Before he can release me, Arsen is standing at our sides, two shot glasses in his hands.
Arsen’s knuckle glides along my jaw, guiding my head back, so I’m propped against Beretta’s shoulder, my cheekbone lined with his jaw.
Arsen slips closer, and Beretta’s arm wraps around his shoulder as he lifts the shot glass to my lips and waits.
I open my mouth and he pours the clear, warm liquid down my throat. Beretta takes the other right after, his face grazing along mine.
With my head dropped the way it is, his lips are at the edge of my view, right there for me to watch as his tongue slips out, teasing the corner of his mouth, and I must attempt to reach for him, because the next thing I know, my wrist is caught in flight.
My head snaps upright and Ransom tugs me toward him again, but this time, he pulls my body flush to his.
There’s no space to move, no air to breathe.
Or there is, but it’s a shared air. A thick, asphyxiating air that allows no room for reason, only room for him.
His blue eyes blaze, bright and brilliant, drowning my own.
His chest rises and falls against mine, with mine, but then Beretta is behind him, wrapping one arm over his shoulder, his free hand locking on to his bicep. At the same time, Arsen slips up behind me, his head molding into the crook of my neck, arms coming around my middle, locking me to him.
His feet shuffle me forward as Beretta’s shuffle Ransom’s backward. I begin to protest, but then his teeth graze along my collarbone.
My hand flies down to his locked around my abdomen, and I forget to step when they slip lower, pushing into me just below my panty line.
I nearly trip, but he’s quick, his palm flattening over my chest to save me from face planting.
His soft chuckle fans along my neck and I close my eyes.
Next thing I know, I’m staring into a dark room, black canvases framed over the windows to block out the light, a thick, neon green clay dripping from the center and illuminated by the black light above.
Arsen ushers me farther in, toward a black leather chaise in the center of the room, soft music flowing from somewhere, but it disappears as the click of a lock echoes in my ears, and all I hear now is my own pulse beating out of my skin.
My shins meet the cold seat and whip around, my chest slamming into Arsen. His hand shoots up, capturing the back of my neck, and he yanks me closer, aligning his lips perfectly with mine. But he holds there, impeccably still, a hopeful message in his gaze, one I’m not sure I understand, not that I get the chance, because behind him, a shadow calls to me.
My eyes break from his, finding Ransom tucked in the corner, his body rigid and gaze strained, Beretta still hanging on to him.
Arsen’s exhale is soft and lulling. With gentle movements, he releases me, joining the other two in the corner.
The light above us cuts off, and the room grows dark. Black.
Blackout.
Goose bumps rise along my skin, but I don’t move.
The soft rustle of clothing sounds, causing my toes to curl in my heels, and all at once, three pairs of eyes flash before me.
I gasp, loudly, my calves tightening.
There’s no icy blue, no calming navy, and no earthy hazel, no recognition whatsoever as each pair, tucked as far from me as possible, glow the same exact shade.
A wild, wicked fluorescent, glow-in-the-dark, turquoise, only to be seen through the blackness they’ve placed us inside.
My gaze snaps along them as one by one, the only proof that they’re inside this room with me disappears.
They’ve closed their eyes.
All that’s left is breathing. Mine. Theirs.
Soft footsteps sound and I try to gauge where they are, but I can’t think past the heavy thumping within my chest.
A hand meets mine. Instinctively, I withdraw, but only for a second, and with my next breath, allow the person to weave his calloused fingers with mine. The person shows his eyes, and I try to decipher who they belong to, who it is that slips closer, runs his free hand up my thigh, taking the hem of my dress with it... but I can’t.
I have no idea who touches me.
But I don’t tell them to stop.
My core clenches, a soft tortured sound fighting its way up my throat when a third hand comes around from behind, something cold written along it and burning against my heated skin. He, whoever he is, grips my neck just above my halter line, his lips coming to my ear, but only to allow me the sound of his heady breaths.
The person it belongs to comes up beside me, slipping half in front of me, his belt buckle biting into my hip as something just as solid strains against it.
The hand around my neck slips down, another joining and following the same path up and over the arc of my breast, curving beneath it and meeting in the middle, only to leave my body completely.
Two large palms find my lower back, sliding along the material there, and glide down to my ass.
The pads of his fingers dig in, squeezing once he has a handful, and a short cut groan follows.
My chin lowers as his forehead falls to my abdomen.
Hot, burning breath seeps through my dress and my hands fly forward, gripping on to his cheeks. Right as my fingertips reach the ends of his hair, my arms are yanked away.
They’re lifted high over my head, and my body shivers as the palms snake along the edge of my forearms and biceps.
Locking gazes with mine, the person at my feet holds me hostage as he slowly pushes to his, molding his body to mine, but leaving just enough room for a hand to slip between us.
Two fingers press over my clit, and my ass crowds the groin aligned behind it, a low groan filling the air.
“Yeah.” A low rasp melts against my skin. “She feels it.”
All at once, I’m released, instantly cold, but able to breathe.
I search the room for a hint of a turquoise glow but come up short.
My voice has evaded me, my lungs too busy trying not to shrivel up and die from lack of oxygen, so I simply stand there, my hands finding my hips as sudden exhaustion rolls through me.
Note to self, add in some serious cardio!
I don’t know what comes over me, but a low laugh suddenly creeps up my throat, right as the door’s thrown open.
My eyes snap toward the noise in the hall, toward the low light flowing into the room, my mouth falling open as three black hoodies shuffle out of it.
I stand there for several seconds, my body slowly passing back the reins to my mind and oh my god, what in the…
My palm finds my forehead, and I whip around, wringing my free hand out at my side.
Holy shit.
What the hell was that?
Better question!
What the hell is wrong with me?!
I spin, pacing the small space.
Shadows pass the open door, and my head snaps toward it.
Person after person passes in the hall, some headed left, others to the right. I shake my head.
I need to get out of this room.
I clear my throat, smoothing my hair just in case, and push it over my shoulder.
I walk out, and as I round the corner, I find the party hasn’t paused in search of one missing girl but is just as busy and full as when I last looked around it, if not more so.
Thank god.
The dance floor is still dark and full, the drink area just as buzzing and the couches the guys sat at, still partially occupied.
Everyone laughs and shoves while animatedly talking, and I take a deep breath, moving straight for the bar.
On my way, I pass a mirror and freeze.