Page 21 of Love Starves

"Come for me, beautiful," he breathes into the dark air between us.

It's my final straw. There's no holding back as I fall into a pleasured bliss like no other, then take Nick with me. His hands drop back to my waist as he tenses, and I feel his cock start to jerk inside of me. Collapsing on his chest, neither of us speak as we both try to catch our breath. My mind races with the implications of what just happened. There's never been an issue with fucking Nick, but that's not what this was. We broke rules and for a moment there, walls fell, and I let him in.

What does that mean for us? For the group as a whole?That little, niggling voice asks.

Both questions lie heavy in my head even as we clean ourselves up and lay back down on the duvet nest in the corner. I'm clearly done sleeping for the night, so as soon as Nick passes back out with all his naked glory pressed against my back spooning, I slip from his grip and move to sit in the furthest corner. Still within reach where I can non-creepily watch him sleep at the same time as I watch the sun begin it's rise in the sky. In this small moment of peace where nothing seems to exist other than the two of us inside this purple cocoon in the corner of his tidy apartment, I can almostimagine I'mthatgirl. The one who's completely normal and isn't afraid of commitment.

Part of that good feeling lingers on in the following week. Not only do I let Dr. Geoff in on the secrets I’ve been keeping, much to his surprise, but I also accept a date with Ryan. Not because I think he’ll be any kind of good fit into this dynamic that’s already going, but because I genuinely like him. And if I’m giving the others a shot then why not him, too? Though, I’m not ready to admit to anyone other than myself, and maybe not her either, that I’m actually doing something so reckless such as that.

Nonetheless, as date night rolls around, I find myself primping and preening in front of the mirror for what has to be at least the twentieth time. It’s kind of ridiculous considering I know I look fantastic. Not to sound conceited or anything, but when I try, I know I could pass for a million bucks. And boy, did I try tonight.

My phone rings where it sits on the bed, and I swoop in to pick it up quickly. I’d assumed it was Ryan, and I’m not wrong.

“Hey,” he says in greeting. “So, I thought since the whole getting food the other day didn’t work out in the best of ways, what if we did something a little different today?”

I smile as I ask, “What’d you have in mind?” All the while wondering how I’ll need to change up my outfit to work with whatever he’s planning.

“Ever played minigolf?”

“Humiliatingly enough, I haven’t,” I confess with a short laugh.

His chuckle flows down the line before he replies, “There’s nothing to be ashamed of. To be honest, I’ve never played either, but I’ve heard about this place kind of on the outskirts of town that seems to be pretty popular. Figured I can’t give you food poisoning there.”

Another genuine laugh jumps out of my chest. It’s shocking how great it feels, too. “Text me the deets and I’ll meet you there?” For all the things changing, I’m not ready to reveal who I am to him yet. It’s nice to be seen for something other than money for my family’s name.

As though he was on the ready, the text with the address comes through just as we hang up and it puts a giddy feeling in my chest. Doing a quick switcharoo with my handbags for one that crosses over my body, I practically race down the stairs as fast as my heels will carry me. It's unbecoming of a lady, but who the hell cares when there's no one else around to give a shit.

Ryan wasn't lying about the place being on the outskirts and I have to pull a second glance as I almost pass it even with GPS demanding I turn here. From the main road, it looks like I'm sheep being led to slaughter, but I give Ryan the benefit of the doubt. Parking and stepping out, I lock my Mercedes twice to be safe before stuffing the fob in my bag about the same time he steps out of the door of the rundown building.

"Hey," he calls, drawing out the word with a wave of his hand as he walks over.

"Hi," I say in a skeptical tone with an eyebrow raise.

His head tilts back with a laugh before he asks, "You almost kept on driving, didn't you?"

I cast him an expression that distinctly confirms that suspicion.

He laughs again, throwing an arm around my shoulders to lead us toward the door. "This is just one of those things you'd have to trust me on. It's meant to look like this on the outside to keep out the tourist families with rugrats running around wrecking things. At least that's what I was told anyway."

Then we step inside, and my jaw goes slack. Here it is the middle of the day and, as the door shuts, it's like walking into a club on a Friday night that's home to a lavish arcade. The music thumps a loud beat that I don't recognize through my chest, but I can't complain because it's hype. The bright splashes of color amidst the black-carpeted floors and walls are illuminated by overhead black lights. All the gaming machines appear to be made specifically for use under special lighting because they stand out like sirens luring customers in to spend their money.

Ryan takes my hand and starts to tow me across the room to the counter. The guy standing behind it gives us a lazy smile that would give away his inebriation even if the glassy eyes and skunk smell wafting off him didn't. Ryan leans over and says something while laying a couple bills on the counter. My gaze roams over the multicolored minigolf clubs with matching balls across the wall behind him as he turns to take a few off the rack.

Seizing the moment, I face Ryan and bring my lips to his ear so he can fully hear me when I tell him, "You were right. This place is incredible," then press a kiss against his cheek.

His blush is evident even in the darkness of the room as he shoots me a wink. "You haven't seen the rest of it yet."

Suspicion tries to weave a hole in his story about having never been here before as soon as the words leave his lips, but I squash it like a bug under my shoe. He got here first and obviously checked the place out before I did.

Saving me from making a fool of myself and ruining the date, stoner behind the counter hands the stuff he's gathered over to Ryan before pointing toward the side door opposite of the one we came in through. If I thoughtshockedcame close to the emotion that took over inside, it's nothing compared to outside. The side door leads to a fucking jungle. One that has little green patches of fake grass and a hole in the middle.

"Well," Ryan taunts, waving a hand around like he thinks I can't see what's around us.

"Okay, yeah. You did good," I admit freely.

"Right?" he retorts. "Apparently, they make enough of a killing off word of mouth from us college kids that they can afford to keep this place running without resorting to becoming a tourist attraction. Ohhh, and..."

He holds up a finger as his sentence trails off and he cuts around a corner, leaving me to admire the flowers that wind around some jungle vines up the side of the wall. A few minutes later, he comes strolling back over balancing two colorful drinks with umbrellas with the golf stuff he was already carrying.

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