Chasing the Fading Light

"We look so hot."

I applied more gloss and twisted my hair into a slick bun, smoothing down the edges until they gleamed under the bathroom light. It was almost seven p.m., which meant we were running fashionably late to the club Jennifer's boyfriend had invited us to. Kyle was a dealer there, the kind who dealt in things he preferred not to name. At least Jennifer claimed to know what her boyfriend was really up to. The rest of us could only speculate.

"I am so happy you passed that test," Jennifer squealed, doing a little twirl that made her dress lift and swirl around her thighs. "Now I get to twerk on random men and make out with whoever I want."

I paused mid-blush application, meeting her eyes in the mirror. "Don't you have a boyfriend?"

"Not tonight," she said with a wicked grin, then gestured at my outfit. "That look makes you seem dangerous. I love it."

I glanced down at the tight skirt and low-cut top clinging to my body, then back at her reflection. "Is the top too revealing?"

"That's exactly the point." She stepped closer, adjusting the neckline. "Make sure you make out with the cutest guy there. It's high time you find someone who actually cares about you."

"Sounds ironic coming from you," I said, unable to resist. "You're basically one witness statement away from being involved in whatever criminal case Kyle's about to catch."

The bathroom door creaked open before she could respond. Kyle leaned against the doorframe, his knuckles rapping lightly against the wood as a lazy smile pulled at his lips. "You're really convinced I do illegal deals, aren't you?"

I turned to face him fully, tracing an invisible line across my own face to mirror the scar that cut from his right cheek to his left eyebrow. "I don't think, Kyle. I know. It literally shows."

He opened his mouth to argue, but Jennifer was already moving toward him, shaking her head as she looped her arm through his. "I think we should go," she said firmly, looking back at me with a pointed expression that said drop it.

I rolled my eyes and grabbed my bag, following them out into the cool evening air. Kyle's car was exactly what I'd expected, a black Mini Cooper with a shattered passenger-side mirror held together with duct tape and prayers.

"You're sitting in the back," Kyle said flatly, opening the door for Jennifer without even glancing my way.

Of course I was. I slid into the backseat and immediately pulled out my phone, trying to ignore the way they whispered to each other up front. That's when I felt it, something cold and slimy against my bare toes.

"What the fuck!?" I jerked my foot back, rubbing it frantically against my other ankle. "What is that?"

I reached down, fingers closing around something rubbery and wet. When I pulled it into the light, my stomach lurched.

"Ewww!" I shrieked, hurling the used condom toward the front seat. "You guys are disgusting! Absolutely disgusting!"

Kyle erupted into laughter, his whole body shaking as he slapped the steering wheel. Jennifer had the decency to look embarrassed, her cheeks flushing pink even as she bit back a smile.

"Seems like you haven't been laid in a while," Kyle managed between laughs. "Have you even been laid? Ever?"

Heat flooded my face. "What does that have to do with you, Kyle?"

"It's insane that you're twenty-one and still acting like a child."

Something sharp twisted in my chest. "I'm saving myself for someone who actually deserves it," I shot back. "Probably not someone with enough scars to prove he's escaped death multiple times."

The laughter died instantly, and silence filled the car. I saw Kyle's jaw tighten in the rearview mirror, his knuckles going white on the wheel.

"That's enough," Jennifer said quietly, turning to look at me with a disappointed look. "We're almost there. Let's not ruin the night."

I knew I'd crossed a line. The tension was still crackling in the air when we finally pulled up to the club, but the sight of it made me temporarily forget my guilt. The building pulsed with bass that I could feel in my bones, neon lights painting the street in shades of electric blue and hot pink.

Kyle did have connections to the best places; I'd give him that.

"Let's have fun!" Jennifer shouted as we pushed through the entrance, her earlier annoyance evaporating in the face of the music and lights.

Inside was even more overwhelming than I'd imagined. Strobes flashed in rotating patterns of red, blue, and green, illuminating bodies pressed together on the dance floor. Beautiful women in barely-there outfits worked the poles on raised platforms, their movements hypnotic enough to make any man want to jerk off. Men lounged on leather benches around the perimeter, drinks in hand, and eyes tracking every curve and dip.

I made my way to the bar, already craving something sweet.

"Can I have a virgin mojito?" I asked the bartender with what I hoped was a confident smile.

He was young, late twenties probably, with the kind of sharp jawline that belonged in cologne ads. He smiled back, but his gaze slid past me to Jennifer. "And for the other beautiful lady?"

"Margarita," she said.

Before the bartender could respond, Kyle materialized behind Jennifer, sliding his arms around her waist and pressing a kiss to her neck. The bartender's flirtatious expression vanished instantly, replaced by professional neutrality as he turned away to make our drinks.

He returned ten minutes later with our glasses. I took a long sip of mine, savoring the mint and lime, trying to ignore Kyle's presence beside me.

"So you really are just a kid in a twenty-one-year-old body," Kyle said, eyeing my mocktail with barely concealed amusement.

"Don't you think that's enough teasing for one night?" Jennifer's voice had an edge to it, though she tried to soften it with a smile.

Kyle pulled her into a tight embrace, his lips finding her ear. "I'm sorry," he murmured, just loud enough for me to hear.

Then he kissed her, deep and possessive.

"You guys are gross," I muttered, already walking away. Kyle flipped me off without breaking the kiss, and I disappeared into the crowd of writhing bodies.

I found an empty table tucked in a corner and claimed it, nursing my drink as I watched the dancers on stage.

"They're amazing, aren't they?"

The voice came from directly beside me. I turned to find a man standing there, and the words died in my throat.

"Pardon?"

He gestured to my glass with a polite smile. "The mocktails. They're amazing here."

I blinked down at my virgin mojito. "Oh. Yes, they are. How did you know it was a mocktail?"

"I can always tell." He had the kind of voice that made you want to keep listening, just to hear what he'd say next. "Mind if I sit?"

"Sure," I said, my pulse quickening for reasons I couldn't name.

He was tall, easily six-two, with the kind of build that suggested he spent serious time in a gym. When he sat down, his legs spread wide, too long to fit comfortably under the small table. He wore a black suit with a crisp white shirt, the top two buttons undone to reveal the hollow of his throat. His jacket and tie were draped over one arm.

"You look like a runaway groom," I said, trying to sound casual even though my heart was doing strange things in my chest.

He let out a soft laugh, his eyes never leaving mine. "Maybe because I am."

The words hit me harder than they should have. "She must be lucky."

"Maybe she is." He paused, his gaze being intense. "Or maybe I'm the lucky one."

I didn't know how to respond to that, so I took another sip of my drink and turned my attention back to the stage.

"You must be a fan of mocktails," he said after a moment.

"Might be."

"Ever tried a Billionaire's Bliss?"

I looked at him skeptically. "Oh, so we're making up names now?"

His smile widened, and I noticed for the first time how perfect his teeth were. "What about a Ruby Rose?"

"Never heard of it."

"Midnight Eclipse?"

"Still no."

"Then you're not really a mocktail enthusiast, are you?"

"Okay, fine." I turned to face him fully. "What's your favorite then?"

He sucked air through his teeth, pretending to think hard. "I have a few I like."

"Such as?"

"Virgin mojito, for one."

My eyebrows shot up. "What! That's my favorite too."

"And virgin Mary."

"Are you reading my mind?"

Little did I know he was being sarcastic.

"You're being sarcastic, aren't you?" I looked at him as I watched him softly nod. "I hate you already."

He laughed, a genuine sound that made something warm unfurl in my stomach. "So what brings you here tonight?"

"Came with my friend and her boyfriend. They're probably off somewhere getting handsy with each other."

"Harsh assessment."

"But accurate." I tilted my head. "What about you?"

"Came with some friends. Just drinking and having a good time."

"Then why aren't you drinking?"

"I'm the designated driver. Someone's got to make sure everyone gets home safely."

Silence settled between us, but it wasn't uncomfortable. The bass thrummed through the floor, the lights painting patterns across his face, and I felt something building in my chest.

The words tumbled out before I could stop them. "Want to make out?"

His smile grew wider and more intimate. "I don't see any reason not to."

My heart hammered against my ribs as I leaned in, pressing a quick, nervous peck against his lips. I pulled back immediately, already shaking, wondering what the hell I was doing. I tried again, another brief touch of lips, but this time when I started to retreat, his hand came up to cup my cheek.

"Relax," he whispered, his thumb brushing across my cheekbone.

Then he kissed me properly. His lips were soft but firm, moving against mine with a confidence that made my head spin. He opened his mouth slightly, catching my lower lip between his, sucking gently in a way that sent heat shooting through my entire body. His hand slid from my cheek to the back of my neck, fingers tangling in the loose strands of my hair as he pulled me closer.

His other hand found my back, tracing the curve of my spine before settling at my waist. Every point of contact felt electric. When he finally pulled away, his eyes were dark and focused entirely on me.

I couldn't speak. Every coherent thought had evaporated. All I could think was more, more, more.

"You have really soft lips," he murmured, then pulled me back in for another kiss, deeper this time. When we broke apart again, his forehead rested against mine. "And you smell incredible."

He guided me against his chest, and I let myself melt into him, my head on his shoulder as we sat in comfortable silence. At least, I thought it was comfortable. My heart was still racing, and my skin was still tingling everywhere he'd touched.

Thirty minutes passed in what felt like seconds before Jennifer and Kyle materialized beside our table.

"We're heading out," Jennifer announced, barely glancing at the man beside me. "Come on."

I wanted to protest, to stay here in this bubble we'd created, because I knew that meant I was going to spend the whole night hearing two grown adults have sex with each other.

"Wait," he said, his hand catching my wrist. "What's your name?"

I looked back at him, at those dark eyes that seemed to see straight through me, and hesitated. Kyle was already pulling Jennifer toward the exit, and she was gesturing frantically for me to follow.

"Lav—"

"Come on, Lavinia!" Jennifer called out, her voice sharp with impatience.

"Lavinia." He rolled my name around in his mouth as if savoring it, his eyes never leaving mine.

His grip on my wrist loosened but didn't release. Something flickered across his face, then his expression shifted into something I couldn't quite read.

"Go," he said softly.

The words sent a shiver down my spine; I liked it. I pulled away and hurried after Jennifer and Kyle, but I could feel his gaze burning into my back the entire way to the door.

When I glanced back one last time, he was still sitting there, watching me leave with an intensity that made my breath catch.

And somehow, I knew he meant exactly what he said.