He chuckled. “Nope.”
Then he turned and headed into the bathroom. I walked out onto the balcony, and after soaking in the magnificent scenery around me, I shut my eyes and breathed in the cool night air. A light breeze brought the scent of the ocean. I let the memory of the boy with the balloon play in my mind, but no more would come. Immediately, the hollowness in my heart that I had been trying my best to ignore came back.
I opened my eyes and decided then. On this brief break I would not think of the past. I gave myself the permission to relax. I’d leave all my troubles and concerns behind me, and to do my best to be present enough to enjoy my time with Caleb.
I hadn’t heard his footsteps. I only sensed his presence when the spices and warm vanilla in his aftershave enveloped me. He slipped his arms around my waist and pressed a kiss to my neck. His hands slid down my sides before curving around my ass. Then he grabbed it and pressed me into his somewhat hardened groin. He was usually always gentle with me but I especially relished times like this when he was aggressive and just a tad bit rough. It gave me a glimpse into a dangerous side of him that he didn’t let out very often, and it thrilled me.
“Do you want something to eat?” he whispered into my skin.
I closed my eyes and savored the sensuous silk of his lips against my neck. I wanted him to show me that other side of him, but I told myself to wait. Somehow, I knew it would come later, closer to midnight, when beasts come out to play.
“I’m not super hungry,” I murmured, “but I’m sure that there’ll be some light food and entertainment downstairs.”
“Alright,” he said to me. “Let’s go.”
37
Caleb
We ended up at a nightclub.
After an interesting Japanese meal of blow fish and sake, we’d been on our way back to our suite when a cacophony of excitement and loud music had grabbed Willow’s attention from across the beach. She stopped and glanced at the venue’s colorful flashing lights and listened to the squeals and shouts of its patrons from afar, then she looked up at me with enormous eyes. “Shall we?”
I’d never been to a club before.
I hadn’t exactly been a model teen before I was incarcerated, but I had missed all of the official rites of passage into adulthood. No 18th birthday, no 21st birthday celebration. Instead I’d spent those years locked away with bullies who were three times my age and size, hardening my heart even further. The only softness inside me was my love for Willow.
As we got closer the sound became deafening. I could feel the music beating inside my head, even in my veins. It was exciting and something I’d never experienced before. Inside it was a humid fest. Willow tightened her grasp of my hand and led me through the unending onslaught of pressing human bodies.
We passed the dance floor and arrived at the bar. There was an enclosure marked VIP with a plush empty seat. I walked up to a waiter, ordered the best champagne in the house, and gave him the biggest tip of his life. He opened the velvet ropes and let us through. We sat on the plush sofa and watched the mayhem while we waited for our bottle to arrive. People stood in clusters drinking and shouting above the music, but most were dancing wildly on the floor. The champagne arrived and we clinked glasses.
“To tonight,” I mouthed.
“To tonight,” she mouthed, her eyes filled with a wild light. She leaned closer. Her lips were touching my ear, and her hand on the side of my face.
“Let’s go dance,” she yelled, above all the sounds around us trying to drown her voice.
I didn’t know what to say. I was a fighter not a dancer. There had been no opportunity for dancing where I’d been. I was sure I had two left feet and I didn’t really want to humiliate myself just yet. Maybe once I had seen what everyone else was doing. “Maybe later,” I shouted back.
She responded with an adorable pout and a hard tug at my shirt. Frowning, she pulled her phone out of her purse and wrote something into her notes app.
Then she held the lit phone screen forward so that I could read her words.
I’ve always wanted to come to a club
with someone I cared about.
So that I could thoroughly let loose.
I wanted to say yes and oblige, but the more I watched the dancers bouncing around violently as if they were boneless the more convinced I became that dancing was just not for me. As a matter of fact, most of the dancers looked like they were juiced up on drugs. Perhaps if it had been a different kind of music. The kind where I could mold her to my body …