AllFreeNovel
Share Us
He’s been murmuring in my ear beneath the music, telling me more jokes and praising my skills on the dance floor compared to him. I beg to differ; he’s a great dancer.
We talk about what we want to do with our lives. Colton’s supposed to take over his dad’s business, but he has plans for how to make big changes that he knows his dad won’t like. I tell him about my psychology courses at Columbia. He tells me about a cabin upstate that he’s been fixing up for when the city gets to be too much. It sounds like heaven, and when I say as much Colton promises to take me there.
“I’ll take you anywhere you want to go,” Colton murmurs with his lips against my temple.
It almost sounds too good to be true, but I close my eyes and indulge in the fantasy of Colton rescuing me from my hellish life.
We spend song after song dancing beneath thousands of tiny lights.
“You make me want to be bad.” Colton brushes his fingers along my jaw and his gaze is full of intense heat.
“So let’s misbehave,” I quip, peeking up at him through my lashes.
Colton has me entranced. His charm is hard to resist.
He makes me want to slip into a dark corner and give in to every tempting deviant urge gripping me.
I want him in my mouth where my father could walk by and find us.
I want his fingers inside me right here on the dance floor.
I want a dirty fuck in the marble bathroom with our clothes half-on because we can’t be bothered when we could be devouring each other.
If temptation is the devil’s sin, I’ll be the first one in line to commit it tonight.
My gaze searches the room for a hint of red velvet. I need to find Cohen. I want to look him in the eye while I press my breasts against Colton’s firm chest and encourage his hand to slip lower to grab my ass.
I can’t find him. The song changes and Colton steps back.
“Are we going again or would you like to get a drink?”
I look up at his masked face. It was dim on the balcony, but the uplighting around the dance area allows me a better view.
My perfect dance partner could almost be Cohen in this light. They have an identical jaw shape and the same color eyes, but these are darker and glittering as they track me.
“Annie?”
Is that voice really so different from Cohen’s? The champagne’s messing with my head. There’s no way Cohen and Colton are the same person. They’re similar in height and looks, but that’s where it ends. Colton is sweet and charming where Cohen is all black edges and possessive power.
“I—sorry.” I shake my head and wave my hand. “The lights made me dizzy for a minute.”
Colton places a hand on my lower back. “Let’s go find a quieter spot to sit for a while.”
I allow Colton to lead me away from the other dancers.
We find a high top table draped in black silk near a tall window with thick draperies that spill to the floor. An arrangement of tapered candles in different heights perched in gold holders sits at the center of the table.
“Be right back.”
Colton disappears towards the closest bar. I take the opportunity to scan the room for signs of Cohen again. His parents are with Albert Mastriano by the oyster bar. Albert is all smiles for his niece, Mrs. Decker.
He doesn’t look like a sinister mob boss, though I don’t even know what that means. It’s not like all shady mobsters resemble Al Pacino and Marlon Brando. Albert Mastriano simply looks like someone’s short, happy grandfather who goes around laughing with a wheeze.
A water goblet pops in front of my face. I take it and glance over. Colton has one of his own, too. His throat bobs with each gulp as he drinks, finishing half of his glass in one go.
I like that he’s taking a break with me instead of binge drinking through the night, drink after drink, like most men I know do.
“Thanks,” I murmur.
