“Hey, guys,” Thally says as she enters the kitchen. “How are you doing?”
“Hi, Thally,” Cami greets her. “Fine. You?”
“Hi, Thalia,” I say shyly, because I still don’t know her and I’m cautious with acquaintances, even though Avery told me she’s a really nice person.
“I’m great,” Thally says, “and how are you, Dahlia?”
“Fine, thank you.” Then I turn my back on her and concentrate on the contents of the pot again. Yes, I know I could be a little more open, but I need my time.
“Are these going to be all the Jell-O shots?” Thalia asks. She looks doubtful.
“No, Dale’s cooking up another batch in grape, and we already have lemon and cherry in the fridge,” Cami answers.
“So that’s lemon, cherry, strawberry, and grape. Sounds like a party.” Thalia smirks.
Cami giggles. “Oh yeah. We have to keep Delsin away from these little babies. If he downs these together with his usual tequila shots, I won’t get any sleep tonight.”
“Can’t he hold his liquor?” I ask with a half-grin.
“He can, but there’s always a point where it gets to be too much,” Camille explains. “Delsin likes to drink too much at parties, but since he’s the one who wakes up with a bad hangover the next day, he regrets it, too.”
I nod. “Maybe you should just wake him up with very loud music after a particularly drunk night,” I suggest half-seriously.
Cami and Thalia start laughing. “He would kill me.”
“If you ever try that, Cami, you have got to call me,” Thalia says, giggling. “I don’t want to miss it when he falls out of bed cussing.”
I don’t know why they think it’s that funny, but I smile along. Then I take the pot from the stove and walk over to fill the cups. Thalia starts putting the little plastic cups on trays so we don’t have to carry each individual cup to the fridge but can transfer a whole batch at once.
“How are things between you and Ave, Dale?” Thalia asks.
Taken by surprise, I look at her. Why is she asking me that? “Everything’s fine,” I say. “We can hardly fall asleep without each other, and we spend a lot of time together.”
“So you’re an item now?” she probes.
“I guess you could say that. But we weren’t that certain of our feelings when we decided to start a relationship, so it was really more of an attempt,” I explain, while taking care not to pour too much into each little cup.
Thalia cocks her head and scrutinizes me. “And now? Are you certain what your feelings are now?”
“I am,” I answer, feeling the heat infuse my cheeks again. “And he knows I get these butterflies whenever I look at him or hear his voice.”
“No!” she yells happily. “You’ve fallen head over heels for him!”
I give a start because her volume has taken me by surprise. “Yes, I have,” I admit sheepishly.
“Then it’s even more important to tell him, Dale,” Cami chimes in.
“Tell him what?” Thalia wants to know.
“It’s something rather private, and I-I don’t want to talk about it. I-I’m sorry, Thalia,” I stammer.
She exhales loudly. “Okay. Sorry if I was too pushy.”
“No, you weren’t. I just want to talk to Avery first, before I tell anyone else,” I explain with a shy smile.
“Hey, guys,” Hailey calls out as she enters the kitchen.
“How’s everybody getting in here anyway?” Cami asks, sounding irritated. “Delsin and Avery are outside, and none of you has knocked or anything.”
“Well, I came down the beach, and Delsin told me to take the stairs because the terrace door’s open,” Thalia explains.
“Same here,” answers Hailey. “Can I help with anything?”
“Yes, you and Thally could take care of the decorations,” Cami says. “By now, Avery knows we’re throwing the party tonight anyway, and he’s all excited to finally introduce Dale to everyone else.”
“I thought he wasn’t supposed to see the decorations before the party?” Hailey says.
“He won’t see,” Cami says resolutely. “The two of them are downstairs taking care of the stereo equipment with the technicians, so go ahead. Besides, you don’t need to decorate half the beach, just set up the torches. We can’t really use the rest of the decorations, since there’s no way of hanging up streamers and stuff. So I switched to a Hawaiian theme and bought some leis.”
“We should’ve thought about that before Hailey went on a crazy shopping spree,” Thalia says with a giggle.
I don’t say anything but can’t prevent a smirk from appearing on my face.
“What’s so funny about that?” Hailey turns on me immediately.
“Nothing,” I say, wiping the smirk off my face.
“Well, good,” she snaps.
I put the pot into the sink and clean it quickly before placing it on the rack. “I’m upstairs if anyone needs me,” I say softly.
Cami nods slowly. “Sure. If you want to, you can come to my bedroom later, and I can do your hair and makeup,” she offers.
I give her a shy smile, feeling insecure because of Hailey’s attack. “Okay. Thank you.” Then I leave the kitchen.
“What was that supposed to mean, Hailey? Dale didn’t do anything to you!” I hear Cami flare at her.
“She laughed at me and I don’t like that,” Hailey answers. “I don’t know why, but I can’t stand her.”
“You don’t even know her,” Thalia interjects.
“So? You can dislike someone right away, just like you can like someone right from the beginning,” Hailey defends herself.
“I think you’re still miffed because Avery didn’t want to sleep with you,” Cami says. “That’s not Dahlia’s fault. If you intend to behave like that for the entire evening, you should probably skip this party, because Avery isn’t going to like it.”
I feel bad because I’m eavesdropping, but they’re speaking so loudly I can’t help overhearing them. I can feel the tears rise to my eyes as I walk up the stairs, and I’m struggling not to cry. I don’t know why it’s making me this sad, maybe because I really didn’t do anything to Hailey.
I decide that I need to grow a thicker skin and not let people get to me like this. Pearl managed to hurt me, and now Hailey has, too, and I’m scared that Avery’s other friends might do the same.
With a deep sigh, I step into Avery’s apartment and close the door behind me. I quickly wipe the tears from my cheeks and walk into the bathroom, where I undress to take a shower.
As the water pours down on me, I wonder what I ever did to the people who can’t stand me. I’ve always tried to be friendly, but it seems as if some people hate me anyway.
With another sigh, I let the water wash the soap suds away, and then I shampoo my auburn hair. If I don’t blow-dry my hair, but instead let it dry naturally, it will curl a little. I hope Avery will like that. Or I could let Cami do my hair like she suggested.
Avery and I still haven’t gone shopping together, but once I went on my own and bought myself some new underwear that’s sexier than anything I’ve owned so far. I also bought a new dress for tonight. I saw it in a store window and had to have it, because it’s simply stunning. The fabric is white with a pattern of tan butterflies, and the skirt is knee-length. I also bought white sandals to go with it, even though I won’t be wearing any shoes tonight. It’ll be easier to walk barefoot in the sand.
When there’s no shampoo left in my hair, I quickly shave my legs and then leave the shower. I wrap the towel around my body and leave the bathroom to get dressed. I ought to put on a little makeup, but I still don’t own any, which is why I really should take Cami up on her offer. I want to look perfect for Avery. I really do.
The moment I’m about to enter the bedroom, someone grabs me from behind. I scream in fright, but then he kisses my cheek.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to frighten you,” Avery whispers in my ear.
“You didn’t? Then why did you sneak up on me like that?” I say, still startled and breathless.
“Because I wanted to surprise you.” He smirks and turns me around to face him. “And I wanted to seize the opportunity to unwrap this beautiful gift,” he continues with a wide grin. He pushes his fingers underneath the towel and slowly pulls it away from me.
I try to hold on to it. “I was just about to get dressed and go down to Cami’s.”
Avery places his hands on my waist and slowly pushes me into the bedroom. He steps close, and I can feel his impressive erection against my belly.
Then he nudges me onto the bed.
“Ave, let’s do this later, okay?” I say with a smile.
He doesn’t answer but instead pushes me on my back and leans over me. Then he kisses me passionately.
Taken by surprise, I return the kiss and don’t stop him when he attempts to take the towel away from me again. It’s bunched up between us, so he pulls at it until I lie naked underneath him. His fingertips glide over my skin until they reach my nipples, which have already hardened. I utter a moan when he tweaks them, and I immediately feel the heat rushing into my lower body. All the worries about people who might not like me and the fear that he could kick me out when he learns the truth have vanished in the face of my arousal.
He growls softly as I nibble his lower lip, and then he pulls away from me. “Later, you said, right?” He grins.
I shake my head wildly. “No! Now!”
He chuckles, and I can feel the vibrations in his chest on mine. Frantically, I pull down his swim trunks, because he isn’t wearing anything else, and then I caress his hard butt.
“Doesn’t seem like you can wait, huh?”
I shake my head again, pressing my legs against his sides and trying to turn us both over that way. It takes three attempts until I’m on top, while he’s laughing louder and louder.
Impatiently, I open the nightstand drawer, take out a condom, and tear it open, though I then realize I want to do something completely different.
I slowly kiss my way across his chest and further down until I reach his belly button. I let my tongue circle it before I move down even further.
“What are you doing?” Avery gasps when I free his member from the obstinate shorts. It seems to strive toward my mouth.
“What do you think I’m doing?” I answer softly before I breathe a tentative kiss onto the tip.
“God, Dale!”
I don’t let him deter me, but instead take him in my mouth. I suck softly on the upper part and then let him feel my teeth.
“If you go on like that, I’m going to come right in your mouth,” he warns me.
His skin is salty. He must have been in the ocean, I think, while I tease the sensitive underside of the tip with my tongue.
Ave moans when I suck his penis more deeply into my mouth, and I can feel it twitch in response. But then he pulls me away from it and up next to him. “I don’t want to come in your mouth,” he whispers when I look at him questioningly. “That was about to happen.”
I nod slowly and present him with the already opened condom. He takes it and rolls it over his glistening member.
Just as I move to take position on top of him, deciding that I want to be in charge for a change, he turns me onto my belly.
“What are you doing?” I ask softly.
“Trying something new,” he murmurs.
“I hope you don’t mean to use the back door,” I whisper darkly, feeling suddenly vulnerable and insecure.
“I don’t want to enter your ass, baby,” he reassures me and kisses the back of my neck. Then he pulls my pelvis up so I’m on my knees, but then pushes my upper body down gently.
I close my eyes when I feel him enter me and let out a moan of pleasure. When he starts to move inside me, he utters a fevered growl. He thrusts into me, first slowly and then increasingly fast.
“God, that’s good,” he moans, and I can feel him getting even harder.
Eyes closed and emitting sounds of arousal and pleasure, I grind against him to make it even more intense for both of us.
“Oh baby, you’re going to kill me one day.”
I don’t answer, because I have no words left in my head, but I let him hear my pleasure through gasping and moaning.
Then the thrusts come in more erratic intervals. My tightness begins to massage him. It might be hard for him to enter me, because he’s now growling with every push. Warm waves of intense pleasure spread from my core, signaling unequivocally that I’m on the brink of my orgasm.
Then Avery suddenly spanks my ass. “Come for me,” he murmurs, and I can feel the waves break within. I was holding back, but now I shatter with a scream, and only a moment later I can feel him discharge his load with a loud moan.
“Oh, Jesus,” I murmur as he pulls out of me.
I stretch flat on my stomach. Ave kisses me on the back. “I’m going to take a quick shower,” he whispers.
“Okay,” I answer softly.
“I love the serene expression you have only after we’ve had sex.” He grins.
Smiling, I hide my face. I feel him getting up and raise my head to look at him.
“Be right back,” he says.
I watch him leave the room in a dreamy state. I could join him in the shower, but … no, I’ll let him do it quickly on his own, I reason with myself.
I stretch and yawn, but then I get up and get dressed. I can smell him on me, so I breathe in deeply, because I love his incomparable scent. I adjust the straps of my new dress; I’m wearing a strapless bra underneath. Otherwise, I’d need to wear a cardigan on top, as I feel uncomfortable if my bra straps are visible.
I throw the towel into an overflowing laundry basket in the corner of Avery’s bedroom. Then I walk over and knock on the bathroom door.
“Yes?” he calls.
I step inside. “Hey. Where’s the washer?”
“In the basement. Why?”
“The laundry basket is more than full, and I thought I could put the laundry in the machine while you’re taking your shower.”
Avery laughs softly. “I’ll do that in a minute. You’re my guest, and as such you’re supposed to relax.”
“And it’s your birthday, so you’re the one who ought to relax,” I counter with a grin when he pokes his head out to look at me.
He sighs. “Okay. It’s in the basement, but that can really wait until tomorrow, babe.”
My eyebrows shoot up. “Why are you suddenly calling me ‘babe’?”
“Because I like it.” He winks and pulls his head back to finish his shower. He adds, “You look damn hot in that dress.”
“Thank you,” I answer and leave the bathroom again. As he insisted on taking care of the laundry himself tomorrow, I walk back into the living room and sit down on the couch. It’s so warm outside today that my hair is almost dry already.
***
“Sheesh, how do you manage to discipline these curls?” Camille says. She’s been trying to get my hair into shape for almost an hour now.
“I could wash them again and use the straightener,” I offer.
“No. I think I know what to do now. Nothing elaborate, but at least it will look good,” she says.
Thalia is sitting on the bed, watching us. “I would just use the curling iron and then pin them back on the back of her head.”
“She’s going to a party, not a job interview,” Cami replies.
“Or you could be more patient with the comb, lend her one of your headbands, and make her look like Alice in Wonderland,” Hailey chimes in.
I look at the girls in turn. “The headband is a good idea. I’m not a fan of elaborate styles anyway,” I put in my two cents.
Cami combs her fingers through my curls. “I think it would look pretty if we tucked them back a little with a flower hairpin on one side.”
“Okay, let’s do that.” I smile.
She nods, starting to cautiously drag the brush through
my hair once again, and then parts my hair down the middle. I simply sit there and wait while she does her thing.
Finally, she pins back my hair on the left side of my head. “There,” she states and circles me. She scrutinizes her work, cocking her head to one side, and smoothing my hair with her hands, until she’s satisfied. “And now for a little makeup to make it perfect.”
“Ooh, I want to do that,” Thalia pipes up.
“I … I don’t know whether that’s such a good idea. I’ve never worn makeup,” I admit.
They all stare at me as if I just smacked them simultaneously.
“You’re bullshitting us,” Thalia blurts out.
I shake my head. “No. I always thought it was unnecessary, and I hardly ever went out, so I had no idea what I might need.”
“Oh, man,” Cami and Hailey chorus.
“Well, I don’t think we need any foundation or blush, just a little eyeshadow, eyeliner, and mascara,” Hailey decides.
They start to discuss it all, and I don’t understand a word, so I don’t comment. Only when they start discussing colors, do I feel like I need to contribute.
“Could we pick something low-key? I don’t want to look like I fell into a paint box,” I interject reluctantly.
They all look at me. “I think we’ve agreed on the fawn-colored eyeshadow, unless you’d prefer the baby-blue one,” Cami says.
Again I shake my head. “No, fawn-colored sounds all right.”
“Good, then let’s start,” Thalia says and takes out a makeup bag. “Close your eyes, Dale.”
I close my eyes and prepare for the worst.
She puts on eyeshadow , at least that’s what I think. “Now open your eyes again.”
I open my eyes and stare at Thalia’s forehead as she starts to put on the eyeliner. I’m scared she’s going to stab me in the eye, so I stiffen.
“Try to relax, Dale,” she says softly and smiles at me.
“I’m trying.”
Hailey and Cami watch the procedure and also smile at me encouragingly. Then Thalia hands me the mascara.
I feel awkward as I carefully apply the black cream to my lashes, which end up looking longer and thicker than before. With a skeptical expression, I look at myself in the mirror and then turn around. “Can I go outside like this?” I ask shyly.
Avery: Sensual Desire: New Adult College Romance (Coral Gables Series Book 2) Page 13