Dark Euphoria

by Ronica Black

  Avery sighed and walked to her. She took her hand.

  “Are you afraid?” Lana asked.

  Avery hardened her jaw. “I don’t get afraid.” But inside, she was beyond worried. Lana was careless and clueless, and it was leading them both down a very dangerous path.

  “Let me make you feel better,” she said, lifting her bra to show off her rose-colored nipples. She played with them and grinned. “Don’t you want to feel better, baby? Don’t you want to taste them? Make me feel better?”

  Avery lay down next to her and swallowed against the angry lump in her throat. Her feelings were surfacing and she didn’t like it. And she didn’t like being asked if she was afraid.

  She pinned Lana’s hand over her head and kissed her. Lana squealed and then moaned at her power.

  “Yes, Avery. Take me. Fucking make me yours.”

  Avery bit into her neck and lowered herself to nibble her nipples until she cried out with both pleasure and pain.

  “Mm. God, baby. That’s it, I want to be yours. Make me so. Make me so.”

  Avery looked up at her with hunger and dominance the only feelings remaining.

  “You’ll never be mine, Lana. Never.”

  And with that, she tore down her tight-fitting jeans and attached herself to her bare center, causing Lana to forget any remaining demands.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Maria sat at her parents’ backyard picnic table and downed a Dos Equis as quickly as she could. It was Friday night, a little past nine, and she was still anxious over the MRI she’d had a few hours earlier. The results, she’d learned, would have to be told to her by her doctor. She’d seen the neurologist once, at the suggestion of her doctor, and he’d promptly ordered the MRI after examining her and going over her symptoms.

  Her rational mind had told her not to search her symptoms on the web, that whatever she found would only cause her to go insane with worry and speculation. But she’d done so anyway, while fidgeting in her seat at the radiology center waiting for her MRI. What she’d found had beyond worried her and even caused her to break out in a cold sweat. She’d tried to talk about it with her technician, but she’d only told her she’d have to discuss it with her doctor, leaving her anxious as hell with nowhere to turn but the bottle.

  “Thought you might could use another,” a woman, one she didn’t recognize, said as she slid in across from her. She placed the icy bottle near her hand and smiled. Maria returned it, easy and relaxed, though her insides were still in turmoil. The woman was attractive and nice to look at with short, bleached blond hair and sparkling green-gray eyes. She had a small tattoo on her neck, which normally would’ve turned Maria and her Goody Two-shoes way off, but she found herself staring at it, amused.

  “What’s it say?” She pointed with her pinky as she drank from the new bottle.

  “Breathe.”

  “Ah, as in don’t forget to breathe. Got it.”

  “Something like that.” She tipped her own beer and rubbed her toned arm up near the tight sleeve of her T-shirt. She looked up at the dark sky and the slowly moving silver clouds.

  “Thought for sure we’d get a monsoon,” Maria said.

  “Me too.”

  “I was counting on it.” Maria laughed a little.

  “Why? So you wouldn’t have to be here tonight?”

  Maria met her gaze. “Maybe.”

  The woman smiled. “Then you wouldn’t have met me.” She stuck out her hand. “Samantha.”

  Maria shook her hand. “Maria.”

  “I know. Your brother told me all about you.”

  “Oh no, not another one.” She shook her head when Samantha looked confused. “Sorry, that was rude. It’s just…my family…they try to set me up all the time and it gets to be frustrating.”

  “I guess so. I think I’d kill my family if they did that to me.”

  Maria smiled. “Thank you!”

  “I’m serious, that must be awful. Thank God, my folks let me figure it out on my own. I think I’d die if they got involved.”

  “It’s maddening,” Maria confessed. “And embarrassing.”

  “Sounds like a nightmare.”

  “It can be.” They both drank in silence.

  Samantha sat back and tipped her beer at her. “You’ll be glad to know your brother didn’t set us up. He just told me who you were when I asked about the pretty lady in the corner.”

  Maria fought a blush and pretended to be interested in her beer. Samantha seemed nice, funny even. But she didn’t want to read into it, and she reminded herself of all the others that had crashed and burned.

  “So are you the sister who’s the detective?” Samantha asked, appearing to be genuinely interested.

  “I am.”

  “That must be exciting.”

  “It can be.”

  “What are you working on now? Can you tell me?”

  “No, not really. It’s a high-profile case. And it’s taking up most of my time.”

  Samantha nodded. “I get it. No time to date, huh?”

  “Afraid not.”

  They turned as voices grew closer and Maria’s mother slid in next to her. She set a bowl of freshly made salsa on the table along with some tortilla chips, and then she leaned in and planted a wet kiss on Maria’s cheek.

  “Mija is here!” She held her arms up. “Everyone, Maria is here!”

  Friends and family cheered and someone turned the music up. Maria’s nieces and nephews began chasing each other around the yard, and her father began to dance in his tight Wranglers and cowboy boots.

  “Why do you not come?” her mother, Cecelia asked, looking upset. “I cook all of this and you don’t come. The only one. My baby, my youngest.”

  “Mama, I’m busy. I told you.”

  “Always too busy for us.”

  “No, not true. I’m just busy. It’s my job.”

  Her mother scoffed. “I don’t like the job. It’s dangerous, mija. It’s so…masculine.”

  “Mama, don’t please. And if you want me to come more tell Tia to stop setting me up with men.”

  Her mother reared back. “She still does that? Aye, Dios mio. I tell her no more a long time ago.”

  “She’s still doing it.” Maria dipped a chip in salsa and took a bite. It was an explosion of heaven in her mouth. “Oh, Mama. So good.”

  She smiled and looked to Samantha. “Go ahead, please.”

  Samantha ate some and grinned. “Wow. That’s incredible.”

  “That’s my mama for you. Nothing but the best.”

  “All homemade?”

  Her mother balked. “Of course, who do you think I am? Old El Paso?”

  They laughed and her mother gave Maria another kiss and stood. “I bring your new friend some enchiladas. She’s cute.”

  She left them alone, and Maria finished her second beer, which, thankfully, was helping her to relax. She continued to eat the chips and salsa, not realizing just how hungry she was until that moment.

  “Your mother is adorable,” Samantha said.

  “Yes. She’s pretty amazing.”

  “Seems like it. Seems like she really loves you too.”

  “She does. I’m very lucky I guess.”

  Samantha slid over an unopened beer and tilted her own at her. “That makes two of us.” She took a hearty sip. “Only my mother’s specialty isn’t enchiladas, it’s goulash.”

  Maria laughed. “No kidding? That sounds good too.”

  “It is. You’ll have to try it sometime. An old Hungarian recipe.”

  “I just might do that.”

  “I could bring it by one night. When you’re ready.”

  Maria cocked her head. “You’d really do that?”

  “Sure. Beats the same old same old first dinner date.”

  “Yes, lounging on my own couch does sound much better than staring over at you at a stuffy restaurant.”

  “Yep, you can stare at me in your own comfort. It will be groundbreaking as far as first
dates go.”

  “Sounds like it.” Maria opened the third beer. “And I kind of like…”

  “What?”

  “Nothing.”

  Maria smiled and it felt sloppy. She was such a lightweight. She was about to flirt with Samantha, a near stranger. She stood and excused herself, claiming the restroom. She weaved in and out of people to the Arcadian door where she met her brother, Gabriel, head-on.

  “Hey, Gabe, Samantha seems great.”

  He smiled and placed his hands on her shoulders. “Haven’t seen you in a while.” He leaned down, kissed her, and then whispered in her ear. “Heads up, Tia has a man for you. A real Poindexter looking dude. Better run.”

  “Nah, I’m okay. I’ll just hang with Samantha.”

  He looked up. “Yeah, who’s that?”

  Maria laughed. “Your friend, silly. Over there.”

  He looked toward the picnic table and then smiled. “Oh, Sammie. Yeah, she’s great. Very…. capable.”

  “What?”

  “She’s strong, keeps up with the guys, you know.”

  “She’s a mechanic?”

  “Yeah. And smart. But watch out. I think she’s a heartbreaker.” He winked and left her alone. She walked slowly down the hallway to the bathroom where she closed herself in and locked the door. She sat on the edge of the tub and rubbed her temples. Despite fatigue she felt good. The best she’d felt in a while. And if Finley didn’t call tonight, she might actually get some good sleep. She stood and rinsed her face and walked back out to join the party. A few relatives said hello along with a few long-time friends. It felt good to see everyone, and she reminded herself that she needed to show up more often.

  She turned into the kitchen and saw her tia Rosita and she froze. Her tia came at her quickly, tugging a tall, gangly man along with her.

  “Maria, Maria. This is Donald. He’s dying to meet you.”

  Donald smiled and seemed pleased. He held out his hand.

  Maria took it. “Hi, I’m Maria and I’m gay. As in lesbian. I will never be interested, ever. I keep telling my aunt this, but she ignores me. So you can blame her for wasting your time.” She gave him a brief smile and then walked back out the Arcadian door. She took a deep breath and rejoined Samantha at the table where she was digging into what used to be enchiladas.

  “Oh, my God, these are so good. Your mother is not only adorable, she’s evil.”

  Maria laughed and sat down. Her own plate was steaming in front of her. She dug in and took hearty swigs of her new beer. They talked until they finished, and then for an hour after that. After five beers, Maria was laughing loudly and slurring her words a bit. She felt warm, relaxed, free. It felt stupendous.

  More people were dancing now, and she knew they’d go well into the night. As badly as she wanted to join, she knew she needed to rest more.

  “I’d better get going.” She stood and braced herself against the table. “Whoa. I feel a little too good.”

  Samantha stood with her. “You okay?”

  “I’m not sure.”

  Samantha rounded the table and cupped her elbow. “You should let me drive you home.”

  “No. No, really, I can manage.”

  “Well, you won’t be managing behind the wheel. I’ll call a ride for you.”

  But the last thing Maria wanted was to ride home with a stranger when she felt so good. She realized she didn’t want the night to end. If only she had more time in her life. She always found herself bargaining for time in one way or another. She never won.

  “I just want a night to myself. One night where I can have fun and sleep peacefully.” She’d said the words to herself, but Samantha had heard.

  “You’ve had fun, now let’s get you home to sleep peacefully.”

  “Right. I’ll get a phone call. Dollars to dimes I’ll get a phone call.”

  “Turn it off.”

  “I can’t.”

  She palmed her forehead, and Samantha led her out the back gate to the front sidewalk. She started thumbing her phone, but Maria stopped her.

  “It’s okay. You drive me.”

  Samantha stared at her for a moment as if she was waiting for Maria to be sure. “Okay. I’m over here.” Samantha drove a black classic two-door Impala. Maria wasn’t sure what year it was, but it was very impressive and when Samantha started the engine, it vibrated Maria’s entire body.

  “Holy shit.”

  Samantha grinned. “Yeah, she’s got some power. You better buckle up.”

  Maria fastened her seat belt and rolled down her window. She smiled into the wind as they drove, closing her eyes, allowing it to blow away her worries, her fears, the case. She was in such blissful peace when they arrived at her place, she had to be shaken back to reality.

  “Which one is yours?” Samantha had slowed on her street, and they were crawling toward her house.

  “Here.”

  Samantha pulled in the drive behind the Jeep Wrangler. She killed the engine and stepped out of the car. She helped Maria out and walked her to the door. Maria leaned into her and held her hand. She found it strong, sure, powerful. It stroked her down deep, and she moaned. They reached the front door and faced one another. Samantha brushed her face with the backs of her fingers.

  “You’re incredibly beautiful,” she said. “I’d really like to bring you dinner sometime.”

  But Maria stopped her with a pressing kiss. Samantha pulled away, obviously surprised.

  Maria laughed. “I don’t want you to leave.” Her insides were swirling with heat, pushing out against her aching flesh. She knew what was happening and she didn’t dare stop it. She needed touch. Passion. Sex. It had been too long, and now it was taking over like a starved beast.

  She unlocked the door and tugged Samantha inside. And when Samantha tried to speak again, she drowned her out with another kiss, this one fierce and dominant. She sought with her hungry tongue, and Samantha answered just as fierce and turned her against the wall. Maria tried to turn back, but Samantha stopped her by pressing her hands over hers, holding her to the wall.

  “Don’t move,” she said.

  Maria heard her unzip her jeans and then fumble with what sounded like a wrapper. And just as Maria was about to ask, Samantha unfastened and tugged down her pants and underwear. She ran her hands over her ass and smacked her.

  “Yes,” Maria said. “This is what I want. What I need.”

  Samantha laughed.

  “God, you are curved in all the right places.”

  Maria moaned again and she felt Samantha search for her opening. Head pounding with desire, she pressed back toward her and spread her legs farther apart. “This is what I want, what I need,” she said. She had to have it, now.

  “Here I come, baby.” Samantha found her and Maria felt a cool moist tip a split second before it slid inside her and filled her with pressing fire.

  She arched her back and called out, clenching her eyes. “Ah, fuck yes.”

  “Feel good?”

  “Mm. God yes.”

  Samantha grabbed her hips and began to thrust slowly in and out. The hot sword of ecstasy slid in and up again and again and Maria collapsed against the wall, sweat coating her brow, teeth biting her lower lip as Samantha pounded her fast and hard.

  “Dear God…” Maria could barely form words, and when she could, her throat threatened to cave in on them before she could get them out. “I—Oh fuck. Fuck me—yes. Please. Don’t—ever—stop.” She now understood why no one else had interested her. They were too soft, too slow. There had been no passion, no excitement, no fucking real, hard pleasure.

  Samantha gripped her harder and moved her hips in a circular motion. “I’m fucking you, baby. So good. So good and deep. Getting you way in deep, making you feel oh so good.”

  Maria closed her eyes as her cheek slid against the wall in sweat. She pushed back in rhythm to Samantha’s thrusting, and soon Maria was clenching fists and mouthing unintelligible words. She was riding crest after cres
t of beautiful pleasure waves all the while thinking of Avery Ashland and her seductive voice and walk. The thoughts brought her climax closer and closer, and by the time she went she was begging Samantha for sweet release, begging her to never stop, to fucking fill her up all the way, fuck her like she’d never been fucked before.

  Samantha obliged with a deep laugh and tugged her back into her for five long, deep pulls, and Maria went over in a loud, animalistic voice so deep and dark she hardly recognized herself. When she stilled, she breathed heavily into the wall and realized she had her hand back around gripping Samantha’s loose jeans.

  “Ah, my God,” Maria said. “I can’t stand.” Her legs trembled and her body shook from residual fireworks. Samantha eased out of her, refastened her pants, and wrapped her arms around her, but Maria pushed her away. Images of Avery Ashland were still shooting off like fireworks in her mind, causing crazy, mixed emotions. The last thing she wanted was to be held, restrained.

  “Here, let me help you.” Samantha tried to pull up Maria’s underwear and pants, but Maria stopped her and did it herself. Then she stumbled to the nearby couch and collapsed to brush her hair away from her face.

  “I think I really needed that,” she said. She’d just been fucked long and hard and she’d loved every second of it. The only thing that would’ve made it better was if Avery had done the fucking.

  “I think so.”

  Samantha sat across from her, and Maria tried to smile but failed. Samantha looked way too cozy. Like she wanted to hang out. Or worse, spend the night. And just as she was about to reach out and touch her hand, Maria’s phone rang.

  “Oh no, not now.” She could hardly walk, how could she possibly rush out the door to meet Finley? She dug the phone out of her back pocket and her face flooded with alarm. She sent it to voice mail only to have it ring again. “How can she know? How can she possibly know?” Jesus, had she somehow read her mind? Was she psychic?

  “Who? An ex?”

  Maria shook her head. “I really need to take this, and I really need some sleep.”

  Samantha stood. “Say no more.” She lightly kissed her on the lips. The kiss was warm and lingering. It felt nice, despite Maria’s feelings, as if Samantha were tying a final bow on a nicely wrapped gift. “I’ll call you?”