She is, and she’s watching with interest. Her eyes tell me to go for it. I turn back to the handsome beast and catch my breath as he steps closer into my personal space. “What’s my name?” I touch his chest; feel the muscles rigid with no give at all. God help me. “Does it matter?”
He smirks and takes holds of my hand, wrapping his fingers around it, about to pull me away from the others. Realizing this is really happening, I get nervous and turn to my friend, my hand still held captive. “Wait! Jenna!” Whisper-yelling, I ask, “What if Alec sees us?”
She makes a face that I’m being ridiculous. “He’s in Los Angeles. He’ll never know!” Glancing quickly to the trio of women we’ve just befriended, she clears the air before they have a chance to think we’re horrible people. “Alec’s not her boyfriend or anything. It’s just a guy she likes. Should she worry about it? I mean, come on.” She throws a hand at the sexual creature holding my hand prisoner.
Nicole leans in with amusement, assuring me, “If this Alec guy is not your boyfriend, you are free and clear to do anything you want . Trust me.”
Jessica laughs, “Take it from the pro.”
“Hey!” Nicole objects, but doesn’t really mean it. Amber laughs and continues boogying with her hands snapping in the air to the beat.
Excited and intoxicated, I turn dramatically and announce, “Take me wherever you want, Hercules.”
“My name’s not Hercules.”
“Can I call you Hercules?” I smile.
He laughs. “Fuck yeah. Come here.”
Right where we stand, he kisses me, opening my mouth with his like a pro, and coaxing my tongue out of hiding. It feels so good that I have no choice but to climb up on him and latch my legs around his hips, my dress a cascade of blue. Jenna whoops loudly, making me smile through the kiss. He holds me up by my ass, massaging it while the music bounces a beat into our skin. Totally into it, we careen over to a wall, running into people. Making out is so incredible, the way my mouth moves with another person’s, how his tongue feels, how it tastes. The way it sends erotic sensations coursing through my body. We’re supposed to do this, human beings. We’re supposed to kiss each other and combine energy and feel the separateness collapsing until we become one. God, I’ve had a lot to drink. “Seriously, what’s your name?” the guy says thickly against my lips.
“Who cares!!” I kiss him hard and he responds, working my ass with his masterful hands, sending tingles pooling in between my thighs. Who needs names when we have this? Life is amazing. I’m alive! So alive and free and…
Two strong hands yank me off him. “Hey!” I yell, opening my eyes, feeling dizzy now. Someone I can’t see is carrying me away! With hands up like he’s saying he’s not going to fight, my Brazilian lover vanishes, devoured by the crowd as I’m pulled away from him against my will. “No!! I want to kiss! All I want to do is kissssssss. Noooooooooooo!”
“I bet you do,” a deep, familiar voice snaps.
Jenna appears in front of me, keeping up with us, her face very worried. “Jenna! You’re so pretty!” Shaking her head, she adjusts the coats in her arms and looks over to a mirage joining her. The mirage looks a lot like one of my new brothers. “You look like Sean! Come party with us! Look! I’m flying!!!” I wave to a camera-phone a shorthaired girl is pointing at me as I pass her. “Hi friend!! Hi new friend!” She waves back, her hand leaving a trail of peach behind it. “Whoa!” Almost-Sean shares a look with someone a couple people over. Bouncing over some guy’s shoulder, I follow his look and call out to Jenna, “Doesn’t that look like Alec?!”
“That is Alec, Rue!” she laughs back to me.
Alec and I lock eyes as I bounce in the arms of the only person left in their little circle. Jack. Jack must be carrying me. Jack must have seen me kissing Hercules. Absolutely mortified, I