Page 35 of Unruly
“Well, isn’t that a surprise.” I sip my drink, delighted by the sweet, fruity taste. It’s not as good as the last one was, but it’s close. “What does one do here?”
“Anything we want, Farnsworth. We can dance, or we can sit and watch people.” He leans even closer. “This is the kind of place where you could find a hookup in a corner or a bathroom.”
My stomach flutters. “Oh. I see.”
“Want to dance?”
“I wouldn’t know how. Dancing was very different when I lived.”
“Good news—you can do whatever you want now.” He slams his drink down and drops the cup on a table before he grabs my wrist. “Come on.”
Reluctantly, I follow Borja to the crowded space in the middle. The music, if that’s what we should call it, sounds like someone beating on a wall, but the singer’s voice is pleasant enough.
Borja moves in front of me, gently swaying his hips with his arms at his sides. I can do that. I do my best to copy his moves, and as I take more sips of my drink, my head turns cloudy and I find that I’m actually having… fun. Wondrous.
The songs change but the people stay, sometimes crowding in more, pressing against me or pushing me into Borja, who always catches me before I stumble. My goodness, he’s a handsome man, even more handsome when he’s under these mystical lights and losing himself to the music.
He shimmies closer to me, placing his hands on my hips and guiding my movements, and as I hold his gaze, I have to wonder what it is about this man that makes me abandon my inhibitions and proprieties. Why does it feel so comfortable to join his world and leave mine behind? What else could I be brave enough to try? Could I kiss a man? Could Ihook up? I nearly laugh at my own thoughts. I don’t even really know what it feels like to touchanother man in that way, and while this is an opportunity to find out, my mind should be focused on the mission that brought me here in the first place.
But Borja won’t stop looking at me with those sultry eyes of his. He won’t stop licking his full lips, or brushing against me. He won’t stop gripping my hips and moving me to the music.
I’m a fool to be tempted by him. He’s just trying to show me a good time. Even if I wanted to explore, it couldn’t be with him. It shouldn’t be. He probably doesn’t even see me that way.
“Are you having fun?” he asks, leaning forward until our noses almost touch.
I nod. “Yes.”
“The night is young, Farnsworth. We can do anything you want. I could even take you to a true gentlemen’s club.”
I shake my head. “No. I don’t think I’m ready for that.”
He grins, lifting my arm and twirling me in a circle before pulling me into him until our chests touch. “I’ve never been a huge fan of watching naked people I can’t touch.”
With his arm around my waist, our bodies swaying together, and the alcohol I drank most certainly going to my head, I find myself imagining improper things. Tentatively, I place my hands on his chest, lightly flexing my fingers to feel his muscles.
“Is this okay?”
A sweet smile spreads across his face. “It is. Touch me wherever you want.”
Could I? The idea warms my insides in a new way. It’s as if a fire burns within me. Does he notice?
Borja’s hand slides up my back as he pulls me just a bit closer. I’m both excited and completely scandalized, but everyone is doing it around us. Men grind against each other, and then my eyes catch movement to my right. I turn to see two men kissing passionately right next to us. In public!
One of them isn’t wearing a shirt and the other has very short pants on. In fact, I’m not sure those can be called pants anymore.
The atmosphere is heady and thick with lust, but it’s all just a bit too much for me. I break away from Borja and push my way to a less crowded space where I can catch my breath. A moment later, I feel a hand on my shoulder and swing around to see Borja gazing at me with concerned eyes.
“Are you okay?”
I nod, swallowing to wet my suddenly dry throat. “Just a bit overwhelmed, I think.”
“I get it. We can go.”
“I don’t want to ruin your fun.”
“I’m not having fun if you’re not. Let’s go.”
I want to scream that I was having fun, but I didn’t know what to do with it. I don’t know how to behave or how to sort through the chaotic feelings coursing through me. I don’t interact with people. I don’t have feelings or desires to manage. I didn’t know I could still feel these things.
