He was several inches taller than me—and I was five-foot-seven. He had dark hair, broad shoulders, and a clean-shaven face. He kept to the outskirts of the group and merely observed. I had a hard time concentrating on the topic...I was too distracted by this handsome stranger. After the meeting ended, most of the group usually stuck around and continued chatting. But he slipped out without speaking to anyone. I spent the afternoon wondering who he was...and what the heck made his kinky clock tick?
I met up with Malcolm at the club the next Friday night at his insistence. I hadn't been back there except for the munches. It was the same place but with a different atmosphere. The darkness made memories flood back the moment I stepped past the guy guarding the inner entrance. Malcolm had assured me it was a safe place for me. They wouldn't let Jimmy back in if he showed up. Still, I couldn't help but look around for my ex as we stood at the bar and waited for our drinks. Not that I could see anyone clearly with the main light source bouncing around in a multitude of colorful beams.
Malcolm led me to a table and squeezed my hand. I eventually relaxed and slouched in my chair. I had missed enjoying the ability to disappear with the music pounding around me. Being back here was good.
My back straightened, though, when the mystery man from last week's meeting walked up to our table. He kept his gaze on me while Malcolm talked to him, which made me blush. Even more so when the corner of his mouth turned up.
Surely he hadn't been able to see my reaction? I resisted the urge to sweep my hand through my hair. I don't even think I breathed until the man returned to the shadows from which he had appeared.
A couple of girls from the munches stopped by, and Malcolm said he had to leave early. He offered the empty chairs to them and gave my hand a final squeeze before disappearing himself. I really couldn't talk with the girls, but it was nice to see some familiar faces. We did a little dancing on the edges of the sea of glowing bracelets. Then that was cut short when their green bracelets attracted male counterparts. I wasn't ready to find anyone new, so I had chosen to wear a yellow bracelet, indicating that I was visiting and just looking.
Part of me was jealous that they'd found partners so quickly, but I reminded myself that it was just sex to them. One-night stands. And I knew where that could lead to. So I sat back and closed my eyes, getting lost in the music for another hour before I took a cab home.
The next munch was the following afternoon. I liked that they had one every Saturday. It gave me something to look forward to, especially if I had a rough week at work. Sometimes just talking with like-minded people helped ease my tensions. Especially since I didn't have a way to release them like I used to. Would I ever trust someone that much again?
Neither of the girls I'd danced with last night showed up to the munch. I was wondering what had happened after they'd disappeared, but then I saw Malcolm. I had every intention of asking him about the mystery guy he'd been friendly with last night, but the couple running the munch had planned for a demonstration instead of the normal meal-and-chat session for the meeting and wanted to get started.
By the time we'd been shown a rather unsettling display of needle play, I was thankful that they'd chosen to skip the food. I was feeling a little light-headed and started toward the door for some fresh air. Malcolm stopped me, though, before I could make my exit.
I turned around to stare into the deepest green eyes. And they belonged to the mystery man.
He didn't speak. I couldn't have responded anyway. There was a lump in my throat, and my heart was beating loudly in my ears. The corner of his mouth turned up, just like last night. Almost as if he were challenging me. It was a staring game, but instead of blinking, we were waiting to see who would be the first to breathe. To speak.
Malcolm broke the tension between us by introducing me to his new friend, Drake, who held out his hand. When I shook it, I lost the battle as a soft sigh escaped. He had such a strong grip. Controlled. Warm. A vision of him gripping my body as he thrust into me suddenly filled my head. Shivers raced up my back as I blinked the thought away, wondering where it had come from.
Drake was the one to suggest we get a bite to eat before heading to Wheaton. Something inside of me melted a little the first time I heard the timbre of his voice. I could listen to him talk for hours. I settled for forty-five minutes while I picked at my salad. I couldn't believe he was going to the party, too.
In addition to all of his marvelous assets, he had a nice laugh. It made his eyes crinkle on the edges and his smile widen even more. Could he get any more desirable? Why the hell was he still single? And oh, my God, what was he thinking he wanted to do to me every time he looked my way all night?
It was several hours later when I was all alone in my usual guest room at Malcolm's that I finally broke free of the trance Drake had put over me. It helped that Drake was no longer there; I found
