Room 212 (11 page)

We finally took another break from the tent and lay in the grass, holding hands and staring at the night sky. We kept our hands locked and soon we were more interested in the view next to us and desperate for each other. We ran back to his car and got a blanket he had packed and laid it out in the field far away from The Circus, though we could hear the music filter through the air. We took our clothes off piece by piece, the night sky illuminating us just enough to see and appreciate each other. I felt the cool night air hit me and reveled in the fact that we were naked in the open. I let out a nervous giggle as my eyes found Seth’s. All my fear melted away as I looked into his eyes so full of…love…for me.

Naked and still standing, he wrapped his arms around me and held me. I nuzzled my head into his neck and breathed all of him in. I couldn’t contain my moans as I stood under his spell, letting him take his time to caress me. When he finally kissed me, we lost all ability to hold back and took turns exploring each other’s body. We melted together, whispering to each other, asking the other for exactly what we wanted. I never had to beg Seth for anything. He gave his love to me freely and without hesitation. He thrust himself inside of me as the music played and we moaned in agreement to what we were feeling. We were lost, so lost in each other, we didn’t come to our senses until we saw a small part of the sun peeking its way into our world. The Circus had long ended as we lay stroking each other in the field, completely unnoticed.

We laughed at our stupidity as we quickly dressed and the sun became more pronounced; a horrible reminder that our fun was over. We climbed into his Mercedes and I let out a little gasp as the soreness between my legs started to throb.

“I don’t have to worry about you missing me,” Seth chuckled as we made our way back to the main road.

“I…you..was…” I wanted desperately to tell him how I felt. I knew a majority of the drug had worn off and what we both felt was real, but I had never said the words and was terrified.

“I know, baby.”

“Best night, ever.” He grabbed my hand and held it all the way back to Dallas.

*****

I heard my phone ring for the first time that day and smiled because the source of the ring could only be from one person.

“Hey,” I whispered, losing my grasp on the deep sleep I was in.

“Hey, you were asleep? Well that’s no fucking fair.”

“I told you I was mean. What’s up?”

“Nothing, just called to wake you up, you selfish witch.”

“I’m sorry. I know you’re miserable.”

“Yeah, and I have nine hours to go.”

“Seth, I promise, I won’t ask that of you again.”

“I don’t think we could ever repeat a night like that, Laura.” Right in the heart again. God, I loved him.

“So it was worth it?”

“I wish I was inside you now.”

I felt an instant twitch and longing. This was too good to be true.

“Come on then, when is your break?”

“Now. God, I only have two hours.”

“Well get some sleep I—” The phone went dead in my ear. What the hell? I decided he was busy and left the phone off the hook. He wasn’t waking me up again. I was a selfish witch. I forced myself back to bed, the excitement of our conversation still resonating in me. I closed my eyes and saw him above me, the night sky behind him.

I was about to doze off in my next bout of slumber when I hear pounding at my door.

I open it to find a completely exhausted, disheveled Seth with a burning in his eyes.

“You might be very, very bad for me.”

He doesn't wait for me to speak. He throws me over his shoulder and takes me into the bedroom.

I studied myself in the mirror and was absolutely stunned with how well it had all turned out. I felt beautiful. Seth had called that morning and I asked him to meet me at one of Dave’s biggest DJ events of the summer. He was spinning at a rooftop bar in downtown and, though it wasn’t a typical rave or club party, it was instead a mixer of promoters and club kids held at one of Dallas’s finest hotels as an ‘in your face’. Only the most elite set of DJ’s were asked to come.

Dave insisted I bring the new guy who was occupying all my time. He seemed to like Seth well enough the few times they had a chance to hang out. Seth had agreed to meet me there after his shift and I had spent an entire day pampering myself.

I had painted my fingers and toes a deep shade of red. I bought a beautiful new red dress that had a sweeping v-neck line bodice in both front and in back and a lightweight silk shredded material finishing it off that hung to the floor. It was just dressy enough to impress and I found I had to dress it down a little with accessories and sandals. I had my hair half up and half down in a small cinched bun on the top. I lined my lips with my deepest shade of red to match my dress and my eye makeup was flawless. It was one of those times I felt completely at ease in my own skin. I had a deep tan from spending my days at the park with Seth or with Dave and Krista at the lake. It had been the best summer of my life, and it wasn’t over yet.

I got into my car and let out a deep sigh. I went to light a cigarette and found the taste disgusting. I couldn’t remember the last time I had lit one. I realized I had quit weeks ago. I threw in a stick of gum and smiled. I had quit smoking and not even noticed. He was so good for me. I smiled as I turned the ignition, getting more excited about the night to come. I turned my CD/tape player to track six, hearing my favorite Smashing Pumpkins guitar rift hit me. I sang along with the words, smiling.

I pulled up to the hotel and gave the valet a nod and some cash, thanking him, laughing internally about my first date with Seth and what a hypocrite it made me. I quickly hit the elevator, pushing the button for the rooftop. Dave was considered the main event and would be the one on the main deck. Krista greeted me there. She had been invited to spin as well, but turned the gig down to watch Dave. I was in complete awe of her and her loyalty to my brother. Even though it was the premier gig, she had stepped aside to be his date, not his competition.

“Laura, over here.” She walked toward me, her long black hair feathered old school over her shoulders and she was in a bright white sundress. Dave had great taste. Callie would leave me for her in a hot second. I smiled as I approached her.

“Krista, you look gorgeous.”

“Did you look in the mirror before you left, Laura?”

“Thanks. It’s beautiful out here.” The tables were lit with candles and I saw Dave was set up in the corner of the rooftop next to a long bar. Water was cascading from stone fountains on all sides of the roof. White Christmas lights adorned the planted trees. There was only a small space for dancing, but typically no one did at this party. This was my second time attending since Dave had started spinning and I was happy to ride his coattails. There was a cool breeze blowing over us that took away the day’s heat. The night was perfect and only one thing could make it better.

“So who is the new guy, Laura? Dave likes him, he told me so.” She smiled at me, her dark brown eyes playful. I turned to her, shocked that he had even said anything.

“I can’t believe he even mentioned it. His name is Seth and you’ll meet him tonight.”

“Seth, well good, I’m curious. It surprised me, too.” We walked to the bar and I saw Dave look at Krista and give her a knowing smile. I held up my fresh drink to him in an air toast. He nodded back and his eyes immediately wondered back to Krista. There was a feeling of elation I got from seeing him so in love with her. I knew that feeling. I had that, too. I turned to Krista and did my own prying.

“When are you two going to quit this charade?”

“We did.”

“You are kidding! Oh, I’m so happy. What happened?”

“Last night he came to my house and banged on the door. When I opened it, hair a total mess, in boxers, and a chocolate stained t-shirt, he attacked me.”

“Too. Much. Information.”

“It was the coolest thing ever to see Dave loose his cool like that. I loved every minute of it. I don’t know why we waited so long, but it was worth it. I love him, Laura.”

“I can’t believe I’m hearing this.” I hugged her and saw Seth out of the corner of my eye. He had stopped dead in his tracks just outside of the elevator. His eyes were fixed on me as people circled around him, trying get into the party, giving him an odd look as they passed. I lowered my eyes, flattered at his reaction, and met his again. Krista was talking to me and I nodded my head, not breaking his gaze. He walked casually over to a cocktail table, not breaking our locked eyes. I felt the goose bumps spread from my neck to the top of my head. I smiled and his face didn’t waiver. I tilted my head puzzled and he didn’t move. Krista squeezed my arm and walked off. I stood at the bar mesmerized.

A guy approached me and I didn’t even move my eyes his direction. He quickly grew tired of the girl who hadn’t bothered to look at him and walked off. I saw Seth’s lips twitch, but only slightly. I ordered a beer for him without breaking our gaze and waited. Still he stood there. One of his friends approached him and blocked my view. It seemed like our game was over. Krista quickly joined me again and we were both caught in our own conversations. After a whole set from Dave, I looked around for my date that still had yet to greet me and saw him a few feet away at the end of the bar. His gaze hot on me and I immediately lost thought mid-sentence. She asked me another question and I was at a loss for words. The man behind her was getting closer and I wanted him all too much.

“Laura?”

“Hmm?”

“I asked where your date was.” Krista looked confused at my inability to answer her.

“Oh, sorry, he’s close.”

Seth inched toward me, directly behind Krista’s back. I smiled at her and chuckled at the fact she had no idea Seth was behind her, ruining me with his stare. I met his eyes again and my smile faded. I had never seen his expression so intense, so focused on me. I felt my chest heave with each heavy breath I took. Krista was completely oblivious she was the only obstacle standing between me and what I wanted most in the world, still I let him taunt me. Krista smiled and waved to a friend behind me and walked over to them, letting me know she would be back. I couldn’t believe he was just standing there watching me. It did things to me I couldn’t wrap my mind around. He swept me from head to toe and closed his eyes, breaking our stare. I was no longer smiling, I was on fire.

When he finally reached me, he leaned in close and kissed my neck so softly it was as if he didn’t want to touch me. I didn’t want to speak. I didn’t want to break the spell we were under. I watched him watch me as the night air was filled with Dave’s best beats. It was surreal. He was dressed in a three piece black suit and black shirt and dark blue shiny silk tie. It was perfectly manicured to his body. His curly hair was styled debonair and I felt my knees growing weaker at the sight of him. I had never seen anything so perfect. It was like we were at the prom for club kids. I reached out to touch his face and felt him take in a breath. His smoldering eyes grew hotter. I saw Krista approaching us again and our game was coming to an end for the second time. Seth, sensing the same, reached in and pecked my lips softly. I teared up instantly, cursing his effect on me.

“You must be Seth. I’m Krista, Dave’s girlfriend.” I could tell she was happy to announce it. It tugged at my heart. Seth took her hand and gave her the greeting of a perfect gentleman and waved a quick hello towards Dave. I was beside myself again. I felt the same way I had in the car on our first date, only magnified. My throat went dry and I took a huge drink of my whiskey and Coke. Krista and Seth made small talk and I excused myself to the bathroom to double check my appearance.

All I was feeling was showing in the bathroom mirror on my reddened face. I was having a hard time enjoying it, instead of being terrified. I cupped some water from the faucet and swallowed, willing myself to get it together. I walked into the hall of the long corridor that led back to the rooftop door and found Seth waiting for me, arms crossed over his chest, casually leaning against the wall. I stood on the opposite wall, placing my hands behind my back. I felt a drop of water drip from my bottom lip onto my chest and slide into the V of my dress. I saw his eyes follow it with envy as he spokes his first words to me.

“You are all I think about, and I come here and you look…like this,” he breathed the words to me and I felt them on every inch of my body.

I moved to go to him and he made a small gesture that kept me where I was. He still wanted to play and I was game.

“What do you think about?”

“Your laugh, the way your voice is raspy in the morning when you wake up, the arch of your perfect feet, the way your hair falls over your face when you’re on top of me, the way this feels right now and every time I’m with you.”

I pulled my leg through the thigh high slit in my dress propping my heel on the wall behind me and smiled. He cursed as he came toward me in a blur. He stopped himself inches away, placing both hands on the side of my face against the wall.