Trance by Tabitha Levin Read Free Book Online Page B

“Taste is subjective, I guess.” He took another drink from his beer bottle. “You still haven’t answered the question to my satisfaction though. Why did you come out here with me?”
    “Maybe you’ve unwittingly hypnotized me, and I had no choice.”
    “So it isn’t your usual pattern to sneak out of dates to meet hot entertainers out the back of restaurants?” He placed his drink on the table.
    I grinned. “Not usually.”
    “Then I’m flattered.”
    “Only if you think I find you hot.”
    “Do you?”
    “Is that your next question?”
    “I’m going to choose Dare next. Go on, ask.”
    I took another sip and could feel a small warm buzz tickle around my head. He was certainly trying to get me drunk. Right now, I didn’t mind so much. “Truth or Dare?”
    “Dare!”
    My mind went blank. What was I going to ask him? I closed my eyes, trying to think of something I wanted him to do. Inappropriate images flashed across my thoughts. I shook them away immediately. Good grief, I’d better stop drinking this wine after all.
    “I’m waiting.”
    I opened my eyes again. “Fine. Cluck like a chicken.”
    He frowned. “Is that the best you could come up with? You disappoint me.” He clucked three times. “Your turn. Truth or Dare.”
    “Dare.” I could cluck like a chicken too.
    “Stand up and close your eyes,” he said. His voice was soft and smooth. I did as he asked. “Keep them closed.”
    I swayed slightly as I waited for his next instructions. I heard his chair scrape along the tiles of the courtyard. The music continued to play from his phone crooning through the tiny speakers.
    A rush of air caressed my cheek as it moved over me.
    I knew he was standing in front of me. I could feel his presence. My eyes were pressed tightly shut. I heard my own breathing quicken.
    I could hear his breath too. He was close. I dared not reach out. I stood still.
    “You’re trembling,” he said.
    “Yes.” I whispered.
    His hand reached around the back of my neck and he pulled my face to his. His lips brushed mine. They were soft. The kiss became more urgent, but whether it was from him or me I couldn’t tell. My hands involuntary wrapped around his waist, our chests touching. My heart was beating a million miles a hour.  His tongue parted my lips. I groaned. Or he groaned. Someone groaned. I was too lost to tell who it was.
    I still didn’t dare open my eyes. I wouldn’t let him win the dare. I wanted to keep kissing him.
    Then, he pulled away, his hand leaving the back of my neck. My hands slipping from his waist.
    I shivered. My eyes were still closed.
    “You win,” he said.
    I opened my eyes and grinned. “Told you, I’m good at this game.”
     
    I couldn’t wipe the smile from my face. I ran my tongue over my lips as the cab driver took me home, remembering Jason’s taste, his touch. After I had won my dare, after the kiss, I left with a promise to call him later that week. Nothing could have made that night any better, and I wanted to leave so nothing else would ruin it. If you always leave when things are at their best, you never risk something going wrong. And I didn’t want anything to go wrong.
    I wondered when I’d see him again. We hadn’t made a specific date or time, that would come. I knew he’d arrange it. He’d gotten me outside in that courtyard, didn’t he? And that was after a moment’s notice.
    The cab pulled up outside my house and I handed over enough notes that would leave the driver a small tip. I opened the door and got outside. The air was crisp, delightful. The stars shone.
    I looked at my phone. Lacey had sent two messages asking if I was still alive. At the rate my heart was beating, then yes, I most definitely was alive. I’d call her later. Or text. I didn’t want to interrupt her own evening. I’d done that once before and she answered right in the middle of what she was doing with her date. Awkward.
    I walked down the driveway, around the side of the house