Playing in Shadow (19 page)

Bryce hadn’t been paying attention to the music so when the room was plunged into darkness, she froze. Her breath stuck in her chest as the all too familiar feeling of claustrophobia crowded in on her. A bright white strobe light swept over the crowd. For a long, terrible moment, Bryce was back in the passenger seat of that car, waking from the dark and being blinded by the headlights of the truck. Stark terror pinned her to the floor as Bryce prepared herself for the impact she remembered all too clearly. She jerked as if struck when hands cupped her face.

Slowly, carefully, Bryce was drawn back to the reality in the room by Scarlet. She could see Scarlet’s mouth moving, could read her own name being spoken over and over. Her hands stroked Bryce’s cheeks. The music drowned out Scarlet’s voice, but the warmth from her hands slowly reached into her frozen mind. Bryce finally recognized her surroundings and was hauled back in the concert room with a bang as the drums beat out a rhythm. No one was dying; Bryce wasn’t in the car. Scarlet was there. Bryce was safe.
Alive
. She swallowed hard and felt another hand resting on her shoulder. Bryce looked behind her and up. Trent stood by, offering her a bottle of water.

For the first time in what seemed like forever, Bryce wasn’t embarrassed by what had happened. The flashback had catapulted her back into the passenger seat surrounded by the dead and dying. Scarlet had brought her out of it, back to the here and now. Returned to the music, the dancing, and the obvious signs of life.

Trent twisted the top off the bottle and handed it to her. Bryce drank from it gratefully, savoring the iced water as it slipped down her parched throat.

“Let’s step outside,” Scarlet said, slipping a hand under Bryce’s elbow.

“No, just stay near. I’m back in the room and you need to dance with me.”

Scarlet wrapped her arms around Bryce’s shoulders and pulled her close. They rocked together to the beat. Their dance was jarringly out of place in the room, but Scarlet didn’t seem to mind and Bryce was past caring.

I’m not alone and this dark holds no nightmares.

Bryce tightened her grip around Scarlet’s waist and gave herself up to the music, finally recognizing its beauty.

The walk back to Scarlet’s apartment was silent. Scarlet held Bryce’s hand tightly in her own. Their shoulders brushed with every step they took. Scarlet was crowded into Bryce’s side, needing the comfort and hoping to be giving it in return. She had instinctively sought out Bryce once the damned lights had gone out. Scarlet knew the concert cues and was cursing herself for not staying by Bryce’s side. She’d never given it a thought. The fear in Bryce’s eyes as the light swept the crowd had torn Scarlet’s heart to shreds. Coaxing Bryce back from wherever her terrors had taken her was all Scarlet could think to do. She couldn’t stand to think of Bryce living with this constant fear.

Only when Scarlet closed the apartment door did she finally speak.

“Do you want to talk about it?”

She had barely managed to put her camera case down before Bryce was pressed against her. Scarlet could read the intent blazing in Bryce’s eyes. Blue had darkened several shades deeper in her desire, and Scarlet’s need to talk had vanished. Bryce flung her cap aside. Scarlet threaded her fingers through the soft blond hair, scratching gently at her scalp.

“No. I don’t want to think about anything other than how beautiful you look tonight and how much I want to touch you.”

At Bryce’s kiss, Scarlet groaned loudly into her mouth. She wrapped her arms around Bryce’s shoulders to just hold on. Bryce’s warm lips teased Scarlet with soft kisses that grew harder, more demanding. Her tongue slipped between Scarlet’s lips, and she welcomed the intrusion, tasting Bryce and wanting more.

Bryce’s hands roamed down Scarlet’s sides, tracing the shape of Scarlet in her corset. Her fingers slipped under the silk of Scarlet’s skirt and brushed at the top of her thighs.

“I’ve thought of nothing else but you naked, legs wrapped around my hips, wearing these ‘come fuck me’ boots of yours.” Bryce ran a finger along the edge of Scarlet’s boot where it met pale skin.

“That can be arranged.” Scarlet dipped her head to press kisses all over Bryce’s cheeks. She followed along her jawline and then down her neck. She could feel the rapidly beating pulse beneath her lips. Scarlet began to suck at the tender spot. She smiled as Bryce squirmed in her arms.

“Hey! I thought you weren’t into vampires,” she said, her voice breaking as Scarlet pulled back and ran her tongue over the burning area.

“I’m not. I’m just marking you as mine.”

“Do you really need proof? You’re the only one able to bring me back out of the darkness when I slip into it.”

Scarlet grabbed a handful of her shirt and pulled Bryce into her. “Did you come
prepared
?” She pressed a kiss on the red patch darkening Bryce’s neck.

Bryce tilted her head all the more for whatever Scarlet desired to do. “I don’t think I was ever prepared for you, darling,” she said.

Scarlet smiled against Bryce’s skin, loving the sweet name that rolled from Bryce’s lips.

“But yes, if you’ll let me, I’d like to share something I think we’ll both enjoy the pleasure of.”

Scarlet pulled Bryce into her bedroom. She dimmed the lights a fraction until Bryce nodded where she was comfortable with them. Then she stood at the bottom of her bed, chewing on a lip.

“Second thoughts?” Bryce asked quietly.

“Hell no,” Scarlet assured her. “I’m trying to decide if I want you to take my clothes off or if I should just striptease my way out of them for your titillation.”

Bryce grinned. “Decisions, decisions. I’m all for being titillated.” She ran a finger down the back of Scarlet’s tightly laced corset. “But if you don’t mind me fumbling, I’m sure I could at least get you out of this efficiently. As much as I love being teased, right now I’m liable to spontaneously combust just looking at you.” She slipped behind Scarlet and began earnestly slipping the laces free from their fastenings.

Scarlet felt hot kisses placed on every bit of skin that Bryce uncovered. She caught the corset before it fell and held it to her. Bryce soon slipped back around and waited for the top to fall.

“Oh my God,” Bryce breathed. Scarlet was hard-pressed not to touch herself to alleviate some of the need building just from the way Bryce was looking at her breasts. She shivered under her burning gaze.

“Take off your skirt,” Bryce said.

Scarlet easily found the hidden zipper that kept her skirt in place. It pooled to her feet. Clad in just her boots and a pair of scandalous black lace panties, Scarlet warmed at the desirous look that turned Bryce’s eyes almost indigo in shade.

Bryce wrestled out of her shirt, obviously trying not to aggravate her still healing body. Judging by her muttered comments, Bryce was frustrated she couldn’t just whip the whole thing off her head in one go. Her shirt was flung to the floor haphazardly, and then Bryce zeroed in on her belt. Her trousers were soon dropped to join Scarlet’s skirt on the floor.

Scarlet snagged a finger in Bryce’s boy shorts. She slipped inside and felt the soft curl of hair that framed Bryce’s sex.

“You might want to get your gear, Bryce.” Scarlet brushed a tremulous kiss between Bryce’s bra-clad breasts. “I need our first time to be fast and furious.”

Bryce quickly pulled away and began rummaging in her bag. While her back was turned, Scarlet undid Bryce’s bra. Instead of letting it drop, she caught it and squeezed Bryce’s breasts through the material. She couldn’t miss the shudder that shook Bryce’s body or the way she fell back against Scarlet to press her chest deeper into Scarlet’s grasp.

“Get on the bed.” Bryce looked over her shoulder at her. “Please.”

Scarlet did as she was bid. Excitement pulsed through her blood. She knew her panties were already soaked. Slowly, deliberately, Scarlet crawled up the bed, affording Bryce an excellent view of her ass in lace that barely kept her modesty covered. She lay back but rested on her elbows watching Bryce strip completely. She climbed into her harness and slipped the toy into place. Scarlet’s eyes were drawn to the cock that Bryce was pushing inside herself and then hooking through the harness.

“I approve of the color.” Scarlet smiled at its bright red hue.

Bryce didn’t look up as she securely fastened the straps. “It was the only color to choose where you are concerned.” She ran her hand over the rounded head of the cock and slid her fist down its length.

Scarlet had to hold back a whimper as she watched Bryce pumping the shaft in her hand. She slipped off her panties and threw them in Bryce’s direction. They hit her in the chest. “Come fuck me.”

The long, body-stuttering moan surprised Scarlet. It was wrenched from Scarlet’s chest as their naked bodies aligned for the first time. Bryce stretched out on top of her; they fit together perfectly. Scarlet devoured Bryce on sight. She was slender with muscles that defined her form. Scarlet could see reminders across her body of what the accident had wrought. She vowed to kiss every scar she found. She started with the easiest and pressed her lips to the prominent mark on Bryce’s forehead.

They slipped onto their sides so hands could roam freely. Scarlet cupped and squeezed Bryce’s breasts, loving the sensitivity and how dark her nipples grew every time Scarlet pinched them.

Kisses were traded, rough and wet. Scarlet wanted to taste Bryce further and spread soft nibbles and licks around Bryce’s breasts. While her tongue flicked at a rigid nipple, her fingers rubbed over the areola and made it even more prominent. Scarlet then sucked it all into her mouth. Bryce bucked against her, pressing Scarlet’s head firmly to her chest. Her fingers speared through Scarlet’s hair, keeping her in place as Scarlet wrenched gasps from Bryce’s lips.

Scarlet kissed a line across Bryce’s chest as she switched lazily from one breast to the other. Bryce’s hips pumped restlessly against Scarlet’s thigh, her breathing erratic.

“You’re driving me crazy.” Bryce’s voice rumbled into her ear. She was all but curled around Scarlet’s body while Scarlet took what she wanted from her.

“I’m seeing how far I can tease you until you—”

“What? Snap like a rubber band?” Bryce pushed Scarlet roughly onto her back. “Consider that point reached.” She brushed Scarlet’s mouth with all too fleeting kisses. Bryce pushed in between Scarlet’s legs and pressed down, holding her captive under her. When she finally needed to breathe, Bryce lifted her head from Scarlet’s bruised lips.

Scarlet lost herself in Bryce’s eyes. She was melting beneath her, high on her musky scent and the way she kissed.

“May I?” Bryce asked softly, nuzzling at Scarlet’s cheek.

“You could just take me. I’m desperate for you,” Scarlet said, widening her legs to fit Bryce between them just perfectly. She slipped her legs over Bryce’s hips, her thigh-length boots rubbing sensuously against Bryce’s naked skin. She smiled as Bryce closed her eyes briefly, lost to the sensation.

Bryce reached between them and positioned herself. “Why take when it’s more desirable to have what I want freely given?” She nudged the head of the cock between Scarlet’s soaked folds. It slipped easily in the copious arousal pooling there.

“I’m yours. Do what you want with me,” Scarlet begged, arching her back to try to receive more contact with the toy Bryce was now teasing her with. She could feel the tip touching then retreating from her entrance as Bryce took her time coating the head with Scarlet’s arousal. Without warning, Bryce tilted her hips and slid the cock deep into Scarlet in one long stroke.

“Oh my God,” Scarlet moaned, feeling Bryce’s breasts pressed against her own as she moved above her. Their mingled perspiration glistened on Scarlet’s chest. Her boots slid along Bryce’s narrow hips as she began to pump inside Scarlet in a maddening rhythm. Scarlet’s nails left marks on Bryce’s shoulders as she clung to her through every thrust. Shakily, the pleasure building inside of her, Scarlet smiled. “Fuck, you are so good at this.”

“I’m out of practice,” Bryce replied, lifting up a little to look down their bodies to where they were joined.

“Don’t hurt your shoulder,” Scarlet said, ever conscious of Bryce’s injuries even while Bryce was slowly screwing her out of her mind.

“Fuck my shoulder,” Bryce grunted, flexing her hips and sliding further into Scarlet.

“No, fuck me instead.” Scarlet pulled Bryce back onto her, loving the feel of Bryce’s hard nipples brushing against her own with every thrust. The angle of the cock brushed against Scarlet’s hidden rough spot and made her increasingly wetter. She could feel her insides clenching down on each plunge and wasn’t sure how much longer she could last.

“You are so beautiful,” Bryce whispered as she rested her forehead against Scarlet’s and pressed in harder. She flexed her hips, and with each thrust Scarlet’s voice rose in pleasure.

“You’re going to make me come so hard.” Scarlet crossed her heels over Bryce’s buttocks, and in her ardor unintentionally dug them into Bryce’s ass. Bryce’s back bowed, and she pushed the cock deeper still. Her body shook with her exertion, but she never stopped.

Scarlet’s eyes didn’t move from Bryce’s face. Everything else was concentrated on the pleasure mounting between her legs. She could feel Bryce on her,
in
her, and when Bryce shifted her hips just a fraction more, the resulting pressure stole Scarlet’s voice. The shaft of the cock was rubbing against her clitoris, and Scarlet knew it wouldn’t take much more to make her come. She just hoped the neighbors were out because she had a feeling she was going to be loud.

Bryce began to shake in her own pleasure. A rough keening sound from her made Scarlet dig her heels in more.

“Come with me,” Scarlet said as she clutched Bryce closer. She watched as Bryce’s skin flushed red as her own arousal peaked. Their eyes locked, and Scarlet’s orgasm hit her hard. She
was
loud as she called Bryce’s name out in a scream. Her body spasmed as she felt the cock easily slipping through the abundance of moisture inside her. Scarlet had never ejaculated before, but she had a feeling if anyone could make her, Bryce would be the one. She repeated Bryce’s name over and over in ecstasy and felt Bryce shudder on top of her as she came. Her frantic writhing atop of Scarlet triggered a second orgasm that rocked through Scarlet and soaked her thighs.