Awakening (2 page)

He pulls me close again and slides down my body, his hands trailing a sinfully hot trail along the sides of my breasts to my hips. Looking down, I see his head is just at my hip line. His big brown eyes stare into mine while he dances back up, his hands running along my stomach and again across my breasts. Never lingering long, just gliding across my heated skin.

“Jesus,” he breathes in my ear, “Where have you been all my life?”

As if the cord has been yanked from the wall socket, my brain shuts off. Letting the music guide my hips we move in unison, hip-to-hip, hands trailing over each other. Hot muscle moves under my hands as he dances. Becoming bolder, my hands grip his hips, forcing them into mine. He leans back laughing, encouraging me. In my wild abandon, I fling my hands over my head, shaking my head side to side, all while continuing to grind my hips into this sexy stranger.

How or why he chose me, I’ll never know. But he did choose me. He thinks I’m sexy. His arousal makes me actually believe him. I know this is crazy, but sometimes getting a little crazy is good for the soul.

When the beat changes with the next song, I turn around and rub my ass into his crotch, pumping my hips back and forth, side to side. He stays with me, never letting our bodies lose contact. Leaning back against his hard chest, his hands slide down my sides, fingertips racing across my thin shirt. My skirt inches higher as I sink lower, dancing down his hard body.

I feel his hands on my skin under my shirt. The direct skin-to-skin contact boils my blood instantly. My head falls back onto his shoulder, giving him full access to my stomach and chest. I feel him bumping into me, keeping the beat for us. There is nothing but the music and his touch. We are one, moving together, creating a sexual frenzy around us. Closing my eyes, my hands thread through his hair, my head leans on his shoulder, while his hands grab my hips, squeezing and tilting my ass into him.

All too soon the music stops and the beat changes again. But the pause has popped our bubble. I look around and see that all of my friends are back at the table, watching us. Turning back around, I face my smiling dance partner.

“You’re amazing. So sexy,” he says, making me blush.

“Um.” I stutter in his ear. “Thank you for the dance.”

He walks me back to my table, his hand possessively on my lower back again. Carrie, Joanne, and Sophia are all staring at me with their mouths hanging open. Willow’s eyes are closed, and she is swaying in her seat.

“Ladies,” he says to the table then turns and disappears into the crowd.

I sit, grabbing the nearest drink, downing it like a shot.

“Holy fucking shit,” Joanne says.

Willow’s eyes snap open. “Oh! You’re back. Thought maybe you found a new home for the night!”

“Wow!” I manage to say. “I have never. Never.” The words evaporate before I can form a complete thought. Never in my life have I ever felt anything like that. I’ve had guys tell me I’m attractive, but I have never felt it like that. For the first time in my life I felt sexy, really sexy.

“You were amazing out there. When did you learn to dance like that?” Carrie asks, still in awe.

“I didn’t.” I say back to her, just as awed as she is.

“Well, it looks like Darren had better step up his game!” Sophia says.

Everyone erupts into laughter.

“Speaking of Darren. Did someone here say you guys finally had wild sex?” Willow asks again after we recover.

“Sadly no, I was saying that Darren and I ALMOST had wild sex last weekend,” I correct her, still breathless.

“I kinda thought you guys broke up because he wouldn’t marry you, or move in with you or something like that.” Willow trails off, thoughts muddled in her intoxicated state.

“Condoms!” Carrie shouts to the table.

“What?”

“You need to carry condoms with you all the time. That way when you and Limp Dick have the opportunity to do the nasty you can. They’re so much less hassle than dealing with, ya know. On the fly.” Carry explains.

“Really? You think buying condoms are the answer to my sex life’s problems.” I snort at her.

“No. What you really need is that guy’s phone number.” Willow drunkenly tells the table.

“Holy shit, that was really fucking hot out there!” Joanne says again.

“Yes, that was really fucking hot!” I say reaching for my drink again.

Everyone at the table erupts. It’s obvious we’ve all had a lot to drink tonight! Still stunned from my dance, I sit back and take a deep breath. Joanne is right. I have never been that turned on by anyone on a dance floor. If that’s what he’s like dancing, imagine what that man is like in the bedroom! A wave of heat crashes over my body thinking about it.

“Okay, my friends. This has been a fantastic birthday. But I really need to leave.” Sophia starts to gather her gifts.

We all pile out of the booth, picking up presents, bags, purses, and coats. As we make our way toward the door, I glance around the room. My sexy stranger is nowhere to be seen. He’s starting to feel like an illusion. Did that really happen? Or was that some alcohol induced fantasy?

Sophia hugs everyone and we all say goodbye. We finally start to head in different directions and Joanne takes Willow by the hand and leads her to the car. Willow slurs something to Joanne and hands over her keys. Good call on that one.

I turn to Sophia. “Happy Birthday, you!”

“Oh, my God! That was crazy. Those guys made the whole party! And that one guy you danced with. Holy cow!” She gushes as she fans herself.

“I know, right! So that actually happened. I didn’t just make that up?” I ask, only somewhat in jest.

“I saw you! Nora Young, you were hot! Hot like, I’d take you home and do you hot!” She is laughing at her own jokes.

Shaking my head at her, I give her one last hug.

“You need to go home and go to bed, girl! See you on Monday!”

I watch her walk to her car before I turn and head off to find mine. I can’t stop thinking about that dance. We were hot together out there. That kind of passion is something I thought only existed in movies or books. But I felt it, boy did I feel it. It was so sudden, and then he just left. I loved that it was so flammable and then he was just gone. No expectation for more, no requests for anything other than just one hot dance. My creep radar wasn’t screaming like it usually does in those situations. Something about the sexy undertone of his voice maybe. Or most likely that third drink!

That man had passion like I have never seen before. That’s what’s missing from my entire life. I want that; need that! Carrie’s right, I need to be more aggressive with Darren. I’m starting this weekend, I’ve got some shopping to do and then I’m going to knock Darren’s socks off!

The parking lot is full when I get back to my apartment, so I park around the corner. That is one of the biggest problems here, no assigned spots. I make my way up the stairs and as soon as I’m through the door I start stripping off clothes. Collapsing in bed semi-naked, without brushing my teeth, I think about what my life would be like if I lived with that kind of passion.

CHAPTER TWO

Holding up the small, luminescent rubber ring, I turn to face him, but the scathing look in his eyes stops me. It’s just a small toy, so I am completely taken aback by his reaction. This was not what I was hoping for when I bought the damn thing.

“Darren, it’s just for fun,” I plead with him. “To be honest, I don’t even know what you do with it. It came with a box of condoms.”

“You bought condoms?” he practically shouts, “Why the hell are you buying condoms, Nora?”

So we can have sex outside!
I scream in my head. “Because I thought we might want them,” I say, keeping my voice steady.

I can’t believe this! Our first screaming fight in three years is about a sex toy I bought at a grocery store? I knew he was resistant, but this is out of control! Damn it, Carrie was so right, our sex life does need help.

“Did you stop the pill? These are things we need to discuss together.” He sounds so much more like his calm, overly reasonable self, although the edge in his voice is still detectable.

“No, I didn’t stop the pill. Carrie and I were talking, and she said that I should always have condoms around in case we end up somewhere unexpected. She said it’s a lot easier to clean up on the fly.” I turn around and gently place the small rubber ring on my nightstand.

“On the fly?” Darren asks, slowly walking towards me. “Have I ever done anything ‘on the fly’ with you?” His hands linger in the air with his finger quotes.

“No. I just thought“ I stammer; his glaring eyes make my stomach flip.

“So, Carrie put you up to this?” He asks, eyes darken with each step.

“Um.” How the hell do I explain this?

I let out a huge breath and wilt on the bed. This is a nightmare. I should have never even tried. I guess three years of never expressing an opinion was a mistake. But darn it, I have opinions. Sometimes.

“Yes. Carrie put me up to this,” I say, depleted. “It’s just a toy, Darren. Never mind.” I throw myself back on the bed and bury my head under a pillow.

He chuckles and slides next to me. “Nora. Our sex life is great. We don’t need toys, or ‘on the fly’, whatever that means. We don’t need to go there.”

He reaches over and moves the pillow. I stare at his face; he is so much calmer now. I am amazed at how quickly he went from withering to calm, a little scary, really. A smile plays around the corner of his mouth.

“Fine. Next time, I won’t listen to her. I’m sorry.” I drag the pillow back over my face. This is what my friends don’t realize; there is no changing Darren.

Life is so much easier when I just don’t care. Go with the flow, open to anything. It’s just better that way, given how scheduled and rigid he is. But I have to say, I didn’t expect outrage at one little suggestion.

I feel his hand on my stomach, and I know what’s next. It’s what we always do on Sunday afternoons. There will be no more discussions about sex toys or adventures outside the bedroom. I willfully submit to the next item on the weekly schedule. He moves the pillow and kisses my neck.

I awake sometime later and note early evening light is streaming into the hallway outside the bedroom. I feel Darren move next to me as he rolls over. He smiles, his short, light brown hair clinging to his scalp. Sitting up, he sweeps his hand over his head and his just-fucked look goes back to boardroom-ready hair. I watch, dismayed.

Reaching for his pants, he asks, “What time is it?”

My stomach drops. Why, I couldn’t tell you. For three years our schedule has worked fine. Lately though, it’s been grating on me. Every Sunday leaves me feeling empty and used. Why doesn’t he ever stay over?

“Just after six. Want some dinner?” I let the rest linger, still hoping.

“Dinner?” He looks perplexed.

This is outside the norm. Yeah, I know, but still, one day he might just say yes. I stand up and put on a long shirt.

“Um. I think I better go.” He stands and sweeps me into his arms. “That was amazing, Nora. See, we need nothing.” He shoots a breath through his teeth, “Wow!”

“You’re not so bad yourself.”

He takes a step closer and nuzzles my neck, “So, you’re ready for a little rough play?”

Huh? I look at him, confused.

“Earlier you let it slip that you want me to take you passionately. Did you have a place in mind?”

I said that out loud? My heart leaps into my mouth. On the street, in the theatre, in your car, so many images flash through my mind I can’t speak.

“Next time, maybe I’ll take you on the couch!” He growls low in my ear.

I let out a long breath, of course the couch, silly me. “Yeah, that would be fun to try,” I say, hiding the disappointment in my voice. He kisses me on the forehead and then gathers his belongings.

Darren stands at the door, ready to leave, but unexpectedly he turns around and grabs me, pulling me into his arms. His mouth clamping down on mine, his tongue thrusting into my mouth while he holds me close.

“Mmmm, don’t forget, now that I know you’re ready, I may take you by surprise one day.” His smile is slightly sardonic.

This takes me back, and my breath catches in my throat. Oh my, a new Darren?

“Okay Darr, I’ll be ready for you.” I start to kiss him again, but he pulls away and is out the door before I get a chance, leaving me breathless and wanting. And alone.

Walking back through my apartment, I begin to gather my scattered thoughts. Darren is odd, but he has always been odd. He doesn’t like to sleep here, and he adamantly believes that Sunday nights are for getting ready for Mondays. While there is some truth to that, I’m beginning to feel slighted at the end of most weekends.

The distance between our two apartments is less than eight miles, but Woodside is worlds away from Redwood City. A while back I thought we should just move in together, but he wasn’t ready. Our arrangement was stable, he argued, so why would we mess it up? I’ll see Darren again on Wednesday night, our midweek get together.

With a sigh, I pick up the tiny rubber ring. Who knew such a small thing could cause so much turmoil? I have to say, after that fight we had the best sex we’ve had in months, so it wasn’t a total loss.