Everyone looks happy, horny. The music is thumping, groaning?—
Ohh, Elijah.
Bodies are bouncing and?—
EYES.
Clear. Blue. Beautiful.
He’s staring at me; he blinks.
His partner swings an arm around his slender waist.
He’s still staring; I’m still watching.
He whispers something to his partner, and then… he’s moving. Coming my way. Parting the sea of bodies, pushing, pushing?—
Elijah.
I turn and reach for my drink, and it’s gone, but he’s not—he’s here, beside me.
“I’m Noah,” he says. Long dark lashes sweep across his electric-blue eyes. His man bun has been replaced by an intricate French braid; the sides of his head shaved close to the skin. He’s wearing a fitted sheer navy-blue button-down and faded skinny jeans that hug his lean, toned legs. He drags his tongue over his glossy lips—and fuck me—he’s got a tongue stud.
“Are you drinking?” I ask.
“I’m dancing.” His pretty eyes smile. “Would you like to dance with me?”
“I’d like to drink with you.”
He moves closer to the bar, closer to me.
I notice his lips. His gloss has tiny flecks of gold in it. They sparkle as hints of light from the dance floor stroke across his pretty face.
Elijah.
The music slows, and my alcohol-infused brain drags.
I lean in and take his mouth in mine—Elijah. I graze his lower lip with my teeth and drag it forward, licking, sucking. I smash my mouth against his, but his lips are unmoving, silent, still.
“Figure it out,” he says, no doubt alluding to my relationship with Elijah.
“Mmm, strawberry. I fucking love strawberry.” I’m slurring my words, rolling my tongue, tasting his gloss.
“I’m not talking about the flavor of my lips,” he says.
“Strawberry,” I say again. A tear leaks down my cheek, and my eyes find the floor.I’m fuckingdrunk.
And the more I drink, the more I want to swim in those oceans of blue… and eat strawberries.
Fuck, what am I doing?
I reach for his hand and bring it to my lips. I turn it over, place a kiss to the center of his tender palm, and wrap his delicate fingers around it.
“My name is Alex,” I say before I turn to leave… before I jump into that clear blue ocean… before I swim… or sink.
24
ALEX
