Page 63 of Awakened Light

“I’m so grossed out and so turned on right now, I don’t even know what to do with myself.”

For the millionth time since I met him, I laughed. When the server returned with my piña colada, I could barely thank him between fits of hysterics.

“You need to drink that, and then you need to do that thing with your tongue to something other than that disgusting oyster.”

I lifted my glass in a cheers and smiled. “With pleasure.”

We made it five more minutes until I put the cherry from my drink in my mouth. Thorne tossed a wad of cash on the table and yanked me into his arms. As we made our way through the resort, he stopped and slammed me up against a palm tree. It dug into my back, but I didn’t care about the pain. The pleasure of his tongue inside my mouth numbed any discomfort in the rest of my body.

His hand slid along my thigh, working its way up my little black dress, but stopping just short of where I needed his fingers to go.

“Someone’s coming,” he whispered in my ear and removed his hand, leaving me panting for more.

A strolling couple passed by and greeted us with a knowing smile, and we watched them walk hand-in-hand into a building with loud music pouring out the doors as they opened.

“What’s going on in there?” I asked as Thorne dragged me by the hand toward our villa.

“Sounds like a dance club.”

I tugged him to a stop. “What’s a dance club?”

He paused, then shook his head with a laugh. “Fuck. I did promise to show you everything, so I guess I can keep it in my pants a little longer and introduce you to the wonderful world of clubbing.”

“Clubbing?” I asked.

“Dancing. You’ll love it. Come on.”

Even though I didn’t know what to expect inside, and I was dying to rip off his clothes again, the sounds of laughter and upbeat music excited me as we started toward it. I’d already seen so much since I’d left my island. The city, lights, shops, restaurants, so many different looking people, and so many trees and flowers I’d never imagined existed. So far, every time Thorne promised me I’d love something, he’d been right.

The closer we got, the louder the music grew, and I felt it thumping inside my chest, just like I’d felt the drums when we’d dance around the fire at home. But this music was different. It had so many rich, complex sounds I’d never heard before. Like the stuff I’d heard on the car radio, but so much more intense. As we reached the door, the colored lights flashed and flickered and lit up the darkness.

“Ready?” Thorne asked before he pushed open the door.

I nodded and grabbed his hand.

The loud music and lights assaulted my senses when we stepped inside, but it was anything but unpleasant. People stood on a stage playing instruments while colored lights flashed all around them. Mobs of people danced in front of them, moving together to the beat of the music.

“Not like your dancing at home, is it?” Thorne shouted into my ear, which was necessary due to the volume of the crowd and the music.

“No!” I called back. “Nothing like at home. It’s amazing!”

“You want a drink before I get your ass out on that dance floor?”

I smiled and nodded.

“Piña colada again?”

I nodded faster. Since I’d tried one on our second night, they’d become my new favorite.

“Stay here. I’ll be right back.” After a quick kiss, he disappeared into the crowd.

Closing my eyes, I swayed back and forth while the music moved my body. As the song sped up and the crowd pulsed along with it, I started to wish that I’d skipped the drink and headed straight for the dance floor with Thorne.

“Like this song?” a deep voice whispered into my ear.

I spun to see a man standing behind me. He rubbed a small green square on the tip of a long stick. It resembled the fighting spear I’d left at home. As I studied the stick, I noticed his gaze working its way up my exposed legs.

Instead of answering him, I just narrowed my eyes and turned away back toward the band.