Chapter 2

Chapter

Two

brIAR

I don't know how I went from tongue-tied to spilling my deepest secrets to this Daddy.

Maybe because there's an energy about him that draws me in. He's light and layered, complex. If he were a drink, he'd be… aged whisky, I guess. And he's not wrong: I'm a basic pineapple daiquiri bitch.

Not even that—I'm a virgin daiquiri. I've always dreamed of making it to the cocktail page, if you get what I mean. But I've never been this excited about flirting with anyone before.

The man doesn't hesitate to set down his glass, turning to give me his full attention. "Tell me what's on your mind."

My heart's about to pound out of my damn chest. "I—I don't… um…" I murmur, blushing furiously.

"Listen," he says when I hesitate, leaning close. "Whatever you're into, I can guarantee I've seen weirder and wilder stuff at Vibes."

I crack a nervous little smile. "Yeah?" The private parties, crazy club nights, darkrooms… that's all normal in my friendship group. But my thing is different. They go out there to find fun before they come home in the dawn to sleep.

I want to go home and sleep until fun finds me —and uses me for his every whim, and leaves before dawn can show me his face.

Damn it. Don't get hard again. That's the last thing I need.

"M-My friends are going there tonight. They think I'm coming with them… and, um, I-I don't know if I want to." My palms are getting sweaty, so I shove them into my pockets. "Because I want to go home alone and… um..." I trail off.

I can barely look away from the eyes piercing me, studying me like a book. And of course it's turning me on even more, because I like to be studied. Perused at leisure, while stretched out naked on my bed in the dark…

Alone isn't the end of the story for me. It's the beginning of all my secret fantasies.

"Hey, look!" a familiar voice hollers from the doorway. "The party's started without us!"

Shit. They're here.

"What—" But before the Daddy can say another word, two of my roommates practically bowl into me, hugging me and slapping my back and waving the bartender down for drinks.

"Happy birthday!"

"You didn't think we'd forgotten, did you? We just had to get pretty."

"Hey, look—we brought along a harness for you. You'll look great in this!"

The stranger's voice easily cuts through all of theirs. "So… you were saying about going to Vibes?" He raises his eyebrows at me, and I blush furiously.

Shit.

I did just tell him that I don't know if I want to. And he's giving me an expectant look like he's waiting for me to tell the truth.

But Robby's already stepping in.

He's the dad friend in the group,the first one to swoop in when someone's being perved on. It's usually me, and often I don't even realize what's happening until later.

"We might be," Robby says, his voice suddenly Arctic-cold as he folds his arms like a bouncer. "But you're not invited."

A slow frown appears on the older man's face, and he looks past Robby to me, like he's expecting me to say something.

Shit.

"I—"

Robby breaks off my quiet protest by stepping between us, putting an arm around my shoulder. "Don't worry, babe. We've got you," Robby tells me firmly.

I blink, and then I'm being frog-marched to the other side of the bar to join the rest of our friends. While we walk, he kisses my temple. "You're fresh meat, babe. You gotta be careful tonight." Then he shoves me through a gap in the crowd.

"I—but—wait?—"

"Here's the birthday boy!" Robby announces to the rest of the group.

A couple of my friends shove a champagne glass into my hand and pour it full. Someone else stealth-attacks from behind to put a stupid little foil paper birthday hat on me.

My mind is still whirling, and everyone's talking at once. They're showing off their outfits, and the different outfits they want to put me in. Apparently tonight is some kind of masquerade theme. They're all dressed up in leather, rubber, feathers, you name it.

And they all think I'm coming along, too.

Shit. I have to make up my mind now, don't I?

I swallow hard and turn to sneak a look at the other end of the bar… and a jolt of surprise shudders through me.

The Daddy is still there. And he's watching me.

As he catches my eyes, he raises his glass slightly and smiles. But it's not the warm, gentle smile that calmed me down before. This time, it's bitter, sharp-edged, even ironic… like he's laughing at me, not with me.

Or is that just my guilty conscience talking?

I feel shitty that my friends were rude to him. Robby definitely treated him like some kind of gross old perv for flirting with me. And the worst part is that I actually knew what I wanted, for once.

But I didn't say a word about it.

"Hey, sleepyhead." Robby snaps his fingers. When I finally look at him, he grins. "Wake up. Time for your birthday blessings!"

I'm still annoyed at everyone—myself more than anyone else—but there's no missing the wrestling match happening right now over a plastic fairy wand. I think it's part of Kurt's costume, but right now, it seems to be the hot commodity.

Theo wins the skirmish and brandishes it at me. "My turn first! May you have a year of finally, finally getting laid. All. The. Time. Morning and night, if it'll make you less grumpy before coffee."

I groan and roll my eyes as my friends all laugh.

"Damn it, I was going to say that," Jeff smacks his arm and grabs the wand. "A year of… uh… good grades. Straight As!"

"That will be real magic," mumbles Robby. I elbow him in the ribs and he laughs, grabbing the wand for his turn. "A year of always having perfect hair."

I'm laughing despite myself, trying hard not to notice everyone else staring at us making a racket. But I kind of like that my friends don't care.

Damn it. They're assholes, but they do love me. Maybe I should just go along with them to Vibes tonight…

"Oh, that's a good one," Kurt admits. "I want that."

My skin prickles. The hair stands up on my forearms, and a split-second later, I hear a familiar voice in my ear, feel warm breath tingling against my neck.

"Sleep-walking is no way to live, Beauty."

Damn it. He's right. I duck my head and blush furiously. I want to apologize, but I can't even look him in the eye.

"Hey!" Robby whirls around and glares at him, puffing out his chest as he strides up to me again. "I told you before. You're not invited to the party, pal. I can write it on a Post-It note if you need help remembering, old man."

I wince, silently pleading with Robby not to be catty, but he's not looking at me.

"He doesn't want to talk to you, okay?"

I mean, it's sort of true. I want him to take liberties without even talking to me. But he doesn't know that.

The Daddy isn't even looking at Robby. His piercing gray eyes are fixed on me again. I feel like a bug pinned to a card. I'm pretty sure he can hear every one of my thoughts—and it makes me squirm on the spot.

My friends are waiting for this man to talk. And he's waiting for me to say it's okay—to admit to them that I like whatever strange spell he's casting on me. Or even to admit to them that I know what I want, and it's not what they think I want. Or that I'm not as innocent as they all think.

But I can't, and I don't.

"My turn for birthday blessings," the Daddy says at last, disappointment written all over his features. "May you wake up before you go out on the scene. Otherwise, you'll wake up one day and find that they've plucked every... last... petal."

Then, he zips up his leather jacket and walks away.

Shit.

I want to apologize, to run after him. But I'm frozen to the spot. A shiver runs down my spine, and I stare at the back of his retreating head. He just walks straight through the crowd and out the door, disappearing into the night.

I can hardly breathe.

That sounded like… like some kind of curse.

"Well," Robby finally says, a little too brightly and loudly. "That was weird. You all right?"

I shake my head and raise my shoulders in a little what the hell? shrug, accepting the drink he presses into my hand. "Yeah…?" I murmur, even though I'm not sure.

Conversations are starting and drinks are disappearing, but there's one thing I'm finally sure about: I don't want to go to that party. And if I've learned one thing from tonight… it's that I should say so, before it's too late.

"You know, I'm going to go home, actually." I'm braced for the groans and wheedling, and this time I don't let myself give in. "I didn't really sleep last night." At least that's the truth.

"You never sleep," groans Robby. "Are you sure, man? You don't have to miss out on your twenty-first birthday. We can get you a Red Bull."

"Believe me, I can't wait to get in bed," I promise them, laughing.

"It takes all kinds of people," says Theo. "Even the weirdos."

"And you guys should know," I counter, kissing Robby on the cheek and hugging Theo. That starts the round of goodbye hugs, overruling their protests. "Enjoy the night for me, huh? Tell me all about it tomorrow!"

At last, I'm stepping out of the bar and into the cool night. I'm heading home alone, like I'd planned to. I just didn't expect to feel this disappointed about it.

I guess this is what it feels like to get what you want… and then realize you didn't really want it after all.

And it's nobody's fault but my own.