Total pages in book: 87
Estimated words: 83520 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 418(@200wpm)___ 334(@250wpm)___ 278(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 83520 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 418(@200wpm)___ 334(@250wpm)___ 278(@300wpm)
It’s only when I roll to the middle of the king-sized bed that I realize Austin’s no longer here. Heat floods my face and a dull ache flares to life in my core as I think about all the ways he laid his hands on me.
I don’t regret a single moment of what we did.
I refocus on the empty bed and wonder where he is before glancing at the bathroom. The door is open, and the space within is dark and quiet. There’s a stillness to the air that makes me realize I’m alone in the room. It only takes a moment or two for the soft strains of music to meet my ears. It’s muted enough for me to realize that it isn’t coming from inside the house.
With a toss of the covers, I grab Austin’s graphic T-shirt thrown haphazardly over an armchair in the corner of the room. As soon as I tug the soft cottony material over my head and down my body, I’m inundated with the fragrance of his woodsy cologne. Unable to resist, I lift the material and inhale a deep breath.
Who would have thought that someone’s scent could be so comforting?
Or such a turn-on?
Moonlight slants through the window and from where I stand, it’s easy to spot the flickering orange flames of the bonfire as they leap and twist toward the velvety star-littered sky. I gravitate to the glass and peer down at the scene taking place below. It’s almost a surprise to find at least a hundred people or so drinking and dancing on the beach. It’s debauchery at its finest.
I squint, searching the crowd for Austin, but I’m unable to make out any faces from this distance. There are too many writhing shapes.
Is Austin down there, partying it up?
I have zero interest in joining the fray.
But I’m curious as to where he is and why he left without waking me.
Before I fully realize my intentions, I swing away from the window and dig through my duffle until I find a pair of jeans and then throw on a thick sweatshirt. It was chilly this morning and into the afternoon. Now that the sun has fully set, it’ll be even colder. Especially on the beach where it’s always breezier.
I slip on an extra pair of tennis shoes I brought along before heading out the door. Once over the threshold, I glance down the long stretch of hallway, searching for signs of life. But there aren’t any. No music or voices coming from inside. Silence presses in on me as I take the staircase to the first floor. Darkness fills every nook and cranny.
Everyone must be on the beach. From the swell of revelers outside, my guess is that classmates from other houses have stopped by. As I slip out the backdoor, the pulsing beat of music fills my ears. The closer I get to the bonfire, the more intense it becomes. The skunky scent of weed hangs heavy in the air. I’ve never tried it, but I recognize the distinctive aroma from past parties.
I hit the perimeter of the boisterous group and wind my way through couples dancing and kissing. Two girls are wrapped around one another. Their lips are fused as their hands explore beneath their sweatshirts. Three guys stand nearby, drinking their beer, eyes glued to the oblivious couple.
Even though there’s a sharp bite to the breeze, clothing has been shed in the sand.
This isn’t my scene, and I’m not interested in hanging out for long.
I scan each face as I slip through the throng, only wanting to find Austin and get the hell out of here. All are recognizable, but none are the one I’m searching for. It’s a relief when my gaze settles on a friendly one and I pivot, beelining in that direction.
“Hi,” I say with a forced smile before tucking a stray lock of hair behind my ear.
Duke gives me a chin lift in greeting before raising the brown bottle of beer to his lips and taking a swig. “Hey. I was wondering where you were.”
“I crashed for a while and feel much better now.”
Although it’s doubtful that had anything to do with the nap and more with the way Austin controlled and manipulated my body, bringing me easily to several orgasms.
His gaze cruises over me as if to confirm that information for himself. “Good. I was worried about you. I’m glad nothing happened.”
For a split second, my mind tumbles back to what it felt like to slip beneath the surface of the freezing waters and a chill scurries down my spine. I could have easily drowned had Austin not jumped in. It was his quick reaction that stopped me from ending up a statistic.
I shift from one foot to the other before glancing around. “Have you seen Austin?”