“Well, now you do.” I watch him tug a shirt over his head before shoving his stuff into his pocket. The two of them head for the door with me right behind them. We walk a little way down the block before we stop at a bus stop.
Jeremy and Royal talk amongst themselves as I stand awkwardly. I fiddle with my hands when Royal grabs one in his.
“Calm down,” he urges before going back to his conversation. I don’t know how he knows I’m on edge, but he does. When the bus pulls up, we climb on, Royal still holding my hand as we board. We sit down with Jeremy behind us, but Royal pulls my hand into his lap, still wrapped up in his.
Neither of us talks as we ride the bus across town, and maybe that’s for the best.
When the bus comes to a stop, Royal stands, dropping my hand as I follow behind the guys once more. As soon as we hit the sidewalk, you can hear the bass from the music. The closer we get, the more I can see. People are outside smoking and talking, and everyone seems to know the guys as we approach. They all stop them to talk as I stand back and let them.
When they head inside, I don’t follow. I don’t know what the hell I’m doing here. I’ve never done this. I turn and head for the sidewalk when an arm wraps around my waist, and I’m tugged back into a hard body.
“Where do you think you’re going?” Royal’s voice is dark and sends a chill down my spine.
“I shouldn’t be here.”
“Why not?”
“I don’t know what I’m doing. I’m out of my element here,” I tell him. His face is so close to my neck that I can feel his warm breath dancing over my flesh, and a shiver rolls through.
“We haven’t even started partying yet,” he says, his lips slowly caressing my neck. My lips part, and a shuddering breath leaves me.
“I …”
“There’s nothing to say, River. Come on,” he demands, gripping my wrist and tugging me along with him. More people stop him as we walk inside, and something is thrust into my hand. I look down to see a joint between my fingers. Something else I’ve never done.
“It’s safe,” Royal tells me. I bring it to my lips, trying to fit in and inhale. I cough, nearly choking as he watches me intently. Then he nods my head for me to do it again before he takes it and brings it to his lips. I watch him smoke it like a professional before passing it off to someone else.
Royal drags me through the mess of people before he passes me a drink. I take large gulps, knowing I can handle my liquor. Royal chuckles and passes me another cup I gladly take.
Before I knew what was happening, I had smoked more and drank more. Royal and Jeremy have disappeared, leaving me alone.
I stand in the corner when a man approaches me.
“You’re new,” he says as he smiles at me.
“Yeah. Never been before,” I tell him.
“I’m Marc.”
“River,” I tell him, not sure if I was supposed to give him my real name or not. The guys never said anything about it.
“You smoke, River?” he asks, holding up another joint. I nod, and he passes it to me, allowing me to take it into my lungs. I’m high, tipsy, and actually having a good time. Marc invites me to dance, and I don’t see the harm in it. I follow him to the middle of the room and begin to move. His hands land on my hips as the beat thumps through my chest.
“You’re a good dancer,” he says over the music. I smile and keep going when I feel hands wrap around me once more. I’m jerked back and slam into a hard body once more when I feel Royal’s lips caressing my ear.
“You having fun?” he asks.
“A ton,” I tell him before he pulls away and shoves me back into Marc’s arms. Marc catches me as I spin around to look at Royal. His eyes burn through me as he watches Marc’s hands roam over my body. One of his hands cups my breast while the other slips across my stomach. I swallow hard, but I can’t pull my eyes away from Royals.
Marc says something in my ear, but I’m too lost in Royal even to comprehend what he’s saying.
“What is it?” Royal asks when I don’t pull my eyes away from him. I lick my lips, the high and alcohol making me feel more alive than I’ve ever felt. I step out of Marc’s grasp and straight into Royal. I reach up and wrap my arms around his neck, and his hands come to rest on my hips. Then we both start dancing. I wasn’t sure if Royal could dance, but his body moves perfectly against mine.
“You’re going to be trouble, aren’t you?” I ask him.
“I’m the best fucking kind of trouble,” he retorts as he watches me intently.
The music keeps playing, and we keep dancing until both of us are sweating. His hand stays on the skin of my back, where he ripped my shirt, until another girl walks up to us. She slips in between us and takes my spot, but Royal doesn’t say a word. He shakes his head when she talks to him, and I step back.
