Unbound (5 page)

Dani and Olivia were getting along very well.  They had similar schedules, went to the library together, and had made a lot of the same friends.  Oddly enough, not many people had commented on Dani’s hair.  The girls who had mentioned her color liked it.  Maybe her white highlights would start a new trend.  Several guys also had admired the combination of her hair and light eyes.  She supposed what they say about kids being cruel was true.  Her new, more mature set of classmates didn’t seem to think it was a big deal.

Dani crossed the campus to meet Olivia and the rest of her study group at the library.

It was really beautiful out there walking through the trees that seem to bend over the walkway to meet each other and hold hands.  They created a natural arching tunnel of green, backlit by evenly spaced lamps casting off a warm glow all over campus.  She imagined the effect would be lost soon when the leaves turned colors and f
ell, but for now, it was breath
taking.

It seemed more like a social hour than a study hall in the overly full library and the people at her table were making plans for the ne
xt evening without a single
open
book
in sight.

“Are you coming out with us tomorrow night, Dani?” asked Steve and Charlie.  They were roommates and both of them were juniors.  Charlie reminded Dani of Lucas a little with his shaggy blond hair but he had a much more manly air about him.  He exuded a confidence that belied his age and made her think many an older girl was wrapped around his finger.  His light green eyes reached out and grabbed your attention, and drew you into conversation.  Steve was the best-looking redhead she’d ever seen.  Even his freckles were cute.  His look leaned more toward a skater boy and his frisky personality could win you over without effort.

“Of course, she’s coming,” answered Olivia as she put an arm around her shoulder and raised an eyebrow in question.  “Aren’t you, Dani?”

“Where are we going?” A table full of expectant eyes looked back at her.

“We’re going to club downtown called Thirst. You’re gonna love it.”  Olivia squealed.

“I don’t have a fake ID guys, sorry,” she spoiled.

“Duh!  It’s an 18 and over club.  No drinking.  Just dancing and socializing.”  Olivia came back.

“I don’t know.”  Did she really want to explain this to Lucas?

“Come on D, it’ll be fun.”  The guys pleaded.  “What else are you gonna do?”

She thought about that for a moment.  What would she do while her friends went on an adventure without her?  She would likely mope and wish she had gone.

“Alright, I’ll go with you.”  The table erupted into cheers.  The whole group was going and hopefully there would be strength in numbers.  She couldn’t spend her whole college career hiding in her room.  She could have saved her mom a lot of money and gone to community college if that was her goal.  Her mom told her to enjoy herself but think of the consequences of her actions and be herself.  Tessa believed that new experiences are a huge part of college and growing as a person.  So here was her first chance to jump in and start expanding that limited horizon.

The next morning the girls slept in until noon. It felt so good to rest on a Saturday just like at home.  Dani woke to the sound of her cell phone chirping.  It was a text from Lucas.

“I love you, Dani,”
it said.

She missed him so much.  It’d been almost a week since he’d kissed her goodbye and left her standing on the sidewalk in front of her home.  She texted him back,
“I love and miss you so much.”

He immediately replied,
“I’m going to work.  I’ll call you later.  XOXO”

After a shower she went to the library to get the work done that hadn’t been done the night before during social hour.  It was quiet and oodles of people were actually working in small groups and individually.  She didn’t want to worry about homework tomorrow after staying out late.  Dani was a little nervous about the evening’s outing.  She’d never been to a club and had nothing to wear, but all those thoughts could wait because now she needed to focus on her schoolwork. 

A couple of hours later she started to doze off but woke when someone pulled out the chair on the other side of the table.  She opened her eyes to find Lucas gazing down at her.  Dani’s mouth fell open.  The library was empty.  The only light was from a few scattered desk lamps.  How long had she been sleeping?  Without saying a word, Lucas came round to her side of the table and easily lifted her onto the table.  He stepped forward to stand between her thighs.  His eyes smoldered as he cupped the back of her head and took her mouth hungrily.  His lips were strong and his tongue delicious sliding against hers.  He began alternately kissing and biting her jaw line down to her neck while simultaneously unbuttoning her shirt and slowly pushing it down her arms.  His breath on her neck made goose flesh rise and had her eyes closing with pleasure.  This was way better than waiting for her next trip home.

Lucas whispered against her ear, “Now, baby.  I want you, now.”  He stepped back. 

She watched him rip his shirt off and the sight of his perfect six-pack and l
ean hips caused her to shudder.
Now was good and she was ready to move before he changed his mind but he was already pushing her back to undo the snap of her je
ans and slide down the zipper.
Lucas pulled off her jeans by inches, staring at her body with a wicked grin on his kiss swollen lips.  He unbuttoned his pants, climbed up on the table, and pulled her around to straddle his lap. She wrap
ped
her legs around him. 

O
ne hot hand burned the skin of her thigh while the other traveled u
p her body to caress her breast
causing them to peak and ache in anticipation of an unknown pleasure.  Her breath came in ragged pants as she began to nibble down his neck and prayed he wouldn’t make her stop.  He slid farther back onto the table and Dani leaned over him continuing on her path down his neck until he was on his back in the center of the long wood table.  She could feel his pulse with her whole body and it pulled her into him.  She needed him, all of him.  He was tugging at her panties while she licked at the delicious skin above his pulse.  She needed to taste that steady thud with her tongue and feel it running down her throat.  Dani rubbed herself against his denim-clad erection.  The contrast of her bare thighs against the stiff fabric brought another unexpected layer of sensation to her overly sensitive skin.

“Don’t hurt me, baby.  I love you.”  Lucas took a sharp breath and tightened his grip on her hips with a whimper.

Dani’s head jerked up but she was no longer looking down at Lucas.  She was peering back up at herself through Lucas’s eyes.  Her irises were black as midnight and blood ran down her chin from red stained lips.  What had she done to him?  Blood trickled down his n
eck in two small streams. The
look of hurt and betrayal on his sweet face singed her.

That’s when she woke up with her face stuck to a book.  The library was still full of students that glared at her when she jumped up and her chair tipped over, crashing to the floor and shattering the silence.  What a crazy dream.

Olivia was in her closet tossing clothes over her head
and
onto the bed when Dani reached the dorm.  She mumbled agitated noises under her breath while Dani watched for a few minutes before interrupting.

“What are you doing in there?”

“I was in your closet already.  You don’t have anything to wear that will do for a night out.  So, I’m trying to find you something of mine to wear but you’re bustier than me.  I’ll be right back.  Maybe Lindsay has something that will fit you.”  She called over her shoulder on the way out the door.

Dani knew she didn’t have anything to wear out.  Everything she owned said ‘comfy night in the dorm’ not ‘paint the town red’.  She was digging for shoes when her phone rang.

“Hey, Mom, w
hat’s up?” She was startled when her mother’s voice sounded from behind her.

“I’m just standing in your room.  What are you doing in the closet?” she asked curiously.

“Mom!”  Dani squealed, wrapping her arms around her mother’s neck.  “What are you doing here?  I’m so happy to see you.”  It had only been a week since she’d left home but she missed her mom so much.  Just seeing her mom made Dani feel like she was home. 

“I spent the morning in the mall.  They had some great sales and I seem to have gone a little overboard.  Plus, it gave me an excuse to come check out your dorm,
” she
admitted and pointed to the half a dozen bags on the bed.

Tessa had this odd way of knowing when Dani would need help.  She always knew when Dani missed the bus home from school as a kid and would be there waiting to pick her up.  Her mom always knew when she was getting sick and never failed to be ready with the appropriate remedy.  She always knew when Dani was sad no matter how hard she tried to hide it.  Dani knew it had something to do with her mother’s dreams that were more like premonitions.  So seeing her there with bags of clothes surprised her only because Tessa had to drive hours to get there.

“You shouldn’t have driven all this way just to bring me clothes but, I’m glad you did.  I’ve missed you so much.”  Dani whispered still squeezing her mother’s neck and inhaling the scent of home that lingered on her clothes and hair.

“I told you it was purely selfish of me.  I just wanted to see you and meet your roommate.  You were right.  This room is small for two people.”  She looked around inquisitively.

Olivia returned empty handed.  “I couldn’t find Lindsay.”  She stopped abruptly when she caught sight of Dani wrapped around the woman.

“Olivia, this is my mother, Tessa Vaughn.  Mom this is my roommate Olivia.”  She introduced the two of them.  Olivia stepped forward and hugged Tessa instead of accepting the hand that she had extended in greeting.

“Wow, you are so beautiful and no way do you look like a mom.  I thought you were an upper classman.  It’s such a pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Vaughn.”  Olivia chirped.

“Thank you, Olivia. You’re very kind.  It’s wonderful to meet you, and please call me Tessa.” she replied as Olivia released her and recoiled at the ‘Mrs.’ Mom never liked being reminded of Dani’s absentee father. 

“I won’t be staying long.  I’m just dropping off a few things.”  She looked at her watch.  “Look at the time. I better get on the road if I’m gonna get home before midnight.  Will you walk me out, Dani?”  Tessa anxiously headed for the door.

“Sure, but you just got here.  Can’t you stay awhile?”  Dani wrinkled her forehead at her mom.  “We could get dinner or some coffee here on campus.”

“No, sweetheart,
I have a job tomorrow so I need to get home.”  She answered while trying to smooth the lines on her daughter’s forehead with her fingertips.

On the way out Dani gave her a short tour of the grounds and introduced her to some passing friends.  Tessa told her about the goings on at home.  They made plans to go shopping on Black Friday and discussed their Thanksgiving menu.  Rambling on with her mom about regular things they always worried about made her miss home all the more.  When they finally reached the car, Tessa turned to admire the necklace dangling in the hollow of Dani’s throat. 

“That is truly lovely on you, sweetheart,” she professed with unusually sad eyes.

“You never told me where you got it,” Dani reminded.

“An old boyfriend gave it to me.  I’ve had it in my jewelry box for so many years I had forgotten it was there.  I just thought you would like it.”  She explained with heavy sigh.

“He must have been a serious boyfriend given the inscription on the back.”  Dani arched an eyebrow in question.

“I guess so.  It didn’t last long though and he moved on very quickly. Men are fickle that way. You’re the whole universe one day and nothing but a memory the next day.  Let that be a warning to you. Don’t believe everything the boys say even if they say it with jewelry.” She warned in a joking tone but would not meet Dani’s eyes.

“Are you doing alright, Mom?”  Tessa just wasn’t herself and it was worrisome.

“Oh yes, I’m fine.  I’m just missing you. Do you have any plans for the weekend?” she changed the subject deftly.

“I’m going to an eighteen and older club with a group of people tonight.  I’m actually very nervous about it.  Do you think it’s a bad idea?”  Dani was looking for approval.  She half expected her mom to say she should be getting more established in her school routine before she started worrying about socializing.

“You’re a smart girl, Dani.  I think it is fine as long as you stay with your friends.  Don’t leave with anyone else and please don’t drink.  You need all your brain cells for school.  Other than that, you should try to enjoy yourself.  It’s all part of the college experience.  Call me tomorrow and tell me all about your evening, okay?”  Tessa had this haunted look about her that made Dani want to comfort her but she didn’t know how.

“Thanks for the clothes.”  Dani hugged her tightly and held on for a moment.

Still caught in Dani’s embrace Tessa said against her hair, “You know I love you and there isn’t anything we can’t get through together?  I realize at your age you aren’t always going to want me in your business but I hope you’ll confide in me anyway.  If you needed help, I could get it.  No matter how out of the ordinary the problem may be, I can help you baby.”