“For some, life down here is enough. It isn’t a ball, but want to go out there?” Hal inquired, watching me.
“Your friends,” I stammered, thinking of their quick goodbyes. Hal stood still, a tension to him he never had. Perhaps he needed to quiet his mind.
“I could use the entertainment.”
“And I’m the entertainment?”
“Today you can be.” Hal grabbed my hand and dragged me into the middle of the swaying masses. The crowd smelled of sweat, the energy contagious. I watched, frozen.
Hal spun me, coming up behind my back, his warm breath tickling my neck. His hands found my hips, engulfing them in his grip. “There’s no right way, just let go,” Hal whispered.
My body went taut at the words, at how I had felt the last time he had told me to let go. His hand drifted lower on my hip like he thought of it as well, before returning. I hesitantly moved my hips as Hal guided me.
Hal moved his body fully against mine. My breath caught. “Stop thinking. No one’s paying attention to you.”
Slowly I lost myself to the beat of the music and his hands on my body, a stronger effect than any glass of bubbles I had ever consumed, my thirst for it unquenchable.
We moved together, each beat rolling seamlessly into the next before I felt Hal’s lips against my neck, and my head rolled back onto his chest. His hand sprawled out across my lower stomach, pressing me closer, until his hips cradled mine, and I could feel the effect I was having on him, the pressure making me ache. I spun toward him, and he held my gaze, eating up the need there. His thigh slid between mine, and I ground down, panting into his ear.
Wordlessly his hand found mine. We weaved through the crowd and into a stone tunnel. I didn’t pay attention to the turns as Hal dragged me by the hand, my desire a force threatening to consume me. After two turns, Hal came to a stop abruptly. His eyes met mine for a single breath before he pounced, crashing his lips onto mine.
He devoured me as he answered my need. He grabbed my ass and scooped me up, pinning me between the wall and his hard chest. My hand ran through his silken waves, scraping down to his shoulders, and he groaned.
I wrapped my legs around his waist. I sucked in a quick breath as his hard length found my core, and he ground into me. I whimpered at the pressure. Hal tore his mouth from mine as I looked to where he pinned me. He watched me before he wrapped his hand into my hair, drinking in my mismatched gaze like it was a lifeline.
Hal’s mouth found mine again briefly before trailing along my jaw and down my neck, his hand leaving my hair and drifting down to my breast, caressing through the fabric. He pulled at the shirt, a button giving way.
His name left my lips, intertwined with my moan.
“Get a room,” someone snickered. I whipped my head in the direction to see several people in blue waltzing by, laughing.
Hal huffed a laugh. I began to unwrap my legs, red-hot embarrassment flaming my face.
Hal grabbed my thighs. “Don’t. They’re already gone.”
“This isn’t very private,” I muttered.
“You want private?” Hal’s eyes flashed wickedly. Before I could answer, Hal lifted me over his shoulder, a yelp escaping me.
“What are you doing?” I demanded as Hal laughed, taking off down the hall.
“Finding somewhere more private. Stop fidgeting. I’m injured, remember?”
“Exactly. Put me down!” I said, even as a laugh escaped me.
“Absolutely not,” Hal responded. I could hear his smile as he worked his way through the tunnels.
“Hal,” I demanded, laughing, the blood rushing to my head.
At last, Hal came to a stop, placing me on the ground. He held my face between his hands. “I would risk injury daily to hear your laugh, Moonlight.” He placed a quick kiss on my lips before pulling me into a room.
We entered a living area. Four threadbare sofas were facing one another with a large wooden table in the middle. Guns, daggers, cups, and papers littered the table. There were three doors leading from the living area, and in the far corner, there was a mat with what looked like fresh blood on it, as well as a round target with small darts sticking out of it. A paper was tacked to the wall next to it with tally marks under each of their names. Gerald, it seemed, was the best.
“Sorry about the mess,” Hal said. “They were in a hurry when they left. No one slept last night. Welcome to my home.”
His nerves seemed to be returning, gaze darting from one thing to another. It tore at me, his concern for his friends.
I could be his entertainment—whatever he needed right now. I swallowed, approaching him. He stood still, watching me. I wondered if he breathed as I came up to him, my hand landing on his chest. I rose onto my toes, my mouth finding his.
