Page 7 of Vying Girls

It’s Nic’s turn to frown. She leans against the door, eyes burning. Okay, that was a dumb thing to say. Didn’t mean to refer to her inability to come. When I get back to the lodge,I’m taking that skull-shaped bottle and lobbing it from Haz’s window.

‘Wanna move?’

There’s a moment where I don’t think she will. Then she pushes off the door, bringing our facesthisclose together. She holds it open, making me squeeze past her. She shoulders into me. I hold in a gasp as my arm bounces off the lock. She finally fucks off as I wash my hands, pulling at the skin of my arm to see if it’s broken.

I feel dazed, needing the wall to aid my exit.

Just as I’ve taken a step outside, all the lights shut off.

I pause to make sure I haven’t gone blind. But no, the music’s stopped too, some weird cacophony of whispers starting up instead. Damn, it’s creepy. I’m assuming it’s midnight then.

People are arcing their phone torches around, but I can’t get a handle on what’s going on. Can’t see the others either. I inch further along the wall, finally coming to a stop behind a plant pot.

I’m fumbling for my phone when a body thumps into mine, my lips taken in a fiery kiss. For a panicky moment, I think it’s Nic, ready to push her off, when I recognise the drag of those lips, the large hands landing on my chest, creeping up to my neck.

‘Witching hour, baby,’ Haz croons.

‘What’s going on?’

‘Dunno.’ She noses my neck, tonguing there, her body pressing more insistently. ‘Don’t really care.’

I close my eyes. Can’t say I do either. The dark is made for Haz. It’s when she comes alive. My favourite thing in the world is waking in her bed, in the dead of night, to the gleam of her eyes as she watches me. It’s like spotting a wolf in the woods. I can’t tell if I’m prey or something she’s protecting. She never smiles like Elly would, chagrined at having been caught out. Hazwantsto be caught. She wants to be feared.She is.

We’re alone now, everyone joining the foray on the dance floor for whatever challenge Anarchy have set.

‘They’ve barred the doors. We’ve got five minutes to crack a code before the place goes up.’

‘Um. That’s terrifying.’

‘Relax. There’s a fire exit right there. I’ll get us out.’

She bites my cheek. My breath catches. She’s never done that before.

‘How about in?’ Taking one of her hands, I place it on my boob. ‘Five minutes, yeah?’

She chuckles. ‘Yeah. Doubt you can come that quick, though.’

‘Bet I can.’ IknowI can. Any logical thought’s long since fled in the wake of her unexpected kiss. I’m running on instinct now. Only my body’s in charge and it knows exactly what it wants. ‘Touch me. Quick. Before the lights come back on.’

She runs a thumb over my nipple, making me gasp. My pussy’s throbbing, the time constraint only goading me on. I push my hips into her, but she still doesn’t make a move. It dampens me—and not in a good way.

We’re still doing this then. A wave of despair falls over me.

She kisses me gently, resting her weight against me. I slip my thigh between hers, pushing with it. When I don’t feel anything, I cup my hand down there.

‘You’re not even wearing it. You always wear it.’

She removes my hand, pressing it into the wall.

‘Haz…’ I shake my head, though she can’t see in the dark. ‘You used to want to fuck me anywhere. Back when I kept saying no. Is it like—you can have me now, so now you don’t want me?’

There’s a moment of pause, then I feel the shift as something dark descends over her. Grasping my ponytail, she knocks our foreheads together. Even if I can’t see them, I know her eyes are boring into mine. ‘It’s not anything like that.’

‘Then what?’

Instead of answering, she kisses me. Just one, firm press, before straightening up. Putting distance between us.

‘You’re drunk, princess.’