“What are you doing coming back here? I thought for sure you were going to go home with that guy.” Wendy was still sitting on the couch, enjoying another mojito. “You two were so close, I thought you were going to start making out right there on the counter.”
I shot my friend a dirty glare. “You know I’m not like that.”
“You should really learn to loosen up. You’re never going to move on if you’re so bitter all the time.”
“I’m not bitter.”
“Then tell me why you didn’t give this guy a chance.”
“He was nothing more than a sweet talker.” I glanced over at him where he was already talking to another woman.
He looked over his shoulder, making eye contact with me, his lips twitching ever so slightly like he was glad he had caught me looking at him.
I ground my teeth together, knowing that he was just trying to make me jealous. He was obviously hoping I would succumb and go home with him after all, but, if he thought that tactic would work on me, he had another thing coming. I looked away. “Look, he’s already with another girl.”
“He’s a hot guy, what did you expect? He probably gets flocked by them all the time, but, I’m telling you, he has his eyes set on you.”
I scoffed.
“Seriously.”
This time, I looked at him out of the corner of my eye. There was no denying that he was unbelievably sexy with his muscular body, broad shoulders, and handsome face. There was even a level of exoticism to him, due to his differently colored eyes. While one was bright blue, the other was light green.
Wendy waved her hand in front of my face. “Admit it, you like him.”
“No.”
“Why else would you stare at him like that? You obviously think he’s attractive.”
“Sure, but that doesn’t mean I’m going to let him go home with me.”
“Why not?” She asked. “I’m sorry to say this, but you really need some action. That vibrator you got hiding under your mattress won’t be able to satisfy you forever.”
My cheeks reddened at her comment. “I’m not having this conversation with you.”
“Fine. Then I guess we can just go home if you’re not going to be any fun.”
***
I was glad to be home, even if it meant being all alone. At least here, no one bothered me or judged me for the way I was handling my recent divorce. Shuffling into the mudroom, I took off my heels, placing them neatly in their place. Doing so, I noticed Roxie’s favorite toy hiding in the corner. I grabbed it, squeezing it, half-expecting her to come bounding around the corner, ready to play fetch.
Of course, that didn’t happen. With a heavy heart, I placed the toy in the junk drawer so I wouldn’t have to look at it very often. I didn’t have it in me to throw it out, even though I knew it would never be used again.
Feeling even lonelier than usual, I walked upstairs, my hand running along the railing which needed to be varnished. There were so many things I needed to do myself now that David was gone. Each day, the list seemed to get longer and longer, threatening to overwhelm me.
I tried my best to ignore my anxiety as I stepped into the bathroom, taking off my charm bracelet and placing it on the counter. I stared at it for a moment, replaying the conversation I had with the sweet talker. I hadn’t even gotten his name and yet, for a while there, he had me completely under his spell, nearly falling for his tricks. If I had to guess, however, he hadn’t sailed a day in his life. He was just saying all that to impress me.
I shook my head. All men were the same. Always trying to play games. I was sick and tired of it.
With all my jewelry off, I reached behind to grab the clasp of my dress zipper, pulling it down until I could shrug it off my shoulders. It fell into a heap on the ground. Nearly naked, I walked over to the shower and turned it on, making sure the water temperature was just right.
As I waited, goosebumps decorated my skin, making me shiver. I hugged myself, wishing for a moment that my arms were someone else’s, that someone would hug me tight and never let me go.
The thought just made me sadder than I already was and I quickly climbed into the shower, letting the water ease away the chill I felt deep inside my bones. I turned up the heat, nearly scalding myself, but still, it wasn’t enough to melt away the icebox that had replaced my heart.
I always thought I was stronger than this, that I would be able to handle anything that life threw my way, but what David did was so unexpected that it completely derailed me. I guess, in a way, I was still in a state of shock, trying to figure out what had really happened.
Did I do something wrong? Was I the reason he had gone for another woman? Was there something I could have done that would have prevented him from cheating on me?
Every day, these questions haunted me, making it hard for me to function. It wasn’t as bad as the first couple of days, but it was still crippling.
I had to get over this.
But, it was hard. So, so, hard.
I closed my eyes, trying to push away the dark thoughts that threatened to overwhelm me. Leaning against the shower wall, I took a deep breath, trying to calm down.
Finally, after quite a while, I opened my eyes. The hot water had vanished and I was now standing under a frigid stream. My goosebumps intensified as my nipples became so hard they could be used to cut diamonds.
Quickly, I shut it off, my fingers shaking. I snatched a towel and wrapped it around my body, heading into the bedroom. Luckily, I found my flannel pajamas and put them on. A little bit warmer, I jumped under the covers, my hair still damp from my failed shower.
I thought about drying it, but I really couldn’t be bothered. Instead, I settled into the bed, bringing the blankets up to my chin, trying to ward off the chill that still lingered in my body.
Eventually, I fell asleep, my exhaustion finally catching up to me.
***
It took a while, but at some point, the dream world consumed me, bringing me back to the night club.
Only, this time I was all alone.
There was a single light coming from the dancefloor, illuminating a rose. I walked toward it, picking it up once I was close enough. Its stem was devoid of any thorns so I ran my finger along the smooth surface, but somehow, I still got cut, a drop of my blood falling to the ground, splashing onto the wooden floor like a plump raindrop.
Before I could tend to my wound, I heard a dog barking. I turned around, seeing Roxie sitting on the bar, her tail wagging. “Roxie! Girl! What are you doing up there?” I ran toward her, but she bolted, knocking over wine glasses with her large bushy tail.
I threw the rose onto the floor as if it was the reason I was running so slowly. The petals exploded, shooting into the air before they dove in front of me, drawing out a never-ending path. Hearing Roxie’s bark coming from that direction, I followed the rose petals. “Roxie!” I called after her, but her barks kept getting further and further away.
And then, they stopped altogether.
The room began to spin, the rose petals swirling around me like a wild vortex. I tried to see through the wall of red, but it was impossible. Slowly, they were closing in on me, leaving me with no place to go.
Suddenly, someone stuck out their hand. It was eerie seeing a hand without a body, but I knew it was the only way I was going to get out of this mess. Despite my fear, I grabbed it.
It pulled me out of the prison of petals and into the arms of a muscular individual. He smothered me in his embrace, his hands resting on my lower back, teasing me with the possibilities. My hormones surged, my body yearning for the intimacy I hadn’t felt in so long. I leaned into him, my instincts taking over even as my brain told me to stop.
“I knew it wouldn’t be long before you fell for me.” A husky voice broke the silence, wrapping around my mind, making it impossible for me to think clearly.
Slowly, I lifted my head, looking at the man that held me in his arms.
He grinned, his eyes twinkling with mischief.
“Didn’t think you’d see me again so soon, did you, beautiful?” His voice was as smooth and as sweet as honey, lulling me further into his devious web. I knew this was all a trick and that he would end up hurting me just like David, but in that moment, all I could do was stare into those gorgeous eyes of his.
“I… I don’t even know your name…” I said, my lips so dry it was hard to talk.
“Don’t worry about that… all you have to worry about is pleasure.”
Before I could react, he had his lips on my neck, sucking on my flesh, causing a moan to escape my lips. Unconsciously, I arched my back, my body presenting itself to his.
His hand pressed harder into my lower back, our hips locking together. His eyes blazed with lust. “I’m going to have so much fun with you…” He whispered, his lips traveling down to my bosom. With a snap of his fingers, a marvelous, four-poster bed appeared.
He laid me down gently, almost as if he was afraid to break me. There was a grin on his face as he pinned a strand of my hair behind my ear, his fingers lingering on my skin, making me shiver with desire.
A fire burned deep inside my chest, raging through my heart, melting away the ice that had built up over the weeks. All of a sudden, I wanted to forget my past and focus on nothing more than the man in front of me.
Giving into this desire, I wrapped my arms around him, pulling him closer, letting our lips collide. I was blown away by his passion as he started to kiss me, his lips dominating my own.
Currents of electricity ran under my skin, making me feel alive. Losing myself to the moment, my legs locked around his waist. I could feel his growing erection against my thigh, teasing me. Hidden behind my panties, my pussy awakened from its dormant state, growing wetter with each passing moment.
“I… I want you…” I whispered, finally giving in.
A grin flashed across his face. Small, nearly unnoticeable dimples decorated his cheeks, making him look almost innocent, but then his expression darkened, cloaked by shadows.
“And you’ll never have me. Do you really think I want you for something more than a few hours of fun?” He asked, his grin deepening, exposing a set of pearly white teeth that seemed sharper than normal. “And I thought you’d be smart enough to keep away… to avoid a shark like me.” He laughed and the sound pierced right through me.
He pushed me into the bed before he reared to his full height. The darkness swallowed him, making him disappear from sight.
I held my breath, my eyes darting this way and that, searching for him.
Instead, the door opened. It creaked, a shaft of light illuminating the room, blinding me for a moment. Shielding my eyes, I hazarded a peek.
To my horror, David was standing there, his arms around a woman I couldn’t quite see. He grinned at me, his teeth matching those of the man from the bar. As he stood in the light, I saw that his eyes were also uniquely colored.
“Didn’t you know we’re all the same?” He laughed. “No one will ever stay with you.”