Violet is Blue (Hothouse series) (4 page)

At lunch while sitting on the quad, I told them about the phone calls.

“What’s his voice like?” Dahlia asked.

“Deep. Sexy.”

“Have you had phone sex?”

“No,” I said, “He only calls for a few minutes.”

“He's teasing you,” Ivy said.

“I know.”

Ivy fanned her face. “Christ, I'm getting hot just thinking about it.”

Dahlia took a sip of her soda.  “I hope it's some hot stranger and not someone from school.” She glanced around at all the students wandering around.  “That would really be disappointing.”

“Maybe it’s that hot guy that works for your mom,” Ivy suggested as she chewed on her nail.

“Patrick?”

She nodded. “Yeah, maybe he’s been fantasizing about you for months. I mean he’s in your house all the time, he sees you almost every day. Maybe he even spies on you, like when you’re changing or in the shower.” Giggling, she hugged herself. “God, I have to stop it, or else my ovaries are going to explode.”

“No way.  It's not him.”

“Mmm, now that would be hot,” Dahlia said, “The nerdy older guy watching you from afar, secretly lusting after you.”

I couldn’t deny the fact that it had crossed my mind that Pat was my admirer. It didn’t hurt that he was hot and I liked him and had on a few occasions fantasized about being with him. But there was something about the authoritativeness in the voice that I didn’t attribute to Pat at all. Although maybe he was all
50 Shades of Grey
underneath that pressed suit and shiny shoes.

As Dahlia and Ivy continued to list all of Patrick’s favorable attributes, I glanced toward the school. Devon was sitting on the grass leaning against the wall and watching them. His stare was intense and I had an urge to drop my gaze. But I didn’t. I held his eyes with mine daring him to make me look away.

Without taking his eyes off me, he raised what looked like a peach to his mouth and bit into it. The juice dribbled down his chin, and he licked at it with his tongue making slow sweeping motions.

My heart slammed in my chest and I dropped my gaze. I could feel my face going flush, so I rubbed at my cheeks.

Ivy frowned at her. “What’s wrong with you?”

“Nothing.”

“Oh, no here comes trouble, “Dahlia said as Isaac, Nick and Jordan approached them.

Nick plopped down beside Ivy and swung his arm around her. Giggling, she turned and pressed her lips to his.

“What the fuck?” Dahlia said. “When did this happen?”

“At the party.” Ivy smiled.

Nick kissed her again. “She's been dodging me for years, but finally she sees what a catch I am.”

“Was that after you did four upside down margarita shots, then hurled in the pool?” Dahlia asked.

Nick shrugged. “I wasn’t that drunk.”

I was trying hard not to look at Jordan during all this. I felt awkward around him now. All I wanted to do was to walk away and go...

Go where? I didn’t know.

“Hey,” he said.

“Hey.”

“This is for you.” From behind his back, he produced a single red rose. He handed it to me.

I hesitated but didn’t want him to look like a complete ass, so I took it. “Thanks. What’s it for?”

“Everything.”

Dahlia snorted. “You're going to need more than one flower then, buddy.”

Jordan gave Dahlia a dirty look, then glanced back at Me. “Can we meet later and talk?”

I smelled the flower. I did love red roses. Maybe it was Jordan who had sent me the poem and the flowers and made those calls. I eyed him carefully. Did he have it in him to be so surprisingly romantic and mysterious?

“What about our secret?” I asked, gauging his reaction.

He frowned. “What secret? I already told you about Jenny.”

No, it definitely wasn’t him.

“Maybe I’ll call you later.”

“Fine.” He looked at his boys. “Let’s go.”

Ivy got another quick kiss from Nick, then he was up and following Jordan and Isaac across the quad toward the parking lot.

Dahlia looked at Me. “What are you doing?”

“What?”

“You flirted with Jordan. You’re supposed to be hating on him.”

“I know. I am.” I rolled the flower stem through my fingers.

“Don’t you dare take him back,” Dahlia said, “He treated you badly girl, and this mystery man is waiting to treat you just right.”

I didn’t want to tell Dahlia that I was afraid. Although I knew Jordan was not a good guy, I was afraid to let go of him. What if my mystery man turned out to be some creepy stalker? What if he was some old bald guy with a penchant for little girls? What if he was Devon?

I wasn’t sure I was quite ready for something of that magnitude. Someone that intense who would challenge everything about me. I wasn’t sure I wanted to look into the mirror that hard and long.  I wanted a change, but how much was too much?

“Hey, what if your mystery guy is one of the teachers?” Ivy asked.

Both me and Dahlia gave her a look.

“Like who?” Dahlia asked.

“Maybe Mr. Schafer.  He's always leering at us.”

“He's leering at you, Ivy, because every chance you get, you flash him your tits.”

Ivy grinned.  “He's tasty.  I wish he was sending me flowers and calling me late at night.”

The lunchtime bell rang ending their conversation. We got up and walked back into the school with all the rest of the students.

At my locker, I took out my English books. What I really wanted to do was go into the girls’ washroom and hide the rest of the day. I didn’t want to deal with the day to day rut of high school. I used to love coming to school. Hanging out with my friends, going to football games, attending all the parties and socials.  But now that stuff bored me. I knew there was so much more out there to experience. And I wanted to do it right now.

Turning as the bell rang, I ran right into Devon. I dropped my book.

He bent down and picked it up for me. When he handed it to me, our hands brushed and I felt something electric zip over me.

“Thanks.”

He didn’t say anything but just walked away. And I fully admitted to watching him go until he turned the corner and I couldn’t see him anymore.

“Ms. Taylor, is there a reason you are standing in the middle of the hall after the bell has rung?”

I turned to see the Vice Principal giving me the stink eye, as he often did.

“No.”

“Then get to class.”

Clutching the book to my chest, I hustled down the hallway turned the other corner and went to class.

The rest of the day dragged by. I felt every second tick. It was excruciating. When I got home, it wasn’t any better. I did some homework, ate supper with my family, then did some reading until it was time for bed. And even then I couldn’t turn my mind off. Images of flowers and shadows and Devon filled my restless dreams.

I tossed and turned until the ringtone from my phone woke me up.

“Dreaming about me?” said the voice.

My heart instantly sped up. “No.”

“I bet you were.”

“I don’t know, maybe. Depends on who this is.”

He chuckled softly.  “Come to the window.”

I glanced at my open window. The curtains billowed in the warm breeze. “Are you outside?”

“Yes.”

My belly did a bit of a flip flop in the knowledge that my mystery man was just outside.  I got off the bed and walked to the window. I parted the curtains and looked out onto the empty dark street.

“Where are you?” I asked.

“Turn on a light.”

I flicked on the lamp on my desk, then went back to the window.

“You're so damn hot.”

I couldn’t help the smile that lifted my lips.

“You like to hear that, don't you?”

“Yes.”

“Do you like to know that I want to touch you?”

“Yes.” My heart was hammering hard and I found myself a little breathless.

“Where do you want me to touch you?”

My hands starting to tremble, as my heart leapt into my throat. I didn’t know what to say or do.

“Show me,” he said, his words a delicious demand I couldn’t deny.

I raised my hand to my neck. “Here.”

“You want my lips there? To taste the salt of your skin?”

“Yes.” My voice quavered.

“Where else?”

I moved my hand down to my night shirt, and cupped my breast.  “Here.”

“Mmmm, I bet your nipple is hard, aching to be pinched.”

I nodded, too timid to say “Oh God, yes!” like I wanted.

“I want you to pull up your top and pinch your nipple.”

I glanced nervously over my shoulder to make sure I was still alone and my mom hadn’t come into my room wondering why I was up. I peered out the window to make sure none of my obvious neighbors were out walking the dog. I wanted to make sure it was just my mystery man who was watching me.

“I don’t know.”

“Are you afraid?”

“Yes,” I panted, my heart hammering so hard it hurt.

“Do it, Violet. Do it for me.”

I gripped the hem of my shirt and slowly pulled it up until my right breast was bare. Keeping the fabric in place with one hand, I brought the other up and closing my eyes I pinched my nipple between my finger and thumb. A jolt of pleasure speared my body.

A little gasp escaped my lips. I couldn’t contain it. My whole body was vibrating with barely constrained desire. A deep throb erupted between my legs. It took all I had to just stand there and touch my breast, when what I really wanted to do was to slide a hand into my panties and satisfy the achiness that made my legs quiver.

“Jesus,” he groaned. “You’re so fucking hot.”

I hung my head back, and lifted the shirt even more so I could touch my other breast too.  I was beyond caring that I was feeling myself up for some random stranger. Anyone who walked by could see me. It felt so good, being so bad. For once in my life I didn’t care about the rules, about what people would think, what they would say. I was submersed in the moment. And it felt damn incredible.

“Thank you Violet.”

His polite words startled me from my reverie. “What?”

“You can go to sleep now.”

“But...”

“Good night. Sweet dreams.” And he disconnected.

Lowering the phone, I pressed my nose to the glass of the window and peered into the night. I needed a glance of my mystery man. I thought I saw movement across the street by the big old oak tree. But it was nothing more than a shadow flitting away. I couldn’t make out any features.

Sighing, I plopped back onto my bed. There was no way I could fall asleep now. I was too wired. Too on edge. Too horny.

I slid my hand down my belly to the band of my jammy shorts. I slipped my hand inside my already wet panties. Closing my eyes, I thought of my mystery man and masturbated until I was sated and was able to rollover and go to sleep.

––––––––

T
he next day at school was uneventful. I kept what happened last night to myself. I wasn’t ready to tell my friends about what I’d done. I was embarrassed about it. I didn’t want to be one of
those
girls who people whispered about in the halls or at parties.  I only had a month to go before I was done high school forever and I could escape unscathed. I didn’t want to go to college with something like that hanging over my head.

When I got home, I peeked in the office to see if my mom was home. Patrick was at the desk instead. His jacket was off, his tie loosened and his shirt buttons undone. His hair was sticking up in places, as if he’d just run his hand through it in frustration.  My hormones responded to his sexy dishevelled appearance.

He looked up when I entered. “Hey.”

“Hey. Hard at work, I see.” I plopped down in the leather chair across from the desk.

“Yeah, got to earn my living, somehow.”

“Mom works you too hard.”

He smiled and leaned back in the chair. “Nah, it’s all good. I like working hard. Keeps me out of trouble.”

Was that an eye twinkle? Was he flirting with me?

Then I noticed the package on the side table. It had a red bow around it. “What’s that?”

“Oh, that came for you by courier.”

“Who’s it from?”

He shrugged. “Didn’t say.”

I grabbed it from the table and set it on my lap. I drew a finger down the silky red ribbon.

“Is it from your mystery admirer?”

She looked up at Patrick. “My mom told you?”

He nodded.

“It’s weird right?”

“I don’t know.  I wouldn’t say weird.”

I narrowed my eyes at him. Was he trying to tell me something? “Would you do this? If there was a girl you liked?”

“Maybe, if I didn’t know how she felt about me.” He played with this tie. “Some girls like the mysterious romantic stuff, don’t they?”

I smiled shyly. “Maybe.” I ran a hand over the box. Should I open it in front of him to see his reaction? “I’m going to take this upstairs.” I stood.

“I hope it’s something awesome.”

“Me too.” Taking the box, I turned to leave the office. I stopped in the doorway and looked back at him. “Pat?”

“Yeah?”

“Um, nothing. Never mind.”

“Are you sure? We’re friends, right? You can talk to me.”

I nodded. “I know.” I got out of there before I embarrassed myself further.

Up in my room, I put the box on my bed and untied the ribbon. I was a little scared to open the box. I wasn’t expecting a severed body part or anything, but I still was leery. Random strangers just didn’t send gifts. Serial killers maybe.

Slowly, I lifted the lid on the box and set it aside. Whatever it happened to be was wrapped in red tissue paper. I folded that back to reveal black lace. I reached in and picked up the garment holding it up so I could get a good look at it. It was a sheer black lace teddy, with matching G-string. Underneath it was a note.

For next time
.

I set it back into the box and fished out my cellphone and texted Dahlia.

Help! Need emerg girl meeting.

An hour later I was sitting on Dahlia’s bed with her and Ivy gaping in anticipation.

“Let’s see it,” Dahlia said, gesturing to the box.

I opened the box and took out the lingerie.  Both Dahlia and Ivy’s eyes widened.