After kissing her tear-streaked face, I smiled at her. I couldn’t say that is how I imagined the trip ending. I hoped that we’d get closer, but both of us bearing our deepest traumas was a lot. Before I could say anything else, she climbed up onto my lap and straddled me. It derailed all my thoughts. After our confessions, I thought we’d start a new chapter, but I didn’t expect the first one to be her on top ofme. I didn’t want my body to react to her at that exact moment, but I couldn’t control myself. She lowered her face to mine to graze her lips across mine.
“My Magic 8 Ball says‘let’smost definitely give it a try.’”
I narrowed my eyes and looked around. “But that’s not a…”
She cut me off with a kiss before I could finish the word response.
“I’m in on this, Donovan,” she whispered on my lips as she pulled slightly away. “But please be careful with my heart.”
“Always, Chaos. In this lifetime and the next,” I whispered back as I grabbed the back of her head to pull her deeper. Her lips molded to mine, fire bloomed in my body, and I prayed to the God I believed in that she felt the promise in my kiss.
47
AUDRA
Acouple of orgasms later, I found my phone on the dining room table and looked at the barrage of texts Jules had sent.
Jules
How is it going?
Can it be called make-up sex if you’re doing it before you’re officially dating?
If you get this with enough time to spare, let’s meet at a late-night club.
I lied. Get your ass out here. Heading to one called Elixir in Hell’s Kitchen, and it’s open until 4 AM.
I’m in VIP, bitch. Find me.
Checking the time, it was only 11:30 p.m., so there could be time to meet her out. I was exhausted, but felt like I owed it to her for throwing such a wrench in her awards celebration. The fact that she was in Hell’s Kitchendidn’t escape me. As I recalled, another handsome man lived in that neighborhood. Going back to the bedroom, Donovan was sitting up, looking at his phone. Admiring his naked body would never get old.
“How are you feeling?” I asked.
“Is that a trick question?” he replied and tossed his phone down to give me his full attention, and laced his fingers behind his head. “I mean, I’d probably go with thankful, exceptional, relieved, or satiated to describe my current state. I could keep going.”
“How about crazy? How crazy are you feeling right now?”
He sat up straighter. “I mean, I’m usually up for some mischief. What are you thinking?”
“Juliette is at a club called Elixir and asked us to join. I feel obligated to say yes because she left her work event to come find me.”
“Say no more. I know that club, it’s not too far. Let’s get dressed and go for a bit. I’m probably going to put my vote in for not staying until close, but let’s check it out. I would do anything she wanted as a thank you for helping tonight. Besides, I’m not going to pass up an opportunity to dance with you. Do you care if I throw an invitation out to McKenna? She’ll probably say no, but just in case. She was really upset tonight, too.”
After agreeing, we got dressed at lightning speed. I was grateful that Cora made me pack a club dress when I was packing. It was a backless, black sequin tank dress that fit me like a glove.That little store on Main saved my ass with clothes this weekend.
Just after midnight, we were walking up to the club. There was a line to get in, but Donovan sauntered right up to one of the bouncers, who looked like he was ready to kick someone’s ass for fun.
“Mikey Fontz,” Donovan exclaimed, surprising me.
Said bouncer turned to us and went through a whole range of emotions. First disbelief, then shock, then elation. They did the man handshake to hug thing, and then he introduced me. “This is my girlfriend, Audra. Audra, Big Mike. Mike and I went to school and a couple of other places together.” Big Mike had to be six-foot-six and a million pounds of muscle.
“Ha, more like to the ends of the Earth. How the hell are you, Donovan Wright? It’s been way too fucking long, man. Where are you these days? What are you up to? What are you doing here?”
“I live in South Carolina now. A project brought me there, but I love it and don’t see myself leaving. Totally different vibe than up here,” he laughed. “No four am bars, that’s for sure. I’m here to celebrate McKenna passing the bar. What are you up to, Mikey?”
“I’m working construction during the day, here some nights for fun. Getting married in five months to Emily Larlat, remember her? I have you on the damn guest list for when invites go out this summer, but getting your address was on my to-do list. Emily will be happy I have it.”
“That’s right, I remember seeing that on social media. You always had a thing for her. Congratulations! That’s great news!” Donovan said emphatically.
