Find Me in the Dark by Karina Ashe Read Free Book Online Page B

fierceness of his words make me giggle nervously. “Initiation.”
    “Initiation?”
    “You know.” I bite my lip. “It’s what guys do to feel like studs.”
    It takes him a moment to answer. “They better not try to feel like studs if they know what’s good for them,” he growls. “I’m not a generous man, Laura.”
    Something about the way he says ‘man’ thrills me. About how he shared he isn’t generous. And suddenly, I want him to drive into me again, to show me just how ungenerous he is and remind me in every way possible that he’s a man.
    What’s wrong with me?
    I become increasingly aware of my soreness. My cunt clenches and I shudder.
    A calloused thumb moves over my bottom lip. “Did I scare you?”
    I scared myself. I’d never done anything like this before. Never. I didn’t even know him.
    “I’m sorry,” he says, pushing himself off me. He drops his arm over his forehead.
    I watch his chest rise and fall in the shadows of the auditorium. My throat feels tight. “Why are you sorry?” I ask.
    “For pushing you. I messed this up.” He moves a bit, probably so he can see me better, but it’s hard to tell when he’s wearing a mask. “I just wanted to talk to you.”
    “Talk to me?” I repeat. I feel my cheeks flushing again. Actually, I feel every part of me flushing. My hands shake as I grab my pants and pull them up. They stick to my inner thighs. I can’t believe how wet I still am.
    “Yes.” He rolls onto his side and traces my elbow. He probably feels my muscles tense with fear and apprehension as I continue to pull my pants all the way up. “I messed up, didn’t I? I just got close to you and I couldn’t…”
    “It wasn’t just you,” I admit, feeling myself growing hotter. I’d flung myself on him. It was disgusting, thinking of myself acting like that with someone…especially someone I didn’t even know…
    “I did mess things up, and now you’re ashamed.”
    I pause for a second. “Well it was kind of…”
    “Kind of what?” he asks when I don’t finish.
    Kind of great, which somehow makes all this worse . “I think I need to go.”
    “Don’t.”
    “No, I really—”
    “Please don’t, Laura.”
    He says my name like it is something special. Like it means everything to him. I don’t understand. Why is he even here? Who is he to me? And why did I give into him so quickly?
    I study him. He’s still wearing a freaking mask, Laura. If he isn’t going to take that off, he isn’t going to answer those questions . “I’m sorry, but I have to.”
    “Laura…”
    “Please, I just…This is really weird.” I jump up and grab my cello.
    He says something harshly in his own language. It sounds like a curse.
    I tremble.
    “I’m sorry.” He sighs behind me. “You’re really going, aren’t you?”
    I adjust my grip on my cello.
    “Will you meet me again?”
    I drop my bow on the floor and curse. I shut my eyes as I retrieve it, and my body answers for me. “Uh…yes.”
    He inhales as if to speak. I place my instrument in its case and slam it shut, buckling it loudly. “I, um. I—”
    He brushes his hands on his slacks as he stands. “Let me walk you home at least.”
    Wait, was he being serious? Through campus? Wearing a mask? If anyone saw us they’d call the cops! “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
    “It’s dark out. You don’t know who’s out there.”
    “You mean guys like…” I don’t finish, but he knows what I was about to say. He has to. My shoulders fall. That wasn’t fair. I’m sorry. I don’t think you’re some random creeper. I mean, you kind of are, but you’re more than that to me. I wouldn’t do this with just anyone. At least I hope I wouldn’t…
    My unspoken apology flashes in my mind as I wet my lips. “Uh, that’s not what I meant to say. I mean…”
    He cuts me off. “It’s alright. Just be safe.”
    “Okay.” I don’t know if he heard me or not. I run to the end of the stage. My cello case