Page 19

A lex hasn’t spoken to me since I went to her place the other night. I didn’t even get a “thank you” for sending over the emails she asked for.

I’m not surprised. I know Alex well enough to understand her need for space when things get tough. So, I wait, giving her the time she needs to process whatever happened to her on the night of my amazing date with Joel.

Despite all the terrible shit that transpired that night, Joel and I had a great time and have been seeing each other since.

He is coming over for a super late movie night at my apartment after work at the club. He has been spending most nights at my place since I live a block away from his precious Hell’s Playground.

Making some popcorn and setting some beers out on the coffee table, I am jolted out of my thoughts by the loud knock on my door.

Okay, he’s here. Let’s see… Popcorn, check. Beer, check. Comfy blankets, check. Sexy pajamas, check! All set.

I strut toward the door and greet him with a wide smile. He looks rough.

Is he drunk?

He doesn’t say a word, only looking me up and down with a heated gaze before storming toward me, grabbing me, and whipping me to the side of the doorway until my back hits the wall as he slams the door.

Before I can catch my breath, his body is flush against mine. The scent of bourbon wafting from him as he leans down and grabs the backs of my thighs and hoists me up as I wrap my legs around him.

His mouth is on mine in an intense kiss that leaves me breathless. His tongue skillfully explores every inch of mine while I respond eagerly. As we kiss, he walks us to the couch, his erection straining against the fabric of his pants.

He lowers me onto the large furry blanket sprawled over the seat and devours me with his eyes again before he lowers to his knees between my legs. We exchange a mischievous glance before he pulls aside my shorts, along with the lacy fabric of my underwear, revealing my wet, aching desire for him.

His warm breath teases my glistening skin as he runs his tongue along my center, first gently and then with more urgency.

The sensation sends shivers of pleasure through my body, causing me to arch my back and grasp at the softness of the blanket beneath me.

He flicks and swirls his tongue around my clit while inserting two fingers inside me, hitting that sweet spot that leaves me gasping for air.

As my pleasure builds and I’m on the edge of release, he stands up and quickly undoes his belt and pants, allowing them to fall to the floor.

Wrapping one hand around his throbbing cock, he guides the tip inside with a deep, slow, satisfying thrust. Our bodies meld together in perfect harmony as we move in sync – his powerful thrusts meeting my eager hips.

Our eyes connect as we share this intimate moment, communicating our ravenous passion without words. The room is filled with the sounds of our heavy breathing and skin colliding against skin – a crescendo of desire reaching its inevitable peak.

As I reach my climax, my body trembling with ecstasy, he pulls out and grabs onto the messy bundle of hair atop my head and guides me forward as he strokes himself.

His grip on my hair is firm and harsh yet strangely gentle; a mixture of authority and drunken tenderness that sends shivers down my spine.

With a deep inhale, he utters three words that send a shiver down my spine, “Open up, beautiful.” His voice is husky and commanding, resonating in the room like a soft, slurred growl.

I comply without hesitation, sliding off the couch onto the cool wooden floor. The sensation of his rough hands in my hair sends tingles throughout my body, as the tip of his cock, slick with my orgasm, brushes against my lips.

My tongue swirls around the crown, teasing him as he groans softly. The taste of us on my tongue is intoxicating.

Our eyes lock hungrily as I begin to suck his hard length. Each bob of my head elicits a soft moan from him as he drops his head back in ecstasy.

His breath hitches as he thrusts into my mouth, with his fingers still tangled in my messy bun as I choke on him.

I try pulling away, my lungs burning for air, but he keeps me there until I feel his hot cum spurting down my throat.

He releases me and stumbles backward until the coffee table meets the back of his legs, panting, and I wipe my hand across my lips, savoring his taste.

“Well, hi,” I purr as I look up at him with a satisfied smile. “Fuck, you look good on your knees,” he says with another slight slur.

After some small talk to sober him up and getting dressed again, we collapse onto the couch, our bodies still slick with sweat and our hearts pounding in sync.

Joel’s arm drapes across the back of the couch, and he leans over to kiss my cheek.

“I’m so glad Alex told me to text you,” he whispers, his voice low.

It’s a sentiment that I can’t help but echo back in return, my heart swelling with gratitude and a twinge of guilt at the terrible deal we made.

My wish was to go out with Joel, she made it happen.

I, on the other hand, fucked up my end by basically orchestrating the very real kidnapping of my best friend without knowing better.

It was supposed to be fun. I wanted her to experience her fantasy in a fake but safe way and I ruined it. Will she ever forgive me? Will she ever speak to me again?

“What’s wrong?” he asks, noticing my smile fade as I drown in thoughts of the kidnapping and what poor Lexi might have gone through. She never actually told me what happened.

“I’m fine, nothing to worry about,” I say as I plaster my smile back on and reach for the remote. “Movie time?”

I know he can sense that I am struggling with something, but he doesn’t pry. Thank fuck. He is still upset about what happened to his cousin and the role I played.

I don’t want to keep bringing up shit I can’t change so I avoid talking about that night every time he brings it up. Changing the subject is easier than dealing with the guilt and judgment from the man I am slowly falling for.

“Sure,” he mutters, draping his arm over my shoulder and pulling me closer to him.

As we settle on what movie to watch, I press play and snuggle up against his side. Joel’s hand finds mine, seeking comfort in the midst of our shared unease. The tension between us is palpable, the weight of unspoken words hanging heavily in the air.

“You know, it’s okay to talk about it,” Joel murmurs, his gaze fixed on the screen but his focus clearly on me.

I sit upright and take a deep breath, grateful for his understanding. “I just… I don’t know how to make things right,” I admit, my voice barely above a whisper.

He turns to face me, his eyes searching mine with a look I can only describe as resentment and pain. He remains silent and reaches for the beers I placed on the table moments ago after we finished the last two post-mind-blowing-orgasm.

Cinematic music filters through the room as the movie progresses while we sit in a heavy silence sipping our drinks. The weight of my actions presses down on me like a leaden blanket, drowning me in a sea of regret and self-recrimination.

How could I have been so blind to the consequences of my na?ve plan?

In my mind, I see Alex’s face - fear and betrayal etched into her features as she stood in my apartment the morning after the incident.

Joel’s arms tighten around me, offering silent comfort.

His touch is a balm to my shattered soul, a reminder that even in the darkness, there are still glimmers of hope. Hope that they will forgive me one day.

I turn to him with a heavy sigh, meeting his gaze with a mix of gratitude and sorrow. “I don’t know if she’ll ever forgive me,” I confess, the words tumbling out in a rush. “I never meant for things to spiral out of control like this.”

Joel’s expression is stern as he reaches up to firmly cup my face in his hands.

“She’ll get over it eventually. She needs space,” he declares sharply, his voice tinged with anger.

His tone brooks no argument, his words leaving no room for debate as he pulls out his phone and starts tapping and scrolling like he has been since the night Alex was taken.

“Will you forgive me?” I ask, afraid to know the answer. He offers me a wordless response. A nod, while he fixates on whatever is so goddamn interesting on his phone.

Joel eventually fell asleep on the couch during the movie while I have just been staring at the screen.

I am wracking my brain as I try to think of ways to get us back to how we were that night.

We still talk a lot, but he has been understandably short-fused and preoccupied with his phone.

He comes over every other night after work, but we just fuck and then he passes out or spends the rest of the night scrolling on that screen.

Just as I’m about to peek at his phone that he left face-down on the coffee table, a text chimes from mine.

Alex :

Come over. Please, I need you. Hurry.

Fighting the thick blanket as I get off the couch, I hurry to the bedroom and flick on the light to get dressed, not thinking twice.

“Hey, what the hell?” Joel’s sleep-filled voice echoes through the apartment. The living area only illuminated by the tv.

“Sorry, I have to go,” I yell from the bedroom as I step into my jeans. My fingers tremble as I respond to the text.

On my way!

“Where? Now?” he asks. “Yes, stay here. I’ll be back soon. Get some sleep.”

“Molly, where the fuck are you going at four in the morning?!”

“I don’t have time to explain, babe. Please just stay here,” I plead as I throw an oversized t-shirt over my pajama top and grab my shoes as I rush toward the door and grab my car keys.

Before Joel can say another word or stop me, I am sprinting down the halls of the building, nearly falling on my face as I hop forward trying to slip my shoes on mid-run.

As soon as I make it to my car, I text Joel. I feel bad for running out like that and feel like I owe him an explanation.

Sorry. Alex texted me to come over ASAP. I got a bad feeling. I’ll call if I need you. Didn’t wanna worry you if it turns out to be nothing…

Pulling out of my parking spot, Joel’s name flashes on my screen. I curse myself as I drive toward Alex’s neighborhood with one working headlight.

Fuck, it’s still so dark and I can barely see shit! God, I don’t ask for much, but please, for the love of all things, don’t let me get pulled over today!

I reach a red light and as soon as I stop the car, I quickly grab my phone off the passenger seat and read Joel’s text.

Joel:

Let me know immediately if she’s in trouble.

The light flashes green before I can type out a reply, so I just send a heart emoji and toss the device back onto the seat as I continue my partly visible drive down the dark streets outside the glow of the city.