Crave by Ayden K Morgen Read Free Book Online

CRAVE
     
    The front door swings open, a blast of cool night air swirling through the room in a welcome rush. The smell of fresh rain and lavender weaves through the crowd, muting the stale odor of cigarette and marijuana smoke permeating the air for a moment.
    I inhale deeply, filling my lungs with the soft scent.
    Warm honey sends a familiar ache scratching through me, burning in my stomach. The scent lingers around me as if sprayed from a perfume bottle. Memories nudge at my mind... tangled sheets, soft moans, and the slide of skin on skin. Need twists deep, tensing muscles already aching for activity.
    The beast within lifts his head from the floor of his cage, cracking one eye wide open in interest. I lift my own head from contemplation of the amber liquid in my glass, my gaze following the ripple of sound weaving through the room like an electric hum.
    A woman.
    Trinity.
    Long, brown hair tumbles down her back, hints of red catching in the hazy light. Her green eyes glitter like diamonds. She throws her head back and laughs at her friend, exposing the pale column of her throat to the room. Her ivory skin glistens.
    Christ, she's beautiful.
    "I want to dance," she says to the nameless blonde at her side. Her voice is soft, sensual… like invisible fingertips trailing up my spine. The glint in her eyes deepens, hinting at secrets waiting to be unveiled.
    I close my eyes, relishing the heat winding through me. It's been too long. The remnants of rain, lavender, and warm honey tickle at my nose again, calling to mind those same scenes. Tangled sheets, soft moans….
    I carefully place my glass on the table and pull myself to my feet, my cock already a heavy weight in my pants. I take a step toward her. And then another.
    "Trey."
    I stop when Marissa says my name, but I don't turn around. Don't take my eyes off Trinity as she moves deeper into the room, her hips already swaying beneath her little black skirt.
    The second she steps into the middle of the makeshift dance floor, space clears around her, giving her room to move. No one approaches, leaving her alone.
    Good. I won't have to kill anyone tonight.
    The blonde with her falls back and is quickly swallowed by the crowd.
    Trinity begins to move, her body rolling in time to the music floating through the room. It's hip-hop... loud and aggressive. She moves like she was built to dance, her body undulating to the rhythm.
    "I want her," I murmur, the sight of her searing through me, burning again.
    "I know," Marissa says.
    I tilt my head to the side, spellbound by the innocent glint in Trinity's eyes, like she doesn't have a clue how beautiful she really is. The thoughts of everyone around her are written plainly upon their faces – admiration and desire from the men who want her, and jealousy from the women who wish they could be her... as if they could ever come close.
    All eyes are on her.
    She sweeps the thick mass of her hair from her neck, still swaying. Her lips curve into a secret smile, as if she's waiting for something. As if she doesn't even know every eye in the room is glued to her. As if she wouldn't care even if she did notice.
    I watch her, captivated.
    In my world, it's rare, too rare, to find someone not playing some game. Innocence is never really innocence, but an act designed for some other purpose – to inveigle an invitation into my bed, into my inner circle, or into my confidence. I'm never foolish enough to fall for it.
    With her though, it wouldn't be falling. It'll be something else... something I crave.
    I glance over my shoulder at Marissa, only to find her blue eyes locked on me. Marcus has his arm wrapped around her shoulders, holding a blunt to her lips as she inhales the smoke. Tyson and Rachel are twined tightly around one another beside them, completely oblivious as usual.
    I turn back to the girl.
    "She's beautiful," Marissa says, untangling herself from Marcus and stepping up beside me.
    I glance over at my sister again. Her eyes are