11. Rule #11 Be Careful With Those Brownies

Rule #11: Be Careful With Those Brownies

Zoe

A long-suffering sigh worthy of Lewis escaped me as I tossed over in bed. It was just after ten p.m. and I'd been lying here for the last two hours, willing sleep to take me.

But it wouldn't.

My mind was reeling. Playing out the events from this morning over and over again.

I couldn't lie to myself and say that I hadn't enjoyed spending time with Daniel on the fishing boat. When I'd let my guard down with him, things had been easy. I'd laughed with him. He was silly and endearing, but they all started out that way. Given time, he'd show his true colors. And on top of that, he was a damn werewolf. I'd been so angry that day at the gym. I stormed off not long after class had ended and didn't stop when Lewis called after me. I'd been ignoring his calls and the seven texts he'd left. I had no answers for him.

I didn't know why the secrecy made me so mad. Hell, I kept my secret from Lewis. But Daniel knew I was a witch. He could scent it. And had my magic been working, I would have picked up Daniel's aura. Werewolves usually had a somewhat chaotic aura. Maybe the person I was really angry with was myself and this stupid predicament I found myself in because my ex-boyfriend was a slimy son of a bitch who I had trusted.

I sighed again and punched my pillow, hoping to make it more comfortable. It wasn't just that though. My body was buzzing from the way Daniel had made me feel. His hands on my body as we grappled that day in gym. The feel of his warm breath on my neck. The way he had pulled me to him when I leaned over the boat. The way he had respected the distance I'd put up after that. And let's not talk about waking up in bed with him. That particular memory refused to leave me alone. Torturing me until I'd reached for my purple battery operated friend which barely took the edge off.

I really needed to get laid. It had been too long.

A knock sounded at my door.

"Zoe?"

I kept quiet hoping Rory would leave me alone to my misery.

"Zoe, I know you're awake. I can hear you breathing."

Fucking vampires.

"That just means I'm alive, Rory."

"And also awake."

My door opened without permission and I glared at my house mate. She was stunning and I couldn't help comparing myself. She was the complete opposite of me. Gracefully tall with long blonde hair, perfect porcelain skin and big blue eyes. Tonight she was dressed to the nines in a short black sequin dress that barely covered her ass with long sleeves. It looked like it had been painted on. Not that she even needed the height, but she wore fuck me red heels anyway.

"Where are you off to dressed like that? "

"Club Inferno. And you're coming with me. If I have to hear you sighing like that for any longer I'm going to nail you in my coffin."

I sat up and narrowed my eyes. "You don't actually sleep in a coffin, do you?"

She laughed and sat at the foot of my bed. "Of course not. Too claustrophobic."

"I'm not in the mood, Rory."

"Oh, come on. Some drinking and dancing will pull you out of this mood."

To be honest, she didn't really have to twist my arm. Maybe I could find a warm body to distract me.

"I don't have anything to wear," I protested. But that excuse sounded weak even to my ears.

She flounced up, heading for my closet before throwing it open. "I'm sure that's not true."

And she was right. Because an hour later, with half of an Amelia brownie in my system, I was standing in line to get into a club dressed in black lacy dress that hit my mid-thigh that I forgot I owned. I threw my black leather jacket over it and a pair of heels to give me the illusion of height. Rory had done my make up and my midnight blue hair touched my shoulders in soft curls.

Another plus to going out with Rory meant that we didn't have to stand in this damn line for very long and skipped right to the front.

The pulsing bass of music filled my bloodstream, melting the tension from my body.

Yes! This was what I needed. Dancing and…

"Alcohol! Rory said with two shots magically in her hands.

"I don't drink," I yelled over the music.

"Oh, well, more for me," she said, tossing them both back. I didn't need alcohol though. I hated the way it made me feel out of control and the brownie was doing a great job of mellowing me out and lowering my inhibitions without getting shitfaced. All of the good feelings with none of the addiction.

Warmth and happiness oozed through my body as she pulled me to the dance floor. We were surrounded by grinding bodies as the music mixed with the magic of Amelia's brownie. Just floaty enough to let go, but not so far that I was losing myself.

I felt good and free and like nothing could bother me. I didn't care whose hands were holding my hips as a blond, blue-eyed man was grinding up against my ass. Reaching around I grabbed him by the neck as his lips found mine. Another pair of hands landed on my waist and I was passed off to a dark haired stranger. Equally as handsome. One in the front and the other at the back and I decided that I was not choosing tonight. I'd have them both.

I couldn't find Rory in the crowd but I soon spotted her head of blonde hair whipping around as she danced with a dark haired hottie of her own. I wasn't worried about her. She might look like a beauty queen, but I knew that vamp could probably hold her own.

Lips on either side of my neck brought me back to the moment. I ran my hand through velvet black hair as the blond one whispered in my ear. "Ready to take this somewhere quieter?"

I didn't answer and carried on moving my hips to the beat of the music. A gentle tug on my body had me moving, but I didn't want to leave yet. I wanted to dance and be free.

Suddenly the music was muted and the hallway was dark. A slow feeling of panic slithered through me. Something wasn't right.

"On your knees, baby girl," one of them said, pushing me down but I resisted.

"I don't get on my knees for anyone," I bit back .

Blondie grabbed me by the chin, pinning me to the wall. "Feisty. I like it when they fight," he said to his friend as if I wasn't there.

I tried to bring my knee to his groin, but a big hand on my leg prevented me from doing anything. The hand gripping my thigh inched higher, pushing the hem of my dress up and I froze. Bile rose in my throat as his fingers skimmed the edge of my panties. I tried pulling on my magic, but it stuttered.

And that's when the real terror set in.