I sat in front of, his brown gaze fixed on it as I tracked him with wide eyes. “We could grab breakfast or catch a movie or—”
He glanced at my car briefly before facing forward again. He suddenly stopped in his tracks. I held my breath, staring through my windshield like a deer in the headlights as he slowly turned to face me fully, our phones still held to each of our ears.
His lips widened into a mischievous smirk. “Oh. Hello, there.”
He hung up and stepped off the sidewalk. I feebly shook my head as he came to my door. My jaw had become permanently fixed to the ground, especially when he opened my car door and flashed his perfect smile. “Good morning, gorgeous.”
“I’m at a twelve now,” I croaked, my tongue practically disintegrating into dust at this point.
Laughing, he leaned down and reached into my car to turn off the ignition.
I’d apparently lost the ability to function at all, because I was like a doll as he unbuckled me and grabbed my hand to gently pull me out of the car.
Sparks fluttered along my palm and up my arm.
His hand was so strong and warm, a fact I immediately banished from my thoughts.
“There’s no need to feel embarrassed,” Dante reassured as I trudged alongside him. “Would you feel better if I said I liked it?”
“No!” I gasped, covering my hot cheeks with my hands.
“Would you rather I not like it?”
“I’d rather have sent it to the right person,” I grumbled.
I wished I could rewind time to ensure I clicked on the right name. Or even better, I could’ve gone back to this morning and told my vagina to not be such a horny bitch. Then I wouldn’t have been in this mess where Dante had seen my … everything.
“Oh, yes,” Dante mused as he held the coffee shop door open for me. “That infamous boyfriend. He’s a lucky guy, that’s for sure.”
The compliment should’ve had giddiness lighting me up inside, but instead, it had my heart twisting in my chest. Dante thought Bradley was lucky to have me. If only Bradley or my family thought that.
I quickly shook the negative thought away and looked up at Dante as our last meeting came back to me. “Speaking of Bradley, I want to apologize for his behavior. He—He was really rude last night. I’m sorry.”